Daily Archives: March 12, 2017

Mom’s Artwork: Exhibit 1: Bottles with Martini

Things, ,

Among other things, my mother was an artist. She dabbled in lots of crafty things, but she held a certificate that she was actually an artist — or at least that she finished coursework to be an artist. She took a correspondence course from, I think, the Famous Artists School. I was young, but I remember her doing her artwork and sending it in to be graded. The books from the art school are still at the house in Elgin. Here, I think, is one of the pieces she created for the course. I think she might have hung this in the house at one time. I certainly remember it.

Two bottles, one orange and one yellow, and a martini.
Bottles with Martini

Greeting cards from yesteryear

Things,

Among Mom’s things are many greeting cards. I am tossing most of them, but there are a few that have caught my eye because they remind me of the past.

“Happy Birthday”

Here’s a birthday greeting. I don’t know who the card was for, nor do I recognize the names of the people who sent it (although I think it may be my Grandma Patrick’s niece). I suppose the quotes around Happy Birthday mean the sender is saying it.

Green greeting card with rural scene and Happy Birthday written at the top
Front
continuation of drawing from front and greeting
You’re far away, but every day brings special thoughts of you, of happy times we used to have and things we used to do, so, with this “Happy Birthday” go good wishes from the heart of one who thinks a lot of you although we’re far apart. From Walter, Evajeanne, and Christine Anne.

Happy Birthday Father

This was sent to my Grandpa Patrick from one of his daughters and her husband. This one I am sending to their daughter.

I like how the older cards often included a drawing on the inside left

Illustration of a messy bookshelf
Happy Birthday Father
Illustration of a few books on a shelf along with a bowl
Just remembering, Dad, what a lot you have done to smooth out the bumps that occur one by one and expressing a wish when your birthday is nigh just the best of the best for a regular guy! Love, Verne and Norma

Tanner

Memories, Pets, , ,

Probably the best gift I ever gave anyone was the Christmas I gave my brother a puppy. He’d recently lost his dog, Franz, and somehow Dean and I found out about a litter of puppies that were being given away in Elgin. Dean and I picked out a female, brought it to my apartment for a few days, then presented it to Kevin on Christmas Day.

I think he liked her.

Dog with a bow
The best gift ever
Tanner biting Kevin's fingers
Sharp puppy teeth

Kevin named her Tanner and she grew up to be a wonderful companion. Unfortunately, she only lived about 18 months. Our next door neighbor misused weed killer near the fence that separated our properties and it eventually killed Tanner as well as his own dog.