Love Letters

While I am waiting for Dad to dig up some McNamara history from the basement, I checked on Great Grandma Pelletier nee Blanchard. Here is a record of her marriage to Great Grandpa Pelletier, who wooed her with his violin. If you click on Tiny Township Simcoe County, you will find a list of names including Daoust & Desrochers, surnames which Grandma Campbell kept newspaper clippings and prayer cards.

I wondered if Alphonse (card below) was from one of these families, and was he responsible for the letter from the First World War? There is similarity in the sentiment of flowers and memories, but the war letter was not written by the same hand and was signed Joriot(?), Champlain C.T.

Beneath the dove is written "eorge Pelletier", the missing letter is no mystery.

That the angel of soft ? carry you under its wing...by the perfume of the flowers of the memory and the recognition with my best wishes of happiness for the year.

In Possession of a Letter

Tonight I was thinking about translating a french letter from the First World War. Not sure who it was to or from, could have been a cousin of Great Grandma Pelletier. I was also thinking about war veterans and went to the Archives of Ontario clicked on Visual Database then clicked on W for War. Guess what the 1st image was? Must be possessed.

But who was his dear friend?

Third Canadian Stationary Hospital, France

Into the Archives

Finally looked through the Archives Canada NP material, access here or here, but nothing is digitized. I fear I’m neglecting the McNamara side, so here’s the link to Martin at the Archives. Next search: Kilkee, Ireland.

Holland - after the Germans left, 1944

Old News

Glad that Grandma Campbell saved so much stuff because I came across a newspaper article that said Varley wanted to borrow $50 from uncle Narcisse, not $10. I suppose it’s inevitable for stories to vary with time. The article also mentions that Great Grandpa Pelletier made his own violin, but mum isn’t sure what happened to that. I Google mapped 32 and 34 Blandford street to see how they might have changed. Here’s the Now and Then.

View Larger Map

Boo Hoo!

I just spoke to mum, she remembers Andre Lapine as a very expressive character, and he once told them the story of the Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde. Warning: It is not happy!

Tee Hee!

I knew after the apple sign there should be more to find. I’ve had this sketch of Grandma sitting on the top of the magic photo treasure trove. The signature is Andre Lapine, another Canadian Artist.

Grandma sitting pretty

Apple of my eye

Marie, now you must check out all the NASA satellite podcasts. Can I tell you how envious I am? Apparently Newton bragged about the size of his telescope, I know because I watched this NOVA program last night. This morning I complained to my friend Greg about their non-belief in the apple story but I was lifted out of my mood when he sent me the Google search for today, it’s the 3rd apple sign!!! (I didn’t realize it was his birthday, blessed Sir Isaac Newton, pray for us).

He had a small telescope, but it was powerful.

I’m no Martha Stewart but…

I’ve been busy with school, so the McNamaras have been left to their own decorating sensibilities, or lack thereof. I’m not sure if the Santa on white space is quite Zen because I was trying to drink my coffee this morning and couldn’t help feeling creeped out by the fat man watching me.

When the monkeys run the zoo

A real apple

Something’s up. Tonight I was waiting in a parking lot, staring at a cement wall and the back of an apartment building, (feeling sorry for myself and thinking “what the heck am I doing in life?) when my eyes focused on something red and round. No kidding, there was an apple on the wall.

Apples in the Gutter

This afternoon my friend Greg and I came across some squishy foam apples on a street curb. Whoever doesn’t believe in signs misses out on meaning. Courtesy of Greg, here is the synchronistic link for today: The Golden Apple.

Medisys promotional apple (logo is on the other side)

By the way, in the previous post I referred to Min Lilla Veranda as Danish, but I believe it is Swedish…oh well, Swede’s, Dane’s…