It's Doing It Again

                             

 It's starting to snow and it's blowing into the screened patio.  

  The glass top table make a nice bulletin board.

We haven't as yet got cleaned up from the Ice Storm , and it's         snowing.  Well, after all it's still winter.

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Pancakes at St. Stephens

The crowd begins to gather about 5 PM, and all will enjoy some of the best pancakes you can have in this part of  the world.  

Shrove Tuesday is also called Fat Tuesday because on that day a thrifty housewife uses up the fats she has kept around for cooking, but that she will not be using during Lent.  Since pancakes use of lots of fat, the day is also called Pancake Tuesday.  In England and perhaps elsewhere, the day is celebrated with pancake races.  Contestants run a course while holding a griddle and flipping a pancake. 

 Read Winifred's Blog (a nice lady form England) "Pancake Tuesday." 

Kodakery

I picked up this little booklet," Kodakery", a number of years ago at a flea market near Hickory, NC.  A monthly publication of Eastman Kodak and dated Oct. 1923.  A purchase of an Eastman Brownie at that time entitled you to a one year subscription to Kodakery.  ( A typical Brownie camera of that time is pictured below.)

I've been an avid camera enthusiast  for a long time and I once was a member of the Catawba Valley Camera Club of Hickory, NC.  A wonderful group of people who really take photography seriously. I learned a lot and enjoyed my time with them.  I must say photography has changed immensely over the years.

I have a son who is a professional photographer who lives in Houston, TX.  I often wonder how he ever got involved in photography. World's Great Photographer.

This a what a typical Brownie Camera of 1923

Looks like.  The bellow construction continued until

WWll. 

A far cry from the digital camera of today.

A Man of Many Hats

This post is dedicated to Mason Day, his wife Betty, and his dog Luther. 

Thanks Mason for following my blog; I am deeply honored.

I kid Mason a lot, first because I like him and second because he takes all my kidding so well.  He wears many hats figuratively speaking because he can do so many things well, and secondly because I think his head gets cold like mine when he goes out .  I always can tell if he's at Church because his hat is always hanging on his special hook.  His wife Betty is equally a wonderful person to know and she and Mason make a great team.   Now Luther is another story and I must say our relationship is at best "pending".

Mason, Betty, and Luther are all very special and we are blessed to have them at Westminster Village.

And Thanks For Following My Blog

Number Please

While cleaning out some junk I came across this old phone.  I've had it a long time and I'm sure it has lots of history.  I did a little research and found it to be made by Western Electric and first introduced in 1907 and was produced for about 30 years.  It's an early model because the hinged front opens left to right. Later models were changed to open right to left to prevent interference with the magneto crank.  The magneto still works and the bells still ring.  To make a call you must first ring central and give the number to the operator. Most phones were party lines (lines shared by several customers and listening to your neighbors conversations was common practice.) 

This phone could be 100 years old.

The Cliff Edwards Story

An interesting and very touching story.  Worth the read.

Old College Days

I expect to get lots of kidding over this posting;

Go ahead, I can take it.

Be My Valentine

Valentine Sweethearts

I couldn't resist posting this photo.  Besides, the family will get a big kick out of seeing it.  

Happy Valentine Day to my Queen

Westminster Valentine King and Queen

Congratulation to this years Valentine Royal Couple.  Queen Olive Summerford and King Dave Boyton.  May your reign be supreme.  It was a wonderful party, lots of food, music, and fun for all. 

"Driving Sideways"

The Driving Sideways Band from Memphis supplied the music.  This group has been with us several times, playing at various functions.  They have a great sound and we enjoyed their music greatly.  We are looking forward to having them again.

Tita Mama Defined

Tita Mama is really " Sister Moma", but because her younger brother couldn't say sister. he called her Tita and it stuck. 

After she was grown and married it became Tita Mama..  I'm sure this is Southern culture, and I'm reminded of Tennessee William's play, " A Cat On A Hot Tin Roof ", there were Big Daddy, Big Mama, Sister Mama , and Maggie the Cat.

In conclusion, she is our daughter, living in North Carolina.  She reads and comments on many blogs but refuses to have one of her own.   All other children, and grandchildren have blogs, and websites, and all are linked to our home page. Search 'em out and have fun. 

Two Hundred Sixty Years and Still Going Strong

Wilda                                       Julia                   Mable 

 

The exercise class resumed this morning for the first time since the ice storm.  These ladies won't tell their ages but together they total over 260 years, and they are all dedicated  to keeping fit.  You're welcome to come join us any Monday, Wednesday or Friday, 10 AM at the Ramey Center.

The Real Frank

Everyone wants his picture on the blog so why not the webmaster.  Anyone want to hear a fish story?

When I retired my good friend Jim Parrish from the display dept. sent me this picture.  He was very talented and did some of his artist work in Las Vegas clubs.  This was 20 years ago, and my fishing days are behind me. Many thanks to Jim. 

The Real Dana

I've had numerous comments about the portrait of Dana on an earlier post.  Is it really her, and what does she really look like, and who did the drawing?  Well, here she is.   Thanks Dana, for your picture and your poem.

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The Storm Is Over

It's nice to be a  part of a group that cares about one another.  During the recent ice storm everyone was looking out for his neighbor.  The Village staff worked hard by doing everything within their power to keep us safe and secure.  I think everyone deserves a big round of thanks and a pat on the back.

Now that it's over we can look back and maybe see some humor in it all.  Dana Overman of the marketing department wrote this poem, which I'm sure will jog your memory of the past week and maybe get a good chuckle now and then. 

Thanks Dana for a real "Work of Art". 

Making "Light" of a Dark Situation

By Dana Overman

Twas the night of the ice storm, and all through the house,

Not an appliance was working, no computer no mouse.

The flat screen was hung on the wall with such care,

A giant black box at which I could stare.

The children had moved out, thank God they weren't there,

No cell phones, no I-Pods I would be pulling my hair.

"My gosh Mom, I'm bored, what can I do?"

They'd say while they ducked, and I threw a shoe.

And all of a sudden there came such a fear,

I was stricken with panic, my eye's shed a tear.

No Leno, no Letterman, no Amercian Idol,

So I reached for a book, but couldn't see the title.

The icicles hung on the gutters like knives,

Endangering eye glasses, hairdo's and lives.

When from my back yard there came such a racket,

I tripped and I cursed as I put on my jacket.

And what with my oversized ears did I hear,

But the hum of a generator, who's name is John Deere.

My husband was dressed, his gas can in hand,

Is something resembling the Michelim Man

He snorted and scratched and gave a big grunt,

He said," Get my gun- I'm gonna go hunt".

I let out a laugh and said,"What a pity,

I think it's illegal, We live in the city".

Then from the street came a rumbling noise,

A convoy of trucks, " The Entergy Boys".

Go Linda, Go Lindsey, Go Vella, and Annette

Hey Angela, Hey Teresa, Hey Kendall and Jess

To the top of the poles with their tool belts attached,

They went quickly to work, their harnesses latched.

The clothing they wore couldn't  have been better,

They looked like a wheel of aging sharp cheddar.

Their hands they kept with wire in tow,

And yelled when they dropped it," Look out below".

I ventured outside covering my head, 

I just got my hair done; icicles I dread.

When I made it out safely, I looked to the skies,

And couldn't believe what I saw with my eyes.

The lines were all frozen, the poles snapped in two,

How will they fix this, what will they do?

I yelled up,"Hey Jess,what do you know"?

When will I have power, I'm missing my show".

He gave me a look that made me declare,

"Geese Jess, what the matter, don't you even care?"

"No Leno, no Letterman, no Amercian Idol,

I can't read a book, I can't see the title.

So chop-chop get busy, why will you not speak?

I need my electricity", he said," in a week."

I suddenly felt nauseous I was going to blow,

Like the last time I ate clams at the local Bristro.

A week with no power, what will we do?

Play Pinochle, Yahtzee or scrub the mildew?

I said to my husband who stood closely by,

" You'll have to speak", he shrugged and said, " why?"

We looked at each other, he tilted his head,

"Oh well" was his comment, "Let's go to bed".

The generator was fine it was willing and able,

It did what it could but it was not Cable.

A week went by slowly and then just as quick,

The power came on like a good magic trick.

I grabbed the remote from the old coffee table,

And flicked on the TV, but alas still no Cable.

Again from the street came a rumbling noise,

A convoy of trucks, The Entergy Boys.

I heard them exclaim as they drove out of sight,

"Our work is done here, let there be light."

You think this all, the end of my fable,

Well I want to know, who'll fix my cable?