Q’s mother gave me the jar and the rocks, I added the water, and for two weeks my ersatz aquarium sat otherwise empty on my kitchen counter. Then one day, just before Christmas, I turned around and there was a Betta fish in it. I’m thinking of adding a wall safe to my study. Did you know that Beta is a misspelling of Betta, which comes from the scientific name Betta splendens?
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Doesn’t it make you smile?
Another photo from them olden days. Diane with Patti Deverna and her daughters. Diane is on the far left.

Dan dancing with Drucilla Strain at our wedding reception in 1984.
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I was showing Susan old family photos when I stumbled onto this one. I know the people, but what was the event? And is that a baking tray of beef balanced on an old coffee can? And a container of something I’d never admit to eating – Cheese Whiz?
First row: Mark Schreiber, Sammy, Karen Schiff, B.J. Sullivan, John Lewis.
Back row: Ginger, Greg, Bonnie, Brian, Tess, Me, Diane, Bonnie Bortle and Jim McMahon.
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I’ve heard about the Yankee Jazz Stompers for quite a while, from Flo, who sends me the print out of the weeks events at Concord Park. Yesterday, as we were dropping Flo off after lunch, I could hear music wafting from the entertainment room and it was indeed, The Stompers.

Patti Finlay, Christmas 1997, Torroemore MN.

A blog with photographs to rival mine.

A glimpse into the Downing family Christmas.

Peter and Emma Finlay, Christmas at Torroemore, 1997.
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Diane bought a duffle bag with this cardboard inside – It’s sole purpose to maintain the shape of the bag. We were about to toss it when we spied this warning label.

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It’s six degrees outside, the snow crunches underfoot, and the drafts in our house force us to huddle around the wood stove. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been thumbing through photos of our trip to see Peter in Hawaii three years ago. Diane and Peter “relax” in the lobby of the hotel before we leave for the airport.

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