My wonderful father-in-law passed away this week and we are mourning his passing and celebrating his life. Walt lived a full and extraordinary 94 years. He spent his life teaching science to kids, volunteering at his church, building things, gardening, square and round dancing and traveling. An entomologist, Walt also collected bugs—we had to be careful when we opened a stray container around his house. For as long as he was able, Walt visited nursing homes on the weekends and performed religious services for those who couldn’t make it to church. He was the best hugger ever! I’m happy that his son, my husband, inherited this trait. Note to our son—hug big like your grandfather and your father.
I hope that you have a good weekend. Hugs to you all.
This week’s links from around the web are in memory of my father-in-law.
- Speaking of hugs, they can be good for your health.
- Walt made great maple syrup from his own New Hampshire maple trees. While you can’t taste his maple syrup, you can buy N.H. maple syrup here. Did you know that maple syrup is graded?
- You’ll need some pancakes for that syrup. Or, try it on homemade vanilla ice cream.
- Walt spent part of his childhood on a farm in New York, so he knew a thing or two about farming. Coincidentally, I recently came across these images of beautiful chicken, ducks and eggs and saved the link to share with you (now’s the time).
- I had never heard of salting watermelon until I met my father-in-law. It turns out that it’s a thing. In fact, some say that it is so good it should be illegal.
- Having grown up in harsh New York winters, Walt remembered his hands suffering from the cold. As an adult, he was always concerned that his family members had gloves and he often gave them as Christmas gifts. With Walt’s glove gifting in mind, here are some suggestions for new gloves. (Walt wouldn’t have picked gloves for touch screens. That’s my contribution.)
- Gloves for outdoor sports for men and women.
- Dressier men’s Stretch Perforated Leather Gloves and women’s Basket Weave with a Bow Gloves.
About the photo: Dahlias are still going strong in my backyard. I need to dig up the bulbs soon. While these are not my father-in-law’s dahlias, he grew beautiful red ones for years.