Week 45

Another Kathryn Hoyt acrylic

The blog title change at the beginning of the year was meant to remind me to focus on the memories I'm trying to bring back and write about.

Well, this week I received a surprise via snail mail! It is so unusual nowadays to find an envelope addressed in someone's own handwriting, let alone a cousin I hadn't seen in years. The fat little packet contained a letter and several old photographs.

My father's youngest brother's daughter wrote to let me know that her mother, Aunt Doris, had passed away in September. They were going through her things and wanted to send on photos that we would enjoy.

With Aunt Doris and visits with Uncle Bud's family

 Some photos were ones I'd seen before, but these of my paternal grandmother were very special candid shots. I wonder where and when they were taken and which grandchild is with her.

Anna Leola Darcy Hoyt

Michael went back to work full time, and overtime, refurbishing the Matthews robotic shop. I took him lunch almost every day--cleared off a spot on the entryway table, laid an old table runner down and brought out a decent meal for the overworked man. It's relaxing and fun to look out at downtown Matthews, a small town with a long interesting history.

Lunch time at the Matthews shop

Michael had left a long to-do list for when he was gone and for those who come to help out for an hour or two.

The big push this week was to finish everything that required the scissors lift before the end of the rental period.

Daily progress

Looking back over the work accomplished, Michael estimates they are 80% done.

Friday was the best day for me to get away up north to visit Mother and on the way stop by my brother Alan's shop and maybe see and talk to his new wife. Raquel was not there as they haven't moved her things from Elkhart yet (this weekend) and her foster child was ill. But Alan was there during his lunch break. We had a nice chat catching up on his life, and he kindly checked the pressure on all my tires.

Inside the Global Auto shop

 Then he gave me a tour of his auto-mechanics school above the shop. It is an impressive set-up and Alan is definitely a pioneer in that field.

Auto mechanics classroom and diagnostic bays

 Then I joined Mother for lunch. One on one direct conversation is very limited right now, but she enjoys listening in when we're in a group.
I like to take her some of my recently uncovered memories. This time it happened to be a letter she wrote in 1945 requesting membership transfer from the Baptist church she grew up in (her father the pastor) to the new Grace Brethren denomination she married into.

Mother reading old letter

After sharing Bingo Hour with Mother and the other fun ladies at her table, I headed back and was just in time to set up my table for the Matthews Marketplace craft fair the next day.

Koch -display at the Matthews Marketplace

 The event was not very profitable, considering the time and effort, however I had fun interacting with vendors and visitors, and especially watching the robotics team showing off the robot and talking to people.

Team 1720 display

After packing up pottery and paintings and tearing down tables, I had enough time to pick up Diane and go to Sam's birthday celebration. Michael just couldn't take time off.

Sam celebrating 41 years

 A favorite moment, among the many good ones, was when Elijah loved on both grandmothers, as he towered over them.

Elijah with two proud grandmas

Six weeks till Christmas, really?!