Beloved Albert Elmer Herman Louis Melahn (AKA G'pa to me) Died on 1-24 in the 1970's

My maternal grandfather, Albert Elmer Herman Louis Melahn, died on this day of January 24th  in the mid to late 1970's. He was sixty-nine years old. He can be seen in the photo directly above with my grandmother, Clara May Fitchie Melahn where they are standing in front of one of their favorite restraunts that was located in Crystal Lake Illinois.

This photograph was one of my dearly departed grandmother's favorites, perhaps because of the memories she had of enjoying meals with him at one of their favorite places. For years after his death she laid the framed photo facedown on an end-table. Evidently looking at the image made her miss him even more. I am their first grandchild and the loss to me was great as well which is probably how most people feel when their grandfather dies.

In Memory of my Maternal Grandfather

MY GRANDFATHER MAKES A WISH

I'm thinking of my dearly departed grandfather, Albert Elmer Herman Louis Melahn, who was born on this day in 1903 (he died in the late 1970s.) The image atop this entry was taken on one of his birthdays in the early 1970's.

My grandmother can be seen helping him blow out his candles and my next youngest sister and I are behind them. We were told to "pose laughing," by my mother, who took the snap-shot when his cake caught on fire. (Our cousin Karl, who is for the most part of camera, is to my left).

Tuesday's Truths WK 26: Time to MOVE ON! (But Proceed With Caution)

Welcome to Week 25 of my Tuesday's Truths series here on Blogger! I wasn't able to publish an entry for this series last week (1-17-17) because of a malfunction in equipment that impacted my ability to work on-line. GRRR. And if another Tuesday truth be told, I got caught up in the frenzy of the then upcoming USA presidential inauguration (which took place on 1-20-2017). But time marches on!

Today, January 24th, 2017, marks the forty- first anniversary of my grandfather's death. He can be seen in the image atop this blog entry. I've been told that this was his confirmation picture, although I have no idea of when or where he was confirmed. Religion and/or going to church was not a topic of conversation I had with him.

Sunday's Sentiments: A Tribute to my G'pa (Albert Elmer Herman Lewis Melahn)

The photograph atop this entry is one you might recognize, dear reader, for it has been featured in many of my blog posts here on Blogger (including one of first entries which was in 2010) when I've referenced my maternal grandfather (Albert Elmer Herman Louis Melahn), the man featured in this picture. Last Sunday would have been his one hundred and sixteenth birthday had he not died at the age of sixty-nine.

I think of him on countless occasions, but he was especially on my mind yesterday when I was at The Conservatory Gardens in Central Park and came upon the peonies featured in  the next set of images.

OTHER PEONIES ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1 

OTHER PEONIES ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1 

OTHER PEONIES ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1 

OTHER PEONIES ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1 

OTHER PEONIES ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1 

OTHER PEONIES ARE FEATURED IN VOL 1 

My grandfather introduced to this awesome flower when I was nearly three years old.

My Physocarpus opulifolius (Coppertina) and the Prodigal Son's Brother

It has come to my attention that my lovely, Physocarpus opulifolius (Coppertina Tree), which is just beginning to produce its exquisite buds (some of which can be seen in the two photographs at the top of this blog entry), took it upon himself to write a blog entry and post it on my blog two weeks ago.

Evidently he thought he was not as appreciated in the same way that my Tulipa (Tulips) and Paeonia suffruiticosa (Tree Peony) are.

How My Urban Garden Grows: The Highly Probable Influence of my Grandfather, Albert Elmer Herman Louis Melahn

I have always appreciated gardens as well as the containers that provide a home for plants, and the image posted above this entry is one I created after happening upon an abandoned greenhouse. By "demand," I have rendered this image into a limited edition of prints which are available in varying sizes. Information relating to this image (as well as other black and white photographs that I have created) can be found in the print collection pages on my web-site. This image is also available as a note-card.

Fortunately, I don't have to worry about being without access to a greenhouse, because at my upper-west side apartment in New York City, I've planted and maintained a lovely terrace garden that is now caked in snow, and with this final "clarification" post, I'd like to tell you a little bit of background about my gardening endeavors.

WW*: Remembering my maternal grandfather. (The probable influence on my passion for my garden,*Wednesday's Wisdom)

Today is the anniversary the death of my maternal grandfather, Albert Elmer Herman Lewis Melahn.

He is featured in the snapshot directly above (in a photo taken in years long gone by), with a tree he had just planted at the time. The passion that I have for the flora growing in my rooftop garden, very likely came from him. I discussed his probable influence on my appreciation for my garden in one of my first entries here on Blogger; which you may reference by clicking here.

Sunday's Sentiment: Remembering my Grandfather's Appreciating Trees

My maternal grandfather, Albert Elmer Herman Lewis Melahn, can be seen in an unndated snapshot (directly above) with a tree he had just planted. He died in the mid to late 1970's on this day of January 24th.

Thursdays Thoughts: Challenging the adage "bad things happen in threes" REPRISED

GOSLINGS ARE FEATURED IN VOL 2

Today I am thinking about the gosling triplets (pictured above), which I encountered in Central Park this past June, because I am also one of three (sisters), although we are not triplets.

A photograph of us with our grandfather that was taken when we were very young can be seen in the next picture.

Being one of three, has caused me to challenge the adage,"bad things happen in threes," which I did in a blog post that was published in 2011. This entry deals with the placement of flora (in threes) within my rooftop garden.

In any event, I'm thinking of the "bad things happen in threes," adage on this day of July 13th, as it is my youngest sister's birthday. She is the one in the middle in the aforementioned photo (I'm the one to her left — or seen to her right in this image).

Remembering My Grandpa Melahn

The photo atop today's entry features my paternal grandfather, Albert Elmer Herman Louis Melahn (Albert) and it is one you might recognize, dear reader, for I've included the image within a number of entries here on Blogger, starting with my fourth post which I published on 1/8/2010.

One of the topics discussed in that entry is his probable influence on my rooftop garden.

Remembering Clara May Fitchie Melahn

CLARA MAY FITCHIE WITH SIBLINGS

My maternal grandmother, Clara May Fitchie Melahn, was born on this day of July 23rd in the 1900. She always hated the fact that she was born within that year because her age could be calculated so easily. In any event, she can be seen (standing at the right) in the back row with her siblings in the photo atop this entry (which has been featured in a number of entries here on Blogger).

Cormorants: Now you see them, now you don't. (Tuesday's Truths WK 128)

I confess that I could spend hours watching a cormorant who seems to be playing now you see me, now you don't (which is what is happening in the silent slide show posted above featuring a cormorant enjoying the waters  of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park).

This is a habit of cormorants (which you can read about via many web sources, including one of Cornell's web pages) and is my Tuesday's Truth for week 128. On another note, this bird variety is featured in volume three of my book series, Words In Our Beak.

THE WORDS IN OUR BEAK BOOK SERIES

The stories are set in my rooftop garden and told from the perspective of a female cardinal (Cam), who is featured on the covers of each book.

The Peonies Are in Bloom Again

 

Peonies always represent elegance and style, don't you think? They are certainly wonderful for rendering into images to use for wedding invitations. 

After all, the peony flower is the twelfth anniversary flower and is thought to be the omen of a happy marriage. The intended title for this new invitation is a modification of the famous Katharine Hepburn quote, in her role of Terry Randall (Stage Door) where she moved audiences with her words, "The calla lilies are in bloom again." My peonies are in bloom again, and it harkens me back to the time I first became aquatinted with peonies as cut flowers. 

My grandfather introduced them to me (seen in the photograph below), when I was a toddler, his gentle hands bringing those beautiful petals to my impressionable nose.

Peonies, I was to learn from stories he would tell, were named after Paeon (also known as Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. 

I learned Asclepius became jealous of his pupil and Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into a peony flower. How often as a child, when anticipating the wrath of my parents, did I find comfort in imaging myself turned into a peony - until I learned that mischievous nymphs were known to hide in the petals of the peony, thus causing the magnificent flower to be given the meaning of Shame or Bashfulness in the Language of Flowers. I do admit peonies tend to look shy at times.

This is captured in this image posted below (taken in my amazing urban garden)! 

FALL 2018 ADDENDUM: 

I no longer actively produce event program covers, invitations and the types of greeting cards described here or on my website but arrangements might be able to be made under certain circumstances. My focus is on the Words In Our Beak book series, pictured below...

MY BOOK SERIES

...whose stories are told from the point of view of Cam, a female cardinal, whose photo is on the cover of each book. Words In Our Beak’s goal is to open readers to a simple understanding of the winged world and their environment. Set in my rooftop urban garden in New York City. Words In Our Beak is directed to children and adults who are curious about birds, and want to learn about them from a unique perspective. The books include hundreds of images of flora and fauna, links to movies, as well as to informative narratives that have been created by the author.

Please click here to go to my blog post that provides details as to where you can get these books.

Additionally,  I have rendered some images from these books into other formats and they are available via Fine Art America (FAA). Some of my other photographs (Black & White Collection, Kaleidoscopic Images and the famous Mandarin duck who visited NYC) can also be found on my FAA pages.

National Grandparents Day 2020

MY MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS ARE FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

I don't want the day to pass without mentioning that today, being the first Sunday after Labor Day, is a holiday known as National Grandparents Day. According to Holiday Insights the holiday "originated in 1978 when then President Jimmy Carter declared it to be the first Sunday after Labor Day."

I've read that "the impetus for a National Grandparents Day originated with a housewife in Fayette County, West Virginia. Her primary motivation was to champion the cause of lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide."

I am the first grandchild of my maternal grandparents (they can be seen in the snapshot, atop this entry as well as in the image below which I featured in a recent post here on Blogger.

MY MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS ARE FEATURED IN MANY BLOG POSTS

In any event, both of these photos were taken in bygone — way bygone — years and I hope the Welsh proverb, "perfect love sometimes does not come until after the first grandchild," proved true for my maternal grandparents.

I feel very fortunate to have grown up near my maternal grandparents' home, and I've always been appreciative of the wisdom, as well as the heritage they provided — although my maternal grandmother might've begged to differ a she never liked the fact that I moved to New York City.

This Wednesday's Wisdom is from the birds! (Some Facts Re Mallard Ducklings ETC)

I have something in common with the Mallard ducklings seen in the pictures atop this entry (where they are swimming in the Hudson River with their mother), I'm one of three...

The Sensational Helichrysum bracteatum (Tuesday's Truths WK 129)

Welcome to my one hundred and twenty-ninth segment of Tuesday's Truths which is occurring on the Tuesday of National Gardening Week.

Hence, in honor of that fact, I'll give a shout out to a flora variety known as Helichrysum bracteatum (AKA strawflower). I've grown this in my rooftop garden over the years and quite some time ago, I created the mini movie which documents a week in the life of this flora variety. It is posted atop this entry and can also be seen within my Vimeo Channel as well as You Tube Channel. Additionally I have written about these flowers in prior posts here on Blogger.

A web-page for The Spruce admits that "The name strawflower doesn’t do much to excite the flower gardener" and goes on to say that "it might elicit images of a plant that's withered and tan—but the real strawflower blossom will bring vivid colors to your landscape and craft projects alike. Strawflowers resemble daisies in form, but unlike daisies, the petals are stiff and papery. In fact, they aren’t true petals at all, but modified leaves called bracts."

Tuesday's Truths WK 41: Honoring Love A Tree Day!

Welcome to week forty-one of my Tuesday's Truths series with a post dedicated to Love a Tree Day,  for, according to Holiday Insights (HI), the event is always celebrated on May16th, which is "several days after Arbor Day." 

I discussed Arbor Day in a recent post here on Blogger; and if you'd like to refer to the entry, please click here. In my Arbor Day blog entry, I mentioned the trees which were once in my rooftop garden, including an Acer shirasawanum (Autumn Moon), as well as a Physocarpus opulifolius (Coppertina).  

In the aforementioned posting, I also discussed the trees which are currently flourishing in my place. These include a bonsai-ed Fig, an Acer palmatum ('Shisitatsu' Sawa), as well as a Crabapple, a Fagus sylvatica (Beech Tree), a Japanese Larch (Larix Kaempferi); and a 'Tamukeyama' (AKA) Japanese Maple.

The latter of these trees can be seen in the image atop this blog entry. As you can see, the container housing my 'Tamukeyama,' has cracked; so, the tree needs to be repotted. Last week I traveled to Brooklyn to get a replacement clay pot, and I hope it will fit in the stand! I'll find out next week when Juan V comes to my garden to help me maintain it.

National Nurses Day 2021

On this day in 1974, "New Mexico nurses initiated a resolution in 1981 to have May 6th declared National Recognition Day for Nurses. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Board of Directors took up the banner and promoted the proposal. In 1982, the United States Congress designated May 6th to be National Recognition Day for Nurses and President Ronald Reagan signed the proposal."

My maternal grandmother, Clara Fitchie Melahn, seen in the photo (atop this entry) taken when she was a young woman, was 74 years of age at the time Regan signed the proposal. She had been long retired from nursing as she had left her career when she had children.

My grandmother had quite an influence on me, but the only experience I had being a nurse is when I played one (in the 1980's) on a soap opera, "One Life to Live. 

Tuesday's Truths WK 213: Lilies of the Valley can be deadly.

Lilies of the Valley (the flower type seen in the images directly above growing in front of a brownstone on the street where the building I live in is located), are not as innocent as they look, they can be deadly. 

I first was introduced to this flower type when my grandfather, seen in the picture directly below with a tree he had just planted.

His Lilies of the Valley grew alongside of the northern portion of his home which is off camera in this image. He might've been an influence in my liking trres and garden,s which is something I've discussed in one of my earliest posts here on Blogger.

I do not recall ever hearing about the dangers posed by Lilies of the Valley, but if you'd like to read about this phenomenon, dear reader, please allow me to refer you to an article published by The Spruce, and that dear reader, is my Tuesday's Truth for this two hundred and thirteenth segement.

In Remembrance of Clara May Fitchie Melahn (Born 7-23-1900 Died 7-19-1987)

I am my maternal grandparents first grandchild, and was born on their wedding anniversary. In the image atop this entry, my grandmother can be seen holding me. You might recognize the picture as I have featured it in at least one of my prior entries here on Blogger.

She died on this day of July 19th in 1987; and, her parting words to me were ones that urged me to get back to my writing.