"1908, my great-great-grandfather, Willard Tabor Payne, built a house at 3111 North 8th Street in Tacoma, Washington. Here--in 1910--great-great-grandpa Payne is watering the lawn and saplings. The house was to be his last residence. He died there in September of 1917 at the age of 68 years. Afterward, his widow, Lydia, went to live with her daughters and the house eventually passed out of the family."

"My husband thought they looked like Christmas ornaments when he pointed them out to me. I thought this might make a nice icon during the winter holidays."

"The local warehouse store has a nice price for the Amarula and I was intrigued. I really like it and get a bottle every now and then to have with my coffee. Yes--candleholder. Broken and mended. The deaf cat like to knock things over."

"This is our Twitch. He has a quiet dignity about him and I usually call him Mr. Twitch."

"I wonder if they are triggered by the lenght of day vs temperature? Mine are all thinking about blooming now."