My Older Son Turns 51

First Grade at St. Timothy's.

How time flies.  Today is Michael's birthday.  My little red head is now a grown man with grown children of his own.  Here's a few pics over the years including more recent ones. 

Michael's first birthday in Hillsborough.  He was a little skeptical of the candle.

Michael age four at Christmas in Louisburg.

Christmas 1969, Michael six.

Last year for his 50th birthday, I surprised him with 50 Carolina blue balloons sent to his office. 

November 2013 in Cuba with Marge and Helen, two of our fellow Wolftrekers.

We celebrated his birthday last night at Sitti, and afterwards everyone came to our house for the birthday cake.  Michael has never been extremely fond of sweets, however he does like Klonkie Bars and KitKat candy.  So I made his cake of Klonkie Bars with a vanilla ice cream (from Local Fresh) "frosting" and sprinkled crushed KitKat candy bar on top as garnish. 

Klondike Bar birthday cake. 

Blow out the candles.

Michael and Mom.

Michael and family.

Michael at work. (Photo from the Trust Company of the South website)


Happy Birthday Michael, We Love You!!!!!!

"The Beatles! Let's Bring Them On."

The Beatles on Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964

"Now yesterday and today our theater's been jammed with newspapermen and hundreds of photographers from all over the nation, and these veterans agreed with me that this city never has witnessed the excitement stirred by these youngsters from Liverpool who call themselves The Beatles. Now tonight, you're gonna twice be entertained by them. Right now, and again in the second half of our show. Ladies and gentlemen, The Beatles! Let's bring them on."---Ed Sullivan

In 1964 I was teaching science and math at Orange Junior High School in Hillsborough, NC.  All day that Friday the little girls in my 8th grade science class were chattering about "the beatles".  I had no idea what they were talking about---thought it was about insects.  When I asked they told me about this group that was going to be on the Ed Sullivan Show on that next Sunday night.  I told them I would watch.  I admit I was pretty much hooked from the beginning.  I'm still a loyal fan fifty years later.  I would love to touch base with some of those little students of mine who would now be about 62 or 63 years old.  Egads!!!!

Yes little eighth grade girls, you were right.  Great group.  And they have stood the test of time.

November 22, 1963: A Day Remembered

President Kennedy (Photo credit by NASA.).

I'm sure that all who were around on November 22, 1963, and were old enough, will remember exactly where they were when they heard the awful news that our young president had been killed.

My husband and I were living in Hillsborough, NC with our 8 month old son, Michael, and I was teaching science and math at Orange Junior High School which was directly across from our house, and my husband was in graduate school at Duke.

 I had an accelerated group of eighth graders in class that afternoon when a student knocked on the door of my classroom.  She told me the principal said to tell everyone the President had been killed.  For just a second or two, I thought President? What President?   Then it dawned on me that she was talking about President Kennedy.  I went back into the classroom and told my eighth grade students.

School was dismissed, and I hurried home to my young baby, and soon my husband returned.  It seems that we did nothing but watch television for days during the coverage of the assassination--except we were at church when Oswald was killed.  But soon reruns of that were all over the newscasts. 

It was a sad time, and I have often wondered how different our country might be if Kennedy had lived. 

Vietri Outlet in Hillsborough, NC

Large platter with a Venetian theme.  Pretty for serving or for displaying on wall.

While I was in Hillsborough the other day for the Leland Little Auction, I decided to visit the Vietri Outlet Store  Vietri imports Italian dinnerware and glassware in beautiful patterns and colorful designs.  At the outlet store one can buy Vietri straight from the manufacturer in Italy at a much lower price than at expensive retail stores.  The dinnerware reminded me of the pottery we saw in Italy on our recent visit there.

At this time of year the outlet is well stocked with products suitable for Christmas.

Poinsettia mugs.

Pretty red and white table setting.

Christmas red glassware.

Christmas green glassware.

I had a great visit with Keith Cecil who was in charge of the store that day.  For a minute there I thought I might be in one of Santa's workshops and maybe I was having a visit with the jolly old fellow himself.

Keith or Santa?  In any case a very welcoming merchant.