Of Family and Birthdays and Sweet Autumn Treats

Let's start with the Yummy Fall Treat: apple slices smeared with cream cheese, topped with caramel and sprinkled (okay, I used a more coarse sprinkle) with walnuts. Oh heavens! So delicious and easier to eat than a candied apple. I may have tripped when I added the caramel. I do love caramel and learned as a kid how to make a simple caramel sauce. Otherwise, use a jarred variety.

~as seen on Pinterest~

A reader of this blog for any length of time may remember that my father and I have had an "interesting history." We may be too much alike. That gives a gal pause. * thud * Anyway, in recent months, basically since my Beloved went to Glory, my father has reached out to me and, as I have always said, if he reached out to me, I would respond in kind. Prior to that, the time was just not right.

In the seven years that we have not seen one another, we have become old. He says that he is old and my sister, with whom he lives, says that she is old and he is older. So if my younger sister is old, I must be, too. And if there was any doubt, the first thing he said to me was that I looked old. Okay, off to a great start! ☺ Then he said, "I always thought you looked like your mother, but you look more like your Aunt Marge." I have heard that before and take it as a compliment.  You can be the judge in just a bit. ☺

So for the last several weeks, I have been visiting once a week with my father in my sister's home. It has been good and I have enjoyed my time with him. He is a quick wit and so I have laughed a lot. Even when he is singing some swan song about coming to the end of the line that he has made up on the spot, I have had to chuckle because it is just so funny. Only he could make death be amusing. And I admire his courage and pluck as he faces old age. Being 86 can be challenging!  
I have always known that Heaven would heal everything, yet I am so grateful to God for allowing us time to reconcile on this side of the veil.

~children of Vic and Lillian~

Dad was one boy in the middle of sisters, two older and two younger. Two remain, his eldest sister Marge and his youngest sister Sharon (sometimes known on this blog as Aunt Ess). At this point, with FB and all, I'm quitting with the cutesy names, except for my own. (I once asked John if he wished to be "J" or "Jay" and he was shocked. "No way! What's wrong with John?" he had asked. Nothing at all...)

Okay, moving right along as I sense that I am rambling here. The very day of John's Memorial Service, most of my family were attending my Aunt Gee's (oops, a slip into cutesy there) memorial service on the other end of the state. 

The following day, my Aunt Marge, her sons, and my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Billy came to visit. We took pictures out on the deck.

left to right: Aunt Marge, Cousin Jim, Cousin Vic, Aunt Sharon and Uncle Billy


They took photos of us, too. 

~my daughter Laurel, myself, grandson Jakob, grandson Sam, daughter-in-law Michelle, and my son Adam~



My Aunt Marge recently celebrated her 90th birthday and anyone who achieves that milestone is to be honored! When my sister told our dad that it was his sister's 90th birthday, he said, "I hope that she's in better shape than I am." Yes, she is.

She keeps up with all things current.

She keeps up with family. That's my cousin Dan and his wonderful family on the left there (Aunt Sharon and Uncle Billy's son) Oh I see another cousin...Gene... in there between Vic and Jim. They were honoring my Aunt Gee by having breakfast together at her favorite breakfast haunt.

Here are some recent photos of Aunt Marge with her family.

~Aunt Marge with her son Vic and his family~

All those great-grandchildren to hold and she holds the grandpuppy! ☺ 

~Aunt Marge with her son Jim and his family~

~Aunt Marge with her great-grands~ What a bunch of cutie pies!  
I hope that I look this lovely should I achieve ninety. Happy Birthday, Aunt Marjorie! BTW, you can find one of my very favorite recipes, which just so happens to be my Aunt Marge's  recipe, *here.*
Speaking of birthdays, my hometown family and I will be celebrating another birthday today where the birthday girl has requested a cook-out and a wiffle ball game. Doesn't take much to make her happy. I hope that I remember my camera!

Stay safe out there...






P.S. If anyone likes my leaf line, I made it at PicMonkey and am pleased to offer it for snagging. Feel free!