A Week's Worth of Blessings

A week's worth of fun!

Seven cuties. 

Seven characters.

Seven personalities. 

Love, Nana

(PS:  Blogger has changed format for adding photos but it still will not always do what I want!  I tried to add in chronological order but missed on Joey and Audri.  But know you all will understand.)

Daughters ~ Sisters ~ Mothers

Austin girls. 

The 3 Big Girls.  

The 3 Little Girls.

I don't know what the occasion was. 

We might have been in the Afton church basement.  

I don't know where else this might have been taken. 

That is a cement block wall, behind us. 

Aunt Kate has this dated as June 1985. 

I was 35 and curly headed. 

Linda was not yet diagnosed with a brain tumor. 

Mary was still just a "kid. 

Gin, Beth and Kate were in their prime. 

I'll try to find out more!

Morghan's chore

Next time Morghan comes to Nana's, I think I'll ask her to wash up this furniture.  It has 20 years of dust on it.  Bet Morghan would enjoy the job and the little furnitures would sure benefit!

There's one of everything!  Radio, record player, clock, bathroom scale, table lamp, coat rack, telephone, iron and ironing board, sewing machine,grand piano and a whole room full of baby furniture.  Well, you can see most of it right here in the pictures.  I had forgotten that fat little baby with the moveable arms and legs! 

You know what there is NOT one of?  A television!  This doll furniture was made in the 1940s before everyone had a television!  Can you believe that?  From no TV to cameras in our phones and video games all in only 60 years or so! 

12 bottles of beer on the wall . . .

This 12 pack box came from the Warehouse Market in Sioux City, Iowa.  That means it was purchased between 1970 and 1977; okay, maybe early 78.  We moved to Orient mid 1978 and it was bought earlier than that . . . and all for two dollars and fifty-one cents.  I'm thinking it was purchased while we still lived on Rebecca Street in Sioux City.  For years and years and years, this cardboard box has held little fascinating bits of doll furniture.  A little sink with a working hand pump.  An ironing board.  A sewing machine.  A wringer washing machine.  I did let my little girls look at the furniture once in a while,.  I did, didn't I?  But while browsing through the furniture this week, I was reminded of little casualities -- handles broken, legs reglued, repairs made.  It was just too delicate for ordinary play.  I guess it was doll furniture for Big People.  Meanwhile, gotta go!  gotta go grab this nostalgic old box out of the recycle pile.  It holds too many memories!

  

 

our driveway

we sure do need some sunshine and warm weather.  Johanna can't get into our driveway anymore.  She has to park on the street and walk in.  Those darn snowplow drivers . . .

darn ol' thing

Himself had to take it all apart, lay the pieces out in a nice, orderly fashion -- then do it all again, in reverse order.  Hope it all worked out okay! 

My Mama's Birthday

Mama had a birthday.  When I was a little girl I wouldn't/couldn't imagine a day my Mama would be 90 years old.  She was 30 when I was born; 32 when I first remember tho her memory and touch and smell is imprinted in the earliest cells of my being. She hugged me, wiped my nose and bottom and  rubbed Vicks on my chest.  Mama swatted my leg when I needed it . . . and sometimes when I didn't.  

She salved and bandaged me when I was hurt, passed on  the love of reading to me and my eight siblings and taught us manners and all to stand straight.  Mama taught me courage and responsibility and didn't make me "no" excuses.  "Go take care of it." she said --  and I did, all by my 16 year old self, to the town magistrate.  Hard lessons learned!  Thank you, Mama. 

100 years minus 10

4 score and 10

90 years old

A ripe old age!

Happy Birthday, Mama.  Love, Nancy

 

"Christmas" 2009, 2/6/2010

58 folks were in attendance, according to the keeper of records, Aunt Kathy. 

It wasn't the largest Austin Christmas gathering, nor the smallest either, probably.  Sheila wasn't there, nor Laura, Chris, Brendas, CE and Tashas -- probably a few more than that were missing.  The weather didn't cooperate for Kristy and Craig and Traci's Gabby was sick.

But, rest assured, there's always next year! 

You all put on your thinking caps because it will be my turn to plan the party next year and I want some fun, simple, way to exchange the gifts - no more Trivia Pursuit! 

Happy 11th Birthday, Morghan Grace Frey.

Love you, your Nana

Morghan Grace, you've got the cutest little baby face . . .

and the cutest little dimpled elbows, fat little baby legs and ankles, and the best kisses!  

never would have guessed, but

does that top photo have just a hint of Bella Bu? 

Grampa Dale loved babies "to pieces"

and so does Nana.  Love you, Morghan Gracie Pie!  

Audri in Morghan's PJs

I have tried to find a picture of Morghan in these flannels.  There must be one!

I'm still looking.

and looking.

yep.

still looking.

What fun! 

Hundreds of photos of Morghan Grace!