Friday Favorites - Mansions, Kids & Jazz

WHERE DID MY BLOG POST GO?

I worked and worked on my Friday post yesterday and when I was ready to finally publish, it disappeared.  I guess it is floating around in cyberspace somewhere.  Who knows?  Well here we go again with an abbreviated version.

I am doing a recap of some of my favorite memories and pictures from our month-long visit with family and a fun night with friends.  So here goes AGAIN!  Thanks Rachel for hosting

Friday Favorites.

When we are at our son's in Granger, Indiana, I always pay a visit to South Bend which is only a matter of a mile or two from their house.  Because my family drove a couple Studebakers when I was child, and I have very pleasant memories of playing in those classy cars, not to mention taking many a pretend adventure behind the wheel, I have an affinity for this, the home of the Studebaker Family.

This is the original home of Clem Studebaker, the founder.  Behind this home is the Studebaker and Natural History Museums.  They are both very interesting and worth a visit if you are in the area.

 

 Here I am standing next to a model like we had when I was approximately 9 years old.  A real classy car, huh?

In 1884, Clem decided he should build a much larger home in keeping with his position in the country, so the next year he began building the final Studebaker Mansion.  It was completed in 1889.  This home has approximately 40 rooms, 20 uniquely different fireplaces and close to 24,000 sq. ft on 4 flours.  The woodwork is unbelievable!  Now get this!  The total cost plus furnishing was $350,000.  Unbelievable in today's market right?  It was named Tippecanoe Place.

Eight months after moving in, a fire destroyed the top of the home.  After an additional $100,000 to rebuild and refurbish, the home still stands.

George, a son of Clem who inherited the home, declared bankruptcy in 1933 and until 1988, was used by various agencies and for various purposes until it was purchased and became the

Tippecanoe Place Restaurant, as it remains today.  A great place to eat!  And don't forget to ask for a tour of the place.  By the way, it is reported to be haunted!

 I never go to South Bend without driving through the Notre Dame campus.  You can't miss the beautiful Golden Dome in the middle of the Campus.

Or, the "Touchdown Jesus" mosaic on the Library.  This gold enhanced design got its name because it can be seen between the north goal posts in the famous football stadium as seen below.

By the way, each entrance to the stadium is named for a former Notre Dame coach.  Interesting!

God's spotlight on Savannah!  My absolute favorite picture of her.

Father and son sharing a fun moment.  Love it!

One of the creative things I did while there was to create this two-sided poster for grandson Jackson's Rugby Banquet.  It was so much fun to re-create his fantastic 2012 Rugby season in this way.  I trust it will be a keepsake for him.

Before we left, Dick took this picture of me with my two Indiana girls.  Aren't they precious?

We got home in time to make a flying trip to Dallas to see our littlest granddaughter in her second dance recital.  Need I say more?

Even her big sisters let me be seen with them.  Love those girls!

After all the traveling, it was good to get with friends at home again.  Cele and Randy prepared a delicious picnic and invited us to attend an "Evening with Jazz" event in downtown Shreveport.  The breeze from the river and the enjoyable music, not to mention the company, made a great evening.

And that folks are my Favorite Friday ramblings.

Wednesday Trivia - Doors and Entrys

Today, I am linking up with Susan at Outdoor Wednesday.  I look forward to meeting some new bloggers through Susan and introducing some of my followers to this link.

Where does the time go?  And I'm retired!!

When I realized it has been over a week since I've updated my blog, I figured I better at least make my presence known again, lest I be forgotten.

Actually, I have not been exactly idle - not over worked either, you understand - but my attention and time has been focused elsewhere.  I edit our Twelve Oaks Times, our subdivision's HOA newsletter which is published quarterly.  Since I was gone all of May and part of June, I am humping it to get the July 1 issue ready for submission.

I thought I would share with you one of the the features I am including - Community Scenes.  I decided to feature some of the eye-catching door and entry decorations in our subdivision.  Some are very creative, others just pretty and others very inviting.  Hope you enjoy!

Father's Day - My Daddy

As I join others today for Miscellany Monday, I want to share with you some of my thoughts today - Father's Day about my special daddy - William Porter Lazenby.

The definition of memory is that which is remembered of a person or thing.  How does one adequately express in words what another person has meant to them?  Many have tried - the themes of thousands of books - but are they adequate?  Robert Browning wrote:  "How do I love thee; let me count the ways."  But did he, could he?  We search for that just-right card that expresses our deepest thoughts, and invariably fall so short.

Our last Christmas with Daddy, 1993

After our dad died, my youngest sister compiled a book of "Our Memories" made up of written thoughts by many, many people whose lives had been impacted by the man we called Daddy.  One person wrote a short but apt description:

"He was a complex man and highly intelligent who thought deeply about life.  The world he left behind is a much better place for having been there."

Another wrote:  "We should not so much grieve that such a man has died, as to praise God that such a man lived."

 Our mother's contribution is so beautifully and tenderly written about the man she was totally devoted to for 50 years.

"Porter, a man! Gentle, loving, kind, patient, unselfish and yet so strong, uncompromising in his convictions, always hopeful."

 My contribution was a letter I had sent my dad for Father's Day on June 15, 1986, several years before his death.  I'd like to share that as my memory of this special man. 

Thanks Dad…

        for being a Christian Father

        for living before us your commitment to God first

        for the example of what servanthood is all about

        for your love and unquestionable devotion to Mother

        for the way you relate to others

        for always “being there”

        for keeping the channels open

        for what I’ve learned by your attitudes and actions

        for always communicating love

        for the twinkle of pride and respect I’ve seen in your eyes

        for the time you’ve spent with me

        for a sense of security

        for making me feel important

        for listening and hearing what I didn’t say

        for affirming me even through condemnation

        for loving my family

        for giving of yourself

        for that word of encouragement, arm around the shoulder, wink of the eye, not of the head

        for your smile

        for your sometimes strange sense of humor

        for giving me the ideal example of fatherhood

        for helping me to not be satisfied with less for my children

        for giving to us all the greatest gift one person can give another – an example of God’s love

        I love you Dad!

        Libby

         

Back Home but Not Back in the Swing of Things

We are home!  I had no idea it would take me a whole week to get adjusted to being back in my own space and routine, but it has.  I have had a hard time getting every thing done that needs to be done after being away for 5 weeks.  Can I possibly be slowing down?

Anyway, please be patient with me and this ever evolving blog as I hope to get back into the blogging swing this weekend.

I want to share with you about aspects of our trip including my new friend Patrick, the shepherd boy as well as family updates and hopefully getting back to some actual beauty without within topics.

So please come back and visit again.

Busy Days

There has not been much computer time these last few days except for downloading pictures and cropping and ordering.  This Miscellany Monday posting will be very abbreviated.

Graduation

 This full-of-life, vivacious, little free spirit granddaughter #5 will graduate from 5th grade today.  She is the most delightful little thing to be around as you can tell by all the personality characteristics exhibited in these pictures.  She looks forward to joining her big sister at Discovery Middle School next year.
 Congratulations Mary-Elizabeth!

Home

Tomorrow, we pack up our belongings and load the Avalon and head south.  We have been in northern Indiana for 5 weeks and it is time to leave the cool mornings and evenings and head back south where there is already a heat index.  Oh gracious me, I don't look forward to that!

It has been a great time with our Midwest family and we have so many memories to treasure.  We leave knowing that we have hopefully assisted where needed, shared good times, and left a whole lot of love.

Thank you, our precious family for being so gracious and letting us be part of your life and family for these weeks.  We had a ball!