ALPHABE-THURSDAY - The Letter "I" as in...

It's time again for ALPHA-BE THURSDAY sponsored by Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent." For a list of participants and information on how you too can participate head on over to Jenny's blog.

This week we are working on the letter I. What a coincidence! GinnyFaith's class is also working on the letter I this week. For show and tell each member of the class had to bring something that started with the letter I. (Click on each picture to enlarge.)

GinnyFaith got to go first. Since she's IRISH she decided to tell the class about IRELAND and some of their IRISH traditions.



Then it was Ginny Joy's turn. She surprised everyone by bringing ICE CREAM and making ICE CREAM CONES and ICE CREAM SUNDAES for the entire class.



Ginny Sue was up next and she brought her ICE SKATES to share with the class.



Mikey and Joey brought an IGLOO filled with ICE. It was very heavy and took two of them to lift it. Good thing they're strong.



Then Anthony brought a bowl full of reptiles including two baby IGUANAS. He held them in his hands for all to see.



With that Ginny Ellen had seen enough! She held up a sign with one of her favorite "I" words and let Anthony know exactly what she thought!


Thank you Mrs. Matlock!

Dear Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

In case you haven't noticed I moderate all comments. Even if you comment on a post that I wrote a long time ago I still see it and delete it. Your comments will never appear on my blog. If you want to sell something get your own website.

I do let some anonymous comments go through, but if there is any doubt in my mind as to their legitimacy I will delete them. I'm not interested in anything you're selling and I don't think anyone else is either.

And to the anonymous commenter that likes to tell me how my post helped them with their school assignment...I've been deleting you lately too. I've even noticed you commenting on other blogs telling them the same thing. If you spent less time online that "so called" assignment might be done by now.

I appreciate all the legitimate bloggers that visit and comment here.

ALPHABE THURSDAY - "H" as in the first word spoken on the moon

It's time again for Alphabe-Thursday sponsored by Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent." This week we are working on the letter H.

Do you know the first word spoken on the moon? The answer is a little controversial, but many believe the word HOUSTON was the first word actually spoken from the moon's surface on July 20, 1969 during the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Mission. Neil Armstrong said, "HOUSTON, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." Prior to that there were some exchanges regarding probes making contact with the surface first and the engine being shut down. Some say they were on the moon at that point, but you can decide for yourself by listening to the audio on You Tube. You don't have to listen to the whole thing which is 9 minutes and 39 seconds long. I've made it easy for you. Just pick up the audio at 5 minutes and 09 seconds.




Who can forget the words uttered by Jim Lovell during the ill fated Apollo 13 Mission,"HOUSTON, we have a problem." Another controversy here. It's actually, "HOUSTON we've had a problem," but most people believe it's "HOUSTON we have a problem." Who cares? The important thing is that the first word of the sentence was HOUSTON which begins with the letter "H." Even if you're not old enough to remember the actual event you've probably seen the movie Apollo 13. The actual audio of this event is also on You Tube. Again, you don't have to listen to the entire thing. You can pick up just these words 35 seconds into the audio.




"H" is for HOUSTON home of the Johnson Space Center and Space Center HOUSTON.

"Mrs. Matlock, I'm finished with my report. May I be excused now?"

Second Time Around Tuesday - Vintage Recipes

It's time for Second Time Around Tuesday sponsored by Diane at A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words. Be sure and visit her blog for the list of this week's participants.

I enjoy collecting vintage recipes in boxes or books. I find plenty of recipe boxes and books on my travels, but most are empty. I like the ones that still have the original owner's recipe collection. I never spend more than $5 or $6. Any more than that and I pass.

The long wooden box in the front is my one exception. I don't recall what I paid for it, but there were no recipes inside. I just liked the box and it now stores my recipes.




And I like these books...especially the ones with the pockets stuffed with recipes. The one in the back on the right hand side was my mother's. The rest I purchased at either a resale shop, estate sale, or antique mall.




Pretend you don't see Zoom on the kitchen table. She just wanted to see what I was doing.

Family Updates...

Last week Reid went with me to visit Dad at the nursing home. He hadn't been for a while and I wondered if Dad would remember him. Dad spent most of the visit drinking the milkshake we brought him and only said a few words the entire time. As we were leaving he told Reid to get well. We were both shocked since I had no idea if he even remembered that Reid was undergoing chemo for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. We think Dad is often off in his own little world and on occasion snaps out of it and joins us in this world.




Reid had a PET scan last Thursday and the usual blood work. On Friday he had his doctor's appointment at MD Anderson. His voice has been weak and horse for a long time. We were originally told it was because the mass in his chest was pushing on his vocal cords. Reid has found communicating a little frustrating and was looking forward to his voice improving. At his last visit we asked why his voice was still horse even though the mass had shrunk significantly. Well, the latest PET scan indicates that his one vocal cord is paralyzed. We were told this can sometimes happen after a chest biopsy or it could possibly still be from the mass. It just sounds like it's more likely from the biopsy. If it's from the mass there is a possibility the vocal cord will recover. So, we just have to hope and pray that's the case. Reid was very disappointed with this news.

The doctor said when he completes chemo he'll have a consultation with the radiologist to see if he can have radiation. He probably will, but since his mass was so large there is a possibility the field is too great for radiation. We'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

We also learned that the mass hasn't shrunk much since the last scan, but were told this is common. I guess it shrinks significantly at first and then slows down. I asked if it would be gone by the time he finishes chemo and was told no. It will continue to shrink on it's own for one to two years. After that he will be left with scar tissue.

This past Saturday he went for chemo again. That means there are only (easy for me to say) 3 chemo treatments left. There is light at the end of the tunnel! This time he seems to be doing a little better. They tweaked his medication again and he has been able to keep food down. He sleeps a lot, but fatigue is a constant side effect.

I asked what the stage of his cancer was originally. (I hadn't wanted to ask before.) He had stage 4 cancer, but with Hodgkin's Lymphoma it doesn't have any bearing on the success (or lack of success) of the treatment. It only indicates that it left the lymphatic system and with him that was his spine. I've mentioned before how Hodgkin's is different from other cancers in that only about 1% of the mass is cancer. The rest is inflammation and white cells. That is why there is a pretty good cure rate. Although there are no guarantees we remain very optimistic and hopeful.

Reid still walks with a cane when he goes somewhere, but around the house he goes without. He just needs it for balance when stepping off curbs or on uneven surfaces.

I want to thank everyone that calls and/or sends E-mails asking how Reid is doing and offering their morale support. You know who you are and it means a lot. Thanks for being with us on Reid's journey back to good health.



Meanwhile, MaMa our feral cat has been missing for six weeks now. I've put about 125 fliers on doors in the surrounding neighborhoods and continue to get calls from people who think they might have seen her. We continue to go out looking for her and I'm hoping she'll hear my voice and associate it with food and come home. Meanwhile, I continue to put food out for her. I had thought she might be sneaking into the yard and eating, but discovered this going on in broad daylight. Someone will have to tell this possum that he's supposed to sleep during the day!



That's it for the latest update from the Martin Family!

ALPHABE-THURSDAY "G" is for Ginny!

It's time again for Alphabe-Thursday sponsored by Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent..." Head over to Jenny's blog for information on Alphabe-Thursday and a list of this week's particpants.

This week we are working on the letter "G" as in GINNY. My love afair with the Vogue GINNY Doll began in the 1950's. She's the small doll standing in the stroller next to Dennis The Menace. Actually, the GINNY in the photograph is my sister's GINNY doll. I received the same doll that Christmas only with red hair. I'm assuming the photographer just grabbed a few dolls and put them in the stroller for the photograph.


Here's my GINNY wearing the same outfit many years later. Her hair had originally been in a flip, but as a child I cut her hair. It's funny, but I can still remember the day I did it. I was sitting on my bedroom floor holding GINNY and the scissors. I knew I'd regret it, but I couldn't resist the temptation to cut. Since this picture was taken I bought a beat up 1954 GINNY on eBay for her red wig. The hair color matched her bangs perfectly, so I kept the original bangs and now this GINNY has braids.


Over the years I've bought friends for my childhood GINNY at doll shows and on eBay. I now collect vintage, modern day, and vintage reproduction GINNY dolls. One of my modern day GINNY dolls is my travel doll and GINNY Faith sometimes accompanies me on trips. I find playing with my dolls relaxing and I enjoy setting them up in scenes.

Today, GINNY Ellen was causing trouble again. (GINNY Ellen is my version of Ellen Degeneres as a child.) MaMa was up in arms over her behavior. She kept jumping on the coffee table and dancing. That's my childhood GINNY (with her braids) on the left and my travel doll GINNY Faith on the right. Of course, that's GINNY Ellen on the coffee table.


I haven't had a lot of time to play and take pictures in recent months, but here are some pictures of a trip I took a while back with GINNY Faith and some of her friends.









GINNY Faith has gotten to meet the rich and the famous. Here she is with the Naked Cowboy when he came to Houston for the 2004 Super Bowl. (I hope I don't get in trouble with Mrs. Matlock.)



And this is GINNY Faith and a friend with an Astronaut.



And since this is Texas (and GINNY Faith is a Texan) she's a big football fan. She and a friend attended a Texans game at Reliant Stadium.



She takes the game very seriously and studies diligently. Her friend studies with her.



The rest of the pictures are in no particular order. Most of these photos were taken over the last ten years. I just uploaded a sampling for your viewing enjoyment (I hope).

These are my reproduction AA twins. Actually, the boy doll on the left began life as a girl, but I cut her/his hair so I could have boy since Vogue didn't make a boy AA doll. However, this year they have come out with one for their 2010 line. I made their matching outfits.



Bobbing for apples on Halloween.



Last year I made them Peeps for Easter. It was an experiment and I was going to redo them this year a little bit larger, but real life has gotten in the way and I won't have time.





This was Easter a few years back when they dyed Easter eggs.



This was Taco night at GINNY's house.



At Christmas time we have our annual Birthday party for Jesus.



Decking the Halls!



Trying to decide what to wear for Halloween.



The first day of school. I made their dresses.



The Christmas Eve that Grandma got run over by a reindeer walking home from our house.



Doing some Christmas baking.



I bought this little Christmas room box that someone had painted at a resale shop. Every year I set up a little Christmas scene. This is GINNY with her Advent Wreath.



Relaxing.



GINNY Faith has been raising this horse for the rodeo.



This isn't a GINNY doll, but one of GINNY's friends. I do have a few vintage dolls that aren't GINNY just so everyone doesn't look too much alike. This doll is watching Winky Dink on television.



And this is a group of Texas GINNY dolls.




Yes, in my house "G" is definitely for GINNY!


UH-OH...I'm in trouble. I can't get spell check to work tonight! Excuse all errors. (I hope Mrs. Matlock doesn't deduct too many points.)


Thanks Jenny for sponsoring Alpahbe-Thursday!

ALPHABE-THURSDAY - "F" is for Fear

It's time again for Alphabe-Thursday hosted by Jenny over at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent." For a list of participants head over to her blog. This week we are doing the letter "F."

I wasn't sure what word I'd use for the letter "F" until I picked up the dog from the dog groomer and brought her home this afternoon. For some strange reason our cat Zoom has a terrible FEAR of the dog when she first comes home from the groomer. It's as if she no longer recognizes her. Her tail will go up and she'll arch her back. Then she stalks the dog from a distance.



She even hid behind the vacuum of all things!



She slowly works her way closer to the dog.



All the cats are a little curious, but Zoom is full of FEAR.



(The last two pictures are kind of dark because the sun was shining in the window. Click on pictures to enlarge.)

One time the dog didn't even see Zoom when she came happily running into the room. Zoom was startled and attacked the dog in FEAR. It was like one of those cartoon fights between the dog and the cat. The two of them went rolling across the floor. Now I try and watch for a while so that doesn't happen again. They're actually very good friends and normally have a good time playing together. Within a few hours things will be back to normal.

According to Dictionary.com the definition for FEAR is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

Here are some FEAR quotes that I like:

Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
John F. Kennedy

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Nelson Mandela

In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.
Bill Cosby

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
Eleanor Roosevelt

When even one American - who has done nothing wrong - is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth - then all Americans are in peril.
Harry S. Truman

I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.
Rosa Parks

I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.
Isaac Asimov

And here are some well known words on FEAR by Franklin D. Roosevelt:




NOTE: On Friday it will be five weeks since our feral cat MaMa ran off in FEAR when we had workmen in the backyard. She had been with us for nine years, but was not tame and had a FEAR of most people. I still miss her very much. It sounds strange, but I was just as close to her as I am to my indoor cats. We've put fliers on 100 doors in the surrounding area, posted signs, and continue to check with animal control every few days. I've had a couple of calls and learned of a few feral cat colonies nearby. I continue to search for her and I'm not about to give up. It makes me very sad.

SECOND TIME AROUND TUESDAY-Old Confirmation Certificate

It's time again for Second Time Around Tuesday hosted by Diane at A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Worlds.

This week I'm showing my great aunt's confirmation certificate from 1907. I have it framed under glass and tried to photograph it without too much glare. This certificate is from Zion Lutheran Church in Westwood, New Jersey which was founded by German immigrants. My great grandfather Wilhelm Volz was one of the founding members. That is why this certificate is in German.

When my great aunt died her family came from out of town and I guess after they kept what they wanted they had a sale and sold the rest. Some years later my mother was out for a walk and stopped to talk to a lady a few blocks away. During the conversation my mother mentioned that she was related to the Volz family. The lady said, "Wait, I have something you can have." She went inside and brought out my mother's, aunt's confirmation certificate. It was in an old frame (not the one I currently have it in) and the price was still on it...$1.00. The lady said she had no idea why she bought it and it had just been sitting around.

At that time I was dabbling in genealogy, so my mother sent it to me. I reframed it and it now hangs on a wall in my den. My great aunt's name was Lina Katherina Volz, but we all called her Taunty. I think Taunty might be aunt in German.

When I walk through garage sales, resale shops, antique malls, etc., I'm always surprised and saddened by the things I see. Things like old photographs, certificates, etc., that no one apparently wanted. I'm grateful to that lady that Taunty's confirmation certificate is getting a "second chance around" on the wall of my den.




Click on picture to enlarge.

PINK SATURDAY TIME!

It's time again for PINK SATURDAY hosted by Beverly at How Sweet The Sound. For a list of this week's participants and information on how you can participate be sure and head over to Beverly's blog.

My great aunt was Margaret Morris who performed in Florenz Ziegfeld's Ziegfeld Follies and Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic. The Frolic was a show that began at midnight and was performed upstairs in the theater and to a smaller audience.

I've shared one of her pictures once before on PINK SATURDAY and this week I have a picture from the 1920 Midnight Frolic. This picture was colorized and you can see the PINK flowering plants that were part of the set. Margaret is the second from the left wearing the lavender costume. Jane (Ziegfeldgrrl) at Historical Ziegfeld restored this photo for me. She is a wealth of information on The Ziegfeld Follies.

(Click on photo to enlarge.)



And this is what is written on the back of the photo. I'm assuming this is Aunt Margaret's handwriting.



Aunt Margaret was an active member of the Ziegfeld Club that was started in 1936 by Billie Burke (Mrs. Florenz Ziegfeld). The club is still in existence today, but it is believed that only one Ziegfeld girl is still alive.

Last week I visited Homemaking In High Heels. Stop by and visit her entertaining blog.

Hope you're feeling better Beverly!