Remember Whensday No. 30 - It's a Small World

In an earlier Remember Whensday post, I told you about our visit to Disney World. Two of our favorite attractions were It's a Small World and Country Bear Jamboree. For Christmas that same year we received albums of music from those two attractions. It didn't take too long before we knew the words to most of the songs and sang right along!

From Left to Right - Karen, Rick and Sally - 1972

Most of our Christmases as kids were spent at our Aunt Sally's house in upstate New York. I loved going there because we just about were guaranteed a white Christmas. Plus our grandmother and other aunts and uncles were nearby.

My mother would pack, or should I say hide, our presents in the station wagon and off we'd go from Maryland to New York. She normally traveled at night because then we'd sleep while she drove. I remember one trip with heavy fog and having to follow the fog line on the interstate because of limited visibility. I also remember another trip following behind a snow plow in a snow storm. The highlight of the trip was stopping at Howard Johnson's in Pittston, PA which was sort of a halfway point.

Believe it or not, I still have my stocking shown in the picture above. I get it out every year and hang it on our mantel.

Please join me in visiting the other Remember Whensday participants by clicking on the badge below. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas season and here's to a great 2010! I'll be back to visiting everyone after the new year.

Remember Whensday No. 29 - Merry Christmas!

This week for Remember Whensday, I am going back to 1964. I wish I could remember more about these photos or had additional information but I do not. All I know about the first one is I am opening up a Christmas gift.

No Chatty Cathy Doll

In the next two, I am at our local bank having my picture taken with Santa. I do remember having a passport savings account at the bank. It was always fun to go to the bank and put money in because then the teller would handwrite the amount and new balance in your bank book. No computers like today!

Sally and Santa

I scanned the back of the Polaroid Santa photo in because I found it interesting living and taking pictures in today's digital world. My, how things have changed! Ten seconds today would seem to take forever.

A Plug for Polaroid

I send you Seasons Greetings, whether it is Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah or Happy Kwanzaa.

To see what others are sharing in the Remember Whensday meme, click on the badge below.

Skywatch Friday - Rainier

Time for Skywatch Friday! This past Saturday on my trip to Enumclaw, Washington, I really figured I would not be able to see Mt. Rainier. When I left home, it was very cloudy to the south and past trips with similar skies have kept Rainier hidden from view.

However, the farther south I drove, the clearer the skies became. After cresting the Tiger Mountain summit, there it was in all its splendor.

What really caught my eye was the cloud to the northeast of Rainier. I first saw it driving through the small town of Black Diamond and was looking for a place to pull over and take pictures. After a couple of attempts, I finally found a spot just outside of Enumclaw.

Mt. Rainier

Around 1600 hrs, we left my sister's to go to do some shopping. The sun was setting and casting a lovely pink glow on Rainier. The cloud was still there and the angle of the sun was lighting up the one side of it. I was enthralled with the beauty of it all.

Evening at Rainier

Thanks to the Skywatch team of Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise & Sylvia who bring us this wonderful meme each week. Click on the Skywatch badge below to see more great skies from around the world.

Remember Whensday No. 28 - 1st Washington Christmas

This week for Remember Whensday, in keeping with a Christmas theme, I am remembering my first Christmas in Washington with my future husband and stepsons. We kept things simple that year with a small artificial tree.

I guess Karl thinks he's a Christmas present.

Karl

Ryan got a Walkman; obsolete technology these days. He also got some clothes and probably a silly gift. Karl got at least one shirt. I can't remember the rest.

Check out the silliness on these two!

Ryan & Karl

Josh got new shoes, pants and a drawing set. And a silly gift, of course!

Josh

Me, I got two little hand towels from my BFF back in Maryland. We always exchanged gifts with cardinal motifs since they are our favorite bird. You won't find cardinals in Washington state. Drats!

OMG, look at those high-waisted jeans I'm wearing! Oh, to be that thin again though.

Sally

It was the start of many great Christmases.

I hope you enjoyed my little trip to Remember Whensday this week. To see what others are sharing, or to share a something yourself, just click on the Remember Whensday badge below.

Remember Whensday is a weekly meme I run every week where we share "old" photographs and the stories that go with them. Come join us!

A Forever Home Needed

Beau Beau Noni Noni

Purrfect Pals is a no-kill sanctuary in Washington State located not too far from where I live and work.

JC at Lilac & Cats is asking her fellow bloggers to help Beau Beau and Noni Noni find a home for the holidays. These guys are gray striped brothers who are currently at the Renton PetSmart. They've been there for 4 months. Wouldn't these two make your home PURRFECT...

Beau Beau is a gray tiger striped four year old.

Noni Noni Samoni is his sort of a long haired gray striped look alike.

You can click on their names to find out more information about them.

Give them a Christmas present by helping them to find their forever home.

My World Tuesday - Snoqualmie Falls

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to stop and see Snoqualmie Falls. The falls are about 30 miles (48 km) east of Seattle, Washington. Over 1.5 million people visit every year and I think they all showed up along with me on Saturday. But it was worth the hassles of finding a parking space in the lot farthest from the falls and walking down to see them.

Some quick facts about Snoqualmie Falls:

Height of falls: 268 ft (82 m)
River: Snoqualmie River
Type: Curtain
Average Width: 100 ft (30 m)
Number of Drops: 1
* Courtesy of Wikipedia

The falls were showing the effects of the below-freezing temperatures we've had for the past couple of weeks. It was impressive seeing the icicles and layers of heavy frost and ice on the nearby walls.





You might think these pictures are in black and white, but they are not. It was just the color of the gray rocks and white ice and water.

Now that you've seen a glimpse of my world, click on over to the My World site to find links to other parts of the world. Or come share yours! Thanks to Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia for hosting this wonderful meme each week.

Mellow Yellow Monday #47 - Jeep

Beep! Beep! Jeep! Jeep!

Photo Information
Title: Yellow Jeep
Additional Info: Spotted at a local AM/PM gas station
Location: Arlington, Washington
Date: December 11, 2009

Drowsey Monkey hosts Mellow Yellow Monday each week. Come and see some other fun pics with a yellow theme by clicking on the MYM badge below.

Skywatch Friday - Clear Blue

Photo Information
Title: Clear Blue
Additional Info: Three Fingers, North Cascades Range
Location: Washington
Date: December 9, 2009

For more great Skywatch shots, click on the badge below. Your Skywatch team of Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise & Sylvia bring us this wonderful meme each week.

Remember Whensday No. 27 - Christmas Pony

Ho! Ho! Ho! It's Remember Whensday time again.

This week it's a jump back to 1995 with my niece and nephew, Candice and Shane. Candice (or Sissy as she's known) got a pony for Christmas. The pony is a Welsh Cob and it's name was Cheyenne.

Candice & Shane on Cheyenne

Sissy went on to be quite the horsewoman and was very active in her 4H club. She was the 4H state champion in Hunt Seat equitation at the Puyallup Fair in 2002. That was fun but nerve wracking to watch!

Shane was a little cutie and a handful back then. Still is...a handful at least! :-)

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My World Tuesday - Swan Song of a Different Kind

Our lake is a winter home for 400+ trumpeter swans. During the summer months, the lake is a peaceful and quiet spot in the early morning hours. This time of year, the silence is interrupted by the honking of the swans.

They arrive each evening at dusk, announcing their arrival loudly. When I come home from work and get out of my car, I often see the swans flying overhead on their approach to their evening destination. If it is quiet in the house, you can occasionally hear the swans, even with the windows closed. They are a noisy flock. All through the night, the honking continues albeit at a quieter volume.

In the morning after the sun is up, the swans take flight and head to one of the many nearby fields to munch on whatever is there. On Saturday, I braved the below freezing temps to watch the sun come up over the lake and listen to their morning song.

Follow the Leader

Gracefully Gliding Across the Surface

That's my world! Click on the badge below to go to see what others are sharing.

Thanks to Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia for hosting this wonderful meme each week.

Mellow Yellow Monday - Stocking Stuffers

Spotted coming home from work last week. It just jumped out at me while we waited for the traffic light to change. So hurry, get those gift cards to use as stocking stuffers. Not.

Ubiquitous Golden Arches

Drowsey Monkey hosts Mellow Yellow Monday each week. Please visit and see more pics with a yellow theme.

Weekend Reflections - LaConner

This is my first entry for Weekend Reflections, a new meme hosted by James at Newtown Area Photo.



Title: Sit a Spell
Location: LaConner, Washington storefront window
Date: November 28, 2009

Good Meowning

To borrow a word from JC, "Good 'Meowning'"! Have a purrfect day.

Photo Information
Title: Baby Girl
Additional Info: Calico Cat
Location: Stanwood, Washington
Date: November 11, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Morning Light

Time for Skywatch Friday!

Sunrise over Pilchuck

Photo Information
Location: Arlington, Washington with Mt. Pilchuck in the background
Additional Info: Taken from the Smokey Point area facing east
Date: November 2, 2009

To see more outstanding shots of the sky or to share one of your own, click on the Skywatch badge below. Thanks to the Skywatch team of Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise & Sylvia for hosting this each week.

Ghost Swans

Swan Lake?

Photo Information
Location: Sunday Lake, Stanwood, Washington
Additional Info: Trumpeter Swans at Dusk, almost like ghosts
Date: December 1, 2009

Remember Whensday No. 26 - Waaaaa!!

Who doesn't have a photo like this?

This week it's Gregg back in the Remember Whensday spotlight. He was only 16 months old at the time. Every time I look at it I have to chuckle. Gregg was so afraid of the big man with a white beard and red suit. It wasn't until he sat in Santa's lap that the crying began. Santa was so patient.

Gregg & Santa - December 1981

Luckily, Santa brought Gregg lots of presents any way. And he got over his Santa fears the following year.

Please visit the Remember Whensday meme and see what others are sharing. Better yet, share something yourself!

Mellow Yellow Monday #45 - Amber Glow

Amber Glow

Photo Information
Location: Amtrak Station, Stanwood, Washington
Date: November 21, 2009

To see more fun pictures with a yellow theme, or to share your own, click on the Mellow Yellow Monday badge below. Drowsey Monkey hosts this wonderful meme every week.

Boots

Boots

Photo Information
Location: Tractor Tavern, Seattle (or more precisely Ballard), Washington
Additional Info: Southern Culture on the Skids Concert
Date: November 7, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Fiery Sunset

Fiery Sunset

Photo Information
Location: Marysville, Washington, USA
Additional Info: Looking west towards the Olympic Mountains
Date: November 1, 2009

To see more great skies from around the world, go visit SkyWatch.

Colonial Creek

Colonial Creek - North Cascades Highway

A couple of months ago, I went over to the Okanogan house for a much needed rest period. On the way back across the North Cascades Highway, I stopped at Colonial Creek to practice my photography skills. I've been trying to shoot running water to get that soft effect.

Most of my attempts went into the digital recycle bin, but I did like this one. The manual settings I used were as follows:

ISO Speed: 200
F-Stop: f/14
Aperture: f/4.8

It was a very shaded spot just in case you were wondering. What do all these settings mean? Heck if I know. I'm still learning and find it hard to keep one thing straight from another. It's fun practicing though.

Remember Whensday No. 25 - 4 Cousins

This week I'm sharing a photo from my husband's collection taken at Thanksgiving in 1969.

Karl thinks this photo was taken at his Aunt Marlene & Uncle John's house. Unfortunately he doesn't remember anything about it or that day.

From left to right - Scott, Jenni, Karl & Craig

One of my favorite Thanksgiving memories is using Grandma's sandwich glass dishes for dinner. They only were used for special occasions. Several pieces have been broken over the years and occasionally I look for replacements. But they are hard to find and expensive when you do find them.

Thanks for sharing in my remembrance this week. To see what others are sharing through "old" photos in my Remember Whensday meme, click on the badge below. Better yet, share yours!

My World Tuesday - All Aboard

Back in August, I blogged about the new Amtrak station being built in Stanwood. It opened later than originally planned, but this past Saturday the first train finally made it's stop here.

The train was scheduled to pull into the station at 9:03 a.m. It was a cold and somewhat damp morning but at least it wasn't raining.

The New Amtrak Station

While waiting for the Amtrak to arrive, a freight train blew past the platform. I was amazed by the wind it generated. Since I was cold to start with, this made me even more so.

Watch out!

I was pleased by the turnout for the opening ceremonies. Many townspeople came down to watch the happenings. The middle school band provided musical entertainment, a local Boy Scout troop presented the colors, and at 9:28 a.m. the train arrived with passengers including Washington state Senator Mary Margaret Haugen whose efforts helped bring the station to Stanwood.

Here she comes!

The First Stop at the New Station

Check out the snow plow

Bye Bye!

That's my world this week. To see what others are sharing from their part of the world, click on the My World Tuesday badge below.