“Remembering Classmates from the 1940’s School Days”
Remembering “Stella”
February 11th reminded me of the Conformation Name “Bernadette” that I took… after seeing the old but very good movie, ‘Song of Bernadette.’
In the mid 1940’s and when in the 3rd or 4th grade, my friend, “Stella M. Santoyo” a classmate… took the name, “Bernadette” when we were to be confirmed.
When it was time for “Conformation” which would take place in the early months of a year… and we were both in the German St. Vincent’s Orphanage, and also in the same Grade… all the children that had not been confirmed… were told to think about taking a “Saint’s Name”… and make it a “NAME” that would have meaning to you.
In the beginning of the year… there are several “HOLIDAYS” to be celebrated and generally in celebration… a movie would be shown in the auditorium for all the Nuns and Children. You have to remember that in those days… there was no “Television” as people went to the MOVIE Theater… which was really a big thing to do … back then!
On this one occasion, the movie “Song of Bernadette” was shown. At that time my friend Stella, a classmate and I having watch this movie … really found a real meaning in this particular movie and about the true life story of Bernadette – we just decided that we had to take that name, “Bernadette.”
Everyone to be confirmed would be reading about the different names of the “Saints” and just trying to find out as much as possible to see if some “SAINT’s name” and their personal story would be something to try focusing on… a name that would have some meaning for direction in and on our own lives … AND … for all of our Life!
We also… that is Stella and I … were very good friends, still remember her birth date of June 6th, and her “I.D.”number was #90 and my number was #91. We both dressed as “Indian maidens” in a parade we were in, and if any prizes were to be given out… we surely would have been “Top Winners”.
We were both good friends of “Sister Seraphine” and since she liked us so well, Stella and I got the first choice to pick from all the new hats for Easter. Some good and wonderful benefactor who should surely have received lots of extra prayers of “Thanks” … for their wonderful donation to the Home!
I saw the movie, “Song of Bernadette” again, not too long ago and I really think more people should see it. Every chance that I get or know that it will be on Television, today… I make sure that I will see this old movie… as it is just one of the long ago “1940” era… and a for sure golden oldie’s!
If ever … I see or hear about this old movie coming up for a “re run”… there I will be with… the old days… gone by good times… and as always just taking myself back… into the “Grade SCHOOL DAYS” … and there I am reminiscing with fond memories… just remembering just how good we all had it… way back an when! D.V.
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“Making Sweet Cookies for My SWEET Friends”
Grandma makes “Cookies”
Cookie making Day! In the last week I’ve read more recipes for cookies and set several aside… some that I have never made before… just… to try out… so today I made cookies!
I have several packages of Toll House Nestle semi-sweet chips and with it being an old dreary day outside… dark and raining… thought that I would try something new… so may as well go with an old “favorite” to start with…chocolate chip recipe, right there … and on the package.
When you are thinking of making cookies and want several… for the taste buds to feel like something extra special is going on … here’s what I did.
The recipe does not call for the flour to be sifted, so that is what I did, and I did sift the flour three times. Also, I used one (1) cup cake flour to see if I could get a better taste?
The recipe calls for two (2) eggs so I used three (3) eggs, because I was going to add almost a cup of flake coconut…did not really measure, just eyeball… like mother used to do! Also, to give the cookie some extra body … something good for the system… almost a cup of quick oats, since they are what every “body” needs and then, I can really justify my eating an extra cookie or two… for when I say “I’m having my ‘oats’ today!” And I was more than generous when adding the nuts! It calls for one cup chopped nuts so I put in almost two (2) cups.
Rather than chop the nuts, I put them in after the eggs were added… with the the coconut and oats so the mixer could do the chopping. Bake ten minutes per tray with (16) cookies per tray… I was baking! I now have two containers full of cookies and really feel good.
Best part of baking cookies… I sampled (1) one cookie from each tray full… have to say… they were really “Good!”
“Extra good snacking”
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“Grandma had to go to the Hospital”
Granddaughter reporting for duty! xoxo
Hi, this is Jaime Aldrich reporting for duty. I am the proud granddaughter of Ellen Aldrich. She is taking the day off from writing, having a day of rest, so I thought I would share some pictures of my beautiful grammy and our wonderful family!
Alan, me, Grandma and Alyssa celebrating Christmas!
Grandma always throws the best birthday parties!
Dad and Alan representing the family business, AEROCAD, which Grandma is working hard as always!
Grammy with our favorite pup, Chloe!
Grammy and Alyssa showing us some dance moves!
She is the best grandma in the whole world! I love you so much grammy!
God Bless now and always,
Jaime Aldrich
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“Grandma’s Stories”
“Family Kaleidoscope”
In the 1940s I received my first Kaleidoscope… and had more fun watching the change of beautiful designs each and every time… just the slightest touch and or turn… a completely different wonder to behold!
It has been years now, since I have had my hands on a Kaleidoscope… but was thinking about life and family… and can see similarities.
In our FAMILY … I at first was the center of the attention. This information comes from hearing about what I did… and looking at old photographs of me… those taken before my brothers and sisters arrived on the scene.
My comparison comes from the amount of beads or stones in the Kaleidoscope and as you turn it.. you see bigger and more elaborate designs.
So… with my “Family Kaleidoscope” is a thumb-nail sketch Legacy to my family of our stories … with some pictures, as every picture tells a story… and the older the photo is… a more filled in memory of which my words today try to tell the full story… but… can never ever really tell all… and or fully explain.
As Family members are born and develop on the scene of life in this Family… the picture develops and the slightest change of what each of us is doing… continues to build up over some time a more beautiful and precious picture for Family activities to build even bigger and better Family Memories!
In the beginning of my “Grandma’s Stories” there was no special plan of who or what I would be writing about… but only to write about “Stories and Activities” that I remember as “LIFE” takes me on the journey that each of us is on to a more Blessed End… and with my beliefs on how to arrive at the best destination… to which I find following “The Way” and “The Bible” as the manual.
All inquiries regarding any and all that is on the FourGrandmas.com … aka “Grandma’s Stories”….are answered and we love hearing from you! D.V.
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“Grandsons are GREAT GIFTS from the Almighty”
“Grandma receives “BEST GIFT” from Grandson!”
To all the “Grandmas” in the world, say THANKS to your GRANDchildren!”
“Grandchildren” are the “BEST of PEOPLE” in the world. I know … just ask me as I can tell you all about “GRANDCHILDREN!”
A couple of weeks ago, I had seen an “AD” for a… Dustpan with handle and attached broom. I clipped this “AD” and placed it on the dining room table? No-one even noticed it, as I have a few other items that are also there, needing attention, and everyone knows… that “NOBODY” sees anything just because there are no “nosey” people in the whole wide world?
I do think that, I am the only one in this world, that I do believe is in the “nosey” department! It just so happens, that is if I see something different and or out of place… I will make an inquiry and when you inquire about something… just sometimes, some people think that… you should keep your “NOSE” to yourself !
Because so often … as it happens sometimes to ME, they just don’t want my “TWO-Cents” worth of information… and in a way … they will let ME know… their business is not my business?
Well, yesterday, being a “Tuesday” and you know Tuesday is sometimes called a “good news day” and it was the best of news day for me!
My Grandson, Alan had taken the AD for the dustpan and broom set and called me… just to be sure that I really wanted this item. So, I started to tell my Grandson all about the problems, that I have when trying to bend over to sweep up stuff, here and there … that is on the floor and after so many times of my bending over and picking up… well my back just starts to fall apart, due to the surgeries that I have had on my back!
I guess that when I start to tell someone of all the problems that I have… I must sound like… oh well what word could I used other than sounding like an “old bag of bones” that is getting older by the minute!
But, then Alan was telling me that he knows what I need and he will go over to a different store and get a better “dustpan set” more on the commercial side and better for a longer period of using time… without falling apart!
Shortly after the phone call… my Grandson Alan was at my door and brought in this newer and better “dustpan and broom set” and it sure did look good!
So, today… when I went downstairs to put a load of clothes in the wash machine, I took the dustpan set with me to give it a try out? I had to give my Grandson Alan a call, just to tell him what a terrific help it was for me to have this new dustpan set, and to NOW … be able to do a little cleaning up and all without breaking my back in the trying to do so!
I am so grateful and Thankful for my Grandson Alan, as he sure does know what is best for his Grandma, and when she needs something to do a good clean up when I am down in the basement… “THANK – YOU, ALAN” for just being you… as you are so terrific! I am NOW… asking for the Almighty to further remember you and your kindness for others… to BLESS YOU … Now and Forever!”
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“Check out YOUR Health and Be Careful”
“Time of the Old Woman?”
In North America; Weather Prone Accidents! The headline above is what I read on “Coast to Coast” – evidently this period of accident prone time for… “Old-Women” – starts February 25 and goes through March 4, 2014!
Since I caught only that small bit of information, then… and accidents are still continuing at this time of year… just maybe there is something NOW…that we should watch out for … so thought I would pass this on once again!
Maybe this “Old-Woman prone to accidents” period has occurred last year to me and maybe even years before and just now we are learning to check out “strange happenings” with one another to see if… in reality… if some mysterious things are reoccurring to us?
Last year, February 28th I took a fall during the night… did not feel bad when I was getting up… out of bed to go to the bathroom… but the short walk to the bathroom… something no one knows what could have happened, but I passed out!
Falling flat forward and breaking a bone in the nose. How long was I out… like a light? How did I hit the dresser and then end up black and blue on the side that hit? No one knows?
My grandson, Alan took me to the emergency hospital – they ran all kinds of tests and I was there for days. I almost felt like a porcupine – everything was x-rayed… needles putting stuff in me and other needles stuck in to take blood for testing for everything also checking what the medicines that I had been taking to see if they needed to be changed NOW… and if other meds would correct everything and or anything? I felt like a big “PIN-CUSHION.”
Surgery was found to be the necessary item and needed now! I was just not ready for surgery… by a doctor I did not know! I wanted a second opinion by a doctor that had an idea of how my body works… this was all more than my brain could fathom? So, I signed for my release from this hospital, so that I could check all this information out.
When I left the hospital… all of a sudden I could hardly walk… pain NOW running up and down my right leg… so now I have another problem? This new situation required more testing and checking to see what my problems and all of this new and additional pain situation would entail, as the risks were running high… what part of the body to be operated on first?
This prone accident week for the “OLD WOMAN” – last year – caused me to have to go through two major surgeries within the month of March 2013.
This is the SEASON… as so many things are happening all around the world… TODAY! This is just what happened to me… so take good care of your health… without good health… what is there to work with? D.V.
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