Customer Service at Von Maur
A personal note, a carefully wrapped package,shipped for free to my home- reasons to shop at Von Maur.
The size I needed was in another store when I went shopping in Columbus OH last Saturday night. Wednesday night I opened the box they shipped (free!) and found the thoughtful note from the woman who had waited on me so graciously. As I opened the box, I remembered shopping with my mother when I was little. The experience evoked a sense of nostalgia. Von Maur offers not only free- shipping and free alterations but who receives a hand-written note these days? Customer service is exemplary. My DIL says they gift wrap your purchases for free, too! WOW. I wish we had a Von Maur in Pittsburgh.
Turkey Vultures Wait for Breakfast in Hardy VA
At night I waited for the moonrise and the cloud cover was thick and the air cold. During the day we attempted the 4 kids-simultaneous-smiles for the Christmas card. There were the miniature horses in the field next door, sunlight streaming through their visible breath and the late afternoon light on the stunning flowering pears holding onto their golden and scarlet leaves, then releasing them when the wind blew. But I went out in my robe and clogs in the mid-thirties to catch the flock of Turkey Vultures (I had been calling them buzzards until I looked them up) as they circled and waited in the trees. Fascinating- a bit repugnant at the same time.
Matthew is 30 Today
It is almost breakfast time in Zagreb. I’m getting ready for bed. Thirty years ago, November 20, 1980, 10:10 AM -born in Clarion PA. Almost Thanksgiving. My mother flew out to help and then my father drove out from Philadelphia and surprised us. Here is a colored pencil drawing I started with things from Matthew’s childhood. The legal pad and pencil are drawn, not real. I placed a few photos on top. It was Matthew’s idea to commemorate birthday and special occasions on the blog. So Happy 30th Birthday Matthew. Love you and miss you. Ma
Little Green Doggie, Lego, Playmobil, St Nicholas made with a walnut and upside down apple from German Kindergarten.
The Color of Bowling Balls (2 images)
Picked Michael up from a birthday party at the Saw Mill Lanes in Columbus. The balls were the color of Granny Smiths or Neon Orange. 
Like giant Granny Smith apples
Loading the 1950 BelAir, Rock Island, Illinois
Driving around with my sister, we were looking for the Historic District and saw this scene. BTW I am in Columbus OH not Illinois this weekend. One friend wrote and thought I was on a cross country trip and had stopped working. The men were loading the 1950 BelAir behind the pick-up.
Watching the men load the 1950
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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Shadows at the Met
By the information booth at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC. From the archives.
From the archives. Taken from the balcony, looking down
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