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Childhood Memories, Music - Sunday October 21

 

Music Memories

Things I remember about music as a kid:

1. My mother had some record albums that had Japanese images on them. I was curious and played them once - I expected to hear Japanese but the music was opera style. (I believe it was the music for the opera Madama Butterfly.)

2. I remember my brother had an 8 track player in his truck. I listened to "American Pie" over and over while I sat waiting for him.

3. My sister, Joann, played guitar and taught us to sing. Our favorite sing-a-long songs were: Blowing in the Wind, One Tin Soldier, Country Roads, Puff the Magic Dragon, Where have all the Flowers Gone, and anything from the Sound of Music.

4. When I was in 3rd grade I heard the Portland Symphony play (live) for the first time. I have loved to listen to classical music ever since.

5. My sister, Karen, liked to listen to Jim Neighbors sing. She even had an album (or may be it belonged to my mom) I thought she was crazy - he was old and he was Gomer Pile!

6. The first single record I remember buying was "Come Sail Away" by Styx.

 

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Childhood Memories, Riding in the Car - Sunday October 14

 

Riding In the Car:

Things I remember about riding in the car as a kid:

1. We never wore seat belts.

2. As the youngest I was always stuck in the middle - between my brother and sister who got the window seats.

3. There seemed to always be a "stay out of my space" fight- the words "Don't touch me!" came up a lot.

4. I remember being tricked by my siblings with word games - one went like this: I saw a skunk on the side of the road and I one it. The next person said, "I two it"... the next said, "I three it"... The point was not be the one who said "I eight it." But, somehow I always ended up getting "eight"  AND, I wasn't as clever as my brother who, when it came his turn to say eight said, "I jumped over it and YOU ate it!"

5. Sometimes my parents would let me sit in the front seat between them. (It was a nice to be small and to get in the front when my brother and sister were fighting.)

6. When more adults were in the car (like my much older married siblings) the youngest kids had to ride in the "way back." There were no seats in the way back - just a flat space for us to share.

 

What do you remember about riding in the car as a kid? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our snapncrop.com drawing. Aren't sure how to leave a comment/List? Click here for the details.

Childhood Memories, High School - Sunday October 7

 

A few of the things I remember about High School:

1. I moved to a new area for high school.

2. Our school mascot was a Viking and the school colors were Orange and Blue.

3. The high school was very small. My class had well under 100 students.

4. There were not many options for electives, and they really only offered basic courses. (No fun science options like oceanography or astronomy like my previous school.)

5. On the upside, the classes were small and the teachers knew the students.

6. The best sports team was the girls volleyball team.

 

What do you remember about your High School? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our snapncrop.com drawing. Aren't sure how to leave a comment/List? Click here for the details.

Childhood Memories, Junior High School - Sunday September 30

 

A few of the things  I remember about Junior High:

1. My Junior High School included 7th - 9th grade students.

2. Our school mascot was a Cougar Cub. (The high school mascot was a Cougar.) The school colors were maroon and gray.

3. In PE we had a section on gymnastics. (That was my favorite part of PE.) My least favorite part of PE were calisthenics and running a mile.

4. Each class was in a different room with a different teacher. In 8th grade I had a teacher who had a big mustache and looked like a lot Mr. Potato head. In 7th grade I had an english teacher named Mr. Shrek. Rumor was he came to class stoned on occasion. (He didn't return as a teacher the next year.)

5. We had a lot of school assemblies mostly before home games to promote school spirit.

6. They lumped art into a quarterly elective series that also included wood-shop and home economics. I was lucky to get Art the first quarter. After Art was over I transferred to choir.

7. The 7th grade choir students got to go on a "tour" to local grade schools. We sang for the students. (It was the choir teachers way of recruiting future choir members.)

 

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Childhood Memories, Fifth Grade - Sunday September 23

 

What I remember about 5th grade:

1. I had a male homeroom teacher for the first time in fifth grade.

2. I liked Mr. Morton he was nice to the students and made learning fun.

3. I was a good speller in 5th grade and got 100% on my spelling test almost every week. (Sadly that doesn't apply now - I've become dependant on spell check!)

4. We went on a field trip to the Seattle Aquarium. I loved it! My love for animals expanded to include a love for sea life.

5. In October we had a pumpkin carving contest and we were asked to bring a knife with our pumpkin to school (wow, how things have changed!)

6. In the spring we played baseball. All the 5th grade classes were divided up into teams of 9. I was terrible but my brother practiced with me and I got much better.

7. Mr. Morton was at the forefront of the "green" movement - teaching his students to recycle, save water, plant trees...

 

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Childhood Memories, Fourth Grade - Sunday September 16

 

What I remember about 4th grade:

1. I started the school year with a mean teacher who would make embarrassing comments about the students to the entire class.

2. Our family moved in January - half way through the school year.

3. I had to ride a big yellow school bus to school for the first time.

4. Being new in the middle of the school year was fun - I instantly made lots of new friends.

5. At the new school I had different teachers for different subjects. (I can't remember my new homeroom teacher.)

 What do you remember about your fourth grade? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our snapncrop.com drawing. Aren't sure how to leave a comment/List? Click here for the details.

Childhood Memories, Third Grade - Sunday September 9

 

My youngest, Cole, just started his third grade year in school. It brings back someof my own memories of thrid grade.

What I remember about 3rd grade:

1. I had a substitute teacher, Mrs. Sweeney,  from the first day - she stayed with us for awhile (the regular teacher, Mrs. Flemming, was ill.)

2. Our class liked the Sub better than the regular teacher - there were many comments after she (Mrs. Flemming) finally returned to class (like, "Mrs. Sweeney doesn't do it like that." ) Mrs. Flemming was obviously irritated with the comments.

3. We memorized our multiplications. Mrs. Flemming made us play a game where all the children lined up in front of the room. When your turn came if you got the answer right you stayed, if you got the answer wrong you had to sit down.

4. At my elementary school the children were let out at various times. Kindergarten was a half day and the 1st and 2nd graders were let out early. Third grade was the year we moved into the big main building with the older kids (it was 3rd - 8th grade), and we had "full day" school.

 

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Childhood Memories, Baptism - Sunday September 2

Today my son, Cole, turned 8 years old. At our church turning 8 is a big year. It is the year a child can be baptized. I took time to record the memories of the day for Cole, because I don't remember a lot of the details of my own baptism. 

What I remember about being baptized:

1. My Dad baptized me.

2. There were several other children getting baptized on the same day.

3. Before getting baptized I had an interview with the bishop at our church. I was nervous that if I didn't answer his questions right he'd say I couldn't get baptized. (I guess I must of done okay.)

4. I don't remember the date but I do remember the city where I was baptized - Portland, Oregon.

 

Did you have a baptism or an event similar to a baptism as a child? What do you remember about the event? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our snapncrop.com drawing. Aren't sure how to leave a comment/List? Click here for the details.

Childhood Memories, Career Day - Sunday August 26

Career Day

Our school never had a Career Day - where parents are invited to come and tell students about what they do for a living. If they did I don't think my parent would have been invited.

Many children don't pay a lot of attention to their parent careers. I was no exception. If you'd asked me what my parents did when I was a child I don't think I could have answered.

What I remember (or learned later) about my parents careers:

1. My Dad had several jobs in his life such as: farming, farm equipment dealer, lumber mill owner, heavy equipment mechanic, college recruiter, heavy equipment operator. Most of those were before I was born.

2. I remember my dad talking about operating heavy equipment (like bulldozers.)

3. My mom's career was homemaker though she did have a job here and there.

4. During the Christmas season (I am not sure how many years she did this) my mom worked in the gift wrapping department at JC Penny.

5. My mom also talked about a doctor she worked for (before I was born.)

 

 What do you remember about your parents careers? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our snapncrop.com drawing. Aren't sure how to leave a comment/List? Click here for the details.

Childhood Memories, Birth Order - Sunday August 19

How did birth order play a role in your childhood?

Pictured above: top row Denis (4), Chuck (1), Cheryl (Chucks wife - pregnant with my neice), Doug (6), and Stan (3). Front row Karen (7), Robert (Dad) Ruth (Mom), Joann (5), Bobby (2), Tami (8 - me).

Being the youngest of eight:

1. I was called "the baby" by my parents and siblings from the time I was born - through high school.

2. My older siblings all claim I was spoiled.

3. There were so many baby sitters (older siblings) available that I hardly ever went any where with my parents.

4. Sophomore through Senior years of high school I was an "only child" (the only one still at home.)

5. I don't know very much about my oldest siblings youth; but, they know a lot about mine.

6. I got to watch my older siblings do a lot of stuff (including raising their families) and take note of the things that worked well for them (and that didn't work for them) before I started my own family. I learned a lot.

 

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Childhood Memories, Water Play - Sunday August 12

 

What do you remember about childhood water play?

1. Home made slip-n-slides. We'd find a long sheet of plastic and run the hose on it. (One of my fondest summer memories.)

2. Running through the Sprinklers.

3. Bath time - we'd stay in the bath tub until our fingers and toes were all wrinkled.

4. The Park Wading Pools - a shallow pool (the deepest part was just a couple of feet deep). It was a great way to cool off if we couldn't go to the big city pool.

The wading pools looked just like this one (above) - The water sprayed out of the metal post in the center. It was fun to be there when they had the water turned on.

5. The River - on a more special occasion Mom & Dad would take us to the river or to the ocean for the day.

 

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Childhood Memories, Back to School - Sunday August 5

 

What do you remember about preparing to go "Back to School?"

1. My August birthday seemed to always include school clothes & supplies - It didn't seem "special" since everyone was getting new stuff.

2. We began shopping for supplies at the beginning of August - though school didn't start until the day after Labor Day.

3. My favorite school supply was crayons - I pleaded for the big box with 64 colors (it included my favorite color - magenta.)

4. We didn't have backpacks - but we did buy pencil boxes.

5. We always got a new coat and new shoes. One year I choose a coat that looked like the kings crown on Imperial butter commercials. It was made of red faux fur, trimmed with a white fur with black spots, and had large gold buckles.

 

 

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Childhood Memories, Reading Stories - Sunday July 22

 

My Favorite Books (or the ones I remember most) from Childhood:

1. The Snow Queen - my sister read this story to me out of a book that contained several fairy tales.

2. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume - a summer story I enjoyed.

3. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - a book our teacher read to the class - it lead me to Judy Blume and  "Sheila The Great"..

4. All the Children Were Sent Away - a story about the journey of young girl who was sent to Canada to live with relatives when WWII began.

5. Jennifer's Walk - a book that was a gift. I still have it - though it is in rough shape.

6. Sea Star Orphan of Chincoteague (By Marguerite Henry the author of Misty and Stormy). I read this book because on the cover was a horse with a star on it's forehead -  who looked just like my brother's horse (Suki). I loved horses and wanted my own house very much. (I never dreamed that I'd actually get to go to Chincoteague one day and discover that there is a statue of Misty in the little town.)

 

What were your favorite childhood Books? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our snapncrop.com drawing. Aren't sure how to leave a comment/List? Click here for the details.

Childhood Memories, Second Grade - Sunday July 15

 

 

What I remember about SECOND GRADE:

1. I loved my second grade teacher (Mrs. Bickle).

2. Mrs. Bickle was kind (She didn't yell at me - or the other children, not even the boys who seemed to always be getting into trouble.) She was great at encouraging us to do our best.

3. I quickly finished reading a "King on a Swing" and "Six Ducks in a Pond" before reading "The Purple Turtle."

4. I finished our regular math book and began working in a suplimentary work book. (I think that may have been the only year I felt like I was good at Math.)

5.  Mrs. Davenport (the other second grade teacher) encouraged us to read the newspaper (she gave us assignments to read and report on things we found in the newspaper.) She also taught us how to properly say our numbers (we were not supposed to say "and" where there was a comma -  ie 1,900 - was not "one thousand AND nine hundred" - it was "one thousand nine hundred".)

6. Second grade is the year I discovered my love and talent for drawing/art. (Mrs. Bickle gave us plenty of time to draw.)

 

 

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Childhood Memories, Summer Days - Sunday July 8

 

What do you remembering doing on those Hot Summer Days?

My siblings and I went to the city pool on hot summer days:

1. The pool was located at a local high school.

2. We walked several city blocks to get to the pool (no adults.)

3. There was a tall cinder block wall around the pool so you couldn't see the pool from outside.

4. Before getting into the pool we were required to shower and wear a swimming cap.

5. There were two pools side by side - the shallow pool (down to about 3-5 feet) and the deep pool (up to 8 feet) that had a diving board.

6. You had to pass a swimming test to be allowed into the deep side of the pool. The test was to swim the length of the pool. I tried once but I didn't make it.

7. My favorite pool activity was doing flips under the water.

8. A child was allowed to be at the pool without adult supervision as long as they were at least 8 years old.

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Childhood Memories, Independance Day - Sunday July 1

 

Childhood Memories of the 4th of July

Things my family did to celebrate Independence Day:

1. Pop Its, Smoke Bombs, Firecrackers, and Sparklers - I remember buying stuff from the fireworks stands during the weeks before the 4th of July.

2. Family Picnics with potato salad, deviled eggs, & watermelon (of course there was other food - but these were the things I remember most.)

3. Watching the fireworks. We always went to see fireworks somewhere but the most memorable year was when we went across the bridge to a riverfront park in Vancouver, WA. There was a big event with Native Americans (we called them Indians back then) all dressed up in the native costumes. They had teepees set up and they sang and danced before the fireworks show that evening. The fireworks were set off over the river - it was a beautiful scene.

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Childhood Memories, The Playground - Sunday June 24

 

Things I remember about the school playground:

1. Most girls in 1st and 2nd grade (possibly all) wore dresses every day; so, I am guessing there was a lot of "underwear showing" because we all loved to swing on the monkey bars.

2. We had three recess times every day - a morning break, after lunch, and afternoon break.

3. The play ground equipment: jump ropes, hula-hoops, & soft bouncy balls.

4. In first and second grade the boys chased the girls and tried to kiss them during recess - I kicked one of the boys who got too close to me. He told the teacher I kicked him. I told her that it was because he tried to kiss me. I got a (sort of) stern talking to.

5. Playing jump rope with the long ropes (we had to "run in" and we got to jump until we missed.) Everyone took turns at both jumping and swinging the rope.

6. 3rd - 6th grades we were more organized. We played Kick Ball, Four Square, and Tether Ball.

 

 

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Childhood Memories, Lessons from Father - Sunday June 17

 

5 Things I Learned from My Dad's Example

1. Never stop trying new things.

2. The joy of vegetable gardening.

3. Work ethic - my Dad worked hard and he expected the same from his children.

4. Self sufficiency - prepare for what may come, and make what you have work.

5. Keeping the Sabbath - Dad made sure we always got to church on Sunday.

 

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Childhood Memories, First Grade - Sunday June 10

 

At the beginning of the year I asked you to make a list of the grade school teachers you remembered. At the top my list was Mrs. Sams, my first grade teacher.

What I remember about FIRST GRADE:

1. On my first day of school the first grade teachers took a look at me, how tiny I was, didn't see my name on the list of last years students (I went to private school in K) and said I didn't belong there. I needed to go to the Kindergarten room. I tried to explain that I was a Kindergartner last year, but, off to the office I was sent. I was very upset. I didn't want to be in Kindergarten again! The principal was also skeptical of my story; so, he called my older brother into the office to confirm that yes, I was in fact, a first grader.

2. As I remember it, Mrs. Sams - my first grade teacher - was cranky most of the time; but, she was a woman dedicated to excellence! Mrs. Sams sent all the children to the restroom to wash our hands and then had us all stand in a row for a "hand check" before lunch. One day she sent me, and a few other students, back to the restroom to re-wash our hands before sending us to the lunch room. I didn't appreciate it as a child. I thought she was awfully mean; but, I have to think she was a pretty wonderful teacher for taking the time to make sure the children made it a habit to properly wash before eating.

3. Sometimes, I walked home for lunch (I lived right across the street.) But, one day I decided not to go back to school. (My mother wasn't home - so, I probably shouldn't have been there anyway.) Mrs. Sams came looking for me and took me back to school.

4. Once I came home for lunch and my mom wasn't there; but, she left me a note and a sandwich. On another occasion I came home for lunch - no note, no sandwich (mom must have thought I was eating at school) so, I decided to make myself some tomato soup. It was my first cooking experience. I don't remember if I ate the soup - or got busy playing and forgot about it. I know I didn't turn the stove off before I went back to school and the heavy bottom pot was ruined. (My parents told me I was lucky the house didn't burn down.)

5. In those days we didn't lock our doors during the day; but, after I tried to skip school, and I left the stove on, my mom starting locking the door when she wasn't home.

6. I remember learning to read with books called "Pig in a Jig" and "Hen in a Foxes Den".

 

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Childhood Memories, Childhood Home - Sunday June 3

 

Childhood Home

Our family moved quite a bit; but, the place I associate as my childhood home was the house I lived in from ages five through nine.

 

10 Memories about My Childhood Home:

 

A recent photo of the house I grew up in.

1. My childhood home was located in Portland, Oregon.

2. It was located right across the street from the grade school - grades K-8th. (It's now a middle school.)

3. Our english style house was built in 1931. (I can see why my parents chose to live in that part of town. The homes there have a lot of charm.)

4. There were three floors in our house. My parents had a room on the main floor, the girls slept upstairs, and the boys slept in the basement.

5. The postman walked to deliver the mail in our neighborhood. Each home had a slot built in for the mail. Our slot was located in the coat closet - which also had a little leaded glass window. (I loved hiding in that closet.)

6. My Dad remodeled the main floor of the house. He knocked out a bedroom to make a much larger "great room."  That was before "great rooms" became a thing - but, it was great to have a large space to accommodate our very large family.

7. After our toaster caught the kitchen on fire my Dad also remodeled the kitchen. He opened it up to the dining area (that had a bay window) and created an "island" counter. Our house looked old & charming on the outside; but, it had an updated floor plan on the inside.

8. There was a huge Douglas Fir tree in our front yard - I spent many hours playing under that tree.

9. Our neighbors were older, with grown children. The neighbor on the right had a grandson who came to play sometimes. The neighbor on the left gave us a huge stack of comic books her son had left behind.

image from google maps.

10. The local market with it's cute awning (pictured below) reminded me of Sesame Street.

Side Note: When Pringles potato chips were first introduced they had a coupon for a free can in the newspaper. My siblings and I went and purchased several newspapers to get the free cans of potato chips at Beaumont Market.

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Childhood Memories, Scars - Sunday May 27

 

Childhood Scars. Do you remember how you got them?

 

1. Two scars under my chin. I remember getting one of them (bicycle accident.) The other, I was told, came from a fall down the stairs when I was a toddler.

2. Right knee - I put my knee on my sister's glass mouse cage. It broke.

3. Left knee - a stick that was poking up under the "slip n slide" my niece and I made with a big sheet of plastic.

4. Left wrist - I tried to climb over the fence at our grade school - it had metal pokers on top to discourage people from climbing over (they worked!)

 

What do you remember about your childhood scars? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our weekly drawing.

Childhood Memories, Best Friends - Sunday May 20

 

Childhood Friends

I met my best childhood friend in first grade.

1. Her name was Linda.

2. I never forgot her middle name because it was the same as my favorite aunt's name, Jane.

3. She's a twin.

4. Her mother often dressed her and her twin in matching outfits. One would wear a red version and the other blue.

5. She lived on the same street I lived.

6. We played after school together - almost every day - and all through the summer.

7. We were assigned the same teacher every year from 1st grade - 4th grade (until I moved away.)

8. Her family had a black dog named Peyote. One year, Peyote had puppies, a very large litter. (Later they had her spayed.)

9. Linda & Laura, her twin, were the youngest of 6 - all girls. Most of their sisters were older and had all ready moved out of the house.

10. Their mom worked at a department store, I think it might have been Montgomery Wards.

11. They had shelves filled with National Geographic magazines in their basement. I loved to look at all the pictures.

12. We wrote letters for a couple of years after I moved and I went back to visit once; but, I lost track of them after that.

 

What do you remember about your childhood friends? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our weekly drawing.

Childhood Memories, Mother - Sunday May 13

 

A family photo - My mom - pregnant with me, my Dad, my three older siblings, and my grandmother. 

 

My mom was one of those wonderful mothers.

10 Childhood Memories of my Mother:

1. She seemed to always be in the middle of sewing clothes, quilts, curtains, etc.

2. She baked bread and made wonderful cinnamon rolls.

3. She wore very little eye make up; but, always wore lipstick.

4. She could not resist the candy counter at a department store.

5. She corrected us when we used improper English - we were not allowed to say "ain't."

6. She volunteered at the grade school - working with the children who needed extra help learning to read.

7. She took us out for milkshakes after we had dental appointments.

8. She was a cub scout leader - even after all of her own cub scouts were grown.

9. She enjoyed writing & painting - (she wrote skits, plays, poems and short stories).

10. She liked to wear red things and she loved high heeled shoes.

What memories do you have of your mother when you were a child? Add your list to our comments to be entered in our weekly drawing.

 

Childhood Memories, Kindergarten - Sunday May 6

 

Childhood Memories: When I was in Kindergarten...

1. I attended a private kindergarten (at the same place I went to pre-school) because my mother worked. The public school only offered a half day program.

2. We had to take naps every day. (They spanked children who made noise during nap time.)

3. I loved the time on the play ground - especially when I got to bounce on one of the "hoppity hops."

4. The preschool/kindergarten had an indoor sand table - they only let us play with it occasionally. (I'm sure it was messy.)

5. I don't remember the actual name of the school, but I remember thinking the name had something to do with deer - or Bambi. (It was held in a church.)

6. I remember, once, being one of the last children to be picked up. It had gotten dark outside. I thought my mother had forgotten me. My older brother came to get me.

7. There was always plenty of toys and kids to play with.

8. I remember eating cold cereal - Lucky Charms (without milk) as a snack. I liked the marshmallows. (My mom never bought "sugar" cereal.)

9. I remember learning about music notes - but, I don't remember learning the Alphabet.

 

Do you remember Kindergarten? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our weekly drawing.

I "Heart" Pets - Thursday April 26

Pet Love

The pets that made their way into my heart over the years...

 

1. Stray Cats - we lived in a city for several years when I was a little girl. I had a habit of bringing home random cats. Some of the cats were strays and some were being given away by people in the neighborhood. (I'd tell my mom they followed me home. I didn't lie exactly. I'd put them on the side walk and get them to follow me.) My Dad grew up on a farm and didn't believe in "indoor" pets. Most of the cats had to live outside; but, they hung around because I fed them.

2. Mariah - The best german shepherd mix dog ever. Mariah came to stay with us when we moved to the country. He was a great protector. He was the first pet my mom took to a vet - after he was run over by a car. He had a full recovery. 

3. Spunker - A rabbit given to me by a friend. I often let Spunker out of his cage to eat grass (with a collar and a long leash tied to a post.)  One day I left Spunker alone for a little while. When I came back the neighbors dog had Spunker's head hanging out of his mouth... I was traumatized and I hated that dog.

4. Angora Rabbit - Okay, so may be I can't remember her name; but, I was still getting over the tragedy of Spunker when my mom bought me this adorable really fuzzy rabbit.

5. Shalimar - a "fancy feast" (shaded silver) persian - Kevin and I's first pet.

6. Cassie - our current pet - also a shaded silver persian. Cassie was born on my 30th birthday. Once I saw her I couldn't leave her at the pet store.  

Have pets been a part of your life? Create a "Pets" journal prompt list / page prompt list. Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our weekly drawing.

Snapshots - Friday, April 20

Posed portrait shots are great - but generally I'd have to say my favorite shots are snapshots. Those are the shots that record how we live our lives. The lighting isn't generally perfect and there is often "undesirable" clutter in the background but flash forward 10, 20, 30+ years - it surprised me how much fun it can be to see the background clutter, the old furniture... items long forgotten, etc.

Some of my fond memory snapshots:

1. My Dad in 1959 in Nyssa OR. - Several years ago my mom sent me a packet. This (photo above) was one several photos I received. I wasn't born until many years after this photo was taken, but, the shelf in the background was a fixture in our home for many years. Last I knew my sister had it in her home. It was fun to see the shelf and the encyclopedia's that we constantly thumbed though sitting on the top shelf. I think at one point my sister and I used that shelf as "mansion" for our Barbies.

2. Christmas Day in Portland - Not the best photo composition but there is sooo much going on in this snapshot. It's a serious memory treasure for journal prompts.

1. My brothers are playing a hockey game my parents purchased as a family gift for Christmas. We had a lot of fun with that over the years.
2. I am wearing a dress that I absolutely loved and wouldn't give up - problem is, by the time I am wearing it here - it is so short I am wearing it as a shirt and the long sleeves are now half sleeves.
3. In the background you can see so many things like the curtains my mom made - check out the little poof balls as trim!
4. and the big red boot on the shelf - we used those instead of stockings. (The big gallon can was Mom & Dad's - the kids were soup can sized.)
5. The thing hanging from the ceiling - an example of macrame plant holder - popular in the 70's. and
6. The little girl in the background is my niece, Debbi, and
7. behind her is a great big picture window - so many memories about that window!

3. A photo of myself on my oldest brother's porch. I can't say I remember that plaid coat - but if you look down at my feet, I totally remember those shoes! I remember going shopping with my mom and my sister to buy the shoes. Clogs were in fashion that year and I wanted to buy white clogs. My mom tried to talk me into a nice pair of leather clogs. But, I wanted nothing to do with them. I had picked out a pair of shiny white clogs. It wasn't long at all before the toes were scuffed and the shiny white surface began peeling off of my shoes. Lesson learned - listen to your mother!

4. Lexi's pink paint. In a more recent example - I am so glad I took photos of Alexis in her bedroom. She picked out the pink paint on her walls. It was so bright that I decided to tone down the top half with a white wash technique. She said it made her walls look like pink clouds - she loved it. Shortly after these photos were taken the walls were painted to a pale sage green - to make a nursery for her new baby brother. (She was not happy about that.)

 

What kind of journal or page prompts have you stirred up from looking at old snapshots? Add your list to our Life.in.Lists. comments to be entered in our weekly drawing.

Childhood Playtime - Tuesday, April 17

 

Childhood Playtime

As a child of the 1970's I remember playing...

1. Barbies - My sister and I made houses, for our barbies, out of cardboard boxes and furniture out of egg cartons. My sister also sewed her own Barbie clothes.

2. Husker Du - my siblings and I played this memory game for many hours. (Obviously, the Nintendo had not been invented yet!)

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3. Chess. I have a brother-in-law who was really into chess - he even read books about it. He taught us how to play.

4. Mud Pies. My sister and I made "pies" out of the mud in our back yard and baked them in the sun on pieces of scrap wood. Back then, I thought it would have been great to own one of those easy bake ovens; but, my parents didn't see the need to buy a lot of toys. They were right. We really didn't need those toys. We learned to be creative and use the things that were available to make our own fun.

 5. Kites. We bought kits with paper and strings to make traditional diamond shaped kites. Then we would fly them in the school yard across the street from our house.

6. Freeze Tag. We played games like freeze tag for hours. (Do kids even know what Freeze Tag is now?)

7. Rook - card game. This was mostly an adults game but when I begged to play they let me play the left overs - they called them the "kitty" cards. (I liked the idea of being the "kitty" so it worked.)

8. Coloring Books and Crayons - Drawing and writing poems and stories was probably my favorite childhood past times. My mother didn't buy a lot of toys but she made sure there was plenty of crayons, pencils, coloring books, and blank paper in our home.

 

What do you remember playing as a child? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our weekly drawing.

Memories of The Big Top - Tuesday, April 3

Memories of the Big Top

A couple of years ago Kevin took our three children to the circus. It was held in the Hampton Colosseum about 30 minutes from where we live. It was both Alexis and Cole's first time at the circus.

April 22, 2010 Hampton, VA

 

The first time I went to the circus:

1. I lived in Portland Oregon.

2. I went with a group of children from my neighborhood.

3. We (actually a parent in charge) purchased the circus tickets with money we had received from winning a blue ribbon in the Children's Rose Festival parade.

4. It was a big circus with three rings and there was saw dust all over the ground.

5. We sat very close to the front - (may have even been the front row - I guess that blue ribbon prize money got us some really good seats.)

6. My favorite part were the horses.

 

 

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First Crush - Tuesday, March 20

When preserving a memory it can be helpful to think like a reporter and list the 5 W's and the H (facts): who, what, when, where, why and how.

 

My first "Crush" Report

1. Who - A boy who came to our house with his sister that summer to ride their horse. (My dad boarded horses in the fields around our home.)

2. What - We climbed trees and explored the fields, ponds, and barns together.

3. When - Age: 10-11

4. Where - The corn fields, the pond, in the bales of hay that were stacked in the barn...

5. Why - He was a fun summer playmate and when school started he was nice to me on the playground.

6. How - A few years later he caught a moment alone with me and gave me my first kiss while we were attending a church youth activity.

 

Do you remember your first crush? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our weekly drawing.

Best Year of Grade School - Tuesday, February 28

Looking back, was there a teacher that really stood out or a year in school when everything seemed good?

 

My Best Grade School Year - 6th grade

1. I moved during the summer and started at a new school that year.

2. I made several new friends right away, including my best friend Shannon.

3. I had a wonderful teacher named Ms. Kling. (Many students were afraid of her. She was strict and often stern; but, I learned she was also very kind and understanding.)

4. I practically jumped out of my seat during the first week of school when a really loud alarm went off. The alarm was for the volunteer fire department - located next door to the school.

5. The school was located just a few blocks from the bay. Since it was close enough to walk, Ms. Kling took us to the bay and taught us about the animals that live on rocky shores and what we could do to help preserve and protect them.

6. She had a huge saltwater aquarium in our classroom. The aquarium held Puget Sound marine life - like star fish, sea anemone, and sea urchins.

7. To help us learn our spelling words, Ms. Kling taught us how to play "Spelling Baseball."

8. We brushed our teeth in class every day after lunch (dry - no toothpaste or water.) One student sat in front of the class and lead the class in brushing.

9. We (the 6th grade) collected bottles & newspapers and washed the aluminum trays the school lunches came in, to earn enough money to pay for a 6th grade camping trip.

10. We earned the money needed - the trip was really fun and I learned an "around-the-campfire" song that I occasionally sing to my kids to gross them out. Apparently there are several versions to this song - this is what I remember:

Grannies in the cellar - From the kitchen we can smell'er

and she's cookin' something yeller

on the stove.

On her nose there is some matter - and it's drippin in the batter

and with every other stir she takes a...

(make long sniffing noise as arm swipes across face.)

oh bologna, oh bologna

oh I stick a slice in my shoe in the morning!

oh bologna, oh bologna

won't you stick a slice in your shoe in the morning?

 

What was your favorite year in grade school? Add your list to our comments for a chance to win our weekly drawing.