Oh, my goodness -- it has been a long time

So much going on, so little attention to this blog.  But here I am again.  For how many days in a row, or something close to resembling "in a row", who is to say?

Fri., February 14, 2003 - Saw a movie this evening, a tribute to Big Bands -- those taken from Lawrence Welk's shows.  Rained in p.m. and evening.

Sat., February 15, 2003 - Started to snow during the night.  Snowed almost all day.  Talked to Greta at noon.  They had snow, too.  Played cards in p.m. -- the group that plays on Mon. night.

Sun., February 16, 2003 - Nancy came at noon.  She made me a new kind of cheese & potato soup.  Very tasty.  Mitch & Anna here while Mary wen to Writers Group.  We played cards.  I popped some popcorn for them.

I'm having trouble reading Grandma's writing re the big band show, but I'll go with what I have there.

Of course, I cannot let dear Jenny's passing from this world to the next go unmentioned.  I should have posted something much closer to the event.  It wasn't for lack of caring about her, but just me being the usual me and not getting things done when I should do them.

However, since some time has passed it is much easier to say now how very happy I am for Jenny that her suffering is over, and for both she and Bill to be together.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I will always miss the two of them and particularly their laughs; both very different, but both very genuine and fun.  Bill and Jenny have left behind a beautiful legacy of lives well lived.  Their sons and grandchildren are testament to the lovely people they were.

Sandwiches

Tues., October 15, 2002 - This was my dad's birthday.  Had my hair washed, etc.  Nancy came after work & took me to "Jim's", a place that specializes in home health.  New "skis" were put on my walker -- take the place of the tennis balls (Called Greta to report on dental deal).  We then went to Staufers' Restaurant & had chicken fried steak, etc.  Was really good.
Wed., October 16, 2002 - Went to Book Club in evening.
Thurs., October 17, 2002 - Called Myrtle this morning.  Also called Marjorie C.  Tom came in evening & brought some special sandwiches.  The usual routine of laundry, shower & Rummikub.

Speaking of special sandwiches . . . Mitch, Mom and I hosted 15 of our family members (plus Tanner and Willa) for a meal Sunday at Mom's of traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches.  Well, we researched and were as traditional as we could manage.  We were a bit nervous as to whether everyone would like the nutty, malty Danish bread but very little of anything went in the trash at the end of the meal.

Afterwards, some of us played Squeak -- something we had not done after a family meal in a very long time.  Needless to say, it was great fun.  So glad everyone could come and that they enjoyed our efforts.  We should probably do it again sometime, I think.

Of course

Sat., January 16, 1937 - Clear & warm today.  About 5:00 tonite we decided to walk to town.  We left at 6:00.  About 1-1/2 miles from town the wind changed to the northwest.  Soon after we got a ride with Clarence Hoeman.  We played Pinochle from 12 to 3:30.  Stayed all nite.
Sun., January 17, 1937 - Howard walked home about 9:30.  Mom and I canned 12 pints of sausage and 12 quarts of roasted pork today.  We talked all the time of course.
Mon., January 18, 1937 - Howard came about 3:30 this p.m.  All of VonSeggerns except the 2 older boys are sick in bed with flu.  Dorothy Troutman & I are supposed to stay there tonite.  After we got there they took Janice [Janie?] who has pneumonia to Wayne.  Jo stayed here, too.  Carl & Howard were here until 12:00 Howard stayed with Carl.

Why, of course, Grandma and Grandma Anna talked all the while they were canning.  I would be shocked if it were any different.

We went to Jayme and Ashley's wedding this last weekend.  Such a lovely and wonderful couple they make.  So happy for them.

Lots of digging, lots of family

Wed., August 19, 1936 - Howard helped dig silo over home.  The men came over here for dinner.

Thurs., August 20, 1936 - Went to town for Old Settlers Picnic.  Had dinner up home.  Rained good about 6:00 this evening.  We were home by 12:00.

Fri., August 21, 1936 - Howard went over to the folks this afternoon and they dug silo.  I washed up the dishes for Raymond.

I cannot begin to imagine how much digging would be involved to install a silo.  Big around, and I imagine fairly deep to be sure the darned thing would stay put in a high wind.

How interesting that Old Settlers should pop up, given that the weekend before last was our every-three-year family reunion.  Grandma and Grandpa both would have really enjoyed it.  For the first time, I believe, our branch of the family tree was represented via the youngest in attendance; Tanner was 5 weeks old over that weekend.  The number 17 on his onesie says that he is the 17th Iversen born here, from Peter and Maggie's children to Tanner.

As usual, I talked too much to the people I see often and not enough with the people I do not see so much.  Lots of Aunt Helen's family came back for the interment of Uncle John's ashes.  It was a nice service.  I learned quite a bit I did not know about Uncle John when the minister read his obituary.  For example, I had no idea he played in the band for Truman's inauguration.  How cool is that?

In all, a great reunion -- lots of people said so.  And as I said, Grandma and Grandpa would have enjoyed it, probably even more so than some.

Getting closer

Sun., May 17, 1936 - Ray was so late getting here, that we had Edwin take us out to the schoolhouse for the picnic.  The North and South schools had their picnic together.  Around 80 people there.  Howard was here this evening.
Mon., May 18, 1936 - We went out to the place this p.m. which he's letting us use this week.  We tore off old wallpaper and patched up cracks in the plaster with cloth.
Tues., May 19, 1936 - We washed and baked today.  This evening Mom and I went out to the schoolhouse and cleaned it.

Time sure flies when you comment on three days at a time.  The big day will be here very soon!

And speaking of big days, Jayme and Ashley's baby arrived last night somewhat earlier than expected, choosing to be born on his Grandma Jenny's birthday.  Tanner William Iversen and his mother are doing well at last report.  Dad and Grandpa are probably okay, too.

More than the eventual four

 

June 24, 1931 - I sewed doll dresses for Viola today.  Verne was here awhile and he took me up to Uncle Hans' for about an hour.  Mr. and Mrs. Baker and Viola went to Wayne this afternoon.  Linn's were here this evening and we had ice cream.
June 25, 1931 - Meta stopped here awhile this morning.  She was on her way to Carroll and her car wouldn't work.  Mrs. Baker's sister and family were over this evening.
June 26, 1931 - Oh!  It was hot today!  Mr. and Mrs. Baker and Mr. and Mrs. Dave Thomas went to Norfolk tonite.  I took care of six kids.  Ray and Ralph were up a little while.

I wonder if the six kids scared young Messrs. Andersen and Kahler away.

Also, I did not know that we were friends with the Wendy's guy and his family.  (Tee hee)  The main things I remember about Dave Thomas (the famous one) were that he seemed like a genuinely nice guy and that, being adopted, he was a big supporter of adoption.  Since our family was so wonderfully impacted by two adoptions, I would have to say I agree with him.

Argh!!

July 29, 2002:  Played [??] in party room this evening.  Dolores came afterward and we played Rummikub.
July 30, 2002: Mary took me to Beauty School for my hair-do.  The new girl Angie is faster and more on time than Kitty was.  Dale's birthday is the 30th.
July 31, 2002:  I baked three loaves of frozen bread.  Went to Book Club this evening.  Brought home "Once Upon a [??] by Bob Greene -- about North Platte during World War II.  Jayme's birthday.

The title of this blog is because I finally am online (at home) and trying to hurry this up, and what happens? -- for the first time I can remember since beginning this blog, I cannot decipher two words of Grandma's handwriting in the same post.  I can look up the title of the book, perhaps, but the card game is totally lost to me.  Oh, well.  I don't suppose it is terribly important.

Today many of us were up at the Winside Cemetery (one of my favorite spots, you may remember) to inter Uncle Raymond's ashes.  Lynn and Lorraine came from Oregon with the ashes and led us in a somewhat short, but informal and fitting send-off for a man we all loved very much.  I told Mitch about it and he was sharing a beer with all of us all the way from Arizona.  Afterwards we went to Lois's for sandwiches and such.  A very nice time was had.  Lorraine brought some photographs that were Uncle Raymond's and we got to choose the ones we wished to keep.  There were definitely some I had not seen before and that is always fun.

Found the book -- Once Upon a Town, about the marvelous canteen the town of North Platte pulled together when the trains came through full of men going off to war.  I remember reading a newspaper article about it.  One of the things the ladies doing the cooking and baking did was to have birthday cakes available for however many soldiers were having birthdays when they came through.  One man took a cake even though it wasn't his birthday.  He was shamed so by the others that he ended up giving it back.

Since Uncle Raymond was part of The Greatest Generation that served during WWII, it would be very fitting if I could post a photo of him in his Army uniform.  I am sure I have seen one.  However, I do not have it scanned and ready to go, and I am tempting fate and my internet as it is by making this somewhat long, so I am posting a photo of Uncle Raymond and Grandpa eating some sweet corn.  Works for me.

Restaurants, schmestaurants

"March 19, 2002:  8:45 appointment this a.m. at Bryan Hospital to have circulation in feet tested.  Nancy took me.  At noon Mary took me for my weekly shampoo and set.  In the evening to Delores's apartment and played Rummikub.
March 20, 2002:  Mary came at noon for lunch.  Tom came in evening -- we ate -- he did the laundry -- I took a shower and then we played Rummikub.
March 21, 2002:  Loafed around all day.  Called Myrtle in the morning.  Tom came at 7:00 and we went to Grasanto's, an Italian restaurant -- good eating!!!"

I just have to poke a bit of fun since the restaurant was actually Grisanti's.  But, Grandma was close.  Much closer than Aunt Irene when she was trying to think of Tony & Luigi's and instead asked if we could go back to that one place . . . Anton & Frank's.  I still giggle about that one, but only because Aunt Irene did once we figured out where she was talking about.

I am going to work on a little something from the Winside history book to see if it is as interesting as I think it might be.  If it is a "go", I'll include it in a later post.

Speaking of Aunt Irene, here's a very lovely photo of her with some greatgrands.  I think we all look very cute in our 80's attire.

Quilting lesson, part 5 plus a birthday

"February 3, 2002:  Eleven cards (I think).  A wonderful time here in the party room at Pioneer House.  All the family here, especially Jayme and his girlfriend.  Had wonderful meal, birthday cake and ice cream.
February 4, 2002:  Nine cards today.  Played cards - "Seven Up" -- in party room this evening.  Six to eight people came.  Afterward played Cribbage at Delorous's apartment.
February 5, 2002:  Seventeen cards today.  Listened to tapes from Lester.
I remember the party and Grandma was right, it was wonderful.  The littler kids had a grand time running around (kinda anyway) in the lobby and back to the party room and back to the lobby again.

Speaking of running, I'm running late with this and will just hit the quilting lesson now.

A unique modern day quilt was made by Mary A. Lundy of Joplin, Missouri.  She wanted to enter an original quilt in the Kansas State Fair.  She used an 8" x 11" cross stitch embroidery sampler for her pattern.  Searched through stores in many cities for just the right color coordination.  Cut more than 18,000 one-inch squares for the quilt and 14 months later the quilt was completed in time to enter the fair.  It is a magnificent king-sized, mosaic-type picture, made entirely by hand. 

"Christ in Gethsemane".

World's largest quilt is in Columbia, South Carolina.  Director of Adult and Community education half-jokingly asked Hazel Ross to make the world's largest quilt to depict what goes on in community education. 
Measured 25 feet square.
397 blocks -- 396 were 12-inch square -- center block 24" square.
184 of these were log cabin, rest were represented house styles, churches, other buildings of interest in Columbia, park scenes, community education courses and recreational activities.
92 houses -- many representing the homes of quilters -- blocks worked in applique, piecing, cross stitch and shadow embroidery -- each block was lap quilted, then joined to others.
8,000 hours of labor
9 months of which 3 months taken to decide on design, fabrics, etc.
Husband very understanding at first -- his clean underwear -- buy new ones -- murmured "I'll be glad when that quilt is finished."

During the last weeks the workers were there every day and many in the evening, too.  After the quilt was unveiled, the man who started the idea gave a reception to pay tribute to the 150 workers and their long-suffering husbands.

Grandma's notes aren't quite clear as to whether the Mary Lundy quilt was a representation of "Christ in Gethsemane" but one might conclude that.  I tried looking online but after a quick search did not find information on this quilt.  I wonder why a Missouri resident was entering a quilt in the Kansas State Fair.  Maybe that's why I can't find any information -- it has been hushed up.

I've used the photo a couple of times already, but had to use it for this post since it was taken during the birthday party in question.  What a happy bunch.

Always a teacher

"December 9, 2001:  Greta called in the morning.  I watched 'Anne of Green Gables' a sequel, all afternoon.
December 10, 2001:  Tom stopped in evening to get his keys.
December 11, 2001:  Bill came for me about 11:00.  Went to Wahoo -- had dinner.  Jenny washed my hair.  Went to Alicia's school at 3:00 and told the pupils about one-room schools.  In the evening went to school program that Alicia was in.  Bill and Jayson brought me back to Lincoln.  Had a wonderful time."

Of course Grandma had a wonderful time -- family, kids and getting a chance to teach.  I don't remember Grandma ever going on and on about how much she did or didn't like to teach, but I always thought she was good at it and she sure was fond of her students.  Alicia would have been in kindergarten or first grade and that's a fun age where kids are engaged and wanting to listen, so I am thinking the talk about one-room schoolhouses was great fun.

Since we have Bill and Jenny and Jayson in this particular post, I thought it only fair to get Jayme in there, too, so here he is in a photo.  Sure wish he would have cheered up a bit for the occasion.

Grandma must have been worried

"July 20, 1995:  Howard to Dr. Patel -- took biopsy.  Raymond's took us to Toni's to eat.
July 21, 1995:  Pinochle at Ida's.  Gaylord's and Lee and Virginia N. here in the evening.
July 23, 1995:  Helen and I played Scrabble.  Bill here at noon -- Jayme was at music camp.
July 25, 1995:  Helen and I played Scrabble here.  John brought the stand for cassette tapes.  Raymond and Marina went to Elmer & Myrtle's."

I am thinking Grandma was worried about Grandpa's health, or very involved with company and cards and Scrabble, but I am positive we were up to Winside prior to July 25 to introduce Anna to the family, and there's been no entry by her about that.  Even if that date is incorrect, I have looked ahead in Grandma's journal and there's no mention of a visit prior to Anna's baptism in August and I know we were up before then.  But, I will forgive her the lack of a mention.

I imagine Mom remembers how ornery we were with the first Anna visit.  I hatched a plan and Rick dropped Anna and I off in St. Paul's parking lot and then he and Mitch rode down to Mom's.  We had to tell Mitch it was okay to tease Grandma this one time.  So, they get in the driveway and Mom comes out and Rick tells her that it was hot (which is was) and I was really tired so Anna and I stayed home.  Mom admits she told them in sullen tones to just come on in the house then.  By that time I was walking down the hill with Anna, so we didn't tease her for too awfully long.

Well, I thought I had a photo ready of Grandpa and Anna during the introduction visit and now I can't find it.  So instead, for no particular reason, here are Uncle Elmer and Grandpa living it up.

Keeping warm

"February 28, 1995:  Finished piecing Jayme's Storm at Sea quilt top.  Still must sew on the border strips.
March 1, 1995:  Started putting together my third Rail Fence quilt.  Went to Wilva's for a permanent.
March 4, 1995:  Helen came in p.m. to play Scrabble.  In mid-afternoon, started a freezing drizzle -- by Sunday morning a skiff of snow over the ice.  Sunday night started to snow -- snowed most of Monday -- at least 10 inches.  No school Monday or Tuesday.
March 8 and 9, 1995:  8 or 10 degrees above in morning.  Below zero at night."

Brrrr!  I am so happy to have a furnace (and several quilts, for that matter) to keep warm with when days and nights get like that.  I know I would have been proficient at building and keeping a fire going back in "the old days" but I don't know that I would have been happy about doing it.  Of course, if I knew nothing else it would not be that big of a deal, right?  We have one of those outdoor fireplace chimney-shaped things.  I think when it starts to getting really, really cold at night that I will make a fire in there for the cats with all the little branches that fall off of the trees.  I also have a brush pile that I can pilfer smaller pieces of wood from.  The bigger logs go in the house for the people's warmth.

Here's a quilt I tried to call a Rail Fence once, but I think Mom said Grandma called it a brick variation or something.  (I really need to write things down or else read my own blog every now and then to remember this stuff.)  In any event, a quilt for your viewing pleasure.

P.S. I  am now caught up with my posts.  Whew!

Keeping Arlene busy

"February 5, 1995:  Spent the whole day marking my 9-patch sampler quilt to be quilted.
February 6, 1995:  Ladies didn't quilt doay -- too many couldn't come.  Worked on Jayme's quilt -- have four rows of 17 rows put together.
February 8, 1995:  Arlene R. was invited to Ladies Aid so she stopped for me.
February 10, 1995:  Arlene R. played for Leona so she took me to Pinochle Club at Ella M.'s.

It looks like I should have started labelling Arlene mentions; she is racking them up with nothing on the label list to show for it.

Lots of quilting going on between the marking and the sewing.  I really don't know if I would have the energy and ambition to do all that in the span of two days.  I think Grandma was driven more than I ever have been to date.

For no particular reason, here is a photo I do not think I have used yet as neither Dorothea (on the left) nor her sister Martha are mentioned all that often.  So I am taking the opportunity to show them here.  I bet they quilted a thing or two in their day.  I love what we can see of their dresses -- the stitching and the lovely collars.

Storm at Sea

"January 19, 1995:  Sunny and thawing a little.  Much better than the foggy weather we had last week.  Lois and Linda went to Fremont to see Dora -- she took a turn for the better -- knew them and visited with them.  Started Jayme's Storm at Sea quilt.  Greta cut all the pieces for me.
January 22, 1995:  Too much ice for me to go to church.  Spent the week working on Jayme's quilt and doing some cleaning.

By my count this is the third Storm at Sea quilt Grandma made.  Well, the third in the journal I am working from right now.  I do not recall what colors were in Jayme's, but I imagine I would have seen it at some time.  It is a wonderful pattern in my opinion.  It looks like you need to be concentrating pretty well to get it all pieced properly but to a pro like Grandma it was probably a pretty tame project -- alliteration, anyone?  An internet search will bring up quite a few different variations, but the photo above is I believe close or the same as what Grandma used, although she used more monochromatic themes.  It's neat how the lines look curved when in fact they are all straight.

Eagle Scout

"October 30, 1994:  Helen, Dorothy Jo, Greta, Howard and I went to Wahoo.  Left at 8:30.  We had dinner at Bill's and then to church by 2:00 for the Eagle Court of Honor for Jayme.  After the program a reception in the basement and then to Bill's to visit -- Dale's, Tom, Merilyn, Nancy, Rick and Mitch were there.  Mary wasn't feeling too good.  Jayson and Lora there, too.
October 31, 1994:  Lois K., Arlene R., Lila and I finished quilting Greta's quilt in p.m.  Nice evening.  Had about 20 - 25 tricksters."

I remember missing this particular event, and I know now probably why I did -- morning sickness which sometimes lasted more than just the morning.  Little Anna was on the way.  I am not sure if we knew that at the time but I know I was sometimes sick in the early going.

It would be appropriate here to have a photo of Jayme as an Eagle Scout, or perhaps Anna as a little baby, but since I have neither of those ready to go (and our scanner conked out), here's a hybrid-ish photo of Jayme as a baby.  Interestingly, it looks like he's holding a red Solo cup.  Hmmmmm.  Must have been quite the Christmas party.

Family reunion 1994

"July 1, 1994:  Rain and wind.  Couldn't go to Elmer's in the evening for the weiner roast.  Bill, Jenny, Jayme, Jayson, Lora, Tom and Merilyn here in evening -- played cards.  They all stayed in motel in Norfolk.
July 2, 1994:  Reunion at Legion Hall.  Paul, Trina, Lynn and Lorraine, Gary, John and Mike; Jean, Toni, Marjorie, Frances, Dana.
July 3, 1994:  Heather and Mike here in p.m.
July 4, 1994:  Jean, Marjorie and Dorothy Jo here in a.m.  Nancy left about 1:30.
July 5, 1994:  Rose's funeral in a.m.  She died July 1.  Lorraine, Lynn, Paul and Trina here in p.m.

As hectic a time as Grandma was having in 1994, I had quite the hectic few days here in 2012.  Thursday evening and Friday morning was spent finding to aged basset hounds that had wandered off.  Fluky thing with a door blowing open.  These same two dogs got winded just galumphing around the pasture a week ago.  In fact, one had to be hauled back to the house in a wagon.  However, when left to their own devices, they manage to wander over two miles from the house.  Found one by the side of the road, seemingly waiting for we pokey humans to show up; shivering, wet, a bit dazed but otherwise okay.  The other was less than a mile away on the other side of the road, and seemed a bit perturbed I woke him from his nap.  He was far enough down in the ditch that it nearly required me to slide down in the wet weeds to push him up and then wait for a rescue of my own.  Thankfully he was able to pull himself up with a little help from me pulling on his collar.  He is the terminally ill one but seemed much less stressed than the other, healthier one.  Then on Saturday and Sunday we moved the dog kennel panels around the yard and otherwise made a big job of relocating all four dogs.  In the end it looked great and we had an excuse to take some of the family out to eat to celebrate our combined efforts.

Now back to 1994.  Grandma must have gotten interrupted on July 2 as she has an incomplete sentence there and in reality it had no period, but I can't stand to leave it sitting there without one so I took some poetic license.  Other than that, it looked like a typical family reunion with folks coming from all corners of the USA to be there.  Fun times, to be sure.

I stumbled across a photo from Jayson's wedding.  Mitch isn't doing the silly, squinty smile he used for the professional photos, but he is cute nonetheless in his little tux.  Actually, it's a pretty good shot of all three of us, I must say.

Monday, Schmonday

"In June sometime, new carpet installed on front porch and front steps.
June 16, 1994:  Got a permanent.  Nancy came in evening.
June 17, 1994:  Nancy cleaned front room and living room.
June 18, 1994:  1 1/2 inches of rain in early morning.  Lightning struck the TV.  Bill, Jenny, Jayme here for dinner for Father's Day.  They took the TV to Norfolk to be repaired."

Well, okay it not Monday anymore but maybe I can get two posts in today and be caught up to my self-imposed schedule.

Glad I wasn't there when the lightning struck so close.  I do not think I would have enjoyed that.

Yikes.  I am drawing a major blank here.  I have nothing coming to mind to wax poetic about, so will close.  But as I've probably said before, excitement isn't always good so in a way it is nice that most of Grandma's posts are fairly, dare I say it, mundane.

Here is a photo of Uncle Nels (Little Grandma's brother) and Grandpa's dad, Peter, toasting to mundane events.

More snow?!?

"April 24, 1994:  Greta and I went to Lincoln.  A shower for Lora at Merilyn's. 
April 28, 1994:  Between 4 and 6 inches of snow.
May 8, 1994:  Mother's Day at Nancy's for dinner.  All except Jenny, Jayson and Lora there.  Bill and Jayme came in p.m."

A bit nutty having that much snow in late April.  We had that 13" of snow in Lincoln in April of 1997; took three snows to get to that much but we did it.  Nice thing was, of course, it melted pretty quickly.

I recall Lora's shower.  If I remember right, she received silver napkin rings that Aunt Irene had.  Not sure of the Aunt Irene part but am sure of the napkin rings.  The shower was at Tom and Merilyn's place in Forest Lake Estates. I  always liked that house.

May as well use the photo of a shirtless Jayson with Nancy and Grandpa (shirts on), all looking very very thrilled to be doing whatever they are doing.  The photo is a nice one, however, of the back of the house a few yards over.

Canasta

"January 30, 1994:  Bill, Jenny, Jayme and Greta here for dinner.  Played Canasta.  Still cold.
February 3, 1994:  Howard to Dr. Sprik.  I had new left lens put in my glasses.  John and Helen took us to Norfolk.
February 4, 1994:  Pinochle Club at Ida's.

Another birthday for Grandma, her 82nd.  Big spoiler alert -- the family came up soon after for a dinner; we did not forgot.  I am just saving that for tomorrow.

I remember Grandma Anna playing a lot of Canasta.  My memory may be foggy on how much she played but for some reason it is the card game I associate most with her.  Oddly enough, I barely know how to play and have only done so on a few occasions. 

A quick search on wikipedia provided this info:  "The game of Canasta was devised by Segundo Santos and Alberto Serrato in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1939.  In the 1940s the game quickly spread in myriad variations to Chile, Peru, Brazil and Argentina, where its rules were further refined before being introduced to the United States in 1948, where it was then referred to as the Argentine Rummy game by Ottilie H. Reilly in 1949 and Michael Scully of Coronet magazine in 1953.  The game quickly became a card-craze boom in the 1950s providing a sales avalanche of card sets, card trays and books about the subject."

Who knew, right? 

Speaking of Jayme (up there before I got side-tracked with card games), here's a cute picture of him and Jayson.

The Raymond Joneses

"August 22, 1993:  Bill and Jayme here for dinner.
August 24, 1993:  Raymond Jones and family came to Helen's.
August 29, 1993:  Potluck dinner at Helen's for Raymond Jones family.
September 2, 1993:  Raymond Jones went home."

Grandma back-tracks a bit in my next post, but she was kind enough to put all the Raymond Jones family stuff together.  How thoughtful.

I know I've used the photo before, it is from 1990 and has Aunt Helen in it, so . . . close enough.  I don't have anything of the Raymond Joneses scanned and ready to use.  Can't you just hear Aunt Irene giggling?  And it's a really nice shot of Aunt Helen.  Oh, shoot -- it's nice of everybody.