A Pause

There's going to be a pause in the posting to this blog.  The boxes with the slides are still in storage, and the next box is somewhere in the back.  The good news is we're about to move Up North!  The bad news is it will probably be at least 2 months before I'll be able to start scanning slides again.  I may try once more to find the next box, but I make no promises.

It's a good point to pause, the year is 1986, a year I break my arm roller skating, take a new job, and the Washow's all move to Wisconsin.

Disneyworld - March 1986

The Smith's first visit to Disneyworld.  My sister Jane and her family where there as well, for their first dose of Mickey.

I believe about 30 seconds after this shot Doug's glasses ended up in Davey Jones locker.

This was also the trip we "taught" Jane how to play bridge.  It was a disaster, culminated by a hand where one of the players had 15 cards in their hand, and we didn't discover it until the end play. Looking at this pic a lot is explained, both Macy and Karyl appear "giddy" with a rosey glow.





New Year - 1/1/1986

Another year, more bridge (interesting trick).

Everything seems normal with the guys. 

On the other hand, the girls have gone off the deep end and into the play acting/costume phase.

I think Flight for Life landed just after this shot, saving some icons from the toy industry from an untimely end.





New England - Aug. 1985

We rented a huge RV and headed east.  It was a great trip, the kids were now old enough to hike, romp, and stomp.

The scenery was spectacular!



Our camping skills had matured.

And the kids were cuter than ever!  Heather and Laura in Woodstock, Vermont.  Do these little girls have purses?



Definitely high on our list of places to return to, we knew that when we saw the Dairy Queens selling lobsters.

Pots and Pans - 1/1/85

A family tradition...don't let it die, kids!

And we had just got Apple IIe's. 

Going through these old slides is great fun.  This last shot is a forgotten, or perhaps an overlooked, gem.  Click on it and enlarge, the girls expressions are special.  No doubt some Space Invader had just bit the dust.

Yellowstone - Aug.1983

Two week trip to Yellowstone.

Some things are constants in all our trips.

Great campsites...

Cute kid shots...(notice they're holding hands)

Great meals?...

and Bridge...



Group shot...always like herding cats, everyone's looking a different way!  But the scenery always trumps all.

I've tried several times to catch the magic of our honeymoon shot.  This one is 10 years later.  Can't get the light right, either the trees got bigger...or someone moved the rock.



Gag Shots - Part ?

As I go through the slides these gag shots keep popping up.  Doug seems to dominate.  I can guarantee there's more coming.

Not sure the role of the ball in this shot...I guess the axe thrower is trying to split the ball.

Black Hills - August 1982

The first vacation trip, other than Up North, with kids.  Start of a special thing.

The first shot we've visited before, and it's probably my favorite kid shot.  There's a story here, and each viewer can make their own interpretation.  Norman Rockwell would have liked this shot, I like to think.

I love this shot too.  What's Bryan thinking?...perhaps where's my clothes?

Lots to see in this next shot.  Baked spuds, Gordon's gin, kids at play, cans of something lined up, my old radio which I still have, and attitude.  Off to a good start!

Nebraska - Fall 1981

A fall visit to Smith's.

Windbreak?...hard to imagine what it was like on a windy day back then.

Off to a hike along the creek.  Bryan, always the trooper, handled the hand-me-downs very well.

Heather was not a happy hiker.  Yes, that's Bryan on the left.

Spike and Daisy I.

Another great meal on the way.



Brian evolved from his Strawberry Shortcake dress phase.



Big Blue - Travel in the 80's

Throughout much of our travels together in the early years we had a full sized Chevy station wagon.  A vehicle of the past.  Ok, this borders on "the good old days", but thankfully we raised kids and did our travels before mandated car seats and government oversite of our safety.  Adults in the front; with kids, toys, sleeping bags, juice boxes in the rear.  All 10 of us could travel in comfort.  Think about it, what fun would the "rolly, polly road" have been without the soft suspension and all the kids in the rear, flying about like astronauts in space?

Yea, I know, and 2 year olds shouldn't be riding around with a Bud hat on.

Up North - Summer 1981

In July of 1981 the Washow's returned to camping.  The following year our two family camping experiences would begin.  The second week of this vacation the Smith's joined us Up North.  These photos are from that second week.

 

Through the years Doug has helped me with many projects Up North.  He always has approched them with the greatest of enthusiasm.  This project, the re-staining of the cottage, was probably the most memorable...can you guess the color of the stain?

 

 

Behind the Scenes - Memorial Day 1982

This is a little out of sequence; I'll be posting some pics that pre-date this, but when I scanned it I had to post it right away.  Here's the sequence that defines are most "infamous" Smith/Washow kid's shot.  In hindsight I expect there was some sort of Smurfs mind control going on here.  As always, click on the pics to make them larger, some of these are a little dark.

Shortly thereafter the kids had perked up.  Laura, always the party person!

I'm guessing that Bryan was sleeping on the couch.



Summer 1980

Some random shots from both Up North and Crystal Lake in the summer of 1980.

What's there to say about this shot...if there was blood showing it could be used as murder evidence.

Kid shots...

Picnic at Veteran's Acres in Crystal Lake.



This shot covers a lot of ground...bridge, kids, martini's, sleep, Playboy glasses.  It's been a trip.