Gaff, here in Belgium there are a lot of red brick houses. I suppose that the houses are in wood where you live. Gnat, thanks for explaining so much about the Marine. And yes it gives you a lot of satisfaction when you accomplish something. I also feel the same when I have found the solution to a problem at work. And I am also satisfaid when my dish is done or my house is cleaned. Gina, you must be proud that your father was so brilliant in mathematics and sorry to hear he suffers from dementia. If it is the illness of Alzheimer I do not know. My mother-in-law had that disease. It was very sad to see that. She was also a clever woman. She did not remember anything of the present. She had become like that in a few months. The doctor has tried with new medecines, but it did not work. It is an incurable disease. The braincells are slowly dying. Selma great to hear that your father is better now. And I have a lot of respect for you doing hard labor work. Nicolette thank you so much for your warm words about remembering my father. I will certainly try to see the good memories. Girls it is so fine to hear all those things about you and your family. It is really great to have such warm friends. :love: :love: :love:

Marthe - You are right, most of the homes are wood, some of huge logs and others are stucco. We also have a lot of vinyl sided and manufactured homes. In many neighborhoods there is no consistency. In some of the older buildings dating to the 1800's, you will find some brick. And a big :oops:, I realized after I wrote that, the place I live in was constructed of concrete block which I suppose would be included in the brick category. :roll: It was originally a dairy barn and not a house. Ah yes, Stevie. Whether it's the sea or the air that they are in love with, the spouses have a tough time competing. Though I think my Dad missed home and family more than a Pellew or Hornblower.

After reading all of the above, I had originally thought the same thing about your relative,Stevie! Funny how we all think alike sometimes,isn't it?

I construe him to be more like Captain Pellew. Maybe all the nice girls do love a sailor, but I think their wives find it much more difficult in reality........Yes StevieT, at the beginning it may looks afscinating, but after years and years when you never see your man, I agree, it becomes very bad. You are welcome Marthe. :hug And if you want to share other memories of your father with me, with us, do it please. :) Our beloved ones still "live" when we think about them. When we talk about them.

Thanks to all about the lovely comments about my father. Nicolette, when I was working in a nursing home in the late 1970's we called everyone who behaved like my father senile, or suffering from senile dementia. At the time, there were two specific subtypes of senile dementia that pointed to the existence of senile plaques in the brain. One of these illnesses was called Alzheimer's disease, named after the founder of the disorder. Sometime in the 1980's the name Alzheimer's simply replaced the word "senility" as a more politically correct term. However, the syndrome remained the same. The actual diagnosis of Alzheimer's can occur after death in autopsy, or via a brain biopsy, which no one will really do for such a common disorder. I do not know if my father actually has Alzheimer's disease specifically. That is why I use the broader term dementia. I think it is more inclusive than Alzheimer's. But the symptoms for all these disorders are essentially the same. Frances, my father and brother's bakery is a pastry shop. We specialized in Italian cream wedding cakes and Italian pastries. I can't spell them, but I found them in the stores in Amalfi, just like we make them: Sicilian canoli, Napolitan canoli, the clam shaped pastry (sfoiglitelle?????), little pies with Italian cream (boucenaut ?????) and so on. We also have Italian cookies that we make into trays for weddings. The most popular cookes are pignolis. GinaP :cool:

You are welcome Gina. :) I do not know if my father actually has Alzheimer's disease specifically. That is why I use the broader term dementia. I think it is more inclusive than Alzheimer's. But the symptoms for all these disorders are essentially the same.Oh I see. Yes maybe it's the same, but maybe not. You are right to specify "dementia" then. The pastry sounds good, miam. :wink:

My Grandma had the same affliction. So sad to watch someone go away as they do. You remember them as they were,and sometimes that helps a little. We had an awful time with her for many months,and my mom was so worn out,bless her heart. --------------------------- Those baked goods sound so fantastic! And, it's lunchtime right now,too!!

I'm sorry about your grandmother having this desease too. And SURE it was hard for your mother to see her own mother becoming that bad. I understand you. :hug

Dementia has to be one of the most heartbreaking and frustrating diseases to have. My mother suffered from dementia for several years before she died from cancer and I can only say that it not only robs a person of their mind, but it often robs their family of the person they loved, before time. My mother had periods of lucidity when she realised what was happening to her and begged us to put an end to it. My heart truly goes out to all of you, my friends, who also have personal experience of this horrible condition :hug

Yes, it must sound a cruel thing to say, but my Mum's death came as a relief in the end - to know she was at peace at last. My Dad has said that for years he felt like a bereaved person who wasn't allowed to grieve. Havoc, my empathy for losing your parents that way and my appreciation for everyone's sentiments on this subject. I guess it's hard to reach a certain age without some painful baggage of this kind, but having friends who know how you feel helps a lot, doesn't it? :hug

All part of the many reasons why we've come together as a group,isn't it? Thanks,Everybody, for being there for all of us,and I hope I can help somebody,sometimes,myself.