If I remember right, the story is that this was given to my parents.. or me.. when I was born. I was the first-born child in our family. I believe this is a paperweight from a bank called The First. It appears that they only have locations in Mississippi, which is curious. I was born in Florida and have family on my dad’s side all over the south. I wonder who lived in Mississippi that gave this to us.. or if the bank used to have more locations in other states.
Florida, Wisconsin, California, and New York. And now Illinois. These are all places I’ve called, and still do call, “home”. I truly believe that “home” is a state of mind, but just for fun I did this Home Project. With the help of my parents, Nancy, and Jessica I was able to gather a photo of every place I’ve called home* and put them together here. I hope you like them.
* I wasn’t able to get photos of places I lived in Florida so I have instead used a photo of my grandparents’ house.
Tags:california·florida·illinois·New York·Nostalgia·Wisconsin
Jeannie’s Flowers
The moment, 2 months ago, that I fell in love with the macro setting on my camera.
Last night Jess, Julie & I met up with some friends of theirs who were visiting from Florida. We went to Ginger Man and then Chat & Chew. I thought I was cold, these Florida chicks were freeeeezing!!! This cold, rainy weather has *got* to end.
[Update: I'm at work now. Soaking wet. The wind is so strong outside that it's difficult to walk, let alone carry an umbrella. Sitting at my desk in soaking wet jeans. Wonderful! BAH!]
Tags:chat n chew·florida·flowers·ginger man·jeannie·jessica·julie·Photography·Weather
Grandma has thousands of photos and over the week we poured over them remembering times long past. We each took a few of her photos as keepsakes.
1945: Grandpa (right) with a friend.
1946: Grandpa (far right) with a friend and a Red Cross worker.
1946: Juanita and Grandma.
1968: My dad, Rick.
Not sure the date on this one. Grandpa, Grandma, Rick.
1975: My mom, Mary, pregnant with me.
1976: Me with my plastic pants.
1976: Me playing dress up with dad. Look how skinny his legs are! Ew!
Christmas 1976: Me opening presents.
Christmas 1976: Grandpa.
Christmas 1976: Me.
1977: Me and Donald. Donald is still in my bedroom today.
1984: Grandma visits WI, our house on Pine St. in New London. Rachelle, Grandma, Richard.
1985: Family vacation to Orlando. Grandma and Richard.
1985: Family vacation to Orlando. The oranges weren’t ripe so me, Richard, and Lisa held up ripe, store-bought oranges to the tree for this photo.
1985: Family vacation to Orlando. Rick, Richard, Rachelle, Mary.
Dont know when exactly this is. Mid 80s. Mom and Dad.
1985: Sabrina, Richard, Rachelle, DJ.
1985: Sabrina, Dawn, Richard, Rachelle, Anna, DJ.
1985: Richard, Molly, Rachelle. Nice flip-flops. And notice how I’m giving the camera The Finger.
1986: Richard, Bill, Stephanie, Erica, Bethany, Rachelle, Kacey, Amanda.
1987: Richard.
1990: Doug, Richard, DJ, Rick.
Tags:amanda·anna·bethany·bill·dad·dawn·dj·donald duck·doug·erica·florida·grandma·grandpa·juanita·kacey·lisa·molly·mom·new london·Nostalgia·orlando·richard·sabrina·stephanie·Wisconsin
When I think of grandma I picture her in her kitchen. Even though she is no longer with us, her kitchen still overflows with activity. The kitchen is the heart of her home. Dawn and Rachelle.
Sampling the homemade apple pie liqueur. Jim, Deb, Elissa, Dee.
Deb and Mary cooking chili. Notice the box of elbow noodles. Only people from WI put elbow noodles in their chili.
Richard and Buddy.
Mary and Shannon.
No one can figure out why Doug likes to wear this outfit. Or why he thinks these shorts, ahem, swim
trunks are sexy.
We’ll still be fighting like 6 year-olds when we’re 80. Richard and Dawn.
Rich and Dawn.
Steve filleting and preparing a salmon to be grilled.
Elissa, Rick, Deb.
Rick.
Tags:buddy·dad·dawn·deb·dee·doug·elissa·florida·grandma·jim·mom·orlando·rich·richard·shannon