A funny thing happened

In high school it was a thrill to talk on the phone for hours to a girlfriend or developing relationship. Then college came and nights in dorm rooms spent studying, and talking replaced the phone. Letters from home and an occasional well timed call from home were the treat. Some where along the line in came the computer and your all important E-MAIL ADDRESS enters the picture. At the same time a cell phone which let me call anyone anytime (if I had the minutes) and a phone call, once again, became routine. Then it was a treat to get an e-mail from my friends and family. I'd open my e-mail with great anticipation of a quick note from someone keeping up or saying hello. Then came texting and no need to talk or be in person or even send more than a one liner. Then the photo on the phone, why text when you can send a picture, it is worth 1000 words isn't it?

So, now I sit in isolation from everyone and everything. No one calls, no one sends letters, rarely I get a text, and never do I have a personal e-mail. Except for my dear sweet Mom, she does all of the above. I sure do love her. Thanks Mom for calling, mailing, e-mailing and even reading my blog. I sure do love you.

Mary Kathleen Larcombe Freese

Today my husband lost his Mom. A very sad day for many. Tim will miss his pilar of family. I will miss the best mother-in-law anyone could ask for. I'll post her mini bio here and a few photos.

Mary Kathleen (Kathie) Larcombe Freese

Mary Kathleen (Kathie) Larcombe Freese passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on August 15, 2011 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. She succumbed to chronic heart and lung conditions.
Kathie was born on September 12, 1930 in Washington, D.C. She was the oldest daughter of John and Olive Larcombe. She grew up in Washington Grove and Gaithersburg where she enjoyed horseback riding in Laytonsville, spending time with family and friends, and playing sports. Kathie graduated from St. Martins of Tours School in 1944 and Gaithersburg High School in 1948. In high school, she was a distinguished athlete and captain of several sports teams. In college, she was a member of the University of Maryland’s renowned Gymkana Troupe, where she earned numerous awards including Best Trouper in 1949.

Kathie was a devoted mother of eight children. As an Air Force Officer’s wife, she raised her children in a variety of places including Arizona, Washington, DC, Georgia and New Mexico. She and her first husband homesteaded in Kenai Alaska, then moved to Bangkok, Thailand and finally returned to Maryland in 1970.

At age 44, Kathie returned to college and earned her BS degree in recreation from the University of Maryland, College Park. Kathie then worked for the Montgomery County Recreation Department for 23 years. A highlight of her career with the Recreation Department was her tenure as Director of Longwood Community Center where she and her second husband Graham Little were active in community affairs. Kathie was recognized by the Maryland House of Delegates for her outstanding contributions to the greater Olney Civic Association.
After being widowed for 9 years, Kathie was happily married to Russel Freese in 1996.
Kathleen is survived by her husband, Russel Freese of Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, MD and her sister Jacqueline Doyle of Belvedere, CA and Santa Fe, NM. She is also survived by seven children, Joseph Kuchta and his wife Susan of Gaithersburg, John Kuchta of Redmond, WA, Mary Foster and her husband James of Baltimore, Carol Scannelli and her husband Vincent of Bethesda, Thomas Kuchta and his wife Stephanie of Kenai, AK and Pryor Lake, MN, Tim Kuchta and his wife Heidi of Kensington, and Jacqueline Kuchta and her husband David Wachter of Takoma Park. She is also survived by her step-son Robert Freese of Germantown and step-daughter Linda Privet of Brunswick, MD. She was predeceased by an infant daughter, Susan Virginia Kuchta. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Kathie was devoted to her family. She will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by them all.

Kathie made an anatomical gift to the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.

There will be a memorial service for Kathie on Friday August 19, 2011 at 11:00 AM at The Guild Memorial Chapel in Asbury Methodist Village, 211 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877. A reception will follow the service. Gifts in her memory may be made to the Asbury Foundation – Benevolent Fund, 201 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877, (301-216-4051).

Say hello to my Dad and Brother Kathie. Enjoy all the angels that have gone before you. Enjoy getting to know your Susan. I love you. Heidi

My helper Mom and puddy!

The day was perfect for a putter in my office. I've gotten 3 bags of paper OUT!
Found many things and am getting ahead of the bogged down Feng Shui going on in the office.

Mom came to help me today and she had her own little helper too! Love a good putter day.

Sylvester cannot help himself! Mom found some letters from her Dad about a house he wanted to build written to his mother when he was 12. I had them for the stamps. She was only slightly distraced reading them again. Mom helped organize my stamps and Christmas cards. All little steps toward my ultimate organized office.

Mom the Errand girl

Let it not be said that my Mom is not resourceful, and will have a very planned out circuitous route for her errands of the day.

On Monday January 31,2011 Mom started out on her errands. Having baked her famous biscottis for the neighbors who shoveled her entire driveway on Sunday and the Sanzaro's, as she cannot make biscotti and not take some to them! She has her list in hand she was ready to go. Now remember is was about 20 degrees this day, yet sunny and clear.

1. Stopped by the neighbors 2 doors down and dropped off a perfect selection of biscotti for the snow shovling family.
2. Found a Honda Key, walked it to Kroughs to ask them to post it on "that list serve thing for Oberon Street" to see who may have lost their Honda key.
3. Drove to Sanzaro's to drop off biscotti on the front porch.

Here is where her day got interesting! She left the car running as it was 20 degrees out and she would just be a minute to leave the tidy package on the front door. But as her norm when she got out of her 1998 Saturn wagon she locked the door by holding up the handle........key inside and car running. Hum! Delivered biscotti, knocked to see if anyone home. No. Hum!

Cell phone usually in pocket, but tucked safely in locked engine running car. So waited for someone to drive by the car in the neighborhood to call AAA. Called AAA and was told "at least 2 hours". Smart thinking little 87 year old pulled the "I am 87 and out in the cold with the car running!" card.

Dispatcher: "Are there children in the car?"

Mom:"Don't you think they would unlock the door?"

Dispatcher: "They could be in car seats."

Mom: "Again, I am 87!"

Dispatcher: "I'll send someone, but it may be 2 hours"

At this point the lady who stopped insisted she come home with her and wait in the warm of her home, but no she could not see the car from her house, and if AAA came and no one was there they would leave. So Mom just leaned on her warm engine and "enjoyed the crisp air"! Not 15 minutes go by and up pulls AAA to rescue Mom. He gets in the car in less than a minute and Mom offers to get her AAA card and identification. The guy said to her: "Mame if you were going to steal a car don't you think you'd go up the street here and steal a Ferrari or a Jaguar or a Mercades? I am sure this is your Saturn! You have a good day and be careful!" So off she goes on her merry errand list.

4. Further on the same street she visited a dear friend suffering from the long term affects of Schtzophrenia.

5. Drove up to Kensington to the bank. No one in line, deposited a check.

6. Drove to Wheaton to get her toes done and found a meter with a hour and 15 mintues on it, just enough time to have her toes doen and be home for lunch!

She is one errand running girl. She may want to ammend this. But it is the best I can remember.

One year of blogging, and one long year of loss

What a year. I started with thoughts about loosing my beloved friend, mentor and plastic surgeon; Thomas Sanzaro suddenly. It was exactly one year ago today. I have honestly missed him daily since I heard the awful news from Ashley in Rehoboth Beach. Good news for him, he has had a wonderful addition to his family, a new granddaughter Carolina Chase Butler on 9-9-10. Hard to believe, but she actually looks like her beloved Grandpa. I am thrilled for the whole family.


This year has been a year of changes for me too, in a much better way than above. Tim quit his IT job at Sibley and become a full time student for the first time in his whole life. It is much harder than he thought, but he is now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for his Bachelor's degree in IT and a minor in computer securities! Waaaahoooo! He has 9 of his 15 classes done and is already registered for 4 more this fall. Then two in the winter and he can start looking hard to find the perfect match for employment and qualifications. We have had an interesting year of major changes in life style, spending habits and no dining out. We are doing quite well, better than we both had hoped. Amazing what you can do when you make a budget and stick to it, even when it is easier not to! We both are working hard in our own ways, and are working toward one goal together. What doesn't kill us will make us stronger!


I have posted 95 blogs. I think I am getting better every time. Some are short, some are long. Some I expect responses from and get none, some I only have my faithful commenter Bethany, and occasionally I get 3 or 4 comments! I'll have to join a blog community like Bethany did and diverse my readers! And my reading. I'm looking for good gardening, cooking, organizing one. Any suggestions will be welcome!


And on a much happier note today Mom and I picked up the lamp base. Major changes to it, the addition of 3 bulb holders, a top to accommodate the shade, six pounds of lead in the bottom to keep it from toppling over from the weight of the shade and viola, we have a renovated lamp base. They cleaned her up and she is shiny new. And looks spectacular if I do say so myself. Here are a few photos, we still need to darken the silver solder, and we will soon. (or maybe after Mom gets back from Portland/Chelan)






Pretty impressive! And we are not done, we also want to find the perfect cobalt beads for the pulls. But that will come in time.

Cutie patuttie Mom and her sunflowers

Here is Mom in all her glory with her 10 foot sunflowers. She has had quite the success with them. The little flowers below them are cone flowers, that used to be tall until their steroid cousins the sunflowers were planted. And these from little seeds she just stuck in the ground with her finger!

Just a bit-o-what Mom is making

Since Kate has taken to going to Haiti far before it was cool to go (after the earthquake) Mom had been to a toast of Haiti event, AKA as a fundraiser for the hospital. There were items to bid on and Mom wanted to help too. We've all seen and received the adorable little Christmas ornaments Mom made last year for the whole famdamily. Well she embarked on a project to make 50 of the little sweaters pictured below. She hopes they can be auctioned off at the taste of Haiti for at least $20.00 each, making her donation to the cause in Kate's little hospital in the Merlot be a grand total of $1,000.00. So Mom has been knitting to the bone, and here are the final 50 in her little display before they went to Kate for delivery. The emblem on them is the knights of Malta emblem, they run the hospital and are very involved in its daily life with the nuns.




Here she is with the final one. She is so clever, and cute.


Let me know if you want to donate your $20.00 to Haiti and get a sweater!

A get away for the 4 of us to Rehoboth Beach

Holly is here and the time is zooming. The saying time flies when you are having fun is too true!

We stopped in awe of these hydrangeas on Route 1. Amazing display.



Here is a bad attempt at a self portrait, then some nice lady came along and took the one to follow.




This is the only photo of the 4 of us at Rehoboth Beach, we went to the beach. Kate and Holly had a lovely walk on the beach, I stayed and visited with Mom. A beautiful day.



Mom does love the sound of the ocean, but she decided she'd rather watch it than swim in it anymore.



Kate and Holly on the way to the ocean.



We had a great time shopping, visiting, and relaxing. Tim came down on Thursday night and made us a lovely dinner. Holly, Kate and Mom went back to DC on Friday morning as Holly was to be at the Sharps by 3pm. Tim and I had the rest of the weekend to putter about the house and run errands.

The week zoomed, we got so much accomplished, and had a great visit

Memorial Day 2010

What a beautiful HOT weekend we are having. Tim and I decided to stay in Maryland for the 3 day. The traffic is not worth the fight, and we have lots to do here too.
Tim spent the weekend in his long final push towards finals. I helped with a Humanities paper. I think he wrote 5 papers and took 4 tests so far! Only 2 weeks to go and 5 classes will be done! YIPPIE!
I also puttered a bit in my office. I think I'll post photos to shame myself into cleaning it up.
Monday I slept in and then headed to Mom's to do the first soldering on our lamp. The finish line is in sight. The lamp is in it's ugly duckling stage. Today we spent 5 hours just spot soldering the joints together. We have 662 pieces and that makes a lot of little spot soldering. We also started outside and had to move inside as the pieces started sliding off the wax. It was 99 degrees today (Bethany and Andy you came at the right time!)

Before we began on the porch, we did not get 3/4 of the way around the top part before the sides started sliding off! Funny now, not then! :)



Rosie the riveter! Oh Momma the soldier!
Note the pure concentration.


They fell off in this position too, but were not slowly sliding down the sides!



So we are ready for class! Yippie! The end is really in site! Now to learn to make the solder look perfect, get the lamp base made to accommodate the top, attach the ring to the bottom, solder the inside, betina it, clean it and then we are done!

From Christmas to Memorial day in 6 short months of a project!

One better disc, and 3 panels foiled

Mom had her kyphoplasty today and is actually feeling better! YEA! So glad there are procedures to take care of aging, broken back bones. Everyone drink their milk.

Mom is really doing so well that she insisted on going to our 5th of 6 stained glass classes tonight, she did fine. Only complained about her neck! And we got many oohs and aaahhhs about our 3 done panels. Bethany said it looks better in person! I'll add photos soon.

I am too overwhelmed with the past 5 days to post about our Kestner/Kuchta/Haywood vacation. Just see Bethany's, she is doing a great job so far! Letme just say I'll vacation with Bethany and Andy ANY time. But I will add my thoughts too.

Let me get past this week. I'll back post! I cheat like that all the time, so just when you think you've seen all my thoughts! I put new ones in!



Here is what we took to class tonight, impressive, but the back side is blank!

Moving right along, after a tumble

Thursday Mom had quite the tumble in the shower. She is OK, managed to go to the genealogy library for the morning and then took herself to Kaiser for a look see. They said she was fine and would be stiff. Well stiff seems to be the understatement of the week.
She is OK, but scared and delicate. Nothing broken and her back hurts like the dikens and a bruise that is quite impressive under her right arm. Kate spent the night Friday and stayed for book club and then they went to a few yard sales.
I stopped in today and she was moving slow. We went downstairs for a bit o glass cutting and did quite well. She hung in there and I got all my little squares cut for the first panel. See below.

This is how it looked before we started.



Here is panel 1 almost all done. Only 3 more to go! Then we get to foil, solder, patina, and assemble lamp bases! That is all!

Stay tuned!



I think I need a lighter border on the bottom. Only 7 little rectangles! :)

I was just thrilled not to get paged to go to work again today. Ten hours yesterday was quite enough.

A wonderful weekend with Momma

Tim and I had not been to the ocean in over 6 weeks.
A much needed trip was made this weekend with Mom in tow. She is happy to go anywhere with her girls, just to spend the time and chat. Holly is in Washington State, Kate is in Haiti and that leaves me to pick up the tail.
We went and had a wonderful time. Took far more to do than we got done, but had fun none the less.
The time flew and we bonded.

10 days till Christmas and I did what?

This ia a stained glass window Mom made for me over 10 years ago, she is now inspired to make herself a tiffany lamp!

So, tonight Mom and I ventured to the land of Kensington's mini warehouse district and Mom signed up for a Tiffany lamp class. It is from 7-9 pm and she does not like to drive at night, in fact the last time she did she was in tears. SO. I drove her tonight. I will be the facilitator for her lamp project. I am a bit excited, just not so sure how much help I'll be, other than encouragement and the ability to help her with glass selecton and to cut the easy little square bits along the top and bottom. We chose a poinsettia pattern with a grid at the top and bottom. We will make the flowers pink and whitish, with blue and green back rounds (to keep me happy!)

My tree is not up, my cards are out. My presents are mostly wrapped thanks to the lovely weekend Mom and I had at the beach. We shopped till we dropped, watched "you've got mail". I cannot imagine Mom had never seen that cute movie with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Very cute Little romance movie. Almost as cute as how I met my Tim. Maybe one day I'll write the screen play and we'll all live happily ever after on the royalties......not, but it is always fun to dream! Drew Carry could play Tim and me..........Queen Latifa! ha ha ha.

Anyway all is well here in the un-chirstmas tree house. We'll get er up soon! I am sure. I am done with call for the week, I've done my promised class with Mom, now all I have to do is work about 30 more hours, mail a bizillion packages, decorate a tree, wrap more packages, bake 2 yummo pumpkin treats for Christmas dinner at Mary's, help Mom with her Christmas eve dinner.........have I forgotten anything? I am sure I have.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Thanksgiving Day 2009

Pilgrams and Candles.
Mom and Garry at a beautiful table.
The perfect "Norman Rockwell" Thanksgiving Turkey at Eileens.


Eileen and Joe put on the best Thanksgiving.

Wonderful meal, wonderful company.

An early mini Thanksgiving

Tim and I always love to attend Thanksgiving at Eileens house. We just miss the left over Turkey for sammies after. SO. Today after Tim watched Dallas pull through with a win aganist the Redskins in Dallas....... we had a mini Thanksgiving dinner with Mom. Cooked up an 18 lb bird, mashed potatoes, a yummy yam/apple mashed dish (I must jot down the recipe as to how I did it, as I loved it, but Tim does not eat yams......) Tim had lima beans (his fave, not mine!), Mom made a trial run of her spaikopita for Eileens and an interesting cabbage cheese dish. And I made a gigundo batch of my cranberry sauce, Mom and Jasen at work (my 2 official tasters since Tim won't eat that either) both say it is great. So my Thanksgiving/Christmas presents for everyone at work are done. One less thing to stress over after Thanksgiving. All 10 of my employees will get a generous dish of yummy cranberry chutney/sauce for their Thanksgiving table.

That is it in a nutshell for today. No photos, but will on Thursday.

Friday was another story. Long story short, all is well. BUT. My sister Kate landed herself in the CICU (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit) She had an episode of high blood pressure. 220/110. NOT GOOD. Many tests later and a 24 hour monitor in the CICU where every one commented on the fact that she was so young and walking and able to care for herself. She drove herself home on Sat. and took it easy today. Needless to say there will be more to follow. But OY, she tests my strength. Once again I get to call Holly and tell her Kate is in the ER and we don't know what is wrong with her. I delivered the whole story to Mom in person. She took it well.

I hope all goes well with the rest of her tests. But please keep her near the top of your prayer lists!

And now it is back to work on Monday! But a short week for a real Thanksgiving at Eileens with 15 or so. A small group, but will be so very nice as usual.

Angela it is, the new renter for MOM.

I stopped by Mom's tonight to give her a hair cut. She was in the midst of making my all time favorite casserole. Georgia Jackson Casserole, named after the woman at NIH who made up the dish; your basic noodles (skinny little egg ones), hamburger spices topped with cream cheese and sour cream with chives and just in case there were not enough calories a little cheddar on top to melt.....YUMO. I'll share the recipe with anyone who is interested....does anyone read this?
So we made dinner, I loaded photos from the trip into her computer, showed her how to send photos......another 100 times and she might have it, at least she is willing to try and learn! I gave her a hair cut. We found some lost items in her microsoft IN box, hidden in those pesky little files that close themselves!

And then a miracle happened. When you don't worry about something some times it just takes care of itself. Our housekeeper Silva's neighbor is selling her house. She needs a place to stay. She is a lovely woman who wants to stay in Kensington. Yippie! She called my cell phone, came over and saw the apt., and it is a good fit.

I think she moves in on November 24, 2009. Wahooo.

The last day of September!

Where does the time go? I will be in Vancouver in one week. waa hooo! I am so excited, and have so much to do. Five Kestner women on the move. Look out United. Wonder how much stuff I'll manage to stuff in my suitcase to scatter to the family. Love to do that. Hope they like it and don't think I am nutso!

I can hardly wait to see everyone and have a person to person visit. It seems everyone is always happy when I call. But nothing beats a person to person chat.......after a crazy day with a bizillion kiddlebugs zooming around, all tucked in bed and sleeping.

Today was a day spent solely in front of a computer at work! How knew surgery would involve a computer. Well not all day I did do a very sad case on a lovely patient who ignored her breast cancer a bit too long. She is on a big river called denial. I have not seen such bad cancer in a long time........probably back to West Virginia, which is getting to be quite a while ago. Where does to the time go?

Karen took my Buick to her body shop on Monday. She put the car through the shop to help me get 3 scratches fixed on the lift gate to the Enclave. She is a wiz with cars and was VERY sweet to help me rid my car of 2 minor and one delinquent key scratch. It was done today and oh to be 23 again and love to drive as much as she does. She zipped to Sibley (from Gaithersburg, 25 miles north) to do the car trade after work......as I was still there when she was done. Don't get me wrong. I love to drive. Ask my sister Holly. I drove her 3117 miles to Chelan Washington last October. What a fun trip.....more on that in another post when I figure out how to put photos in here! Anyway my car is beyond spiffy, new paint, all buffed up AND she got them to detail the inside. BONUS. I am a happy girl.

Work was blurr, I looked up and it was 1730......time to call Tim. We had a "romantic" dinner in the cafeteria and then Tim and I stopped by Mom's to help her with the apartment rental. She is so mad about the whole event she cannot even think or talk about it without tearing up. I don't blame her. Kim Brown has some very bad karma to make up for messing with an 86 year old lady! But we will get the apartment to code and she can have her bad juju and we will be happy and Kim will still be a miserable person scared of her own shadow and have bad Karma to make up for.

The moon is getting full, it is a cool fall night. Fall is a wonderful time. My garden even looked good in the moon light tonight. Now to find the time to mulch! Where does the time go?