Reflections of katlupe: fathers

Showing posts with label fathers. Show all posts

Monday, May 13, 2013

Thinking Of My Wonderful Father On His Birthday!

Daddy on my brother's horse, Dusty

Today would have been my father's 94th birthday. As most of my readers know, he passed away last August. Last year on his birthday, he told my brother that it would be his last. I think he was ready. Not that he was sickly or frail. He was pretty active for a man his age. I am glad he never lost that, his ability or mind. He was aware of everything and could hold a conversation as well as any twenty year old. Especially if they were discussing automobiles or motors!

Daddy playing the organ for Mom

My father was a man of many talents and abilities. He was very musical and as a child, I'd beg for him to play his harmonica. Later he learned to play an accordion and the organ. He played the organ for many years. When my mother was bedridden, and he cared for her at home, he entertained her many evenings with his music.She thought there was nothing he could do.

Daddy in the garden

Even though my father was well known for repairing cars and motors, the thing I remember the most is his extraordinary gardens. He planted large gardens every year. My parents would put up a lot of pickles, grape juice and jelly, and freeze a large amount of other vegetable and fruits. Even last year, he had a garden but it was not harvested. In the end, it died before I could get there to care for it. I know he knew it was his last garden, as it was the smallest one he ever planted. He knew.

Michael Dran

May 13, 1919 - August 11, 2012

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Spending Time Away From Home This Summer

Broome County, NY Courthouse

I have not been writing much since July, after my father had his stroke, and then died on August 11th. Being the one he chose to take care of all of his affairs, if he could not, and then after he passed away, has not been an easy task. It should have been. His death was made ugly, due to someone trying to steal what little he had. I am sad that this person was allowed to abuse my father in his elderly years. When I asked him if he wanted me to do something about her, he'd say he could handle it. He could not. And now I realize he was afraid of her.

Stairs I Had To Walk Yesterday!

Through out this process, I have become a much stronger woman. Even though I am older now, 60 years of age, I now feel much stronger than ever before. I had been feeling, due to my knee troubles and walking with a cane, that my time of strength was on the downside. Now, I KNOW, that is not so! Not at all. My strength was renewed. Most of our time has been spent driving back and forth to the city of Binghamton, NY, throughout this time. Learning how to fill out legal papers and file them. Learning how to stand up for what I know is right, no matter what others may so or do. Strength!

Lots Of Construction In Downtown Binghamton!

I have learned many things that I never thought I'd be able to do. I filed my father's will in the Surrogate court yesterday. After preparing ALL the paperwork myself, as the Executor. The clerk said I did a good job, after she looked over each paper. It was a lot of work, and a learning process for me and my husband. But we DID IT!!!!! Of course, my father's estate is a small one. And even smaller after someone messed with his things. Now I will be able to work on making them pay it back. I needed every penny to cover any bills he had outstanding, or medical not paid by Medicare.

My Father Was Quite The Gardener!

Now we will be working on cleaning his house up and repairing it to get it ready for sale. I hope I can get this done before winter hits us.I will be making the time to write my blog posts, and visit my blogging friends' blogs again. Thanks for sticking with me!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Rest In Peace, Daddy

Michael Dran, Jr. May 13, 1919 - August 11, 2012

Time to take that rest you always talked about, Daddy. You will always be a part of me and in my heart. The things you taught me over the years have served me well, especially in my homesteading life. We shared so much, so many memories, just you and me, and as a family. I am proud to be your daughter!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

My Christmas Spirit Is Back

Christmas 1988 - My son, Jeffrey

Christmas is not usually my favorite time of the year. When my son was growing up, I went all out for it. I decorated our house lavishly. We had two Christmas trees, even though I did not decorate the outside with lights like many people do. One tree was white with silver and blue ornaments and lights. That tree was in my big bay window in my upstairs living room. I loved that tree!

Merry Christmas Readers!

My Christmas spirit had vanished. It is rough out here in the cold winter. Usually we have at least a foot of snow by now. Instead we have rain and mud this year. Some years, we did not go anywhere due to the amount of snow we got. Or someone in our family was sick, or had a cold, so Christmas was canceled. It is different when everyone is grown up and there are no children. You can always have it on another day.

Our Pine Tree!

Every year my father has been having Christmas with my niece and her family. So I don't spend the holiday with my father anymore. He does not like to drive on my road to come, especially in the winter. It is a bad dirt road in a secluded area, so I understand. Since my mother had passed away in 2002, my family had changed.

Daddy and me!

For years, I am the one who did Christmas for my whole family. But when I married my husband, his mother would get upset about us not coming to her house.So we went there, since it was so important to her. My parents did not make a big deal of it.

The Way To FIL's House!

Now both mothers are gone, My FIL and BIL live together in a city not far from us. They invited us to come to their house for Christmas this year. A small dinner, his Dad's Famous Chili, if he can remember how to make it! I had just spoke to my father on the phone and he sounded like he didn't want to go to my niece's house for Christmas. So I thought I'd invite him to go with us to my FIL's house. My sister-in-law and her husband will be there too. A small gathering with our fathers, who at 91, FIL and 92, my father, could very well be our last. Though I have told my father to make a new goal of living to be one hundred!

Jeff and my father in the summer time!

So now I have something to look forward to! As long as no one gets sick or anything, we will be headed to spend our day with both of our fathers. We aren't telling my husband's family that we are bringing my father. It is our surprise. They have been complaining because no one comes to visit them anymore. And they really like my father. I can't wait to get there and see our fathers having a nice Christmas day with us.

Merry Christmas to all my readers here. I am not sure I will have the chance to write another post before then. I love you all, and hope you have a wonderful day with your family, friends and critters!

All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated July 2016

Friday, May 13, 2011

Birthday Wishes For A Special Father!

Michael Dran 1986

Today is my father's 92nd birthday! He has lived a long life in his book. Being a very active man, even at 92, he is always outside working on something. If it is not rebuilding a motor of some sort, rototiller, snowblower, lawnmower, whatever, then he is working in his garden. Always doing something, and usually outside.


My parents

My parents were a good couple. They loved to do lots of outdoor things together. One of their favorite things was to go fishing. We lived in Florida, and fishing or swimming was something we did as a family many times. They showed a lot of affection and care for each other. No doubt that they loved each other very much.


My son helping his grandfather.

I wish I could be following in my father's footsteps, but seeing as he can walk better than I can, I guess that is not to be. In many ways I am more like him than my mother. Not in this way though. He is an avid gardener and I like to think that is where I get my love of gardening and making things grow.

Daddy showing a mower he had made.

He was the type of father that would take you places with him. Or build things for you. Made you feel safe. He took care of us and whatever we needed, he did. If we heard a prowler around at night, he'd take his big 44 out of from its place next to his bed and go outside to check. I always was reassured with my father sleeping the next room!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day

Today is Father's Day. My Father is 91 years old. He is a very good 91 years old. Very busy as he has always been. He is a diabetic but takes care of his health so seems to be doing pretty good. So good in fact, that recently he was back up on the roof of his house fixing the leaks! Not good for a 91 year old! I just want to share my memories of him today.

Daddy wearing his orange cap! 2010

Kathy, Mom, Daddy & Mickey Dran

Daddy & Kathy (me), 1954, Rocky Mountains

Hazel and Michael Dran 1942, Orlando, FL

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Father's Day 2005

Today is Father's Day 2005. I wasn't going to write about that, as this is my first post. But I had to comment on it. My father is 86 years old and in pretty good health for a man his age. He has a large garden every year, but every fall he says he's not going to have one the next year and every year he gets out his rototiller and puts one in. He's the person who taught me how to can. Every year he usually gets a lot of concord grapes and he cans it all as juice. In 1995, he taught me how to can grape juice and jam.

When my mother was alive he took care of her at home. She had Cushing's Sydrome and was crippled by it for many years, and bedridden for the last few. My father and her were married for 60 years - she kept saying, she wanted to just live long enough to make it to her 60th anniversary - which she did on August 28, 2002 and she died with my father and myself at her side on November 22, 2002.

So in honor of Father's Day I just want to say "Daddy, I love you! I'm so proud of having you as my father! And I will always keep you in my heart with my mother!

One other thing I want to comment on is the fact that I am trying to live a self sufficient life. This means that I try to grow most of my own food. I live off the grid and generate my power by using solar panels and batteries. This surprises some people, as I make my living on the internet. But it is possible.

I feel that this is the way of the future. Most people in other countries think all Americans are very wasteful and selfish. Well, there are a lot of people here that are not that way. They call themselves "Homesteaders" - and they are the Homesteaders of the future. We live a frugal lifestyle, grow and raise most of our own food organically, shop for clothes in thrift shops, recycle everything, try to make our livings from our homes-be it on a computer or off our land.

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