ABC Wednesday- Letter Z

Z is for Zydeco.

I always assumed this music was Cajun, but it turns out to be Zydeco which makes a very nice post for the letter Z. Actually for most of my life I was totally confused as to what kind of music this was. It sounded like the stuff my mother in law said her cousin played on the radio up in Nova Scotia and the guy was singing in French, but it appeared to be filmed in a hot and sunny climate, not quite like what I thought the maritime provinces of eastern Canada would be.



Come to find out the French were years ago ousted from Nova Scotia and sent to Louisiana. That explains the similar music style, the French language, and the summer time video. It all makes perfect sense.

By the way Z is also for zero and that is about what the temperature feels like outside right now. It's freezing!

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ABC Wednesday- Letter Y

Y is for youth. (We're almost done with the alphabet! Can you believe it?)

My husband and I married young. You might say we "robbed the cradle" since we were both just seventeen. Ours has been like any marriage. We've had our struggles and moments of joy. We've had a house fill of young 'uns, a good share of pets, and plenty of noise and mess. We've grown up together and hopefully, we'll grow old together.

Some folks say teenage marriages are doomed to failure, but I wouldn't trade mine for anything. (Not today anyway...) All marriages take plenty of work and lots of sacrifice. And, with God's help we can survive. I know it is only by His grace that we have and will.



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ABC Wednesday- Letter W

W is for Webster, Williamson, and Wegmans.

I grew up in the town of Webster, NY. Webster is located 10-20 minutes east of Rochester, NY along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Signs welcoming visitors to town read "Welcome to Webster where life is worth living." (How's that for some W's?) . I checked Wikipedia and found some "notable" residents. I am not a TV watcher and have seen "Crossing Jordan" only a handful of times, so I had no idea one of the stars was from my hometown. I wouldn't know her in her role as DA Renee Walcott, nor could I pick Susan Gibney out of a crowd. I did however, at one point in time, know her younger brothers Pat and Tim. Lou Gramm, of Foreigner, lives in Webster, NY too though I have no clue where. (Okay, actually I do have a clue...) When my father was a boy, Webster was mostly farmland. My favorite childhood memories are of playing in a narrow strip of woods that ran between my parent's little neighborhood and what used to be the Junior High School. It was a great place to be a kid.

Now I live in Williamson, which is also along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, just a bit farther east. This little town, "The Core of Apple Country," remains mostly farm country; apple farms. Wikipedia doesn't list Williamson's notable people, but I happen to know that Diann Roffe, winner of a gold medal in skiing in the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway is a former Williamson resident. (My son went to school with her brother.) I like it here. I like the apple orchards, the tractors rumbling down the roads, and the quiet country feeling. I also like that it is not too far away from Webster where I do most of my shopping.

And that brings me to Wegmans, which is my favorite place to grocery shop. They have everything I need and are much more pleasant than Walmart. Warm and welcoming, and what do you know? They even have a blog!

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ABC Wednesday- Letter V

V is for vacation.

In our family a vacation often means a family reunion and/or a special occasion. We don't often go too far on our own without a valid reason. One of our first real vacations was a family reunion in 1988 to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Finally someone lived close enough to reach and almost everyone was able to come.

Next was a plane trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1992. We bought seven plane tickets (they were half price) and took our five children to meet their aunts, uncles, and cousins. We stayed for three weeks, one with each of James' sisters, and it was one of the best vacations ever! Even Grandmanita came, all the way from Nova Scotia. None of us wanted to leave.

It was many years before we were able to meet up again, this time in 2002, a Christmas reunion in Boulder, Colorado. Finally everyone was there. We had ten new family members who we had never even met! We piled 33 people into one little house for an unforgettable Christmas! The two day drive across the country was well worth it. Though we could have done without the stomach virus that ravaged our party. In spite of it, we spent one wonderful day driving through the mountains, another enjoying Pearl Street, and several just basking in each other's company.

Our last gathering was in 2006, a wedding in Albuquerque, where we added a new family member, Uncle Mike, and met our newest nephew, Ashton. Going to New Mexico is a little bit like going home. We take in all the chile peppers, homemade tortillas, and tamales possible, and never skip out on a chance to take a drive up into the Sandia Mountains.

There have been other vacations as well like taking our son to college or delivering a cabinet to a relative out of state. We have had family come for weddings and even headed out to a special occasion or two ourselves. Just last week some family members were hatching a plan for a family reunion in our back yard, a tent city of sorts. I wonder if it will really happen?

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ABC Wednesday- Letter U

U is for Uncle. :)

I lay in bed last night trying to come up with a wonderful "U" word, but since I am mostly following a family theme, the best word I could come up with is "uncle." I do think uncle is a wonderful word. I counted and decided that my father had fifteen plus uncles. (Some of his aunts were married twice.) My mother (whose own mother was an only child) had five uncles. She has one uncle still living. He is 101 years old and lives in a nearby family owned nursing home. I had three uncles. One passed away when I was just a little girl, one I saw seldom, and the third is highly treasured. He is my mother's brother and was terribly sick earlier this year. He would have been a favorite uncle even if I'd had a dozen. Hooray for uncles!

And finally, "U" is for ukulele. This was most often referred to as a banjo-uke, a cross between the two instruments, I suppose. It belonged to my father and was given to him and my Uncle Art when they were teenagers. I don't know if my uncle ever learned to play it, but I know my dad had fun with it. I believe it was one of his prized possessions and that is why I love it too.

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ABC Wednesday- Letter T

T is for teal, which is either a color or a member of the duck family, unless it is one's last name.

I acquired the name Teal when, as a teenager, I married my husband. We have been together now for twenty-nine years, almost thirty. We have raised seven children on this journey and it has been quite the trip!

My husband's family can be traced to Ridgeway, Ontario where the Teal family grew and multiplied. Ours seems to be a branch now little known as my in laws moved from the area over fifty years ago. My father in law was in the US Air Force and my husband was born in Tokyo; Tachikawa Air Force Base. (It's true.)

There remains in Fort Erie a road by the name of Teal where my husband's grandparents had a farm. On the Garrison, I think, is a mostly neglected and all but abandoned cabin which was once the original "Teal House." It is now a museum on the Ridgeway Battlefield, but I think maybe only Teals and tired truckers ever bother to stop there anymore. It is never open when we stop by.

Here, at this house, we have Teal Lake. Well, we have it today anyway. It appears, uninvited, in the backyard during torrential downpours. Hopefully, it will be gone by tomorrow, but I doubt it. It's still raining.

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ABC Wedenesday Letter S

S is for sisters. I have two.

My brothers were both older than me; my sisters are both younger. I was not yet three when Priscilla came along just before Christmas in 1966. Rachel arrived two years later well before Thanksgiving. While I remember Mom being pregnant with Rachel, my memories of Priscilla's arrival are a bit more hazy. In any case we all had a lot of fun together as children. We played dolls and Fisher Price, rode bicycles, and played in the woods. Mom and Dad took us camping, read us stories, and drew with us around the table on cold winter evenings. They have been there through the good times and the terrible and I don't know what I would ever do without them. This week I am thankful for many things. One of the big ones is my sisters.

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ABC Wednesday- Letter R

R is for rest and relaxation (and also for rocking chair)

I love rocking chairs. Maybe it is because my parents always had several. In the evenings, after the dishes were done and we children had been tucked into bed, Mom and Dad sat in their rocking chairs and talked quietly. We couldn't always hear exactly what they were saying, but the sound of their voices was comforting just the same. There was nothing nicer than to crawl up into the lap of a loving parent, rest of their chest, and sip the last drops from their coffee cup.

As a child I would climb into a big rocking chair, start to rock back and forth, and inevitably find myself at the tipping point. I would make a mad grab for the front of the seat in an effort to keep the whole thing from toppling over backward. Sometimes I was successful.

Now I have a home pretty much void of rocking chairs. The two I had inside are broken, and the one I keep on my back porch doesn't rock smooth and nice. What I do have is a child-size wicker rocker that I picked up at a sale this summer. It is a wonderful place to rest and relax if only one's backside will fit into the seat.

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ABC Wedenesday Letter Q

It's that time again...

Q is for... Albuquerque. (Can I do that?)

Although my husband's father was Canadian, he was also a member of the United States Air Force. His military travels took him to Albuquerque, New Mexico sometime around the year 1966 or 67. It became home to his family who lived there for many years. In the hearts of some, it will always be home. A little piece of me likes to call it home too.

Albuquerque is located pretty much in the middle of the state of New Mexico. (For those who missed my previous post, yes, there really is a state called New Mexico. Please do not confuse it with Arizona, Texas, or the country directly south of the United States. They do speak English and their money looks exactly like ours. You do not need a passport to visit this enchanting place.) The city of Albuquerque lies in a desert valley between the Sandia Mountains on the east and a band of extinct volcanoes on the west. From Sandia Peak visitors can look out over the entire city and see the volcano peaks on the opposite side.

A visit to Albuquerque isn't complete without plenty of New Mexican food. New Mexicans are very particular about their food which includes plenty of chile peppers, both red and green. Please don't confuse New Mexican "chiles" with the chili peppers that grow in the rest of the country. They just aren't the same. Ask the locals. Don't forget the sopapillas or fried dough drizzled with honey, and save room for a taste of Auntie Kathy's queso too!

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ABC Wednesday- Letter P

P is for pie.

What follows is a repeat for some of you, but I thought it was worth sharing again. This fall my daughter has been raising money. Her goal, to make enough to pay for a missions trip in February. She has been making pies, mostly apple, pumpkin, and blueberry, and selling them to friends. I have been helping. I don't think I have ever seen so many pies in my life! It has been a fun adventure.

Sit back and enjoy Auntie Martha's Pie Making Class, once again...

This is how my mom taught me to make a pie. I honestly haven't tried anything too fancy. Simple pies are some of the best, especially fresh fruit pies in season. I use Crisco because I have found cheap shortenings hard to work with, and I add water just one tablespoon full at a time and stir it with a fork. Why? Because Mom said to and it works. When I divide my dough for a two crust pie, I make the ball for the top crust slightly smaller than the bottom. I dampen the edge of the bottom crust before placing the top one and make sure the edges are sealed up. It's always a good idea to place your baking pie on some kind of a tray to prevent messes in the oven unless you don't mind the beeping of the smoke detector.

1-CRUST PASTRY

1½ c flour
½ t. salt
½ c. shortening
4-5 T cold water

Stir flour and salt together. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add water one tablespoon at a time stirring lightly with a fork. Add only as much water as is needed to gather dough together in a ball. Roll on lightly floured surface. Place in pie plate, roll and crimp edges before adding filling.

To bake unfilled pie crust, prick bottom and sides will with a fork. Bake in very hot oven (450°) for 10-12 minutes or until golden


TWO-CRUST PASTRY

2 c. flour
½ t. salt
⅔ c. shortening
5-7 T. cold water

Make as one crust pastry dividing ball of dough in half before rolling. Roll on lightly floured surface. Place in pie plate, add filling and top with second crust. Crimp edges together and bake as directed.

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ABC Wednesday- Letter O

O is for Ontario, Lake Ontario.

From the upstairs window I can see the waters of Lake Ontario. It is the last in the line of Great Lakes on the way to the Atlantic Ocean and has been my "neighbor" for my entire life. Often that which is familiar is forgotten or taken for granted and such has often been the case here.

I am happy to say that the blessing of this Great Lake was realized several years back and I have since endeavored to appreciate its presence. It is almost like living by the ocean except the tide doesn't go in and out.

PS. That is the Oswego Lighthouse.


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ABC Wednesday- Letter N

N is for New; New Mexico. (Not to be confused with Texas or Arizona...)

I was raised in upstate New York a few miles from the southern shore of Lake Ontario, so when I got married and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, I found myself in somewhat of a culture shock. To my husband it was home, to me everything was new.

Though there were no language barriers, there were still many new experiences for me in the six months I lived so far from my own family. New Mexico is desert with cacti and tumble weeds. Most trees are short and stubby. Front yards consist of stone, rock, and dirt unless there is an sprinkler system installed. Most houses are one story and covered in stucco. The residents dine on a seeming constant diet of chile peppers; red and green. Tortillas are a staple, and restaurants serve sopapillas with the meal instead of rolls.

Although we haven't lived there for many years (We have been back in NY since Christmas of 1981), I have come to love New Mexico too. I love the chile, I love the cacti, I love the mountains. And I love the family from New Mexico who became mine so many years ago.

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ABC Wednesday- Letter M

M is for Mom. Mom is the word.

She was there long before my heart started beating and dreamed of me even before I took my first breath. She has always been there to calm my fears, to whisper in my ear, to wrap me tight and warm in her arms. She held me close and yet taught me how to stand. She took my hand when I was unsteady and walked along. She dried my tears and cried along with me. She gave me direction, encouraged me along the way, and answered many questions. Though I didn't always understand, she always had my best interest at heart. She applauded my successes, grieved over my failures, and forgave my offenses. She hasn't always known what to do or how to respond, but she has always loved me. She is my mom.

Through the years she has remained constant. There have been times when I have become angry and frustrated with her, and others when she has been my best friend and confidant. She has misunderstood and been misunderstood. She has prayed for me and offered guidance. Now the years have taken her youth, turned her hair gray, and left her tethered to an oxygen tank. Last year they took her best friend and left her a widow. She often asks the same question several times and finds it hard to remember little details. I don't always know what to do or how to respond, but I do know I love her. She is my mom.

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ABC Wednesday- Letter L

L is for "Little Kid Television Shows..."

I am feeling rather lazy and lethargic this evening. I hope you don't mind one of my wanderings down memory lane...

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ABC Wednesday- Letter K

K is for kinfolk.

Up in my bedroom closet is a box full of old family photographs. I'm glad the pictures aren't all taken in a studio because so many bring a smile to my face and give me a glimpse into the lives of my relatives and ancestors.

My grandma grew up on a farm in the hills of Allegany county in southern New York state. She was the third of eleven children and was about eleven years old when this photo was taken in 1916. The back of the picture says "Shafer's Nine."

I am guessing about the next photo. It looks to be several of the same group out on the farm with some animal friends. I'm fairly certain the young boy on the end with a chicken under his arm was the baby in the previous photo.

My great grandpa dressed in his raggedy coat really makes me smile. He reminds me a bit of my own father; it's the eyes and hands. Grandma said that Grandpa "didn't know enough to come in out of the rain." He loved his vegetable garden. (Maybe because it was quiet out there...)


I don't know the story here either but I'm pretty sure I could make something up. I love the overalls, the bare feet, the dirt on the dress, and the little ring on the girl's finger. She is one of my father's many aunts but I'm not sure which one.

This is a photo I asked my dad about. These two look like a couple of moonshiners, but were actually my great grandma's brothers, Herb and Charlie. Dad thought they were old bachelors but my research showed that they had both been married and were widowers. One lost his wife in the flu epidemic along with an infant son.

Finally, one of my favorites. Uncle Al holding a piglet. When my father was a little boy he climbed into the pigpen where he was once chased by an angry sow. He ran screaming from one end of the pen to the other, jumping up on the fence before rushing back to the other side. His mother came running out and saved him.

I wish I knew more about these people of my past and their stories. I love the character that shows through in the photos and find it interesting that many of my father's aunts were artists. Some even painted pictures of childhood scenes.

K, kinfolk.

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ABC Wednesday- Letter J

J is for journal.

Packed away in the attic at Mom's house I found a treasure, two old journals written by my father when he was fifteen. They are a priceless treasure; a glimpse into the past and a peek into my father's young heart. Through his written words I gain a better understanding of who my father was and how God made him into the man I knew and loved, and how God works ahead of time to bless His children in ways unthinkable.

Dad also left behind a several diaries. They tell of his teenage escapades, him meeting and dating my mother, the struggles with my handicapped brother, and the births of myself and my sisters. Last year I decided to keep a journal too. Who knows what life-changing events may one day be recorded there...

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ABC Wednesday- Letter I

I is for ideas, and imagination.

One thing I love about children is their capacity for ideas and imagination. I have seven children and believe me they are full of ideas. What one doesn't think of, another does. Which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what it is. They have all kinds of ideas when it comes to group photos.

Imagination is what makes life interesting. It brings a healthy dose of laughter and laughter can be infectious. You may think my kids are being immature, but their antics bring a smile to my face even years later.

Imagine my surprise when my little daughter came downstairs dressed like this! Incredible! Yes, life with children is always interesting.

(Phew! I am rather relieved to have completed the Letter I. And here I was finding it impossible.)


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ABC Wednesday- Letter H

H is for house, home, and hope.

In their lifetime my parents purchased one house. Back in 1958 the house sold for about $7,500. I'm told it was seven years old and in pretty bad shape when they bought it. My grandpa knocked on the walls and proclaimed it was made of cardboard, but my parents came to love the little house and turned it into a home.

A home is much more than just a roof over one's head. It is a place where family gathers, where memories are made, and where love grows. As the years ticked by, along with the family, the little house grew. Dad made a bedroom for my brother in the attic and, with my uncle's help, built a garage. A family room was added on the back of the little house making it big enough to shelter a family and welcome friends.

It's hard to believe that the little house we know as "home" may one day belong to someone else. If I live another forty years it will still be home. How could it be anything else?

And hope... Hope is my mother's middle name. She was born with a rare type of spina bifida, high on her back between her shoulder blades. Back then the doctors weren't quite sure what to do. They told her parents to take her home and "hope" for the best.

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ABC Friday- Letter G

G is for gorges, glens, and gullies. (Am I allowed to do this twice in one week? I just couldn't wait for Round 8.)
Earlier in the week Rachel called to ask if we wanted to hike Grime's Glen in Naples, NY with her today. It sounded like fun so I said yes. (First I went to the chiropractor because I have been hurting for several weeks now. I know I should not try to feed a baby and talk on the phone simultaneously, but that is what I did and I paid the price. Hopefully I am on the mend. I will see Dr. Matt again next week so he can twist my head around some more. In the meantime I can lift my arms without sharp pains in my shoulders.)

Anyway, the glen was gorgeous. Rachel and I were there two years ago, in the fall, on a sisters day, but it was a colder day and we didn't walk very far. Today we walked right up the creek and saw both waterfalls. The water was cold but not painfully so. It actually felt good.

We hiked to both waterfalls and I found myself wishing I had worn shorts or a bathing suit so I could swim in the pool beneath the second falls. I doubt I will make it back again before the water is too cold too swim in. I would however, like to take a hike through some of the other gorges, glens, and gullies in the Finger Lakes area before winter sets in.



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ABC Wednesday- Letter G

G is for Grandpa and garden

(I hope you will forgive me for repeating a past blog. It's been a long day. The children I babysit arrived here at seven this morning, my oldest grandchild has been staying overnight since Friday, and my other two grandsons were here for the evening. I am exhausted!)

July 22, 2009

Mr. McGregor's Change of Heart

"Now, my dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor." (from The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter)

Did I mention that my father and his garden remind me of Mr. McGregor and Peter Rabbit? It's just a little garden, tucked between the next door fence and the side of Dad's house. The side toward the road is enclosed by a four foot stockade fence. On the backyard side is a wire fence and a wooden gate. Scattered along the wire fence are moth pellets, to keep the rabbits out. Hmm... not working.

The other day Dad went out to look at his garden and whom should he meet but Peter Rabbit! He was nibbling on some beet greens. "Scram!" shouted Mr. McGreg... I mean Dad.

Peter took off running but evidently had forgotten the way back to the gate. He ran straight for the fence, probably because there was no tool shed to hide in. He was quite certain he was home free until he discovered that although his front end fit through the wire fence rather easily, his back end was stuck fast. His fat little hopping legs and hips were entirely too wide.

Peter gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by Dad. (Mr. McGregor's wife had put Peter's father into a pie, and I'm pretty sure Peter thought Dad had the same idea.) The poor little bunny was much too frightened to back out of the fence the way he had gone in (this part of the story reminds me a bit of Pooh Bear) and it was impossible for him to pass through going forward.

In Dad's younger days he had been a hunter. He's hunted down and eaten all kinds of critters; frogs, turtle, squirrels, rabbit... I wonder if it ever crossed his mind that he could have a free meal? Evidently he has become rather fond of the little creatures that visit and live in his yard, because rather than fetch himself a meal, he headed to the garage for a pair of wire cutters.

Peter screamed and hollered when Dad touched him, but took of like a shot as soon as his back legs were free. Peter never stopped running or looked behind him till he got home to wherever it is he lives. I don't suppose he had bread and milk and blackberries for supper! Probably a dose of chamomile tea instead.

After watching Peter run across the yard, Dad turned back to look at his garden and there sat Peter's cousin, Little Benjamin Bunny. "Scram!" shouted Dad, and Little Benjamin took off like a shot. Lucky for him he was smaller than Peter!

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