Continuing family updates

After the event...some more photos from Caroline's graduation last Sunday.

Her mom, Michelle, posted these on FB. I wouldn't see, experience many events were it not for FB. I am always checking and scrolling past the ads to see what's new with friends and relatives. My grandchildren say FB is for old people. OK, that's me!

"Congratulations Caroline for graduating with a double major in International Relations and Public Health with a minor in German from 3 colleges at George Washington University. It has been an honor and privilege to watch you grow over the past four years driven by your passion for international cultures and your desire to help others, particularly those disenfranchised. You challenged yourself in multiple ways we are so proud of and are delighted at the friends and relationships you’ve made. We could not be more thrilled for your future and the impact you will undoubtedly make in the world."

- Mom, Michelle.

Those who attended: my son Marty, GDaughter Kate, son Russ, GDaughter Caroline, D inL Michelle, GDaughter Audrey, Michelle's mom Joanne, and behind is her hubby, Gerry.

Mom Michelle, Kate and Audrey sisters of the grad

Caroline with her parents, Russ and Michelle

The celebration with a toast to Caroline. from front l. Marty (my son) Russ (son) Michelle (DIL) Audrey (my GDtr) Caroline (GDtr) Joanne (other grandmom) Gerry (Joanne's husband) and Kate (GDtr.)

I may not have been there in body, but I was in spirit. So sorry to have missed all the fun!

Saturday's window

 Remember there were people that shared on Facebook "The view through my window?"

Today I'm starting with the window. It opens out from there however!

Focused on the outside...

Focused on the inside...some of the treasures I keep on my desktop..  Now this is what a desktop is supposed to look like!!

The last of these blooms on the orchid – as there are some new buds appearing between the two! The red shamrock set them off so nicely, and supported them when the wind blew.

Next day (Monday I think) you can see The last of the flowers had fallen off their stem which is at the top of the picture with its new buds! I've never had summer orchids before...must be the heat.

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For Saturday's Critters this week, my archives show my grand-puppies: first Cody, the Pomeranian. I mainly talk with him when he's barking over the phone, making it difficult for people to hear each other talk. And the beautiful gal holding him is Kate, my granddaughter who just graduated high school in Ohio. (I know you might be tired of seeing her...but you're crazy, who could be tired of seeing such a beautiful girl! No I'm not at all biased!)

This is grand-pup Zora out back-pack-camping with my son Tai (and wife taking the photo) somewhere in Colorado or Utah probably.

Here's grand-pup Severus with granddaughter, Cayenne holding a gifted ceramic jar made by yours truly, in Tampa  FL....hey, we all have hair that does that!

Not directly related, but kept in my family album, are my ex-in-laws. They are the greatest shared grandparents of my grandchildren with Marty and Cinnamon! And their other daughter lives in Minnesota, where they must have been visiting for this shot. A Blue Ox certainly qualifies for Saturday's Critters.

Yes I have more grand-pups and kittens, but this is what came up today, folks!

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Today's quote:

When Alexander the Great visited Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for the famed teacher, Diogenes replied: "Only stand out of my light." Perhaps some day we shall know how to heighten creativity. Until then, one of the best things we can do for creative men and women is to stand out of their light. -John W. Gardner, author and educator (1912-2002)

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Today's old photo is over on my other blog Three Family Trees with Sepia Saturday!

For the bookish among us

At Lake Tomahawk there are two free libraries, one for adults, one for children's books. I gave you this peek a few days ago.

I guess someone is reading all the adult books. Mmm, have to see if I have any to donate! They are supposed to return them of course!

Children's books were there that day, gone the next.

I and some of my friends are lovers of books...and usually are reading at least one, while there's a pile waiting for us.

My current fun is rereading Sir Terry Pratchett's Wee Small Men with Tiffany Aching. They may be geared for young adult, but are smashingly funny anyway. I'm listening to this one, and have several others of the series waiting. I just finished several non-fictions, and am due for a few laughs.

I was happy to have access to audio library books on my phone for my recent hospital visit. The TV was awful, and I hate daytime TV anyway. (a tiny blurry screen, Direct TV choices.)

I recently posted this photo of my mother while on vacation, and she enjoyed reading more than any activities. She never enjoyed being photographed though.

Linnie and Lou(ise) George, distant cousins of mine, 1880. We shared our ggg grandparents  One of them wrote her journal of moving from Alabama to northern Louisiana, with all the trials of growing up and being educated in the south before the Civil War. I've transcribed it for my descendants if they are ever interested. Here's the first of four chapters describing their lives. They were my first cousins three times removed.

Sarah Louise George Tompkins Specht, journal keeper (Lou George) at 84 in 1926

A tea party with laughs, unknown date (maybe 1900?)

Teresa and her hubby, Chuck, in Pigeon Forge TN a few weeks ago. She is one of my favorite book-lover friends. And yes, that's really his beard!

Sharing with Sepia Saturday where there's anything one wants to share that perhaps is related to the posted meme of the week. Yes, there's a fellow reading late into the night. I know the feeling, and fortunately nobody has taken my photo while doing that.

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Today's quote:

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will have truly defeated age.

-Sophia Loren, actor and singer (b. 20 Sep 1934)

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Today's art:

Cyndy Salisbury...paper artist..mask maker..sculptor....Bainbridge Island..Washington

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(More) Family Album:

Granddaughter Kate

My middle son Russ, and his daughter Kate, 2023-24

Kate's senior photo

Kate recently played Lacrosse in tournaments with her team in Clearwater FL (they live in OH). Then she and her family went to Berlin Germany for a week to meet with her sister who's doing a study abroad semester. Such fun to have those opportunities for this family!

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Sequestered!

Smoke from wildfires several miles away, came roaring (blowing!) through last evening. Sitting in my living room with windows closed, but curtains and blinds up, I started coughing.

So now blinds are down, and curtains closed. It's a dull place inside, while bright sun shines outside.

Screen shot of warning of unhealthy air last evening.

It has gone down this morning. I'm wearing my N-95 mask when I go pick up my lunch at the senior center.

Having a good time together!

 Many years ago!

Atlantic City NJ, 1919

Friendship and fun times 1910.

And maybe they weren't having such fun...

Portrait of women from Guadeloupe at Ellis Island, circa 1910. NY Public Library digital collections

"African American girls posing in Atlantic City 1955" and I'm guessing they were on  a different section of beach than the ones with white people.

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Sharing with my friends, few and far between, or near and newly met...with the old photos of sepia tones!

Sepia Saturday this week:

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Today's good news:

Today, [Mar 13] U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that federal agencies must immediately offer thousands of probationary workers purged from the government in the early weeks of Trump’s administration their jobs back. Mass firings from the Defense, Treasury, Energy, Interior, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs departments did not follow the law, Alsup said.

The government declined to make witnesses available to the court although Alsup had ordered the acting head of the Office of Personnel Management to appear today. Alsup told lawyers from the Justice Department that he believed they were hiding how the firings had taken place and who was responsible. “You will not bring the people in here to be cross-examined. You’re afraid to do so because you know cross examination would reveal the truth…. I tend to doubt that you’re telling me the truth.… I’m tired of seeing you stonewall on trying to get at the truth.”

Tonight, U.S. District Judge James Bredar ordered the administration to reinstate thousands of probationary workers in the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the General Service Administration, and the Small Business Administration.

Bredar said it was “likely” that “the Government has engaged in an illegal scheme spanning broad swaths of the federal workforce.” The government claimed it did not have to give advance notice of the firings because it had dismissed the probationary workers for “performance” or other individual reasons. "On the record before the Court, this isn’t true,” Bredar said. “There were no individualized assessments of employees. They were all just fired. Collectively.”

Thanks Heather Cox Richardson, Letters From and American March 14, 2025 

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Also on March 13 from Boston MA:

In a 12-1 vote the Boston City Council approved a resolution making the city a sanctuary for transgender, gender diverse people and all LGBTQ+ people.

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And on March 16

A report released on this day in 2021 confirmed that Putin had authorized efforts to help get Trump get reelected in 2020.

And today is...

· Freedom of Information Day

· Black Press Day

· Lips Appreciation Day

· National Quilting Day

· National Panda Day

· National Artichoke Day

· Everything You Do is Right Day

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Family album:

Having a good time together!

Having a selfie, all lined up, with son, Russ on l, myself, 3 granddaughters, Caroline, Audrey and Kate. All taken by Michelle, my daughter-in-law in front, in Black Mountain 2022. We had a very short visit as they were on their way to Florida, where there were also freezing temperatures on the beach there, unfortunately.

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Today's art:

Marc Chagall "Lune rousse au Cap d'Antibes,"  oil, pastel, and watercolor on paper 1969