Summer melted into fall. The leaves danced in glorious colors and the days felt brisk. Sweltering Philadelphia nights accented by the nearby trains passing by gave way to sweaters and light jackets. Soon, hats were de rigueur.
Bethy got steadier on her pins and experimented with slices of cheese as fridge magnets. Of course Elisabeth spent most of that time teething and suffering from congestion. She suffered from congestion much of the time we were there. Bethy charmed her Grandma by looking up at her and sweetly requesting more “jooooce?” (juice) The women from church gave us a splendid toddler shower. Bethy’s wardrobe was complete – until she started to grow again.
On Halloween, Bethy’s uncle carved a pumpkin for her, and she discovered books. We celebrated my grandmother’s birthday, my sister-in-laws birthday, and my mom’s birthday. My mother-in-love began her fall baking frenzy and Harry was never far away from the kitchen when she was baking. Around Thanksgiving time, Bethy finally got in sync with the time zone.
We visited family and friends, and talked about Portugal. Before we knew it, it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and we were hoping for snow for Bethy to play in.
“Summer melted into fall. The leaves danced in glorious colors and the days felt brisk. Sweltering Philadelphia nights accented by the nearby trains passing by gave way to sweaters and light jackets. Soon, hats were de rigueur.”
Now that’s writing. Absolutely beautiful writing.
Thank you for sharing another wonderful installment. And the way clever ‘little dickens-it’s almost Christmas’ caption on little Bethy’s picture!
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Thank you for your kind response to the post. I always enjoy your comments. So long ago…
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The bows are always more interesting than the clothes! I’m liking the cake motif that seems to run through your family visits… 😉
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I never thought of cake being a motif. I used to enjoy baking and frosting and decorating, but now that I have to deal with gluten sensitivity I’ve kind of left it to someone else. 😀
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Ah well, the eating’s more important than the baking anyway… 😉
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The baking is more fun – for me.
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We’d make a great team then! 😉
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Yes, we would.
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Aha! Was that punch? Was it cherry punch? Looks tasty.
I love these posts. And it’s always neatio to look at parties.
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You have to be kidding, PVJ! That was….years ago.
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Sorry! I just love punch horribly…
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What do you think would be in a Punchy punch?
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Well, Prince Beef like pink punch, I know that. Maybe bubble gum?
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The only thing I can guarantee about that punch is that it was alcohol free.
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*laughing* It would be like the professor to realize later that the punch was spiked….
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Oh Professorish person. No spiked punch for you – you might turn quite punchy. 🙂
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*laughing*
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Your writing absolutely transports me. It’s lovely. I so enjoyed this entry, all the photos, and especially the “Around Thanksgiving time, Bethy finally got in sync with the time zone.” That was very cute. It is amazing to read your recall, with such detail. of these years. 🙂
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I think I can way without wavering that the years we were in Portugal were the best years of my life. The pictures are always good prompts, too.
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OH, Susan, I made it here I made it!! I love your writing and love this post. I was transported back into time. (sigh) And to see you with Bethy on your hip just melted my heart. Those were the days, honestly, that I can relate to. Thank you for the glorious article and the beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing YOU with me. Love you!!! Amy
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Oh, so glad you got over here! How the time moves quickly. She is a young matron now with a little snitzer of her own.
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Susan, I just love your stories. I was so caught up in this one and truly was transported back into time. Time. Wow. Blink. And the hair that once was brunette is now grey. Hmmmm…… (((HUGS))) Amy
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Well, I COULD dye my hair, but it’s just a lot of trouble because it will keep on growing out, dadblameit.
I’ll get over to your blog tomorrow again – long day today away from the computer.
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Good for you, Susan. I was out in my garden today, getting number 9 done. I am pooped. I took a pic and plan on putting it up tomorrow. I also have a poem the Flower Faeries gave me, which made me cry. Now I have the flowers to go with it. I just took them. Love to you!!! Amy
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Can’t wait to see and read. Thanks for taking time to say hey!
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You are welcome, Susan. I missed chatting today. Now I must go and eat and fall down. BOOM.
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Sweet dreams. XOXO
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Ah, Honey, I have a ways to go yet. I wish. I have dishes to do, litters to clean, meds to give, a piece of cake I MUST eat, have to transfer the pics I took today to my laptop, THEN I can take a shower and hit the hay. Whew! I AM calling to make an appt with a massage therapist I know. Oh man! I have earned it! xx
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I should say you have earned it! Hope you had a restful night.
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I did, Susan. I had trouble falling asleep because in truthfulness I pushed beyond what I “should have”. When I finally did get to sleep a bomb wouldn’t have woken me. Tee Hee. Another day out in my garden!!! Love, Amy
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My jaw just dropped. Your family has the EXACT same Bible that I do, the one that is sitting on the coffee table. My Godfather gave me that Bible when I got married. I am stunned. Now, what are the chances of your family and me having the same Bible I ask you? HUH? WOW!!!
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That is amazing, Amy dear. An awesome discovery indeed! XO
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(smile)
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I wonder how…
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You wonder how what? Sorry, my neurons stopped firing about 2 hours ago.
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I wonder how we ended up with the same Bible.
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That is what I thought you were talking about. I have no idea but the chances of that happening are what? Whoa!!! Really!
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It is, as the Professor says, an interest. 🙂
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I think I put the bible there.
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*fell off chair* OUCH!
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Professorish thing to do, sir. I would not put it past you to do that.
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Tee Hee…..
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Amy, you didn’t hurt yourself, did you?
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Um, *rubbing butt* …. let me see. *checking* No, everything seems to be still attached.
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Nothing broken, is there?
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Nah. I am a lot tougher then I look. That Professor is sure sneaky though. HUH!
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You think? He’s going to be the next Jason Bourne, I think.
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Really!? Hmmmm……
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I’ll be over to see you today right now I’m trying to patch up my favorite pair of leggings which had a hole in them and some peach-colored bleach spots. My daughter is scandalized when I wear them out, so I’m going to embroider some flowers on the bleach spots. Can’t have the daughter scandalized. 😉
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Oh, Susan, you crack me up. You sound so much like me. Hehehehehehe xx
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Yes, yes! I am like JB.
Susan, that’s so cool, btw.
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You are NOT! Sorry%
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Amy, I am not surprised that I sound like you. Mission accomplished, btw.
Who is JB?
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No idea. Jason somebody. I thought you compared JB to the Professor. I dunno. I just play along. Hehehehehehe
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Well, that sounds fun! Oh, yes, Jason Bourne.
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Tee Hee. See? I knew you had compared The Prof to him. And here you furgot. All that sewing must have done it. Glad you got the mission accomplished!!! xx
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I only returned to my sewing machine just recently after not touching it for nearly 5 years. It looked like a stranger to me. I had to go step by step to even remember how to thread the bobbin.
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Been there done that. And then I walked away from it again. I’ll have to think how do I do this again? I only have just so much time … (sigh) …
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But you are living. I can feel it. I try not to look at the clock…and just do what I’m called to do each day.
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