Purslane: Nutritious, Delicious, Salvation From Starvation

Photo taken in Newton, Massachusetts by MarashGirl©2021 Above is a contemporary photo of purslane (perper in Armenian, ermerouk in Turkish). According to Marash Girl's interviews with survivors of the Ottomans'attempted genocide of the Armenian people early in the 20th century, purslane was often the only source of nutrition, nutrition that if those Armenians were "lucky", they would gather along the roadside, their only source of nutrition as they were marched out of their homes by the gendarmes of the Ottoman Empire, marched into the desert during the "death march"(see internet explanation below) . . . Today purslane (ermerouk in Turkish) is often used by Marash Girl as a vegetable to be used in salads and soups . . . both the leaves and the stems of the the plant are highly nutritious and delicious. Gardeners will welcome your gathering the purslane from among their plants, as purslane will suddently appear unbidden, particularly among the tomato plants in vegetable gardens throughout the northeast! Just be sure to remove the roots and wash the purslane plants in cool water, rinsing numerous times in order to rid the plants of any soil before chopping the purslane for soups or salads. N.B. Below taken from the internet: "Perhaps the most "classical" example of the death march was the one that occurred as part of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey (part of the fading Ottoman Empire) in 1915. The events leading up to that death march were paradigmatic of the experience of genocide victims in other places." "The death march of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire took place against the backdrop of the hostilities of World War I. In the spring of 1915 Ottoman rulers ordered that all Armenians be expelled from their homes in areas outside of war zones. The Armenians—men, women, and children—were then lined up and made to walk in convoys of tens of thousands toward the Syrian desert. Although the expulsions resembled deportations, the treatment of the people making the march by Turkish "guards" made it clear that a more sinister agenda was driving the march: a planned elimination of the Armenian population through a process of starvation and exhaustion. The death march was a culmination of decades of Turkish discrimination against Armenians, which had long consisted of the barring of Armenians from serving in the Turkish army, repeated executions of small groups of Armenians, and mass killings by special forces known as Teshkilâti Mahsusa—gangs of violent ex-convicts ordered by the Ottoman/Turkish government to commit murders of Armenians." N.B. Lest we forget . . . From the Internet: "June 1, Wilbraham, Massachusetts Two tornadoes hit Wilbraham on June 1, 2011, Town Administrator Robert A. Weitz says. The first was the F-3 tornado which also devastated Springfield and Monson and cut a swath through Wilbraham from Tinkham Road, south of the center of town, to Monson." And to relate this note to the above blogpost, before the tornado, Marash Girl's garden in Wilbraham was replete with wild purslane growing unbidden among the carefully planted tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini.

"Free Armenian Prisoners Of War"

"Free the Armenian hostages illegally detained by Azerbaijan!" May 18, 2021 - Armenian Mirror Spectator - Activists (photo Jean Eckian)

Today is National Hole In My Bucket Day!

Marash Girl and her children used to love to sing "There's a Hole in My Bucket" during their rides to Wilbraham, Massachusetts, those wonderful summers before the tornado destroyed the cabin and the trees on top of Wilbraham Mountain. Below, although in Marash Girl's memory, are the lyrics (somewhat amended) as taken from the internet...Please feel free to sing along. There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole. Then fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Then fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it. With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what shall I fix it, dear Liza, with what? With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, a straw. But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza, The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long. Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it! With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what? With an ax, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With an ax, dear Henry, dear Henry, an ax. But the ax is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza, The ax is too dull, dear Liza, too dull. Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Then sharpen it dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it! With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, with what? With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, a stone. But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza, The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry. Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it. With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, with what? With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, water. But how shall I get it?, dear Liza, dear Liza, But how shall I get it?, dear Liza, with what? With the bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With the bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, the bucket! But there's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

Never Know What You're Going To Find At A Yard Sale!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

On Rolling Out Lamejun Dough

Growing up on Lowell Avenue in our 2.5 family home, Marash Girl's mom, auntie, and Grandma Yepros would gather round the kitchen table to roll out dough that had been rising for several hours into flat circles in preparation for making lamejun (Armenian meat pies). After having kneaded the dough, having let it rise, having shaped the risen dough into balls the size of tennis balls, and having allowed the shaped balls of dough to rise again (covered with a damp cloth so the balls of dough wouldn't dry out) for an hour or so, Marash Girl's auntie, mommy, grandma and Marash Girl would gather round the kitchen table to roll those risen balls of dough (balls the size of tennis balls) into circles (or as near to circles as we could make them) before we covered those circles of dough with a mixture of ground lamb meat, chopped parsley, chopped onions, and crushed stewed tomatoes. It is interesting to note that the only one of us who could roll those balls of dough into perfect circles was. . . you may have guessed it . . . my Grandma Yepros. . . my dear grandma who was sightless . . . yes, my grandma who was blind could roll those balls of dough into perfectly shaped, flat circles in order to make perfectly shaped lamejun.

My Iris Bud Has Bloomed!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Flowers On My Mind!

And flower buds in my front garden!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

MAKE A WISH!!!

According to a childhood belief, if you pick a dandelion puff, make a wish, take a deep breath, blow on that dandelion puff, and if your puff blows all the dandelion puff's seeds away, your wish will come true! (The fewer puffs you take to clear the dandelion of it's puffy seeds, the sooner your wish will come true!!!... A lot of if's . . . and a lot of puffs!!!!) Below Photo by MarashGirl©2021

TURKEY SAUNTERS ACROSS MAPLE AVENUE . . .BUT THANKSGIVING IS NOWHERE NEAR!!!!

A turkey taking a late afternoon stroll on Sunday afternoon surprised the locals, although the turkey felt perfectly comfortable, as Thanksgiving is months away, and the turkey, apparently, knew that fact!!!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

FLOWERS ON A SUNNY SUNDAY MORNING

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

PAUSING ALONG THE CHARLES RIVER ON A SUNNY AFTERNOON

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

One Shed Left From The Old Days . . .

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Want A Better View? Rock Above The Bush!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

A SIGN OF THE TIMES: STOP GUNSTORES IN NEWTON!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

What's that? An Ironing Board?

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 What was that sitting out on the curb on Mother's Day? An ironing board? Have you young folks ever seen one? Can you old folks figure out a better use for this one? There it was, sitting all alone on the sidewalk . . . Someone was certainly making a statement on Mother's Day!

Tow Zone In Boston?

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

A Saunter Through The Park

Photos Below by MarashGirl©2021

NO GUNSHOPS IN NEWTON, PLEASE!

A LETTER TO MAYOR OF NEWTON RUTHANNE FULLER FROM A LONG TIME CITIZEN OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS I, born and brought up in the City of Newton, one who attended Newton Public Schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, one who has worked for the City of Newton at Newton High School, a former member of the Newton Parks and Recreation Commission, am writing to you with great concern. Allowing the opening pf a gun shop, albeit next to a marijuana shop (get high and grab your gun?) in Newtonville, less than a mile from Underwood Elementary School, Bigelow Junior High School, and a little over a mile from Newton North High School … such an action on the part of your office Is unconscionable, unacceptable, unwise, and certainly not in the best interest of Newton’s citizenry. Please do all in your power to prevent the possibility of guns being sold in the City of Newton. (Signature withheld to protect the author of the above letter.)

Elizabeth Warren On Reducing Gun Violence

From: Elizabeth Warren Date: May 10, 2021 at 7:39:33 PM EDT Dear "Marash Girl", Thank you for contacting me about guns. I meet mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, grandmothers and grandfathers who have lost children and grandchildren to gun violence - communities of people whose days will forever be marked by loss. I meet them, and I promise we will not forget. The facts are simple: over 100 Americans die every day from gun violence. Five of those people are children or teens. That's five a day, every day - young bodies piling up by the thousands year after year. If five children were dying of a mysterious illness every day, our country would do everything in its power to stop it. We must do the same for the epidemic of gun violence. Massachusetts has some of the toughest laws in the country. But strong gun laws in Massachusetts won't stop someone from going to a gun show in New Hampshire or Maine, states that don't require a permit or license to buy guns, and bringing those guns across the border. Congress must act. Our communities have demanded action to curb gun violence, but the Senate continues to fall short. When faced with the chance to vote for a bipartisan compromise to ensure that universal background checks prevent dangerous people from purchasing guns - something that 90% of Americans support - a minority of U.S. Senators blocked reform in 2013, again in 2015, and again in 2016. I support measures to improve background checks for gun purchases, increase penalties for gun trafficking, limit the size of ammunition magazines, and reauthorize the expired ban on military-style assault weapons. I will continue to speak out and to support efforts to pass a comprehensive set of reforms to reduce gun violence. There is no single solution for ending gun violence, but we must do better. We must honor the memory of those we have lost to gun violence and protect our children and families from these terrible tragedies. I will keep your thoughts in mind as I continue to look for other steps we can take. I believe that it is my responsibility as a United States Senator - and as a mother and grandmother - to reduce gun violence. Sincerely, Elizabeth Warren, United States Senator

A Walk In The Spring

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

And Back In The Suburbs . . .

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Walking Further Along Newbery Street On Mother's Day . . .

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Second Shot?

Have you gotten your second COVID-19 shot? Since Marash Girl and Marash Boy had not yet received theirs, they decided to celebrate Mother's Day yesterday afternoon by heading into Boston to get shot #2. Entering the cavernous Hynes Convention Center,they waited only a short time to receive their shots, shots placed directly into their upper left arms -- and painless, surprise, surprise! During their walk back to the car, they were rewarded by an unexpected meeting and chat with artist Eric (pictured below) at the corner of Boston's Newbury and Hereford Streets.

From Marash Girl's Front Porch. . . .

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

To all mothers-to-be, mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, great great grandmothers, and great great great grandmothers . . . here's wishing past, present, and future mothers a very Happy Mother's Day!!! Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Medzmama and Stubborn Stains!

When Marash Boy's mom Azniv (which means Grace in English, and she was, indeed, full of grace) . . . To begin again . . . When Marash Boy's mom Azniv was elderly and living with Marash Boy and Marash Girl, she (known to all of us as Medzmama) would delight in removing stains that no person, (not even the advertised miracle cleaners) could remove. "These stains may be stubborn, but I'm more stubborn!" she would often proudly announce. N.B. Medzmama was an Armenian woman born in Marash,Ottoman Empire, and was a survivor of the genocide of the Armenian people.

"Pennies From Heaven" or . . .

Visiting Blogger John Harutunian writes . . . My late mom, Karmille [Der Sahakian] Harutunian was a young pupil of about ten years old in Soviet Armenia around 1924. One day in class, the teacher, intent on brainwashing her pupils, suggested, “Why don’t we all bow our heads, close our eyes, and ask God for candy?” They did--and of course nothing happened. The teacher then suggested, “Why don’t we try bowing our head, closing our eyes, and asking Lenin for candy?” Unfortunately for the teacher, my mom was not only a bright little girl, but her father, Rev. Mardiros Der Sahakian, was a Congregational Protestant Minister. So little Karmille must have sensed that something was up. She sneaked a peek up to the top of the classroom. And up there she glimpsed a man -- raining candy down upon the children! Author's note: My mom was from Hayastan, indeed from Yerevan. My parents met in the USA; my father, who I think was living in Watertown at the time, started attending Rev. Der Sahakian’s church services in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Of course it’s possible that he might have noticed Karmille at some social gathering (perhaps at Tremont Temple in Boston) before that--so his interest wasn’t only in my grandfather’s church!

Գարուն, Գարուն, Գարուն է!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Sharing Our Neighbor's Flowers With You !!!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Elephant In The Church Parking Lot

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Grandma Yepros and the Missionaries

Grandpa Moses had come to the United States of America ahead of his wife Yepros and his children -- Gulenia, Paul, Peter and Rosie == for various reasons that cannot be discussed here. Soon after he arrived (knowing no English) he was able to secure a job working in the Vermont quarries, and renting a room with a Swedish family (which accounted for the fact that he spoke English with a Swedish accent). He was able to save most of his earnings, intending to send that money to his family in Marash . . . He gave the money to the missionaries from Boston to carry back with them to his family Marash. Fast forward . . . In Marash, when Grandma Yepros learned that the missionaries were coming to visit, she borrowed food from her neighbors (which she would spend many months repaying) in order to prepare a feast honoring the missionaries. When the missionaries arrived and saw the table covered with plenty of food, they decided not to give the money Grandpa Moses had sent to Grandma Yepros (as seeing the plenty set out on the table , they decided she needed nothing), but rather to give that money to the poor folks who were seriously in need . . . Needless to say, they did not understand the tradition of the Armenians in Marash . . . that tradition of honoring guests by offering them all that you have in your pantry . . . Seeing that Grandma Yepros was not in need (or so they surmised, not understanding the ARmenian tradition), they did NOT give the money Grandpa Moses had sent to Grandma Yepros, but rather decided to give it to other folks who were more in need . . . thus leaving Grandma Yepros in worse financial straits than ever before . . .

And Speaking of Lilacs . . .

Lilacs, armfuls of lilacs that, every spring, Grandma Jennie (Marash Girl's mummy) would gather from the ancient lilac bush at the front of the family's big old white, wooden two-family house on Lowell Avenue in Newtonville . . . the living room and dining room soon redolent with the beauty and perfume of the purple lilacs . . .

Young Lilacs Peeking Through The Old Porch Fence

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Happy Anniversary, Anoushigner!!! սիրեմ քեզի, նիշա ... սիրեմ քեզի, հովհաննես!

A Very Special Meal For A Very Special Guest

One day, Marash Boy and Marash Girl invited a very special guest for Friday evening dinner at their home on Beacon Hill ... an Armenian man who had done much for the Armenian community. As a way of honoring their guest, Marash Girl wanted to prepare what she believed to be a special meal. She spent a good hour peeling fresh whole garlic cloves to make an Armenian garlic soup that was, as she understood from Digin Azniv (her husband's mom), a soup that only folks from Marash were adept at making. (The soup, as Marash Girl remembers, was simply a rich homemade beef broth with only peeled whole cloves of garlic serving as the vegetable.) Unfortunately for her guest and for Marash Girl, the gentleman was allergic to garlic. Marash Girl had never known then (and since then) of an Armenian allergic to garlic, but just in case, she has never prepared Armenian Garlic Soup since. N.B. The incident described above took place many years ago. Should you love garlic and want to try making the soup yourself, simply prepare a rich beef broth and add 30 to 40 cloves of freshly peeled whole garlic cloves for the vegetable. Simmer for another half hour. . . season to taste with salt, a bit of freshly ground black pepper and a pinch Armenian red pepper. Please check with your dinner guests before serving! Or better yet, check with your dinner guests before preparing!!!

Only A Handful Of Screws

"It's only a handful of screws," you say, as you roll your eyes. But what if, one day, you had a specific need for one of those screws? Thus, Marash Girl salvaged the screws from the sidewalk today when she went for her morning stroll. She stashed those screws away in Marash Boy's tool box, as she remembered her father Peter and what he would have said . . . "You never know when you're going to need a screw of exactly that size . . ."

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Give Me Job!

Grandpa Peter often told the story of an Armenian immigrant, a friend who spoke very little English, yet, during the depression, went looking for a job in the United States of America in order to feed his hungry children . . . The friend, telling Grandpa Peter of his plight, related the following. "I tolda dhem. . . çocuklarım ajīkdīn! Give me job! . . . That's English, isn't it?"

On A Happier Note . . .

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Vandalism on Maple Avenue

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 The police left Marash Girl's house on Saturday morning, April 24, after inspecting (and writing a report on) the deliberate damage that had been done to the antique bird bath (see above) that had been sitting on Marash Girl's front lawn (unbroken) for many a year, a bird bath that Marash Boy had grown up with in his back yard in Springfield, Massachusetts . . . Marash Girl first noticed that the bird bath was broken on Saturday morning, the day after she had posted the sign you see below.

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 The bird bath had been in perfect condition on Friday evening. If you, dear reader, have any information on this incident, please email, or call the Newton Police Department directly - 617 796 2100. Let’s keep each other safe! Let’s keep Newton safe!

I'm So Happy And Here's The Reason Why. . .

When Marash Girl was a little girl, she attended Sunday School at the United Armenian Brethren Evangelical Church in Watertown, Massachusetts, a church established by those who had survived the genocide of the Armenian people which occurred between the years of 1915 and 1922. The preacher of our church, Rev. Vartan Bilezikian, was himself a survivor the Armenian Genocide (see yesterday's blogpost). Students from Gordon College were Marash Girl's Sunday School teachers. Young, enthusiastic, and committed, they taught her and her classmates to love Jesus, to live according to Jesus's teachings. But that's not all they taught. They taught wonderful Sunday School choruses, many of which Marash Girl remembers to this day. and here's one she finds herself singing often! "I'm so happy and here's the reason why, Jesus took my burdens all away; Now I'm singing as the days go by, Jesus took my burdens all away." "Once my heart was heavy with a load of sin, Jesus took the load and gave me peace within; Now I'm happy and here's the reason why, Jesus took my burdens all away." An upbeat (children's) hymn written by Stanton Gavitt . . . a hymn Marash Girl loves to sing as she takes her morning walk. Check out the song on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKA_jOdxEH0. You'll be so happy because Jesus took your burdens all away AND because you will be able to sing along with the pianist. Happy Palm Sunday!

In Memory Of Those Armenian People Who Were Slaughtered 1915-1920

In Memory of those Armenian People Who Were Slaughtered 1915-1920 May They Rest In Peace "1915 - NEVER AGAIN!"

Images Taken From The Internet 106 years since the onset of the Genocide of the Armenians...Asvadz lousavoreh!

For recordings of survivors of the Armenian Genocide, go tothe United States Library of Congress, or for more information, call the Armenian Library and Museum of America in Watertown, Massachusetts - (617) 926-2562‬

PLEASE!!! NO GUNS IN NEWTON!!!!

Dear Mayor Fuller: I am not a resident of Newton. I don't even live in Massachusetts. I am the daughter and granddaughter of a Newtonian family that made its home on Lowell Avenue after the Great Depression. Every summer, my parents would fly our whole family to Logan where we were met by my grandparents, Peter and Jennie. We spent whole summers playing in their yard, mixing it up across the street in an open lot, and walking to Bullough's Pond. As a special treat, we'd take the T to Fenway and root for the Red Sox! The house was down the road from Newton High (now Newton North) - go Tigers! I'm writing about these events because my Newtonville-dwelling aunt informed me of a gun shop - one of many, apparently - that is in process of hanging up its shingle. I can't imagine the Newton/Newtonville of my youth with a gun shop in it. And this is why: We walked as kids, unaccompanied down the streets without fear. We passed Newton North all the time, without fear. We walked to the T and entered Fenway without fear. We ran back and forth from the library to check out books and movies without fear. I understand that there are many people who regard gun ownership as a sacred right. I understand the need of some to possess firearms (the ranchers in my community all have rifles, and often use them against pests to their hens and cattle). But I'm wondering what use a gun shop would be in suburban Newton/Newtonville? As I recall, my lovely childhood summers were spent in a town home to families; schools; civic, cultural, and community centers. We now have three living generations among my Newtonian family. I ask that you and your governmental colleagues do your best to protect against the gun violence that is raging throughout our country. Step one in that battle is disarming the perpetrators. No one can shoot without an easily accessible firearm. Please say no to gun violence; say no to gun shops in Newton! Thank you for heeding my letter, Mayor Fuller. Sincerely, Alison Sykes Graeagle, CA

MARILYN MONROE AT THE CORNER OF NEWBURY AND HEREFORD STREETS IN BOSTON!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 Arriving in Boston for the purpose of receiving their COVID-19 vaccines, Marash Boy and Marash Girl received an unexpected surprise when they met Marilyn Monroe at the corner of Newbury and Hereford Streets!

Lest We Forget The Tragic Death By Gunshot Of Newton's John Frankenberger!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States_(before_2000) On March 31, 1954, in Newton, Massachusetts, Marash Girl's classmate, 14-year-old John Frankenberger, was accidentally killed during English class at Frank Ashley Day Junior High School when a pistol held by his classmate (a fellow who was sitting behind John in a first period class and had been seated behind Marash Girl an hour before during homeroom) -- that pistol was accidentally discharged. Marash Girl declines to mention the name of her classmate who was holding the pistol that went off, terminating the life of her classmate, John Frankenberger!! That shooting during English class ... granted, unintentional, an accident, -- the young man holding the gun "didn't know the gun was loaded!" -- yet the gun resulted in the tragic and immediate termination of life for 14-year-old John Frankenberger.

Looking To Purchase A House In Newton?

Here's a house that you might be able to afford . . . although it may not offer adequate protection from the guns that are available for sale in Newtonville, less than a half a mile away!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Stop the Imminent Opening of a Gun Shop in Newtonville, a Village in Newton, Massachusetts!

Do we really want a shop selling weapons -- guns that can shoot real bullets -- guns that can shoot bullets that kill -- Do we want such a shop opening on Washington Street in Newtonville, just a short bike ride from Underwood Elementary School, Bigelow Junior High School, close to F.A.Day Junior High School, and Newton North High School, and a ten minute walk from the border between Newton and Boston. . . or a gun shop located anywhere in Newton, Massachusetts, for that matter! Please call Massachusetts City of Newton Mayor Fuller’s office at (617) ‭‭‭796-1000 or email Mayor Fuller at rfuller@newtonma.gov, ‭‭‭objecting to the imminent opening of gun shop in Newton Corner (or, as stated above, anywhere in Newton, Massachusetts! Julie M. Cohen, Wicked Local, Newton Tab, April 2021, writes the following -- "Yes. A gun shop could open in Newton near the marijuana dispensary on Washington Street in Newton Corner. And very soon. "With a gun shop aiming to open on Washington Street, city councilors and upset residents are taking parallel steps to prevent this from happening. "There are currently no restrictions on where a gun store can be located in Newton, according to the city ordinances. There were firearm shops in the city in the past, including one in West Newton." Please protect our children, our families, our homes, our city! Again . . . Whether or not you live in Newton, have lived in Newton, hope to live in Newton, have friends and family who live in Newton, please call Mayor Fuller’s office at (617) ‭‭‭796-1000 or email Mayor Fuller at rfuller@newtonma.gov ‭‭‭ Don’t delay! It could mean our . . . . (I’m sure you can fill in the blanks!)

Watertown Marashtsis And "The Ice-a Crrim"!

Marash Girl's dad Peter used to share the following memory. When he was a little boy and had first come to this country, he and his family would attend the gatherings of Marashtsis (Armenian immigrants from Marash, Ottoman Empire), meetings held once a month on Sunday afternoons in Watertown, Massachusetts. The announcer would often try to quiet the gathering, folks who were so pleased to be together once again, folks catching up on what had happened in the family since their last meeting . . . The announcer, in preparation for the featured speaker of the day, would shout above the din,"Quviet, plees! Quviet, plees; prritty soon, by and by, ve gonna  hava de  ice-a crreem!" (Translation: Quiet, please! Quiet, please! Pretty soon, we're going to have ice cream!)


(It should be noted here that throughout Turkey, Marash--now known as Kahraman Marash-- is famous for it's ice cream ... or should I say, ice-a crrim!) Marash Girl's dad Peter (Bedros) reports that while sitting in that audience with his fellow Armenian immigrants, he would think to his 9 year old self, " . . .I wonder if I'll ever be able to speak English that well!" By the time Marash Girl knew her dad Peter, he was speaking perfect, unaccented English. Having graduated from Watertown High School with honors, he had been accepted to M.I.T. with a full scholarship!!! N.B. For more on Peter and M.I.T., see MarashGirl.blogspot.com, Aug 14, 2020.

April 17, 2021: Heed Your Husband's Advice, or . . .

On Thursday, April 15, Marash Boy advised Marash Girl not to remove the snow shovels from the front porch . . . not to return those shovels back down to the basement... but Marash Girl didn't heed his warning, and look what happened yesterday... Serves her right for not taking her husband's advice!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 Please consider the above blogpost to be Marash Girl's blogpost for April 17, even though she couldn't resist writing this post in the middle of the April 16th snowstorm. What better did she have to do? She couldn't shovel, because, as you might have noted in the first paragraph above, the snow shovels had already been put away as spring was 6 days away . . . but away it was! N.B.

Original Art In An Empty Parking Lot

Blogpost for April 16.

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 Good thing Marash Girl got the above photo several days ago! See photo above this blogpost for today's weather in New England . . . !!!!

Someone's Happy To Be Home!

Blogpost for April 15.

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 Good thing Marash Girl took the above photo on April 15, before the snows arrived!

Forsythia in April

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 Probably one of the few spring flowers that Marash Girl can name is the Forsythia. Why? Because when Marash Girl was in 4th Grade at Claflin School in Newtonville, her teacher, Miss Forsythe, was eminently proud of the fact that her family took their name from the beautiful spring flower, the Forsythia -- the first Marash Girl had heard the name, a name she remembers to this day.

FLOWER POWER!

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 Could YOU break through a cement sidewalk with such finesse and beauty?

The Way Marash Girl Remembers Newtonville Square

Above Image Taken From A Vintage Postcard The above image (unknown photographer/historian) looks southward down Walnut Street towards the then Newton High School (what is now known as Newton North High School, very different structures than existed at the time this photo was taken). The photo was taken from just south of Bowers Street (Bowers Street was where the train station and Newtonville Electrical Company were originally located), and Newtonville Avenue (where Newtonville Electrical Company built and moved to its new location at 439 Newtonville Avenue in Newtonville Square). n.b. Newtonville Electrical Company was the shop that Marash Girl's father and uncle established early in the 20th Century.

Sundays On The Front Porch

Photo Credit: Karoun

MISSING PARROT!!!

Blog post for Saturday, April 10th, although published today in the interest of locating this pet parrot which has been missing since before April 9.

Photo by MarashGirl©2021 If you happen to see this pet parrot, please call its owner at 617-308-2811.

Missed The Corner?

Photo taken in Newton Corner by MarashGirl©2021

Do Shoes Grow On Bushes?

Money may not grow on trees, but do shoes grow on bushes?

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

Spring has Sprung in Newton Corner!

"Glory of the Snow" Chionodoxa forbesii

Photo by MarashGirl©2021

National Peanut Butter And Jelly Day

Did you know that April 2nd was NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY DAY? April 2nd coincided with Good Friday this year. As Marash Girl felt it inapproritae to celebrate 'Peanut Butter and Jelly' on Good Friday, Marash Girl will take a moment today to remember how, being a good mother, a woman of Armenian descent, she would never allow her children to take peanut butter and jelly to school for lunch. Among other Armenian taste treats, she would place lamejun in their lunch boxes. But that never daunted her children. Their friends LOVED lamejun, and all Marash Girl's children had to do at lunchtime was exchange their lamejun for sandwiches of peanut butter and jelly made with white bread!!! Simple solution to the problem!

Elementary School Name Calling On An International Level

As Marash Girl did not think that the following was appropriate to post on the Easter weekend, she has chosen to post this "Global News" when it is no longer news. The following paragraphs are taken directly from the internet. "Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that "it takes one to know one" -- a translation that was later corrected to “he who said it, did it,” after U.S. President Joe Biden had said he thought the Russian president was a killer; Putin adding that he wished Biden good health." "I wish you health. I say that without any irony or joke." "Putin was speaking on television after Biden, in an ABC News interview that prompted Russia to recall its Washington ambassador for consultations on Wednesday, said 'I do' when asked if he believed the Russian president was a killer." "Biden also described Putin as having no soul, and said he would pay a price for alleged Russian meddling in the November 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, something the Kremlin denies." "It takes one to know one..." Really? That was Marash Girl's elementary school classmates' response whenever name calling began!

Krisdos Haryav!

Քրիստոս հարյա՜վ ի մեռելոց: Օրհնյա՜լ է Հարությունը Քրիստոսի: Krisdos haryav y merelotz -- ohrnyal e haroutioun Krisdosi! "Christ has risen and conquered death -- blessed is the resurrection of Christ!" Thanks, Rahmetlī Olsun Uncle Paul, for teaching us children how to praise the Lord in Armenian on Easter Sunday!

And Speaking Of Bread . . .

Do you make your own yeast bread? Did you know that all you ever need is that first package of yeast, and then you'll never have to buy yeast again . . . "Really! How is that?" you may ask. Just save a small chunk of the risen yeast dough before you shape and bake your bread. Keep that chunk of dough in a glass or ceramic bowl, (covered with plastic wrap if the glass or bowl doesn't have a cover, wrap that does not touch the dough,) or in a covered glass bottle. The next time you decide to make bread, remove that small chunk of bread dough from the refrigerator a couple of hours before you plan to make bread. Then, once you have kneaded fresh bread dough sans yeast, simply knead that small piece of risen yeast dough into the fresh bread dough and set the freshly prepared bread dough (which includes the small piece of dough that has yeast) in a glass or ceramic bowl twice or three times the size of the dough that you have just prepared, a bowl large enough to give the freshly kneaded dough plenty of room to rise. And rise it will . . . without the addition of more yeast! Then all you have to do is follow the recipe . . . punch down the dough and shape that dough into bread or bun shapes. Allow the shaped dough to rise for a second time. Armenian women who survived the Armenian Genocide early in the 20th Century always marked a cross (using the side of their hand) on the top of the rounded loaf of bread dough, a cross which would disappear when the bread had risen sufficiently to place in the oven to bake. Then into the preheated oven with that bread dough, and soon the aroma of freshly baked bread will waft throughout your home . . . Out of the oven and . . . Hopefuly you've baked several loaves, because that first loaf will not last very long.

When is a loaf of bread not a loaf of bread? Have you guessed the answer yet?

When is a loaf of bread not a loaf of bread? Two winners! 1) A loaf of bread is not a loaf of bread when . . . it's a baguette!!! 2) A loaf of bread is not a loaf of bread . . . after it's been eaten!!! Original Riddles copyright by Marash Girl 2021

When is a loaf of bread not a loaf of bread?

A prize for the second best answer! Why the second best answer? First, because Marash Girl has already received the best answer. And . . . because it's April Fool's Day!!! Marash Girl will report all answers on April 2nd, though she won't identify the April fools who offered them!!!