Harvey Came To Visit

As a youngster there was a movie starring James Stewart and his 'imaginary' friend, a 6 ft. 3 in. rabbit.  The film's name is Harvey.  A totally different kind of Harvey has been visiting the southern parts of Texas since last Friday.  I am sure that most readers have seen the photos of the terrible flooding in Houston and the lesser suburbs in that area.  The areas of the state where the category 4 storm crossed onto land are left with considerable wind damage.

My oldest sister's BIL lives in Rockport.  He had evacuated so he is safe.  Have not heard about his property's condition.  My youngest sister's husband has a brother, nieces and other relatives in the Houston suburbs.  No water in their home but there is no way out as all the roads are under water.  Finally this afternoon the storm moved away from the Houston area.

We live about 175 miles from where the eye crossed onto land on Friday.  The storm slowed to a crawl sending the swirls of the rain filled clouds swirling across our town starting Saturday afternoon.  Our 5 inch rain gage was filled rather quickly.  Winds buffeted the walls of our building.  We remained inside, safe and secure.   I stepped to the sliding glass door to peek out just before going to bed and stepped in a puddle of water.  Once or twice before we had experienced water coming in through the sliding door some how.  At least that is what we thought.

We pulled out towels and soaked up the water.  Added dry towels in the event it continued to seep in then went to bed.  Promptly to sleep only to be awakened by the storm alarm beeping.  Hubby was up and dressed.  Actually he was waking me to say not to be frightened but firemen were on their way.  The noise was our smoke alarms.  Hubby had been up trying to get them shut off and finally gave up.  After all maybe there was a short someplace.  The firemen arrived and began checking.  They found water leaking into the fire alarm in our bedroom.

More lights turned on and sure enough our dresser had a puddle of water.  After the firemen left, more towels placed in areas.  A ladder with a bucket to catch the drip and back to bed.  A few hours later we were up and more water was seeping across the ceiling.  The wall in the bedroom now had areas the size of a half dollar up and down where there appeared to be wall studs.  The area around the smoke detector was now about 11 inch diameter.  The drip had become a stream from the detector.

It was time to move furniture and valuables away from the moisture.  So now we have Finally Sunday afternoon the rains and wind died down to just the occasional gust.  Water kept seeping into the bedroom carpet overnight on Sunday.  By Monday the ceiling was no longer dripping.  It looked like Harvey was done with the visit to our home.  We now have part of the bedroom furniture in the living area till the carpet is dry.

The corporate folks have been looking over the apartment building.  The plan is to resolve the root issue of the leaking in the walls.  Once that is resolved, the cosmetic things will be repaired.  Till then the furniture will be in slightly new locations.  This inconvenience is helping me look at further downsizing/decluttering.  

As I think about the slight inconvenience we have experienced I can only imagine the folks in Rockport.  In Houston.  In Galveston.  In Spring and all the other suburbs that are in that area.

Prayers and peace,
Janice

The 50's Party for our 50th.

The Saturday of the Big Party started with us 4 sisters at Youngest Sister's home.  Breakfast is a must to get us all going.  My camera was being contrary and would not focus past the stove where the cooking was happening.  Guess it was hungry.

 Once breakfast was eaten and kitchen put back together the steaming began.  The fifty year old wedding gown, Mom's dress she wore, my going away suit and one other outfit all required the steam treatment.  Table cloths and other types of stuff to just give everything that extra little touch.

Our Son, DIL, grandkids and Youngest Sis had worked for weeks gathering goodies and deco for the event.  And since it was a 50's party there were costumes to gather as well.

Hubby and I were responsible for picking up the cake and dropping off other items like the 50 year old dresses at the restaurant.

As Hubby and I headed out for our hotel and the cake pickup, the sky became threatening.  To complicate matters, the 'quick' way via the toll road was closed for construction.  We spent 30 minutes going a mere 10 miles.  Finally reached Elizabeth's cake and headed not to the hotel but straight to the restaurant to have the cake refrigerated.  We unloaded the cases of records, picture albums and dresses and headed to the reserved room.  That was filled with people having another party.

We had the room reserved since March for this event.  An the 'new' manager said the other people had reserved the earlier time and we were just going to have to wait to decorate.  I called Son and he said he had been told 3 times in the last week the room was empty all day.  We could decorate whenever.  Sister was already on the road by now just in front of the rain storm.  After a few discussions via phone, I explained we needed room to do work.  There were flower arrangements to be completed.  The manager said we could have the room at 5:30 and no sooner.  He did give us space in a large, empty room to leave my stuff.  He promised that area could be used for all prep and the staff would help with the move.

We unloaded all but one suitcase of stuff and headed to our hotel to dress for the event.  DIL wanted us to be surprised by the room.  We arrived back at the restaurant with the suitcase in tow.  It had the last table cloth that was needed for the cake table.  Guests were already waiting.  So I did not have time to take in the full beauty of the room before I needed to greet our guests.  Thank goodness our sweet DIL took great photos of everything so we could enjoy later.  We did get to look at the setup during the party, just wished I could have absorbed it a little more.  So here are the photos for your viewing pleasure.

Welcome table with book and cards to sign telling one story about us.

A little closer look.

The chrome chairs added to the 50's feel.  And this tray of glasses were for all to wear!

Each place setting had an old record with our photo in the center.  How cute is this!!!!  BTW Son told me this was his most favorite photo of us he had ever seen.  Love that man child.

Each table had these adorable centerpieces.  The children of friends and family got to take the cars home as well at the glasses.  Love the arrangements that looked like soda fountain drinks.

The center dress is what Mom had made for herself to wear.  Just beautiful work.  All the others were 'store bought'.

The lace table cloth and under cloth were Mom's while the runner belonged to Hubby's grandmother, then his mother and then it hung in our house for decades.  Love having the past with us on this occasion.

Yes, the original topper from 50 years earlier.  And a gardenia topiary as I carried gardenias as my bouquet.

Now for the fun 50's styles our friends and family wore to the sock hop!

Our God daughter niece and her three children.  My Mom had made the poodle skirt the great niece is wearing for her mom, our niece.  Niece sent a pic of her ready for the party and said I would not go out in public like this for anyone else.  Must really love Aunt Janice and Uncle Gene.

Our bonus grand daughter and grandson.

All our wonderful grandkids!!!!  Love, love and more love for this bunch.

Our token nerd from the '50's complete with taped glasses.  Love our youngest nephew!  The two ladies are my sweet Aunt Opal's daughters.  They were wee little girls at our wedding and always a part of our family gatherings.

My sisters and I posing with our daughters.  My sisters each had two sons and one daughter.  I now have a sweet DIL and

grand-daughter.  My life is rich in love.

The host and hostess of this bash, aka, Son and DILove.  My heart is so full.

 Now for just some random photos of the crowd and room.  If you have been a reader of this blog you may recognize some of the names from previous posts.

Long time friends visiting with Son.  These folks drove from Missouri to surprise us and they surely did!

Our Grands, again!

Son reading emails from friends telling stories about us.  Some were a little off color cause that is me.

My friend from high school.  We called ourselves Sally Sadass and Patty Pickup when we met guys while

cruising the streets in my folks 1959 turquoise Ford Galaxy 500.   Never give your real name, girls.

This is a family circle, clockwise from 9, oldest niece, Son, BIL, Oldest Grandson, Bonus Grand daughter, DILove.

Youngest to oldest Sisters thumbing a ride!

Reba Jane being silly in our lovely hats.

Some visiting time with long time friends.

Oldest Sister being the statue of liberty.  This girl turns 81 the end of August.

Four sisters AKA, Arleigh's Angels and we never did get a ride.

Youngest Sister's family.  All out for the 50's.

My baby Sissy admiring her daughter and granddaughter.  

This table had nieces, nephews sisters and great nephews sitting and laughing together!

Reba Jane snapping a photo of a wreath that has the original invitation, gloves and other things from the wedding and honeymoon.  Andy Williams album was a bonus find from Son that had our Hawaiian Wedding Song on it.  Son, DILove & Grandkids made the collage of photos from our 50 years of pictures I scanned and printed for them. 

Hubby and I thanking the folks for coming.  I basically said that making it 50 years is not done alone but with the help of every person in the room.  People that were there to rejoice in the good and care in the bad.  Friends, family and loved ones.

Twin great nephews.  Seniors at UT Austin.

By the end of the evening the rain storm was in full force.  All the stuff we had carried in would be wet and most of us soaked.  The younger ones would not let us old folks do much of anything.  They did let me take down the wedding gown and dresses then pack them.

It has been a little over a week since the party.  Hubby and I flew to Missouri to be at some close friends' 50th.  Now back home and savoring the new memories of our own celebration.  What a summer, what a 50 year ride and what a life.

Thanks for stopping by and joining the party.  Keep coming back as we work toward our next big celebration.

Peace and love

Janice & Hubby

Fifty Years and Counting

On August 12, 2017 our Son, DIL and grandchildren threw us a back to the 50's Rock and Roll Anniversary party for our 50th wedding anniversary.  Yes, our anniversary was June, 30 and we went on a cruise in France.  Our son wanted to have a celebration because, well, fifty years of wedded bliss, bluster and beauty.  As noted in an earlier post, I decided it would be fun to recreate a couple of the original wedding day photos.  Here are a few for you to enjoy.

 No photo originally of all my attendants together.  So here are some of the attendants in different photos.  BTW my oldest, skinny grandson put on my dress.  It would not go around his body and was tight on his bottom.  When was I ever that thin!!  Well, right there in this photo is the proof.  Oh, well : /

The two ladies in the front were the two flower girls, my nieces.  As I prepared for the party I realized all the attendants and other members of the wedding party are now older than my dad was at the time of my wedding.  He was 53.  The youngest of the wedding party is 54.  Can we say old...

Of course the Hubby had attendants, too. The youngest son of one usher and a grandson stood for the two that have passed away.  So a son and grandson stood in for the missing loved ones. 

L - R starting on the back row:

Royce, Jack (deceased) Hubby, Alan and Jim (both lost to us)

front row are all my nephews,

Donnie, Mike, Steve, John

Standing back row L to R:  Hubby, Royce, Jack's stand in Garrett

Seated:  Mike stand in Chris (his son), John, Donnie and Steve stand ins, Matt and Grant.

Son and Oldest Grandson took over Best Man and Groomsman place.  Bonus grandson is stand in for the pastor.  As noted before two junior ushers, my nephews, had commitments that precluded their presence.  A couple of photos biggified put their faces in the photos.  Thanks to a much younger nephew and our Middle Grandson.

Besides our attendants, two of the house party joined in the party.  

Left to right:  Linda, Brenda, Carolyn and Sue

Carolyn and Linda.

Then there was the cutting of the cake by the bride and groom.

It looks like we both had a few too many pieces of cake during those 50 years.  And that is the original cake topper.

Our grandkids tried to paint the windows of our car and tape on signs.  It came a torrential rain and washed everything away before a photo could even be taken.  All that work and getting completely soaked was a bummer for them.  Here is the original photo of Hubby's car with the signs on it.  

I'll leave it at this for tonight.  Tomorrow I will share photos of the delightful decorations Son, DIL and Youngest Sissy did for the fun night.  Of course there will be photos of the various '50's styles different folks were wearing.

Thanks for dropping in for a visit!

Peace

Janice