Rainy day bloom

Another day with rain... that started late the other evening and seems to be staying around. For the most time it is just lightly falling but the plants are sure loving it.

Remember that the Firecracker Bush was cut back....look at the blooms starting to appear. It may be December but that is what happens here in Arizona. It should fill out quite nicely this Spring now that it is thinned and dead branches have been removed. The Sweet Memory still has flowers but that will need a good trim in the Spring. In the meantime...

The Amaryllis has revealed that it is red and starting to open. There is another shoot lower on the stem that will hopefully grow to bloom around Christmas. The simple dowel support seems to be keeping it straight. This new idea of having the bulb in thick wax and not watering seems to be really working. I plan to try to plant it after it finishes flowering. Not that it has worked in the past, but who knows.
Earlier this morning I received a text with pictures from my friend Pam back in RI. She wanted me to see that she still puts the ornaments that I had made for her in the past on her tree..... including the two that Dennis had painted of the Grinch and one of Santa. It really warms my heart to know that she still hangs them on her tree and remembers our friendship.
Today will be a nice remain indoors out of the rain and nippy air and do.... not sure what but whatever I do or do not do,  it will be okay. I may do some tatting.... I am out of Denny's Angel's. The last one left here this past week.
Today is Pearl Harbor Day...77 years ago the phrase "A day of infamy" was started. As I have posted in the past, my dad was there on that fateful morning and was lucky to survive and return home at the end of the war.
Glad to have you stop by today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship. Tomorrow Reindeer Food will be also flying to the special children on my list...still time of you need some with notes included. Just email me with child's name and address.

Snowflakes

The weekend is past..... a quiet weekend. The boxes were sorted, sort of. I merely moved some to one area and a few others to another. The Village boxes are ready to unpack and will be set up in a new place this year. That is what happens when furniture is rearranged and not available to use the same way. The table in my bedroom is ready for the small tree that will be placed there. The front porch area will need a furniture move for the tree that will be out there. And so it goes...I seem to always be moving things. The living room window has been washed in and out and the sheers are changed.

I now have a silver trimmed snowflake to go with the gold one. I think they look nice together and will hang on my beaded display for the holiday. My felt tree will have all the tatted snowflakes. The trees will need to be unpacked and vacuumed…. yes vacuumed to be sure no hitch hikers moved in during the summer spent in the garage. So this will be a busy week.
Are you ready for Thanksgiving? You do realize that it is this Thursday! This year I even have chestnuts which I really feel are a must. We always had chestnuts for Thanksgiving in our house. Dad would cut and roast them and then peal them for us. I love them fixed all ways even raw.
I really enjoy having you visit with me and now I am off to get those chores done … those house fairies still have not arrived to do the deeds. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and for your kind words. Thank you for your friendship.

Birthday cards..... if anyone has a card hanging around and would like to send it....Eva P's birthday is coming...December 9th.

Ta-Da~~~

A text message from this guy and then Bobby came to the rescue. He travels with his own tool bag (even though I have lots of stuff  in the garage) and sets to work. We got all the pieces spread out.... yes I did help unlike someone else...

Once she poured a glass of iced tea, Dianna made herself comfy and found something to watch on TV. It took some  time to get it all together but in the end....

the man with the electric screwdriver had it all finished. Dianna did manage to help a few times.... love them both! Whether it is the 3 of us or just Dianna and I, there is always laughter. They are quick with a hug and a smile. I am so very lucky to have these two special people in my life....

Dianna and Bobby

 Kitchen work cart with a black granite top ready for work.

In the wee hours of Monday morning... at 1:14 AM a message from an Italian research professor in Italy, Matteo Pretelli, from the University of Naples (Italy), who is doing a study on WW II veterans specifically from Rhode Island and a particular neighborhood...Silver Lake, where I grew up... where my dad's family lived. I told him as soon as I could I would contact him later in the day...and at 2:25PM Arizona time, (there is a 9 hour difference  in Italy) we began our Skype conversation. For about one hour he asked questions and I shared what information I had about the neighborhood, the Italian families there and my family as well as what I knew of my dad Joseph's time in the Army during the Pearl Harbor attack.Thank goodness his English is excellent because my Italian has fallen far to the wayside. He is a delightful man and I hope to hear from him again. 

There you have what I have been up to in the last few days...and beading on another Santa Star too. The weather has been crazy, with a few days of rain, lots of rain and much cooler temps. I actually had to close the sliders as it was getting too cool in the house! Right now it is 60 degrees and will be around high 70s.... that is about 10 degrees cooler than normal. I guess I will trade my shorts for my capri length pants! Time for my coffee which just finished brewing....glad you visited with me today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Pearl Harbor December 7 1941

Today I remember ... for my dad who returned and for those who did not. December 7 9141. Giuseppe (Joseph) Piccirilli...he was stationed on Oahu and just returned from guard duty and headed to the chow hall when the attack began. The men dove into the bushes until they could try to get their guns. The pilots were so low that he recalled looking at their faces as they dropped bombs. He never forgot and nor shall I, for him. He was just 22 and spent almost 5 1/2 years in Hawaii. He met and married my mom Eva after his return to the states and they married in 1946. He was a very patriotic man and I suppose that is why I am. Once while I was still single and living at home we watched From Here to Eternity together..... he was always careful to hide his emotions, but I thought I caught a tear in his eyes the night. He was very involved in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, serving as the President at one time. In this picture you can see a copy of the newspaper and a copy of the Instrument of Surrender as well as the Christmas dinner they had that year. The newspaper article with my dad is an interview he gave the local paper one year.

 This is a picture taken with his older brother John who was in the Navy and in the surrounding waters at the time of the attack. He also survived. It is old and scratched but it is the only one I have of them together in uniform. There are those who do not know anything about that terrible day, but for our family it was a big deal. My grandma did not have the news access we have today when tragedy strikes. She waited almost 2 weeks to hear if her sons were alive. I am proud of the military service my father gave for our country. Just wanted to share........

Day of Infamy

On the morning of December 7, 1941 my dad was just coming off guard duty 8 AM Hawaiian time, He was just 22 and remembered looking up to see the Japanese planes coming over Fort Shafter. He ran for cover under bushes until he was able to run to get his gun out of lock up. The initial attack last around 90 minutes but it was a day to change many lives..... 2,403 Americans died  and 1178 were wounded that day.

In this photo you can see a copy of the news paper coverage. The inset of a newspaper is an article that a local paper ran about my dad and a snapshot of him as he was then. The map shows the location of Oahu in the Hawaiian chain. Now living in Arizona, I also remember those aboard the USS Arizona which sank with many of it's crew aboard. For me, the story of this event is as fresh as it was on the day so long ago that my dad and I talked about it. The story of how he enlisted, the time of the event and the years that he spent in Hawaii. In those days news from the "front" was slow to reach the states. My dad's family had a hard time at first learning whether my dad (Army) and my uncle John, dad's brother (Navy) were okay. Grandma Piccirilli told me once that when knew that her boys would be come home she cried for those who would not. Still today we are not really at peace in the world. Thank you for stopping by and reading my thoughts on this which has always been dear to me. Have a good day.

A little more to decorate

I am so glad it is finally my weekend....Sunday and Monday. I think I have finished all that I need to stitch for presents. Friday I made an origami bag...not as pretty or perfect as one that I received from Carol Parry, but the second one that I made was better. Both are for gifts but only one is wrapped so far. I just finished my RR piece and have gathered it together to mail hopefully on Monday. I have had a busy start to my day: off to the market for a few things....it seems I am always in the market!..... Made some pistachio pudding for Mr H. ..... gathered the supplies for the decorating..... I need a cup of coffee.  I have invited the community to come and help me put garland and ribbon around our 6 lamp posts this afternoon. Mr H has one last set of lights to put out front and must fix the small reindeer whose rear-end lights are out! I hope to find time to stitch today. I have a few sewing projects I would like to do. Yesterday I went to the Post Office to mail out a few packages and Christmas card for the exchange ladies. If there is anyone else who would like Christmas from Arizona...email me you info....
I can not ignore that today is December 7th, "A Date that will live in Infamy". My dad was serving in the army on this date in Pearl Harbor and was one of the lucky ones to return home. This was always an important day in our family as my Grandma Piccirilli said she was lucky to have her 2 boys home after the war. Dad's brother John was on a ship outside the harbor. 

 Dad passed away in 1985 but this date is still one that I remember for him. He was a proud and patriotic man. In all he spent almost 6 years in Hawaii before returning home to RI. He never returned to Hawaii although he thought about it a few times. 
My friends, I think it is time to have some breakfast.... so thank you for stopping by and thank you for the kind words. Hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

I forgot to show you-----

Yesterday when I shared my enjoyable Sunday outing I forgot to show you this...

my little papoose. Isn't he adorable! he is wrapped in soft white alpaca type fabric and adorned with feathers and strapped to him is a turquoise bear which is for the Native Americans is a symbol of strength and healing. This year I will decorate a Southwest tree and he will be right there front and center. I usually begin to set up Christmas around the first of December.  This year I feel eager to get it started......


I can not forget today is Veteran's Day...my dad was a very patriotic man and passed that on to me.

I pay tribute to him as well as all who have and are serving our country. Dad always gave us a poppy to wear and I still wear it proudly each November 11th. 
Yesterday was therapy day #1... and not too bad a session. Did you know that Physical Therapists now introduce themselves as "doctor"? They complete a doctorate program hence the title. Anyway, Alicia is my therapist. I have my assigned exercises to do at home and five more session with her. Although she is very nice, I did wince quite a lot. I will also be wearing a pull on type of knee brace especially for work. Oh, did I mention that Mr H planted my snap beans and someone ate two plants. To say that he  is a bit upset would be an under statement. I would not put it past him to install barbed wire! Right now there is netting around the plants.... not sure what I will find by the time I return from work today.... work... I am sure it will be a nut house at Jo Ann's. Think I better go relax because I have a feeling it will be a long 5 hours later. Whatever your plans are for today, I hope you have a wonderful day. Thank you for your kind wishes and words....and most of all for your friendship.