janbeek

Janet Laura DeAngeles Beekman was born in the central valley of CA just before the start of WWII, I am the second daughter of a sweet, loving, silent-type, dark & handsome first-generation Italian dad and a strong, opinionated, smart & lively Scots-Irish-English mom who was never at a loss for words.

I grew up in an “Ozzie & Harriet” type of home. My mom was a busy and supportive housewife. My loving, affectionate, diligent daddy went out to work each day. Except, my dad didn’t go to work in a suit, carrying a briefcase. He owned a smelly Tallow Works and wore blue-collar pants & shirt, drove a truck, and picked up dead animals and meat scraps from old-fashioned, saw-dust-on-the-floor butcher shops. And my housewife mom didn’t wear an apron and stay in the kitchen or clean house all day. She was the secretary/bookkeeper for dad’s business and the office was attached to our home. My best friends were Tiofila and Engracia, the little girls next door whose dad worked for mine  (I later learned the hard way what it meant that they were “illegals”  from Mexico).  I’ll write about that someday on my blog.

My hobbies have been many, but top of the list always have involved reading, writing and something musical. I love to sing. I play the accordion and used to play the clarinet. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve going to my music lessons on Saturdays with my mom or attending a week of summer Music Camp at the College of the Pacific about 50 miles from my home. Later I would graduate from COP – College of the Pacific, Stockton, CA (which became UOP – the University of the Pacific – my senior year). I spent a happy career in education – teaching all ages, from K to adult.

Bob, and I were married shortly after my college graduation. Here we are 58+ years later.

With a maiden name of DeAngeles (in Italian it means “of angels”), angels have always been a part of my life and my belief system. Our Boston Terriers are a part of our angel network. They provide such joy and entertainment! TazE, is the 7th Boston we have had in our 58+ years of marriage.

We have two children, 7 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. I write about them in my blogs from time to time. I have an “Angel Room” above our entryway. I get many of my inspirations for my blogging while I am up there in my “sanctuary” each morning.

Bob & I retired to Ennis, Montana in 2016.  It’s a wonderful community with gorgeous vistas and delightful, loving people. You’ll see the sites and meet the people as you visit my blog where I post daily.

That’s last year’s glimpse of JanBeek visitors. As I scrolled down on that “stats” page, I counted more than 80 countries. What a gift to have these readers come to share the joy I have to give. I have been blogging since 2012 here on WordPress. Join me!!

Thanks for visiting me at JanBeek!