More spring sights.

I went out and trimmed my hedge today. It's another nice day. I love to work when it is cool outside. It's almost 60. I've never trimmed the hedge before the leaves come out before but it grew a lot longer this year because of the warm weather. I like the hedge as it's at the back of my lot but it is as tall as I am so it's very hard to trim. I cut it down pretty good. Maybe I'll decide to trim it this early every year.

A couple of my prim roses are blooming. The blue one was blooming in December! Some of my pink ones are starting too.
I have them down the stairs on one side.The myrtle around the tree out front is beginning to bloom.
My daughter gave me these tulips last year. I had forgotten about them until I noticed the colored leaves today. I can't remember what color the flowers are.
One lonely daffodil in bloom.
I was surprised to see this pansy already blooming.
This one too! Okay I cheated! I confess! The daffodil and the pansy are at my neighbors! They get more sun so theirs always bloom first. But I really was surprised to see the pansy.

I love this time of year when things change from morning to night. A couple more days and my daffodils should be out. Our weather looks good for awhile. I keep expecting a drastic change for the worse!

Out back

I've mentioned the back of my house several times and thought I would show it to you. As you can see, the house is 3 stories from the back. The door on the bottom level goes to my beauty shop, which is actually in the basement. You can see the barber pole by the door if you look really hard. The next floor is the deck which is off the kitchen. Because I live in the city the only way to the deck is thru the kitchen. The roof over the deck is where I was removing ice this winter. I climbed out the hall window which is on the right. The area on the left that juts out is my tiny bathroom that used to be a porch.This is my gardening area under the deck. Laurie and Chris had this green table in their basement and the shelves were in a closet at my Moms.
These are the stairs that I have to keep shoveled all winter for my customers. The pussy willow tree is in the middle of this, my largest garden.
This picture is from a garden in the middle of my back yard. I bought an old metal crib and I use the ends for a "fence" at the back of this garden.

These are the sides of the crib. They are what you see on one of the posts to the deck. There are 2 different clematis that grow up the rails. There is an orange trumpet vine on the post on the far left.
This wind chime hangs under the deck. Some one gave it to my friend Lloyd and he said it fit my taste more than his.

As you can see I like to use old "junk" in my gardens. I will definitely be showing you more "junk" as the summer season progresses. Like my house, that's what makes my spaces mine!

A drive plus a bonus!

I was feeling a little "antsy" on Tuesday so decided to drive to TJMaxx (it's about 40 minutes away) and I'm very glad I did. Found some great things!Of course, I had to look inthe baby department. Isn't this adorable? The "skirt" is really shorts and I love the capris. What is an outfit without socks to match!
I love this angel! I'm not sure which garden she'll end up in. I have gotten new garden things all winter so I may have to put in another garden to put them all in!
This birdhouse caught my eye in a display the minute I walked in the door. I love the rustic look. It will stay in my kitchen for now.

These were the best buy! I got all 5 boxes for $4.99! I put a couple in my patriotic entry but I can use the different sizes for all kinds of things.

It was a nice day and I really enjoyed just getting away for a couple hours after going to the dentist and the tax lady. The great finds (and a junior bacon cheeseburger from Wendy's drivethru) were a bonus!

Spring this n'that

First, I have to tell you that the critters I caught yesterday were chipmunks not squirrels. Chipmunks climb trees but they live in the ground. They dig holes and tunnel all over. That's why I had to get rid of them.

We're having another nice day. It's cooler but still in the 50's which is good for this time of year. When I got done in the shop I went out and fixed my eaves. The ice had made the front one bend forward and the brackets weren't attached to it any more.

Since I had the ladder out, I hung this on the house. I got it at a craft show a few years ago. It was quite expensive but is a one of a kind piece and I fell in love with it. It is all cut from tin and the stars are on a twisted wire so it is very dimensional.I hung my spring/summer flag too.
These are my few little crocus that I have out front. In case you don't visit my daughters blog I thought you might enjoy this.
These are all crocus! Seems Laurie and I had the same idea. Check out her pictures on yesterdays blog. Isn't this beautiful?
This is my Lenten rose (Hellebore). It is bending down so was a little hard to take a picture of. This is the first time it bloomed. There are more buds so maybe I can get a better pic later. I love the color!

Gotcha!!

Remember when I showed the caved in rocks on my patio? Well,I've caught one of the culprits! I know there is at least one more because I've seen 2 at one time.I know that they are really cute and fun to watch and if they would stay out back farther I would leave them alone. Once they get close to the house it isn't long before they are in the house.
I put on some gloves just in case and grab my recycling bin.
In goes the trap and into the trunk of my car.
After a short drive, I take the trap out of the car and set it on the ground.
I just open up the end and out it goes. There are several acres of woods in this park and I'm hoping he finds some friends and doesn't come back to my house!
Here's hoping that I can catch the other one. There is a squirrel up close to the house too but I've never caught one. I'd really like to get rid of that too.
Update: Just took number 2 to his new home! I'll put the trap out again in the morning.

Jerzie-guest writer

I had a super time at Grandma's today! It was so nice we could go outside for the first time. I got to ride in Grandma's big swing!It was really fun! I heard all kinds of sounds I don't remember hearing before. Even though I couldn't see too many birds I could hear them. I just sat very still and listened. I also heard some wind chimes. They sound beautiful.
Grandma and I went for two walks. This morning I met Jay who lives down the street. She was very happy to meet me and she asked us to come again. We saw some purple and yellow crocus on that walk but Grandma forgot to bring her camera so we don't have a picture.

After my lunch Grandma and I went for another walk. This time we stopped to see Cora. I've met her at Grandma's beauty shop before. Her birthday is in July, just like mine, but she is going to be 95! We went in to see her house but we didn't stay long because she hasn't been feeling to well. She showed me lots of pictures on her refrigerator of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She asked us to come again, too.

Grandma and I will be busy taking care of her flowers and visiting people this summer. I found out that I really like going for a walk so we'll have to do it every Monday when I stay with Grandma.

I'm real tired from all the sun and fresh air so I'm going to take a nap now.
I wrote a story about wrestling a bear the last time I wrote on Grandma's blog. Click here if you'd like to read it.

Update: After my long nap and bottle we went across the street to our friend Anne's. Today is her birthday and Grandma and I gave her an Easter lily. It smelled really good. I flirted with JJ and had fun with Anne and her sister Marilyn. We got home just in time to play a couple minutes and then Mommy picked me up.

We had a great day!

I smelled spring today!

I saw my first robin just yesterday! It was such a beautiful day today I had to get out in the garden. It was cool and very wet but it sure felt good. I only have a couple small patches of snow left to melt.

Sometimes I get carried away too early and uncover things that still need the protection of the leaves that cover them. I decided I would just cut down things that I hadn't cut in the fall. Some of my gardens are very orderly and then there are others that are more wild. I'm not sure exactly what is what in the wild ones until things come up more. I found some things by smell today. I love the smell of bee balm and I could sure tell where it is planted.
I have a huge bunch of fennel and I knew what that was when I cut down the stalks. Smells just like licorice!
Fever few has a very distinctive smell. I wouldn't say that it is a favorite smell but there is no confusing it with something else.
I had to really cut back a couple lavender plants. Sometimes their smell can be overpowering but not today. Just a nice, fresh fragrance.
It not only looked like spring today, but it smelled like spring!

Mildred and Earl

Mildred, 93, was despondent over the recent death of her husband

Earl, so she decided to just kill herself and join him in death.

Thinking it would be best to get it over with quickly,

she took out Earl's old Army pistol and made the decision

to shoot herself in the heart since it was

so badly broken in the first place.

Not wanting to miss the vital organ and become a vegetable

and a burden to someone,

she called her doctor's office to learn her heart's exact location.

"Since you're a woman," the doctor said, "your heart is

just below your left breast.

Why do you ask?"

She hung up without answering.

Later that night, Mildred was admitted to the hospital

with a gunshot wound to her knee.

I can relate, can you?

Removing winter!

I removed winter today! I brought in the sled that stood by the front door, took the winter wreath off the beauty shop door and took down my snowman flag. Most of our snow is gone and it's in the low 40's but so far there is no snow in the forcast.
I picked these pussy willows in my garden. I bought the tree several years ago at Walmart on clearance for three dollars. They called it a pink pussywillow. See how pink some of them are. When they get bigger they don't look pink.
One of my customers comes from Sweeden and he told me that they tie bright colored feathers on pussywillows for Easter. This picture I found shows them on several spring plants. The pot on the right looks like pussywillows.I did see some more stuff sprouting. The hyacinth and the lenton roses are showing new growth. I even threw some grass seed on the front lawn.
I'm sure not expecting to be snow free now, I do live in western New York, but I'm hoping for just a couple inches here and there not feet!

Quick change!

I decided to change my candle stand in the living room today. I've been thinking about it far awhile. I don't mind all different wood tones together but this cabinet just wasn't right with the other furniture. It stands between two doors and is the perfect size for that spot. You can see in this post what it looked like. I based it all a light tan. When I decided to do something I want to do it NOW, so I just mixed some paint I had until I got the color I wanted.
When that dried I put some crackle medium on it. I usually use a dark background when I crackle but it seemed too old country with a dark first coat.

When the crackle medium was tacky I painted with a cream color.
Within a couple minutes it was doing it's thing. I just love this look and it's so fun to watch.
You can see the difference in the colors once it starts to crackle.
The whole process only took a couple hours and I'm really happy with the finished piece. It's the same color as my TV cabinet so it looks more like it belongs in here now
I might look for some different knobs but these will do for now. They are quite small so it may be hard to find something.
What do you think? Do you like the crackle finish? Ever do it yourself?

Spring '99?

I spring cleaned my bedroom today. I'm not sure what year I'm on but I'd guess 1999! I'm not one of those fall and spring cleaning people. I'm more of a "Oh my gosh, that's GROSS!" kind of people. I'll bet I'm not the only one! Come on, fess up!

Anyway this is my purple bedroom. You can't really tell the color in most of these pics but it is dark purple and it's sponge painted. The bed is a three-quarter bed that I got at a household sale. I would rather have this bed in my room but it is a lot bigger.

The cedar chest came from my Grandmother.

I love the picture over my bed. It came from a clearance table at Kirkland's. The shelf and picture are Home Interior and the angel, Kirkland's clearance table again.

I switched these two dressers around and I will hang the mirror once I'm sure I like it this way.

I don't normally cover a window like this but it will help save my sanity! Look at the next picture and you'll see why.
This is the view out my window. They actually cleaned some of it up last week and the landlord took 3 bags of pop cans that were on the stoop yesterday! I do not live in a ghetto, really I don't! These are the neighbors that have given me trouble before and when the snow is gone, if it isn't cleaned up, I will report it. I'm just so tired of fighting with these people that I am trying to "turn the other cheek". Maybe I won't get so upset if I can't see it! I bought this frame with the glass missing real cheap at Burlington Coat Factory. I used an old linen tablecloth for the background and some stuff from my garden and had a new glass cut.
This is a tray from my Mom. The picture is on a ceramic like substance and there is a silver edging on it. I kept it because I thought it was pretty and it's perfect in here.
Last but not least, my computer station. This is the only place for it now that I don't use the upstairs.

Hopefully I will get real ambitious and continue my 1999 spring cleaning. I better hurry because once I can get outside I'll be doing the spring cleaning in the gardens. Now that's cleaning that I enjoy!

Critique and stuff!

I had my blog critiqued here. Bob was very kind to me. This is his critique:

Looks like you're full of creativity. The blog is packed full of photos of Jean's home and how she has decorated it...making photo collages and outside arrangements to compliment the season. All that creative energy and a blog to boot. It's a great way to share all these pics and if your are looking to get a good idea of just like to browse photos...this is the blog for you.

His address is in my sidebar and I recommend you check it out even if you don't want a critique. It is a great place to read about other blogs and to meet some new bloggers.

I said I wasn't going to post any more snow pictures but I never said I wasn't going to talk about snow! Our ground is still covered but it is supposed to warm up to the 60's later in the week. It's no wonder I'm sick of snow! I heard on the radio this morning that the average snowfall for our area for the last 50 years has been 120 inches. Last year we had 148 inches and this year, even tho it didn't snow much until January, we've already had 150 inches! Let's hope that spring is really here!

(Like it says on the news sometimes, these are file photos!)

Touchy feely

I've told you that my granddaughter is a touchy feely kind of girl. She just loves soft fluffy things. I found this book in a bin at work and thought she might like it. Well, I was certainly right . She loves to feel the cow,
and she really loves the fluffy sheep!
The pig, of course is not fluffy but she will feel it anyway.
The donkey is another fluffy one that she likes.

She enjoys the feel so much that when I read her other books she runs her fingers down the page to see if there is anything to feel.
I found this one the other day and now she has two favorites!
The only problem is that when she touches something soft her thumb goes in her mouth. It's pretty funny to see her try to touch the page and put the same thumb in her mouth!She likes this book too. Every page adds a color ribbon to make a rainbow. Of course, she has to touch the rainbow!

Plates

This is a commemorative plate from the Sesquicentennial in my hometown. As you can see it was in 1975. The celebration went on for awhile and it was lots of fun. We had men's and women's groups from different business and we challenged each other to all kinds of things. We had some challenges for the younger women in our group and some for the older ones. I was 8 months pregnant for my son so I was stuck with the older group. We got to play jacks while the others played volleyball! I rode on a float in the parade on June 28th and my son was born July 2! My daughter was 5 and remembers being put in "jail" with her Dad for breaking one of the silly "laws" they had! Luckily that was her only "jail" experience!

The picture on this plate was done by my Great Aunt Grace. She was quite an artist but because she was an "in-law" this is all of her work that we have in our family. I love that this is all done in black.
The lady who painted this plate ended up being a very well know china painter in this area. She was a friend of the family and I'm guessing that this is one of her earlier pieces. There is no date on it. I, of course, love all the bright colors.
Like so many of my possessions, I wish I had more information but there is no one left to get it from.If you have family things ask about them before it's too late and don't assume that you will remember. Write it down!

Oh Happy Day!

Happy St. Patrick's DayWe got our normal Western New York St Patrick's Day snow storm! Every year around this day we get blasted. This morning I shoveled...
...9 inches and it's still coming down. We were told no unnecessary travel last night but I had to go to work. The store was pretty slow and the roads were awful when I came home at 10. This is the last snow picture I will post this year! I just refuse, no matter what!!
This little leprechaun is coming to spend the night with me tonight. (Thanks for the picture Aunt Laurie and Uncle Chris!) I'm sure we'll have a fun night!
May you all have the "Luck o' the Irish" and find your "pot of gold"!
What is your "pot of gold"? Have you found it or are you still searching? Maybe your looking too hard for the wrong kind of "gold"!
Mine is staying all night with me!

"Little Christian's Toilet"

First I need to say "what a difference a day makes"!This book was given to "Gertie" from "Cousin Rose, Christmas 1883".I don't know who Gertie or Rose are but under that in pencil is my Mother's maiden name. It was printed by the "American Tract Society" in 1874.

The front and back of the book are both beautiful.This page is an introduction which says that "life which we are now living on earth is not the whole of our existence. It is but the morning of a long, long day: the toilethour in which we are bidden to make ready for a glorious festival in the upper world".
These contents pages will give you an idea of what is inside. Click on the picture to enlarge so you can read it. It is written as a story about Lilian Williams and her brother Howard. There are Bible verses and poems throughout the book.
The only illustration is at the top of each new chapter page.
This is the last chapter and it starts"Under such daily guidance and instruction, in an atmosphere of love and purity, Lilian Williams grew up as"willows by the watercourses." Her feet early established in life, she bid fair to become a goodly plant in the garden of the Lord."
This is another of my favorite things.

Spring walk.

I took a walk around the yard today. The snow has really melted. It's rainy and in the low 50's but the birds are singing like spring is here! I found this columbine growing right by the downspout. The day lilies are trying to come up. There was snow here yesterday and today crocus.
This creeping thyme looks really green next to the snow.
The snow is still pretty deep where I threw shovel fulls all winter but that hasn't stopped these daffodils or..
wood hyacinths from sprouting.

This is a patio under my deck. I made the stones with a form and lots of cement! Isn't that a nice hole? My friendly chipmunks are back!
There are holes like this in several places.
Even in the ground beside the patio. I also have several holes farther out in the yard.
Those I don't mind so much but I really don't like them so close to the house. Time to set my trap! Don't worry, I don't hurt them. Chris made me a have-a-heart trap a few years ago. I caught 9 chipmunks in it and took them on a little trip to a very nice, large park not far from here. I need to do that again before my whole patio sinks!

I tried to catch some in the fall but couldn't get any. Maybe I can now when they're having a harder time finding food.

Kitchen

Before I show you my kitchen I have to show you the little bit of grass I can see! It's 57 and the sun is shinning! I have my doors and some windows open! See the grass around the tree. This shot is from my deck. More grass! I would love to be outside but I did all I can do since everything else is still covered with snow.
I love Fiestaware and that's probably because I love color. The door on the right goes out to my deck. The left goes to the basement. I got the tin cupboard in Amish country. (Poor Chris was stuffed in the back seat, for a 7 hour drive, with all the stuff I bought!)
This cupboard is to the right of my sink.
This shelf is over the sink. I found these little pitchers in the house I helped Lloyd clean out. I don't know anything about them but I love them.
This counter is to the left of the sink. The canisters aren't Fiesta but they look like they could be. I told about the tea box and the crayon box on the tin cupboard here The kitchen is at the back of the house on the second floor and the deck has a roof so it makes the kitchen a little dark so I don't have curtains.
I'll move this bench outside when the weather improves but it gives me a little change in the winter. The window my daughter made me is over it.
The birdhouses are over my cupboards on the other side of the room.There are lights in the grapevine but I didn't think to plug them in.
As I've said before, my taste is very eclectic. I use what I like and I don't worry about pleasing anyone but myself. That's what makes my home different.

Tag addiction!

You know how most kids will get a new toy and play with the box instead? Well, Jerzie would rather play with the tag! She just loves tags! Here she rolled off the blanket to get at the tag.

She rolled all the way around but still has a hold of that tag! This is the tag on a small blanket.
See how happy she is with a tag!
This is a cute little stuffed dog I got her because she loves soft things....
And Tags!

Trees again

The blue house is 2 doors down from me. I heard some racket when I got out of the shower the other day and this is what I saw. This huge tree has a deck built around it. The owners would have the tree trimmed often and sometimes had to cut the hole in the deck bigger.For some reason they decided to have the tree cut down. See the guy in green up in the branches.

( Click on the pictures to enlarge)

This high crane was in the driveway in the front of the house. It is letting down a second man.
You can tell how large the tree is by the size of the men.
The crane lifted the trunk pieces over the house!
Look how high up it is over the house! I can't imagine the damage if they didn't have it secure!
Can you see the two men behind the other tree? There is one green jacket showing on the left and a leg from another on the right. They are pulling a rope attached to the tree. Wouldn't be good if the tree went thru the sliding glass doors to the deck.
This piece is huge.
Up and over the house again.
Now one guy is trimming the other tree and another is trying to cut thru that huge trunk.
Nothing but a big hole in the deck now.
Here's the logs in the front of the house. I wonder if they will be used for lumber. I would hope so. The smaller stuff was put into a huge chipper.
I'll have to see what they do about the deck this summer. They haven't really used it the last couple years so I'm thinking it might have rottedand need to be replaced. The idea of a tree on the deck is great but it was messy from birds and when it had rained the tree dripped for hours. I'll keep you posted.

If you want a laugh check out the story my nephew left about his dad on my brother's birthday post!

Drug problem

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, "Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young:

I was drug to church on Sunday morning.

I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie,
brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in
everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with
soap if I uttered a profanity.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or cop some firewood; and if my mother had ever know that I took a single dime as a tip for kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think.
They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

I recieved this as an e-mail and thought it was well worth sharing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today is my big brother, John's, 60th birthday! Whenever I harass him about being older he says "that's okay 'cause I'm also better looking!"

As I've said before John had polio when he was 6. He has worn a leg brace and used crutches ever since. I only say that, to say this, he has never let that stop him from doing what he wants to do! When he was in school and couldn't play sports, he would become involved in the sport in other ways like keeping score. When he lost a job, he went back to school and even took classes while working. When something needs repair, even though it may be difficult and there will probably be some swearing involved, he fixes it. He taught himself to play the guitar and went to nursing homes to entertain.(They are a great audience because most of them couldn't walk out!)

He's almost always whistling, singing or laughing.He and his wife, Cindy will be married 40 years next year

and they have 3 great kids and 6 grandchildren.

I've tried over the years to get the best of my brother but that is impossible! The man can't be embarrassed! (We blame that on spending a year of his life in the hospital.) We all have at least one favorite story about him. One of mine involves a flock of seaguls and him being the greeter in the garden center at Walmart. Can you guess the end result? Let's just say he wore a hat after that!

We always joke around a lot but what I really want to say is that I am proud of him. He has worked his entire life when he probably could have gotten disability. He has been a good father and great grandfather. He will always put a smile on your face whether he knows you or not. To him, his family is his best accomplishment. He has made the best of what life has handed him and that's all any of us can do.

This (altered) quote pretty much sums him up.

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, beer in one hand, guitar in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "Woo-hoo, what a ride!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!

Lucy's Hometown tour.

I thought I'd give you a little tour around town to complete this "series". There are Lucy celebrations here on Memorial Day weekend and in August for Lucy's birthday. You can read all about them here. As you can see, this is the Gift Shop. Across the street is the Lucy Desi Playhouse. The sets from the "I Love Lucy "show plus many other treasures are in here. The top floor has been turned into Desi's club. The museum is also in downtown.
This mural is painted on the Post Office.

(Mural pictures taken by Chris & Laurie)
This one is on a parking ramp.This one is when they worked in the candy factory.
A few years ago, Lucy's remains were moved here to be with her relatives.
If you ever decide to come to Lucy's hometown just let me know and I'll get Lloyd and we'll show you around!

"Lucy & Desi" Kept Him In Stitches!

As you can see this is the front of a Lucy Desi Museum News.

It is a cross stitch that Lloyd made and donated to the museum.

This article is inside the front page.
The "News" only comes in black and white so here is the colored picture.

Lloyd has also donated another cross stitch that he did of Lucy's Grandpa Hunt, who actually owned the house in Celeron.
It is hanging in one of the bedrooms of Lucy's house.

I would like to thank Lloyd for loaning me the pictures to share with you. I have gotten all of my Lucy information from him at one time or another and I know he still has stories to tell. Who knows, maybe one day you will come to visit Lucy's hometown and run into Lloyd on her front porch telling stories!

I still have one more day of Lucy!

Lucy and Desi Jr.

Fast forward to August, 2001. Here are Lucie and Desi, Jr on the front steps of their mother's childhood home. Lucie has been to the area quite often but not Desi,Jr.This is a park on Chautauqua Lake in the village of Celeron. See the lake between the tree trunks.Here is Lloyd with Lucie and Desi.
Time to reflect for Lucie and Desi. It must be even stranger for them to visit their mother's hometown than it would be for us. It is nice that they were left alone to privately enjoy their time together.
The buildings in the background are across the lake.

Maybe this is what they were talking about.( click on the article to enlarge)

This article was in the Lucy Desi Museum News this past winter.

I'm glad you are enjoying this series. Just 2 more days. Thanks for all of you kind comments.

THE Bathtub!

Lloyd's parents bought the house in September of 1928. Lucy was born in 1911 so she was about 17 at the time. Believe it or not this is the original bathtub that Lucy used. Lloyd's family never changed it and I'm sure everyone is happy about that!This article was written for the "Lucy Desi Museum News" by one of the first to enjoy the house tour since the renovation. He says he had been in the house before when Lloyd's mother owned it. People were always knocking on their door asking for a tour. Lloyd has always enjoyed showing people around when he was there. During the Memorial weekend Lucy festivities and Lucy's birthday celebration in August Lloyd would stay home and visit with people on the tour buses that drove by the house.

(click on the picture to enlarge so you can read the article)

Now that the house is done the Rapaports usually ask him to stay there during the celebrations.
This set of skis were found in the garage when Lloyd was clearing out his mothers things. They were made by Lucy's grandfather. Lloyd couldn't believe they hadn't been found before.

When the siding (added after this pic in 1956) and shingles were taken off, 2 windows were found on the back of the house which is the kitchen. The window in this picture was over the kitchen sink. When Lucy lived there there was a window on either side of the sink area and a mirror over the sink. Cleo (Lucy's cousin who lived with them) said that Lucy was so busy "performing " in the mirror that she never got the dishes done! The two windows were restored and there is now a mirror over the sink.

LOOK Magazine

Tracey commented about a photographer being with Lucy and Desi even though they didn't have an entourage. The photographer was from LOOK magazine. Lloyd had to get most of the black and white photos I've posted from the Library of Congress.This is Lloyd's Mom Bernice with Lucy in the dining room. Notice, she knew Lucy was coming and was still in her apron. I'm sure it was a "Sunday"apron!
The little boy in bed is Lloyd's middle son, Clark. (His youngest isn't born until "57)
These are two very touching pictures of Desi. I can't help but wonder if he did this for the camera or if this was incite into the real man.
This last picture was one of the pictures that was printed in LOOK magazine.
It's a good thing I'm working on this series of posts or you would have to listen to me whine because it's snowing again and I got another nasty cold!

"Lucy and Desi" visit

Here are Lucy and Desi walking up to the house. Today they would have a whole entourage with them!
Lucy is reaching up to a wooden bar that is in the archway between the entrance and the living room. There is a small landing behind her at the bottom of the stairs. Lucy is telling how she would hang a sheet on this bar as a curtain and put on performances for her family and friends. The boy in the high chair is Lloyd's oldest son, Craig.
You can see the rod better here. Lloyd's mother would stand in the entry area and iron her salesman husbands shirts and hang them on the rod. It is still as it was when Lucy was a child.

This picture was taken by Lloyd's wife, in the kitchen door way.

Tomorrow "LOOK"

Sassafras

Lucy's best childhood friend was Pauline. Lucy called her Sassafras and she lived right next door. Lucy mentioned her often on her show just like she mentioned Jamestown, as her home town. (Celeron is a small town on the outskirts of Jamestown)

Pauline

Lloyd was responsible for Pauline's house when she could no longer take care of it. He asked me to go along and help out a couple times and, of course, I jumped at the chance. We had to look everything over carefully because we found cards to "Sassafras" for all occasions mixed in with other papers. We found books about Lucy that she had signed and given to Pauline. I found a silver tray with "Lucy and Gary" (Lucy's second husband) engraved on it! We really had a good time even though it was a lot of work.
Lucy and Desi came to town in Feb. of 1956 and wanted to visit her old home and neighborhood. This picture is Pauline's mother at her front door.
These are two other neighbors. Don't you love their aprons? I'm sure they were surprised to open the door and see Lucy and Desi standing there!

More on the visit tomorrow.

The Lucy Connection

Yes, I'm going to tell you about Lloyd! I had to show my calender that my daughter made me since it is March 1st. Really imaginative guesses, by the way!
Lloyd's parents bought their house from Lucy's family! Until recently his was the only family to live in the house since Lucy lived there as a child. The house is on Lucy Lane in Celeron NY. This is a picture of Lloyd (smaller boy) with his parents standing on the side of the house.
This is the house when Lloyd's mother lived there. Lloyd and his brother sold the house when their mother could no longer live there. It was sold to a Lucy fan who only lived there a couple years. The Rapaports, who are very involved in the Lucy-Desi Museum and all things Lucy, bought the house and are having it restored to the era that Lucy lived there.
These pictures show the outside restoration. Lloyd's parents had shingled and then sided the house. Both have been removed and this shows the original clapboards that were under everything. Lloyd met with the Rapaports, Lucy's brother Fred and her cousin Cleo to brainstorm and remember as much as they could about the original look of the house inside and out. Private tours are now being given of the inside.
The double window on the second floor was Lucy's bedroom. There were lilacs in the back yard that she could smell thru the window. Lilacs were her favorite flower.
More Lucy tomorrow!