Get Togethers

Bob and Shirley Liden, with Kathleen and Danny.

We spent many, many evenings together.

The parents would play cards, us kids would hang out,

there was always something going on.

During the later 70s, we started having sing-a-longs.

Uncle Bob had some reel-to-reel equipment, 

and he'd play his guitar while Aunt Shirley played bass,

mostly playing old Johnny Cash songs.  We'd all chime in and sing along.

Here, Uncle Bob is playing the guitar I got for my birthday,

That's Lori on the left, then Bob, Kathleen and Linda.

Gotta dig those orange curtains!  (It matched the carpet though!!)

Winter Vacation to Minnesota

Packing for a long drive to Minnesota .... in the winter! 

Note the mulberry trees across the street, still like sticks!

This was on the drive to Minnesota, 

I've always loved the look of frost in the trees!

More frost on the trees down this two-lane

This was our only winter trip to Minnesota.

No idea where this is, but I'm guessing 

somewhere near northern Nevada or Idaho?

Seeing snow like this for the first time was wondrous.

Living in Ohio, I learned to appreciate a first fallen snow,

the sound of it crunching under your boot

and how fresh and clean the air smells

and how quiet it sounds when muffled by snow.

Tidbits of Life

Lori and her friend, Donna Martin as Camp Fire Girls!

Lori and David with a dog - Was his name Pepper?

There are no other photos to give a clue where we're at.

You can just see a corner of the Rambler Ambassador.

Is it Easter?  Or just Spring?  Must be a Sunday!!

Matching dresses ... so cute :)

And more matching dresses.  On the left, my cousin Kathleen.

This was for the Mother-Daughter Tea at church.

The women actually set up, but the men served us our tea/lunch!

The backyard has grown up a lot, the trees are bigger

and Mom's roses are gorgeous!

Halloween Again

Here we are at Halloween again --

and it's the Jolly Green Giant and his helper elf

I think in commercials he was named "Sprout"

but personally, I like the pink better!

Pat and Larry McAvoy as Mouseketeers

... and we're having a good time!

As usual, the kids are dressed up and ready to Trick-or-Treat!

Snow Days

1970 in Santa Clara, California

Ohhh, the day it snowed!

(Although in truth this was probably more hail than snow!)

It didn't last long, and it wasn't much

but enough to get a feel for what it's about!

Look how small the magnolia tree was!!

Here's the backyard, bare leaves in winter

before the family room was built

All the neighboring trees were small as well!

There's a hedge planted at the edge of the grass

The master bedroom wall on the right has such a small window!

And everyone had TV antennas - Before cable and the internet!!
I remember when Dad would climb on the roof and adjust the antenna,
Mom would stare at the TV, one of us kids would stand at the open door
so we could shout instructions to Dad:  "Yep, that's perfect, Dad!"

Waterslides

Dear Dad....... 

This is my Dad --- circa 1970s!

He's riding the waterslide in Manteca, a new campground with a small lake and fun amenities for the kids.   We spent many, many weekends enjoying ourselves here, camping out in style with our pop up tent trailer.   It wasn't far to drive, we'd head up after work on a Friday, get all set up and have a late evening watersliding session.

After it got dark, the campground would play movies on an outdoor movie screen and us kids would park ourselves on a blanket on the ground to watch old Disney films.  There was a game room as well, where you could put coins in the jukebox, play a little pool or pinball.  (or... if you were brave, to flirt with the boys!!  No, wait .... I think that was my sister... yeah, I'm sure it was!! )

Many fun weekends were spent here,
and we never seemed to grow tired of it.

We didn't know we were making good memories,

we just thought we were having fun!

Thanks, Dad!