The Weekend Roundup - 'G'

A missed week of Tom's meme The Weekend Roundup is not what I prefer. However, I am back for today's prompts, which means the seventh letter of the alphabet.

Graduate starts with 'G', and I have a few memories here. Top, dad graduated from Ohio's Bowling Green State University. As a bonus, he is with Grandma & Grandpa too!

I am a Graduate of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. Aside me is my Dad, 27 years later...

I like the rainbow that showed up for daughter Allegra's Graduation from Ansonia HS, 2006. I imagine she's had lots of Good Luck since then!

Our son Graduated from the University of Hartford in 2012. Allegra also graduated from the U of H (2010).

The George Washington Bridge is another. Known locally as the GWB, it appears to the right. I love looking at that 1931 beauty (but not necessarily being involved in its traffic :) Photo is from 2000 from the Henry Hudson Parkway.

Green is best represented (IMO) by this immaculate 1960 Plymouth Valiant. It is a lovely teal-green paint. Not pretty to be sure, but my favorite choice on the ballot at that show. It must have been the color...Have a great week all!

The Weekend Roundup - 'C'

The heat and humidity of July has made it to Southern New England, but being this day it is time for Tom's fun meme The Weekend Roundup. Here is my eclectic mix for the week.

Given the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, I offer a look at the last person to walk on the moon in 1972 - astronaut Gene Cernan in 1966. When Dad worked at then United Aircraft, they built rocket engines (note the Pratt & Whitney Eagle logo on the motor). The boy is not me in this publicity photo:) The days of pioneers made of the right stuff seem to be fading 40+ years later...

Another view from 1966 is Grandpa at the impressive Garden of the Gods outside Colorado Springs, Colorado. I visited this park a couple of decades later and the balancing rock there is amazing! 

How about Contrails? Our patio in Ansonia sits under the flight path from JFK Airport in New York City. The large number of originating flights to Europe each evening fly overhead when the winds are favorable. Given its location, this big twin (777, A330 or 787) took off from Runway 4 Left at JFK. Despite the orientation of the pic, it is actually going up, not down (yes, I am being true to my Airhead self :)

The Weekend Roundup - 'Z'

The 26th and last letter of the English language is upon us. Thus, it is a perfect time to contribute to Tom's fun meme, The Weekend Roundup. As with many other letters and subjects, I've taken a few liberties with this week's prompts...

When flapping its wings, a Bumblebee goes BUZZ. Patti found this busy bumblebee gathering pollen in shrubbery in our front yard.

Cats, by their very nature sleep a lot - so plenty of Zzzzzzs I'd say...

Zero. A liberty I've taken with Zero is this picture of Grandpa under the Zero minus 4 sign - that is, -4°F / -20°C. This is Fargo ND, 1970.

Week's Favorite. Daughter Allegra was in Prospect Park in Brooklyn NYC. She captured this nice view of the Soldiers and Sailors Arch on a beautiful evening. I guess the plane above is on its way to Runway 4 at Laguardia Airport - Allegra and I spent time looking at a map later to see. An interesting daddy and daughter activity :)

Throwback Thursday - Mr. and Mrs. Villers - 1926

Welcome to my first Throwback Thursday post. Today, we go back to Sept. 22, 1926 and the wedding of Grandma & Grandpa (aka Ralph and Agnes). The article was published on Sept. 22, 1926 in the Evening Review of East Liverpool, Ohio. I believe the photo is on that day. A 7 a.m. wedding is unusual in any era!

The Weekend Roundup - 'O'

Tom's always fun meme, The Weekend Roundup, is back with the fourth vowel featured. So the archives were searched and examples of that letter (a bit peripherally perhaps :) have been found...

Ohio begins with 'O' and the city of Steubenville is found therein. I found this folded up correspondence in a box of photos and had to scan it. Apparently this was the ticket to avoid the ticket - carry this in your wallet, present it to the officer and you are on your way. Grandpa, at age 23 showed that it paid to be friends with the Chief...(who looks like he typed it himself given the typing quality :)

More Ohio includes this 1999 entry to the city of Steubenville.

'O' stands for Onion. These beauties were found at a farmers market in neighboring Seymour, CT a few summers ago. I await locally grown produce!

Here is Open Water. This summer view was captured by the always lovely Patti on the Housatonic River in August 2017. Nice neighborhood!

 A Favorite. Patti caught this Cardinal strutting in our back yard. Have a great week all!

The Weekend Roundup 'N'

Spring may be here, but not the sunshine on this cold rainy Friday - a perfect time for Tom's fun meme, The Weekend Roundup. There are lots of ways to showcase the letter 'N', and here are my choices...

Here is New York City and this is Grandpa on Times Square. I believe this is New Year's Eve, either 1963 or 1964. Some readers probably remember the B.O.A.C. reference... 

Our furry, friendly, family feline Linus McDonald is a Nice fellow.

Back to New York City and a great picture taken by Allegra last summer of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge crossing the East River.

This is Night in NYC. I am driving and my passenger captured this view along the BQE (I-278) in Brooklyn.

A Favorite was taken by Patti this morning. It seems that these sparrows are posing for the photographer - and rather winsome at that. Have a great weekend all!

The Weekend Roundup 'G'

As Saturday arrives, the time is nigh for Tom's fun meme The Weekend Roundup. The letter 'G' allows the archives to be searched to match the theme. As the 'Great One' (I'm dating myself here :) was apt to say...And away we go!

Begins with 'G' today begins with Grandma and Grandpa Villers in this view from I believe 1958 or 1959 in their Steubenville Ohio home. Agnes and Ralph look great!

My next 'G' is Graduate. Our daughter Allegra graduates from Ansonia High School top in 2006, The University of Hartford (center) in 2010 and receiving her Masters at Sacred Heart University in 2015 (taken from the mezzanine of the arena - the big screen helped...) 

A Favorite. The always lovely Patti captured this in downtown Ansonia. The moon was in a waxing gibbous phase, 67 percent illumination. I love it. Happy weekend all!

The Weekend Roundup 'B'

Ah yes, it is Friday and again time for Tom's fun meme The Weekend Roundup. The second letter of the alphabet is perfect to transport me back to warmer days and seasons - as it is too cold for me in here the Winter (although Southern New England is not nearly as where Tom lives in the Lake Effect Snow Belt of Western NY).Here we go...

First is the Atlantic City Boardwalk through the ages - or decades! Here is, at least it looks like the late 1930s in front of the legendary Steeplechase Pier. That's my Dad, so I'm  guessing it's him at age 11, the summer of 1939.

Here is my dad in the USAAF along with his Dad (aka: Grandpa). He was in the service 1945-1847, so I think this was 1946 on the Boardwalk.

This is 1954, in the Auumn. Grandpa is carrying my big sister  Michele seven months or so (we were only a family of three then). Aunt Terry is in front. There were many visitors on the Boardwalk even out of vacation season!

This is the summer of 1965 and from 6-9 A.M. in those days (pre-casinos), you could rent Bicycles and ride them on the Boardwalk. Six of the seven Villers children are here with Dad.

Finally, this is 1978 and my last trip to the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Here is Grandma in front of the very first Casino that opened after the state of New Jersey approved gambling and before the glass and steel edifices seen today.  I miss the old days as a kid with a briny surf, soft sand and Taylor Pork Roll sandwiches - the best vacations!

Of course another example of the letter 'B' is Bridge, more specifically the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge in New York City. This the way to go to visit our son in Brooklyn. Have a great week!

The Weekend Roundup 'T'

It is Friday and thus time again for Tom's always fun meme The Weekend Roundup. And away we go...

It is less than a week before Thanksgiving, so here are some of the ingredients we use for our stuffing. No, we do not cube the bread, preferring the box mix, but the smell of sausage and onions and celery sautéing on Thanksgiving morn makes up for that!

Then there is Television. This is Grandpa in front of his (maybe new) Motorola TV in I guess 1952 or 1953. 

 Here are colorful Tea Wreaths for sale at a local craft fair. 

These are sandwiches and more served at an Afternoon Tea at the lovely Tea Roses in Cromwell, Connecticut.

 The final 'T' I'm using is Tent, this canopy at July 4 fireworks in Derby, CT a couple of years ago.

A Favorite. This sparse view is the last of the foliage over Pickett's Pond in Derby, CT. Have a great week!

The Weekend Roundup 'S'

It's yet another rainy Friday in New England, so a perfect time for Tom's fun meme The Weekend Roundup. The letter 'S' is featured this week, and I have an interesting mix...

Our neighbor to the North is Seymour CT and this is attractive Summer landscaping leading to its downtown.

And here is a pair of Seals sunning themselves at Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium. Photo taken in 1999.

A mere two miles from our home is the Sevino Vineyards in Woodbridge, CT. I had the glass of white which was a Seyval Blanc, perfect for today's post!

I couldn't forget an obvious 'S' given my heritage, that being Steubenville, OH. Here is Grandpa in 1955 by his work vehicle, a '55 Plymouth

A Favorite. The always lovely Patti captured this blue jay on the gutter - and he seems to be posing for her. What a great capture of this winsome avian. Have a great week!