A TRIBUTE TO ALL MOTHERS

Mother’s Day is a day to spend extra thoughts of, or money on, or time with, your mother (grandmother, aunt, or a woman who’s like a mother) whether she’s nearby, has passed, or lives miles away.  The photo in this post is of us (Tara on left) with our mother, Ruth.  Cat-eye glasses and beehive hairdos were popular at the time, and even though our mother cringes today at what the styles were years ago, we still think she’s as beautiful today as she was yesterday. 

Our wish is for everyone to enjoy an extra special Mother’s Day!

The final photo is of three generations: Grandmom Ralph (our maternal grandmother), April, Tara, and Ruth (our mother).

–Tara and April

H A P P Y     E A S T E R
from
“The Sister Team“

April (left) and Tara (right)
as little girls on Easter morning.

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

Love comes in many shapes and sizes.  Whether you have a sweetheart or not, embrace the wonders of nature and share your love and compassion this Valentine’s Day with a lonely neighbor, a retired veteran, a homeless person, or a shelter pet. 

Volunteer your time at an old-age home, wash someone’s car or bring their trash cans in, deliver some cookies, write a letter to a service man or woman, give a hug, share a good cry, smile at a stranger … but most of all, take a deep breath and breathe in life!!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! 

CALLING ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS! 

This Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, take part in a college scavenger race involving the four higher education campuses in the City of Riverside and vie to win money for books!  Discover some of Riverside’s treasures while competing for money in a race against time and peers!

Teams of 3 with college ID only costs $20.00.  Free t-shirts for the first 150 teams to register! There will be a scavenger hunt, prizes for the top five teams, food and fun!  Grand prize: Each member of the winning team will win a $500 book scholarship. 

Click here to register today!  For more informtion, please call (951) 826-2436.

The College Council of Riverside (CCOR) is an advisory group of students from the four higher education campuses (UCR, RCC, CBU, LSU) working to promote Riverside as a “university community” by elevating quality off-campus experiences, engaging in activities that encourage a “college” culture, and connecting students and recent alumni to the region’s workforce through internships.

SANTA will be making a special appearance at 3943 Chapman Place (the house with the train) this Saturday, December 10th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  Santa’s helpers will be serving hot chocolate, cookies and cupcakes for children and adults!  If you forget your camera, we’ll take photos for you.

The train will be
spouting off real smoke, and the wheels actually turn ’round and ’round, with real train sounds too!   Kids, young and old, can sit inside the train for photo opportunities. 

Many people are
curious as to when
the Chapman Place Christmas decoration tradition began.  One
of our neighbors did some research and found a 1966 Press-Enterprise newspaper article.  The
tradition of decorating the street was proposed in 1950 by Chapman Place resident Charles M. Wilson. 

 In 1950, the west end of the street was still an orange grove, yet the homeowners gathered in Charlie’s garage to make 8-foot tall Christmas trees out of aluminum foil.  The 1966 newspaper photo showcased
life-sized lit candlesticks that lined the street, which the current residents reproduced and put in place this year for the whole neighborhood to enjoy! 

Take a stroll down Chapman Place tonight….

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Let us all be grateful for our loved ones, a roof over our head, the food with which we satisfy our hunger, and the ability to be consciously grateful for all that we have.  We wish you a most grateful Thanksgiving, and leave you with three thoughts of gratitude: 

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; 
to the honest man it comes as frequently
as the heart of gratitude will allow.  –Edward Sandford Martin

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them
is the true meaning of Thanksgiving. –W.T. Purkiser

 As we express our gratitude, we must never forget
that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live by them.  –John Fitzgerald Kennedy

What is a Veteran?

A “Veteran” — whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve — is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount of “up to, and including his/her life”.

We thank all the Veterans, who are now serving, or who have served in the past.  Thank you, and your families, for your sacrifices. 

No Scaredy Cats This Halloween: Top 5 Safety Tips for Pet Parents

Attention, animal lovers, the ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet(s) safe.

1)  No tricks, no treats:  That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy.  Chocolate in all forms — especially dark or baking chocolate — can be very dangerous for dogs and cats.  If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.

2)  Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets.  Please don’t put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she doesn’t mind.  For pets who prefer their “birthday suits”, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.

3)  A carved pumpking certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle.  Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire.  Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

4)  When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside; best to lock them in a bedroom or bathroom for safe keeping on Halloween night.

 5) IDs, please!!  Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification.  If for any reason, your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and/or microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she be returned to you.

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN from our house, and pets, to yours!!!

Growing up just outside of Philadelphia, as children, Tara and I would visit relatives in Manhattan every summer.  We remember visiting the World Trade Center shortly after it first opened in 1973.  The photo above was taken when my father and I visited the Empire State Building in the late 1990s.  In May 2006, we sadly visited what was once the World Trade Center.  To actually stand where the carnage took place was surreal, and overwhelmingly sad.

No one will forget the lives lost in Manhattan, the Pentagon, or the Shanksville Pennsylvania field on that fateful day, ten years ago.  We bow our heads in silence…