OK, I guess your absence is excused. :) Everything you've put your talented hands to is just terrific! I certainly hope the fireplace and the many snowflakes have been stored lovingly away so they may be hauled out in all the years to come. Loving efforts like your's (!) are the basis of "traditions". I do so hope the fact is not "lost" on people who, too often, look only to the "goal" immediately in front of them... I could have sent you cat and dog hair in quantities certain to cover a child's mask in no time flat. (Unlike Cynthia, ;) ). Babs., you would have really like Mum a lot. She was always "into" something... (consequently, so were my brother and I). Papier mache, stripping furniture, painting something, sewing, hooking rugs or braiding them... . Our Halloween costumes were wonderful... but we were required to be something SCAREY... no princesses allowed. I see you've used your time profitably and JUDICIOUSLY. I'm not in the least surprised! and am delighted with your photo essay.

Thank you for the comments and info. The tree is in Ljubljana, Slovenia where we are living for a couple of years. I've seen this type of tree in Art nouveau type of paintings but assumed it was just a stylized painting of a tree...I didn't think there was really a tree like it until we saw this one the other day. I'm amazed that 'flora' guessed that it was growing in Europe! (I forgot to mention that) And the link with a photo of Robinia pseudoacacia looks very similar to my photo so I think that's probably what it is. Now how can I grow a tree like that??? I'm going to add a photo of the trunk..it is very interesting also.

I have to agree - helping others should not come at such a cost to you and your well-being. For your own sanity, literally, you should talk to a therapist yourself who can explain what is going on, it is some sort of codependency thing when your dad defends your mother's reprehensible behaviour etc. Clearly something needs to be done, but you need to look after yourself. There is nothing wrong with approaching their doctor and discussing the situation with them, it happens all the time. I would say it's clear that your dad isn't coping and has some mental issues himself. My mum is herself very self-centred and somewhat verbally abusive of my dad, it took me a long time to see him through my own eyes and not hers, and work out he's a pretty cool guy. It was a shock to me to realise my first wife was very much like my mother, and my role very much like my dad's, although I didn't resign myself quite like he did, and eventually got out. I had to ask him one day why he put up with it, and he sheepishly replied since he'd put up with it for so long he couldn't do anything now. I know this sounds callous, but I sort of hope she'll pass first and he'll remain reasonably healthy so he can enjoy some of his time a little more, and maybe come and visit with us (overseas) a bit, she's been too unwell to travel for some time. I hope you can find the strength to do what needs to be done and distance yourself a little, if that's what it takes. Make sure your kids understand all this, again, talking to a therapist would help.

Years ago my BIL and hubby each built an Ultralight plane. My BIL had his pilots license, Hubby was going to but never did. Well, the BIL sold his and was flying my hubbies. He had to make an emergency landing in a field at the edge of the city. All was well for the time being. Then some weeks later he crashed it.This was the second plane he had crashed. He made the front page of the local newpaper with the first one. Well, my dear hubby had put in a landing strip in our field and BIL tried landing and flipped the crazy thing. All the neighbors saw was a plane coming down. They called 911 and we had everyone in his brothers come. My BIL was so hot.. Embarrassed is what he was. Cars were lined up and down our road checking out what had happened.. BIL was not hurt.. We got rid of the plane and hubby never did get his pilots license. Oh, by the way, my SIL would never get in a plane with my BIL.. I would say she is a smart woman..