tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63486140372627912852024-03-13T21:13:22.807-07:00Global Home: MusingsThings, ideas, thoughts...Bernard Re, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16180136278042703167noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348614037262791285.post-79713047835380645132012-09-14T12:05:00.003-07:002012-09-14T12:06:39.472-07:00Summer 2012: The Forgemobile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the folks from <a href="http://www.battlehillforge.com/" target="_blank">BattleHill Forge</a> are about to go for a spin...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQHuknhyhqY/UFN_Owfnx3I/AAAAAAAAGak/2hhkrijyEtM/s400/out-for-a-drive-parked.jpg" width="400" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PAFuP7UpaXI/UFN_P38hWXI/AAAAAAAAGas/nVlq2987IbM/s1600/out-for-a-drive-road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PAFuP7UpaXI/UFN_P38hWXI/AAAAAAAAGas/nVlq2987IbM/s400/out-for-a-drive-road.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>Bernard Re, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16180136278042703167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348614037262791285.post-77002540484057176602012-07-05T21:00:00.006-07:002012-07-05T21:11:31.526-07:00July 5, 2012: Eleanor at homeEleanor is now at home with Mom and Dad. She is that fragile bundle of love and happiness that will grow stronger and more knowing each day. Making her own life and our lives fuller as she does.<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPKGL-ul-vo/T_ZfJAguFfI/AAAAAAAAGNE/Ck4I98QzWDg/s1600/IMG_6273-775423.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPKGL-ul-vo/T_ZfJAguFfI/AAAAAAAAGNE/Ck4I98QzWDg/s320/IMG_6273-775423.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897381627827698" /></a><p>Sleepy</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9MmfNLLo4mM/T_ZfJX6EuwI/AAAAAAAAGNU/ObXCweK1OHQ/s1600/IMG_6274-776968.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9MmfNLLo4mM/T_ZfJX6EuwI/AAAAAAAAGNU/ObXCweK1OHQ/s320/IMG_6274-776968.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897387908184834" /></a><p>Tiny feet</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lK3LZ-tM7i4/T_ZfJxDylTI/AAAAAAAAGNc/CXZB3fZr_wE/s1600/IMG_6275-779212.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lK3LZ-tM7i4/T_ZfJxDylTI/AAAAAAAAGNc/CXZB3fZr_wE/s320/IMG_6275-779212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897394659824946" /></a><p>Resting</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TSKwImgeWz8/T_ZfKBg5rvI/AAAAAAAAGNo/E8VhYItk0us/s1600/IMG_6276-780485.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TSKwImgeWz8/T_ZfKBg5rvI/AAAAAAAAGNo/E8VhYItk0us/s320/IMG_6276-780485.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897399076892402" /></a><p>She awakes</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TyWJs_F57Fo/T_ZfKaKZndI/AAAAAAAAGN0/ght-Ez2lqtw/s1600/IMG_6280-781577.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TyWJs_F57Fo/T_ZfKaKZndI/AAAAAAAAGN0/ght-Ez2lqtw/s320/IMG_6280-781577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897405693402578" /></a><p>Gripping Poppop's finger</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6mpfNTKP50/T_ZfLMK5FNI/AAAAAAAAGOA/F0HKTVKuhag/s1600/IMG_6281-784720.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x6mpfNTKP50/T_ZfLMK5FNI/AAAAAAAAGOA/F0HKTVKuhag/s320/IMG_6281-784720.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897419117237458" /></a><p>Back asleep</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aY4U5uqYodU/T_ZfLiTLtSI/AAAAAAAAGOM/xjYVMvBG17A/s1600/IMG_6285-785742.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aY4U5uqYodU/T_ZfLiTLtSI/AAAAAAAAGOM/xjYVMvBG17A/s320/IMG_6285-785742.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897425057592610" /></a><p>Toasting Eleanor (and Joey behind the camera)</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x3RyuE4fIL4/T_ZfL6GkzeI/AAAAAAAAGOU/84nz-bMXc2g/s1600/IMG_6286-787289.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x3RyuE4fIL4/T_ZfL6GkzeI/AAAAAAAAGOU/84nz-bMXc2g/s320/IMG_6286-787289.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897431447162338" /></a><p>Cute outfit and it fits</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NtrxSHQR_YU/T_ZfME8l_kI/AAAAAAAAGOk/CPpoqdbRLKk/s1600/IMG_6288-788668.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NtrxSHQR_YU/T_ZfME8l_kI/AAAAAAAAGOk/CPpoqdbRLKk/s320/IMG_6288-788668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897434358087234" /></a><p>Baby book designers at work</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvoWBZJqCGQ/T_ZfM_zdjLI/AAAAAAAAGOs/sW-JKDb95PE/s1600/IMG_6289-791499.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvoWBZJqCGQ/T_ZfM_zdjLI/AAAAAAAAGOs/sW-JKDb95PE/s320/IMG_6289-791499.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761897450157477042" /></a><p>And play (what's wrong with this picture)</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-icoOwYtHUuA/T_ZgdTP5jQI/AAAAAAAAGO8/35aSdKXYJuA/s1600/IMG_6290-713003.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-icoOwYtHUuA/T_ZgdTP5jQI/AAAAAAAAGO8/35aSdKXYJuA/s320/IMG_6290-713003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761898829766561026" /></a><p>With Cohen</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xXDqy0V7jHg/T_Zgdp_x-EI/AAAAAAAAGPE/bcnemc9ClmE/s1600/IMG_6291-713959.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xXDqy0V7jHg/T_Zgdp_x-EI/AAAAAAAAGPE/bcnemc9ClmE/s320/IMG_6291-713959.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761898835872970818" /></a><p>Eleanor finds her thumb for the first time</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fswKngveslU/T_ZgdobzUmI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/pAwc8LxoK_8/s1600/IMG_6293-714713.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fswKngveslU/T_ZgdobzUmI/AAAAAAAAGPQ/pAwc8LxoK_8/s320/IMG_6293-714713.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761898835453629026" /></a><p>The Poppop and the Dad</p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-epNt8uKR2RM/T_Zgd1q3J6I/AAAAAAAAGPc/Z52aQ-mouAY/s1600/IMG_6294-715764.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-epNt8uKR2RM/T_Zgd1q3J6I/AAAAAAAAGPc/Z52aQ-mouAY/s320/IMG_6294-715764.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761898839006455714" /></a><p>I get to take this home</p>Bernard Re, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16180136278042703167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348614037262791285.post-70440417589330880722012-07-05T20:19:00.000-07:002012-07-05T20:19:29.650-07:00July 4, 2012: Abby on the beachA perfect day on East Beach, Rhode Island.<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-976V4AGJ_Zw/T_W5Frd6k_I/AAAAAAAAGIc/DhwGjC7b5S0/s1600/IMG_6232-765861.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-976V4AGJ_Zw/T_W5Frd6k_I/AAAAAAAAGIc/DhwGjC7b5S0/s320/IMG_6232-765861.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761714805509100530" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NCh9W6B4JjM/T_W5GCTMQHI/AAAAAAAAGIo/rCFfgSVdlrQ/s1600/IMG_6236-768768.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NCh9W6B4JjM/T_W5GCTMQHI/AAAAAAAAGIo/rCFfgSVdlrQ/s320/IMG_6236-768768.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761714811638136946" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHSqY2xDbrM/T_W5GnaqIMI/AAAAAAAAGI0/oni6UZ8H4K4/s1600/IMG_6237-770021.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHSqY2xDbrM/T_W5GnaqIMI/AAAAAAAAGI0/oni6UZ8H4K4/s320/IMG_6237-770021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761714821601566914" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v8QOAtdnu0I/T_W5Gy7pzYI/AAAAAAAAGJA/rQ1nS-dMWtA/s1600/IMG_6238-771453.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v8QOAtdnu0I/T_W5Gy7pzYI/AAAAAAAAGJA/rQ1nS-dMWtA/s320/IMG_6238-771453.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761714824692747650" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNcZBYps7Ow/T_W5HBh60OI/AAAAAAAAGJM/kdQ7YQIG3bI/s1600/IMG_6239-772755.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNcZBYps7Ow/T_W5HBh60OI/AAAAAAAAGJM/kdQ7YQIG3bI/s320/IMG_6239-772755.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761714828611342562" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYilX6kTSqg/T_W5IIjYIQI/AAAAAAAAGJY/mlcoF6MDR_M/s1600/IMG_6240-776040.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYilX6kTSqg/T_W5IIjYIQI/AAAAAAAAGJY/mlcoF6MDR_M/s320/IMG_6240-776040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761714847676375298" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVScvjRsDo4/T_W5IsUgX9I/AAAAAAAAGJk/KwfuQzumHYw/s1600/IMG_6241-777883.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVScvjRsDo4/T_W5IsUgX9I/AAAAAAAAGJk/KwfuQzumHYw/s320/IMG_6241-777883.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761714857277677522" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wK4QHq8V4M/T_W6Je8J6lI/AAAAAAAAGJw/rt1Ar0R5d9o/s1600/IMG_6242-737583.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wK4QHq8V4M/T_W6Je8J6lI/AAAAAAAAGJw/rt1Ar0R5d9o/s320/IMG_6242-737583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761715970377378386" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2fwfQE_GjcY/T_W6Jgj60FI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/uQUXmVcRROk/s1600/IMG_6244-738451.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2fwfQE_GjcY/T_W6Jgj60FI/AAAAAAAAGJ8/uQUXmVcRROk/s320/IMG_6244-738451.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761715970812596306" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IlMJp6eZuNU/T_W6J0Vxt0I/AAAAAAAAGKI/BHIDukIaYXs/s1600/IMG_6245-739904.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IlMJp6eZuNU/T_W6J0Vxt0I/AAAAAAAAGKI/BHIDukIaYXs/s320/IMG_6245-739904.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761715976121988930" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSMJIwFOTR4/T_W6Kaxoz9I/AAAAAAAAGKU/XYSAs-1U8AE/s1600/IMG_6248-741203.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSMJIwFOTR4/T_W6Kaxoz9I/AAAAAAAAGKU/XYSAs-1U8AE/s320/IMG_6248-741203.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761715986439393234" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vq31qooz1Gk/T_W6Ks6NdAI/AAAAAAAAGKg/FQYmTZ8YBsc/s1600/IMG_6250-742760.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vq31qooz1Gk/T_W6Ks6NdAI/AAAAAAAAGKg/FQYmTZ8YBsc/s320/IMG_6250-742760.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761715991307187202" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ycxl4txKtEw/T_W6LFoGVYI/AAAAAAAAGKs/Z5KqQX-X3tE/s1600/IMG_6251-744344.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ycxl4txKtEw/T_W6LFoGVYI/AAAAAAAAGKs/Z5KqQX-X3tE/s320/IMG_6251-744344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761715997942109570" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n3_dlzUcb60/T_W6LiAKUSI/AAAAAAAAGK4/0Yl0MeFkas0/s1600/IMG_6252-746110.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n3_dlzUcb60/T_W6LiAKUSI/AAAAAAAAGK4/0Yl0MeFkas0/s320/IMG_6252-746110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761716005559226658" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9s7NtFJiU98/T_W7UueeS2I/AAAAAAAAGLE/x7_uvgzbJnM/s1600/IMG_6253-738279.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9s7NtFJiU98/T_W7UueeS2I/AAAAAAAAGLE/x7_uvgzbJnM/s320/IMG_6253-738279.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761717263038040930" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kpm4Zu4bY1w/T_W7U_DzxqI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/ORL3e2AOWmw/s1600/IMG_6257-739704.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kpm4Zu4bY1w/T_W7U_DzxqI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/ORL3e2AOWmw/s320/IMG_6257-739704.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761717267489605282" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5OzhSVhe94/T_W7VWOgjLI/AAAAAAAAGLc/9H9wovZ14FE/s1600/IMG_6258-741269.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5OzhSVhe94/T_W7VWOgjLI/AAAAAAAAGLc/9H9wovZ14FE/s320/IMG_6258-741269.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761717273708498098" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pn1_B72ozo/T_W7Vt8a6MI/AAAAAAAAGLo/fVXdTKMTbzQ/s1600/IMG_6259-742130.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pn1_B72ozo/T_W7Vt8a6MI/AAAAAAAAGLo/fVXdTKMTbzQ/s320/IMG_6259-742130.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761717280075081922" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ncHzIjrH6Tc/T_W7V14gr1I/AAAAAAAAGL0/OpF1z6wyc7s/s1600/IMG_6260-743222.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ncHzIjrH6Tc/T_W7V14gr1I/AAAAAAAAGL0/OpF1z6wyc7s/s320/IMG_6260-743222.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761717282206166866" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uoDprEQh-iM/T_W7WA5lI6I/AAAAAAAAGMA/7iauidd1qaA/s1600/IMG_6261-744723.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uoDprEQh-iM/T_W7WA5lI6I/AAAAAAAAGMA/7iauidd1qaA/s320/IMG_6261-744723.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761717285163443106" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKpFRwzs4EE/T_ZYJvXvqEI/AAAAAAAAGMc/7sKgdaKWJTk/s1600/IMG_6263-786146.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKpFRwzs4EE/T_ZYJvXvqEI/AAAAAAAAGMc/7sKgdaKWJTk/s320/IMG_6263-786146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761889697625253954" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl63z8v0taE/T_ZYJ_drHOI/AAAAAAAAGMo/h4PBsIFvrlw/s1600/IMG_6268-787323.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl63z8v0taE/T_ZYJ_drHOI/AAAAAAAAGMo/h4PBsIFvrlw/s320/IMG_6268-787323.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761889701945089250" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QHVcj9doaT8/T_ZYKVPJqyI/AAAAAAAAGM0/bMIMR9JVtBg/s1600/IMG_6270-789059.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QHVcj9doaT8/T_ZYKVPJqyI/AAAAAAAAGM0/bMIMR9JVtBg/s320/IMG_6270-789059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761889707789757218" /></a></p>Bernard Re, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16180136278042703167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348614037262791285.post-44256343877664722172012-07-05T07:58:00.006-07:002012-07-05T20:10:36.086-07:00July 3, 2012: Eleanor Rose ReLife is so beautiful. Welcome to this world Eleanor. May your life and time here be beautiful, happy, fulfilling, meaningful and fun. <br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVbXjIyVPXU/T_ZWgnAvH7I/AAAAAAAAGMQ/sUh6E9oFPZw/s1600/IMG_6230-766044.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVbXjIyVPXU/T_ZWgnAvH7I/AAAAAAAAGMQ/sUh6E9oFPZw/s320/IMG_6230-766044.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761887891495002034" /></a></p>Eleanor Rose Re born July 2, 2012<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KmViPsc6gCk/T_WY8dPNOHI/AAAAAAAAGG8/XaDGx3-0Byg/s1600/IMG_6220-737614.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KmViPsc6gCk/T_WY8dPNOHI/AAAAAAAAGG8/XaDGx3-0Byg/s320/IMG_6220-737614.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761679462698399858" /></a></p>Poppop and Eleanor<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tf-s9__KhkM/T_WY8u3JcXI/AAAAAAAAGHI/nQ0VkLdYUBw/s1600/IMG_6222-738626.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tf-s9__KhkM/T_WY8u3JcXI/AAAAAAAAGHI/nQ0VkLdYUBw/s320/IMG_6222-738626.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761679467429327218" /></a></p>Happy and tired parents<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ5x1UUWWwg/T_WY9Flb_8I/AAAAAAAAGHU/6eRSQm4seEY/s1600/IMG_6225-740202.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TJ5x1UUWWwg/T_WY9Flb_8I/AAAAAAAAGHU/6eRSQm4seEY/s320/IMG_6225-740202.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761679473529061314" /></a></p>So sweet<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zwg2UWshNZU/T_WY9T37BPI/AAAAAAAAGHg/dMC4OIMXJW4/s1600/IMG_6227-741793.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zwg2UWshNZU/T_WY9T37BPI/AAAAAAAAGHg/dMC4OIMXJW4/s320/IMG_6227-741793.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761679477364688114" /></a></p>She likes her puppy<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aWCSghCewjI/T_WY9zbl4DI/AAAAAAAAGHs/zwrgr34O4yI/s1600/IMG_6229-743031.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aWCSghCewjI/T_WY9zbl4DI/AAAAAAAAGHs/zwrgr34O4yI/s320/IMG_6229-743031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761679485835796530" /></a></p>Beautiful<br />
<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wn-pcJu2pYo/T_WY-C6O4II/AAAAAAAAGH4/MkvcBgORpLc/s1600/IMG_6231-744653.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wn-pcJu2pYo/T_WY-C6O4II/AAAAAAAAGH4/MkvcBgORpLc/s320/IMG_6231-744653.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5761679489990844546" /></a></p>Dad and his baby girl.Bernard Re, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16180136278042703167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348614037262791285.post-45273671702054091282011-05-05T09:47:00.000-07:002011-05-05T15:11:47.204-07:00Musings: April 2011: Part I: Clearing out my mental and physical spaces or 'Time and space and IKEA'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Bernie: April 22, 2011<br />
<br />
Going through life changes always seems to first set me off on another kind of journey.<br />
<br />
Recently the the catalyst (this time around) for that journey was being laid off from my position as Online Sales Manager at a newspaper (this journey has certainly pointed me in the a new direction as for my next career decision too, but more on that maybe later).<br />
<br />
I don't know how you deal with life changing events such as these but the way that I deal with them is to do some physical space restructuring.<br />
<br />
The beginning of that process is of course to review the things in the physical space, like what to keep and what to discard (of course this effects the place I am in inside my head as well).<br />
<br />
In beginning this journey I started with the office area and threw out all the old job stuff and freed up the record player. I find when I'm about to start down the three lane (physical, mental, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metadata">metadata</a>) highway of clearing out, for me, having music playing is a must, and what better music than old vinyl records played on a basic of basic record players. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hai1rEx2p8s/TcLED36BcpI/AAAAAAAAAZM/zUusOAAGfxc/s1600/aka-yard-bees%2B019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hai1rEx2p8s/TcLED36BcpI/AAAAAAAAAZM/zUusOAAGfxc/s320/aka-yard-bees%2B019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once I freed it from that stack of files in the right corner there in the photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And what better album to start with than, Neil Young's, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Fades_Away">TIME FADES Away</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Yes, I am coming to how this all relates to our journey to <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/%20">IKEA</a>, because when one clears out one also decides what to save and what will go and how that which is saved fits into that new space (both the physical and the mental) and how it is arranged so you will be ready for that new adventure.<br />
<br />
But first I needed to move out some of the components from the old life to make room for what could be coming. Fresh space goes with fresh opportunities. So I tackled the storage under the east and west eaves, the baskets (and anything else that was on the floor or in bins that had not been touched for years).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYiYKbGeGi0/TcLF2uvq_pI/AAAAAAAAAZY/AWjTE3cwOXg/s1600/aka-yard-bees+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aYiYKbGeGi0/TcLF2uvq_pI/AAAAAAAAAZY/AWjTE3cwOXg/s320/aka-yard-bees+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Things worth saving started piling up in my studio.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>To Neil Young's Time Fades Away I pushed into the bins that hold a bazaar mix of stuff and the wicker baskets that hold my old book collection.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wceo0LChEIc/TcLaI9QG-6I/AAAAAAAAAZw/_kEo2BD1Vqk/s1600/IKEA+others+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wceo0LChEIc/TcLaI9QG-6I/AAAAAAAAAZw/_kEo2BD1Vqk/s320/IKEA+others+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My vinyl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sing along people...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>All day presidents</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>look out windows</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>All night sentries</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>watch the moonglow</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>All are waiting till</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the time is right</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Son, don't be home too late</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Try to get back by eight</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Son, don't wait</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>till the break of day</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'Cause you know</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>how time fades away.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Time fades away</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/neilyoung/timefadesaway.html">You know how time fades away.</a></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Bins full of t-shirts collected at <a href="http://www.naa.org/">Newspaper Association of America</a> conferences and on other business travels.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F8aGGt2UUZw/TcLao1VGtvI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/KTri_EuWp7Q/s1600/IKEA+others+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F8aGGt2UUZw/TcLao1VGtvI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/KTri_EuWp7Q/s320/IKEA+others+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYA1hEKgsWo/TcLaqZ_K7vI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/42XIhOwmLZE/s1600/IKEA+others+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYA1hEKgsWo/TcLaqZ_K7vI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/42XIhOwmLZE/s320/IKEA+others+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5qkaHZqAa8/TcLar7jfNwI/AAAAAAAAAaE/JavMaVzUuWc/s1600/IKEA+others+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5qkaHZqAa8/TcLar7jfNwI/AAAAAAAAAaE/JavMaVzUuWc/s320/IKEA+others+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkoK9l2jVuo/TcLatig32vI/AAAAAAAAAaM/OyQLPzTEf7M/s1600/IKEA+others+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HkoK9l2jVuo/TcLatig32vI/AAAAAAAAAaM/OyQLPzTEf7M/s320/IKEA+others+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div></div><br />
Among my wicker baskets filled with books I found, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_Van_Winkle">Rip Van Winkle</a> (1921 edition by <a href="http://www.hudsonvalley.org/education/Background/abt_irving/abt_irving.html">Washington Irving</a> and <a href="http://goldenagecomicbookstories.blogspot.com/2011/05/n.html">illustrated by N. C. Wyeth</a>, a 1933 edition of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pilgrim%27s_Progress">The Pilgrim's Progress</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bunyan">John Bunyan</a>, that was my mothers' but somehow I have never read yet, and my old The Artist's Handbook of Materials & Techniques (that I have used from time to time) from college.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoIXwsz1D7A/TcLbWtJ9j6I/AAAAAAAAAaY/g2uu9CKWXVI/s1600/IKEA+others+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoIXwsz1D7A/TcLbWtJ9j6I/AAAAAAAAAaY/g2uu9CKWXVI/s320/IKEA+others+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my antique books...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__Iv0jSGF3k/TcLbVIwSasI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/F5-S1_gFq68/s1600/IKEA+others+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__Iv0jSGF3k/TcLbVIwSasI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/F5-S1_gFq68/s320/IKEA+others+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and an old friend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The most interesting find though was (or should I say rediscovery was, because years ago I myself put these books into this basket) was a album from 1859 owned by a woman living in Danbury, Connecticut (where I grew up).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-objXJpWu24Q/TcLbV_bU7hI/AAAAAAAAAaU/Ahqh0OktjNU/s1600/IKEA+others+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-objXJpWu24Q/TcLbV_bU7hI/AAAAAAAAAaU/Ahqh0OktjNU/s320/IKEA+others+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Album cover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Her name was Eliza J. Hill. It appears that in the album was something she brought along on her travels and asked the people she knew or visited to write something in.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Friend,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>May'st thou live in joy forever</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nought from thee time pleasures sever;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From thy heart arise no sigh</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And no tear burden thy eyes;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Joys be many; cares be few</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Smooth thy path thou shalt pursue;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And heaven's richest blessing shine</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ever on thee and thine</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Be thy path with roses strown </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>All thy hours to care unknown</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sorrows cloud thy path may never</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Happiness be thine forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Martha</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Milford, May 25, 1859</i></div><br />
The album contains sections separated by engraved illustrations with titles like <i>The Miniature</i>, <i>Happy Moments</i> and scenes like one of Saratoga Lake.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZmQcEpNqJI/TcLKb37c7wI/AAAAAAAAAZs/rBfDQcitSXY/s1600/aka-yard-bees+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZmQcEpNqJI/TcLKb37c7wI/AAAAAAAAAZs/rBfDQcitSXY/s320/aka-yard-bees+023.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Pinned to a page page were stems of grass with this inscription, "Grass picked from the grave of Abraham Lincoln".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EA_a3h0sjg8/TcLKbQc1lII/AAAAAAAAAZo/rXGvHPVwFvw/s1600/aka-yard-bees+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EA_a3h0sjg8/TcLKbQc1lII/AAAAAAAAAZo/rXGvHPVwFvw/s320/aka-yard-bees+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The album is embellished with hand made drawing and borders. These words by Eliza and the people she let share this album have come on a journey of their own into this basket to this house in Canaan, Connecticut.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><pre>135. Eliza J. Hill,' daughter of Alza* and Mary (Ferris) Hill,
married November 7, 188 1, George H. Speedlmg. of Nelsonville,
Putnam County, N. Y. Issue, Mary E., born December 30, 1883 ;
Oliver H., born January r8, 1889. Reside at Nelsonville, N. Y. </pre><pre>From: <a href="http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogyofhilld00incouc/genealogyofhilld00incouc_djvu.txt">Internet Archive</a> </pre></div><pre></pre><pre>I do not know who <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Eliza+J.+Hill%22+of+Danbury%2C+Connecticut&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">Eliza J. Hill of Danbury, Connecticut</a> was, but she is remembered.</pre><br />
And what of this thing, "this clearing out process" that has been repeated numerous times. Yet this book has been saved now for over 150 years. I do know how it ended up in a bin with my collection of other antique books. Maybe someday I will research Eliza <a href="http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogyofhilld00incouc/genealogyofhilld00incouc_djvu.txt">more </a>or donate it to the Scot-Fanton (now the <a href="http://www.danburymuseum.org/danburymuseum/Home.html">Danbury Museum and Historical Society</a>) in Danbury.<br />
<br />
The last entry in the book reads:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Should sorrow oer take thee,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Should friends foresake thee,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Should the world look dark and cooled to thee,</div><div style="text-align: center;">then turn thee to this book where so many names</div><div style="text-align: center;">are inscribed in friendship and think not those friends are all gone . .</div><div style="text-align: center;">that in remembering them thou art also remembered by them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">- Cahi <span style="font-size: x-small;">(it is hard to make out who this author was by the handwriting)</span></div><br />
As you see it took me a while to get through the books. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook </a>and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites">other Social Networking sites</a> will never replace books like these, because they <a href="http://www.facebook.com/"></a>have no permanence, only fleeting glimpses of the people in our lives on pages that are soon gone or buried with the next new posting. <br />
<br />
The stacks of cement patio blocks that I had been using to weight down frames when I glued them to panels was easy (I'm not doing my artwork on panels anymore, but <a href="http://globalhome.com/">using unbleached linen, mostly, gathered materials and natural pigments</a> now and then gluing them to canvas board) to decide what to do with.. They are now sitting out by the woodpile ready for <a href="http://globalhomebeekeeping.blogspot.com/">another life</a> as well. The stacks of National Geographic Magazines that I also used for weight and the first few years of Wired Magazines are proving more difficult to deal with.<br />
<br />
But the hundreds of National Geographic Magazines did finally go to a person that found us on <a href="http://freecycle.org/">FreeCycle.org</a>. (we traded emails so maybe we'll hear something about how they were eventually were used later). Getting someone who is interested in my old <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_%28magazine">Wired Magazine</a>s from the early '90's is a different story though. While Wired was the first Internet publication not centered totally around technology platforms but people, creativity, ideas and applications, all that is very old news now. This magazine marked my very early introduction to the Internet. So I really need to decide what to keep and what to let go. Of course I kept the <a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/covers1993.html">first monthly issue from 1993</a>. I also saved some issues from the next few years that I still found interesting and some that I would pass on to friends and family. The magazine really lost interest to me when it was sold and it's wonderfully crazy, creative, beautiful design sense that I loved was lost in the process. But what to do with the remaining copies? It came to me in a dream (no not really) to use them as path making material to create an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_Loop">Infinite Loop</a> pathway back in the woods. I think that is a much more fitting use for them than to spend time trying to sell them on eBay. And it fits with my current opinion of the <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=current+problems+with+the+newspaper+industry&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">things going on in the online newspaper industry</a> at present - an Infinite Loop with no transformative breakthrough in sight. <br />
<br />
Into these areas to the left and right of the couch, formally filled with wicker baskets, cement patio blocks, magazines, and other stuff I plan to fill with clothes storage units.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IKGqyQmeaPw/TcL-Yz-SlsI/AAAAAAAAAac/fBe__nuHdg8/s1600/aka-yard-bees+001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IKGqyQmeaPw/TcL-Yz-SlsI/AAAAAAAAAac/fBe__nuHdg8/s320/aka-yard-bees+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The newly opened up spaces to the right and left of the Love Seat. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>The problem is I have been looking for something to use as clothes storage furniture for Joey for years.<br />
<br />
I have been carrying the dimensions around in my wallet but had no luck in finding something that would work for her clothes and that fit into the casual style of that we find comfortable. But now it was time! There was the space...<br />
<br />
So as the physical clutter was cleared in the house and the mental clutter was clearing from my mind. There appeared that "room" both physical and mental for something new.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: red;">Continued in PART II:</b> Time and space with IKEA [<a href="http://globalhomemusings.blogspot.com/2011/05/musings-april-2011-clearing-out-my.html">READ</a>]</div>Bernard Re, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16180136278042703167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348614037262791285.post-76291639511504090942011-05-02T19:10:00.000-07:002011-05-05T16:04:40.280-07:00Musings: April 2011: Part II: Clearing out my mental and physical spaces or 'Time and space and IKEA'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Bernie: April 24, 2011<br />
Continued from PART I [<a href="http://globalhomemusings.blogspot.com/2011/05/musings-april-2011-part-i-clearing-out.html">READ</a>]<br />
<br />
On the physical side this is where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA">IKEA</a> comes in.<br />
<br />
Neither Joey or I had had the <a href="http://nicholasscalice.com/2010/11/13/the-ikea-experience/">IKEA experience</a> before (well actually I had been in the first store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but it was mass hysteria and didn't stay very long). We had heard about it but so what? A huge store full of furnishings and accessories? So what.<br />
<br />
But a few Fridays ago, I had to go down to New Haven for a consultation on a back problem I have and we decided to go to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA">IKEA </a>just down the street from the office to look for that clothes storage furniture.<br />
<br />
What a crazy, cool, amazing place!<br />
<br />
We spent a few hours and found some storage units that we could insert baskets (tied in well with baskets that were on there way-out too:) into that would give Joey more clothes storage area than two small dressers would (when we set them up two deep) and give us table top area for the plants, leaf candle platter, a ceramic sculpture that Joey created for a show we did together, and other items!<br />
<br />
We didn't buy anything that day but took our measurements...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yf8wbJAf71o/TcL_yxWi6HI/AAAAAAAAAag/VyG1-b4J6_E/s1600/aka-yard-bees+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yf8wbJAf71o/TcL_yxWi6HI/AAAAAAAAAag/VyG1-b4J6_E/s200/aka-yard-bees+026.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IKEA has these tape measures all over that you can just take and use.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
...and decided to come back on Wednesday of the next week, if it all fit, and buy some of the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/09064/">Expedit</a> units with <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00138432">baskets</a>. After dinner at <a href="http://www.pepespizzeria.com/menus.php">Frank Pepe's</a> on <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=Frank+Pepe%27s+Wooster+Street+in+New+Haven,+Connecticut&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Frank+Pepe%27s+Wooster+Street&hnear=New+Haven,+CT&cid=0,0,8727798983627064826&ll=41.305118,-72.916946&spn=0.007318,0.014913&z=16">Wooster Street in New Haven, Connecticut</a> we discussed how we thought it would all all look and were really excited about the prospects.<br />
<br />
My clearing out continued on Monday and Tuesday "making room" for the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/09064/">IKEA Expedit storage units</a> that we are planning to buy.<br />
<br />
I finally got all the National Geographic Magazines and Wired magazines moved out and stacked against the wall down by the door. Took two of my old paintings (<a href="http://www.globalhome.com/paintings/2007/molten-java-Sept07.jpg">Obama-Ophrey and Hill-Billery</a>) off the walls (I plan to hang two more of my <u><i><a href="http://www.globalhome.com/index-10-17-08.html">The palms will remain series</a> </i></u>and then create a Salon-like arrangement at a lower level on the walls of some work that Joey and I have collected or has been given to us). I also sorted out piles of Joey's CDs and got newer and older art work into bins.<br />
<br />
I was now feeling really great about that "room" for both the physical and the mental something new.<br />
<br />
Although my back was less enthusiastic about the process.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday morning we drove to New Haven in Joey's <a href="http://www.cartalk.com/content/testdrives/Reviews/honda-element-2003.html">Honda Element</a> (my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Yaris">Toyota Yaris </a>is a cool little car and great on mileage but has very little cargo capacity)and we were ready for the full <a href="http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_IE/customer_service/shop_experience.html">IKEA experience</a> now.<br />
<br />
It is a huge store, but how do you actually buy something?<br />
<br />
Well there is a shopping list brochure with all the instructions, little <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA">IKEA </a>pencils and helpful people all around to answer questions. <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20135300">We took care of getting shopping list filled out for the Expedit units that were were going to buy</a> and the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00138432">wicker baskets</a> that slide into the Expedit cubbies.<br />
<br />
Then we decided to have lunch.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1ULmG_iy_o/TcMHGaWnidI/AAAAAAAAAao/AM6gWgHDxcE/s1600/joeyikeasign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1ULmG_iy_o/TcMHGaWnidI/AAAAAAAAAao/AM6gWgHDxcE/s1600/joeyikeasign.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey at IKEA</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J8r8oYDlHe4/TcMHFitbOAI/AAAAAAAAAak/IWq5TeSxe2M/s1600/Swedishmeatballs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J8r8oYDlHe4/TcMHFitbOAI/AAAAAAAAAak/IWq5TeSxe2M/s1600/Swedishmeatballs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at IKEA.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The New Haven <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA">IKEA </a>has this large very large dining room and the different seating areas positioned around it gives you some degree privacy (although we are here on a Wednesday morning) but it is very nice. Couples and families having lunch. In the cafeteria style ordering area Joey was served <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Swedish+Meatballs&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">Swedish Meatballs</a> (she had to try them, <a href="http://www.visitsweden.com/sweden/">I said would wait until I was in Sweden</a>, but I did have a taste) with <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Swedish+Meatballs&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&sugexp=ldymls&pq=swedish%20meatballs&xhr=t&q=Swedish%20Meatballs%20cream%20sauce%20gravy&cp=35&qe=U3dlZGlzaCBNZWF0YmFsbHMgY3JlYW0gc2F1Y2UgZ3Jhdnk&qesig=UCf3U548C14xxzA7sxfhXA&pkc=AFgZ2tkw4IfbPVK-LgJeelnEbujvYx1RRHiX8szY8OejIhpcyV0T1AnFJtIp-FKRCcXWOHfAwFz9D8Wo4Fb6KVAxZW3K8YDFqQ&pf=p&sclient=psy&client=firefox-a&hs=vFn&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&source=hp&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=Swedish+Meatballs+cream+sauce+gravy&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=c9365e657b732f11">cream sauce gravy</a>, mashed potatoes and <a href="http://wn.com/lingonberry">Lingonberry Preserves</a>. I had Salmon with dill sauce, broccoli potato croquet and orange and yellow carrots. Everything was very, very delicious. (For those of you who would like the <a href="http://www.ikeafans.com/ikea/ikea-corporate/ikea-food-nutritional-information.html">nutritional information</a> here's the link.) Oh and <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Swedish+Almond+Cake&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">Swedish Almond Cake</a> for desert (more like a tort). Joey's <a href="http://dealnay.com/1038175/lingonberry-drink-concentrate-16-oz.html">Lingonberry Juice</a> which could have been more delicious with a shot of <a href="http://lostinstockholm.com/2010/E06/29/absolut-summer-on-a-hot-stockholm-day/">Absolut</a> was also pretty tasty.<br />
<br />
This huge store full of beautifully designed and proportioned furnishings and accessories was full of ideas for modern small footprint lifestyles. It ran so counter to the cold hulk of an empty dirty cement structure of an office building easily in view through the tall clean windows of the <a href="http://www.epinions.com/review/IKEA_44828140/content_193463225988">IKEA dining </a>area we were sitting in. A building whose only use now was as an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA">IKEA </a>billboard hanger. What a striking contrast to have as a view. What a fitting contrast to our overdone bloated American dream of a big home with rooms we hardly go in filled with stuff we hardly ever use. So can you tell I have become an IKEA convert?<br />
<br />
We continued to wander after lunch. Coming across beds with drawers under them, and a massive display of lighting, kitchen accessories and other innovative storage products. Thin wall units with pull out bins, whole kitchen cabinet setups, kids rooms with fun storage areas for everything from clothes to toys. Bedrooms for adults where there's a place for everything.<br />
<br />
So we got a shopping cart and started toward the Marketplace to get the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00138432">baskets </a>we would use in the cubbies. WARNING do not try to maneuver one of these carts if you actually (through some stroke of luck, or planning) did mix the Lingonberry Juice with Absolute! Because ALL the wheels on these <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Eliza+J.+Hill+Danbury+ct&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#q=ikea+shopping+carts&fp=1&hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&cad=b">IKEA shopping carts</a> move. It's like you are on ice. What a trip (ok, I was on some pain meds for my back) but really whose brilliant idea was this! I think they just did it to mess with the Americans (<a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Eliza+J.+Hill+Danbury+ct&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#q=ikea+shopping+carts&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=e24313f026a8d8c9&hl=en">more IKEA shopping cart stories</a>). What cracked me up more was my favorite Joey quote that came from behind a display of kitchen accessories when I asked if we were ready to go, "I'm just trying to see if there is something we can't live without." LOL! Ok, time to go... <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DsDSxcwCL8s/TcMHKrX54WI/AAAAAAAAAas/Q854F8VfKOE/s1600/aka-yard-bees+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DsDSxcwCL8s/TcMHKrX54WI/AAAAAAAAAas/Q854F8VfKOE/s200/aka-yard-bees+002.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We couldn't leave without a bottle .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Then it was off to find the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20135300">Expedit </a>units in the warehouse ( it's sort of like that scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark of the huge warehouse where the Ark was relegated to. But only organized! It was easy to find the item, load the boxes on a trolley and head for the checkout gauntlet. Try and resist buying something there, I dare you. (we want to go back for the two person hammock we saw but first we need to decide if we have the trees to hang it between). We escaped with just one jar of <a href="http://wn.com/lingonberry">Lingonberry Preserves</a> (actually Joey went back* form wine glasses the next week).<br />
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<br />
*Should have gotten another jar of those preserves too.<br />
<br />
Back in Canaan the set up when very smoothly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IKGqyQmeaPw/TcL-Yz-SlsI/AAAAAAAAAac/fBe__nuHdg8/s1600/aka-yard-bees+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IKGqyQmeaPw/TcL-Yz-SlsI/AAAAAAAAAac/fBe__nuHdg8/s320/aka-yard-bees+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The first page of the directions was written in a dozen or more languages. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8N1tNTHclBU/TcMJZVtCvNI/AAAAAAAAAa4/kxeRc-NT2jw/s1600/aka-yard-bees+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8N1tNTHclBU/TcMJZVtCvNI/AAAAAAAAAa4/kxeRc-NT2jw/s320/aka-yard-bees+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But all it said was to follow the pictures or call if you get stuck. The actual directions were all <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=pictograms&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=3CR&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=pictograms+definition&revid=1638196500&sa=X&ei=1g_DTZv4JKPUiALg7MSjAw&ved=0CJIBENUCKAc&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=c9365e657b732f11">pictograms</a>! Not a single word! Amazing!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vPmtcgkbiNE/TcMOYx0k4hI/AAAAAAAAAbU/C3Oy82H6Nk8/s1600/aka-yard-bees+011-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vPmtcgkbiNE/TcMOYx0k4hI/AAAAAAAAAbU/C3Oy82H6Nk8/s320/aka-yard-bees+011-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here is Joey working on the assembling the first unit. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sbxa53tWUwI/TcMJbin33GI/AAAAAAAAAbI/oV7ou77O-kQ/s1600/aka-yard-bees+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sbxa53tWUwI/TcMJbin33GI/AAAAAAAAAbI/oV7ou77O-kQ/s320/aka-yard-bees+012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You do need two people.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25Nr_wRUZ60/TcMObd-1HJI/AAAAAAAAAbg/LMtqJT6FmXE/s1600/aka-yard-bees+010-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25Nr_wRUZ60/TcMObd-1HJI/AAAAAAAAAbg/LMtqJT6FmXE/s320/aka-yard-bees+010-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We followed the directions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ3ZXA4H58E/TcMJc8ddlyI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/T5v4uQJ1HgI/s1600/aka-yard-bees+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJ3ZXA4H58E/TcMJc8ddlyI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/T5v4uQJ1HgI/s320/aka-yard-bees+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the back unit with cloth baskets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The finished assembled <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20135300">Expedit </a>unit. There are two units on each side of the Love Seat. The units against the wall have <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40133545">cloth baskets</a> that slide out easily. Joey will use these for seasonal storage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOrVxt4i1rU/TcMJXxllEmI/AAAAAAAAAaw/4bYj7aKsSac/s1600/aka-yard-bees+015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOrVxt4i1rU/TcMJXxllEmI/AAAAAAAAAaw/4bYj7aKsSac/s320/aka-yard-bees+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In setting up our <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20135300">Expedit</a> units we actually we did something new by doubled up the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/09064/">Expedit units</a> (<a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=ikea+expedit&hl=en&client=safari&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=glqrTbSBGOSM0QHKxM34CA&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQsAQ&biw=981&bih=661">there is a log of ideas here</a> but I didn't see the one we created one), maybe we'll get listed!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JLRL5AFWH44/TcMOZ22ay1I/AAAAAAAAAbY/ndKeQug8uDE/s1600/aka-yard-bees+016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JLRL5AFWH44/TcMOZ22ay1I/AAAAAAAAAbY/ndKeQug8uDE/s320/aka-yard-bees+016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The right side (Joey's side) with the Leaf Platter that we use for candles and Joey's sculpture and a ceramic drum she made (oh, don't be scared if you are ever sleeping on the Love Seat and the drum sounds. The sun through the windows stretches the leather drum head and bindings, cool... after you figure out what it is...)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wqgo6XwFPxg/TcMOaw3_yqI/AAAAAAAAAbc/2W25AEuyp0o/s1600/aka-yard-bees+017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wqgo6XwFPxg/TcMOaw3_yqI/AAAAAAAAAbc/2W25AEuyp0o/s320/aka-yard-bees+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The left side (my side, of course) with the snake platter, my basket of "learn to speak" book (that I never learn to) and the Solstice Cactus (that is still blooming) and a cool container that looks like a pouch that Joey made me out of clay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Joey says, "The Swedes are going to conquer the world", I'm not sure about that, but they sure are going to show us all how to organize the stuff we have in it. <br />
<br />
<br />
So now that one side of the upstairs is cleared and organized it's time to start on the studio side and the northeast eave closet... my mind is opening up to the possibilities...<br />
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<br />
</div>Bernard Re, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16180136278042703167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348614037262791285.post-43465510020190013142011-04-27T08:27:00.001-07:002011-04-27T08:30:39.515-07:00Musings: February 2011Bernie: February 19, 2011<br />
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I was thinking about what my perception of life would be without something that I came across completely by accident? A great part of our lives are made up of and influenced by where we live, family, ethinic and our socio-economic situation. Then as we begin to have an effect on those components we change things consciously. We move, meet other people outside our family group and navigate the social and economic arenas. We fall in love, start our own families and so forth. But what about the accidents. Meeting a stranger that changes your life. Yes, events that usher in a life change. But what about the small accidents? Like hearing a song that resonates with you? That then becomes part of you. I was thinking about this listening to that song a few days ago and thought, "What kind of different person would I be if I never had heard that song?" One song. But what about all those other "single" accidental events that occur every day in our lives? What would it matter if that "single" small accident did not occur? What if this string of "single" small accidents did not occur? And what am I missing when I fail to be open to, or take the time, or miss recognizing the unending progression of these "single" very, very small accidents as one of the most beautiful wonders of life?<br />
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Lyrics to: <a href="http://www.lyricsmania.com/i_havent_seen_this_day_before_lyrics_innocence_mission_the.html">I Haven't Seen This Day Before :</a> by <a href="http://www.theinnocencemission.com/">The Innocence Mission</a>Bernard Re, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16180136278042703167noreply@blogger.com0