Sunday, September 30, 2018

How Does Your Garden Grow?


A gorgeous sunset


The Heavenly Blue Morning Glory vine is full and lush. No blooms


Tree leaves in the woods turning yellow


Downpours dropped 3 inches of  rain this week.


One Reggie Morning Glory


The meadow is looking limp and tired 


though that hasn't stopped the bees from loving on the flowers

How does your garden grow?

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies

This idea came from a Facebook meme:
Over 10 days, post your 10 all time favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:me favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:


Captain Blood (1935), Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone

If you haven't seen this movie, you can watch a paid version at YouTube.com

If this movie isn't your cup of tea, you can check out what Kathy in the Ozarks recommends.

Friday, September 28, 2018

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Nan and I spent a fun day at a Celtic Knotwork workshop.

2. Skype got all wonky during the weekly session with The Eldest. We texted each other while watching the finale of Worst Cooks.

3. Stopped in at the museum to photocopy some handouts. I lost one of my Weeping Angel earrings. It was found and returned to me.

4. Rescued Himself when the mechanic had to keep the car to have brake work done. Took Himself to school. Picked Himself up from school. We had a late lunch/early dinner and then went to pick up his car.

5. The new, flexible nib fountain pen I ordered arrived.

How was your week?

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

My returning to East Boston I began seeing Mary more often. I had been seeing her and we had dreams which we did not express outwardly. I had to ask her father as Mary said I should if we were to be a twosome. I asked him and he ok'd our going together predicated on the community's fathers oral essay. Knowing who you were, your parents, etc. concluding with the famous saying, "no monkey bissonis." And coming in no later than 11 PM.

She also had a young Greek interested in her, and since she and I had arrived to an understanding, I informed him I was giving  her a cedar chest for Christmas.

Prior to this time I was being invited to her house and on Sundays I would have dinner. There by invitation of course or be there on evenings for coffee and pies. Yes we were serious.

[Ed: When Ma told me the story of her Greek suitor, she said Dad had to discourage the Greek fella from seeing Mary so told him he (Dad) was going to give Mary a hope chest. And then he had to make good his threat. Ma seemed perturbed that she wasn't the one to decide which suitor she was going to choose as Dad jumped the gun.

The hope chest in the picture is Ma's, but not the original finish. The original finish was cherry mahogany with a waterfall pattern in the grain of wood. Somewhere in the 1970s DIY furniture stain became popular. Dad refinished his desk with this gawdawful Spanish Red stain. He had a lot of stain left over and being frugal, he didn't want to waste it so a lot of furniture that didn't need to be refinished became fair game for him. Ma was so upset when she saw what he had done to her beautiful hope chest. I hope to have Ma's cedar chest restored to a cherry mahogany finish.]

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

T Stands for The Mapparium

During the Summer, the Highland Street Foundation offered Free Fun Fridays where area museums and attractions offered free admission. Nan and I decided to take advantage on the last Friday of the event, the Friday before Labor Day weekend. We would meet in Boston to visit the Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library. Mary Baker Eddy was the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist.


Himself dropped me off at the train station in Grafton where I caught the 510 Commuter Rail on the Framingham-Worcester Line. The train arrived on time at 7:37 AM and would get me to Back Bay Station between 8:45 and 9 AM


Since Nan was taking the Orange Line to Back Bay Station, we agreed to meet at Au Bon Pain in Copley Place steps away from busy, Back Bay Station. Copley Place is a shopping and office complex in Copley Square.


Nan treated me to breakfast . Tea for me, coffee for her, and scrumptious Apple Cinnamon Croissant.  After breakfast and catching up, we headed to


The Boston Public Library. As it turned out, we both got a renewal notice for our library cards. The Eddy Library is a short walk from the BPL so since we were going by, we decided to renew our library cards. 

A Duck Boat tour vehicle makes its way down Dartmouth Street.


Across the street from the BPL, a Farmer's Market was taking place at Trinity Plaza.


We walked around the corner from the front entrance of the McKim building, the old library, to the entrance of the new library (built during the 1970s) to get our library cards renewed. Seems odd to have to renew a library card like you renew a driver's license.


With that out of the way, we walked the half mile or so to the Mary Baker Eddy Library. Visitor services were on hand with Free Fun Friday stickers. There is an admission fee to the Mapparium, but the rest of the libary is free to visit.


A light fixture in the foyer 


Also on hand was the Flamenco Boston, a flamenco dance group. They were giving a demonstration so we stopped to watch. There was a children's tour group, and they happily shouted Ole during the performance. A mom with a couple of toddlers was standing in front of us, and the little ones had a rollicking good time dancing and clapping to the music.


The Mapparium, while beautiful is a bit under-whelming. The Mapparium is a 3-storey, glass globe from 1935. You walk into this large room on a plexi-glass bridge and you are in the middle of the globe. Sadly, photography, even non-flash is not allowed. You can simulate a photo by standing in front of the globe backdrop.

Afterwards, we decided to go outside to see the Reflecting Pool. The reflecting pool is an outdoor area between the Christian Science Church and the Prudential Center. 


A beautiful floral display


The Christian Science Church


And the Reflecting Pool is undergoing major reconstruction. To be finished in the Fall of this year. 

We decided to head back to the BPL. With our renewed library cards, we would be able to visit the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department to look at Medieval Manuscripts.


The Rare Books and Manuscripts Department is located on the 3rd floor of the old library. We went up the stairs between Uncle Manny's lions. Don't forget to say Hi to Uncle Manny and to rub the tail of the lion for good luck.

We weren't lucky enough as the Rare Books and Manuscripts was closed undergoing major renovations. The department is expected to remain closed until 2019.

As it was lunch time, we knew one place that wouldn't be closed. Flour Bakery and Cafe, a favorite lunch spot. Nan and I ate there the last time we were in Boston 2 years ago. The bakery was crowded so we got our food to go. Since it was a Goldilocks Day, not too hot, not to cold we decided to take our lunch and eat outside at Trinity Plaza. We found an empty park bench.


Hard to photograph my BLT (arugula, tomato, mayo, balsamic vinaigrette, toasted focaccia) and iced tea with lemon while balancing lunch in my lap.


Lunch time and the pigeons were out enforce looking for a handout. 

After lunch, we decided to go to Lord and Taylors. Nan was looking for a pair of shoes for a wedding and had seen some on sale. They didn't have the shoes Nan was looking for.


She tried on a pair of cute, blue gingham shoes. Still on sale, but a little too steep in price.


We went back to Trinity Plaza and browsed through the Farmer's Market. Statue of Boston artist John Singleton Copley



Before heading back to Back Bay Station, we went back to the library. Nan thought she would like a book to read on the subway. She forgot her readers so was looking at large-print books, but couldn't find anything appealing.

I can't read in a moving vehicle.


Walking back to the train station, I took a picture of Trinity Church and the Old Hancock Tower dwarfed by the new Hancock Tower. A single cloud like a flying saucer is reflected in the glass structure. The "new" tower, constructed during the 1970s, is the tallest building in Boston and had an observation deck with magnificent views of the city. The observation deck was closed after 9/11. 

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monday, September 24, 2018

Halloween Stamps


Are you going to send out Halloween cards? If so, check out these beauties offered by the USPS. Dragons and The Art of Magic. Both are Forever stamps (.50  for First Class).

Sunday, September 23, 2018

How Does Your Garden Grow?


The Blue Jay was loudly complaining Timex was hogging all the birdseed.


Corolla came to the sun room door to say hello and to challenge me to a staring contest.


After the game, he ate his lunch


and then had a Heavenly Blue Morning Glory leaf for dessert! 


The Maple out front is starting to change color


and drop its leaves


Heavy downpours and breezes took down a clump of Oak leaves


2 inches of rain for the week


And grudgingly I welcome Fall.

How does your garden grow?

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies - Double Feature

This idea came from a Facebook meme:
Over 10 days, post your 10 all time favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:me favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:


Butch and Sundance, The Early Years (1979), William 😻 Katt, Tom Berenger which is the prequel (sort of to:)


Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) Paul Newman, Robert (Be Still My <3 ) Redford

If you haven't seen either of these movies you can watch a paid version of The Early Days at YouTube and also a paid version of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

If these movies aren't your cup of tea, you can check out what Kathy in the Ozarks recommends watching.

Friday, September 21, 2018

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Made waffles with almond flour and had breakfast for supper. The waffles were pretty good.

2. Finally got to use the Outback restaurant gift card. Every time we went, the restaurant had either closed the location or the wait time was over an hour.

3. We survived the heavy downpours from Tropical Storm Florence. Other areas around us weren't so lucky.

4. I decided I would participate in Inktober. I found an empty, small, Strathmore Visual Journal to use.

5. I helped a friend with a computer problem, and she called me her hero

How was your week?

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Throwback Thursday - The Notebooks

To clear up some confusion, the Notebook passages posted on Throwback Thursday were written by my father and found by me after he passed away. They were his attempt to tell the family history. He was in his late 80s or early 90s when he wrote them. Today's chapter:

Besides the Draft in 1941 other things were going on, the war was getting closer to us. The government began movements that were preparation for war. We were supporting Great Britain, Russia and other countries that the Axis as Germany and Italy were called and also the President declared a freeze on the shipment of scrap metal to all countries that were outside the Western Hemisphere. 

Japan was our biggest customer and it complained actually it protested.

The President also declared an unlimited state of national emergency. He froze all of Japan's assets in the U.S. Shut down the German and Italian Consulates. Agreed to help Russia which was at war with Germany.

All the actions that were directed to helping nations fighting the Germans and Italy began opening factories in America. We were or started to get out of The Depression and to also invited our getting into the war even if we were attempting to stay out of it.

The government was negotiating with Japan. The Secretary of State informed the Japanese that to avoid a war between the U.S. and Japan, Japan should remove their army from China and Indochina .

They refused and on Dec. 7, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

In the late Summer of 1940, Skip informed me that he had taken courses at Columbia University that had to do with national disasters, wars, etc. And upon completion of the course his name was sent to the Federal unit that would be in charge. And the agency was calling him. That he ha dtold this to the  Club's Board of Directors.

That Doris would be a consultant. And I would not move up to the Director's post because the Board wanted an older person. I would train the incoming director whom I knew as he was active in the Club. That I would train him I would get a good increase in salary. Have my cut restored and the addition and also receive a deferment.

As he was telling me this I wasn't too happy as to what was happening. I felt that I could run the Club as its Director. But the deferment was unpleasant.

The selective service act was in position and it developed another group of citizens who could not pass the physical examination or were needed in key positions received deferments. They were called 4Fs [ed: four effs]. In short the public considered these people as slackers. I did not want that title. And feeling I was getting a rotten deal. And I also felt that the Board thought it about time to have a local resident in the driver's seat.

I told Charlie that I would not accept the offer because of the deferment. I wanted to go when called. So I gave my 2 week notice.

So I returned to East Boston whence I came from.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

T Stands for Looking for the Uncles

I had an urge to go on a cemetery hop. I wanted to see if I could find out where my father's uncles were buried. (My great) Uncle Joe had lived in the next town west of us, in Framingham. He had been a barber and owned a barber shop by the railroad station in the center of town.

The five gentleman in the foreground(left to right) my grandfather, Achille Todisco
Uncle Alfred, Uncle Joe, my father (named after his grandfather and Uncle Joe),
and Dad's kid brother, Mario
Dad always talked fondly about Uncle Joe. He had given dad a Waltham watch when he graduated law school. When Dad moved the family to Natick in 1952, he gave dad his old, two-tone green Dodge automobile. I remember the car, but not Uncle Joe.

Uncle Alfred's shoe shop, now a bakery at 542 Washington St. Wellesley
I have fond memories of (my great) Uncle Alfred. He was a cobbler and owned a shoe store in Wellesley, the town east of where we lived. Uncle Alfred carried Stride-Rite shoes, a brand of shoe for children. Every year before school started, Ma would take the Brother and I to get new shoes. Uncle would sit on the salesman's bench with the slanted footrest for us to be fitted with the right size shoes Ma picked out for us. I sometimes amused myself while the Brother was being fitted by sliding down the slanted footrest.

When I was around 6 or 7 years old, I desperately wanted a pair of cowboy boots. Dad must have mentioned it to Uncle because that year on my birthday, when woke up, I found a pair of shiny, brown, tooled-leather, cowboy boots. I couldn't image Ma asking Uncle to get me a pair of cowboy boots.

Uncle Alfred was interview by his local newspaper, The Wellesley Townsman. I blogged about his article in a previous Throwback Thursday

I had both of the uncles birth and death dates so requested their death certificates from their respective towns.

It shouldn't have come as a surprise to find they were both buried in St. Tarcisius Cemetery in Framingham. They were very close as brothers. I found a number for the cemetery and called to see if I could find out the section the uncles were buried in. The secretary was very helpful. Told me the uncles and their wives were buried together in the old section of the cemetery. Father Sartori Row 5, Lot 4.

The cemetery was a lot smaller than we expected, established by the parish in 1907. The entrances were barely wide enough for a car. Teague drove in and followed the driveway to down to a perimeter drive. She took a left and I spotted the Father Sartori sign. Usually when looking for a grave, we end up spending time wandering around looking for the grave stone. Teauge practically parked in front of the Uncles grave.


I was surprised to see the correct spelling of the family name. Both uncles spelled the name, Todesco, and used that spelling as their legal surname. The family story I heard about the different spelling was when Uncle Alfred came over from Italy and was signing papers to enter the country, he made a loopy "i". The official recorded this as "Todesco" even though the loopy "i" was dotted.

Both Aunties passed away long before I came along. Uncle Alfred's wife, Esterina, passed away in 1940. Auntie Clara followed in 1946. Uncle Joe passed in 1966 and Uncle Alfred in 1972. After visiting with my relatives, I went to visit the neighbors.

St. Tarcisius Cemetery is a predominantly Italian Catholic cemetery. Lots of the monuments were big and beautiful. Seems Italians spare no expense for monuments to their loved ones.

I usually photograph angel statues





but some of the monuments were just too beautiful not to photograph even though they didn't have angels on them.


This monument was carved like a tree trunk with a type of scroll on the front. I forgot to photograph the back which was carved like tree bark.



It was nice to see the cemetery allowed planting and even though the cemetery was an older cemetery family still visited and took care of the graves.


St. Anthony of Padua is a popular saint among Italians. He's always depicted holding the Christ Child on a Bible. His story that while imprisoned the Christ Child appeared to him as he opened his Bible., and blessed him with the gift of preaching God's word.


This monument shows Mary as a child, Later, she would become the mother of Christ. In this grouping she is with her mother, St. Anne. The arch above the figures is carved with an intricate rose design. Roses are symbols of Mary, especially white rose. Legend says when she kissed white roses in Heaven, they blushed and turned red.


I loved seeing the milkweed pods ready to burst with seeds. I didn't see any butterflies in the cemetery.


Another beautiful angel.


A double heart


A little angel in front of an elaborately etched stone with an unusual round shape. There weren't many non-Italian surnames in the cemetery


Another beautiful etching


Another little angel in front of this veteran's stone. I wonder if he had been a pilot. Can you see the airplane in the upper right corner?


My favorite stone in the cemetery


two stone kitties nestled on top.


A day dreaming angel


This stone had a very unusual shape. Daniel was a Red Sox fan.


Since Daniel was a firefighter, I thought the stone was carved to look like flames


Another lovely, etched stone depicting a group of children. 
"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 (KJV) (NB: The King James version of the Bible is the only Bible that is copyright-free to quote from.)


I thought this was the most beautiful stone in the cemetery.


Someone was fond of bunnies


The family name was Spinnazola, but I loved how the family used the nickname, "Spinny". Statues of angels, the Virgin Mary, and solar lights decorated this grave. And tucked behind the flag,


a little French bulldog.

As we were about to leave, I had gone back to say good-bye to the Aunties and Uncles. Teague was heading back to the car when she called out to me.

"I think you might want to see this." I thought she must have found an unusual stone to photograph. And she did


Another stone with my family name and a mystery


Was Albert related to my family? He was born in 1916 and was the right age to be a child of Uncle Alfred, but Uncle Alfred didn't have a son named Albert. His children, his first son, Tony died shortly after birth, followed by Anthony, Charles, Arthur, Eleanor, and Alfred. 

Auntie Clara, Uncle Joe's wife, was divorced and had three children (Frank, Lilian, and Rose) by her first husband. Uncle Joe and Auntie Clara didn't have children of their own.

After wandering around the cemetery,we went to Murphy's Eats and Treats as it's down the street from the cemetery


Teague had a tuna melt with a side of fries and a root beer. I had a bacon cheeseburger and with a side of fries and a Raspberry Lime Rickey.



Then we ended lunch with some ice cream. Peppermint stick for Teague and Death by Chocolate for me.

While trying to find a link between Albert and my family, I did find that Uncle Alfred's only daughter passed away earlier this year.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.