Denton County

Pictured is my grandfather – this photo of him was taken around 1900 in Texas. My grandmother Grace Brown married James Curtis Allen on October 3, 1904, in Denton County, Texas. At the time of his death the family was living in Clearwater, Florida. James died in 1913. After the death of her husband, she with her three small caught a steam ship from Tampa, Florida to Galveston, Texas. Once arriving in Galveston she caught a train to West Texas where she and her three children visited with her late husband's relatives. Once widowed, Grace returned to Kansas and for a period of time she and her three children lived with her mother Ann Agrelius (who was the widow of Archie Brown). Ann resided at 915 North Street, Hutchinson, Kansas. To earn a living and to support her three minor children Grace had build & opened a rooming house in Pratt. While the new house was being build my Dad along with his two sisters, Marguerite and Maureen, would dig up buried Indian arrowheads.... A childhood treasure!

1942

Yep - that's me in 1942 guarding our home.

JOLIN

I don't know what their saying but it looks like fun!

Our star boarder

Sweet Home in the Philippines – Well, its summer here and Junior is on his summer school vacation. Now if his Mom and I could get him to do some work around our house. At times he acts as if he is the “star boarder” in a boarding house. Lately whenever his Mom and I ask him to help his stock answer is, “Ah man!” Sometimes I remind him that one day he’ll find out the toilet paper and toothpaste won’t come with the rent. Ah yes, to be a teenager.

The perfect winter

I remember the perfect winter, with soft billowing snow and crisp cold. Always there were the delightful smells of home cooking—pies, cakes, fried chicken, roasts, homemade gravy, cookies, and fluffy rolls. The sound of laughter and the buzz of voices rolled around in my Grandma's house where we lived for a time before WW2. Where old family stories were told and re-told at the kitchen table followed by the sounds of laughter. I remember those times as it warms my heart.

Joe DiMaggio where have you gone?

I remember in my boyhood I collected baseball cards of Joe DiMaggio and all the baseball heroes of that day. I stored my treasure collection in a shoe box under my bed. As we readied to move from Salem, Oregon to Seattle, Washington one day after school I discovered it was gone. It was no longer under my hiding place! My treasure collection had been given to the son of a neighbor. Oh, Joe DiMaggio where have you gone?

Our visit to Bohol Island

A few years ago we spent a pleasant day with friends and toured Bohol Island. It’s a short ferry ride from Cebu City to the ferry dock in Bohol where we were met by a friendly driver with his SUV and then we all settled by as he drove us around sightseeing. It’s a very clean and peaceful place to visit with charming old world church and lay back people. I wanted to share these few pictures with you all and if you ever get a chance do go there.

The crack of the bat

Well soon we’ll hear the crack of the bat as it hits the baseball over the center field wall. Which brings me to this photo of my Dad with his baseball coach back in Pratt, Kansas. He must had been around 10 or 11 years old when it was taken so long on a hot dusty summer day.

An-An becomes a businesswoman

We’re so proud of our niece An-An who I sometimes post about…. Last Wednesday my twenty something niece An-An was here baby sitting me as my wife was in Cebu with friends/visitors flying in from Hong Kong. I knew An-An had opened and started a sari-sari store about 5 or 6 months ago near her home so curiously I asked how was her business. I found out she works long hours and that every day rain or shine …. She opens for business at 4:00 AM and closes at 1 AM and after she opens she does her daily shopping at Danao's wet market while her boyfriend watches her store. With her gross profits she reinvests in the store. An-An is doing it right I can see her going far, onto bigger businesses. As far as security she locks up every night and sleeps in her tiny sari-sari store. Then with a smile I told her, she didn't much time for romance… she then answered me with a giggle.

I am impressed with her work ethic and how she takes out as little as possible for herself!

Mrs. Sunshine

My wife Belinda is the sunshine of my life… some days when I’m not feeling very good - unfortunately lately I take it out my aches and pains on her. Since I have gotten sick this past year I find I am deeply worried about her future. Nevertheless she is my ray of sunshine. She helps me get through the days and nights too.