Garden: Dads trip to Brazil and some England pics. VERY PHOTO HEAVY.
loz
guest
posted
Well I just uploaded over a hundred pictures off my dads digital camera I bought him for his retirement present....he got to use it when his son in England surprised him with a trip to Brazil and I just thought I'd share some of them.
More to come......
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
loz
guest
posted
BTW, dad's in pretty good shape for being 76 this year huh?
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
posted
Your dad looks great,Loz. The background is so nice! I cannot wait to see more,What a great time he must have had:-)
* * * * Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks. Plutarch Plants: 11590 | From: WI | Registered: May 2006
| Seeded: 64.12.117.7
loz
guest
posted
I'm so sorry to all the dial up people, I used to have dial up too...
It was a HUGE surprise Diane.....They went from England to Paris and my brother Pete said to dad this isn't your surprise, we're only here to catch a flight to Brazil to the Copocabana Beach in Rio.... Nice present for someone who's worked 60 years of his life!
See the little thing on top of the one hill, that's the Jesus statue.
My brother Pete, he lives in Wales.
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
posted
Loz, those pics are awesome. You dad looks great! The scenery, WOW!
* * * * We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart. Plants: 30076 | From: Washington, the state that is... | Registered: Aug 2004
| Seeded: 66.235.45.83
posted
Grandad and Nana are in their mid 80's....Dad's closer to Nanas age than moms! Mom and Dad are 13 years apart and Nana highly disapproved of Dad at first.
I feel so bad for my Grandad....he's in bad health and can't garden anymore. Nana said he'll sit out there in the greenhouse for hours but he just can't physically do the gardening anymore.
posted
loz - I'm really enjoying your pictures! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!
Your parents both look great, and it's nice to cyber meet your brother! What a terrific thing for your brother to do for your dad - I'm sure they made many wonderful memories together.
* * * * Lynne's knitting journal "I'm spayed, declawed, and housebound - how's YOUR day going???" Plants: 17066 | From: Rockland County, NY | Registered: Nov 2003
| Seeded: 69.125.135.161
posted
He's on oxygen now(he never smoked), and he can't walk much. My uncle hired a gardener to come once a week though. I can't imagine being a gardener and then not being able to garden one day.
And thank you....it's been fun sharing the pics with you all.
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
posted
Oh I hope you have more Loz. Especially the scenery. Love those ones.
* * * * We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart. Plants: 30076 | From: Washington, the state that is... | Registered: Aug 2004
| Seeded: 66.235.45.83
loz
guest
posted
I do have a few more scenic pictures that I'll post tomorrow! I'm getting ready to head up to bed here in a few....
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
* * * * We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart. Plants: 30076 | From: Washington, the state that is... | Registered: Aug 2004
| Seeded: 66.235.45.83
posted
Those two pictures, one with you dad infront of the statue and the one where it's just a speck on the photo are simply AWEEEESOME.. I love them both... Great photo's Laura... (*One of our members has lived in Brazil for a bit, Newt... her son lives there and she stays winters with him*) That's a beautiful place to visit... Thanks for sharing those...
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
Beautiful views Laura.(Brazil that is). I see Blackpool has not changed much. although I would not recognise the amusement park they keep changing the rides.
Thanks for sharing!!!
* * * * "Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens". Plants: 12383 | From: Manchester. England | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 195.93.21.131
loz
guest
posted
It's always great to see another country that you know you'll never get to visit.
Lisa, Blackpool was my fav. place as a kid. Dad would take us there on mystery trips. Do you remember the Funhouse that burnt down? I used to love it in there.
Going up to the Jesus statue looks pretty scary!
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
loz
guest
posted
This is the house we grew up in...the one with the white door. The back yard is only 3 times as big as the front yard. Dad said they are selling for 200,000 pounds now!!!! That's ridiculous!
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
posted
Beautiful. I love that picture above the house one.
From the looks of it, you would never guess there was a yard in back of that house.
* * * * We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart. Plants: 30076 | From: Washington, the state that is... | Registered: Aug 2004
| Seeded: 66.235.45.83
This is the house we grew up in...the one with the white door. The back yard is only 3 times as big as the front yard. Dad said they are selling for 200,000 pounds now!!!! That's ridiculous!
So when did you start up your interest in gardening was is because your Grandfather has gardens??? I bet seeing that house brings back a lot of sweet memories huh Loz? I was watching househunters international and they sell small spaces for megabucks$$$$$$$$$$$$$'s all over the world
* * * * "I don't want no more of army life, gee mom, I wanna go, but they won't let me go, gee mom, I wanna go home!" My PB! Plants: 6469 | From: Staten Island, NYC | Registered: Jul 2006
| Seeded: 152.163.101.7
posted
Amazing! Thank you!Loz,I see where you get your shoe thing, Your mom had some darn nice shoes on....great pics!!
* * * * Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks. Plutarch Plants: 11590 | From: WI | Registered: May 2006
| Seeded: 152.163.101.7
loz
guest
posted
Angie, mom is nowhere near as bad as me with shoes! Yesterday I wanted to buy some more boots and she was just smiling and shaking her head at me.
You know, saying that the house had a yard that big is a bit generous probably. Mom only had a couple of plants there, and when it was nice Dad would put our little kiddy pool in the backyard so I could play. This might give you a better idea of the size of the yard. TINY! And not worth 200,000 pounds.
I did get my love of gardening from my nana and grandad! They had a little sign made with Lauras garden where I could dig around and plant seeds. Grandad grew lots of things but I specifically remember all of the Sweetpeas he had---it's sad now that he's in too poor of health to garden....
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
posted
Loz...Reminds me of my youth in Chicago,Just Love The pics...:-)
* * * * Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks. Plutarch Plants: 11590 | From: WI | Registered: May 2006
| Seeded: 152.163.101.7
posted
Yeah 200,000 sounds about right these days Laura. Prices have gone really high. It's ridiculous, how can first time buyers afford that! The prices are higher still in the city centre.
* * * * "Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens". Plants: 12383 | From: Manchester. England | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 195.93.21.131
posted
Beautiful pictures Loz! What a wonderful gift your brother gave to your dad.
* * * * All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism. Plants: 5156 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Mar 2006
| Seeded: 63.224.4.198
* * * * ''''Those who live in the Lord Never See Each Other For The Last Time!'''' Plants: 3279 | From: Rural - Western Pennsylvania | Registered: Oct 2005
| Seeded: 204.11.80.99
loz
guest
posted
Barb, it is a great family....I doubt I'll ever get to Brazil, but I have been back to England one time.
Lisa---I can't believe the prices of things over there , especially housing. That house we grew up in wasn't that great. When we lived there it had no central heating. Just a fireplace and we used a kerosene heater upstairs......We'd wake up to frost inside the windows!
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
I didnt know your from England......Your doing great here.. What age did you come here/
My husbands grandmom was from there, and gdad was Wales......My dad was Poland.
Tell me more.
dodge
* * * * ''''Those who live in the Lord Never See Each Other For The Last Time!'''' Plants: 3279 | From: Rural - Western Pennsylvania | Registered: Oct 2005
| Seeded: 204.11.80.99
loz
guest
posted
Well the story is this: My nana in England married a US soldier that was stationed in the UK. They had my mom and a few years later divorced because Nana wouldn't leave England. Mom never knew her "real" dad. She was raised by my Nanas next husband and to mom that is her dad.
When I was 6 mom found her US dad over here and came over here for a few weeks by herself to see him. Not long after that my dad got laid off from his welding job that he'd been at for years and years and was having problems finding a new job. They decided that the following year, when I was 7, that we'd move over here so mom could get to know her dad. So with a lot of tears we left England and all of our family behind for a new start over here.
We lived with moms real dad and stepmother for a few months until we found a house. Luckily they could buy it outright from selling the house in England. It was a real struggle at first--Dad did anything he could for money including, grave digging, painting houses, any odd job he could get.
Things weren't great with my "real" grandad. His new family didn't know about mom, and his wife was jealous of her. He passed away 5 years after we moved here.
We've been here now since 1983 and even though I'm still a UK citizen I consider the US my home and plan on becoming a citizen when my green card expires.
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
wow ........ What a story......Glad your with us.. You had it rough....... When does the green card expire? I know nothing of that .
dodge
* * * * ''''Those who live in the Lord Never See Each Other For The Last Time!'''' Plants: 3279 | From: Rural - Western Pennsylvania | Registered: Oct 2005
| Seeded: 204.11.80.99
loz
guest
posted
I believe I have 3-4 more years left as a registered legal alien. They are good for 10 years--going to Baltimore to get it was TERRIBLE!!!! A real pain in the rear.
I can't complain too much, it was hard leaving our family in England....and I rarely ever get to see them and that's sad. We've had a pretty good life over here.
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
You sounded so american, I would of never guessed..
I imagine it is worse when your a child and drawn between relatives.. Glad you survived........ My man was in England in the air force.. Told me lots of stories..
They are supposed to be great experts on flowers. You in the right spot Loz...... And i read every one of the James Herriot stories.. He was the ole Vet there and loved animals........ Did you read them? They are all thru our librarys.....
Dodge
* * * * ''''Those who live in the Lord Never See Each Other For The Last Time!'''' Plants: 3279 | From: Rural - Western Pennsylvania | Registered: Oct 2005
| Seeded: 204.11.80.99
posted
great pics loz, now if I can figure out how to afford to go to England! Your pics really made the scenery look as I thought it to be all these years.
* * * *
DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU!=O) Plants: 5026 | From: KS | Registered: May 2006
| Seeded: 209.137.223.22
loz
guest
posted
Dodge, English gardens are some of the most beautiful ones out there! I don't think I've ever read any of his books, I'll have to look them up.
KS, just glad to share some pics!
Here's me in front of our old house the only time I've ever been back....I was 15.
posted
...and of course you have a shopping bag in your hand!
* * * * Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car! Plants: 43285 | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 70.35.241.223
loz
guest
posted
Why of course.....my brother in England gave me 50 pounds to go shopping with. Well that isn't really THAT much but I dragged dad in every womens store I could find that day!
BTW, that's my natural hair color--no wonder I color it!
Seeded: 70.109.74.156
login | 
| 
| 
![[thumb]](graemlins/thumb.gif)
![[clappy]](graemlins/claps.gif)
![[shocked]](graemlins/shock.gif)
Nice present for someone who's worked 60 years of his life!
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
I'm not kidding, that is what he'd say.
![[grin]](graemlins/grinnnn.gif)
![[kissies]](graemlins/kissies.gif)
![[wavey]](graemlins/wavey.gif)
![[scaredy]](graemlins/scaredy.gif)
![[angel]](graemlins/cherub.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
"I don't want no more of army life, gee mom, I wanna go, but they won't let me go, gee mom, I wanna go home!" 
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this garden