Grandma’s Stories

Jun 16th “Happy Father’s Day to Lee Aldrich, Sr.”

“FATHER’s DAY… ” “A MEMORY”

This is a PHOTO that reminds me,  that we should take more  “TIME  OUT”  just to take photos of “DADDY” and the small children,   since these precious play times, last  but,  a  few moments in the brain, and without a PHOTO,  gone forever!

When this PHOTO was taken, I would have taken more pictures of  “DADDY”   Lee, Sr.,   stretched out on the floor with our  “newborn baby, AL” and  his big brother, “Lee Jr.,”  if only there was some advanced warning in  our LIFE, that “Daddy” would be needing surgery,  within four  short years from mow,  and so suddenly, not  able to make it, as everything that could go wrong that fatal night  – was so unbelievable!

TODAY, my feeling is to take more PHOTOS of the FAMILY ,  and learn to enjoy each and every moment,  because  those  few precious moments,  they  are over in seconds,  never ever to return,  and once gone,  never again  remembered, since the brain only received such  short  “snippets”  just not enough to store in the “MEMORY”  bank  for years to come.  So,  and  unless there are   more  “PHOTOS”  taken and saved of all of the extra special celebrations of LIFE,  just to bring to mind,  all of the “LOVE of  YOUR  LIFE”  of YOU and those You LOVE,  those wonderful memories that would have been “Keepsakes”   will just  be gone forever!

Old PHOTOS bring to LIFE,  at least in  our  mind,  reminders of  those few moments  that,  we all have  and  have shared  a special zest for Living with the true “LOVES of our LIFE time” – here on Earth! 

There are TIMES when we think that  our LIVES are a piece of “HEAVEN on EARTH”  but,   being young and in LOVE,  our minds are not strong enough to let us really know,  that these few  fleeting moments,  if not  fully enjoyed in the  “here and now”  will have only been  a vague and passing  dream of a time in  our LIFE,  you may have  wished for  “IT” to be forever,  but, there  is  only the  right NOW, then it is  “TIME”  forever  “all gone!”

This is when we were living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida,  and only a mile from the ocean,  and the “FLORIDA SUNSHINE”  would  wake  us all up so early,  no late sleepers, “Mr.  SUNSHINE” would pour himself,   into the  window  with a  “TIME  to WAKE-Up  and  SMILE”  as there was no need for an “Alarm Clock”   so  lucky for us, that we all  were “early birds”  always ready,  for the NEW day to  expect  “FUN!”

“Happy FATHER’s  Day to Lee Aldrich, Sr.,  only the Best of the BEST –  I said so!     D.V.

Jun 16th “Celebrate a HAPPY FATHER’s DAY with Daddy-O”

FATHER’S DAY

Father’s Day is observed annually on the third Sunday in June.  This day is set aside to honor the role that fathers play in the family structure and society.

After the success of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day observances began to appear.  The road to this national observance was not easy.

• The first recorded celebration of Father’s Day happened after the Monograph Mining Disaster, which killed 361 men and left around 1,000 children fatherless in December 1907.  Grace Golden Clayton suggested to her pastor Robert Thomas Webb a day honoring all those fathers.  On July 5th, 1908, a gathering in honor of these men took place at Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South, now known as Central United Methodist Church, in Fairmont, West Virginia.
• In 1910, the YMCA in Spokane, Washington recruited several clergymen with the help of Sonora Smart Dodd to honor fathers throughout the city.  The date was set for June 5th but was later changed to June 19th (the 3rd Sunday in June) as many clergymen needed more time to prepare.
• Harry C. Meek, a member of Lions Clubs International, claimed that he first had the idea for Father’s Day in 1915.  Meek argued that the third Sunday of June was chosen because it was his birthday.  The Lions Club has named him “Originator of Father’s Day.”  Meek made many efforts to promote Father’s Day and make it an official holiday.
• After a visit to Spokane in 1916 to speak at a Father’s Day celebration, President Woodrow Wilson wanted to make it official, but Congress resisted fearing that the observance would become too commercialized.
• President Calvin Coolidge stopped short of issuing a national proclamation in 1924
• Sonora Smart Dodd continued to work to make Father’s Day a national observance.  In 1938, she collaborated with the Father’s Day Council, a group of New York Men’s Wear Retailers for the commercial promotion of the observance.  Many Americans resisted the holiday for decades because of these attempts to commercialize the day.
• In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers on the third Sunday in June.
• President Richard Nixon signed into law a permanent national holiday in 1972 over 50 years after Mother’s Day came into existence.

How To Observe

Father’s Day is now celebrated in many countries around the world. Share on social media images of your day together with your kids, and be sure to use #FathersDay too

Jun 15th “Fudge – FAST and EASY”

• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Place chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter or margarine in large microwaveable bowl. Zap in microwave on medium until chips are melted, about 3-5 minute, stirring once or twice during cooking. Stir in nuts, if desired.
2. Pour into well-greased 8×8-inch glass baking dish. Refrigerate until set.

Footnotes

• Partner Tip
• Reynolds® Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier.

Jun 14th “Strawberry Shortcake”

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Total Prep: 25 minutes

Servings: 4-6 

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
3 + 2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
zest of 1 lemon
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries in sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla