VALENTINE MEMORIES

THE YEAR WAS 1989, THAT'S OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO. MY SISTER CAROLINE MADE ME THIS BEAUTIFUL HEART SHAPED VALENTINE BOX FOR ALL MY TRINKET'S. I REMEMBERED THE DAY IT ARRIVED IN THE MAIL. IT MADE ME SO HAPPY, CAROLINE KNEW IT WOULD, BECAUSE SHE KNOWS HOW MUCH VALENTINE'S DAY MEANS TO ME.
SHE TOOK ONE OF THE DOILIES MY GRANDMOTHER CROCHET, AND MADE A SACHET OUT OF IT. CAROLINE ALSO LOVED TO CROCHET, SHE PUT THE LACE ON THE HANKIES, REMEMBERING BACK WHEN WE WERE KIDS, WE USED HANKIES INSTEAD OF TISSUES. I EVEN KEPT THE NOTE SHE TUCKED AWAY IN THE HEART. I LOVE LOOKING BACK TO THOSE DAYS SO LONG AGO. THEY MAKE ME HAPPY.MY SISTER CAROLINE DIED A FEW YEARS AGO. I MISS HER SO VERY MUCH, WE WERE VERY CLOSE, AND SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME WHEN I NEEDED HER. YESTERDAY, JANUARY 14, WAS HER BIRTHDAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLINE.

CHRISTMAS TEA

HERE ARE A FEW PHOTO'S FROM OUR CHRISTMAS TEA:
THIS IS OUR CHRISTMAS TEA GET-TOGETHER. IT WAS A LOVELY DAY, YUMMY FOOD, AND GREAT COMPANY.

IS IT SPRING YET?

I DO LOVE THE WINTER MONTHS, CHRISTMAS COMES, AND IT'S WARM AND COZY WITH THE CHRISTMAS TREE, AND ALL THE LIGHTS, YUMMY COOKIES, AND A NICE CUP OF TEA. BUT, THAN IT'S ALL OVER AND ANOTHER YEAR BEGINS. THE WEATHER GETS COLDER AND COLDER, AND THE SNOW GETS DEEPER AND DEEPER. I LOVE THE SNOW, BUT NOW I WISH FOR THE SPRING. WHAT IS MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A CROCUS PEEKING UP FROM THE SNOW, IT'S THE SIGN OF SPRING. THE TREES START TO BUD, AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT THE FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING. I KNOW WE HAVE QUITE A BIT MORE OF WINTER TO GO, BUT I THOUGHT A FEW FLOWERS WOULD BRIGHTEN OUR DAY.





I PICKED UP THESE BEAUTIFUL ORANGE ROSES AT THE GROCERY STORE FOR MY DAUGHTER. THEY JUST HAD THE
TOUCH OF SPRING.

ARE WE EVER SATISFIED WITH THE WEATHER? I LOVE IT WHEN IT SNOWS, BUT THEN IT'S TOO COLD, SO THEN I WANT THE WARMER WEATHER, WILL I EVER MAKE UP MY MIND, PROBABLY NOT, BUT THAT'S OK. SO BEFORE YOU KNOW IT WE WILL HEAR THE ROBINS CHIRPING OUTSIDE OUR WINDOW. SO, GRAB A BLANKET AND A GOOD BOOK, AND A NICE CUP OF TEA, AND CURL UP ON THE COUCH, MAYBE WHEN YOU FINISH READING THE BOOK YOU'LL LOOK UP AND SPRING WILL BE HERE.

A CARD FROM JENNY.....................

IT WAS FATHER'S DAY 2007, AND I WANTED TO MAKE MY HUSBAND "BILL" SOMETHING FROM JENNY. I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND I FIGURED I WOULD MAKE A CARD, WITH A FEW PAGES OF PICTURES. SO I GATHERED SOME PICTURES TOGETHER, COPIED THEM, AND PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER, WITH LITTLE SAYINGS, BOWS, AND BUTTERFLIES. IT WAS THE PERFECT GIFT FOR HIM.
IT BROUGHT HIM LOTS OF JOY. THAT SAME YEAR BILL PASSED AWAY IN DECEMBER, 2007.


TO: DAD, HAPPY FATHERS DAY, LOVE JENNY



IT'S HALLOWEEN, AND JENNY IS IN THE REHAB CENTER.
SHE WAS DOROTHY, FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ.
BILL LOVED THE CARD, OF COURSE JENNY DIDN'T MAKE IT BY HERSELF, BUT HER LOVE FOR HER DAD WAS THERE. I REMEMBER THE YEAR BEFORE, IT WAS FATHER'S DAY 2006, I DREW STEMS AND LEAVES OF FLOWERS ON A BLANK CARD, THEN TOOK JENNY'S FINGER, AND DIPPED IT IN WATER COLOR PAINT, AND WE MADE PETAL'S. IT CAME OUT REALLY NICE, HE WAS REALLY TAKEN BACK, IT BROUGHT TEARS TO HIS EYES. I PACKED THE CARD AWAY, SORRY I CAN'T SHOW YOU. BUT, IF I COME ACROSS IT I'LL POST IT. IT'S TOUGH, BUT LIFE GOES ON, WE ALL KNOW THAT.

MY SON BILLY

THIS IS MY SON BILLY, BORN AUGUST 25, 1966, AND DIED SEPTEMBER 6, 1987.


BILLY WAS 21 YEARS OLD WHEN HE HAD HIS CAR ACCIDENT, AND DIED ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL. HE WAS A WONDERFUL BOY, DID WHAT HE WAS TOLD, AND HE HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS. I HAVE TO SAY, I LOOK BACK THROUGH THE YEARS WHEN BILLY WAS GROWING UP, AND NEVER HAD ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH HIM. I WAS VERY PROUD OF HIM. HE WAS A VERY GOOD ARTIST, HE LOVED TO BUILD THINGS, AND LOVED WORKING IN THE GARDEN WITH HIS FATHER, AND GRANDFATHER. HE LOVED TO GO FISHING, HE WAS IN CUB SCOUTS, AND BOY SCOUTS. I THOUGHT LOSING MY MOM AND DAD WAS DEVASTATING, BUT LOSING A CHILD, THE FEELING IS TO HARD TO DESCRIBE. BUT, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON. IT'S BEEN 22 YEARS SINCE HIS PASSING, AND IT WAS LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. I MISS HIM WITH ALL MY HEART. IT WAS VERY HARD FOR MY HUSBAND BILL, BUT THEY ARE TOGETHER NOW, AND THAT MAKES IT A TINY BIT BETTER.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.....................RIZZI

MY JENNY

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY DAUGHTER, JENNIFER (JENNY.) SHE JUST TURNED 33 YEARS OLD ON DECEMBER 18, 2009. SHE WAS A DARLING LITTLE GIRL, SHE LOVED HER BABY DOLLS, SHE JOINED BALLET, PLAYED SOCCER, AND SHE LOVED TO BABY-SIT.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL SHE WENT TO BURLINGTON COUNTY COLLEGE, SHE WANTED TO BE A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST SO SHE SWITCH COLLEGES AND SHE DECIDED TO GO TO GEORGIAN COURT COLLEGE, IT WAS AN ALL GIRL CATHOLIC COLLEGE. IT WAS HIGHLY RATED, AND SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL. THE GROUNDS WERE OUTSTANDING. THERE WERE GARDENS,LAKES, AND LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL STATUES. IT WAS SO RELAXING FOR THE STUDENTS.

WELL, SHE HAD A FEW MORE MONTHS BEFORE SHE GRADUATED, WHEN ON A STORMY MORNING ON HER WAY TO CLASS SHE HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT. THE OTHER CAR HIT HER TWICE, THE ROADS WERE VERY DANGEROUS WITH THE WEATHER. SHE HAD HER SEAT BELT ON, BUT THE JARRING OF THE ACCIDENT SHOOK HER BACK AND FORTH. SHE DIDN'T BREAK ANY BONES, SHE HAD A TINY SCRATCH ON HER FACE.

WHEN MY DAUGHTER JACKIE AND I GOT TO THE TRAUMA CENTER SHE WAS IN A COMA AND HER CONDITION WAS VERY SERIOUS. WE WERE ALL IN SHOCK, LIKE I WAS DREAMING. IT WAS HOURS BEFORE THE DOCTORS NEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH JENNY. WELL, THE DOCTOR'S TOLD US IT WAS TBI (TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.)

THEY REALLY DIDN'T THINK SHE WOULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT, THERE WAS A LOT OF PRAYING THAT NIGHT. GOD HEARD US, AND SHE DID MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT.

AFTER A FEW MONTHS IN A COMA, SHE STARTED WAKING UP, BUT WAS NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING, OR ANYONE.

THE DOCTOR'S COULDN'T DO ANYMORE FOR HER SO SHE WAS SENT TO VIRTUA REHAB CENTER. SHE NEEDED MORE HELP, SO I STARTED SEARCHING AND I FOUND MOSS REHAB, IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. AFTER PULLING A FEW STRINGS WE FINALLY GOT HER IN, BUT IT TOOK MONTHS. SHE STAYED AT MOSS FOR A WHILE, THEY DID A LOT OF TESTING, AND LOTS OF REHABILITATION. JENNY'S INJURY WAS IN THE LOWER PART OF HER BRAIN IN THE BACK. SOMETHING THAT COULDN'T BE FIXED. IT WAS VERY HARD TO HEAR THAT, BUT WE HAD TO ACCEPT IT, AND MOVE ON. SO SHE WAS SENT BACK TO VIRTUA, AND THEY WORKED WITH HER EVERYDAY, MOSS TAUGHT US HOW TO WORK WITH HER AND GIVE HER PHYSICAL THERAPY. THAT WENT ON FOR A WHILE, AND WE WANTED TO BRING HER HOME. SO MY DAUGHTER SAID "MOVE IN WITH US, WE'LL BUILD ON AND WE ALL CAN TAKE CARE OF JENNY." WELL THAT DAY DID COME, WE BUILT ON A BEAUTIFUL ROOM WITH LOTS OF WINDOWS, AND A SUN PORCH. JENNY HAS 5 NURSES THAT TAKES CARE OF HER. MY DAUGHTER JACKIE ALSO CARES FOR JENNY, SHE IS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE NURSES. IT'S NOT EASY TURNING JENNY, SHE IS DEAD WEIGHT, AND IT'S TO HARD FOR ME TO DO. BUT, I AM THERE FOR HER.

WHILE SHE WAS AT

MOSS SHE HAD MANY TESTS DONE, SHE IS IN A WHEELCHAIR, SHE CANNOT MOVE BY HERSELF, OR TALK , SHE DOES UNDERSTAND YOU, SHE WATCHES TV ALL THE TIME, THAT IS ONE THING SHE REALLY ENJOYS. SHE KNOWS WHEN THINGS ARE FUNNY, SAD, AND SHE LOVES TO LISTEN TO US TALK AND BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS, IF IT'S A FUNNY CONVERSATION SHE IS RIGHT THERE ENJOYING IT TOO. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY...............RIZZI

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A NICE NEW YEARS EVE. WE JUST HAD A FAMILY PARTY, THE KIDS EVEN WERE ABLE TO STAY AWAKE, AND SEE THE BALL DROP. SO GOOD-BYE 2009, AND WELCOME 2010. I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS. I AM STARTING A 2010 JOURNEL SO THAT WILL BE MY FIRST ENTRY. I JUST HOPE I CAN CARRY THEM OUT THROUGH THE WHOLE YEAR, WE'LL SEE. TODAY IS A QUIET DAY, JACKIE IS MAKING A NICE ITALIAN DINNER. WE USUALLY HAVE HAM, OR PORK, BUT WE DECIDED TO HAVE ITALIAN FOOD WHICH WE ALL LOVE. I STARTED TAKING MY LITTLE TREE DOWN, AND DECORATIONS WHICH I HAVE IN MY BEDROOM . YEARS AGO I LEFT EVERYTHING UP UNTIL LITTLE CHRISTMAS. WE HAD SOME MORE SNOW, NOT MUCH, AND IT'S STILL ON THE GROUND. THE WEATHER IS VERY COLD. THE KIDS RETURN TO SCHOOL ON TUESDAY. MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH, MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S ARE ALL GOING TO NEW YORK CITY TO AMERICAN GIRL DOLL PLACE, WHERE THEY WILL HAVE LUNCH, SEE A SHOW, AND SHOP IN THE AMERICAN GIRL DOLL STORE. THEY ARE SO EXCITED. SO, "HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND MAY YOUR NEW YEAR BRING YOU, GOOD HEALTH, WEALTH, AND LOTS OF HAPPINESS." THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.............RIZZI

A CHRISTMAS MEME

A CHRISTMAS MEME..............I'M PLAYING ALONG WITH THIS THEME FROM MY NIECE KAREN, FROM OVER THE BACKYARD FENCE. LE ME KNOW IF YOU PLAY, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR CHRISTMAS LOOKS LIKE.

1...EGG NOG OR HOT CHOCOLATE?

LOVE BOTH! BUT, HOT CHOCOLATE WITH MARSHMALLOWS.......YUMMY.

2...DOES SANTA WRAP PRESENTS OR JUST SITS THEM UNDER THE TREE?

SANTA WRAPS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN WHITE TISSUE PAPER, AND RED RIBBON. NEVER THE BABY DOLL, OR TEDDY BEAR.

3...COLORED LIGHTS ON TREE/HOUSE OR WHITE? WHEN I WAS A CHILD WE HAD NOTHING BUT COLORED LIGHTS, NOW IT'S ALL WHITE.

4...DO YOU HANG MISTLETOE?

YES, I USED TO BUY THE REAL PLANT, NOW IT'S ALL PLASTIC. BUT I HANG IT.

5...WHEN DO YOU PUT YOUR DECORATIONS UP?

RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING, THIS WAY I CAN ENJOY THEM THE WHOLE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

6...WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS DISH?

PRIME RIBS WITH TWICE BAKED CHEESY POTATOES.

7...FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MEMORY AS A CHILD?

I WAS 11 YEARS OLD, AND I LOVED TO DRAW. I GOT A JON GNAGY DRAWING SET. HE HAD A 1/2 HR. SHOW EVERY SUNDAY MORNING, AND I WOULD SIT AND WATCH HIS SHOW AND DRAW WITH HIM. HIS COMMERCIAL WAS "THE THREE MUSKETEER BAR."

8...WHEN AND HOW DID YOU LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT SANTA? I HAVE 4 BROTHER'S, AND 2 SISTER'S AND I WAS THE YOUNGEST......THEY NEVER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO SANTA CLAUS, IT WAS SOME OF THE KIDS IN SCHOOL.

9...DO YOU OPEN A GIFT ON CHRISTMAS EVE?

YES! THIS TRADITION COMES FROM MY MOTHER, SHE WOULD GIVE US I GIFT CHRISTMAS EVE TO OPEN, IT WAS NEW PJ'S, OR A NEW NIGHTGOWN. I CARRIED THIS TRADITION WITH MY CHILDREN, AND MY CHILDREN DO THIS WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN.

10...HOW DO YOU DECORATE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE?

LIGHTS, ORNAMENTS, THAT I HAD FROM MY FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH MY HUSBAND, ORNAMENTS FROM MY SISTER'S, WE WOULD GIVE EACH OTHER A NEW ORNAMENT EVERY YEAR, AND NEW ORNAMENTS I BUY EVERY YEAR, PLUS ORNAMENTS MY KIDS MADE IN SCHOOL. I STILL HAVE A FEW LEFT THAT ARE REALLY WORN.

11...SNOW! LOVE IT OR DREAD IT?

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

12...CAN YOU ICE SKATE?

YES! THAT WAS 50 YEARS AGO....WOW!!

13...DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FAVORITE GIFT?

YES! IT WAS MY DOG REILLY, JUST A PUP, A SHIH TZU, THAT WAS 14 YEARS AGO, HE IS GOING BLIND, BUT DOING WELL. HE GOT A NEW BLANKET, AND TOYS FROM SANTA.

14...WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS TO YOU?

THE MIRACLE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST,AND FAMILY.

15...WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY DESSERT?

DIFFERENT KIND OF CHEESE CAKE, AND CHRISTMAS COOKIES.

16...WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITION?

HANGING UP THE STOCKINGS AND PUTTING OUT COOKIES AND HOT CHOCOLATE FOR SANTA.

17...WHAT TOPS YOUR TREE?

AN ANGEL.

18...WHAT DO YOU PREFER GIVING OR RECEIVING?

I LOVE GIVING, I LIKE THE JOY ON THEIR FACE WHEN THEY OPEN THEIR GIFTS, ESPECIALLY IF ITS THE GIFT YOU KNOW THEY REALLY WANT. (I ALSO LIKE A GIFT OR TWO)

19...CANDY CANES?...I THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL, BUT I GET A HEADACHE IF I EAT ONE.

20...FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SHOW?

THE WALTON'S CHRISTMAS, WHICH THEY DIDN'T SHOW, BUT I HAVE IT ON DVD.

21...SADDEST CHRISTMAS SONG?

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, IT REMINDS ME OF MY BOY BILLY, HE DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN 1987, AND I JUST WISH HE WOULD COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

22...WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG?

ALL THE CHRISTMAS SONGS SUNG BY FRANK SINATRA.

WELL, NOW YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT CHRISTMAS. I JUST LOVE IT...................I HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS WITH MY FAMILY. MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE SO EXCITED, THEY ALSO HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS, AND WERE VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL THEIR GIFTS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS..............................RIZZI

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

THE HOME FIRES BURNING..................

THIS IS MY HANDMADE AMISH FIREPLACE. I HAVE IT IN MY BEDROOM, I JUST LOVE IT. AT NIGHT WHEN I AM ON MY BLOG, OR READING A BOOK THE GLOW OF THE FLAMES ARE SO COMFORTING, THERE IS SO MUCH WARMTH IN THE ROOM. I HAVE CINNAMON CANDLES BURNING, AND THEY SMELL SO GOOD, "THE SMELL OF CHRISTMAS." I HAVE A SMALL TREE, I TOOK A FEW PHOTO'S OF THE ORNAMENTS. I ALSO HAVE A SMALL VILLAGE ON THE TOP OF MY BOOKCASE. I GAVE MY LARGER ONE TO MY DAUGHTER JEANNE. SINCE LIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER JACKIE SHE HAS A BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE, I TOOK SOME PHOTO'S OF IT TOO. HERE ARE LOUELLA AND NELL, THEY SIT ON MY BED. THEY ARE SO PRECIOUS.
THIS IS MY CHRISTMAS VILLAGE..........................

I GOT THIS ORNAMENT FROM MY NIECE KAREN, FROM

"OVER THE BACKYARD FENCE." DOVES ARE SO PURE. THIS IS ONE OF THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS BOOKS I USED TO MAKE, IT HAS ALL DIFFERENT SANTA CLAUS PICTURES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THESE ARE MY DOGS TUCKER AND REILLY, I SAW THESE CUTE LITTLE FIGURINES IN THE STORE, AND THEY LOOK A LOT LIKE MY DOGS. I THOUGHT THEY WERE CUTE, NOW THEY ARE A PART OF THE TREE.
THIS IS JACKIE'S VILLAGE
THIS IS OUR HOUSE ALL LIT UP, AND LOTS OF SNOW. YES WE HAD SNOW, 24'8 INCHES. I AM DELIGHTED, AND THE KIDS ARE AS HAPPY AS CAN BE. THEY HAD OFF FROM SCHOOL TODAY TOO. THEY WERE OUT MOST OF THE DAY, WHEN THEY CAME IN THEY WERE COVERED FROM HEAD TO TOE WITH SNOW, JACKIE MADE THEM HOT CHOCOLATE WITH MARSHMALLOWS, AND FRESH BAKED COOKIES. THEY'LL SLEEP GOOD TONIGHT.

WITH ALL THIS SNOW IT REALLY FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS. I HOPE EVERYONE IS FINISHED SHOPPING, PRESENTS ALL WRAPPED UP, SOUNDS GOOD, BUT I STILL HAVE TO WRAP. EVERYONE HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY................RIZZI

CHRISTMAS COOKIES............YUMMY!

CHRISTMAS COOKIES, THEY ARE SUCH A TREAT. I LOVE BAKING CHRISTMAS COOKIES, NOT AS MANY AS I USED TO BAKE. YEARS AGO [1940'S] MY MOM BAKED EVERY CHRISTMAS COOKIE YOU COULD THINK OF. SHE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST 8 TRAYS OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES PILED AT LEAST 6 INCHES HIGH COVERED WITH A DISH TOWEL. THEN SHE WOULD PACK THEM IN COOKIE TINS. EVERYBODY WE NEW GOT HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS COOKIES. THEY WERE SOOOOO GOOD. WE WOULD SIT DOWN AT THE KITCHEN TABLE AND HAVE A NICE HOT CUP OF TEA, AND CHRISTMAS COOKIES. I HAD 4 BROTHER'S, AND 2 SISTER'S THERE WERE 7 OF US, AND WE ATE A LOT OF COOKIES. THE MEMORIES OF THOSE DAYS ARE SO GREAT.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY..........RIZZI