The Trees Sue’s Dad Had the City Plant, 35 Years Ago
Yesterday Sue commented on the new tulip tree being planted in front of my house. She told how her father had the city plant trees up and down her street, thirty five years ago, and how they were a memorial to him. He was featured on the blog for a Veteran’s Day post- Martin H. Cooper.
Today I was driving by her street on my way home from the Waterfront. Took two cell shots of his trees. Thanks Sue for your good words on the blog.
A Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Friend- Remembering Theresa
She is going to be sorely missed. Wednesday and Thursday the family gathered in at Aunt Linda’s and Uncle Frank’s house. One neighbor next door brought over nut horns and apricot and cherry cookies, and the neighbor on the other side brought a Jell-o salad. There was ham and bean soup and a tray of baked stuffed shells, haluski, a chicken, hoagies from the Triangle Bar and lots of salad and fruit. There was laughter and tears and stories and sifting through the pictures of growing up. A round of hugs and kisses and fresh tears at every greeting and farewell. The family drove in from Ohio this afternoon. Doing schoolwork at the kitchen table, the little ones watching a dinosaur movie in the family room. Aunt Linda making everyone welcome with food and drink and hospitality.
A wonderful woman Allison at the Waterfront COSTCO printed an 8×10 memorial portrait just before closing time.
Friday the family will gather together at the Memorial Service.
Family and friends will be received from 10- 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the THOMAS L. NIED FUNERAL HOME, INC., 7441 Washington St., Swissvale. A Blessing Service will be held at the funeral home on Friday morning at 11 a.m.
http://www.niedfuneralhome.com
Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
Theresa, the sister of my daughter-in-law Erika’s mother, Marlene.
Theresa had a great sense of humor and a beautiful spirit. She adored her granddaughter. And one thing about Theresa, she spoke her mind!
Didn’t mind if you didn’t agree with her point of view. She’d present strong arguments for her stance.
Love and sympathy to all who loved her – dear daughters Shannon and Jaclyn and to her dear granddaughter Parker Rose.
And to her sweet sisters Linda, Marlene and Georgeann. Rest in Peace, Theresa.
Ready to go to the wedding. Mother of the Bride Theresa
The Four Sisters Picture L to R Georgeann, Linda, Marlene and Theresa
at Jaclyn and Mike’s wedding
I love this photograph. Don’t know who took it. Left to Right- Theresa, The Four Sisters’Mother Marion, Linda the Bride, Marlene and Georgeann
Growing Up- Mother Marion with Linda in the middle and Theresa on the left and Marlene on the right
I took this one at Erika and Mark’s home
Theresa with her daughters, Jaclyn and Shannon
With Granddaughter Parker Rose at her baptism.
Olga Melynchek Muraska’s Nut Horn Recipe Baked by her Daughter
My cell rang as I was in the check out at Giant Eagle. I was buying cheese and crackers and Clementines for the Photography Class reception that started in a little over an hour. Marianne said that she was baking her mother’s recipe for nut horns right then if I wanted to photograph them. She had made the dough the night before and refrigerated it.
I looked at the time. It was 4:44.
I was in the South Side but figured I could drive to the West End and then make it to the North Side for the last class/reception.
Make the dough the night before and refrigerate
Confectioner's sugar!
When I got there she had three pans of the cookies in different stages, just like a cooking show.
I started shooting to tell the story of the making of her mother’s recipe. I was amazed to find out that is confectioner’s sugar on the board where she rolls them out. Not flour!
The recipe says Nut Crescents but Olga always called them Nut Horns.
Marianne gave me a half dozen in a ziploc bag. Delicious. Remembering Christmases past.
Here is the recipe.
Remembering Olga link.
Remembering My Friend’s Mother- Olga Melynchek Muraska
Today’s post is in loving memory of my friend’s mother, Olga Melynchek Muraska. Born 11-29-1921 – Died 6-27-2011. She was always so good to my children and me. And her homemade pierogies were the best! I took some photos of classic photos her daughter Marianne compiled for the memory collage when she was putting them together at her house the other night. I asked if I could make a tribute to her mother’s memory on the blog and she said that was fine. I took the more recent one at a Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast a few years ago. You can see her downtown and as a bride. She had a smile for everyone and was working well into her eighties. An amazing hard working woman who loved wholeheartedly.
Poets House New York City & Remembering a Friend
from the archives- Found a special poetry book on the shelf in Poets House in New York City- Dorothy Holley’s Dream Quartet. Dorothy Holley was born 88 years ago today- May 15th. The poetry community of Pittsburgh misses her greatly.
I filmed a video of Dorothy reading her poetry in 2005, Quart Jar Poet. She was an inspiration, publishing her first book at age 82 and then three more books to follow. Here are a couple photos from Poets House. From the inside you look out onto the Hudson River. You can listen to Dorothy reading some of her poetry on YouTube, filmed by Barb Alsko, if you put in her name in the search. She was a good friend to me. I miss having tea with her. She kept a beautiful garden. Her iris are growing and blooming at Liane’s these days. Click here for last year’s postto remember Dorothy.
Mother Mary- Springtime NYC
Someone placed a bouquet in the crook of her arm. Today’s post remembers friend and poet Christina Murdock who passed one year ago today, a week short of her thirtieth birthday.
from Let it Be by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. Let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
Gallery of Veterans
Joanne Basden’s Father Top Left Corner
Don Anderson and Ed Kichi Sept 1966
Phu Bai, Viet Nam
Don Anderson and Ed Kichi
Quantico, VA 2011 Reunion TBS-4-66
Martin H Cooper veteran World War II – European Theater -
(Sue Reinfeld’s father)
1st Plt, D Co. 39th OCC
- John E. Hilliard Troop Transport 194This was a project I started and it is incomplete. I am hoping to receive more photographs of Veterans you know and love to add to the gallery.
Orville Lee, 87 years old, who served in France during WWII. Orv is the heart and soul of our weekly retired group we call CAB (Coffee and Bagels). I hear he has beaten his sons climbing a rock wall recently.
Mike’s brother — Ed Kichi — 2nd from the left in the 2nd row. In above photo of the 1st Platoon D Co, 39th OCC
Ed Kichi and Don Anderson
Quantico , VA
Reunion in 2011
in Sept 1966 Phu Bai, Viet Nam
To include those currently serving in the military This photo sent by Sally Nauer of her son’s unit (Jonathan Nauer) neighbors at Ft. Knox in the seventies
In Afghanistan, (Back in USA 2012)
from blog reader Anne Hamilton in the United Kingdom
Charles Albert Kydd ” I thought Ruth might like the attached photo of my great uncle, the brother of my English grandmother (the one you met). Charles Albert Kydd was born in 1896. He went missing and I’ve also attached a document relating to this which I found in amongst my gran’s papers. Unfortunately I don’t know anything else – not even what regiment he was attached to.”
Thankfully he did
I hope you got the pictures of my favorite veterans – the first was my brother, Michael Cooper, who served in Vietnam in 1968 – Sue
survive the war and lived into old age!
Lt. Robert A. Bard, US Navy (22 yrs, 7 mos total service)
Email a photo of a veteran with name and information about service and I will add it to the gallery. rutheh@gmail.com
Suzanne Colvin- “I’m attaching a photo of my dad, shot in Italy, where he served. His name was William Key (1921-2005); he was a Captain in the 5th Army in Italy.
Bob Patak Remembered
Steve picked me up from school. We drove over to Shadyside. He asked me to take a photo of Bob’s store, Shadyside Mining Company, as a tribute to his friend who passed away last Saturday night. The beautiful bouquet lovingly tucked in the door made me cry. Went to buy a Post-Gazette at Rite-Aid but they were all gone. The young woman at Jitters Cafe and Ice Cream on Walnut and Ivy let me have the page with Bob’s obit(click) to put at his store so people could read the arrangements. Another friend, Ellen, came over from Talbot’s. She was wearing a stunning necklace that Bob designed. She told us about the bench across the street from the store where he used to sit. Steve and Rich and Bob and Ash used to play some mean tennis.Scroll down to see a photo @ Cappy’s last March of Doug, Steve, Rich, and Bob on the right in the group photo.
You can see the sandwich sign he used to put out on the sidewalk.
Will Miss His Good Words
If you read the blog comments you might have read Bernie’s name. He passed in his sleep on Saturday night, his sister wrote to tell me, asked me to let David know. Bern was my brother David’s best friend growing up in Morris Plains NJ in the ’60′s. Bonnie said we brought a lot of smiles to him lately as he did us. We are going to miss his sense of humor and generous heart. He especially liked the Sept 3rd post so I am posting a butterfly for Bern today as final arrangements are made in Kalamazoo.
Love and Sympathy to the Gruizinga family, Ruthie
Remembering Bern Gruizinga August 31, 1949- September 19, 2010
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Tribute Reading & Reception 9-18-10/Scroll Down for Information
Tess created this bouquet for Joan when she hosted Book Club. Christina was a member of Book Club, too.
Christina Murdock
Christina Murdock was awarded the 2006 Sara Henderson Hay Prize from The Pittsburgh Quarterly Online, and her writing has been published in The 10th Floor Review, Collision, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Voices from the Attic and Pittsburgh CityPaper. She died in April just one week before her 30th birthday and is survived by her husband, Terry, and daughter, Sophia. A tribute reading of her work will be held at 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Sept. 18 at Kresge Theater, Carlow University. Free and open to the public. Sales of her book, Burying the Body,($12.95) will benefit a scholarship fund for her daughter. Sponsored by Madwomen in the Attic, a creative writing group for women @ Carlow University. If you would like to order a book let me know.
Remembering Joyce Brengarth Singh,Ph.D -”Farmgirl at heart.”
Professor, Social Worker, Psychotherapist, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Friend. Joyce grew up on a honey bee farm in Boonville Missouri. These jars of honey were photographed at night in Croatia and are posted as a tribute and celebration of her life. Photographed in the town on Cres on Cres Island when I visited Matthew two summers ago. Joyce and her husband Bunt (Dr. Singh as well) were loving parents to both Mark and Matthew during their high school years and beyond. Thank you. Click here for newspaper article about Joyce’s life. After Monday’s funeral, her husband and sons, Prem and Davinder, will accompany her to her final rest in a family plot in Missouri. Mass of Christian Burial is Monday(today) at 10AM St Bede’s. Newspaper article is from Sunday.
Pollinators are so important. Jars of honey to remember Joyce B Singh.
“I Dug Up the Iris” by Guest Poet Liane Ellison Norman
Dorothy's iris photographed May 27, 2010 after tea together on her back porch
I Dug Up the Iris
in Dorothy’s garden
to plant in the soaked
soil of mine, memorial
to her each spring
when they’ll open
complicated ruffles
and flourishes, purple
or blue with speckled
throats. They’ll rise
out of rhizomes
sprawling at soil’s
surface like the joints
of my old hands
anchoring the tall
stalks and frilly petals.
This morning
in the brief breath
of cool I dug shallow
trenches for this legacy,
this pantry of pollens
the bees prospect,
insects with lives
beyond what the mere
gardener knows.
Liane Ellison Norman, a Madwoman in the Attic, has published two books of poetry, The Duration of Grief and Keep (www.smokeandmirrorspress.com). She has published poems in 5AM, Kestrel, North American Review, Grasslimb, Rune, Voices from the Attic anthologies and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Her poem “What There’d Been” won the Wisteria Prize in 2006 from Paper Journey Press.
Raindrops on Lily in Dorothy’s Garden
The gray and rain prevented me from photographing all of Dorothy’s beautiful garden for her family. She tended it so well. The blueberries ripening, a giant broccoli ready to cut. New lettuces. And the tomatoes have really shot up. As I was leaving, the vibrant orange stood out amongst the greens. I am certain there is a special name for this flower. Dorothy kept the tags and seed packets of what she planted in her garden, for future reference,
Just after it had rained.
Celebration of the Life of Dorothy H. Holley – 6 o’clock Friday night- Calvary Church in Shadyside, Corner of Walnut and Shady Ave.
Dorothy H. Holley – Poet, Friend
A slideshow, remembering Dorothy. Blackberries on Greek yogurt. Roses, iris and tulips from her garden. The back porch where we’d sit, have tea, watch birds feed and bathe. She wrote poems after viewing the photos of the Mill at Night and The Cider Press. She baked fresh bread and gave me some to take home for Steve. She’d slice tomatoes and make summer sandwiches to share. She contributed many comments on the blog. She showed us how to live life with courage, grace and love. for Pittsburgh Post Gazette obituary click here
Service at Calvary Church Shady and Walnut, Friday June 11th 6:00PM
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