Sunday Skyping with Rosie

It's hard to believe that Rosie has only been walking for a couple of months.  She's certainly in constant motion now.

Digital Memories

It has been a very long time since I posted any of the family slides.  To be precise the last time was June 6th when I introduced both the ugliest pants and the ugliest perm.  Since then I have actually completed the slide conversion project - a good part of my childhood is now digitalized.  Our family slides started in 1959 when I was 6.  The number taken each year dwindles considerably towards the end of the 60s; some years are not represented at all  -  the last year for any slides was 1972.  That these are now captured in a digital format is amazing to me.  The slides themselves, at least for common use, were a pretty new technology in the fifties.  I still have the Kodac Carousel Slide Projector we used whenever a new batch of slides came back from the pharmacy - it was quite a project to set up the projector and the screen (which I also still have).

I love the ease of viewing the old photos on my laptop but I miss the occasion that was created when viewing the slides with my family.  And I miss the distinct loud clicking noise the projector made when moving the next slide into place.  So now that all of the slides have been converted I will post a few now and again.  If for no other reason than to dispel the image of me in those ugly pants, and with that ugly perm.

Apparently there was only one noteworthy event in 1964.  My sister Karen and cousin Doreen graduated from college on May 30, 1964, and there was a party for them on June 1, 1964.  That's it.  While there are a lot of photos from that time, they are indeed the only photos taken in 1964.

Karen's graduation gift - a 1964 VW Beetle.

Karen with Dad and Mom

Fred, Mom, Karen, Janet & Dad

The party was at our Bartlett Lane house.  The next few pictures were taken in the perfect 1964 family room.

Aunt Ruth, Doreen, Karen, Mom

My brother & girlfriend, and cousins (and a baby I can't identify) - all around 16 at the time of the party & all too cool to be with the rest of the party-goers.

And that's it for 1964.  

Sunday Skyping with Rosie on Monday

Yesterday Gus and Meara and (I'm sure mostly) Rosie helped Meara's parents move into their new house.  Happy new home to Mike and Mary Ann!  So instead of Skyping yesterday we did it this morning.  Gus went for a very early morning swim, went back home to shower and help with Rosie - after Skyping he was going to pick up his carpool buddy and then on to school where he will teach Math and Language Arts to 8th graders for the rest of his day.  Thanks, Gus, for taking the time to Skype with me today.  I really appreciate the effort and time Gus and Meara always devote so I can keep in touch from 3000 miles away.

Sunday Skyping with Rosie

Rosie got a new Rosie-sized chair!  And she loves it.

Rosie kept trying to give me a car from the Brio train set.  When I couldn't take it from her she tried putting it behind the computer screen - pretty clever thinking on her part.  (Sadly I still couldn't take it.)

She was on the move a lot during today's Skyping.  She took some time out to wrestle with her Dad.

Then it was back to her chair.

Here she is asking for a book - one of many words she has mastered in sign language. 

Bye until next week - love you all so very much.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

After a truly wonderful August week of family outings, Jonathan, Cara, Emily and Presley returned to Colorado, and Gus, Meara and Rosie went home to Oregon.  Karen and I were exhausted but we all agreed it was a great visit.  So here are some more photos from our week of family time.

Gus and Meara were not in New York just to see family.  Gus' best friend since 6th grade got married.  Sadly I have no photos of Gus in his suit but here's one of Meara and Rosie on their way to the ceremony.  Meara made Rosie's adorable dress.

While Gus, Meara and Rosie went to the wedding I waited in the motel until I got the call to go for Rosie.  I brought her back to the motel while her Mom and Dad partied.  It was such a treat for me to have that time with Rosie.  We played and read books, had some dinner.  And then Rosie fell asleep in my arms - I was a very happy Gromma.

     

On one of the last days we all met at 5 Rivers in Delmar.  It is an environmental education center and there are several trails to hike.  5 Rivers was a favorite place when Jonathan and Gus were growing up.  

How cute is Presley!

After the hike we went to the public building which hasn't changed much through the years.  Karen asked the attendant to take a group picture.

After our hike we went to a small restaurant that also holds many memories for all of us who grew up in Delmar.  The food has always been mediocre while the homemade ice cream is, and always has been, yummy.  But the real draw of the Toll Gate is pure nostalgia.  

And on my very last day with Gus and Meara and Rosie we went up to Saratoga.  Gus and Meara met in Saratoga, and they were married there, so more happy memories.  We spent some time in the park where there was a small crafts fair, and there were ducks - Rosie loves ducks!

Meara met up with her friend Eloise who got to meet Rosie for the first time.

A perfect week had to come to an end ... but we all have lots more memories to treasure.