What's A Picture Worth?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, need I say more about this one? This photo answers the question so often asked, "How does Howard like retirement?"

The Grandkids Aren't Babies Anymore!

No matter how hard we try, we can't keep these kids from growing up. They all have fall and winter birthdays which means their numbers will be changing soon. Taylor will turn 16, Crosley 15, Madeline 13 and Sawyer 9.

UDF Stands For United Dairy Farmers

Living within walking distance of Graeters and UDF Ice Cream stores is not a good thing....except when you go with the Brammer Clan!

Nothing Like Friends

It was a real treat to see Dave & Kris Braun Sunday. They took us to a new Cajun restaurant. Nothing better than a visit from friends.

Welcome To Gaslight Clifton

Saturday night Howard and I, along with another family, were welcomed to the neighborhood with a pitch-in dinner on our neighbor's porch. Howard is in the center of the photo by the post.

Books 'n Toys

Sawyer is spending his last few days as an eight year old. We will celebrate #9 next Tuesday.

He is being home schooled by his mommy; however, Mimi gets him and Madeline each Tues. & Thurs. mornings. Today was our first session. It went well. They will be studying ART & the CLASSICS with me.

Sawyer is a smart little fellow. He never lets his toys get out of reach. You never know when a book might get boring.

Home Schooling Is Cool

If you think Madeline is killing time in front of the TV, you're wrong! She is busy doing her homework at Mimi and Papaw's. Who said home schooling wasn't cool?

Family Affair

Three generations of Brammers enjoy a Red's game.

Howard's Hide-A-Way

Howard enjoys his upstairs hide-a-way. This room was much smaller before we had the wall opened into the large attic area. With a computer, phone and massage chair...what more could a person want?

Got Questions? We Got Answers!

It was exciting to watch our Traders Point Bible Bowl Team compete at the North American Christian Convention in July. It was held in Kansas City. These kids did a great job. We were proud of them!

FAQs About The Brammers-

1. How is Howard? He is doing well. Less stress and more rest have contributed greatly to his well being. His new doctor is very optimistic about his condition and has adjusted his medication.

2. Does he have plans for a particular ministry? He is considering various options; however, at the moment nothing is finalized. We hope to work with Cincinnati Christian University ministerial students at our home and possibly U.C. students through the University Christian Church.

3. Has he done any traveling? He recently drove to and from Texas (2600 miles round trip). We are going to England. He wants to lead an Alaskan cruise in the future.

4. Does it feel like home? Yes and No. When we are out of town, it seems strange to be coming "home" to Cincinnati rather than Indy. We like it here and are feeling very comfortable. One thing we know for sure....it is where God wants us!

5. How far is Craig's family from you? four doors!!! They are around the corner which puts them nearby but out of view. There are lots of advantages in being close! Tonight they invited us to join them on a walk to the ice cream store. It doesn't get any better than that!

6. Do you have a home church? We worship mostly at the University Christian Church which is across the street from U.C. and very close to us. The minister and his wife are our neighbors. This is where Craig and his family go. We plan to visit around. Howard plans to preach some on weekends.

7. Is your house finished? There was more to do than we realized once we moved in. It is mostly those finishing touches. Howard has spent the last several days painting bookcases. I finally got the last of the curtains hemmed.

8. How far are you from downtown? Five miles

9. Are you going to continue with your art? Yes. We are setting the basement up as a studio. I am going to teach our two grandsons. Sawyer, the eight year old, is home schooled. Taylor who is turning 16 (Yikes...did I say sixteen???) He is taking art in school. He wants me to work with him at home. He is showing signs of interest and ability. Sawyer has always been interested and will probably follow in Uncle Jason's footsteps someday.

10. What else are you doing? There is an organization here in the city that helps teach young moms infant care. There was a nice write up in the Cincinnati Enquirer recently. Since more and more kids are having kids, the need to help these young moms is great. I am looking forward to getting involved.

That's it for the Brammers! Thanks for caring. Blessings to all of you.

Friends Forever

No trip is too long when you know, at the end, a friend will be waiting for you. The recent drive to Lancaster, OH was time well spent. My dear friend Deanie Nicodemus and her husband Dr. Nick had an empty rocking chair waiting for me on the screened-in porch. Deanie and I took a trip down memory lane while Nick brewed mint tea.

Deanie has always been courageous, however, her courage has never been as impressive as it is now. She is not giving into the disease that keeps nipping at her heels. Her faith is strong. She takes the words of Jesus literally..."and lo I am with you always..." The contentment on her face which reflects what's going on in her heart says it all. Jesus says, "My peace I give unto you..." She is living proof of that promise! The little blue table is her's from early childhood. The mugs sympolize our friendship as we sipped and shared together. Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times..." That's Deanie!

Go Sawyer Go!!!!

Sawyer, our grandson wearing the green cap, was one and one-hundredeth of a second too slow to come in second in the city-wide swim meet which ended the season here in Cincinnati. Mimi was a true fan. I shot his picture when he was in the lead! Normally he moves in slow motion...not worrying about a thing; however, when he hits the water, he turns into a machine. On this day, he needed just a little more fuel.

Eat Your Own Ice Cream!

Come on Howard...you have a whole dish of your own!!!

"I Am From" by Crosley Brammer

I am from pasta,

from bow ties and angel hair.
I am from the tea in the teapot.
I am from the dill in the garden.
(Tall, breezy it smells like summer.)
I am from the plumb tree,
round and juicy.
I am from West Virginia and one-room log cabins,
from the Brammers and the Glovers,
I am from the latecomers and neighbors at the dinner table,
from the cars in the sky and get your monkey butt in bed.
I am from being created in the image of God
with a Bible verse every Sunday,
and a Christmas play every year.
I am from Cincinnati and Mifflin Creek,
soy butter and corn bread in milk.
From the bean tree my grandmother fell out of
into the creek and down to the Little Blue River,
the bed my father laid in while sick.
I am from the trunk on the living room floor,
filled with childhood memories, my mother’s graduation,
and my baby brother’s birth.
I am from these pictures,
just like a leaf from a tree.

Fun Day With The Kashmans

Greg and Karlene Kashman were willing to try out our favorite Indian restaurant when they came to visit Saturday. They convinced us they liked it. It was fun spending the day with them. Who wouldn't enjoy that!

This Heat 'n Humidity Won't Last Forever!

The breeze that passed through our front porch this afternoon provided little comfort. It only delivered hot & humid air. It was the same air that stood in our un-airconditioned church this morning. Large fans pushed and pulled the air around the room during the song service, but the roaring sound had to cease in order to hear pastor Troy's sermon (which was well worth hearing).

When I went to my blog picture file, this one grabbed my attention. It is the barnyard on Moore Road in Indianapolis. We passed it each time we went to and from church (before the church moved five miles up the road). It provided a peaceful scene no matter what season. This one is meant as a source of refreshment during the hot spell. It is also here to remind us of what is coming.....ice and snow!! Let's treasure the moment. This heat 'n humidity won't last forever!

Wanna See A Good Movie?

Howard and I went to see the movie VITUS tonight. We recommend it.

Good News!

Cincinnati is a good place to be if you have Parkinson's Disease. The Airing Clinic is noted for the study of neurological diseases. It is located on the University of Cincinnati campus which is next door to our neighborhood.

Howard's long-awaited appointment was Tuesday. The doctor was impressed with his condition, and even went so far as to say he had never seen anyone doing this well who has had PD as long as Howard has.

He felt his dosage of medication was very low. He increased it to help with his symptoms. He said Howard would probably never have to deal with disabilities due to the disease. We are thrilled and praise God for this good news!

Larry King @ Graceland

We chuckled when Howard told us he was standing in line to enter Graceland last week. Last night we turned on Larry King Live only to find him standing at the same door Howard entered! Now it doesn't seem so funny. We always knew Howard stayed ahead of the curve and this was no exception. A helicopter view showed hundreds of people packed into Graceland's yard while many more filed past Elvis' grave. Today is the 30th anniversary of his death. Howard beat the rush!

Sherlock Home

We're "Back Home Again....." but not in Indiana. We arrived in Cincinnati tonight after a delightful visit in San Antonio. Our home on Sherlock Avenue was waiting for us. Both of us admited how strange it felt not to take I-74 on to Indy.

Blogging

Craig tells me blogging is the latest in journaling. A person writes down their thoughts for the day and puts them out for the world to read.

When I was in junior high, I kept a journal (we called it a diary). It was a small leather-backed book with a shinny gold key. The key was more important than the book or its contents. It was always hidden in a safe place. The whole idea was to have one's thoughts for the day locked up. No one (except a close friend) was ever to read them.

When one of my diaries surfaced years later, I was amazed at the trivia I had thought was important at the time. Something tells me it is going to happen again! Someone is going to log in on this blog and ask, "Why would anyone think this is interesting?"

When Craig takes me to the next level in blogging, I hope it will enable me to write interesting articles, send incredible photographs and express deeper thoughts. Until then, you will have to take me at this level...Kindergarten!

A Favorite Quote

Hope is hearing the melody of the future.

Faith is to dance to it now.

-Carol Kent

Howard's Sister Connie & Uncle John Ellison

We all know about "Kissin' Cousins", but it means more when you are from West Virginia. These folks have a deep love for one another that lasts a lifetime (except for the Hatfields & McCoys!!!). If your roots are in W.Va., they remain there no matter where you move. Connie left Logan, W.Va. after high school and ended up outside of Houston. Uncle John, on the other hand, chose to remain close to heaven by staying in the mountains (Beckley, W.Va.). they met up at Howard's retirement party in June.

Connie And Her Husband Don

Howard called this afternoon saying he had crossed the Texas border which puts him closer to his sister Connie and her husband Don. He should arrive in time for dinner!

Dean and Vickie Rush

Craig set this blog up for me and has accompanied me each time an addition has been made. I am flying solo this evening. This photo was supposed to go at the end of the "Howard & Elvis". It is a picture of Dean & Vickie which is where we are going to be this weekend. Craig will find it hard to believe that I got this far without him.

Jason's Artwork

Jason is shown above with the murals he painted in the children's department of the Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis. The top one is a work in progress. There will be more color added. It is the high school's area which has an urban theme. Six murals are of the six days of creation. Three have other themes.

Howard and Elvis

Howard called this afternoon giving me a hundred guesses as to where he was. I had no clue. He left this morning at 4:00 am for Houston, Texas. I thought I had a pretty good idea where he would be at what time with the atlas open and the clock on the stove giving me the time.

He called a couple of times giving me his exact location. This sounds like we are a bit parnoid, but not so. It simply makes a long drive more interesting. I thought he would be in Jackson, Mississippi by then.

You probably guessed it (the photo is a clue!). He was standing in the hot sun in Memphis waiting to tour Graceland for the first time! The others waiting with him were not even born when Elvis lived.

You might wonder if he ever made it to Jackson. Yep...he's there! He should be sound asleep in the Holiday Inn by now. Tomorrow he will arrive at his sister Connie's in Magnolia...just outside of Houston.

We are going to meet in San Antonio Friday evening. We're spending the weekend with Dean & Vickie Rush. I am flying and he will be on the last leg of his solo journey. Don't think badly of me for not accompanying him. He loves these cross-country trips So do I.....as long as I'm in the air!

Life's Interesting Twists

When I was 10 yrs. old, my oldest sister, Margaret, wrote our mother asking if one of us kids could come to Cincinnati to help her. She had recently given birth to her first child. While he was doing well, she remained weak.

Mom decided the helper would be me. I was thrilled. We left Washington, IN on a Greyhound bus arriving in the Queen City late in the night. We were greeted by a city filled with lights and sounds. What a contrast to our quiet rural life. It was love at first sight for me.

Enjoying every minute of city life, I dreaded returning to the farm. Each Thursday I walked down the street to the pharmacy for what was my first taste of lime sherbet. I was addicted.

When summer ended and school was about to begin, Margaret and her husband, Pete (who was a University of Cincinnati engineering student at the time), drove me back to southern Indiana. I did not shed a tear until they left the farm to return home. I wanted to go back with them.

54 years later: I now live in Clifton. The house where my sister lived is only a few blocks east on Ludlow near Burnet Woods park (where we strolled baby Don in his carriage). I can walk there. The pharmacy is now the home of Skyline Chili which happens to be a favorite eating spot. The stone firehouse across the street from Skyline remains the same as well as the Esquire theater and other landmarks.

It took fifty-four years to come full circle, but I made it. I love it now as much as I did then. The only thing that makes it better is having our son and his family around the corner. God is good!

Workin' it out

Howard and I have joined a recreation center which is located in the center of the University of Cincinnati's campus. As you can see, it is a state of the arts complex. One of our favorite feature is a serpentine water way which forces water toward you while you walk against the tide. Howard also enjoys the running/walking track. We do each of the machines you see in the above photo. It looks more exhausting that it actually is. Parking and getting to the center is a greater challenge than anything once you arrive!

The Blue Heron

My niece Lydia Kluemper and her husband Jason are putting the finishing touches on their B&B. It's a 1926 Arts & Craft home located on North Main Street in downtown Jasper. A gorgeous Rookwood fireplace commands your attention in the spacious living room. The oil painting above the fireplace was embedded in the textured plaster wall when the house was built.

Guests are welcomed by a huge hunter green tile-floored front porch on which Howard, Craig and I enjoyed fruit crepes and coffee a couple weekends ago.

I painted their sinks and toilet tanks as well as the bedroom walls. Each room has it's own theme. Lydia is one of my favorite nieces. It is always fun doing a project with her.

Jason is a physical trainer who has an incredible workout space on the lower level with French doors coming off the side yard. Clients start arriving at 5:30 am and continue until evening.

Howard & I would be in better shape if we lived near him. The next best thing is what we are doing here in Cincy. It's all about getting the ole body moving...no matter where you live!