Saturday, February 10, 2018

Ten Things of Thankful

The link has been open for a day over at Josie Two Shoes site at the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop, so I'd better take a look at my notes and see some of the mentionable items for this week. Can you believe that I actually made note of some things as I recognized them at the time? Of course, there probably will be some things that will come to mind as I move my fingers over the keys right now. Writer's inspiration or the great unlocking of the mind, who knows. Being thankful is something that if we keep our hearts and minds open can be felt and seen every day in small ways or in large ways. With time and practice it becomes easier to do, like so many other things in this sphere of existence.





1. Organ music - I discovered university radio station that plays organ music every Sunday evening at 6 pm. Did you know that there is a beautiful organ at the Disney Hall concert hall in Los Angeles?






2. Tissue rather than handkerchiefs - With the advent of the cold and flu season and hopeful the disappearance of such soon, I am so grateful for tissue. An interesting fact is that tissue (washi) was first 
first used by the Japanese in the 17th century, but in the United States of America tissue wasn't introduced until 1924 for the reason of using it to remove makeup. By a couple of years later 60% of the people were using it for blowing their nose.

3. A movie to look forward to - I am already looking forward to a movie, You Are My Friend, about Mr. Rogers with Tom Hanks playing the role of Mr. Rogers.

4. Performing arts - My hubby and I along with a friend were able to attend a toe tapping, hand clapping, and head bobbing show this week at The Shedd Institute. We saw one of Chico Schwall's American Roots shows. This time it was American Masters: Uncle Dave Macon & Sister Rosetta Tharpe. I can't be still when listening to this kind of music, and I wasn't the only one.

5. Beautiful sunsets - Apparently some outdoor burning was allowed this week, because we had some gorgeous sunsets.

An orange and yellow sky seen at sunset from the Willamette Valley as we looked toward the the coast range. The bottom half of the photo is almost black, but the outline of a few buildings are showing against the grey/black mountains.

6. Daffodils - The signs are there and it won't be long before we will see some in bloom. That splash of yellow will likely make its appearance a little sooner this year.

7. Friends to join for meals out - An Empty Nesters lunch and lunch with a friend on a day we explored the merchandise at a large craft store that opened in the area. I mostly looked, but it was fun seeing what they had. In some ways it was like stepping back in time, since in the merchandise world there is that trend to make what once was "in" look improved and brand new.

8. Safe travels - A parent is always a parent. Although I don't worry now about the travel of my grown children, or I would be worrying all the time, I am always glad to know that they had safe travels. Even my own mother at 101 years (only rarely now because of her memory loss) shows concern when I just drive to my house from the nursing home.

9. Mystery photos - Among some old photos that belonged to my paternal grandparents are a few which have people who remain unknown to me. Because DNA tests can indicate others to whom you may be related, I learned of a couple of people this week who are related. One is a descendant of my great uncle, George Alfred Pierce, born 1874 and his wife, Regina Angela Smith. I am  hoping that perhaps she or some other relative may be able to identify the people in this photo as there are quite a few photos of my great uncle's family. Mystery photos keep me searching and keep me discovering about my family. 




10. My husband who has done more than his share of work this week for me and for us - What would I do without him? I don't want to know, although deep down I do know. I will always love him. 






17 comments:

  1. Interesting about the handkerchief... I remember them being sold in sets, sometimes monogramed. (I wonder if modern suits (for men) still include this ...fashion appendix lol)
    that photo! (the woman on the right? such a clark!) (lol... no, seriously, even through an old photo (it's the 'pressed lip smile' and the leaning to the man behind the two)
    enjoyed the photo caption...especially the detail of the silhouettes of the buildings in the foreground. Hadn't noticed but then looking for them, very cool.

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    1. I don't know if modern suits (for men) include handkerchiefs. I do remember that suits use to have a portion of a handkerchief, obviously just for show than for use.

      Wow, not only get the possibility of identifying the people, but also how one of them fits into the Wakefield Doctrine! Now that is a bonus!

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  2. I, too, found the history of tissue quite interesting. There is nothing more unhealthy to me than a wadded up handkerchief that is stuck in your pocket and removed time and time again to wipe a runny nose. By the end of the day - ewwwwww! Old photographs are always interesting and in this case motivating to help fill in some blanks of ancestry. I love to look at photos, the clothing, the setting, the faces that speak of times past and stories if untold, leave open the mind to imagine. Have a good week.

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    1. I agree as to wadded up used handkerchiefs. No wonder how in the olden days the women did their laundry in bowling water!
      I always slow down to look at a bowl or counter full of old photos that end up at a thrift shop. Makes me sad to see them there.

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  3. #4 I am quite sure it was a toe tapping event! I discovered Sister Rosetta Tharpe's music last year. She was amazing!
    I love looking at old photographs and have a quite a few from way, way back but it is extrememly frustrating when there are is no identifying information on them!
    Daffodils just may be my favorite flower. And they are definately the precursor to spring :)
    Wonderful picture of a gorgeous sunset.

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    1. There is a video on Youtube of Sister Rosetta Tharpe singing in England that was so interesting to watch. Talented woman!
      Wouldn't it be great to be able to take advantage of the technology there is today to figure out how a person would look at an older age. That would allow a person to match up people in a lot of the old photos maybe. A picture of a baby and a picture of an eight year old, etc.
      Glad you enjoyed the sunset photo.

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  4. Great list of thankfuls. That does sound like a good movie. There are so few good movies made now that are not full of violence. Have a great week!

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    1. I don't know when that movie is going to be finished, or even if they have completely finished getting the cast, but I'm already looking forward to seeing it.

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  5. I read The Simple Faith of Mr Rogers this weekend. Wonderful book. I think you would enjoy it. I too look forward to the movie. Mr Rogers is a hero at my house. Our last name is Naeger (long A sound). When my oldest child was a preschooler she loved Mr Rogers. The one thing that bothered her was wondering if the other children were sad that he started every episode singing just to her, Won't you be my Naeger? One of my favorite memories from when she was little!

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    1. I'll have to read that book. I'm sure that I would enjoy reading it.
      That is such a funny story. I had to read that to my husband. What a caring little girl to be concerned about whether the other children would feel sad that he wasn't singing to them too. So sweet.

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  6. There was a documentary shown at Sundance this year called "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" that we weren't able to see, but that sounded really interesting.

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    1. I saw mention of that movie too. That would have been a good one to see too. I enjoy watching documentaries.

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  7. Ah, my grandfather always still had a handkerchief on him, even after the alternative was available. Not my thing.

    I loved Mr. Rogers when I was a child. I think he had such a peaceful and mellow voice and I liked that. Hanks will be cool, like he was when he played Walt Disney a few years back.

    He was awesome in The Post. He's one of the top five actors working today.

    Loved the sunset photo.

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    1. I think that a lot of the men who toil outside, use those large handkerchiefs to wipe the sweat from their brows or the dust from their faces too.

      Choosing Tom Hanks to play the role of Mr. Rodgers is an excellent choice.

      I'm glad you enjoyed the sunset photo.

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  8. A lovely list, especially the last item. What would we do without them? Well, i don’t want to know.

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    1. Thank you. Dealing with loss can be difficult, and something we all must face at some point. That is my realistic side speaking, but another part of me wants to shout, not yet.

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  9. My brother was probably the un-coolest person in our high school as far as his musical tastes were concerned, because he LOVED classical musical, especially organ music. He had dozens and dozens of albums. There was someone named E. Power Biggs that he practically worshiped. I like the organ for church, and we have a lovely pipe organ at ours and an excellent organist.
    Kleenex >>> handkerchiefs, however, when I have a HORRIBLE cold and its at that drippy nose that burns your upper lip phase, I use an old cloth diaper to dab my poor, sore nose. Any blowing is reserved for a kleenex, though.
    I love that photograph, and my first thought was that it looked just like something from our family photos, and when I saw it was taken in St. Paul, Kansas, which is maybe an hour from here, I knew why!

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