Did you guys know...

I just found out yesterday that Rose and Steve Malkowiak's house burned down over the summer!  Rose is Uncle Haden's daughter and lived in this beautiful little house in Sherwood Forest where I think Mom and her cousins used to vacation at times when she was little.  Rose and Steve escaped the fire safely themselves.

The house was full over photographs and memorabilia from Uncle Haden, and all that was lost.  If you have any old photos that you could share, please make copies for them.  Steve is also battling brain cancer.  Keep them both in your prayers.

Their house was the one house I have always coveted, with its views of the Severn in that beautiful forest.  Mom and Dad enjoyed the Christmas gatherings.  I think for a few years they also attended the community's summer party because Rose told us stories about Dad shucking corn by the dozens.

Counting my blessing,
Lel

Promising Alzheimer's Research Article

http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nm.2965.html

Edith Gilmour passed away last Friday

Heaven is getting crowded...

Edith was Jim's step-mother and a really wonderful woman.  She made the best comfort food I ever tasted - simple things like baked potatoes, steak, desserts.  Here's her recipe for M&M Cookies which were a favortie of everyone who tasted them:
M&M'S® COOKIES
1 c. butter flavored Crisco

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/4 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 lb. pkg. M&M'S® (crush 1 c.)
Blend shortening and sugars. Beat in vanilla and eggs. Sift dry ingredients. Add to sugar and eggs. Stir in crushed M&M'S®. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Decorate with remaining M&M'S® (thee each cookie). Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on rack. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Edith was 90 years old and had been in a nursing home in Lebanon, PA since Jim's dad died 2 years ago.  Funeral is coming up this Saturday.  Keep the family in your prayers    Take care, Lel

Hurricane Sandy

Safe and sound in Chalfont.  No power loss or tree loss.  How's it going elsewhere?

Happy, Happy Anniversary!

Another happy day in heaven coming up!

Oh...Hey there Stuart!

And who ever else may be reading this.... I just wanted to let everyone know that Drew Smith is coming to the states in October for a visit. Ben Frederick III has invited all of us to a party at his house on Saturday October 13th at 6:00PM. (701 West University Pkwy 21210 - at the corner of Keswick and University). If you are interested, please RSVP to Ben 410-435-5040 or Ben@BenFrederick.com Love to all - Levelle

Going on a walkabout....

So that Stuart has something to read.... Melanie & I are heading out to our little walk on 28 August. The current plan has us arriving in Paris early on the 29th, taking the train down to Bayonne near Bordeaux. The next day we'll take another train to St Jean de Pied de Port in the Pyrenees - the starting point for the walk. We'll finish getting over jetlag there – hopefully - and start the walk on 1 September. From then on, it will be about an average 25km (15 miles) every day until 1 October until we get to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwest Spain. We’ll stay in hostels every night so I don’t expect to sleep much. If all goes to plan, we'll celebrate Mom & Dad's anniversary at the pilgrim's mass in the Cathedral within spitting distance of St. James’ bones. That should be good for some time off for good behavior in purgatory. A couple of days later, we'll fly back to Singapore and plan to be here by 5 October. If there is the ability and internet access, I'll post some updates on Facebook as to where we are. If you haven't heard of The Camino, watch the movie “The Way” by Emilio Estevez & Martin Sheen. It’s a pretty good movie by itself but it also tells a fair amount about the Camino. Wikipedia will give the facts about the 775km walk but it doesn’t give the essence. Actually, I could not do it justice either but I hope to soon. Love to all and congratulations to the swimming Blanchards who appear to have kicked major butt in the Trophy Meet. Neil’s first place finish was stunning but just led the pack that caused Jaime & Levelle to have to rent a trailer just to get all the silverware home.