I don't know how to do 2 pictures in one post, sorry.
This picture was taken around 1964 at a very popular milkshake stand at the county fair. by a local newspaper photographer.
This is my parents and 4 older sisters.
I was born about 3 year laters.

...fast forward about 10 years or so. The same photographer happened to snap a picture of my younger sister and I (on right) at same milkshake booth! (notice the same cups for all those years)
My parents said they didn't even know he took this one. Both photos were in the paper. My older sisters by this time were teenagers and off doing other things on their own....
We have newspaper clippings, but my mom was smart enough way back when to get copies of originals.
(she must have eased up...no more mary-janes!)

P.S. my folks will celebrate their 60th anniversary Oct 23. love them so much!

This post was edited by salgal on Fri, Apr 11, 14 at 7:24

Salgal, those are wonderful pictures. I bet those Mary Janes were handed down, down, down as well as the other clothing too. Five girls, huh? Any boys in the family yet?

Actually 6 girls, no boys. My parents have 23 grands (11 boys, 12 girls) and 9 greats (4 boys and 5 girls) with another on the way. There will be lots more... only 4 grands are parents of the 9 greats. We have a looong way to go!
My mother, bless her heart, still buys a personal Christmas gift for each and every one.

edited to add: I think it is hilarious to see how clean and put together my sisters were in photo one....note how dirty younger sis and I are, and no socks. makes me chuckle at how I know I tormented my mother so...I was such a fierce tomboy she probably just gave up by then!

This post was edited by salgal on Fri, Apr 11, 14 at 8:57

Really neat, salgal! Don't know what "mary-janes" are though. :p

Campfire at sunset on Oneida Lake (Verona State Park):

Fire ... and Family.. OK.

My brother and his family were visiting, and his son looked out the living room windows and exclaims, "Look there's a fire!". I assumed the neighbors were burning brush, and went to the window to look, and it was clear it was much further away than the neighbors, and therefore also much larger. We drove 3/4 of a mile down the road and saw this:

The Waldo Canyon fire , taken from our deck, 2 years ago....the wind picked up and it headed another direction, missing us...

Another much smaller scale fire, with more family.

For a New Years Celebration in Montpelier, VT a few years ago, they had canceled the fireworks display for budgetary reasons. As a replacement someone organized this mass-launching of flying paper lanterns.

You unfold it, hold it upright, and light a small square of flammable material. The flame heats the air and the lantern slowly rises into the sky.

My niece is lighting this one. I'm holding it up, and a cousin-in-law is helping.

It really seemed that this could have led to a subsequent photo like one of the two above, but the organizers claimed that since they wouldn't come down until the were completely out, it was perfectly safe.

Smoke from a volcano we were passing. Captain called it a volcanic burp!

Salgal, I love your family pictures!! I remember the little shirts your older sisters are wearing. I know I have some pictures around here of me wearing the same kind of shirt. So cute.

Fire. Something so fascinating yet fearful about it. I was hard pressed to find a picture of fire (without going out and starting one, LOL), but here is my offering today.

I don't have a fire today, except between these two lovebirds (cardinals, actually). I finally caught them at the hand-off (mouth-off). I assume it's courting behavior.

I've got another one.

A fake fire display in a duty free shop in an airport on the way to Madeira.

The family connection is that that perfume company was started by my wife's great great great grandfather in 1828.

One of my sons' is on a Hotshot crew in the Southwest (identical to the crew that pershied in Arizona last Summer.)Sometimes they hike in, other times they're flown in by helicopter and dropped off.

Up close and personal with the fire.

Ron

Mary Janes are the shoes that the 4 girls are wearing. Some (mine) were black patent leather. I remember them as "dress" shoes.

I just can't fathom being that close to fire like that! Those firefighters are nothing short of amazing and seriously brave!!!

Thanks, murraysmom. It's nerve wracking at times being the Dad, but he enjoys the physical challenge, the excellent pay, and a chance to spend a lot of time in the wilderness. He's done it for 5 seasons and will be heading out again in just a few weeks.He tells me every life counts.

Ron

Juggling fire-sticks in Piccadilly Circus:

Kudos to your son, Ronf. It made me heartsick to hear of the hotshot crew that died last summer. Its such an unselfish, altruistic job that takes almost unimaginable bravery. It looks to me like the little lizard is smiling.

Sounds like you've raised a good son into a fine man, Ron!! Those guys do such an important job and to find that he has that kind of heart is wonderful to hear!

I hope this season is not too rough for them.