I Saw The Sign....

and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign
Life is demanding without understanding
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign
No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong
But where do you belong?🎶

So today I saw the signs....and it made me LOL....This is how you can BMore in Fells Point......

Holy Guacamole

It's been a while since I posted here. I need to get back into the grove. But I say that every year. LOL

Well for now, I can tell you what cool thing I did last week.  My second cousin Lori came to town. We went into Baltimore with a few addresses from my genealogical research on my Mom's family in hand. Then we went to those addresses and photographed some of them.

708 is to the left

We had a great time. The first stop of 708 Bond Street. My great grandparents Anna and Adam Schmidt first lived there when the immigrated from Russia Poland in the 1890s.  It was quite a surprise when we saw it was a bar, One Eyed Mikes. Lori took some photos and then stuck her head in there telling them what we were doing. People seemed interested so we went in and had a drink toasting Adam and Anna because without them immigrating to the US, we would never have been here! The owner told us it had become a bar in the 70's.  Who knew?  Turns out it is  World's First Grand Marnier Club & Liquor Licensed bar and it is the number one seller of Gran Marnier Liquor in the world.

 Looks like other families also rented there from the census records. I looked online and it has 3 apartments in the existing building. I wonder which floor our family lived on. They had 5 kids but the eldest was already married with a child so I'm sure she didn't live there.

Another stop was to 1814 Collington Avenue. That was one of the homes of great uncle Leon Schmidt. It was also the place where he shot a Baltimore City Police officer who later died. There are 2 stories. One is the family story and one is in the newspapers...I'll leave it to that. It looks like they were gutting it and modernizing it. I was kind of disapppointed but I'll go back at a later date when there isn't all that wood out there.

This photo has Lori taking photos while I'm illegally parked...yikes! Thank God it was a slow night in Baltimore or the police were preoccupied with more serious stuff so they didn't worry about the little offenses.

We took another 2 photos that I'm not sure now is the right address so I won't list them. I will when we do this again.

Me outside 224 S Madera St.

What an amazing change!

One of the really cool things was when we went to my grandmother Katherine Siwik Schmidt's little house near Patterson Park, 224 S. Madera Street. She bought it in 1961 after her husband Walter Schmidt passed away. They were living in Pasadena MD so she wanted to move back to the city.  The house as I remember it was flowered very old wall paper on the walls and a wallpapered ceiling, metal kitchen cabinets. Upstairs had 2 bedrooms and one bath but the bedrooms had no wall between them so you went up the steps and either went left to one or right to the other. She had painted screens and a metal monogram on the screen door that had a big S.

While Lori was taking photos the couple who was inside painting, reading it to rent, came out and asked what she was doing. She told them and they invited us in.  It was an amazing change as you can see from the photos. Everything had been gutted I'm sure. There was never exposed brick but I expect that came out when the plaster walls came down.  I walked around with my mouth open. It was beautifully modern. I was thinking I wish my Mom and Busia (grandmother) was alive to see those photos. Being back in that house brought me to tears. I'm so thankful. 

I was always the one in the illegally parked car! LOL

We were illegally parked again (it's an alley basically) but this time the Police found us. He sounded his siren so Lori went outside. She told him what we were doing and he seemed touched and was kind enough to allow her to go around the block and park again illegally.  I guess again we are small fish compared to what goes on in Baltimore these days.

Anyway...I wish you all a Happy New Year. My prayer and hope for you is that it will be a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous one for you.  Thanks for reading this.

Election Day Memories

I don't believe there are that many undecided voters. Most folks have an idea who to vote for in the major races. When I was a new voter my Dad would make me up a list of people to vote for when I said I didn't know who to vote for (that was before internet). Dad was always in the know because he worked on campaigns and belonged to the Democratic Club. Now it's so easy to go to places like Vote411.org to research people and positions.

This started as a facebook status and then I started thinking about all my crazy election day memories of childhood:
Signs in the yard....Brochures and buttons all over the house... My Dad campaigning for close family friend John Pica for City Council in Baltimore. Dad pulled a little merry-go round from the back of his truck which had large signs on it "Pica for City Council" and a speaker in which Dad would pipe out music or periodically say Pica for City Council. I loved driving around with Dad, listening to the music, watching as the other little kids would get on the merry-go round. As they were spinning around, Dad would be passing out the brochures and campaign buttons to all the Moms and Dads. I wish I'd saved all those buttons. This photo that I found online reminds me of them.

When I got old enough to vote, I said, "Dad I don't know what to register as." and he said "Democrat, they are for the working man." (He was very disappointed in later years when I switched to Republican).

And then there was the list I'd receive on voting day with all his top picks. The candidates would come to the club and Dad would size them all up making his notes.

He formed many long lasting friendships working for candidates. Til the day he died he was friends with 2 former local former state senators. This is the first election year since Mom and Dad died that they won't be here to vote. But something tells me Dad's making his list on the other side and whispering names in my ear.

Yesterdays Escape

 to Artscape in Baltimore was fun. Artscape is one of the largest free art shows/festivals in the country. I have always wanted to go but it seems like every time there would be one thing or another which prevented me from going there.

This year I went with my daughter, Jackie (on the left) and her friend Sara (right).

I don't know how many blocks they had closed off in town but it was pretty large. It is around the area of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).  There was the usual (and some unusual) food vendors and lots of artisans selling their wares mostly geared to the young hip crowd. I loved lots of it but just couldn't figure out where I'd put it. But it was fun to check it all out.

There was a section, the theme was carnival.The MiCA kids had all kinds of crazy interactive art there. I wish I had more time to check it all out. There were several stages of live performances. Jackie and Sara wanted to see Egg Babies Orchestra. They were mostly a cover band..they did a set of songs all with the theme Na Na Na Na Na Na....I never realized how many songs had that in them. They were very good. Then there were on street music men like the crazy guy on the left. He was too cute for words.
I loved the stage for the Rock Opera ...it was so cool. 

But I think my favorite part were the Art Cars. Cars with all kinds of things attached to them. Each one had a theme. This was my favorite one. 

What a great afternoon escape.......I look forward to next year.

The Heat Didn't Keep Us Down!

 So today we ventured out in the 100 degree heat wave out to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore to go to the new Ripley's Believe it or Not. What fun we had. Originally it was to be my husband, me and my grandson, Mason but my son's HVAC job got cancelled today so Joe was able to come with us.

That place is great. Mason was so excited. He was running all over the place, "Was he (or she) real Granny Jo". I'd tell him yes and he squeal with laughter. It was so cute.

Ready for battle.

Peak a boo.

Mason is such a ham. He loves having his photo taken and he seems to always find the perfect pose for the shot. Like look how sweet he looks with the lady with all the rings on her neck. And then he's tough and ready for battle with the Transformer. He's going to be in theater one day, just mark my words!

Joe making a gear man for Mason to play with.

Mason hamming it up with the giant.

Afterwards we went to the new Bubba Gumps next door. Originally Phillips occupied that space but they moved down the street. The food was excellent and the waitress Julianna was so sweet and good with Mason. He just loved her. There was shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp so guess what we ate? LOL....and some crab soup too. Mason had the pepperoni pizza on the child menu. It came with fries and jello. The jello really made a hit. So if you are in the Baltimore area. I highly recommend both places.

More Sailabration!

Indonesian Tall Ship

 Well today was second day of  Sailabration for me. The DH (Darling Husband) wanted to see the Tall Ships so we headed out early for the Baltimore Harbor. I didn't have too much trouble finding parking thankfully.

Indonesia notice the carved wood on mast.

We walked to the Harbor and jumped right on the Indonesian tall ship. It was beautiful lots of carved wood. The crew was very friendly.

Ecuador

Then it was over to the Tall Ship from Ecuador. It was also very beautiful. I had to chuckle, they had a jolly roger flag and also a skull painted on one of their mask. When we got on it, there was music playing...latin salsa! People were dancing around. It was fun watching them.

USS Monsoon

The Tall Ship lines were getting really long so we high tailed it over to the Gray Hull ships.We were one of the first groups to get on the USS Moonson (coastal cruiser). The young man who did our tour was noticeably nervous but he did a great job and was very thorough. It was small but powerful little ship.

Some fancy gun...I forget what it was called

There was a little boy with our group and he was so smart. He was asking very pointed we thought out questions about the engines and also weapons. I wonder how he knew all that? He was only about 10 or so.

Bounty

Well as if I hadn't had enough of harbors and ships, in the evening I was off to Annapolis to meet a friend for coffee at the Harbor. And what did we run into? 

You guessed it another Tall Ship. This one was the Bounty ...built in the 60's for the movie Mutiny and the Bounty with Marlon Brando. It was closed so we couldn't get on it but it was cool to see it.

Sunset behind the State House in Annapolis

So what a fun day...not planned it just all happened. I love spontaneity.

It's a Sailabration

Mexico

 

The Fire Boat...welcoming the ships

     Today was a special day in our area. I live in Maryland not far from Ft. McHenry the home of the Star Spangled Banner. This week marks the 200 year anniversary of the War of 1812.  Today 40 tall ships and navy war ships sailed down the bay and into the Baltimore Harbor past the Fort. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful sight and I am blessed to have been able to witness it with my friend Charmaine and her sister Dee.  The ships slowed down at the Fort and shot blanks off at the Fort and then the Fort in return fired back.

       There were lots of people all along the shore, some on blankets, some in chairs and some like us sitting in the grass.There were lots of kids there too. I wish my son had my grandson this week. He would have loved this. 

As each ship passed by those on the shore would wave and clap.  The sailors would respond with waves.  Some of the ships, like the Mexican tall ship played music which you could hear along the shores.

    Park Rangers were all over the place pointing out the ships and which countries they hailed from. 

         The weather was perfect, low humidity, warm temperatures and a wonderful breeze off the water.  Everyone it seemed had a camera. But the guy on the right had the Big Daddy of Cameras! LOL. I couldn't resist sneaking a photo of him.

  There was so much to see on the land and in the water.  We even saw a rare sight. Off the bulkhead I spotted a sea ray going all over the place, fins rising up from the choppy water as if to say welcome, we are glad you can come celebrate with us.  The ships will be here until Tuesday. There are lots of things going on in the Harbor. Including concerts, the Blue Angels, ship tours, you name it. I hope I'm able to fit more.

It's days like this that I'm thankful that I was born in Maryland.

Took-ees

I'm thinking how much I am looking forward to going to St. Leo's in Little Italy this weekend to learn how to make Italian Cookies from a chef. I'm doing this with my daughter Jackie. Then we are going to find a day (ha ha ha...you are laughing if you know us and our schedules) to make more for Christmas. 

I'm hoping it's going to be nice Saturday so we can also have lunch while we are down there.

Oh and you are probably wondering why my post is called Took-ees -- that's because Mason, my grandson calls cookies took-ees. And he is quite possibly the cutest kid in the whole wide world...or as he would say 'out to outer space.'
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The Santa bell ornament is available in my Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/listing/54409514/hand-painted-porcelain-santa-bell

St Vincent Cemetery

Well we have come a long way since my first blog. The grounds have been cleared. We have researched a number of new names of burials. Cataloging of the tombstones has begun. We have a photobucket site up that shows all the stones we've photographed and the transcriptions AND we have a new website.

Please take a moment to look at the site I just put together. Check out the names. If you are from the Baltimore and are Italian, Irish or German, you may have family buried there. Check out our new site: Http://stvincentcemetery.tripod.com

Want to get involved? Join our Yahoo group for information sharing of current research and upcoming meetings and clean up events:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StVincentCemeteryRestorationGroupBaltimoreMD/

There was no money set aside for maintenance of the cemetery. It now relies on the generousity of interested parties for periodic mowing and upkeep.
To make a donation please send it  to:


St. Vincent de Paul Church
Attention: Rev. Richard Lawrence
120 North Front Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

In the memo portion of your check please write:
St. Vincent Cemetery Renovation Fund.

Wattamelllllllllloooon Soup!

Watermelon is one of the fruits that remind me of when I was a kid and lived in Baltimore City. The A-rabbers would come past the house with carts and horses saying, "Wattamelllllooon" or "Straabeddies, chaahahdies". I loved hearing the clipclop of the horses and the sounds of the A-rabbers. I really missed that when we moved to the "country" (not really the country but it was to us).

So today I have the recipe for one of my favorites....Watermelon Soup!!!! I love cold soups. So here's the recipe

Ingredients


4 cups seeded watermelon cubes
1/3 cup apple juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice for a little twang!
1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon honey (optional)
1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt (optional too--I'm not a plain yogurt fan!)
Balls of watermelon

Preparation
Process first 5 ingredients and honey, if desired, in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Cover and chill 1 hour. Serve in individual bowls with a dollop of yogurt or balls of watermelon.

A little shameless self promotion. The ACEO show of the horse is available for sale in my Zibbet Shop---it's framed $12.99  http://www.zibbet.com/ArtByJYWheeler