SHE’S LOST WITHOUT HER COMMENTS
OLIVE’S SIXTY FOURTH POST
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Dear Readers. This post will be short and sweet. The comments on the sixty third post have been mysteriously switched off, but not on the posts before.
Now, the comments are fixed it seems. let us know if there are problems again. Olive had a terrible Friday last week. That’s the day Eric reads her the comments and there were none to read. This week’s looking better, thank goodness.
By the way, I’m taking my daughter, Ellen, to Europe,leaving on April 30th for 6 weeks.
I hope to teach Eric to run the blog while I’m gone, at least to send you short notes as to how Ollie’s doing. Eric’s own blog is on the blogroll to the side, by the way.
We are getting a Europass and will be free to go anywhere. It’s chance for Ellen and I to bond, I hope.
If there are any readers in Europe who’d like us to pass by for a visit, let us know. No promises, but it might be possible.
At the moment our trip begins with Greece. Then, we go to southern Italy where we have rellies. Then, Eastern Europe, to Czech, I hope, a probably Poland as well.
Spain is also possible. Ellen is keen to go to Spain . The Norway for sure. We have friends way up north and will go there early July.
I promise several more posts with Ollie before I leave. She’s got some wonderful stories still to tell.
In the meantime, if you are missing your dose of pictures, here’s a blog I’ve started on on family art, specifically painting.
I’ve got a theory about paintings on walls and what good they do for us all. See if you agree. Here’s a picture by my mother, painted in the 50’s, and a very special image for us.
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We’re curious about the pictures you had on you walls when growing up and whether you know and cherish stories about them.
We’ll also be experimenting with Ollie’s walls quite soon, by the way.
Just click on Family Art Stories on the blogroll adjacent
Friday, March 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
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21 Responses to “SHE’S LOST WITHOUT HER COMMENTS”
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March 8th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Hi Mike and Ollie,
Yippee, comments are working! I looked at your family art blog, Mike, and it got me thinking about the art we had on the walls growing up as well as the pieces hanging on my walls now. I have a few pieces that I grew up with and they are so special to me.
When I visited my aunt a few months ago it made me sad to see so few things hanging on the walls. When we were young, just starting out married life, our walls were so empty that each addition was a great treasure. It is hard now to imagine living without these things. We have old family things, a plaster-of-paris hand print I made when I was about four or five, some photos we’ve taken on travels, and some needlework and small quilts I’ve made.
I enjoyed your stories, Ollie. How nice to win something in the lottery. I wonder if they still candle eggs in the same way or if that is somehow mechanized.
Rosemary in NC, USA
Hi Rosemary, thanks for the interesting reply. Why not show your aunt the art blog and see if it persuades her that some paintings on her walls might be a great addition to the richness of her life, at least some good prints which need not be expensive at all.
She could be our first guinea pig. Namely, agree to put up some paintings/prints and see if they make any difference, a sort of before and after test. I don’t know where she is, but most of the big city galleries in the US have great prints for sale.
Of course originals are better. But that’s for later if and when one gets the bug. I actually bought my first painting by my grandfather at an auction yesterday. I’ll tell the story on the art blog soon.
By the way, could you leave your comment about art in your past art on the art blog as well? It’s there that I want to carry on this debate. Mike the helper.
March 9th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Dear Mike, I would be more than pleased to meet you and your daughter during your trip in Europe. Unfortunately it seems you visit only South of Italy while Ferrara is located in the North, on the way from Bologna to Padova/Venezia. Just for your information and in the attempt to convince you to visit my city, Ferrara has been declared treasure of humanity from the Unesco. It is a beautiful city to visit in spite of fact that is less famous than Florence, Rome or Venice. Up to you. Stefano.
Hi Stefano, I’m sure we could come to Ferrara. With our train passes we can go anywhere. Are you Inviting us for a day or two? It might be good for another reason. My nephew is at the moment studying Italian in Bolognia and I thought of visiting him. Mike the helper
March 9th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Nice to see comments working fine now…. nice talking to Mike by e-mail though. Much thanks to Olive for her wonderful spirit, and to Mike for helping share her with the world. I’m from the USA, and can’t remember how I found your blob, but I’ve been checking in regularly for a while now. A very close friend is only 102, but I’d love to see the two of them visiting. The stories would flow!
March 9th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Hope you enjoy your trip to Europe and I don’t know what your Australian money situation is better then the American dollar.
I’ll be back to read Olive post as you are gone.
Have a safe trip.
Dora, Naples Idaho, usu
March 9th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Hi Olive and Mike ~~ Glad to be able to comments, I tried a few times and places but no luck the other day. I have enjoyed the last few posts, and the videos of Olive telling us about her earlier years.
They are most interesting Olive and you do well to do the Videos. I noticed (as Mike did) that your ankles were swollen. Wouldn’t your feet and legs be
better elevated a bit on at least a foot stool?
The art is interesting Mike and the ones you showed us looked great. I hope you and your daughter have a wonderful trip overseas. Take care both of you, and see about a foot stool for Olive. Love and Best Wishes, Merle.
Merle, her ankles are usually up. Hers is an electric chair and she can raise the foot rest. It’s usually horizontal. Mike the helper
March 10th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Mike, I’m glad Ollie’s blog is “repaired”, she must have missed her comments dearly. I will post my thoughts on family art and it’s influence on the art blog. We didn’t actually have any pictures at home (too poor) but my grandparents… now that was a different story.
I really envy your trip, I’ve never been further than Melbourne or Cairns. I’d love to visit England for the museums, not interested AT ALL in America I’m sorry, I think we have most of it here anyway these days (at least the bad bits!) and Ireland and Scotland call to me. Maybe one day, at least I can travel in spirit with you.
Hooroo,
Christine in lovely Autumnal Sydney
http://missmuffettwo.blogspot.com/
March 11th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Hope you’re enjoying these warm autumn days, Olive. Keep on blobbing.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Hii Oliva and Mike
Hope u are all fine
have a nice trip Mike
Take care and have fun
March 12th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
two things that i can remember were on my walls as a child. one was a reprint of a whole herd of mustangs running through the prairie. It was a study in earth-tones, and so beautiful to me as a child. the other was a filet crochet version of the lord’s prayer on blue velvet. the mustangs have run away, but my mother still has the lord’s prayer (my grandmother crocheted it)
March 14th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Happy Easter Ollie!
Just wanted to say howdy and hope you’re well. Eat a chocolate bilby for us!
March 15th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Dear Mike!
Im glad that you are coming to Europe. What a pity that Im not going to be in Hungary when you are planning to visit Eastern Europe but if you have a chance to visit Budapest when you go to the Czech Republic do it!:) It is not far from there!
If you come to Spain I really recommend you to visit San Sebastián this beautiful, small city in the Bask Country.
Well, I hope you are going to upload more and more stories about Ollie before you go!:)
Take care and hugs!
Attila
March 16th, 2008 at 12:40 am
DEAR OLLIE, YOU ARE SO FULL OF LIFE AND SUCH A WONDER. OF COURSE, YOU HAVE NEW THINGS TO THINK AND TALK ABOUT WITH MIKE AND HIS FAMILY TO HELP YOU. HOPE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUAND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR ACTIVITIES. KEEP UP YOUR SINGING AS WE LOVE IT! GOOD BYE FOR NOW, DARLENE SHUSTER,MCCONNELSVILLE, OHIO,USA
March 18th, 2008 at 4:43 am
Happy Easter Ollie! Sorry you’ve been having a bad week! I hope things look up for you soon!
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 am
Hello Ollie! Wishing you a very Happy Easter from Virginia! Love to view your posts. They’re so much fun, but it’s also been a wonderful history lesson. I saw some old irons in the video that looked just like the kind my grandmother, Maggie Mae, was still using when I was a little girl. She would put them on the flat top of her wood stove & heat them up. These days, people would think that was very odd, wouldn’t they?
Hope you’re doing well. Look forward to your next post.
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 am
Greetings! I dropped by your site, and will look at it more in the coming days when I find the time. I think it’s a great idea putting all the interesting story’s and such in to a blog like this. Keep up the great work! Rocky from Florida USA
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:15 am
Hi Ollie and Mike,
I stumbled upon the link above and thought you may find it of interest. The Lions club is planning an event for centarians in May. Imagine the stories that will be told there!
I’ve been an avid reader of your blog for a long time now and really enjoy your stories.
The one about Aub and the paintings was great, I am one of those thousands of cars that drive by every day without stopping. Next time I see his paintings out I will stop and look and have a chat.
Thanks for doing what you do… I’m always left with a smile after reading of your adventures.
Don’t eat too many chocolate eggs today!
Vicki
March 24th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Hi Mike,
I hope Olive doesn’t miss you too much on your trip! But I’m sure she has lots of friends to keep her company. If you find yourself in Oslo, drop us an email. There’s lots of fun stuff here! We are also travelling in May and June, a few small trips, so I hope we don’t miss you. But I recommend Oslo, either way. Does Olive have any interesting travel stories? Has she ever been outside of Australia? Ever took a voyage in a ship? That might be an interesting idea for a post.
Happy Easter to Olive,
Katy (Americans in Oslo)
Hi katy, the only country to which Olive traveled was New Guinea. She went up there to look after the kids of a grandaughter when she was in her seventies. We could get her to speak about that. Mike the helper
March 25th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Hope Ollie (and you Mike and your family) had a wonderful Easter holiday! Hope all is well in Australia!
March 26th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Well, Olive, I wanted to make sure you have plenty of comments! I live in the middle of Oklahoma, in the USA. Even as far away as I am, I have had an Australian student or two, even an aboriginal Australian! You Aussies are great travelers.
I love to look at your blog at the times when I wake up in the middle of the night and though I need to sleep I can’t. When I see your face and read your words, I feel I haven’t wasted my time!
It is always worth while to learn from you.
Here’s hoping you have lots of comments in the future!
Susan
March 26th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Mike,
I loved your mother’s painting and have made it my desktop wallpaper, though it’s rather blurry.
It reminds me of my mother’s paintings hanging on my wall. Maybe I will figure out a way to send them.
Susan
Norman
Oklahoma
USA
March 26th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Buenos Dias Olive. Hope your day is going well.