Janet’s thread

A weblog, mostly about knitting but other topics appear

A Day In Essex (Connecticut) June 24, 2017

Filed under: Connecticut River,Essex Connecticut,Marinas,Memories,New England — Janet @ 10:35 pm

Could this be a view along the Connecticut River?

We had a wonderful day in Essex Connecticut, a lovely town on the Connecticut River. Lunching at Marlay’s at the marina in Essex.  Son David had a great time maneuvering my husband’s wheelchair onto the 6 person ferry which took us to Marlay’s on the island.

Essex is such a gem of a town.  After lunch we had a bit of time to shop but it was so hot along the main street, we didn’t linger long to examine all the colorful plants and blossoms in the gardens and the classic beauty of the historic houses.  Another time.

 

A Medieval Church April 25, 2017

Filed under: Ancestors,Family memories,Genealogy,Memories,Old Churches,Tralee Ireland — Janet @ 3:27 pm

St Andrews Church Frenze England  St Andrew’s Church, Frenze, England

This church in the northeastern part of England dates from the 14th century.  It is associated with the Blennerhassett Family – some of my ancestors.

The name Blennerhassett resonates with me for another reason.  The librarian in my high school all those years ago in Belmont Massachusetts  was Miss Blennerhassett.

The name came up again when in the 1970’s our family travelled to Tralee in the West of Ireland.  The Blennerhassett family had been prominent there.

Another link must be the name Saint Andrew – my husband and I were married in Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Nairobi Kenya.

 

In Younger Days April 18, 2017

Filed under: Family photographs,Family Photos,Memories,Nantucket Island — Janet @ 4:16 pm

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Here they are – my sisters Ruth and Nan – carefree as can be

They were working in the summer of 1949 as waitresses at the Grey Gull on the Island of Nantucket.

Nan is on the right – today is her 90th birthday – April 18, 2017

Ruth on the left celebrated her 91st birthday not so long ago – January 6, 2017

Happy Days.  Happy Memories.

 

Third Grade Studies March 29, 2017

Filed under: Memories — Janet @ 2:07 pm

Long ago, what did we study in third grade?  My teacher was Miss Sawyer, in Payson Park School, Belmont Massachusetts.  My strongest memory is of the book Paddle to the Sea by         Holling C. Holling, a canoe journey through the Great Lakes.  Did we also learn about Eskimos?  Early societies n Africa?  South America?  Did we learn about the Sami people in the Arctic?

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I Could Write A Book…….. March 28, 2017

Filed under: Ancestors,Autobiography,Early Settlers,Family,Family history,Family memories,Family photographs,Family Photos,Memoirs,Memories,Ogunquit Maine — Janet @ 3:39 pm

Beachmere Inn   1930’s postcard from Ogunquit Maine

I could write a long book about the memories stirring in me as I view this postcard from Ogunquit Maine.

 

How We Met March 27, 2017

Filed under: Africa,Friendship,Hotels,Kenya,Memoirs,Memories,Northern Ireland — Janet @ 3:00 pm

A few years ago, 18 to be more precise, I wrote a memoir which I called 8 Countries, 62 years.  Now at age 80 I plan to write the sequel and fill in a few gaps.  Yesterday at church coffee hour I was asked the conversation starter question – how did you meet the man you married – or words to that effect.

It’s a long story – or a very short story.

Step 1 – we met in Kenya in August 1966.

 

IMG  Ian at the Nairobi Show, September 1966

 

Snow Snow Snow February 6, 2017

Filed under: Isle of Harris,Katerina,Memories,Seasons,Seattle,Snow — Janet @ 8:50 pm

It’s been snowing all day!  Seattle is closed down.  This makes me think of my childhood in Boston(Belmont).  How we loved to hear the announcement on the radio – no school, all schools, all day – including the following towns…….

img_2332    Katerina is a bit timid about this rare phenomenon

img_2330  That’s a crow at the top of the snow=covered tree