pjbknit

Spring is Coming

The promise of spring is here, even though it snowed the other day, Tuesday, That is the day my father-in-law, John Lloyd Ellis, Sr., passed away at home after a long battle with heart disease and arthritis and other problems. He loved attending funerals as social events (much to his childrens' chagrin :)) and would have talked to everybody yesterday. It was a beautiful day, after a winter of gray days, and there was a great turnout, and several people at the funeral, including the preacher, several friends, and DH, said John would have enjoyed the event immensely. My FIL never met a stranger and had friends all over the world, many of whom made a special trip for the funeral.

Belvedere still looks for him-often Belv would run to the back of the house and jump up on "Grandpa's" bed and lick his face, making him laugh.

 
The first daffodil will soon have company

 

Belvedere loves the sunshine, though he alternates with finding shade. An almost dignified portrait.

 

I have more done on the Multnomah shawlette in Malabrigo sock in Caribeno. It has been nice to have a simple project to work on, but I have almost reached the point where the Feather and Fan stitch begins.

 

Lots of Stuff

I have been meaning to blog about the Aerogarden tomatoes, and the gingerbread cookies, and now I have a new Belvedere photo too. So here is several days worth of bloginess.

I have more buds on the Aerogarden Heirloom Tomatoes after I decapitated them during pruning. I got an upgrade for my classic Aerogarden that has three lights instead of two, and allows the lights to be raised higher. I also brought home the office 3 pod Aerogarden that has lavender.

 
Tomatoes

 
Lavender

 

I finally got around to making gingerbread cookies Saturday
  

My sister-in-law's Westie, Biscuit, likes to play with Belvedere
  

 

I Remember...

I remember my father telling me about saving Japanese civilians after their ship hit a mine. I remember the page in the photo album, or funny book, with the handsome man in the dress whites with the tiny versions of my siblings. All I could find today was Daddy in his American Legion hat. He served in the Navy during WWII in the Pacific on the USS Brevard. Click to enlarge photo of the ship. (I notice they have the same photo that I scanned from a print.)

A couple of years ago on the Internet I came across photos of the Japanese civilians rescued by the crew of the Brevard. I think it is really interesting to see these. These images are from the Online Archive of California's Inventory of the Japanese American Relocation photograph collection. Dad would have said, "Seen 'em already." I found a certificate and little red transistor radio he got from Japan after the war. J.P. Barnett passed away in 1995.

DH's father was in the Navy during the Korean War. DH says he kept the Republic of China (AKA Taiwan) non-Communist while serving on the USS Phillipine Sea.  DH says he has heard many times the story of his Dad climbing Mt. Fuji.