O is for Ouch

O is for ouch. (That's what you say when something hurts. It's safe to say. Unlike some other words...)

When my sister and I went out to visit our non- verbal autistic brother yesterday, she brought along a few old photographs. One was of my brothers and a cousin with our maternal grandfather. Grandpa Chambery died when I was just a year and a half old. My sisters never met him.

I glanced at the picture, taking in the smiling faces of  my brothers and cousin and set it back in her car's console. A few minutes later she said, "Hey, what happened to Grandpa Chambery's left index finger?"

I laughed. I hadn't realized she didn't know the story. "He got it smashed in an elevator of some kind on the hill by their house," I told her. "It was crushed so bad that they cut his finger open, removed all the broken bones, and rolled the skin up." (Kind of gives you shivers, doesn't it?) I knew the story from Mom, but I'd never noticed his hand in old photos. In fact, I'd have forgotten about it altogether if Rachel hadn't mentioned it.

On our ride with Tim, Rachel showed him the picture. She asked if he knew Grandpa was missing an index finger. (Apparently there is another photo where Tim is holding his left hand.) I reiterated the story and said, "He probably remembers it better than I do." You should have seen the smile on his face. Maybe that's why I got the kiss on the cheek when we dropped him off again. (Then again, maybe he really does think I'm cuter than Rachel.)

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O is for Obsession

O is for Obsession and if this ever makes it to ABC Wednesday, it will be the latest entry ever.

Don't you just hate when something occurs and your mind keeps playing either events or scenarios over and over? Although I was way beyond tired last night when I climbed into bed, my mind was working overtime. After tossing and turning for a while, I finally tried taking Benadryl and drifted into a fitful, restless slumber. Today being Saturday, I had no real reason to get out of bed early, yet found myself in the shower a little after 7 am.

I'm trying to think about other things, but my mind will continue to bounce back to the original obsessive thought until the issue is resolved. The terrible thing is that it isn't an issue that I can resolve at all. I am just a spectator and there is very little I can do to help.

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O is for Old

O is for old, in this case old news.

For some strange and unknown reason I have been searching for old news online. Old news can be interesting sometimes, especially if one knows who the tidbits of information concern. I googled my grandfather's name and came up with old town newspapers, pages that read something like a gossip column or Facebook newsfeed.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Plotzker and two children of Rochester were Sunday guests of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emil Plotzker.

Mrs. Emil Plotzker is able to be out again after having been confined to her home with the grip.

-The Herald Mail, Fairport, NY Thursday February 9, 1933

My father was just a baby...

And then this one. It's even older.

Penfield, March 26- Mr. and Mrs. Arndt attended the confirming of their grandson, Arthur Plotzker in Rochester Sunday.

Monroe County Mail, Thursday, March 28, 1918

(I'm guessing this old photo of my grandpa, a late addition to this post,  is either a graduation of some kind or that confirmation the newspaper mentioned.)

 Upstairs in my bookcase was an old book with Grandpa's name on it. I went to look and there was his Common Service Book, the proof of his confirmation At St. John's Lutheran Church in Rochester, NY. And just now I am realizing the ceremony took place on his fourteenth birthday. Interesting.

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O is for Orange and Ochre

Oh, what a golden world! Is there any time of year more beautiful than autumn? Orange and ochre everywhere. Splashes of red and spots of green.

A friend and I went down to the Finger Lakes to take photos. At a little chapel nestled on the hillside overlooking Keuka Lake, I found this O in the iron gate. It makes a perfect picture frame. 

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O is for Oreo

"Cause a kid'll eat the middle of an Oreo first, and save the chocolate cookie outside for last."

O is for Oreo. The Oreo Cookie is celebrating its 100th birthday this year and that makes it a perfect candidate for the letter O!

Oreo has come a long way since its humble beginning in 1912. Or maybe it was not such a humble beginning... Oreo cookies, once known as the "Oreo Biscuit", were originally sold as an imitation of the Hydrox cookie which was made by Sunshine. (Sunshine made those yummy Vienna Fingers I loved so much too.) And here I always assumed Sunshine was the copycat.

When I was a kid (a mere 40 years ago), Oreo came in just one flavor, though I do remember the introduction of Double Stuf. Since then there have been all kinds of fun flavors and colors starting with the introduction of Double Stuf in 1975. We have been known to purchase Cool Mint Oreos, and on occasion the Golden variety. I really liked the Birthday Cake Oreos that came out in time for the 100th birthday celebration, and I will be on the lookout for more new flavors because I rather enjoyed the Berry Burst Ice Cream flavor too.

So Happy 100th Birthday to Oreo Cream Sandwich Cookies! 

Thanks for being part of our childhood and thanks for your participation in ABC Wednesday!!!

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Haha! I found the Oreo song!!!

O is for Osage

O is for Osage Orange which I know little to nothing about...

however my friend's artist husband evidently found them interesting enough to paint. The painting hung on the guestroom wall when we stayed there overnight and I happened to snap a picture. (It was one that caught my eye online and there it was for real, right in my room!)

I did a little googling and found the fruits of the Osage orange are also known as "hedge apples." This little bit of information jogged my memory. A fellow blogger once wrote about "hedge apples" so I went back and looked it up on her blog and there they were! Evidently they smell much better than black walnuts...

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O is for Orange

O is for orange.

I like the little mandarin Clementines, the fresh ones, not the kind that come in a can. We buy them by the box or bag during the winter months and I try not to notice how much they cost, focusing rather on how good they are for us and how wonderful they taste. Sofie, my little dog, likes them too. They are her favorite and sometimes I actually share.

This particular small child is difficult to feed. He eats bananas, but refuses to taste apples or grapes. For some strange and unknown reason, one day he decided that Clementines might be safe. Now he loves them, especially the ones he can peel all by himself. His sister, on the other hand, has informed me that she does NOT like oranges. She will not eat them or bananas. She does, however like grapes and apples... Go figure.

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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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