Shutterfly Photo Books

My Shutterfly Mt Auburn Cemetery Photo Book ~  printed 2020 created as a project during lockdown isolation.

https://www.shutterfly.com/share-product/?shareid=3acbe2c1-1bba-4858-be15-b69bb52dd53b&cid=SHARPRDWEBMPRLNK

Instagram photo book 2018

https://www.shutterfly.com/share-product/?shareid=763fd7fe-3d50-4db6-9a8f-1c02546e0438&cid=SHARPRDWEBMPRLNK

My Mt Auburn first 8x11 photo book

https://www.shutterfly.com/share-product/?shareid=5f00df4e-2f89-4f38-a8f3-ad62230f8d16&cid=SHARPRDWEBMPRLNK

2020 ~ 20 Years MS

When I got diagnosed in 2000 doc said over the phone at work oh you have ms multiple sclerosis give ya some meds to take, my heart sank life was about to change. Sometimes God has a funny way of slowing us down. For a long time knew something was wrong with my body numbness pain tired until MRI scans of the brain and spinal cord see lesions, fraying of the nerves as I came to understand it.

Now 20 years in I know that it affects everyone differently and can change. One day to the next my symptoms come and go relapsing remitting or pain numbness stays it never goes away my hands legs feet.  I’ve learned to live with ms, adapt ask for help rest.  Slowed me down yes, slow but sure with my cane or rollator.  All the while thankful to God for what I can do and have. When you don’t go! go! go! any more you spend more time with God make the time to get quiet and be grateful good or bad times.

We all have something to battle, carry on or live with some kind of thorn in the flesh. As with so many other illness ms is invisible don’t look sick, a sick that doesn’t always show but it’s there and I will endure with Gods help. Amen!

Seeing poems being shared many about slowing down getting quiet enjoying simple every day life no matter what it brings.  Poet David Thompson Watson McCord my photo Mt Auburn Cemetery.

Philippians 4:5–7
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Downeast Ceilidh ~ Celtic Music

According to Wikipedia a cèilidh or céilí is a traditional Scottish or Irish social gathering. In its most basic form, it simply means a social visit. In contemporary usage, it usually involves dancing and playing Gaelic folk music, either at a house party or a larger concert at a social hall or other community gathering place.

In 1972 Marcia Palmater hosted a radio show from MIT called Downeast Ceilidh with music from the Atlantic provinces of Canada with a heavy emphasis from Cape Breton Nova Scotia where my mom was from, she would tune in faithfully every week. At the time there was no other show like it. In 2002 the show moved to WUMB where she continued to listen to the music and hear about shows and events going on at the Canadian American club in Watertown MA plus any news from home in Canada. Marcia’s show kept mom connected to her roots hearing the names of folks she knew or liked listening to.

My mom passed in 2004 and I have carried on the tradition of listening to Celtic music. I thanked Marcia through email to tell her how much mom enjoyed listening to her show. Although I’m sure my mom told her when she saw her at the club which in her eyes was like meeting a celebrity. One day I noticed that Marcia’s show wasn’t on and that she retired in 2017 then passed February 2019. Maybe there’s bagpipes and fiddles in heaven!

Thankfully Gail Gilmore has been playing Celtic music on WUMB radio called Celtic Twilight on Sundays 4-7pm at 91.9 FM Boston. Just say "Alexa play wumb" and she finds it on my tablet or listen live online at wumb.org Now I look forward to tuning in. Gail plays a great mix of Celtic music from all over the world including traditional and new younger bands that keeps this music alive. So I sit with my cuppa tea, tapping my feet knowing in my heart mom is happy that I’m still listening to ma’s music. Slàinte

Camp Mohawk

I follow Camp Mohawk on facebook its an all girls camp that I worked at two summers 1978 and or 79 foggy on the dates.  It was the first time away from home left on a bus from South Station trying to hold back tears as my mom and brother faded away from view. "First time away from home" the man beside me said it must have been obvious. Maybe the tears did flow. The first year was in the camp office. My duties were to help the directors paper work, answer the phone and announce over the PA system "time for Ahts and Crafts" my Boston accent for all to hear in the hills of Connecticut. Second year I was in the office and also got to help out in the Ahts and crafts cabin!

Camp Mohawk posts photos of current activities and occasionally old photos from back in the day as it has been around since 1920. One day they posted a photo demolishing the office. My heart sank. The office is the first building you see pulling into camp its headquarters, the heart of the place.

The director noted it was time to upgrade and make it bigger for today's use along with the stables for the horses.

 

Happy to see the new office was rebuilt and looks better with more room. Such a beautiful place with fond memories and memories to be made for so many girls to come. Change is good. Keep up the Mohawk Spirit xo

http://campmohawk.org

Repurpose

How hard is it to recycle? really? separate trash from plastic paper cardboard tin cans. 4-5 big blue recycle bins behind trash dumpster gets picked up each week how convenient for residents. Thing is all cardboard boxes need to be broken down meaning cut them up into smaller pieces to fit inside blue recycle bins. I get out the scissors break down the amazon box. do I want to do this not really kinda pain but I do it why because that's what the recycle company wants from us in condo land for pick up break them down put inside blue box. INSIDE not outside or on top not broken down ugh!

Every week there are boxes not broken down sitting on top of the blue recycle bin so now with my paper bag full of recycles I have to move your new canon copy machine box or jumbo size diaper box or whatever you got from amazon that was so damn big you just couldn't break it down. no time for that gotta hook up this here new printer let someone else deal just leave it there the guy will take it. Guess what butt head he doesn't take it.  All those boxes get left behind and now guess where they go yup big canon copy machine box that could've been recycled is now in the trash dumpster. sigh

One day at the recycle bin young woman drops in plastic bag full of recycles. I said oh no plastic bags in recycle bins. Her reply really I didn't hear anything about this why don't they tell us. God give me strength. I said the stores will take back the plastic bags (they always have for a long time now) as of July 1st business in Watertown will no longer give them out. Also online Watertown DPW website has recycle quick list of information. Google it. Welcome to the village. Felt like adding oh and invest in a good pair of scissors to cut up your boxes please and thank you.

When going to grade school at Sacred Heart my dad would pop in occasionally with boxes of paper from his job that was going to be thrown away so we could use the paper in the classroom. Its a lovely memory as I was so proud that's my dad!  Way ahead of his time recycle was not something everyone did. Taught me not to waste find another use before throwing it away. The mantra today is Reduce Reuse Repurpose Rethink Recycle or just leave it there for your neighbor to deal with better yet just throw it in the dumpstah. 

To finish on a good note I was given an electric grill for my deck. No grill stand no problem. My mom's retro back in the day iron board collecting dust in the basement has become a repurpose. shabby chic vintage. Re imagine indeed.

Still Alive

Another year passing by. Seems like time moves faster as I grow older. 55 still alive. Some didn't make it this far so I'm thankful God lets me see another day...

Over thanksgiving I watched PBS shows Anne of Green Gables and Pollyanna. Anne's story is from scenic PEI Canada and its a classic. Even though she didn't like her beautiful red hair she did find beauty in all her surroundings like trees, the sparkling river and fragrant lilacs while adults walked right by these same things but didn't take time to notice or appreciate.

Pollyanna if we could all have her "I'm glad" even when bad things happen attitude. To find something to be glad about when things don't go my way or disappointment. Is it because she was a little girl that the world seemed so bright or that her father was a vicar and taught her the glad game so it stuck with her even when he died. When she went to visit grumpy older people with her smile and simple frame of mind it made them stop and think about how life could be different by changing their mindset.

Note to self think like Anne of Green Gables and Pollyanna be glad and thankful.

My photo of butterfly before going into the mall glad I took time to watch and take a pic.

Fiddle

I grew up listening to my mothers favorite Cape Breton Nova Scotia Canada's finest musicians mostly fiddle, piano and bagpipes. Mom loved Scottish music kept alive by the Canadians.

Natalie MacMaster has always been a favorite. I've seen her at Harvard Memorial hall in Cambridge MA. This year March 20th performance with her husband Donnell Leahy and 5 of their 6 children made an appearance at Lyric theatre Stuart FL.

Small intimate theatre with huge video screen of her younger self playing a tune while her eldest daughter played too. Donnell had a video of playing and working the farm when he was younger. They showed amazing scenery of Canada and Scotland hard to tell the difference between such beautiful lands. Also a glimpse of a Cape Breton downeast ceilidh hootin and hollerin included. 

 

Since the Lyric is a small venue a meet and greet was possible! We moved right up to the table so Natalie and Donnell could sign book and CDs.

First recording cassette April 1/89

 

I was a bit star struck got a few photos and told her I've been listening to her since the days of her cassettes! My cousin Jean told her our family was from Southwest Margaree. 

Obviously we were thrilled to see, hear and meet Natalie MacMaster! God bless this talented family. Keep up the traditions.

December 12, 2014

Bloggers worst feeling is when you delete last post. UGH. It's been awhile since being on this website and of course I cant remember how to use it. Last post was December 12, 2014 ten years since my moms death. Think of her every day. She we would be so happy to know how obsessed I am over Outlander and anything Scottish.
Miss you mum.

 

 



Fab50s

Fab40s melded right into Fab50s now that I've had a few years in here's my thoughts. It is fab. Despite having MS these past 14 years giving up alcohol and mascara at 50 has done wonders. LOL The booze was making me sick even if it was only one drink. Stomach issues 1 pill in the morning 1 before dinnah 2 at bedtime. Ah yes fab 50's and pills. A daily probiotic is a must. Vitamin D3 help keep the bones going, those lovely chocolate calcium chews are a tasty treat and the occasional Tylenol for whatever aches. On a positive note no more midol and all the pain mess that comes with that issue.  I'd take a quick hot flash over that any day.

When I worked there was the ritual of getting dressed, makeup and of course the mascara wand. Now I may put on some BB cream with SPF20, little dab of color on the cheeks, define a brow pencil (over plucking from the 80s they never grew back) and done.  Only special occasions does the mascara come out, its so freeing not to be slave to that.

I've noticed the commercials and ads for "lifestyle lift" and "wrinkle reducers". Good grief why do I have to hide or fight something that happens naturally? Ok ok I color my hair to hide those grays but it started with "sun in" spray at 16 to highlight been every color since. Someday hair coloring will go away too let it go.

The wrinkles are gonna come and I will continue to slather on good old Vaseline at night that Tracy's mom Rose swears by and her skin is lovely. No need for needles, lazors, plumpers, fillers what the heck is in that injecting stuff ugh. No thanks.  From one decade to the next, leave one set of problems there will be other new ones, that's life. It's all about the attitude make it a good one ~ make it fab.

Lilacs
Luscious intoxicating aroma of lilacs.
Deep purple turns a lighter shade of lavender.
Mama we’re going to play in the lilac fort.
The bush grew bending over the fence creating a path underneath.
Walk through with me inhale the fragrance of lilacs.
Month of May brings Mother’s day while lilacs bloom.
She would cut a bouquet of lilacs into a vase
the scent would fill the room. Lilacs. Lovely lilacs.
Home sweet smell of home.

Nancy was my first boss and foot in the door to Harvard she hired me! Amazing letter. Sometimes just doing your job the best you can really shows and shines through when its time to move on. I had a few more jobs at Harvard after this letter then time to retire due to MS so I treasure fond memories and friends.

Tourist in my own town from my Harvard days. Grammar police do not arrest me! A spring weekend 1997 captured in writing for class. Click on image, right click open to another tab to see it bigger.

Life Changes

Life changes in a blink of an eye, a New York minute, another year older and wiser.

Getting ready to pack my things and move on to the next chapter has always been daunting to me. Some people get up and go very easily.  Luckily I like organization and everything in its place. Parting with things and clearing out is fun to me. Starting fresh. Begin again. Its time for me to go…

I like this conversation by Winnie the Pooh and Piglet walking down a long happy path…

“Have we reached the end?” asked Pooh.

“Yes, I suppose it seems so…and yet”
“Yes, Piglet?’
“It is also the beginning!”

1950

think its nifty that youre 50. wrote this poem in 2000
its heartfelt and funny...

Be thankful!

A smell or taste of food can bring you back home. my moms cranberry pie recipe. she would make it this time of year. tastes more cakelike than pie great fall dish. girlz gotta eat. happy baking and being thankful! God bless xoxo

Rich Scones

This rich scones recipe is from a magazine that the editor found on an old apron. Made it with raisins and thought next time might add a bit more sugar but thats the reason I tried it not alot of sugar plus when you put some jam on the scones it doesnt need to be very sweet.  Self-rising flour is all-purpose flour that has had baking powder and salt added to it. I used all purpose and added a tsp of baking powder.  I mixed/kneaded it in a big bowl then on the counter pressed it out with my hands dont need a rolling pin. I also cut the pieces with a knife for a rustic look using all the dough. Perfect with tea. Cheerio!



Recipes to share

From my Star Market days I fondly remember Kay McCarthy. She was Star Market’s spokeswoman for local TV commercials. My first day at the office I met Kay and thought I met the biggest celebrity in these parts since Julia Child! (I did see Julia shop at Mt Auburn Star) Kay would create or demonstrate recipes and she wrote at least one cookbook for Star Market. She would bring me her hand written recipes each week to typeset a recipe card that went in the stores for customers.  I always enjoyed seeing what she came up with and her kind elegant way.

I have made Kay's “Spinach and Cheese Pie” for years and it comes out perfect every time. The mushroom crust is so simple you’ll be tempted to add more to it but don’t. After the crust is made, pour the ingredients in and bake. Perfect every time.

“Family Favorite Chicken” is another Kay McCarthy recipe that my mom liked and would make often. Its good with curry but you can substitute any seasoning you like or have on hand.

“310 Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry” got its name from an apartment in Watertown we would whip up this stir fry when we had a date to impress. LOL yummy every time. Not sure if it’s a Kay recipe or from a Chinese cookbook but worth sharing. Bon appetite!

SPINACH MUSHROOM PIE

½-lb. chopped fresh mushrooms
(small pkg. sliced mushrooms then chop)

3 Tbsp. butter            ½ cup dry bread crumbs

1 ½ cups grated Swiss cheese

1 10-oz. pkg. chopped frozen spinach defrosted sprinkled w/nutmeg

6 slices bacon fried and crumbled or 6 Tbsp Hormel real bacon pieces

3 Tbsp flour

3 eggs

2/3 cup mayonnaise or miracle whip

Saute mushrooms in butter. Add bread crumbs. Press mixture in a 9-inch pie pan to form a crust. Mix together remaining ingredients and pour into pie shell. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes.

Family Favorite Chicken

2 Tablespoons butter                                       3 Tbsp cornstarch

2 Tbsp oil                                                        salt and pepper

3 or 4 celery sliced thin                                   dash of curry powder
1 onion chopped                                             (or any seasoning)
1 to 1 ½ cups chicken broth

Chicken breasts or tenders cut up bite size pieces

Heat butter and oil in skillet, add chicken, turning on all sides to brown. Remove from pan. Add onion, celery, sauté until a little crisp. Return chicken to pan, toss together. Sprinkle cornstarch over all and mix well. Add salt, pepper, curry (or 5 spice powder) and chicken broth, stirring until thickened. Serve with rice. 

“310” Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

1-lb. beef strips                                                3 Tbsp. oil

2 Tablespoons soy sauce                                 1 teaspoon sugar

1 Tbsp cornstarch                                            2 Tbsp sherry

1 Tbsp. oil                                                       2 Tbsp chicken broth

Broccoli

Combine soy sauce, cornstarch and 1 Tbsp. oil, pour over beef. Steam broccoli for about 2 to 3 min. Heat 3 Tbsp oil in wok or pan. Sprinkle sugar over hot oil; add beef, stir and cook. Add broccoli stir, then stir in sherry and broth. Sliced canned water chestnuts can also be added. Serve with rice.

Savory and James, product of Spain, Deluxe Dry Sherry – FINO

Keep in refrigerator, good for risotto, sauces, dips or deglazing pans.

got junk?

Blue and white with big bold letters 1 800 got junk? dump truck pulls up to the next door building claiming North America’s largest junk removal service. Full green trash bags, wood, pieces of metal clang and bang after being thrown into the wide open backside of the truck. A photo scrapbook of someone’s life falls out and scatters with all the debris. How sad I thought as my heart tugged seeing stuff thrown away. Did someone die or move and left their stuff behind. Could it be a hoarder and its time to let go of the obsession before it puts them in danger.

Made me wonder is this what happens to all our stuff eventually?

The saying one person’s junk is another’s treasure is so true. One of my favorite shows lately ‘American Pickers’ go in attics, basements, barns or storage units full of mostly old abandoned stuff looking for a gem. BANG. Another object gets thrown into the truck. Again I look out the window to see an old wooden round side table circa 1970’s being tossed in with the now full truck of junk. Haven’t they heard of trash to treasure? Shabby chic!

As a kid trash picking was an adventure! People would get rid of perfectly good items. Before recycling became all the rage if you didn’t want it leave it at the curb someone would take it. When I had outgrown my dolls and toys I gave them all away to the younger kids on the street. Yard sales have become a huge business on the weekends when the weather is nice. Yard sale-ing down Belmont Street you can make 2 or 3 stops on a good day. Just ask my friend Sharon she knows all the sales in advance heads out early to find stuff at a bahgain!

Some stuff is hard to part with for sentimental reason we cling to that old ticket stub, artwork or knick knack. You can’t take it with you when you go. Sooner or later all the stuff we own has to go to someone else or the dump. Each season of life we go through our stuff take inventory what stays what goes. Clothes in a closet no longer being worn get put in the red cross box for someone else that is in need. I don’t want to leave a lot of stuff behind. My hope is to give away a lot of stuff as the seasons change before that blue truck pulls up to my door.

5 Years Gone

My mom passed away 5 years ago during Christmastime. There was no warning. No hospital. No emergency she just went in her sleep. That night I talked to her on the phone she wasn’t feeling well and said she’d call the doctor on Monday. Her voice sounded tired I asked if she wanted me to come over. No, you go to the party and have a good time. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Tomorrow came but so did the phone call. She’s gone. After all the years of praying, going to church and believing in God, He took her home, the ultimate final step for a Christian. When I went to her house to see for myself I was numb. Could it be a mistake? Why didn’t I go over there? Could I have stopped this from happening? No. Death is something you can’t stop.

In the fridge there was a container of her homemade sauce and meatballs, another one with soup. My thoughts were it’s the last meals that she cooked. I’ll never taste her comfort food again. Meatballs never taste quite as good as hers and I always made sure I told her that too. Warm motherly hugs that make you feel wanted and loved, cease.

There’s no word to express the loss of a loved one. One day you have a conversation and the next it’s over. Gone forever are the phone calls asking if everything is ok. Want to come over for tea and supper. I need a ride to the hairdresser can you take me. My role as caretaker and daughter is done. That connection with someone so important for you to make happy and comfortable the best you can is finished.

A day does not go by that she is not in my thoughts, memories and dreams. Soon after her death I dreamt she was all dressed up in white, hair done, smiling with my dad. She told me it’s all right I’m ok. Somehow this comforts me. 5 years gone. I’ll always miss you. And life goes on.

Mama and my grandmother Effie in front of their home in Southwest Margaree, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada

August Sky

The sky is pink, blue and yellow - a watercolor
God paints me a sky every day
after the rain the sky glows pink into purple –
yellow into gold

green tree tops look like mountains
against a pink sky
twilight
August winds blow a strong storm through
torrential rain falls
and now an afterglow

Calmly the trees stand after their furious flight
gentle breeze takes over a calm sky
pink and blue sky goes by
wet is the ground clean from the rain
pink turns blue into the night sky – cool is the breeze
the sun is gone - leaving only a trace
of its setting colors

the storm has passed – night is here
another day will dawn and God will paint a new sky