The Weekend Roundup, 'D'

Friday is here so time for  The Weekend Roundup, hosted by Tom. I've been looking around and have found an eclectic mix for this week's post...

Starts with 'D'. I'll go with Grandpa's favorite brand of car, Dodge. (L) In 1959 and my big sister Michele is posing next to Grandpa's 1955 Dodge. Five years later, she is standing in front of Grandpa's new 1964 Dodge station wagon. Same girl, a Dodge and license plate. Kids grow fast! 

One of the advantages of using a wheelchair is the views down low. Such as the Dodge script on the hub cap on a beautiful 1936 Dodge. Sharp eyed viewers might see the photog in the reflection...

Double. Awhile back, we did get a double yolk in a single shell. Bon Appétit!

Favorite. Patti captured this expansive view of Ansonia from Fountain Lake. It sits at an elevation of about 340 ft / 104 M above sea level while downtown Ansonia is at about 100 ft. I love this view of our small city!

The Weekend Roundup 'S'

It's Friday and so it is time again for Tom's fun meme The Weekend Roundup. I like this week's letter and since I was not here last week, my week's favorite pic was from the event I attended last weekend. Onward we go...

My first 'S' is Steeple. Here is the classic New England steeple on the First Congregational Church in Derby CT. If you look closely, you will see the cell phone relays located on the steeple.

Another 'S' is a fun blast from the past - Skating on ice at a rink in St. Paul Minnesota, my dad and his sister and my big sister Michele with her NHL aspirations. The date stamp on the pics is Jan. 1959, and this day, Snowless in St. Paul...

Finally, how about young Ralph in 1964 in front of Captain Starn's Yacht Bar in Atlantic City. This was long before the glitzy casinos of today. In fact, this place looks like it was as seaworthy as the S.S. Minnow...

My Favorite. Last week we celebrated the always lovely Patti's one year anniversary of her kidney transplant in May 2017. We had a pizza party for family and friends at Rosa Mina, our favorite restaurant in Ansonia. Of course, there was cake - and Kidneyversary was the perfect description for a day to celebrate!

The Weekend Roundup 'J'

The weekend is here so it is time for Tom's fun meme, The Weekend Roundup. The subject letter this week took some research -  and now I am ready!

Given my heritage, there is New Jersey. more specifically, Atlantic City. This is me in 1964, and this bar reminds me of the famous SS Minnow (and I am old enough to remember that reference :) This was long before the glitzy casinos and hotels of today.

Another New Jersey 'J' is in 1969, also on the famous Boardwalk were you could rent a bicycle in the mornings. It was always a Joy to ride a bike in the briny Atlantic air!

Jewelry is on display at a local consignment shop, The Country Cottage in Seymour CT.

The final 'J' is Jaguar (car). I saw this at a local car show, the sign said 1948. I believe this is referred to as a 'drophead', what Americans call a convertible. Not only do we say it differently, I believe we drive on the wrong side of the road too :) That is me looking at this beauty...

This week's Favorite is a cardinal showing up the morning after a snowfall. Patti captured this fellow and his red plumage stands out so nicely against the Winter backdrop.

Friday Hunt 2017.2.18

Friday is here and time again for Teresa's fun meme, Friday Hunt. And away we go... 

Starts with 'R'. Naturally, I start with my name…I am in the middle as Ralph III, Grandpa (Ralph I) to the left and Dad (Ralph II) to the right. On the Atlantic at Brigantine, NJ, summer of 1964.

I thought about this, but thought it works as an ‘R’. It is me on my 18th birthday, and it is an age of majority card I.D. which meant I could legally purchase alcohol in 1973. I look the part of a sullen 18 year old with ‘70s long hair…

Finally here I am in college in 1975 in the fashion bane of the era - plaid. Hey, everybody just loved plaid back then :) 

Glow. I chose these two from Feb. 10, and it is the glowing moon taken across the street from our home. It is a clear moon with an almost amber glow. It was a cold night the day after a snowstorm and a perfectly clear sky.

Vegetable. I had this as an entrée at a fabulous restaurant, Carmines, in New Haven CT. It was delicious roasted vegetables, eggplant, asparagus, zucchini and peppers. Great eating and prompts this week Teresa!

Friday Hunt 2017.2.15

The seasonal weather is changing, but not the fun Friday meme Friday Hunt, hosted by Teresa.

Starts with ‘O’. I have a few and some could be linked to a city or town too. The first is Ohio, and in this shot, probably taken in 1977 is Grandpa holding two license plates from 1937 (40th year?), his Ohio license tag and I believe his Ohio radio license. Grandpa was 75 in 1977 who lived in the city of Steubenville, Ohio…

Then there is Omaha, Nebraska. First, my sister Michele in 1964 (age 10) who with my grandparents visited My Aunt Terry in the Missouri River city.

Another Omaha shot was taken by me in 1983 visiting my sister who was in the USAF (SAC HDQ., Offutt AFB). Unknown to me, two houses away was a park at President Gerald Ford’s birthplace. Just a little neighborhood park that was a great find...

Purple. Two with a purple hue (to my mind at least :). First pic was taken at the Jones Family Farm Winery in Shelton CT. Nice lavender flowers.

This one was taken on our patio this summer. I can’t explain it, the the wine bottle in the late afternoon is a pic Patti and I love - perhaps it was a warm but not humid day with a tasty grilled meat and red wine just relaxing on a great day. The label on the bottle looks purple. Nice prompts this week!

Friday Hunt, 2017.1.20

It is Friday so again, it is time for Teresa's fun meme Friday Hunt. The clues are here and I am ready!

Starts with 'U'. Years ago, the family visited the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, CT. Here the kids, much younger, are standing at the screw (prop) of the USS Nautilus, now permanently moored in the Thames River here on the US Navy Submarine Base. More fun is a word we learned, the German word for submarine: Unterseeboot 

And there is Unusual. Last week, I mentioned our Team McVillers has an unusual team logo, consisting of Bunnyducks. So, this is the iron-on design for our team. As our artist friend Rich DiCarlo, the designer, notes that flocks fly in a Vee formation - they likewise walk too in a Vee formation. Naturally :)

Week's Favorite. Patti captured this guy in the mulberry tree in our front yard. How winsome! This is not a stock photo as the white blur in the background is an old 1998 Ford Escort parked in a driveway. Not always a fan - however this bush-tailed suburban squirrel can easily make one a fan!

Family. I'll choose the Villers (my) family, the seven of us just after number seven child was born in 1964 and the last time all seven of us were captured in one frame at my sister Claudia's wedding in 1987. Note the outfit she wore: her formal Air Force officer attire as did her fiancé, a USAF officer and my brother, yet another active USAF Airman. Alas there are only five of us still here, so all seven in any pic is nice...

Friday Hunt, 2017.1.5

Friday returns so we are ready for Teresa's fun photo meme, Friday Hunt. In week 5 of 2017, she provides the following clues...

Begins with 'E'. Here would be the Equestrian event at Santa Anita Park in August 1984 at the Olympics in Los Angeles. This equine cleared the hurdle nicely! 

Vehicular 'E's include a nice 1964 Chevrolet El Camino, capturing myself in my 'directors chair'; To the right is the 'gunsight' fender ornament on a 1959 Edsel, its failure costing Ford Motor Co. a $250 million loss ($2 Billion today). Despite the business fail, it is a magnificent 'E' and cool car!

Week's Favorite: Patti captured this Cardinal landing in the forsythia by the house Wednesday after a snowfall. With his tail still moving, it is my February favorite...

Personal. A print taken on 1 January 1989, it is me with firstborn Allegra before her trip home from the hospital. Thanks for the  meme Teresa!

.