Internment

My mother-in-law is in her final resting place.  We had the funeral on Saturday and her entire family was there.  It was very nice, with a short service at the cemetery and a lunch-get-together afterward.
My father-in-law held up very well, and was grateful everyone came.

I drove up Friday and spent the weekend with my friend Linda and her father Theodore (Teddy).  Linda, who has also known my mother-in-law for years, and her sister came to the funeral as well.  As always with funerals, one is happy to see the rest of the family, even though it's not the happiest of moments to get together.
And no, there are no photos from this family-event, it just didn't seem the right time.

On the way back to her house, Linda and I stopped at this store, where my mouth dropped open:

I know this company through catalogs, but had never seen one in real life, here you first stop in the door:

Not enough?  How about this, close-up of what I'm afraid of running into in the morning:

this one is stuffed, we have the real thing in the neighborhood.

I was teasing Teddy that I caught a fish and he didn't - fishing season started in Connecticut on Saturday, and every brook, little stream, pond and lake was busy with fishermen.
And here something I've never seen in Germany:

Guns and rifles for sale.  From the simplest gun all the way up to antique pieces, the most expensive rifle I saw was $20,000 - twenty thousand Dollars!!!
And then I took a dive into the past.  I hadn't been back in East Hartford, where my husband's grandparents lived, for at least 30 years.  But since it was close, I had Linda drive by, here a typical New England Congregational church, where my parents-in-law where married, my mother-in-law confirmed:

And then the real blast from the past, I wanted to see if my grandparents in law's house was still there, and yes it is, but not the same:

It looks different now, it had a gate, and a garden, and a grape arbor in the back.  My grand-father in law used to take the tomato seeds from tomatoes that were used in a salad, or just eaten, and dry them, and then start seedlings in the spring on the porch....

Last night we went to a tavern on the Connecticut/Rhode Island border, about an hour away, and ate there:

And it was very good!  I had the fried clams, New England Style, with the bellies attached.

Oh, so fattening, and oh, so good.  With sweet potato french fries and cole slaw.

Bench

The bench I bought on Saturday was picked up yesterday by my son-in-law and me.  And Jackson, of course!  I was a little apprehensive that the bench would not fit/look good.  It is fine!  I like it a lot, and up to four adults can sit on it comfortably, and how many kids?  I don't know, we'll find out!
And this is what it looks like in an un-straightened-up dining area:

It doesn't even look big, but is, it's a long bench.  I like it a lot, it matches my furniture in color.  I've never been able to let go of the mahogany color in my life, since we got my husband's grandparents dining room set, which we got way back in 1977 or 78, and  which is now in my oldest daughter's house.  And my husband's grandparents bought it used in 1944 or 45, so you know that set is old.  Anyway, I got used to that style/color furniture, and seem to be drawn to it when looking.  I tried to go the new trend, which is white, but it just doesn't have the same appeal to me, and that too, will get 'old'.  My kitchen is white, so is my bathroom, I just can't bring myself to go white in other rooms.
Love colors.  Love the combination pink and light blue.  If it has roses on top of it, I'm gone.

I got to spend a little time with Jackson, and, as always, I adore hanging out with little guys.  Too funny.

Art explained

In the post before last, I mentioned art in the title.  And then promptly forgot to explain.

Jessica is taking pop art classes at a local museum.  And Tuesday was the first day.  Since her mom sometimes can't tell if the bus will deliver her on time, I bring her to the museum, and then mom joins us.

Jessie had a great time, and will go back next week.  All I saw was a large paper with lots of pink and purple on it, and we had to leave it because it had to dry.

Her mother and I had a nice long chat about different stuff waiting for the young artist.

How fun to do those kinds of things with the little ones!


Yesterday we went to watch Matthew play soccer.  The weather was perfect, I brought a book, but watched the kids instead.  And Jessica and I just hung out until it was over.

Horses

It's my little brother's birthday this morning:

Happy Birthday, Thomas!

Herzliche Glueckwuensche zum Geburtstag!

Mwaaaah!

(kiss)

isn't he cute?  (I'm sorry, Thomas, you are!)

Last year I helped him celebrate.  And it was great!  It's a beautiful area of Germany he lives in with his wife and son.  And so romantic!  With horses, in an old restored farmhouse with a big barn:

Anyway, Happy Birthday to one of the best brothers ever!

Love you, Thomas!
(quick edit:  it's his birthday all day, I'm sure I'd hear from him, if I didn't correct this)

Art

I slept too long this morning.  There was no time to do my walk, take a shower and eat breakfast.  I have no idea why a woman living by herself needs two hours in the morning!  I used to cope with three children, up to three cats and the usual morning craziness with ease.  What happened?
I always liked mornings, liked it when the kids were still sleeping, and I was the only one up.  I'd have my coffee, either in the kitchen or out on the deck if the weather was nice, and just enjoy the peacefulness of knowing everyone was safe, healthy and well in the same house.  And to say that first 'good morning' to whomever was up first, and start the day - the best.

Everyone is fine.  This weekend we will go to Connecticut and be there for the internment of my mother-in-law.  So there will be a solemn celebration of her life.  I will visit over the weekend with my very best friend in Connecticut, see her 90-year-old father, visit with her sister, and then see all my family on this side of the pond at the cemetery, we will say hi to their father at his final resting place.

Here at home I'm working on a seat cover of a chair I rescued, and pick-up a bench I bought at the re-store of Habitat for Humanity.  That bench is for my dining room, I will put it against the wall, and I envision all the grandchildren piling on in the back.  I am making a cover for that as well, and will post pictures as soon as I get it.

Today as I was passing the front of my house on the way to work I noticed a package in front.  So I backed up, wondering - I hadn't ordered anything.....
It was a prize from All my Yesterdays, a wonderful red diffuser, with the most wonderful scent, thank you so much, Vicki!  And I never win anything!  What a great surprise.

PS - I skipped the walk, and did the other two.