Thanksgiving with Family

This was the first year we were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. For the six years we lived in FL, Tara and I celebrated alone. Most years we would go to Disney or the movies, or both, and if we did not eat out I would prepare a small Thanksgiving meal, not always the usual Thanksgiving fare, but what ever tempted our tummy that particular year. I realized that I did not document Thanksgiving Day very well, so this year I vowed to be better!

We started the day off going to church with my mother for breakfast and a short message. It was a nice way to start the day. I saw several members I've known since childhood. I felt good that we were able to go with my mom, and she did not have to attend alone!

After breakfast we just hung around the house.

Dinner was being hosted by Chad, my nephew and Natasha, his fiance. I didn't want to get there too early, so we planned our arrival, for 3pm, 1 hour before dinner. Tara, my mother, and Tyler (great nephew) all rode with me.
Our host and hostess

Her new BLING!

My Linda, my sister, and Larry my BIL, arrived a bit later, they live 5 miles from us, but we don't seem to see them often. My sis was a little sad, she normally makes a yearly trip to Disney starting the day after Thanksgiving, but she did not go this year. Not just because we aren't there (she visited before we moved there) but several other reasons!

We ate dinner buffet style, with two "adult" tables and a card table in the kitchen for the kids. One kid sat at the grown up table, so I sat at the kid's table with Tara. She had been saying for weeks she WOULD not sit at the kid's table. Kier (great nephew) sat with us too, and Gavin (last great nephew) was being stubborn and sat at another small table alone. It was so chaotic, and I don't really remember anyone sitting still too long, so I didn't get any "kid table picks"!
From l to r - Betty, my mom, Jodie my niece, Jerry my nephew in law, Chad

L to R -Tyler, Larry, Linda, Dean (I think - boyfriend of Natasha's mom), Nancy (I think - Tasha's mom) and Tasha

We were there for a bit by ourselves which was nice, as we had time to chat. That is when we found out about the engagement. We chatted over the veggie tray and glasses of boxed (pretty yummy) wine!



The kids
Tara (she has not seen this picture... Chad had told the kids if one of them could solve the Rubik's cube by the time for us to go home, he would give them $100)  No one solved it.  Tara wishe had watched her friend in FL closer, she could solve it in 30 sec.

Kier - I love this picture of him.... he's always willing to give me a smile, unlike his brothers!

Gavin - he was trying NOT to have his picture taken, but I've got a fast shutter finger!

Tyler - he didn't want this taken either... I tricked him!

It was a wonderful time.  It is great getting to know Tasha better!  It was nice to meet her mom as well.
Food was wonderful, we each brought something which worked  out great.  Less work for the hosts, and you get to try different things!

Next up Christmas... not sure what the plans are for that yet, we all need to discuss!

Remembering

Tara and I had an errand to run today in the Plymouth Meeting area, when we were through with our business, as I do many times, I decided we would got for a drive. I am generally familiar with the area of Plymouth Meeting/Conshohocken/Gulph Mills and King of Prussia, but I would never be able to give some one directions.

As we were driving, I realized we were headed into Conshohocken. This was the place that when I was growing up, my grandmother owned a business on Hector St. I always loved going there to visit with my mom during the summer or school holidays. I still remember my grandmother sitting in her office, she was a business woman when it was not the norm. She always wore very smart suits and drove big Buicks!

Before turning onto Fayette Street, I noticed this beautiful red door of a church.

Then another large church that always meant we were almost there!

The area where the office used to be has changed a great deal, and I was not able to find Hector St., although I knew where it used to be!
We continued across the bridge and I decided to go check out the Balligomingo Inn on Balligomingo Rd. This little bar/club was an old hang out, that at one time had awesome jazz on the weekends. I remember the jars of pickled eggs behind the bar. Isn't it funny the things we remember. Sadly, like so many things I remember from "back in the day", it too is boarded up! This road is narrow and windy, with little shoulder, so I did not stop to take any photos. It is however a beautifully wooded area through which the river runs!

We continued our journey, and I decided to take Tara to visit some family members she had never met.

This memorial garden is the final resting place of my maternal grandfather & grandmother, my father and my brother.

Fortunately I was able to locate them without having to go to the office. There is a tree that I always remember from my brother's funeral. While it has grown over the years there is something still familiar.

I don't believe anyone has visited recently, as there was a little grass growing over the edges. My family have never been frequent visitors. I worked in the area several times during my career, and would stop by occasionally.

My mother will tell you she does not need to go there to miss and remember her loved ones. I will have to go back again soon with clippers and something to clean the plaques a bit.
I don't remember my Pop Buehler. I was not quite three when he passed at that age of 64. He was a WWI vet.

I have written about my brother Robin in the past. He was killed in the Viet Nam "conflict" at the very young age of 19. I had just turned 11.

My Nana Buehler was an amazing woman. Once my grandfather passed, she ran the business he has started, until what I guess was Alzheimer's took her from us long before her body failed. I don't think they used that term back in the 70s when she first started getting lost coming home from the office she had driven to for years, when she would forget to turn a burner off in the kitchen. I was very close to my Nana, I have such found memories of spending the night at her house on many an occasion.

23 years ago, way too soon, we lost my dad. I was just 27. My father and I had a very unique relationship. I am the "baby" and I spent a great deal of time with him. I loved going on weekend errands to the hardware store, the barber, to his office, etc. I wish he were still with us to see the two granddaughters and five great grandsons born after he passed. He was a WWII vet.

I love that people use the memorial park to bike, walk and run! The geese love it there as well. All though it is the final resting place of so many, it still has quite a bit of life!

On the way home we passed some other locations that brought back memories. The bar in which I met my ex husband (Tara's father), which too has since closed, First Presbyterian Church in Norristown, and my late Great Aunt Bertha's house.

To end the day, I stopped at Pudge's and got us cheese steaks for dinner. There are none better!!

I asked Tara if she was bored with my trip down (and around) memory lane. She said no, but a little confused!

Dinner for Five

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. ~Thomas Jefferson

We were invited by my nephew Chad and his girlfriend Tasha for dinner on Thursday. I had not met Tasha before, and had not seen their home, both of which I had heard wonderful things about from my sister. Tasha really helped out when my mom was moving too, so it was nice to finally meet her!

We arrived a bit before Tasha got home from work, so we caught up with Chad, and admired the great decorating job they have done!

Tasha arrived home from a busy day at work in a doctor's office, and we promptly sat down to a great dinner of Baked Ziti, tossed salad, garlic bread and cheesecake!

They have a great aquarium, and it was fun watching the fish. Tara of course talked everyone's ear off with all of her "Animal Planet" knowledge!

We visited for a bit after, and then headed back home. I was not totally familiar with the area we were in and wanted to get out to the main road before it was totally dark!

I am hoping now that we are back "in town" that we can have many more informal family dinners, and not always wait for a special occasion! It was very enjoyable!
Here is a photo I took of Chad, Tasha, Mom and Tara