Thursday, November 29, 2012

Saying Goodbye






Not all things that metamorphosis change for the better, some times they just change.

This is my grandmother's childhood home.
We call her Nona (an Italian take on the name grandma).

I found this photo a few weeks ago while going through a box of her old pictures.

She was one of 12 children to be raised in this hillside home in the mining town of Vittondale, PA.

I've been told that my Great Grandma kept a nice garden in the front lawn.

Nona's told me a few stories about her doll that was left in the yard and was ruined in the rain.

I have seen old photos of my dad playing in the yard as a small boy, of my great Aunts all dressed up and of my Great Grandparents standing in front of the home.

Many, many years ago the home was sold out of the family.

Today, this is what it looks like.

It has been added onto..
It has been re-sided...
Porches have been lost to make room for indoor bathrooms...
Whole windows are gone as well as the chimmy stack from the middle of the home..

A trampoline has replace the beautiful garden...
It has metamorphosed into something else,
someone else's home
 filled with someone else's dreams, children and shelter.


Today Nona turns 85.
My Nona has had a series of two strokes over the past year, 
this last one leaving her unable to survive without constant help.
 My mother and father(her son) have made the brave 
and exhausting choice to have her live with them,
 in fact both of my grandma's live with them.
 Nona, needs help to get out of bed, get to the wheel chair, 
go to the bathroom, bathe, dress, and eat. 
She has lost her ability to speak free thoughts... 
she can no longer answer my questions

What color was the trim on your home?
Which window was your bedroom window?
Who did you share a room with?
Did anyone live in the third floor?
What did you keep in the cellar?
How many times a day did you have to walk up and down the mountain to town?

I have the great privilege of helping to care
 for Nona several days a week. I treasure the times I spend with her.
 I treasure each time I rub her paper thin legs, arm, and feet with lotion.
 Two weeks ago I cried when she was able to verbalize the following
"Dee Dee, I don't see too good" when I brought her out for breakfast without her glasses! 
For it was the first and only time since her last stroke that she called me by name!

I am blessed beyond belief to have both of my grandmas still with me.
But much like the old home, they too have changed.
Fortunately, unlike the old home, they will always remain in the family!

Happy Birthday Nona!
I love you.... Dee Dee


(this is a picture of Nona and my beautiful mom)


This post was originally posted
 3 years ago when I started blogging.
Sunday morning Nona had another stroke
and
Today my Nona went home....
to Heaven.

I love you Nona. 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012


Happy Thanksgiving!


Wishing you a wonderful day spent
with family and friends!

dee dee

Friday, November 16, 2012

Subway Art


photo and art from: I Am Momma- Hear me Roar

While surfing the internet I 
can across Cheri's wonderful
blog

Don't you just love her Subway Art above?

Cheri's Subway Art inspired me to try my own! 

Following her wonderful and detailed tutorial
I created this one:


This project fit all my requirements: 

Easy
Inexpensive (Under $7)
And
Allowed for Creativity!


I have made 2 more for my friend's office
and hope to post photos of them soon!

If you want to try you hand at this 
click here to go to Cheri's tutorial!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

I am linking up to:


Friday, November 9, 2012

Posting "Pretty Pictures"

It is hard to believe, 
but we have been in our house
now for one year!


And with out a doubt...
the finished product was
well worth the 7 plus months
of blood, sweat and toil!


Our kitchen is full of light, but I have
found it to be a difficult room to
photograph.


I have been experimenting with
different camera settings
as well as using
 Picasa 3 software
to edit my photos.


I think I still have a long way to go...
but it has been fun learning along the way!


I edited our dog out of many of these photos,
except this one! 





Have a very Happy Friday!