Peter Celebrates the Big Five O (+)
Stuffed grape leaves, and fancy cheeses. Goat cheese and fig jam on bruschetta. Green grapes. Some bubbly to toast. M and D brought the most drinkable wine. A secret in the carafe, a blind test. Carlo Rossi. No kidding. Beat out the pricey Portuguese wine. What do we know?
Dates and nuts in a chocolate South African pudding recipe, topped with whiskey whipped cream, created by his wife Janice. Happy Birthday to Peter. Live music at a party makes the evening rhyme. Marc on harmonica and Peter and Doug on guitar. Kim sang a number with the lyrics on her cell phone.
A fun surprise party. Well done, J.
Raspberries and Blueberries on Vanilla Häagen-Dazs
Accompanied by ginger snaps!
This is the dessert my friend V served at a lovely home cooked dinner last Saturday. It was delicious. A generous helping, too.
A nice finish to a simply perfect meal. Walleye caught by Cousins Jeff and Jeffrey, a baked sweet potato and salad with whisked lemon juice and olive oil dressing. Found this in my phone tonight and was thinking about how everything was so good. She said she was following the same idea my mother used to profess- Buy the best food you can and do as little to it as possible. Good advice.
The Pamela’s Ginger Mini Snapz are gluten free and quite tasty. Hope you have a good day Saturday. HBTY!
32 Years Later
Happy Birthday Matthew. Remember when we pulled off Interstate 80 on the way to NYC last August?
Here you are last summer in front of your first home in Clarion PA. The house we brought you to from the hospital, 32 years ago.
Of course I didn’t send a card, just like last year! So this is my birthday wish for you. A day filled with love!
You sure give all of us a lot of love. (Matthew’s the one who says about my photographing people, It’s annoying now, but later you’re glad)
Thinking of you today and everyday.
love. Ma
100 Years Ago Today
Marian Van Sickle Hendricks
Born Durand Illinois
September 3, 1912
The one room school house photo with my mother as the teacher (in the back row left) was photographed September 13, 1930.
Written on the back of the photo – Barbara Sweet, Pearl Wallace, Jesse Shultz, Ellis Greene, Truman Sweet.
Front row, l to r, Glenn Greene, Laurence Judd, Edward Bratt, Truman Clark, Phyllis Sweet, Mildred Judd.
In the photos with her are her brothers John Rowley Van Sickle (1910) and Robert Eugene Van Sickle (1914) Her parents Judd Dewitt Van Sickle and Charlotte Rowley Van Sickle were married in 1908.
The doll, Maybelle is in my living room.
She married Roy Joseph Hendricks August 28, 1939.
I am the baby in the photograph with the 1952 Dodge Wayfarer and my sister Mary and brother David.
My mother passed September 7, 2000.
Happy 7th Birthday
Seven years ago I was in Florida watching Anna while Erika and Mark went to the hospital. Happy Birthday Michael Joseph! He just lost his first tooth and is starting First Grade on Wednesday so your last day of summer vacation you don’t have to go to school. Bet you’ll find time to build something with your new Star Wars Lego today.
Blogging from Aunt Mary’s computer in NYC at 3 AM so when you wake up you can see your birthday post. Love, FF Ruthie
“It’s Annoying Now, But Later You’re Glad”
Laura’s 29th birthday. She says it is her FIRST 29th birthday. The family gathers on the front porch because most of them are nearby.
This year I didn’t run around and get in the photograph. Just wanted them. I’ll put it on the fridge. Look at it until we’re all together again. In the middle of winter I’ll glance at this August evening, celebrating Laura’s birthday and be glad I have the picture.
Not too many people really want their photo taken. Maybe a few. The family allows me to photograph them one more time.
They’re gracious and they love me and they know it’s what I like to do.
They probably wonder when I’ll get tired of wanting to photograph them but they don’t complain. Much. Photographing them while they ignore me is easier.
Of course, I want the shot where everyone is with me and looking pleasant on this occasion. Ha. Erika says to me, “Good luck with that!”
I get it the best I can.
Don’t want to drag it out too long, make it quick, Just SHOOT!
Thanks family. Matthew is the one who said to his friends at his college graduation ” This is what my mom does. It’s annoying now, but later you’re glad.”
Penny the Golden Doodle with Lala and James on their front porch.
And Maura and Murphy pose for Mark. Caught them from the side as he got them to look at his phone.
29, For Real!
Happy Birthday Laura Christine.
On the left, lounging at the beach in Bibione, Italy as a toddler.
Center- A baby blessing/birth stats I cross stitched in 1983. The town is spelled incorrectly- missing the first C- Eschenbach!
Photo on the right and below as a bride are from 6 months after the wedding in Columbus OH with husband James.
Aunt Linda and Uncle Frank
You remember Uncle Frank and his vintage cars? Aunt Linda and the making of the nut rolls?
Today is Aunt Linda’s birthday and thought I’d surprise her with a birthday greeting on the blog with a photo of the two of them.
I’m still vacationing in Ohio with the family so went into the archives for today’s post.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Movement
Four images. Fourth of July. Starting with………….
Fourth of July Parade with Ballerinas just before noon in a sweltering heat, a blazing sun, scorching pavement…..okay, enough descriptors.It was hot hot hot. Or should I say HOT HOT HOT. (sorry, Arrow) Today we were all practically listless. Laura and James power is back on after five days but Marlene and Donald have been without power for a whole week and hope tomorrow is the day. So the holiday took a different turn than planned as I wrote before. The evening was a challenge as I tried to shoot the sparklers with a slow shutter speed.-
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and for the sparkler portion of the evening. I sure wish I realized I had brought my tripod in the back of the car.
Found it there today when loading up some groceries.
Laura was on the move with her sparkler
Erika gets her sparkler moving too.
Daddy Mark puts on a sparkler show for the kids as they watch the fireworks over the pine trees. It was a fun time and a great birthday party.
The Weekly Photo Challenge: Movement as interpreted by fellow bloggers
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Born on the Fourth of July, 1952, Brooklyn New York
But I really grew up in New Jersey. New York always sounded better to me and I have held onto that fact all these years. Joisey, the Garden State, just didn’t seem as cool.
Yes, it is my sixtieth birthday today. YIKES! We were supposed to drive to Roanoke VA but power outages from the bad storm last Friday knocked that plan out! You’ve seen a lot of my life these past three years on the blog. The art room adventures, some knitting, my pleasure in the eating and making of food, my family, the city, my travels, and as Arlene says, the ordinary- making it interesting!
I have been talking about turning sixty since I turned fifty-nine last year. Go figure.
My friend Mary Ann told me someone asked her if she was afraid to turn sixty and she told me her response was, “I’m afraid to NOT turn sixty” Many are denied the chance.
If you are born on the Fourth of July you receive a lot of red, white and blue presents. One has to post a little red white and blue on the Fourth of July so here are the two free marzipan macarons you receive when you buy the dozen at Jean-Marc in Millvale*
And here is my mom holding me. My cousin Paul sent me this photo last year at Christmas and it is the only baby photo I really have of myself. Looks like I was bottle fed. How about that wallpaper?
And then there is this prize winner of my wonderful haircut and chubby cheeks, I think I was three, This picture is stuck in one of those “magnetic” photo albums- meaning nasty glue that ruins your photo and you can’t remove it- EVER.
And here is what I looked like last week in the heat at the Pirates Game in Pittsburgh with my three year old granddaughter Maura. A nice woman filling the ketchup dispenser came over and asked it I wanted her to take it of us. She enjoyed seeing Maura enjoy her cone and I had photographed her eating it (of course). I don’t get in many photos which is just as well at this point. But when I think about what makes me happy in my life, my family is at the top of the list. I am fortunate indeed.
Here is a picture a first grader drew of me last year which I photographed on my phone. I am so glad I documented this artwork cause on the rough days and the long days of teaching art in the city, I can read her inscription at the bottom.
Ms. Hendricks is my hero.
It doesn’t get any better than that!
And I found this next photo in New York City when I visited my sister a couple months ago. Once I was visiting a family friend, Naomi, in a home and she said told me how she would think of all she was grateful for in her life and when she focused on a theme of gratitude she just couldn’t feel bad about anything. I remember her words and she died shortly after the visit. It is easy to forget to be grateful. Once I read about thinking three things you are grateful for each day, right before you go to sleep and I try to remember.
I am grateful to my family, friends, fellow bloggers and followers and wonderful commenters who have encouraged me in my photography, blogging and writing.
Today is a very happy birthday! I am surrounded by my family who love me.
Thanks everyone. (And Happy Birthday Suzanne who shares the date!)
*Here is a shot of Millvale,PA taken the day I bought the macarons!
Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Moment
Fleeting- lasting for a very short time.
Laura’s 21st birthday.
August 2004.
We stopped in Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor , originally a Pharmacy in the 1920′s, in the Strip District -Pittsburgh, on Saturday afternoon. (You might remember Laura as a bride last November and then the recent wedding photos 6 months later.)
The proprietor held a candle for her as she blew it out. Aunt Mary looked on. A fleeting moment.
For past challenges I have listed everyone and then some pingbacks were getting sent to their spam.
I will add the ones I have received so far and hopefully none go to their spam.
Fleeting Moments from a few of the fellow bloggers I follow- Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Moment
Daily Post at WordPress to view other interpretations
Happy Birthday Mark
Love you, Ma
100 Years Ago Today
Roy Joseph Hendricks
Born Farmersville, Illinois
February 26,1912- October 26, 2002
“You Don’t Remember- I’ll Never Forget.” 11-20-80 10:10 AM
11-20-11 Happy 31st Birthday Matthew. love, Ma
Photographed by Herr Spahn
Photographed by Arleen McC. Thank you for sending this to me. It is a great shot!!
If You Ask Her How Old She’ll Be on her Birthday, She’ll Say “A Hundred!”
The correct answer is THREE! Happy Birthday Maura Clare. 
Flower girls photographed by their Pap- Donald Payer. Maura Clare and her big sister Anna.
Anna and Her Best Friend
Anna is eight years old today. I remember going to the hospital in the dark, and then watching the sunrise over the Monongahela River from the window. Then I went to school after she as born and everyone was so happy for our family. It was a happy day. Here is a portrait of her with Murphy the Airedale when she was one. It hangs in her bedroom.
And a recent photograph of Anna and Murphy….
The artist of the painting , Alison Zapata, is a new mother herself and paints wonderful pet portraits. Her website is here
She Calls Me MIL Sometimes, I’ve Called Her DIL
In Virginia, holding Anna who will be 8 in a week.
Married to my eldest Mark, excellent mother to Anna, Michael, Jack and Maura, taking a break from being a NICU nurse while she drives the kids to swim practice and soccer and preschool and Brownies… (And best giver of treats and hugs to Murphy the Airedale.) Today’s her birthday. She always calls me and updates me on the family happenings, asks for a recipe I made that she liked, threatens to buy me giant gnomes for my garden and an XXL sweatshirt with a cat AND an American Flag (for my 4th of July bday) combo on the front. She is patient, loving and generous. Incredibly accepting, too! She is good at Thank You notes And just last week she hosted a wonderful shower for her sister-in-law & will be Laura’s Matron-of-Honor next month. I was going to post a pic of the little ceramic Jack-o-Lantern she made in grade school(I keep it in the china cabinet) She was throwing it out years ago and I salvaged it from the trash heap but a clay pumpkin doesn’t illustrate her goodness and loveliness. Oh yes, I almost forgot. She gets me to stop wearing my shrunken cotton long sleeve tees that seem more like crop tops- Fashion consultant with much love! She’s the one who got me started shooting weddings and is still waiting for her percentage. HBTY! love, Ruthie
U.S.S. Constitution-Don’t Give Up the Ship! Happy 35th!
Happy Birthday Mark. I found this ship you made when you were a member of Den 1. I have saved it quite a few years and so today I dusted it off with Q-tips and took it out to the wonderful light in the garage and used my real camera instead of the phone! I think your kids would get a kick out of seeing this ship you made. Then I put it into the China closet in the dining room for when they come to visit. I remember the day you were born in Fort Knox, Kentucky! You have grown up into a fine man, husband and father. I am a proud mother! xxooxx
Do you remember how old you were when you made this?
John Patrick “Jack” Learns to Wield his New Lightsaber
Young Jedi Jack learns to wield the powerful lightsaber!
Remember Spiderman sitting on Uncle Matty?
Four years old today! WOW.
How did that happen?
Seems like you were just born, Jack.
Here’s one of my favorites from Christmas with the new Star Wars Lightsaber.
Happy Birthday and I’ll see you soon.
xxooxx love, FF Ruthie
Happy Day Cake Recipe
For Birthdays it was the 1-2-3-4 Cake recipe or the Happy Day Cake recipe on the back of the Swan’s Down Cake Flour box, frosted with Penuche icing. My mother would put the saucepan into a sink of cold water and then beat it by hand once it cooled. I can hear the ring of the metal loop at the end of the pan’s handle. And as I remember it she added a dash of vanilla extract. My dad would pour milk over a slice and eat it with a spoon. Cake and frosting recipes below photo.
Happy Birthday Mary. This vintage cake pan was a gift from her to me.
Happy Day Cake
2½ cups sifted cake flour
1½ cups sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
Sift flour with sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir shortening to soften. Add flour mixture, ¾ cup of the milk and vanilla. Mix until all flour is dampened, then beat two minutes at medium speed. Add eggs and remaining ¼ cup milk. Beat one minute longer. Pour into two 9-inch layer pans that have been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans; remove from pans and cool thoroughly on racks.
This cake also may be baked in three 8-inch layer pans for 25 to 35 minutes, or in a 13- by 9-inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes. Batter may be spooned into 36 medium paper baking cups in muffin pans, filling half full. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, more or less
- hot water, optional
Preparation:
In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Add the brown sugar. Bring to a boil and lower heat to medium low and continue to boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Gradually add sifted confectioners’ sugar. Beat until thick enough to spread. If too thick, add a little hot water. Frosts top and sides of a 2-layer cake or a 13×9-inch cake.
Alvin and the Chipmunks Cake- Michael is FIVE
Laura just texted a photo of the cake. Then we were on the phone. James was taking pictures with his new camera so I asked him to send an image via email. I bagged the scheduled post. So today features the combined creative efforts of guest blogger/photographer James Weaver – & the birthday cake Aunt Lala created for Michael Joseph who is five today. Happy Birthday Michael!
First time La has attempted the buttercream transfer process She says it is harder than it looks!
Frosting recipe- 3 sticks of butter, 8 cups of Confectioner’s sugar, some Wilton foodcolor, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 Tablespoons of milk.
For information on Alvin and the Chipmunks click here
Happy 5th Birthday Michael!!
Angel Food Celebration
Ten more days til the birthday but I won’t be in Columbus for the actual date. When Laura was little she called it ‘”cloud cake” Her favorite! The eager helpers, her nieces and nephews. Next frame or two Michael is up on the table helping to blow out the candles but it was so out of focus.
Window light, kitchen light, candlelight. Late in the day.
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