Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

During my Hawaiian trip in May I visited the historic site of Pearl Harbor. Seventy one years ago today 2,439 enlisted men and civilians lost their lives during this surprise attack.

My journey while touring Pearl Harbor brought up mixed emotions from anger to sadness and ultimately to hope.

Pearl Harbor is on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii. On December 7, 1941 a Japanese Naval Fleet secretly moved into position north of the island of O'ahu and launched a surprise attack on the Pacific Fleet that was anchored in Pearl Harbor.

Inside the museum, this is one of the first panels of a timeline
that explains what happen on December 7, 1941.

A boat takes small groups out to the USS Arizona Memorial.

The USS Arizona Memorial is built over the remains
of the sunken battleship USS Arizona.

For over one thousand crewmen, this is their final resting place after their ship was bombed on December 7, 1941.

The USS Arizona Memorial consists of three sections the entry, assembly room and the shrine.

Flags line both sides of the entryway.

In the assembly room, there are seven large open windows on
each side and on the ceiling to commemorate the date of the attack.

The assembly room is a quiet place
with just a few hushed whispers being heard.

A few pieces of the ship are visible above the water line.

The out line of the submerged ship.

This postcard shows the sunken remains of USS Arizona. The white blocks to
the right are the mooring quays that once secured the great warships in 1941.

Inside the shrine is a marble wall that contains the names of all killed on the Arizona.

Sanderson appeared on the marble wall, perhaps
a relative of my husband.

A small plaque is also installed in this area which bears the names of the survivors from the Arizona.

Tears filled my eyes as I stood in this room and saw all of the names carved on the wall, the room was quiet, and sorrow filled the air.

As I left the shrine area and re-entered the assembly room, I looked up and saw the American flag.

When I saw my countries flag flying high, I said a prayer of thanks
for all of the men and women who have fought and continue to fight
so I could live in a free land.

This Tree of Life sculpture stands tall in the walk way of the visitors center.
This sculpture reminded me that life goes on with the hope that future generations
learn from past events and find a better way to resolve differences.

The Tree of Life can also be seen on either side inside
the shrine area on the USS Arizona Memorial.

A half cement wall holds quotes about the events that occurred at Pearl Harbor. This quote from Alvin H. Bruene is probably the most accurate. May the victims of this horrific event rest in peace.

Dinning in the Walnut Room a Christmas Tradition

Dinning on the seventh floor of Macy's in the iconic Walnut Room during the Christmas season has been delighting locals and tourists for 105 years and has become a Christmas tradition for many people.

Reservations are not accepted at the Walnut Room you are seated on a first come first served basis, lines during the holidays are long, but well worth the wait.

The Walnut Room not only sells food but Christmas memories. A 45 foot Christmas tree with 6,600 lights and 10,000 ornaments sits in the middle of the main dinning room. The theme of this year's Great Tree is "You're a Star."

This was my first glimpse of the Great Tree while I
was standing in line waiting to be seated.

Everyone waiting in line is hoping for a seat in the main dinning area near the Great Tree. I too had my fingers crossed for a view of the tree while eating.

We were fortunate to get a table so close to the tree, made me happy.

This was one of the Christmas window displays outside of Macy's
it is a remarkably good illustration of the restaurant.

Before we even sat down we all knew what we were going to order, Mrs. Herring's chicken pot pie. A clerk Mrs. Herring was found serving her delicious pot pie to female customers in a stock room that room became the Walnut Room. The restaurant is still selling Mrs. Herring's pot pies. Over 12,000 pounds of pot pie is eaten during the holiday season.

Severed with a small side salad, the pot pie sells for $10.95.

Remember when pot pies had a bottom crust? I miss that.

 

Of course, we had dessert!

Frango Mint Ice Pie

A Christmas fairy wonders around the dinning area with her magic wand and fair dust helping dinners make their Christmas wishes.

The Christmas fairy helping to grant Christmas wishes.

Every five minutes the large stars lights, would flash on
and off making the tree even more magical.

After our fabulous lunch was over, we headed to the 8th floor to have one last look at the Great Tree from above.

View of the Great Tree in the Walnut Room from the 8th floor.

Macy's Christmas Window Display on State Street, Chicago

This Christmas two of my friends and I decided that instead of exchanging gifts we would all do something fun together.

Monday morning we were all seated on the 7:13 A.M. train, destination State Street in downtown Chicago for an early lunch at the Walnut Room in Macy's department store, and a stroll through the German Christmas market in Daley plaza.

First stop Macy's window display:

The window theme,
"The Magic of Christmas"

Inside Santa's magical house.

Romper Room, featuring  Kukla and Fran.

Uncle Mistletoe, sitting on the white box,
appeared in a Christmas window in 1946.
In the front is Freddy Fieldmouse a mascot when the
store was owned by Marshall Field and Company.

"Since 1897, State Streets great clock has announced
Christmas time with every tick-tock."

The great clock is still an icon today.

The Walnut Room at Christmas, eating Mrs. Hering's
famous potpie, a Christmas tradition.

Inside of Macy's Christmas decorations floated

 in the air, or so it seemed.

To be continued in tomorrow's post.

Cheerfully,

Paulette

As I get older my memories become more precious to me, and I regret not paying more attention to my families Polish traditions.

My grandparents came over from Poland made a home in Chicago, later to a suburb in North Chicago, and had seven children, my father being the youngest. They lived in a Polish neighborhood, with the Polish Catholic school, convent, church, grocery store, retail store, bowling alley, bakery, liquor store, and funeral home all within a three block area.

When my Aunt's and Uncle's got married they purchased homes within the Polish community just a few blocks away from the grandparents home.

The family homestead sat on a large property with a small rug factory sitting at the back of the property next to the house. There they made rag rugs. When the business closed my father converted the factory into a house, and that is where I grew up.

On Sundays relatives from Chicago would arrive to share the Sunday afternoon meal, sit in lawn chairs and visit while the children played in the yard. It seemed that every Sunday we celebrated something, a birthday, anniversary, name day, I think my family just liked to party.

I often wonder where the rest of the
grandchildren were when this photo was taken. 

Living next door and sharing the adjoining property our house too, was always full of relatives. Oh, those were the good old days, but at that time I didn't think so.

Family stories were told, and retold and, of course I remember bits and pieces, but now, how I wish I had listen more closely and ask questions.

On Sunday, my sister, her husband and my oldest daughter and her family joined me as we attended a holiday brunch and Polish bazaar at the Polish Center in Franklin, Wisconsin.  We dined on Polish sausage, smoked salmon, pierogi, mizeria (creamed cucumber and dill) ham, Polish pastries, and much more.

At the bazaar, Polish pottery filled the tables, Paczki (prune filled donuts), cookbooks, straw ornaments, glass ornaments imported from Poland, and oplatek (Christmas wafer) were being sold, along with other beautiful Polish items.

My granddaughter was thrilled to meet the reigning Little Miss Poland, Pre-Teen, and Teen Polish Queens. The Christmas trees were decorated with traditional Polish ornaments, many handmade by the club members. 

We looked at all the beautiful Szopka's (pronounced shop-key, a Polish Christmas creche) that the member brought in to display.

It was a marvellous event that brought back memories for my sister and I. Where are the pictures you might be wondering, I forgot my camera!

We had a wonderful time, but I realized that I need to instill in all of my grandchildren the importance of family traditions and history.

Victorian Mansion Sparkles for Christmas

The Durkee Mansion built in 1861, sits on ten acres overlooking Lake Michigan. The mansion built by Charles Durkee, an early settler to Kenosha and a prominent politician, lived in the mansion for four years with his wife Caroline.

In 1865, Charles Durkee, leased the house and adjoining land to the Episcopal Church to be used as a seminary for young ladies. It remained a school until 1975.

The mansion and grounds are now owned by Kenosha County. Each year volunteers decorate the Victorian mansion and make it sparkle for the Christmas season. This year's display is titled "Victorian Jewel Box."

"The mansion is a gem on its own, but the lavish decorations bring back the splendor of the season to its Civil War-era roots." 

Colors associated with gemstones are featured in each 

room, the main parlor features garnet and ruby.

The crocheted dollies made by volunteers and wrapped around
glass ornaments with red accents were featured on this tree.

The small kitchen was a happy and cozy place, 

I thought the windows were charming.

The dinning room looked splendid with its 

amethyst and gold color scheme.

My next post will feature the four bedrooms, 

one is a child's room which is my favorite. 

By My Mother's Hand

In my post on Tuesday titled, Feed the Birds I told you about the love my father had for birds, in particular the cardinal. 

My mother loved doing needlework projects, she embroidered, did needlepoint and enjoyed crewel work.  I suspect that her crewel work  of the cardinal on  evergreen branch was made for my father's pleasure.

For the winter months, my mother's handiwork will hang on my living room wall.  I wanted to share some photos of the cardinal she made.

 

This is the same kind of bird that would frequent our bird feeder.

Several of the evergreen needles, pine cones, and birds
nest is raised to give it a three dimensional look.

My daughter thinks I should reframe this piece, but I like the 70's frame.

I am so happy to have several items that were made by my mother, this is one of my favorite treasures.