3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Connecticut

Rivers in Connecticut

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Connecticut is where I grew up, however I took the scenery, trees, beaches, rivers and streams for granted. I’ve lived in the Midwest for thirty years and although I love everything about the Nebraska, I do miss the the easy access to water.

In New England the Connecticut River takes center stage. It is the longest river in New England and flows from New Hampshire and empties into Long Island Sound.  It serves as the state boundary between Vermont and New Hampshire and is 407 miles long.

Farmington River in Connecticut
Farmington River in Connecticut in the Winter

Out of the over 50 tributaries of the Connecticut River I spent many summers during high school tubing on the Farmington River.  Even in Connecticut there is white water to navigate to give the challenging adventurer an adrenaline rush. The Farmington River Tubing Company provides a 2.5 miles ride, complete with tubes, lifejackets and a ride back up to your car. Can’t find white water in Nebraska. Tubing in Nebraska is more like a lazy float trip.

I’m spending a few days in Connecticut on family business and thought I would take the opportunity to get some photography in at the same time. Obviously the river in February is a little cold and nope, I’m not going to take the polar plunge and even test the water temperature.

Photo Restoration: 1960’s Era

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Photo Restoration 1960s
Photo Restoration 1960s

I’ve finally removed hundreds of old photos from nearly a dozen “magnetic” glue photo albums. Not quite acid free. My Mother thought she was doing a good thing in the 1980’s by organizing and putting them into albums, when in actuality they would have been better off in the desk drawer in the original envelopes.

There aren’t many photos of me when I was little, so I want to preserve what few photographs I have of my childhood. They were so stuck I had to use the pointy end of a fondue fork to pry them off and carefully unstick the back. The paper came off on some, but at least now the family memories are back in a shoebox, in a cool dark location in the closet so I can start on the photo restoration part of the project..

At first glance the photos look to be in pretty good shape, but it only takes one scan and a white correction on levels to see how far these photos have faded. I am using Photoshop to adjust the color and white balance to bring back the vibrancy. The white border is the perfect point to select in either layer curves or adjustment levels.

I have just started scanning the snapshots, but the really old photos from the late 1800’s and early 1990’s I’m going to have professionally scanned at Hamilton Color Lab, where I work, they do professional photo restoration. My home scanner will only capture so much detail and they are too important to trust to a Best Buy over the counter scanner.

Photo Story: Here I met my brother for the first time. We were both adopted through Children’s Services of Connecticut. As you can see, although my brother Lance was a baby, he wasn’t a newborn when he went to our parents. My birthday is Sept. 21, 1965, yet I didn’t go to my adoptive parents until January 20, 1966.  Along with photos I now have my adoption records, certificates, and letters from the agency. Still don’t know if I will search or not. Even after witnessing my husband and his son’s adoption reunion.

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Day 297-298: Honoring my Dad on Veterans Day

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My Dad was a private quiet man. He served in World War II and in Korea. However I know very little about his WWII experience other than he was in the Navy, on a destroyer operating one of the big guns at Normandy and in the Pacific. His papers and commendations were all lost when he arrived home on New Years Eve and put his sea bag down in Times Square. Someone else picked it up. Considering he used his brothers ID to get in at age 16 I don’t know what I can find out.

For the sake of possibly finding anybody who served with my Dad I’m listing his full name: Leo Thomas “Terry”  Tyrrell, his nickname in WWII was Tiny Terry the Terrible. He wasn’t very big, 5’6″ and weighed 125 lbs sopping wet. But, from what I understand you didn’t want to mess with him. He fought like a little bantam rooster. I often compare his physique to Clint Eastwood, not an ounce of fat on him.

Leo Tyrrell, Korean War Memorabilia
Leo Tyrrell, Korean War Memorabilia

He reenlisted in the Korean War with the Army airborne and I do have his papers and airman’s wings which I treasure greatly. (There is a longer story on this shadow box which I will relate later) He was a paratrooper and after the war worked for a parachute factory in Manchester Connecticut. The area is now called Silk City. For many years he didn’t talk about the war, but he would watch all the black and white television shows on WWII and occasionally he would say “I sat there, that’s what I did.” I wish I had paid more attention when I was a kid.

Here’s to my Dad and all the veterans today that served our country and have given us the freedom we enjoy today. We are a safer country and world for what you did many years ago. We salute you.

Veterans Honor Memorial Flag
Veterans Honor Memorial Flag
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Day 274: Angel Unaware, Down’s Syndrome in the 1950’s

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Thank God times have changed for children with Down’s Syndrome. In the 1950’s Dale and Roy Rogers helped change the perception and acceptance of children with special needs with the book Angel Unaware.

Through great grief can come great joy.

In the 1950s, doctors often advised parents of disabled babies to put them away in institutions or homes. But when entertainers Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Rogers discovered their new baby, Robin, had Down Syndrome, they were determined to take her home and give her their love.

It wasn’t easy. Through countless surgeries and sleepless nights, the Rogers found themselves exhausted and worried-until they began to notice a change in their lives. Somehow the unexplainable and unexpected was happening-Robin was helping Roy and Dale draw closer to God and to each other. Robin’s brief life also persuaded them to do all they could to help others in similar circumstances.

Told from Robin’s point of view in heaven, Angel Unaware is a touching story that has inspired millions of readers around the world. Whether you are a parent of a special needs child or have experienced the loss of a loved one, Robin’s story will bring you the peace and understanding you need in difficult times.

These books were found in my Mothers house, she was a big fan of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

Books By Dale Evans Rogers living with down's Syndrome
Books By Dale Evans Rogers

Books on Raising Children with Down’s Syndrome

Angel Unaware: A Touching Story of Love and LossAngel UnawareTeaching Math to People With Down Syndrome and Other Hands-On Learners: Basic Survival Skills (Topics in Down Syndrome) Book 1My Friend Has Down Syndrome (Let’s Talk About It Series)Taking Down Syndrome to School (Special Kids in School)In My World: Down SyndromeGifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Their LivesBabies with Down Syndrome: A New Parents’ Guide

Information on Down’s Syndrome

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Watch Down’s Syndrome teenager’s delight when he lands his first job

This is the special moment a Down’s Syndrome teenager realised he’d landed his first job. Ben Sunderman, 19, never expected to be taken on when he applied for a role at the Embassy Suites hotel in Frisco, Texas. So when his acceptance letter arrived in …
Beautiful Family Photos Raise Awareness Of Down’s Syndrome

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Information on Dale Evans

Day 270-273: Treasures in the Attic

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Don’t know whether you would call these treasures, antiques, vintage collectibles, junk, or memorabilia, or keepsakes. Here is another look into the closets, cubby holes and attic of my Mother’s house I cleaned out this past summer.

Mom really adored Princess Diana and collected every thing from Princess Diana dolls, to coins, stamps, plates, and magazines. My Dad really like Old Spice, but I never heard of Seaforth aftershave or cologne. But what’s retro is now cool as the viral Old Spice commercial proves, these bottles were empty, but the scent still lingered. Anyone know the history of Seaforth cologne? I’ve looked online without any luck.

Collecting wore off in the family, my brother was no exception. He collected Action Figures, primarily Batman. If he had twenty he had three hundred. Most in original packaging, may duplicates, and even triplicates.

Princess Diana Collectible Plate
Princess Diana Collectible Plate
Vintage Seaforth Cologne and Aftershave set in box
Vintage Seaforth Cologne and Aftershave set in box
Collectible Batman Action Figures circa 1990's
Collectible Batman Action Figures circa 1990's

Boxes, boxes and more boxes came out of closets and cubby holes with depression glass, records, collectible plates, beanie babies and more.  All for sale, just contact me and I’ll put you in contact with the consignment store.