the beach

I am sorry to report that I did not take this photo! But my camera did. My Canon Xsi is traveling again this time to Mexico! It has already been to Italy & Norway so it does get around. Anyway, just sharing a photo sent to me. I will dream of sunny beaches with you. More details upon its return!

the park

First, birthday wishes to my aunt, Elaine! I hope you are busy all day opening cards!
It's been such a mild & dry winter, but the other day when I walked the Beagles through Robert's Park I noticed the subtle colors & patterns in the grass. Our city budget has put a crimp in the mowing of our parks. When I see the natural beauty of the winter landscape I think it is not such a bad thing . . .

clothesline etiquette

1. Hang socks by the toes . . . NOT the top.
2. Hang pants by the bottom/cuffs . . . NOT the waistbands
3. WASH the clothesline before hanging any clothes (walk the entire length of each line with a damp cloth around the line).
4. Hang the clothes in the correct order ("white" with "whites" & hang them first).
5. NEVER hang a shirt by the shoulders . . . always by the tails.
6. Wash day is Monday. NEVER hang clothes on the weekend, especially Sunday, for Heaven's sake!
7. Hang the sheets & towels on the outside lines so you can hide the "unmentionables" in the middle.
8. It doesn't matter if the weather is sub-zero . . . clothes will "freeze-dry".
9. Always gather the CLOTHESPINS when taking down the dry clothes.
10. To be efficient, line the clothes up so that each item doesn't need two CLOTHESPINS , but shared one of the clothespins with the next item.
11. Clothes off the line before dinner time, neatly folded in a clothes basket & ready to be ironed.

These rules were sent to me by my Aunt Elaine this week. Does bring back some memories as we hung everything on the clothesline when I was growing up. I'd forgotten, but I do remember occasionally cleaning the clothesline, probably after it went unused over a snowy winter. But we did hang clothes up in freezing weather. The blue jeans & towels would be as stiff as boards, but Mom always thought that drying clothes on the line saved her electricity bill with the dryer. We always had a clothespin bag to put the clothespins in. Every few years Mom would sew a new one as the sun would eventually wear it out. And we did a lot of ironing back then too. We'd lay out the dried shirts & sprinkle with water & keep layering shirts until we were done then roll it all up into a ball & come back a bit later to do the ironing. And I loved sleeping in bed when the sheets had spent the day on the clothesline. Good memories!

Dad's garage revisited

the chair

I have photographed this chair in Dad's garage before. With someone sitting in it. On one of my recent visits to see Dad, I spent a few moments in his garage again. And this chair sat empty. Dad isn't able to spend time tinkering in his garage like he once did. Something he misses as he would prefer to stay busy.

it's a dog's life

It's that time of year when the sun hangs low in the afternoon sky & shines into our living room. The days when Jack stretches out in his yellow chair & lets the sunbeams warm him.

an anniversary

She's been gone three years now. Just remembering her with a favorite photo of her & Dad from July 7, 2007.

Olivia

She's nine months old & I finally got to meet Olivia! She is the daughter of Abby & Travis and the granddaughter of Jean & Gene. She hung out with us at the baby shower on Saturday. Travis was there before the shower began & when Olivia saw him she squealed "Dad"! She wouldn't come to me although she didn't seem to mind my camera . . .

baby shower

I attended a baby shower for my niece, Amber, yesterday in Deweese. A small gathering but we had fun playing games, eating & chatting. And Amber received some great gifts as she is getting ready for the arrival of her first baby. Here she is pictured with her mother-in-law, Mary and her mother, Jean (on the right).

Georgie

He's pretty cute too . . .

more faces of Audrey

More photos I found on my camera after Angie returned it. I have so much fun downloading the photos & seeing new ones. I especially love the series where Becky is putting Audrey's hair into a ponytail (although I do hate seeing that halo of curls being restrained). Priceless!

birthday boys

I lent my old SLR camera to my niece, Angie, over the holidays. This is a photo she took at the birthday party for my brother, Don, and his grandson, Georgie. I don't think Georgie has enough frosting on his face yet . . .

the tracks

Last week when Daniel & I visited Dad, I stopped briefly at one of my favorite places to take a picture. Then I made it black & white and loved that too.

Bill & Lola

One more photo courtesy of Dianne. Another I'd never seen before of my parents young & in love. This photo has been cropped, unfortunately, but it was taken at the home place out on the farm. They are sitting in the living room with the door to the front porch behind them.



Elaine sent me an update on the picnic photos. The location was the park in Nelson. All of Grandma's kids & grandkids were there. It was also the day that our "Uncle Tut" (Grandma's younger brother, Herman) died. The picnic went on as planned anyway. Elaine reports that Grandma said "If Dad were here he'd say 'Who are all these people' and 'Look what we started!'" A special day for her.

looking forward & remembering

Today I am thinking about my Mom (she would be 81 years old today) & Daniel (he started his new job today with the State of Nebraska) so it seemed fitting to post a photo that included both of them (also in the photo is Austin on the right). And I'll call Dad & remember her with him.

summer picnic

More photos compliments of Dianne. The date on the side of the photos indicates the summer of 1970. I recognize aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings & my Dad in these photos. I don't recall the event or recognize the location though. This first photo shows (left to right) Bill,Roy, Bud, Len, Butch, Everett, Ben, Gary & Don.



Starting at the lower left & going clockwise I see my cousin, Gary, then his father, Ben, my brothers Don & then Roy. Uncle Joe standing at the end of the table. Then Uncle Bud, my grandmother, Minnie, Uncle Butch & Aunt Elaine.



On the left side of the table is Cheryl, Brian, Janet & Marilyn (?). On the other side is Connie, JoAnn, Dianne, Mary, Carolyn & Betty. (Feel free to send me corrections if I'm wrong.)



Enjoy this trip down memory lane!