My Portfolio

      "Listen to my mom. She's talking to herself again." "Oh, Booger Snots!" "See?" Chuckle, chuckle. "I told you!" Their friends laugh out loud. "Why does she do that? What does 'Bumber Shoots' mean?" "I don't know. But she says a lot of things I don't understand." I have...

  Writing about our mother would require a full book, but over the past several months since her passing I have discovered even more to appreciate about the way she lived her life. I have finally set to the task of going through her things to decide what to keep. In...

The best gift ever is when your children give you a big hug! This is what I love about Mother's Day. I love my family and hope they never break this wonderful tradition. Thank you, love Mama

On the road…again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek   Re-Learning Geography Learning the names of state capitals was a fundamental part of geography classes, and in grammar school, Geography was his favorite subject.  Although some people believe that knowledge is power; others discount the importance...

  My Memories of Grandma Lucy by Karen Blackham Mack Lucy Draper Blackham Born March 27, 1889 - Died 26 February 1974 (almost 85)   It’s funny the memories that you have, but I remember this incident like it happened yesterday .  My earliest memory of Grandma Lucy was when I...

Yesterday morning a group of seniors made their various ways to the Campbelltown Library at Newton, heading for the Local History Room, where the history of this area of metropolitan Adelaide nestles into the foothills of the Mt Lofty Ranges. Two trained volunteers greeted each member of the group at the...

 It cut her head wide open and she went screaming to her house. When I saw all that blood, I ran into my house to hide

Describe some character, physical or cultural traits that have been passed down to you by your ancestors. Let's just start with the fact that I'm adopted so there aren't any physical traits I share with other family members. My direct family is quite the "potpourri"... My adopted sister Sheri is Norwegian...

Margaret talks about her childhood home in Lincoln, England, during the 1930's. The picture below shows her home as it is now, not when her family moved in as the first residents!    

Growing up in the 1950s was a far different experience than that of children today.  We knew every family on our block, the names and ages of their kids and the names of the family pets. We knew what the fathers of the families did for a living, what time they...

Describe your first car(s), where you drove it and with whom?  My dad was probably wise in not letting me get my drivers license until my Senior Year.  I was given his powder blue Lincoln Versailles in 1982,.  I would imagine it was a '77 - that is when they first...

My Grandfather and Grandmother Ernest Theron Blackham & Lucy Draper Blackham Ernest (56yrs) - Born May 4, 1888 in Moroni, Utah. Died Aug. 23, 1944 - ( farm accident) Lucy (almost 85) - Born March 27, 1889 - Died 26 February 1974   Ernest had five brothers and give sisters.  He...

My mother earned a teaching degree from the University of Georgia in the mid 1960's.  She taught for a few years and then had to stop to have me.  Back then you could not teach and be pregnant (GASP!!). Her main profession was raising my brother and me and that kept...

My Mother never went to college, nor had her parents. Her Mom had never worked outside the home and her Dad was a postal worker...a highly read one I believe. My Mother told me on occasion that her parents, who were originally from a Maryland farming community, didn't encourage post high...

Mom grew up with 8 siblings and a loving Mom. Her father provided for the family but on his own terms as an alcoholic. She dreamed to be a singer like Billie and Ella but knew it was near impossible. One day while out on the front porch she heard the...

My mother was born in Ft. Kent, Maine in 1903.  She was the third of eight children.  Two of her siblings died.  Her father owned a tremedous amount of land but due to his poor eyesight he could not work and the land was sold off to support the family.  My...

Shug My Mother   The cotton fields of Arkansas were too small to hold her dreams,                 Too bleak to hold her hopes Her soul heard music, poetry, drama Her mystic intuition                 Told her of stars waiting to be touched But her eyes saw only endless rows of cotton                ...

  On the road…again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek   Explaining Glaciers   The Athabasca Glacier, located in Jasper National Park of Alberta, Canada is an example of a mountain glacier. Mountain glaciers typically form at the downslope foot of steep ridges and then extend...

  On the road…again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek   Washoe Indian Encampment at Wrights Lake, California Only after joining the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy as a volunteer in 2009 did Footloose Forester rekindle his interest in geology.  Having the time to document his memoirs helped,...

Well, that would have to be my Dad.  He is constantly trying to make things better and once he gets a whiff of something working he doesn't let up no matter what.  It doesn't matter if it's a business opportunity, the way to cut the lawn faster or anything in between. ...