Boletus mushrooms remind me of my FIL.

When I was a young girl, he and I (of course he wasn't my FIL then) would take to the woods with a bucket and knife in late July and early August a day or two after it rained and search out boletus mushrooms. We'd fill the bucket and then head back home where he would slice them so precisely and lay them flat on newspapers to dry in the sun. The fragrance of these mushrooms drying in the sun is a wonderful musky one that I always enjoy...one that I'll never forget.

These days, it's much harder to find the mushrooms as the deer eat them. But last year, I was lucky enough to find some...I sliced them carefully and laid them out to dry in the sun. In fact, I'm still using the same drying tray he did. Oh that fragrance! Thank you, FIL, for spending that time with me, giving me that knowledge and such a sweet memory to look back on.

Channel from Pentwater Lake to Lake Michigan..reminds me of home

and summer vacations.

This cruise ship reminds me of the three cruises that got cancelled for me this year. I should be in Iceland today, not in the heat of Florida. Two cruises set for next year, hoping that we'll be able to get away.

A little sip before jumping back in the pool.

One of Nana's doilies that I had framed for my Mother one year for Christmas.

A creek in SW Virginia that was dear to my FIL:

This is my uncle Claus. I just found him at a bus stop in Queenbeyan Australia, after I found no one at his house.

He is the spitting image of my grand mother, but with a mustache.

Ferris Wheels alway bring me back to my childhood. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and going to Coney Island was a staple.

Hahah Oklamoni...my grandmother *had* a moustache!

:)

This is Prospect Lake. My FIL used to go water skiing every Wednesday night at this lake.

This Arborvitae and 2 more were on this lot when we bought it to build on. Just this one was saved and seeing it always brings up childhood memories of my bestest friend Joan and all the fun we could make together just playing in our yard or the woods that bordered our town. We would have so enjoyed playing in the interior of this Arborvitae's hidden branches like my little neighbor girl does now.

As I look at the ocean today, always think of the excitement as a child when we went to the beach. In the forties, an aunt bought a three room beach house . I could hardly sleep the night before. We would get up at 5 in the morning . My grandparents, my parents , and myself would take our 5 hours trip to the ocean. As I sit on our porch today looking at the ocean, I often think of the wonderful times we had on those few days each summer. At the end of the week, we headed back to our farmhouse; which I also loved. Love remembering our family .

Cobbler or any sort of pie remind me of FIL. That man had an insatiable sweet tooth and he never met a cobbler/pie that he didn't like:

Photo of me taken by my brother, August 2000 at Big Sur. The original photo was high resolution, and I had a large copy printed and framed for our mother, which she hung in her den. My sister and brother in Texas did not like this.

A nostalgic photo from around 1962 I found recently that brought back memories of our family vacations to Florida when I was a kid. This was a glass-bottom boat ride at Silver Springs. We often traveled with my Aunt & Uncle and cousins to Florida, usually the Gulf, but occasionally to Jax Beach, Daytona or down the Atlantic coast somewhere. My aunt and I were cut out of the photo somehow so I gave it to my little brother, the one in the cowboy hat.

Last time we were in Hawaii in 2000. Loved going there. Good memories.

Getting all set for last Fall...wondering if it will ever be the same............

Oh wow, "outsideplaying"...I have a picture of my DH and I that looks the

same (different people of course, LOL). Many, many, many years ago...before

kids. Is that place still up and going? Wow...thanks for the memories. Now

I have to dig in my albums, boxes, etc., and see if I can find that. (we were

sitting at the end)

Uptown Gal I believe it is. Different boats of course and I am quite sure they are much more safety oriented than what I recall! I believe there are some other spots in Florida that also do them.

Do you all recall the ‘mermaid’ show? I believe it was at Weekewachie Springs which is closed down now I think. I thought that was fascinating.

I do remember. A man who worked with my DH had a sister who worked

for the show for awhile. That was one of the reasons we stopped there

to see her...but on the day we went, she wasn't working. LOL On that

particular trip we went the full length of Florida...all the way to the Keys.

The first time I had been to the Keys..and never had the opportunity to

go back that far since.

The Mermaids in the springs are closed now, only because it is part of a state park. It was going full force until March. It is only about 5 miles from my house. Once things are better under control, I know that they will reopen, their barricades are still up in long lines.

Water pump In my front garden reminds me of my childhood visiting my grandmother and aunt on the sheep farm where they lived. So glad I was given this and the grinding stone by my aunt.

This is a special memento for my friend, Christine, who passed away in 2013. A friend from The Meeting House made the card (on the left) for me. The earrings belonged to Christine. I cherish it all and I miss her very much.