Vintage: 1947 June wedding of Janice Swiatoviak & Gerald L'Abbe

A vintage photo grouping of my parents' wedding in June of 1947 in Denver, CO. (click on photo for larger). I was experimenting with papers and may in the future change this layout. For now, I offer it for the family history it gives. This was early color photo film and was quite yellowed. I performed some digital photo restoration which put some life back into the color. I loved the colors my mother chose for her wedding and her bouquet was a work of art, which I present in a side vignette. The photo was taken in the back yard of the bride's parents' home on Bryant Street, in Denver. Flanking the bride (Janice) are her parents Pearl Newhouse Swiatoviak, and Harold (Harley) Swiatoviak. Standing by the groom (Gerry) is his sister and Matron of Honor, Mrs Rowena L'Abbe Plum of Lynn, Massachusetts. Seated in front of Judith is Bridesmaid Roberta (Bobbie) Newhouse, cousin of the bride. Also seated is Bridesmaid, Beth Swiatoviak, sister of the bride. Janice and Gerry were married in the pastor's office of Saint Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church on North Federal in Denver. (Because the bride was yet studying to become a Catholic, the ceremony could not take place in the church proper, but many modernizations would make it easier for the Faithful and converts in the coming 60s with the New Vatican Council.) This was a very happy day for my parents, but the marriage was fated to end in divorce 14 years later. One good thing, is that their five children remain close to this day.

Snapshots in time: La Salle Sunday Morning

Captured: a quiet Sunday on a cold blowing March day 2008. I love Sundays like this where I can look out my front window to see pasture and farmland. Inside, the cat sleeps by the fireplace, and I with a steaming cup of brew in hand marvel at the pink blue and lavender sky of early dawn. A stray horse is grazing, the dusting of last night's snow is on the front porch furniture; and I observe the icy street and the white "powdered sugar" lawns. The fire glows steady and warm, Bob is working in the office in his slippers, Greeley our cat is rolled into a contented ball, asleep, as the hall clock chimes the half-hour, and I am quietly observant and thankful.

Snapshot in time: Greeley Landmark

I enjoy taking photos of places as 'snapshots in time'. I want to preserve some remnant of the flavor of a place as it is currently, for future generations to see and compare changes to the landscape that will surely occur in the future. This landmark on 8th Avenue has already been changed from one of Greeley Colorado's early churches (I think Methodist),to being a real estate office. The clock adds charm, though it is a modern addition. This is how the building looked in 2006, with various features emphasized inthe layout. Though the photos were color, I used black and white for detail and time-period ambience. (If you can further identify this landmark, please drop me an email.)

Snapshots in time: Little Red Barn

A rural view in northern Colorado. Looking west on a road in Weld County, there sits a beautiful little red barn. It looked so idyllic that gray February 2000. It was so beautifully contrasted against neutral winter surroundings. It looks as though the scene is reflected in a body of water, but is only farmland. I made a copy of the picture and rotated it upside down to achieve a reflection. [Supplies: Designer Digitals, Jessica Sprague, Beautiful You Kit.]

One Thanksgiving

It's post-Thanksgiving time, but there are still leftovers from the celebration. Here is one of my favorite layouts of grandson, Travis on Turkey Day, 2007. As the story goes, after dinner at our house, I suggested we all take a walk to regenerate our energy instead of folding up on sofas in front of the TV. It was a bitter cold clear afternoon when we launched out. All 5 of the children asked to borrow a fluffy scarf as they always did whenever they stayed at Grandpa's and Grandma's. We walked, skipped and laughed to keep warm in the frigid late day sun. It was a great time and as we passed a field which the kids had to explore, Travis came back with a small treasure and excitedly exclaimed that these fresh-looking artificial flowers were going to be a gift for his mom. They were crusted with snow from a snowfall two days ago and I asked Travis to hold them up for me so we could get a photo for mom. I loved the vision of this sweet boy bundled in a bright coat holding the snow-kissed flowers under his cold-nipped cheeks. What a great moment-in-time shot!

Groovy, Baby! Shagadelic!

This was a fun entry in a scrapbook page challenge for "Everyday Inspiration" on http://www.designerdigitals.com/. Katie Pertiet was the designer who offered these dotted papers for the challenge.The patterns and colors spoke to me of the "Groovy 60s" we all lived through, or survived. It started with this high school graduation photo of me from 1966. Working it into an Andy Warhol, Austin Powers-style fun page, I went "free style" with its creation and came up with this FUN, Gr-oo-oo-vy layout!

Rose Hip News

What have I been doing the last weeks of November? Take a look at "Rose Hip News", a way of sharing my discovery of homemade rosehip tea with members of my family who don't use the computer. The text of article titled "drying & processing rose hips" reads: Learn how to dry rose hips, make puree and turn puree into fruit leather.Fruit leather directions are for sun-drying, but can be done in oven on lowest heat. Important caution: remove all seeds; they are covered with sliver-like hairs that irritate the digestive system. Prep: 1hr. Cooking time: 30 min. Ingredients: 4 cups (1litre) rosehips.

Prep: Just after a frost is best to gather rose hips.Scrape off small leaves, cut in half and partially dry on clean surface. When skins begin to feel dry and shrivelled, scrape seeds. (Too much or too little drying will make seeds difficult to separate from skins.) When completely dry, store in small sealed plastic bags, which will keep indefinitely in freezer or several months in refrigerator. Packed with vitamin "C", they are good to munch on when you need a boost of energy or a moderately sweet, nut-like "candy".

Making Puree: Use about 4 cups of soft, ripe hips (the riper, the sweeter) for 2 cups of puree. Remove stalks and blossom ends. Rinse. Put into pan with enough water to just about cover. Bring to boil, simmer 10-15 minutes. Press pulp through strainer. All that is left in strainer should be returned to pan, covered with enough water to almost cover again, and heat, but do not boil vigorously, so as to disolve a little more of the fruit that will strain through the sieve. Press again and repeat one more time. By now only seeds and skin should remain in sieve to be discarded.

Drying Puree: Line 12x17 cookie sheet with plastic wrap. Spread puree or(fruit leather) evenly over plastic, but not to edges of pan. Place in hot sun to dry 6 to 8 hours. May also be dried in warm oven.