Saturday, April 28, 2012

The little copper horseshoe

Every thing has a story. Especially this little copper horseshoe.
In 1981, Corinne, my eldest, and I were in Wales spending time with the children of my mother's cousin.
Peter and Jo along with my mother's cousin, Nancy, took us for a drive and we ended up in Nantyglo.
My mother and her parents had left Nantyglo around 1928 to emigrate to Canada. Growing up I heard so much of  Nantyglo it was as if I had been there many times. My great grandfather's butcher shop was still a butcher shop and the row of shops with the living accommodations above, still lined the street. We strolled the same walkway my grandfather, the local "Bobby" trod every day.
Now in a small town it doesn't take very long for word to get around that there are people from "America" peering in vacant shop windows. We were engaged in conversation several times and my grand parents were remembered. Tales of my quiet grandfather "rolling on the bailey," to subdue someone who had had one too  many at the local delighted and surprised me.
We were introduced to the lady who, at that time, owned the property, then vacant, where my family had lived and where my grand mother had had her "sweet shop." Nothing would stop her as she got the keys and walked us down the street and opened the door for us to enter. We walked past the barren shelves and into the the family living area behind. The small fireplace and huge mantle, the heavily wallpapered walls all spoke of a home once loved and cared for. We went up the narrow stairs to the two bedrooms. "This would have been your grandparents room," she said of the front room. The ceiling was low and my tall grandfather would not have been able to stand upright. In Wales it seems men are either just over 6 ft or barely 5ft. Then she said, "Your mother was born in this room." Corinne had found a squeeky board and rocked back and forth on it. I was overcome with emotion, I wanted to weep so instead I rather sharply told her to stop rocking on the board. Aunty Kate would have said, "My tear ducts are connected to my bladder." An expression used to describe a "soppy person." ME.
After a good look around we returned to our guide's house for a cup of tea. I am sorry I don't remember her name. She was a lovely lady in her 90's at the time. Before we left she pressed this little horseshoe into my hand. "Your grandmother was my friend," she said, "and when she left to go to Canada she gave me this to remember her by. It is only fitting that you have it now."
Then I really cried. I never knew my grandmother. She passed away when my mother was 16 yrs old.
As I pack these precious little things it came to me that to anyone else this is just a silly little thing but it has a wonderful story I felt I should share.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

8 more sleeps...

Spiffy new carry-on bag
...before we leave on our holiday. I haven't even started to plan, past a bathing suit what I am going to take. I still have a week. Went out and bought my self a huge floppy hat to take down south. My tablet is loaded with movies, books and magazines. Think I may take a small crochet project along to pass the time on the plane. We have two 4 hour flights just to get there.


Read last night that Whitney Huston has died. It is always tragic when someone so young dies but the tragedy is that she wasted the life she had. She had a career, a god given talent, family and wealth and what did she end up with? Very sad and a warning to every one that fame is fleeting and the choices you make in life can have disastrous effects. I feel for those who loved her. Elvis all over again.


Logan 8 months
Grand babies are thriving. They are so much fun. Love their little cheeks. Logan has teeth and Emily is getting over a bad cough. This has been such a funny winter. These babies will welcome some warm spring days Along with the rest of us.
Emily 2 months

Letting my hair grow again. I am so sorry I had it cut off last spring. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Frivolous thought really but there you go. That's all I have today.
Be good to yourself and don't take life for granted look at Whitney!

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Superbowl - NOT - Sunday

Can't possibly think of offending any football jocks out there with that title. Actually I can't imagine any of them reading this blog anyway.
Two weeks today and we are off on a weeks holiday in Los Cabos, Mexico.

In light of the recent goings on, we will not be going off resort at all and I will not ride unaccompanied in an elevator.
The grand babies are thriving. Enily is almost three months and Logan will be one in March. My this year seems to have flown by.
Emily Grace
We are contemplating a move to a  more compact location. This place is too big and what with the lawns, front and back and snow removal (which fortunately has not been a major problem this year) it is time to pack up and move out. Where, we haven't figured that part out yet, wait till we get back from Mexico.
Over the summer I slipped of my healthy eating plan right into a vat of carbohydrates. sigh. However, good news, I have found Dr Dukan's healthy eating and am on my way back. Finally I have discovered the secret of maintaining.
Here is a sweet taste of spring for you.  Pink and white tulips are so welcome this time of year.