Lingonberries for lunch

I took a break from writing today and went to Ikea. It felt like I was skipping school, and took up my whole day, but at least I finally bought some bookshelves and we'll finally be able to get all our books out of boxes - that is if I can get the them put together without going crazy. Wish me luck.

Ikea's cafe.

Mmmmmm..... Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes & lingonberries.

ktdesign of Wellington where are you?

I was thrilled to get a comment yesterday from someone who says my grandmother, Mary Dreaper, was their aunt. This would mean this person was my mother's cousin - quite exciting for me since I know so little about my family.

This person, who lives in New Zealand, found my recent post about my grandmother while looking for ancestors online. How intriguing. BUT...

Although this person invited me to contact him/her, they did not leave any contact information and I can't find any contact information on their blog (which only has one old post) or Google.

SO: ktdesign of Wellington, please contact me! I'd love to chat & trade stories and photos.

This picture was taken at the Lyceum Dance Hall in The Strand, London, England, on May 29, 1947. That's my mother, Ann, age 16, on the left; her sister Margaret, 17; and their eldest brother, John, in his British Navy Uniform.

"Our House"

We went to the Royal Oak pottery and glass show this morning and brought home this beautiful new glass vase. I cut some roses and was able to say to BB: "I'll place the flowers in the vase that you bought today,ay, ay, ay, ay."

Friday Favorite Photo: Mary Dreaper 1919

This photograph of my grandmother was taken when she was 12 years old in 1919. She's wearing her school uniform and standing at the gate of her home in London, but I don't know where in London her home was - another of those questions I wish I'd asked.

This is the only photo I know to exist of my grandmother as a girl, and it makes me wonder why this is the only photo from that time that remained in her possession? There must have been others, maybe passed down to her siblings, and then to their kin. Or was this photo a fluke? A one-of-a-kind thing?

I'll never know. But I sure am glad to have this captured moment of 12-year-old Mary Dreaper's life, now a treasured family heirloom, to pass on to my children, grandchildren, and beyond.

Pride

It's pride week here in Detroit, so we put our flag on display.

The only one in our neighborhood!