Labor Day Memory… Jello Pretzel Salad

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

But, of course we use it as a day to have picnics   , cook-outs and family/friend get-togethers…

We are no different…

A kind of last hoorah! at the end of summer! 

My Dad’s Birthday  was right on Labor Day… and being so young I thought it was Holiday just for him…

A hard worker… getting up early every day to go to his job of hanging wallpaper and painting     … and then when he got home… he worked around our home that he built all of the time…

It had to be celebrated because of him!…

We always had everyone over with lots of food… yard games… and good conversation…

and Daddy received gifts on that day also…

So… when I found out it was a “National” Holiday…

it made no difference to me…

It was still Daddy’s special day…

We are going to my son’s to swim … eat… probably will have yard games like “corn hole”…

The weather is perfect!

We all pitch in to bring a dish… a drink  …a snack…

I made Strawberry Pretzel Salad… although I think of it as dessert!…

I ended up making three! …  

 

One to take… one to give to my grass cutter neighbor… and one to stay here at home for us…

I REALLY like it!

It consists of a pretzel crust… cream cheese/sugar/cool whip filling… Strawberry Jello/Fresh Strawberries…

Just the best refreshing dessert for summer!…

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I grabbed a few photos from up above on the deck… at my son’s house…

Nice day!

  

The kids took advantage of the pool… Nothing stops them…

TOO cold for me…I don’t need to get sick…

   

My sister went with us… and shot BB Guns with my Grandson…

She is “all that”!…

Later… I wished for some more of the Smoked Pork Roast my son had made…

maybe a little more Pasta Salad…

maybe some Buffalo Chicken Dip/Chips…

maybe a little more Potato Salad…

Oh yes!… a Hot Dog… Hamburger…with alll of the fixings…

Baked Beans…

Tomato/Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Salad…

Fruit Salad…

Snickers Peanut Butter Pie…

Pineapple Dessert…

Did I say…

“WE HAD LOTS OF GOOD FOOD!”

 

Mother Nature Crashes Wedding Party!

It’s been a busy weekend… Not… that I actually thought of it being Labor Day…

I remember asking my Mom what Labor Day was???

She said, “Labor Day is a day for your Dad… who works so hard every day for us…where we can have food… a nice place to live… a car to drive… clothes… and money for fun outings sometimes”…

to have a day to just rest… and not have to work…

I was so young… that I thought it was “my Dad’s” own Special Holiday for a while…

Later… understanding that Mom was making it clear for my young mind to understand the answer to my question…

I don’t have to work any more… being retired after working for 40 years…

So I quite understand the reason behind this Holiday…

President Cleveland signed into law  the creation of a National Labor Day… brought about by Alderman Matthew Maguire… credited with the idea of a National Labor Day…

My Holiday this year was not celebrated with a big family picnic… not, even a cook-out…

although the stores were packed with people with this intent on their minds…

My cousin from Tennessee came up … and we were busy every day!…

My husband was sweet enough to let my sister, Vera and myself “Play”…

First day…

Vera got here in time for us to go out for a nice lunch…  at one of my favorite restaurants lately… … Yes, it’s just a steakhouse… but, the preparation of the food is so tasty… the service is so nice… and the atmosphere is quiet enough to be able to talk and hear each other …

We had a nice drink to start off with… A Frozen Raspberry Margarita for me… Cold and Yummy!… and what was called a Black and Blue Margarita for her… Blackberries and Blueberries… So pretty!

We ordered my favorite… Creamy Tomato Basil Soup and a Strawberry, Orange, Grape Pecan Salad with Grilled Chicken… Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing…

It was good to catch up even if we do talk about 3 times a week…

We couldn’t catch up with my sister until we all went to a Great – niece’s Wedding later in the evening… My brother’s Granddaughter… They laughed through a few parts… which I thought was endearing… trying to get their rings on and filling a vase with sand…

It was lovely… held outside… in a Garden… with the reception under a large pergola with a canopy roof…

Colors being purple and bright wildflowers for bouquets and decorations…

It was quite beautiful…

String music during wedding ceremony…

This “Family Tree’ was signed by all guests… on the variegated green leaves…

A clever… unique idea for a remembrance…

which they can hang in their new home… 

Wonderful appetizer food passed as we waited for Bride and Groom and Wedding Party who were getting photos made…

Any kind of drink you would like…

The round tables covered in the wedding colors were big enough to hold us 3 + 6 other of our close family members.

Vera… with her wonderful smile!

Molly and Nick… (niece with her nice boyfriend)

Beautiful Gardens… with flowers… big trees… water accents… and sitting areas…

Sitting areas and flowers…

Sculptures adorned the area…

More trees and flowers…

A fountain in front of the 111 year old home that is on the property…

The home… with its deep burgundy trim was so pretty…

This tree looks as though it is reaching toward the water…

The flag was appropriate… since it was on Labor Day Weekend…

A Koi Pond…

A log bridge…

The Gardens were dedicated to a Jean Wakefield Cain… by her son…

UNTIL! …

A major rainstorm came through with from what we heard… 60-70 mph winds straight through the reception…

A huge branch was taken down nearby…

Lightning played across the sky…

It turned very dark…

but, the worse… were the winds…

Table centerpiece spilled over… glasses tumbled over… tablecloths blew up over the Wedding Cake… the music people had to get their equipment unplugged… The gifts had to be grabbed up… and out of the rain…

and the Bridal Party which happened to be sitting on the side the storm blew in from were soaked…The bride… groom and all attendants…

It was chaos!

This happened when dinner was just being served…

which I have to say was awesome!…

Laughter started… comments… regrets  stated… checking on this and that…

but, they took it all in stride as the winds downsized and a hard rain continued …

Some were pretty soaked… but, being on the opposite side of the area saved us… except for a slight mist blowing every now and then…

We estimated about 200 people had an unusual wedding day captured on cell phones and photographers lights were flashing

to capture some unique shots!

The bride was beautiful… in her lovely gown… and the groom was handsome…

Just thankful the wedding itself was finished before Mother Nature  showed up and crashed the party…

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Labor Day… aTime to Rest… a Time to Celebrate!

Memory…

Labor Day   came and passed with not even a picnic … at least not for me…

My Dad’s birthday was September 1,  and he would have been 105 years old this past Saturday…

He has already passed… leaving behind memories of wonderful chidlhood days for me…

That’s wonderful to me!

Right before his last birthday hear on Earth… I had taken him to get his hair cut … renew his driver’s liscense … even though Mom was sure he would not drive any more…

My thoughts were…”Let him hope!”…”Don’t take that from him!”…

After our errands were run… I left, with him sitting in the swing on the front porch of the wonderful home he had built for us with his own two hands…

Every board… nail… screw… pipe… concrete work had his handprints on it!…

Less than a week later he was gone… The many heart attacks he had… finally took him…

He passed with my Mom by his side… watching his favorite sport… baseball … at home…

He was only 72 years old… Too young according to figures now… But, we never know our time…

Labor Day brings back memories of many picnics … family get-togethers… The yard full of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Brothers, Sisters, Friends, Neighbors and whoever else my Dad had invited … Tables and chairs under the trees my Dad and Mom had planted … Food prepared by my Mom and every one bringing a dish … cold drinks ready… for an afternoon of ball playing, horseshoes , croquet  or badminton …

Ladies sitting and talking… observing the kids and bandaiding a few knees or arms … from playing so hard in the creek than ran in the backyard …

My ears can still bring back all of the chatter… the laughing… the voices praising the good food…

and then the good byes… as people started packing up their chairs and containers of leftovers…

The kids so tired from catching lightning bugs  after dusk had come… that many had to be carried to the cars…

It was a joyous time!… and it seemed as though  celebrations were just meant to be for my Dad’s Birthday…

I remember asking, “What is Labor Day?”

My Mom explained it like this…

“It’s for people like your Dad who work so hard all year to make money for their families… To be able to provide food, clothing and a nice home … It’s a day of rest… to celebrate their labors”… 

Rest well Daddy!

Related articles

• The History of Labor Day (dol.gov)
• Labor Day, How it Came About and What it Means (clarksvilleonline.com)
• Happy Labor Day – Picnic (1955) (homeprojectionist.com)