Vintage Photo Friday - Halloween

This is from about 1980 or 81.

I was a hobo.  I think.

As you can see, Tina got a store-bought costume (that I remember being VERY jealous of), and Mom just kinda put a coat, hat, and sunglasses on me, painted a beard with mascara, and called it a day.  I do not look amused.

*sigh*

But the thing with these vintage photos is that you can learn so much more by looking beyond the intended subject.  For example:

• Top shelf behind us you can see the 8-track tape collection.  I think Mom & Dad might still have these.
• To the left of the 8-tracks, you can see the globe book-end.  I remember these.  They were not necessarily geographically correct.
• There's also what looks to be 3 sets of encyclopedias.  I only remember one of those sets of books.  The white with blue are children's story books.

I think that my favorite costume I ever had was the year that I dressed up as Dolly Parton (I was an adult).  I used a flannel shirt, added fringe, had a blond wig and fake eyelashes.  It was the best.  And even if I knew where my photos were, I'm not sure I would share a picture of that with you...

What's your favorite costume from your past?

1970

Yesterday Mom sent Tina & I a text to ask if we remembered what day it was.

I was a smarty-pants and said it was a day that was so darned busy I didn't have time to call them until I got home, and I wasn't home yet (it was 8PM).  It was a day when everyone said "Oh, it's Friday the 13th" and I said "It's my Mom & Dad's anniversary!  They've been married 44 years!"

Here's what a wedding reception in 1970 looked like:

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

BTW, Mom - you've been married for 70% of your life...  Congratulations!

Also, how did you get your hair so high?

Photography Challenge Day 25: Something Pink

Since I obviously have an inability to stick with stuff, I never finished the 30-Day Photography Challenge.

Why?

Because I was stuck.  Stuck on categories that I don't have a good photo for.

So I decided to jump to day 25:

That's me with Grama.  Something pink - the towel of course!  When I was (very) little, we lived on the same property as Grama.  She must have come over when I was having a bath.

I remember that couch - which we had until I was probably about 11 or 12.  When I was a freshman in college my roommate and I went to Salvation Army to buy a couch for our dorm room and we bought this couch's twin!  We sold it at the end of the year for the same price we paid for it - good deal!

And I remember that towel.  Heck, Mom might still have that towel.  It was probably one that they received as a wedding gift - and there are so many wedding gifts that they still have/use.  At what point in time do you get to have an  Anniversary Shower and get new household items as gifts?  Cuz when you've been using the same pots/pans/baking dishes for 44 years, you just need new things...

Photography Challenge Day 10: Childhood Memory

I'm the one in red.  With cousins Marcos Alan, Susana, & Becky, and my sister Tina.

I had a broken arm - or wrist or something - when I was a kid.  That's why I had a sling on in this picture. 

We had a jungle gym in the yard and Tina and I were playing when I fell off.  That's how it broke.

I don't remember a whole lot about that.  But I remember that Mom must have iced my arm, because I remember her putting something in the freezer.  Did she freeze my cast?  I also remember someone at church helping me write.  You can see that it was my right arm, and I am right-handed, but I sure hadn't learned to write at that time - I was not quite 5 and I hadn't gone to school yet!

Hey, maybe I can blame my bad handwriting on this broken arm?

Photography Challenge Day 7: Changes to Come

Yep, skipped Day 6.  Subject for Day 6 was obsession, and I had no idea what to put for that one.

Changes to come?  Not sure what to do here, other than to share some photos of Mom from when she was 17 and just this past Christmas - only a few years have gone by, but changes come with time.

1970

2013

I selected these two photos because of Mom's smile in both - they're the same, right?  It's nice to know that there are some things in life - like smiles and laughter - that will always be the same.  We might all get older, but some things never change.

In other news, I CAN'T WAIT to go to Mom & Dad's for Easter.  They spent nearly 3 months in Florida, and even though we don't live right nearby, now that they're back, it's nice to know that they're an easy drive and not a plane ride away.  I want to hunt eggs with Trekker, try a chocolate & orange recipe with Tina, play games, and eat good food!  Only 4 work days and then I have a nice long 3-day weekend!

Mailbag!

*to be read in the voice of the late, great, Crocodile Hunter*

G'day mates!  Thanks for coming, we have a great blog for you today!

For today's blog, we go to the old Mailbag!  What's in here today?

Ah, we have a comment from Loretta!
Well, hey there Loretta, you're looking great today!

Isn't she gorgeous!?!

Oh, sorry, Chuck Norris, I didn't see you standing there....

Right, back to the Mailbag!  On yesterday's post, a lovely little thing about making two birthday cakes and homemade frosting, Loretta asks

What is this thing you call "home-made"???

Well, crikey Loretta!  I'm glad you asked!

You see, some people don't have a fulfilling hobby to fill their time, a hobby like crocodile hunting, or quilting.  Those people, for some unknown reason, spend their time using ingredients to make food that the rest of us just purchase at the store already made!

Now I know what you're thinking - Crikey, why would they do that?!?!

And it's a good question.  Problem is, I'm too busy hunting crocodiles to study these odd creatures long enough to find out.

Thank you Loretta for the question!  Everyone out there, be safe, and keep the questions coming!

See Ya Later, Mate!

Once Upon a Time: A story of two sisters

Once upon a time there were sisters who lived in the MidWest.

They went on adventures to exciting places like California,

Pretty, but yeah, I have no idea...

I really don't remember this...

Washington DC,

Jefferson Memorial from Washington Monument

Reflecting Pool & Washington Monument

Mt. Vernon

Monticello

and Iowa.

Amana Colonies

Amana Colonies

Oh, and Wisconsin.
(like I said, "exciting")

Fort Dells

ditto.

They were even known to take in cultural performance, like the 
Ice-Capades.

Okay, this might be Disney on Ice.

One day, the older sister met a boy, fell in love, and got married.  (well, it took more than one day...)

 Both sisters were very happy.

Before they new it, the older sister was a Momma and the younger sister was an Aunt!  (not to be confused with being an ant, which she was not).

Nathan

Rylee

Nathan

Nathan

oh, I'm just smooshing a baby to my face...

Nathan

baby Trekker

More fun followed, including riding the train,

looking at a light house,

birthday parties,

and bowling.

Eventually, the younger sister also met a boy, fell in love, and got married.

Both sisters were, once again, very happy.

(not at all)

The End

(because I'm sure there is much more excitement to come!)