memories – West Seventh Freelance

A Best Friend

Gaile and I have been friends for over 40 years. She just got her Medicare card and I am in hot pursuit of mine…only one more year. We met up today for lunch and a ramble around St. Paul, MN. We had not seen one another for almost two years. Covid and life… It wasContinueContinue reading “A Best Friend”

Remembering Our Fathers

Kath and I both lost our fathers many years ago. We think of them most every day, but especially today, a lovely cool day in June. We are in the garden; a space we both learned about and grew to love because of our Dads. Thank you. Miss you.

Remembering Dad through Food and Letters PART 1: Blueberry Muffins

My current research and writing project is a continuation of something started a number of years ago— transcribing letters Dad sent home to his family during WWII and capturing my own memories of summers spent in the Adirondack Mountains. An aspect of this relates to food— snippets Dad wrote about and things I recall asContinueContinue reading “Remembering Dad through Food and Letters PART 1: Blueberry Muffins”

Aunt Norma

My Aunt Norma died last week. She was my Dad’s youngest sister and the last living sibling at 92. Norma brought out the best in people. One of my cousins remarked on this. It was definitely true regarding my father, her big brother, who could be crabby, gruff, silent…you name it. Norma managed to smoothContinueContinue reading “Aunt Norma”

Then and Now

It is graduation season and Father’s Day is just around the corner. It is also time to take a moment to celebrate old friends. I met up with a dear friend of 40 years to spend a few hours chatting while the Mississippi River- still overflowing the banks- rolled on by. Today, our nephew DavidContinueContinue reading “Then and Now”

Re-purposing Memories and Giving Thanks

My dad was a wonderful wood worker and all of us kids have several of his pieces. One of mine was a four poster bed that he built from cherry wood when I was about 12 years old. Over the years the bed moved from my childhood home in Upstate NY to RI, then MIContinueContinue reading “Re-purposing Memories and Giving Thanks”

Daily Prompt: Moments to Remember (All Done!)

Today I closed the door (literally) on the year of the ‘studio experiment’. After a final look around and placing the keys in an obvious spot, it was time to move on. http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/03/25/prompt-moments-to-remember/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective #2: University of MN

I worked or spent time on the University of MN campus- Twin Cities- for a total of twenty years. Today, meeting friends for lunch, I didn’t recognize the main street that intersects the campus. Washington Avenue now sports a completed light-rail system and new student housing and other construction. Thank goodness The Big 10 RestaurantContinueContinue reading “Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective #2: University of MN”

Portrait: Not Selfie

That would be me- in 1960- wearing my big brothers’ Rochester Red Wings baseball jacket and my dads’ rubbers

Violet Gallery on WordPress and The Kitchen Witch

I recently discovered Violet Gallery on WordPress; a treasure trove of gorgeous sketches, water colors, and a cat named Malus. One of the posts referenced “Kitchen Witches”. I happen to have one and wanted to share her. She is 25 years old and came to live with me in Rhode Island. My cooking is stillContinueContinue reading “Violet Gallery on WordPress and The Kitchen Witch”