Norman Rockwell Paintings

January 6, 2013, in American Profile (a newspaper insert), on page 10.

There is an article about the Norman Rockwell paintings that Ms Alberta used to give tours on. At the time Ms Alberta was doing the tour guide these paintings were located at the Boy Scout Museum in Murray, Kentucky.

The forty seven paintings are now located at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas. The paintings were created for magazine covers and calendars. Mr Rockwell used many of his neighbors for his models.

Words to Think About: DON'T QUIT

Don’t Quit

Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow.

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

it seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

when he might have captured the victor’s cup,

And he learned too late when the night slipped down

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out;

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,

It’s when things seem worse that you must not quit.

From Ann – Looking Forward

I have published all of Ms Alberta’s handwritten notes and recorded tapes. I have added some of her favorite recipes and poems; told about some of her ancestors and family. I have added letters and memories from family and friends. I have told about incidences from childhood. I have talked about Ms Alberta’s faith and the love that was given as I was raised.

I am one of those people who believe that what we come in contact with in life is what shapes us and makes us say and do the things we do. I believe my brother, sister, and I were some of those lucky individuals that had a loving, caring mother and father. Both parents believed in learning from the past but to never live in the past.

I believe they would both be proud of this blog and the memories of family and friends that are talked about in it.

I also believe that they would both tell me that it is time to start looking forward and not back to the past; that I needed to mourn their loss, live through the grief and simply look forward to the time we would all be a family again. I am looking forward to the second coming of The Lord Jesus; when My Family Circle will once more be complete.

Sharon Gail 

Clara Jean - Alberta Ann – Harold Danny 

Ms Alberta - Harold Lee

August 1, 2012

Happy Birthday - Ms Alberta

July 31, 2012

Tomorrow is August 1, 2012; had she lived Ms Alberta would have been 86 years old.

I don’t think we ever get over the loss of a father, mother or child; the grief of their passing just gets a little easier to bear.

Ramblings from Ann

Ms Alberta had visitors from near and far while she was fighting cancer. I didn’t always remember to take pictures while they were visiting. This is something that I regret very much. Ms Alberta believed in documenting everything that happened with pictures; a habit I need to acquire.

Friends: Four Legged as Well

When my ex-husband died from cancer in 2008 I inherited his little brindled Boston Terrier, Chyna. I’ve always told the kids Chyna was his revenge on me because she snores louder than Heinz ever did.

Chyna loved Ms Alberta very much. One night when I tried to put Chyna in my room to sleep she let me know in no uncertain terms that she wanted to sleep in the living room on the couch. So, since she isn’t spoiled at all, I let her sleep on the couch.

When I got up the next morning I couldn’t find Chyna anywhere. I looked all over the house, even under my bed. I knew there was no way Chyna could be in Ms Alberta’s room, because that door was closed. I looked and worried until it was time for Ms Alberta to take her first medicine of the day.

When I opened the door, there was Chyna snuggled up to Ms Alberta’s back. “Good Morning!” Ms Alberta called; “How are you this morning?”

“I’m doing fine. Have you seen my dog?” I asked. “No.” Ms Alberta answered. “Have you lost Chyna? Where could she be?”

“Do you really not know where she is?” I asked. “No. I don’t.” Ms Alberta answered.

“Try looking behind you.” I said. “How did she get there?” Ms Alberta was as surprised as I was.

We finally figured out that when Ms Alberta had gotten up to use the bathroom that Chyna had slipped into her room and then after Ms Alberta had gone back to sleep, Chyna had jumped up onto the bed.

Ms Alberta laughed and said, “That explains why my back stayed so warm last night.”

Chyna and Ms Alberta after the Great Escape

Chyna 2009

Christmas 2010
Ms Alberta sent her a new collar for Christmas

Recipe: Michael’s Fried Apples

4 to 5 medium apples, unpeeled                                 ½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ cup brown sugar                                                      ½ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ cup orange juice                                                      3 to 4 teaspoons butter

Cut and slice the apples and place them in a 10 inch fry pan. Add brown sugar, orange juice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Dot the top the apples with butter. Use medium high heat until sugar dissolves and butter melts. 

Lower heat to medium and continue cooking until liquid is thick and apples are soft. This makes four servings.

Source Unknown except for the name Michael.