I am Pamela Papazidis and the middle daughter of Beryl. I live in Stamford and my favorite relaxation is to sew quilt tops. New to quilting, but determined to learn. I will be 70 in January and hope I am as strong physically and mentally as my mom as I age further. Still working 2 days weekly, I failed at retirement. I live with my husband of 50 years in the house where we raised our only child, daughter Christine. Her and her husband have blessed us with two fun, smart, daredevil grandsons that we see whenever we can. They live about an hour from us. Involved in church and three quilt guilds, and I also knit but no where as fast or nice as mom. I am on my second batch of knitted hats for donation, but these are done a loom instead of needles, and are made so much faster. What else can I tell you about me?
I also have a request for a birthday card shower. My mom Beryl Hodge will be 98 on 9/13. She has recently moved to an assisted living residence close to my sister and myself. She had been living with my sister and completely independent until falls this year with the one in March leading to a partial hip replacement. She made the decision to move by herself after we had taken her to view several facilities. Mom is a survivor and one of the strongest people I know. She never knew her father, lost her mom in early teens, lived through the bombing of London and was evacuated to Cornwall. She met and married my dad through the foster family she was with. They basically dated and learned about each other through letters. Dad was stateside before her but she was on the first ship bringing war brides to the United States. The first time she saw my dad out of uniform was when he met her train in Chicago and “claimed” her from the Red Cross.
Continuing……they had three daughters and lived in quite a few states as dad was transferred or they moved looking for a better job. They ended up in Houston after retirement and finally bought a house. They had always lived in rentals before then. Mom’s two favorite things are knitting and reading. She enjoys her historical novels and is still knitting baby sweaters so there is a supply for when my grandsons have children (they are 11 and 7). She has just finished knitting over 50 pumpkins for a church fundraiser. She helps us pin quilts for LWR each month. She also enjoys mail, not getting much since she moved. If you deem her a candidate for some cards, this is her information. Beryl Hodge, The Atria Stamford, 77 Third Street, Apt. 904, Stamford, CT. 06905. Thank you for your consideration.
98 and still doing all that handwork! And what a history she has – couldn’t she write a book? It’s time she receives a birthday payback – please join me in wishing Beryl a happy 98th birthday on September 13 by sending her a joyful card. m And a huge thank you from me!
My PeeGee hydrangea is beginning to change color so soon I’ll be bringing armloads of blooms into the house.
I’ve moved in some extra tables for the plants which I started cleaning today with cooler weather coming. Tropical plants are not happy in 40 degree temperature which is heading our way.
Look at this pretty dill. looks like Hazel didn’t want her picture taken.
And one last thing – I will repeat this again for the umpteenth time regarding ads. Kathy said it best:
Mary, I get your blog post automatically sent through the email but it does not have any ads in it to click nor has the comment box. I then tap either the title of your post or the sentence “read blog” in the beginning at the top right corner and it takes me to the internet to show the ads I click on and also the comments and comment box. I do this several times a day when I sit down with my iPad as I enjoy reading each comment as they are added on by your readers.
I hope this helps the readers who do not understand how to get to the ads. They aren’t there in the regular email we get from you but do happen when we go on the internet to read your entire blog post again which I never mind doing.
Kathy in NY
Life is a journey…..enjoy the ride.
Thank you, Kathy – whenever a reader asks me simple things like this that have been explained multiple times I know they’re not a serious reader because they don’t read every day and they don’t read the comments. So I don’t feel very accommodating – it’s one thing to spend hours on this blog but another to babysit those who don’t want to pay attention. If you are offended by this please feel free to unsubscribe.
Hi Mary,
For me starting about two weeks ago, the ads no longer had an “X” in a corner like they did before. I’ve opened your blog by going to “read on blog” and all the other hyperlinks at the top of the email and none of them have ads with Xs.
Have others commented on this? I always clicked on them when they were there.
I love Chicken Scratch and always open it as soon as I see it. I enjoy the comments, too. Your music room looks comfy and inviting.
take care
Miss Mary, thank you for making sure that everyone knows about the birthdays of all these great folks! Beryl deserves a ton! What a fascinating woman!
I don’t always go back and read comments, though I’m always glad when I do! I’ll try to remember about the ads, too.
I will get a card in the mail as well for Beryl. We are in Birch Bay, WA for a few days at my brother-in-laws place. He bought the family “cabin” from my MIL this year. Nice to have it stay in the family and wonderful he lets us all use it. It’s a nice vacation before our move. We call it a cabin as it is a pan-abode home but it has three bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry room, full kitchen. So it’s really a house not a rustic cabin. We thought we should give my mom a break from us, she’s not used to two people and a dog living with her. We will stay till Wednesday. It’s only an hour from home so my husband will commute to work for two days. I brought fabric to cut out for the retreat so will work on that.
Beryl is my mom and will be thrilled with all the cards and good wishes for her birthday. She has written a book for her daughters which I had the pleasure of typing into the computer. She was also mentioned in a book about war brides written by one of her bunk mates on the Queen Mary. Mom was on the first ship load of war brides. Thank you all again for taking your time to continue this mission of thoughtfulness.
Pamela – I wrote my card last night and it’s going in the mail tomorrow. I love this “mission of thoughtfulness”!
What a fascinating woman your mother is! Wouldn’t we all love to read the book she had you transcribe?
I look forward to sending this fabulous woman a card for her birthday!
So glad you introduced us to your mom! What an amazing life she’s had. Hope you enjoy quilting. Best wishes, Carolyn
Mary, I would like to suggest something else about clicking the ads. I was faithfully clicking over to the blog at the website instead of just reading it in my email. There were no ads to click! I tried several times this way, then finally said something to my husband. Duh…. he has an ad blocker on our web browser! So, ladies who aren’t seeing ads might want to check that out. Now I just log in at the blog manually from a different browser so not to mess with hubby’s settings.
~ Suzanne in Michigan
I will get the card in the mail today. I was a geriatric social worker and folks getting mail especially cards really does make their day. As to the ads. I usually run around barefoot ok walk slowly barefoot and read about the HIKE shoes on your blog and have them a try. Order at least a size bigger BUT I love them. I bought actual size and they weee tight I called them they told me to keep them and sent a bigger size free. In the heavier ones I went up two sizes and glad but they fit my EE width and own several colors.
Hope you get extra points if we not only check on the ad but buy from it.
Betty, thanks for the giggles this morning.
I will send a card to Beryl. She is a remarkable woman. I envy her and hope to live as long as she has.
We had rain overnight and some this morning. We needed the rain. No plans for me this weekend so it does not matter. I read in email every morning the post but sometimes I don’t have time to read comments and comment myself.
I hate we are losing brick and mortar quilt stores. I do buy on line but rarely any more. I love a quilt store!
Here’s an uninteresting question for you. Why didn’t you name Three, Two?
Janet – the first orange and white cat I had was named Jack Benny. The next orange cat that came along had to be JB. When the third orange and white cat came along he had to be Three for lack of creativity – make sense?
I don’t think I’ve ever heard that story!! Naturally you’d name Three, Three!! LOL
Thank you – mystery is solved. it works for me and obviously Three – cause animals don’t care what their name is.
Beryl has had an amazing life! And still going strong at 98. My friend Debbie’s mom also just turned 98 and still lives in her own apartment and drives her friends! 2 or 3 years ago she fell and broke her hip—I think she was 95. Of course the family was expecting the worst. The ortho guy said “ you can stay in bed for 6-8 weeks to see if the break will heal, or we can do a hip replacement “. At her age the bed rest was recommended, but she said, no, I want the hip replacement. The family thought it was a bad idea—but Debbie said, she’s healthy, her mind is fine and it’s her choice. So she had the surgery, did rehab, and is still going full blast! Amazing resilient women!
Sue – when is her birthday? We should have sent her cards.
I’m not sure, but earlier this summer—I’ll ask Debbie.
Sue – don’t bother this year but next year remember to tell me about a month ahead of time – mark your 2026 calendar right now so you don’t forget. I can’t keep that info for that long.
I like to feel the fabric too! I always have. I like to try on shoes before I buy them too. I have 3 lovely Little Limelight hydrangeas and you all have given me the idea for cutting the drying blooms off for arrangements on the front porch. Thank you. I finished the bulls eye quilt top and now I’m ready to start on the borders. This is the second quilt for my nearest fire station. They have 12 twin beds, so I have 10 left to go. I told them I only do a couple of quilts per year, so it will take a while. Beryl has a wonderful story and a wonderful daughter for sharing it with us.
I want to be just as active as Beryl as I age. What a beautiful life ! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of so many interesting people’s lives.
Mary just so you know. About the ads. I ALWAYS read the blog on the internet. Like Kathy I too go back and read the comments and click on ads several times. Yet like yesterday there were no ads to click on. It’s not that I am ignoring them but they are not there for me to click on.
I saw your dilemma about finding the one piece of music you needed. I recently started playing the piano at a nursing home and didn’t have many of the old hymns the ladies like to hear. I subscribe to a system called Sheet Music Direct and can find almost any song I need. You can select the song key, version, instrument. You can set up music folders like funeral music, wedding music, church music, etc, to help you find the music you saved. I only need to bring my iPad with me when I play at the nursing home as everything needed is right there. I thought maybe something like this would help you.
About a year ago I asked you about your piano and your recommended Yamaha which is what I have. It’s a beautiful piano. Thanks for the recommendation.
Sue – yes, I know but I need it this morning! And I don’t think I can see my IPad well enough to play from it. And I don’t have a printer – ugh.
Ha! I guffawed out loud at the cab driver joke! I’m grateful for the taxi service in our small town and have found the drivers and dispatchers to be very kind and thoughtful so as I read the joke, I figured the cab driver would be admitted to heaven for having served his passengers so well. Imagine my surprise when I read the punch line! You got me, Betty. And thanks, I needed the laugh.
As always, thanks to Mary for the blog and to everyone who sends her the pix of pets, quilts and gardens. I agree, hydrangeas are beautiful this year. There are “drifts” of them at the nursing home where my husband lives with huge clusters of blossoms. And I could smell the cloud of dill all the way to WI, Mary! And that Hazel…a nice picture of her even if she seems to have her eyes closed, but at least it isn’t her tail end this time!
Kris in WI.
P.S. What a great idea to drape some of your favorite needlework pieces over the backs of the chairs. Another thought related to the “use the ‘for good’ China” and “cut the favorite fabric.” Hmm, I think it’s time to look through my collection of embroidered treasures. Kris
What a life story Beryl has. Esther got over a dozen more cards after her birthday and they really lifted her spirits. She’s been under the weather and is taking a round of antibiotics. Mac blends right into the carpet and couch. Nice looking dog,
Cindy, I hope she will feel better soon. So sad when an elderly person struggles with a sudden illness to slow them down.
i read your daily blog, but rarely comment. not offended at all!! consider me like a silent spouse… quietly there for the support!
Diana in Del Moines I’m having the same problem with quilt shops, I have purchased fabric on line but sometimes it is very low quality so I’m not buying anything for a while. I’ll be sending a card to Beryl on Monday.
Mary, here is a joke for you and the other readers. Back in my days in Des Moines, 5 of us girls all worked over by the Capitol Building so we had a standing order for a cab every weekday morning. We usually got the same driver who I think he thought of us as daughters. He always had a good joke for us each day. And here is the only one I remember!! Don’t get too excited about details.
One day a minister died. He went up to Heaven and told St. Peter that he was a minister and had lived a good life and now that he had died, he was ready to go into Heaven. St. Peter looked at him and said that he had to check the records and the minister should take a seat on the bench.
A few minutes later, a Priest died and went up to Heaven telling St. Peter that he was a Priest and had lived a good life. St. Peter told him to have a seat on the bench and he would check his records.
A few minutes later, a Rabbi died and went up to Heaven telling St. Peter that he was a Rabbi and had lived a good life. St. Peter told him to have a seat on the bench and he would check his records.
The next think they knew, here came a cab driver. He said ‘Hi, St. Peter, I died and am ready for Heaven to which St. Peter answered ‘Go right on in.’
The rabbi, priest and minister were in shock. They went up to St. Peter and asked why a simple cab driver went right into Heaven, and the 3 of them had to wait. St. Peter answered right away. That simple man has scared more hell out of people on earth than the 3 of them together!!
Be happy, everybody. Betty in Rapid City
Betty / good joke!!! I won’t even
Have to post it because we can all read it here!
Thanks for the joke! I needed a laugh this morning!
Betty, that’s a great joke!!! HA! Thank you.
There is something about hydrangea blooms. So fetching. I can hardly believe that it is time for 40 degree weather. Time to get a card in the mail.
Mary, I love closing the ads! So simple and satisfying! As ever, thank you for faithfully posting. I look forward to life on the farm every day!
Hi Mary, This is odd. The first ads today were back to the little x to click on, but as I went down, the others had the little three dots! Technology. No wonder I am always confused–lol. I will send a card out on Monday. I will send a card to Beryl on Monday.:) She has had such an interesting and long life. I am trying to catch up from the Shop Hop and I leave on Friday for our Guild retreat My husband won’t know where to look for me–Ha.
The Buckeyes won today and our grand daughter played in an 18 hole golf match so of course, we went, then we had company for overnight. Never a dull moment.
To bed.
Diane, it took me awhile to realize the three little dots worked the same as the ‘x’ to close the ads. Sometimes the ads only have an ‘i’ inside a triangle, which I don’t click on because I think that opens the ad, which would lead to me getting inundated with similar ads (most of which I do not want ever).
Yes, Sara, it took me a little while, too. I like to help out my clicking whatever shows up:)
Would that we could all be as active as Beryl! What a life and still going! Our house has shook twice this evening—sounds like someone setting off a small cannon or something. Wish they’d stop.
You tell em, Mary. I got a c chuckle from your last comment.
Your hydrangeas are gorgeous! I’m having a wedding shower in 2 weeks for my niece and I’m using hydrangeas from her moms bush. So big and beautiful, plus free! My hubs has an identical twin, and they live right across the street from us. It’s their daughter getting married so only fitting I use their flowers. Lol
One of our local quilt shops is closing their doors and going to mail order only. Last day was today so bought backing for 2 wedding quilts for family. And another shop in the area is doing the same thing. I might be old fashioned but love to feel fabric before I purchase it. Dont order much fabric online unless I’ve seen it in person. Hope all shops don’t think this is the way of the future.