178 MURRAY STREET

178 Murray Street

Chatham, Ontario

N7M 3L2

We arrived home on the 8th of January after being on the road for 4 days

It rained off and on each day as we trekked across the US of A

Up at 5:30 a m Friday morning to make sure we got a head start on the day

Smooth sailing until we hit Toledo Ohio around 5 in the afternoon

Lots of heavy rain

Lots of construction

and
To boot

It was getting dark

When we got  to Detroit we knew we were only about 50 miles from home

Lots of rain

Lots of traffic

Lots of stopping and starting with 3 congested areas

So close to home

In a flash a truck decided to come into our lane and at the same time traffic stopped

Slamming of breaks

Skidding truck and air stream tires

Holding our breath

Joe was good on his end  but wondered what the fellow behind us was doing?

Whew
 We got out of that mess

Next

A ride on the river ferry from Marine City MI 

to Sombra Ontario

CANADA

As we were loading

The assistant to the ferry driver kept eyeing the hitch as it was very low to the ground
The air stream was packed from one end to the other with our Arizona worldly possessions

 Well 
He said

We'll try and get you off the ferry

BUT

If we can't we'll take you back to MI
Our minds went immediately to visualizing having to drive to Port Huron to cross the Blue Water Bridge to Sarnia
Must say

He did a very good job in directing Joe

Go ahead

Stop 

Go ahead

Stop

Go ahead

While all of this was going on I could see my nephew Rob waiting for us at the border security 'office'

After 4 days of travelling he was a very welcome sight
I have to say

The sight of him brought tears to my eyes!!!!

All went well

Soon we were on our way

Travelling the familiar old highway 40 towards Chatham

As you might remember we spent 3 nights at the Little White House before leaving for the west last September

My Mom's bed was made up and waiting for us

Another welcome sight

The Little White House was thinking.......

It's about time!!!

I brought Mom's lamp 'home' that had been in her home for many many years

We had taken the lamp to Jennifer at some point in time during our travels west

She gave it back to us!

On the bedside table is a picture of Mom and Dad on their wedding day

A totally vintage room

May 10, 1939

In the bed photo you can see the baby pictures of our children

Brought them from the cottage last fall

All set for their new home!

The first room to be painted

We had extra paint left over from the Casita room in Arizona

Brought it home along with the photos that were on the wall

Second room to be painted

The painter

We were 'working' around or with the counter top and back splash that were already in the kitchen

Of course the bulldog pictures have a place of honour in the kitchen!!!!!

Our first purchase was a dining room suite that I found at Bibles for Missions

It had belonged to an elderly lady who donated it

She told them it had been in her family forever

Last week I went back to the store to see if they knew the name of the lady and if so

Could they give her a message..,.....

We would take very good care of it

Unfortunately they did not have her name

The third room to be painted

We hung paintings before we painted so we could get a feel for the colour

Chose a grey paint

As babies Joe and his siblings sat in the high chair at Grandma Chinnick's farm 

The stained glass light fixture was made by Joe's brother Mike

It first hung in our dining room

 at 

291 Albert Blvd Corunna

then

1314 Cathcart Blvd

239 College Ave

and

The RV park model at Gold Canyon Arizona

Next room up for painting is the living room

The living room will be painted a grey colour as well which has a taupe tinge to it

Fireplace and ceiling white

Our second purchase was a sofa

Went with leather

After buying it I seconded guessed myself but now I am fine with it

We have a great wooden front door

Joe is going to refinish it this coming spring

The cross over the door was a wedding present to us

from

Sandy and Janice Easton

It has also traveled with us from home to home

**************

This morning we went for a walk around and about the neighbourhood

Gwennie is not fussy about wearing her coat but it does the trick

We walked along the old railroad tracks passing Stanley Ave

My grandparents lived at 181 Stanley

My Mother moved into 183 Stanley as a new Bride

My brother Gary was 10 and I 8 when we moved from Stanley Ave

As kids we used to walk along here to the foot bridge

We would also put pennies on the track and wait for the train to go by

Funny!!!!!

Ha

Gee don't need to bring a bathing suit if I want to go for a swim in the Thames!!!!

The Thames River

The story goes...............

As a young boy my Dad jumped off the foot bridge into the water to save a person who was drowning

I called my brother this afternoon to see if he remembered the story

He sure did

He has a newspaper article tucked away someplace with regard to the story

Dad was 14 at the time

It was a Sunday afternoon

Dad was not allowed to 'bathe' on Sunday thus he was dressed in long pants, a shirt and had shoes on

One boy had tried to save the 12 year old but could not

So my Dad jumped in to help

Due to his clothes weighing him down he was unable to save the boy

I can remember my Dad telling me that he was underwater and thought he was drowning 

Sad story

Old transport truck trailers sitting off to the side of the tracks

Apparently some homeless people have taken over

Shelter for them but certainly not warmth

Here we are at the back of my grandparents home

Another story I remember is that my Dad stayed out way too late one night

He climbed up to the second story only to have my Grandma standing at the window

Oops!!!!

The Fisher Family

Lavinia and Jack

Gladys and Kenneth

I love this picture

Taken on the back porch

Brother Gary

I have Grandma's wicker chair at the cottage

I would say it is 1943?

Just up the street and around the corner is Joe's old high school

CCI

We're back home

What can I say..............

LIFE IS GOOD