Welcome viewers to Lynda's Family

Welcome back viewers. And to those who might be here because of the Charleston Rag, "Sveiks!" as we say in Latvian. It is the Patriotic way to greet other Latvians, or "Letts" as we are referred to in the American Classic by Cole Porter, "Let's Fall in Love." I wanted to add some pictures showing the family we have. As well as highlight some of the Famous Lynda Dragon Lady, or Dragon boat lady, McDonald-Rock. Our family is a special group of people that have grown to know and accept who each other are in life. There are definite differences and definite similarity's. My parents had 6 kids to raise and "enjoy." God Bless them. We gave them a run for their money for sure. You see a photo at the very top a picture of us in the late 70's. That is me with the goofy hat, hair, and glass of Tab. Being Diabetic that was my soda of choice. My Mom's parents are in there with us as well as my mom's sister Zita sitting next to her. I am guessing my sister Laura taking the photo since she is not in the photo. Next there is Lynda with Lyla(left), Zita(right) and my grandparents. The wall hanging behind them is something my grandmother made that is of a Latvian design.
Graeme and his mom Lynda look very similar in the next two photos although someone had the decency to get dressed before stepping out of the house. My parents celebrating turning 80 and 75 with a party themed after the "Roaring 20's", and there you have my dad and Lynda greeting the guest out front as they came to the house. It was a fun time. Lyla was blessed in finding a like soul for herself, and Tracy proposed on Lyla's 50Th Birthday. He then called my Dad to ask for her hand in Marriage. Chivalry certainly is not dead. We welcomed him into our family with open arms. This photo is one at the reception after the wedding that has all our immediate family and significant others or spouses, and the children. The two missing are Lenore's significant other Paula, and Laura's Joe. The last photo is the sunset off the back deck. I know our higher power has blessed us all with many things in our lives, but when I look up at the sky and i am able to see a sunset, sunrise, cloud shift, rainbow, I know that there are things bigger, and greater, than any of the issues, choices, and problems that we face.


The clouds move free from form
Feeling the wind move it's outer region.
I sit and wonder if my form is much the same.
There is the basic mass of materials.
Metaphysical to cause this molecular being-
And then that which surrounds me causes, or
influences, me to bend this way and flow that.

Looked at by myself I might not be that unusual
Or unique, but add in the clouds next to me
The supporting sky behind me, and
The passing sun, and
The whole view is astronomical

Enjoy the pics

A Cupful of Coffee Helps the...

I have been mailed several cards, and given flowers and fruit arrangements. They were all very nice, comforting, and thoughtful. The flower arrangement is still on display in the living room, and the fruit arrangement is all but eaten, but I was given this coffee cup by a friend of mine yesterday that he had made up in his alter ego persona named "Bambi." On the back it says, "Love ya, mean it." So what is needed by me after a night of sleepful healing before the morning drugs, and coffee, kick in. My iPhone is another cool ditty that was a wonderful present for Christas from William. I haven't learned it all yet, but I am slowly progressing on it. Enjoy the Pic.

Christmas and the aftermath

These are few of the photos to mark more of the Christmas I survived. Remember the Christmas Special for the Christmas that almost didn't happen. Okay, most of them are about that. But the one with Mr. Heat Miser and his other evil brother, in which the odds had to be won over by faith and love and belief. Well, with my open heart procedure, that is sort of how I felt being able to make it to Williamsburg. We all had our issues this year, so I am grateful we were able to come together as a family. I am sorry that Tommy, Sandy and Little T were not able to be there Christmas morning, but they were certainly there in our hearts.
So, there are a few photos. Not in order, of course. Well, bottom up.
There is the lonely Penguin across the street up on the balcony. I like him up there. Although I am not sure if he is contemplating jumping or not.
Laura doing her tech thing in front of the 4 foot tree we assembled down at Williamsburg. We did not have Wi fi in the time share condos, but the iPhone certainly helped us get info needed fast. Such as, music trivia, bagel locations,(though they had already closed) and weather conditions.
Then William and Edvard being the loungers on the sofa. There have been similar shots before, but I like this because of the lighting and you can see the tree in the reflective window.
And lastly, the photo I took at Wayne and Terry's New Years day Party. It seems very much the same as what would have been at our cousin's house during a get together in Rockford, IL so many years ago. Enjoy the Pics and the memories.

Christmas and all that jazz

We went all out with the tree lights and decoration. It took us a week to do it all, but it was well worth it. I love having the CVS Rudolph characters out. We have to put them up high because Edvard likes gnawing on them otherwise. The boys all wanted to try to put on the Santa Hat. There is always room for more than one Santa, eh? The last picture is of Jeanie's Birthday Cake blowout. We had a nice dinner at Lyla and Tracy's last Friday to celebrate her day which was Sunday. We had spent the day with Zita making Perogs(sp?) bacon rolls, a traditional Christmas holiday food in our family, and make Jeanie's dinner, as well. I would tell you what we had, but I don't know how to spell it. So, I move on. But I did spend 45 minutes making a salad dressing. Lyla as my co-pilot. I remember an episode of Top Chef where the judge said if you have soggy rice throw it out, and start over, or change the menu. That is what I should have done as I had put too much vinegar first off, but alas, not the way my brain works, and it turned out well. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and best of New Year's wishes. Enjoy the pics.

the bed, the door, the garden

I have a picture from last years trip down the Western coast. We might be going to Disney in the future so I thought I would post Mickey Cacti. Then there is the photo of the doctor in the doorway. Mom and Dad thought much of him. He seemed like he was a good guy. Or is, if we keep it in the presence tense. And then finally, Mom in her bed in the hospital. Dad just loved the fact she would order off a menu, and then when they brought the meal to her room... They would knock and say,"Room Service."
I made two quilts that went away. One to a high school Auction. I am not sure how much it sold for, but it did go out the door. It was huge. 90"x90". The other I sent away to a friend of mine from high school. She really has always been a special gift to our school as far as team spirit and school camaraderie. We talked a lot while setting up the reunion (25) and after. And I decided I wanted to make her a quilt from our conversations. It did turn out nice. (Now, I have three other I need to make soon. So, that should be fun.) She made me aware, not really aware, but helped me see that we all have this in our lives - this being a lot of pain and discomfort in our lives, but we keep looking for the good and comforts, as well. It is there for us to find and hold on to. We just need to open up and find it. I was at a meeting the other day and the guy talked about finding "the serenity in the middle of the storm." Every day is like that of late. I mean come on, I work retail Gosh Darn it. Sometimes I am able to hook up with it better than other days. Nut I find it certainly with help from those around me.
I have a goal I want to put out to the blog world. My goal is to lose 10 lbs by New Years. Wish me luck.
Good night, God Bless, And eat a banana split. Most the times you can choose your own toppings, and who don't want that? Everything on mine will be sugar free. It is possible. Enjoy the pics.

Photos of Photos

These are some photos I found in Omita's photo box. It was awesome to look through. They are not in any particular order. The first one I named, "What the Hell is going on?" I want to know why this young man is going for my grandmother. Then there is the photo of a family that made me look at it for a while wondering where the ones who are still alive might be. Then comes my grandfather standing up at some meeting looking to improve his rights. God Bless him. Followed by my brother and his son in coordinating shirts and the look on Opapu's face is great. Next my Mom looking Sassy. A fabulous photo. Then Lyla with the Alex and Helen I am sure at Christmas time. And, oh my, the next one is just an awesome sight of hair power. So strong the focus is a little off. Sorry. Specifically Lyla and my hair, Tommy's mustache, but look at Ms Laura's behind the ears tuck, Mmmhmm. Now who's zooming who. Then the photo of the statue that mom and dad bought while we lived in Katherine Street. I just love the popcorn draped all over her. It should have been me. As Karen White once sang. I liked also the picture of my grandparent's dog looking out the window. Edvard does the same thing. Finally, Laura and Teresa looking all swim-suited up for the medals to display, and the write up that follows. It just brings back memories. Enjoy the pics.

A Sad Reality that

Edvard and I were walking this morning. We went into the park, and as we were walking down the cement path there was a guy lying on the bench. His shoes were thrown onto the walkway. He was talking to himself, and moving his arms alternately over his head and eyes, so that his elbow was lying right above his eyes. He was saying, "Bill Gate - Bush Gate - Black Gate.." and we were past him. We moved on down the way, and went into the grass field. He had gotten up, and put his shoes back on walking down the path along side of us. He was talking, and what he was saying was hard to hear, but it didn't sound too friendly - in the moderate tone he was speaking. But when he got close enough to be near enough that I could hear him he was saying, "I got love for you commander." (Was he Vet, was he just rambling, was he a political left over?) And he kept walking down the path talking. I felt so sorry for him. How can one help a person that is so lost in his own mind like that? I would like to say I said a prayer for him, but it wasn't until right now that I thought of doing that. So, dude, "This prayers for you."
The picture is from SC when I first got it for Christmas a few years back. But I thought it showed the mind, and what it can hold. Enjoy the pic.