The Weekend Roundup - 'V'

The day after Thanksgiving in the USA is...Friday! Thus time again for Tom's fun meme, The Weekend Roundup. The alphabet may be wearing down. However, I am ready!

Beginning with 'V' is Voices. Here, Ansonia High School Music Director Maria leads the school chorus in song at the Veteran's Day ceremony outside city hall on November 11. 

Like Tom, Volkswagens also begin with 'V'. Our family had a few of these as I was growing up, and these were two of them: top is a 1963 VW Microbus (15 window) with my Dad and grandparents standing beside December, 1963 East Hartford, CT.

The next is our 1964 VW Beetle also by our East Hartford Home. The year is 1969, it is easter Sunday and my little brother Chris looks both dapper and cute at almost 5.

Volume begins with 'V', and this is a glimpse of the food bags filled for 150 families in need at the Salvation Army Greater Valley on Tuesday. I am thankful that food insecurity has not visited us - and equally sad that food deprivation exists...

A Favorite. Mine this week was taken about three hours ago, the fiery sunset over Pershing Drive in Derby CT. The best sunsets always seem to occur in the cold of Winter. Have a great week all!

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 29

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 29: 

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The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 25

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 25: 

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Shadow Shot Sunday - The Way Out

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 takes me back a week. For me a (non-serious) issue brought me to the ER at Griffin Hospital in Derby. Naturally, like most ER's, it is devoid of color and natural light, everything from walls to most of the furniture is either gray, beige or black and little to no natural light. 

Functional, sterile and austere – but when discharged later, we passed the automatic door to leave and a sunny and shadowy world awaited. Natural light and strong, well-defined shadows prompted the phone to be found and the scene captured. This sun filled tunnel can be looked as an abyss, but instead of going into it, we passed outside of it. I love unexpected shadows!

The Weekend Roundup - 'U'

Friday is here, so a perfect time for Tom's fun meme, The Weekend Roundup. The final vowel is featured (unless you count the occasional 'y' ), and offers a few challenges so I'll give it my best...

Begins with 'U' includes the USAAF - Unites States Army Air Forces prior to the creation of the USAF as a separate service branch in 1947. This is 1946, and my dad is seated all the way left. Place is likely Keesler Fiend (now Keesler AFB) in Biloxi, Mississippi. Note that the airmen are wearing Uniforms!

Taken in 2008 is the pep band at the University of Hartford, our children's alma mater. Daughter Allegra is plays the flute just above the trombone player. The wheelchair seating was in front of the band for basketball games - they rocked the arena!

To the left of the frame is the Union Congregational Church in Rockville, Connecticut. This building from 1892 is actually the third church bearing the name, the first two wooden structures succumbing to fire...

A Favorite. Patti captured this on Wednesday and I love the view. Looking into the woods at osbornedale State Park, a few golden leaves are hanging on but what I like is the misty look of the filtered light over the trees. Have a great week all!

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 22

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 22 features the Shelton HS student athletes on the collegiate signing day Tuesday: 

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The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 19

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 19: 

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The Weekend Roundup - 'T'

Saturday is a perfect time for Tom's Fun meme, The Weekend Roundup. Todays leter and prompts takes me back in time...

Begins with 'T' includes an oft-used subject, the long gone from the famed Atlantic City boardwalk, the Traymore Hotel. And if one is good, Two must be betterI don't know Grandpa's fascination, but prior to the casinos and glitz today, this ornate inn must have been the finest hotel on this wooden way. On the top is Grandpa in 1949 and twenty years later in 1969 with Aunt Terry. Now, it was certainly fading but looking as stately as ever even as it was demolished in 1972. Whatever the reason, he loved to have his picture taken in front of it!

Tractor is another and fine 'T'. Taken at Bomba's farm in Seymour CT, this old Farmall still works, plows and hauls. The patina of faded red paint wears perfectly on this old workhorse!

A Favorite. I'd heard of, but have never seen a white squirrel. However, the always lovely Patti captured sight of one last week at the Osborne homestead and Museum in neighboring Derby, CT. What makes a white one different than a gray one is unknown to me - they both behave the same:) Have a great week all!

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 12

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 12: 

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The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 7

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 7: 

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The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 5

The Valley-Voice Newsletter for Nov. 5: 

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The Weekend Roundup - 'R'

It's time again for Tom's fun meme The Weekend Roundup. I missed last week as we are having a new laminate floor installed in the room where our computers are located - sawdust and blogging don't always work well together...

Radio begins with 'R', and Grandpa's first name was Ralph, so here we are! I'm guessing this to be 1929 based on the notations on the following photo. Ultimately he installed radios in police, sherif and volunteer fire departments in West Virginia and Ohio. Self taught in radio, he could work those heavy units filled with vacuum tubes.

Ultimately he installed Radios in police, sherif and volunteer fire departments in West Virginia and Ohio. Self taught in radio, he could work those heavy units filled with vacuum tubes. These photos were printed from negatives in the late 1970s. The radio set in the second and third views is in their dining room at 1645 Oregon Avenue in Steubenville, Ohio

Our children (sadly, not this little any more :) riding on what we called a Red Rider, by Radio Flyer. It is seriously red, as is Cam' sweater and the Mickey tent...

These fireworks over Derby are very Red!

A Favorite. The always lovely Patti captured this bi of flora growing through the curb in downtown Ansonia. I do not expect to see much more of this as winter closes in - so we enjoy what we can as long as we can. Have a great week!