2011 - June

Long time since anyone has posted here --- was at the Hampshire Center Cemetery last week -- boy, does it look different. Here are a couple photos so you can see the change -- but seeing it isn't like being there and feeling the change.
(Click on photos to enlarge)

The south side of the cemetery is now like a nature park -- well, there are lovely wild flowers and a couple benches. Very calming and pretty.

Mother's Day Trip to San Diego

Mom and Amy came out to visit us in San Diego this Mother's Day. It was a wonderful occasion, and we all had a great time. Even Jesse came to join in the festivities. I think everyone got a good work out. We went to Old Town, Seaport Village, US Grant Hotel for a concert down town, Balboa Park, Amy hiked the trail in my back yard, and they even got a chance to see me perform at a "winery" in Carlsbad. We all had a wonderful time. Here are some photos for you to enjoy! Thank-you for coming to see us!

A Budding Guitarist

Drew is just learning guitar -- and on a visit to Sharry and Aunt Mariyn's had a wonderful time with Sharry and her instruments. Here he got to try out Sharry's guitar -- he loved it. Geoffrey was busy playing the Nintendo.

Update on Uncle Web's Airplane

In December I received a phone call from the latest owner of the Stinson Airplane that Uncle Web owned back in the 60's. It was over 6 years since I heard from Mr. John Williams. The call came from out of the blue! I was both surprised and happy to hear from him. John told me that it took over 7 years of hard work to complete the restoration. He said he just couldn't wait any longer to fly the plane for the first time. So on a Wednesday he took her up for the first time. John said he had a ball flying the old Stinson and could not believe how well the plane handled.

This comes from a fellow who flys KC-130's for a living. Attached is a couple of photos of the 1939 Stinson, tail No NC-21195. If you care to see additional photo's of the plane, drop me a line at rawarner@bellsouth.net. Bob

Happy Thanksgiving, Pilgrim!

Love to all and Happy Thanksgiving ---

Geoffrey Age 5 - Pilgrim

Flynn is home!

Kisses for my sister Sheila.

The newest member of the Blazier-Gudeman family is home. Little 7 week old Flynn. He is a yellow lab. Very sweet - very smart - and REALLY teething! (YEOW!). 

Meet Millie!

Meet our new baby - Millie. As you can see, Dash (B&W cat) LOVES her too!

New Family Member

Hello Blazier family! Meet Flynn (and Flynn's mommy Penny) pictured here. He is coming home this Sunday. We are all very excited about welcoming him into the family. He is a little yellow lab. No one will ever replace sweet Halley, but he will help fill the void and keep Sheila busy. She has just whining constantly since Halley left. Love to you all! Zak, Stephanie & Luke

3 months plus.... Happy Thanksgiving

No one has posted since August -- what have you all been up to?

Do try to post every now and then -- photos are always welcome.

I'll try to do the same.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone.

Jackie

Hubbard Glacier and Whale Watching

Debut post phoned

The great singing talent (no cough or sputter Sharry)  of Sharry, Lisa and Stephanie (who like Ringo was 'just happy to be here') will not be airing tonight on WPRB. Actually, without my knowledge, it was aired last friday and maybe played again next. I will keep you posted.  The Disc Jockey "Dr. Cosmo" said that someone called into the station after we aired and said that they had never heard the Lennon Sisters sing that song before. Heh, so no Sharry, we did not "suck".  Stay tuned .. pun intended. 

Just for fun!

What's your Wordle?

Silly and fun - here are two that I made -

Amers

More Photos (These from Sharry)

Just posted photos from Sharry of our wonderful weekend.
Click HERE to see the photos.

PLEASE NOTE -- IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND COLUMN THERE ARE OTHER LINKS TO THE PHOTOS FROM THE WEEKEND. ENJOY !!!

"Just Cous"

Well, Lisa .. Sharry .. you can yell at me later. I sent our little recording of "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" to my friend George (Doctor Cosmo) who has been running a radio program from Princeton University for many years. It is an on line radio program, quite popular actually. Anyway .. he may play us on the air. Heh. Don't kill me .. OK?? I really only sent it to him has he said he was having trouble sleeping and I thought this sweet little song we sang would lul him to sleep.

George (Doctor Cosmo) is the host for a program called Nocturnal Transmissions on Fridays 10PM to 2AM east coast time. If he plays us, it will be next Friday August 1st. 

All you other cousins, and non cousins, are invited to our next recording .. when ever that will be .. and to listen to this one .. if it plays on Friday. I would post it .. but I can not get this to accept the feed. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! 

http://wprb.com

http://www.DoctorCosmo.com

You REALLY Will Have Met Somebody!

The family and I have gotten thru chapter 7 .. I am not as fast as Lisa. What an incredible work you have made Sharry!! Gee whiz, how did you get all this information? How many years have you been working on this? When did you first get interested in the history of our family?

 I am reading slow but enjoying every moment of your book. I am still not up to the place where YOU say it gets interesting (chapter 13, right?). I think it is interesting from word one. Now I want to go on that Chicago tour. I will also be looking up some addresses next time the band and I go up to Los Angeles. If I can find the addresses, will post pictures.

I am going to write my friend Richard today and let him know about our orange grove family history. His family had a big place in Orange County California. That is about 1.5 hours north of San Diego. He was the last generation to live on the farm as he was literally forced out by all the yuppies who moved in around the farm in their perfect little manicured pre fab housing. 

Yuppies found farm equipment in the yard distasteful and the orange trees unsightly. They all banned together to force their community rules on the family farm which had been there many generations. He sold the farm just before the market fell. Heh. He made a lot of money off those yuppies! He now lives in a mansion with his wife Judy .. a fellow beader of mom's ... in a place above Hollywood hills called Monrovia.

Cindy S and Julie

Cindy -- are you reading while on vacation?????
Have a wonderful trip.
Hugz,
AJ

Julie -- how nice to see you signed on to the blog.
We missed you at the reunion -- maybe the next one?
Hugz,
AJ

More Photos

Older images - you know from the 70s-90s!

1970s that is!!! :-)

Click Here

Here's a favorite from the bunch - The 3 brothers at Lisa and Jim's Wedding!

Author, Author!!!

Kudos to Sharry for the fantastic book -
Just a treasure!!!

Thanks for all the love you put into this book. It sure shows!
Looking forward to more installments ---

Amers

So, What's The Reunion Date For Next Year?

Sure was a fantastic time, from Uncle Don's arrival last Wednesday, to all the wistful departures taking place today!!! Thanks again to Lisa and her "Event Staff" for their hospitality. It was great to see so many of us gathered together for a happy occasion, and for a contigency of us (which had at least one representative for each of "Web & Till's" five children, I realized later) to tour 614 Lavoie. If any of you are interested in buying it as a group, I hereby pledge whatever might be in the couch cushions at the moment ... but not a penny more, sad to say! To quote a movie line, "It's not so much a fixer-upper as a blower-upper." But it was still wonderful to see it together and have the personal memories of Aunt Jackie, Uncle Don, my mom, Jim and Bob to go along with it. Morris BBQ & Go-4-Hole were welcome blasts from the past, but I think maybe my favorite thing about Saturday was seeing "the guys" playing Liar's Poker again, at long last! And to see that a new generation -- Jacob and Brad -- of newly initiated Liars will be able to carry on the tradition. "Teach your children well," indeed. And perhaps this would be a good place to mention that Aunt Jackie cleaned up at Sunday's Liar's Poker game ... hmmm, maybe her first lie was, "Gosh, I've never played this game before ..."??? Thanks to all who made it happen!

REUNION ~ 7-19-08 and 7-20-08

What a fantastic weekend.

Please click

HERE for some of the photos.  There are over 200 photos, so be sure to click to the next page.

Then, on Sunday, 7-20-08, Lisa arranged for us to go thru the old Blazier house at 614 Lavoie.  Click HERE to see photos of the house as it is today.

What a wonderful weekend -- family, food and memories -- both old and new -- thanks to all who were a part of it -- and a special thank you to Lisa for coordinating the event when Joe became ill and I was unable to.  

ALMOST HERE -----

Sure looking forward to tomorrow and seeing everyone.

Thanks again to Lisa for taking over -- you are a dear.

See you all in a few hours     :-)

Idea for Saturday!

Bring you favorite cousin photos - It would be cool to see everyones picks!

Looking forward to the party!

Amy, Jeff, Drew. Colin, Edward, and Geoffrey
www.amyboylephotography.com

A quick addendum to Lisa's notice about the Family Reunion --

Please bring or send me (Bigsnowe@aol.com) any favorite recipes from your family. I would like to put together a Blazier Family Cookbook. This could include "classic" Blazier recipes or just favorites from your own individual families. If you have been meaning to write down such things for your own kids, this is an opportunity to pull it all together. Please let me know to whom the recipe should be credited, and feel free to add any anecdotes about the food or about the cook!

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks, Cindy Skelly

Blazier Family Reunion Invitation

YOU are cordially invited to attend the Blazier Family Reunion at our house. Here’s a bit of the who, what, where, when…

Who: any Blazier, married to a Blazier, inseparable friend of a Blazier, blood generations down from a Blazier, etc.

What: as in what to bring. Absolutely nothing if you are coming from far away. Jim and I have the meat, dinnerware, condiments, and chocolate milk covered. Aunt Marilyn and Sharry are handling the pop, pickles/olives and buns. Fill in from there or email me to let me know when you RSVP. We’ll need chips, baked beans maybe (Shirley’s), potato salad maybe (Aunt Helen’s), Macaroni Pea Cheese Salad maybe (Aunt June’s), frozen spiked iced tea maybe (Aunt Jackie’s). My favorite of Aunt Marilyn’s specialties (thumbprints) is out-of-season, so we won’t make her bake! Lawn chair if you have room and you’re coming by car. Recent pictures of any of your family members who can’t attend.

Where: Lisa and Jim’s, 30 N Alfred, Elgin, IL 60123 Home phone: 847-695-5197 Cell phone: 847-421-5197 You can Google or Mapquest, but for those of you who remember Elgin well enough or still live here, Alfred is just 5 blocks east of McLean Blvd, and we are in the Alfred block between Larkin Ave. and Chicago St. Look for the ivy covered brick house (just like Wrigley Field!), maroon on top with light brown trim.

When: Saturday, July 19, beginning 1:00 pm. Can continue until all hours. Sunday, July 20, we have set the day aside for you; can eat leftovers or order out. Would love all the family musicians to sing/accompany me at church on Sunday morning at 8:30; let me know if you’re interested. I’ll come up with something for you to practice in advance!

Agenda: There will be plenty of Go-4-Hole playing, music to be played, food to be eaten (you thought Morris BBQ was gone, but we have a friend who thinks he has the secret recipe!), and some other family surprises in store.

Can’t wait to see you! Remember to R.S.V.P. by email or phone.

Jim and Lisa
ebys3@wowway.com

24 Days and Counting

July 19 will be here soon --- 

Watch for a special notice from Lisa in about a week.

Hope everyone is planning on attending ---

Love to all,

Jackie

Happy Birthday, Uncle Don!

Didn't want to let today go by without noting that it is Uncle Don's birthday. Here is one of my favorite pics of him -- kind of makes me think of Tom Sawyer! It was taken March 22, 1936. I'm guessing it's on Lavoie, but I don't know for sure. Happy Birthday, Uncle Don, hope to see you soon!

90 Years Ago This Month - May 1918

This picture has long been one of my favorites. It's great-aunt Lenore Blazier (shortly before she married Ray Maynard) and Grandma Tillie Bohn Blazier, posing on the Ribstone silo at the Route 72 Munsch-Blazier farm in Hampshire, in May of 1918. At the time, Aunt Helen was just a baby. Grandpa Webster was "Over There" in WWI, so Grandma and Aunt Helen made the rounds between Blazier and Bohn relatives while they awaited his return. Grandma and Lenore got to be pretty good chums in those days, as this shot shows! About "Ribstone" silos ... around here, I guess we have seen so many of them, we assume they are standard American farm structures, but it turns out they are fairly confined to this midwestern region, manufactured by just one company. They were made of concrete, and thus have survived pretty well over the years -- longer and better than their wooden counterparts. George A. Blazier installed this one in 1915, and it stood until the farm was razed in 2006. And it probably would have still stood for longer than whatever prefab townhouse crap that will likely replace it ...

Graduation Day, Sunday, May 11, 2008

The best Mother's Day ever! Though the weatherman called for "miserable" weather on Sunday, and the number of guests we could take was in question, we anticipated the weekend with butterflies and excitement. The weather was miserable, but there was plenty of room for all of us to see Web's graduation from Carroll College.

Barb, Jim and John Eby and Meg, Cin and Bob and Cuz were able to witness Web addressing the crowd of thousands (the gym was packed!) as the 2008 Class Speaker (a major award!). We don't have a videocam, and I think there will probably be a DVD later. The few minute clip from my camera is 159 MB, and this site supports only 100 MB clips. AJ, if you know how to break into two pieces, let me know! He did a great job- we couldn't have been more proud.

Bob Skelly so very kindly and patiently took pictures at my every "Ooh, Bob, you gotta get this one!" as Web's buddies crossed the stage. Between raindrops, a bunch more pics were taken outside. I'll get them later from Bob, or perhaps Cin will post some from her end.

Posted here is a picture of Web, Cuz and Web's roommies/good friends, Nate and Gabe. This was taken at dinner after the ceremony. We all stuffed ourselves, then Gramp and Gramp and John headed on a very long trek back to Champaign and Springfield, Cin and Bob back to Park Forest, and Meg, Cuz, Jim and I back to Elgin to disburse.

We are extremely proud of Web's accomplishments and wanted to share them with you. He will be home for just a week, then head for Willow River, MN, where he'll be the Assistant Director at Camp Heartland, a camp for children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Turn up your radio!

Took our Tiger Cub Scouts to tour WXRT today. Terri Hemmert was a great hostess and took the boys all over the studio. Then she recorded them making a special Mother's Day wish and their rendition of Yellow Submarine. You can catch it live on www.wxrt.com this Sunday morning in the 9 AM hour. They stream worldwide, so you can listen online. Enjoy!
Amers

Just for laughs!

It must be that laughter runs in this family tree - See Colin (age 10) do his 2nd annual talent show.

Get out your Kleenex Box.....

Bob sent me a clip this morning and wondered if we could get it into the family blog.  Took me a while and I am sure there is an easier way --- but here you go --- 

And Bob, thanks a million -- was it Bob Hope that sang  "Thanks for the memories"?  From all of us to you, Bob, thanks for the memories.

(Click on the top bar and it will play twice)

Note from Bob ---

"Jackie,  Is there a way to attach this MP3 on the Blazier Blog??  This is the only tune my Mom could play without sheet music.   Enjoy,  Bob"

Happy Mother's Day a week early..............

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

Photo taken in 1935  -- that means that Mom was probably "with child" in this photo --  that child being #5 -- me!!!!  Think she is holding a bouquet so must have been Mother's Day.

Shine On, Harvest Moon

This is the cover I remember so well on "Shine on, Harvest Moon".

Do you have this sheet music, Sharry -- was probably in with Aunt Helen's stuff.

Jackie's Doll ~~~ WWII

This is the doll that is referred to in the last post by Sharry.  The doll was a gift to me from Webby and Shirley -- don't recall if it was Christmas or birthday -- but think it was Christmas. The outfit the doll is wearing is a WAC uniform (including cap) that Mom made for me for Christmas -- I do remember that it was made from one of Dad's old kaki work shirts.

I'd Get A Kick Out Of Your WWII Stories (snork, snork!)

This picture must have been taken sometime between September 1944 and April 1945, since my dad is still in uniform. He must have been home on a leave from the Indiana hospital he was in following his return. That's Aunt June, Grandma Tillie and Aunt Jackie with him -- and Aunt Shirley's foot kicking toward them! (I know that because I have a couple other pics taken within seconds of this one).

But while we're at it ... for those who didn't know, I've been compiling a family history book running from as-far-back-as-I-can through World War II. It's getting pretty close to done, and I'd really like to have it ready for July. What I could use at this point is a few more details about the World War II era -- specifically, the wheres and whats of the military service of Uncles Don, Webby and Harry, and what-all the Blaziers did on the homefront during the war (war-related things like the Army Doll Grandma made for Aunt Jackie, but also just any other anecdotes of things that happened during that era).

Anything anyone would care to see included, I'd really appreciate it -- you can blog it here, or send me an e at SLBlazier2@aol.com.

Thanks!!!

"My Mom" pin doll

I sent this to both Steph and Amy -- they thought I should post it here --- so here it is.

If you look closely, you will see the face on the pin is the same as the face on the photo of Mom.

The "story" behind My Mom pin doll is -- when I was very little she used to sing me a song -- I wish I could remember the title -- but the lyrics contained the thought that when she was gone from me she would "sit on the moon" and keep her eyes on me.  Mom passed away when I was 12 and I survived those first lonely years by remembering that song and looking nightly toward the moon and 'feeling' Mom close to me again.

The moon was a favorite in other ways too -- whenever we rode in the car (it would usually be Mom and Dad and "Aunt" Clara and "Uncle" George) they would sing the whole trip.  "Shine on Harvest Moon" was and still is, a family favorite and sung very often on those "road trips".

 (The fabric is not really "moon" fabric --that is, unless you call it the "Harvest Moon" and then it is perfect  LOL). I recalled many fond memories while stitching on this little pin.

The pin is stuffed with lavender -- and somehow the aroma reminds me of Mom too.

Boat Ride on Lake Geneva

This Photo is of Jim, Bob, Uncle George, and Lisa taking a boat ride on lake Geneva. Later that day, Jim, Bob, and Uncle George took the same boat out to look for Grandpa Blazier's old fishing rod that Jim had dropped in the lake. Uncle George stood on the bow of the boat and told Jim and I not to stand up or rock the boat!! There upon Uncle George spotted the pole and stated as such. Then Jim stood up and rocked the boat. Uncle George was about to fall in when he decided it best to dive in and go to the bottom and retrieve the pole. He came up with the pole and his cigarette still in his mouth!! No, it was not lit. The dive was a thing of beauty! On a 1 t0 10 scale it was an 11. Only Uncle George could have thought fast enough to pull this task off with such grace. Boy, do I miss him. Bob

Power of wishful thinking

Please hope for good weather this weekend - walking in the rain for 6 miles no fun!



Amy

Five Blaziers

Hi all, This Photo was taken around '77 or'78 at Jim's House in South Elgin. Bob

Grandma,Grandpa, Helen, Don, Web and Jackie

This photo I spent a LOT of time cleaning up. I think it is cool as you can see the old spot light used for lighting, mom is looking all sweet (aw) and yet everyone else looks so very serious. I guess it was serious times. The suspicious absence of Uncle George makes me think he is already at war and it looks like Uncle Don is about to go.  Sharry, I defer to you! What is the story?

Grandma and Grandpa

This photo was either scanned by mom or Sharry and sent to me, and I cleaned it up a bit or it came out of my baby book and I cleaned it up a bit. If I were to guess, it came from Sherry.  I have no story to go with it, but loved it. I think it is so sweet. I hope you all enjoy!

Where is everybody?????

Head of the Blazier Table, Easter 1946

Looks like Grampa Webster was really going to chow down on Grandma's good home cooking -- note the heaping plate! The blur on the left is Bob, I think. Aunt Helen's reflection is just visible in the mirror. This was taken at 614 Lavoie on Easter Sunday, 1946.

Happy Easter, all!! (though the weather here in Illinois could sure be a little more spring-like, sheesh!)

Happy Birthday, Shirley Jean!

Happy 86th Birthday to Shirley Jean Knott Blazier! Must be high school basketball season! Of course, the Blaziers never needed a birthday or holiday to throw a party. Any day of the year would do. Some of the things I remember most are marching through the house and over beds to "Bridge Over the River Kwai" and falling asleep in piles of warm, furry coats (as a child!). Feigning sleep in the car was always good for getting carried into the house when we got home, too. Those were the days, my friend.

Three Blazier Brothers

I'll be amazed if I manage to get this online right ...

Aunt Jackie lent me a wonnnnnderful album for scanning, and I spent most of the weekend (and then some) scanning and working on the pictures. There are some truly amazing ones, thanks, Aunt Jackie!!! Just to pluck one out of the bunch that I had fun playing with, here's a shot cropped from a larger group photo of Uncle Webby, Uncle Don, and my Dad, swimming someplace in probably right about the mid-1930s. Handsome guys all, eh??

Aunt Helen and Sharry 1972 June

I was looking for another older family photo scan when I ran across this great photo. This is one of my personal favorites. Hope you all enjoy seeing it as much as I do. Aunt Helen, Aunt Marilyn and Sharry had come to California to visit mom, Amy and me. Thanks for the visit Auntie and Sharry. You are always welcome out here you know! It HAS been a long time, I think it is your turn ☺.

Adam's Daughter Petunya

Petunya was studying Raag Malkauns, sung by Kishori Amonkar. She's a big Parveen Sultana fan, too. I know Mom's parakeets could all sing The Magic Flute. Is anyone else's pet into world music?

Photo of the week #3 Web and Tillie

Isn't this the greatest?  Wish it were a bit clearer.  No date on photo, darn. I just replaced the original photo I had posted -- Steph did some work on it and it is much sharper -- thanks, Steph, appreciate it.

Names From The Past

Most  of you know once a month I get together with old friends from Garfield Grade School.  We have known each other MANY years now -- you will recognize some of the names.  From left: Nancy (Cremeens) Sherwood, Gerri (Unruh) Ganow, Barb (Loeck)Lawrence, Jackie, in front, Larry Schaffter, in pink in back Sharon Wilkerson, in navy blue in front Patsy (Green) Patrick.  Dick Peabody had left before the photo was taken.  Sometimes there are as many as 15 of us -- pretty good turn out for old foggies.  We meet at the Squire in Dundee on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

(On a sad note,  Larry passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 28, 2008 - we will miss him)

OUR TAIL WAGGING FOUR LEGGED FAMILY

There is a vicious rumor going around that Luke, Zak and I are only dirty rotten cat lovers. Well, we are not! The kittens just followed us home, really!  When we got old Halley girl in 2000 - the dog pound said she was 14 - that was September of 2001. I don't know, in this soft light she looks like she is 12 not 22 ... see what you think. This is VERY short for those w dial up.