50 Year High School Reunion

All  summer long I worked on the "slide-show" DVD Video to present at the reunion.

I had such fun doing it. I received a small amount of current pictures of classmates and I used the Web to find scenes from the 50's – 60's to incorporate. Since each picture is shown for only 4 seconds it takes a lot of pictures to make a 10 or 20 minute presentation.

 
I managed to put together a 20 minute presentation and then from different sources I found the music to accompany the pictures. I was delighted with the finished product and I had 32 DVD's to give to class mates to take home as souvenirs of our gathering.

Arvon Arave provided CD's of 1950's music for everyone to take home. Of the Three Buddies shown here only Arvon on the far left is still living.

Ron & I left a little early to get the equipment all ready for the presentation.

There were about 60 people present at the dinner which was really good. A photographer took group pictures that are probably better than the shot Ron took with my camera of the graduating class members.

                                                About 38 class members were present.  Click on pictures to enlarge.

Saturday was the Spud Day Parade in Shelley Idaho. We joined my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and niece along with other family members to watch the parade. Then Ron & I went to Ann Durbin's place to share a picnic of baked "Idaho Russet's". As a part of the event held at the Shelley Park after the parade 5,000 baked potatoes are given away!

This gathering was much smaller – but gave me a chance to visit with best friends.

Thank you to my son Tim who helped me so much with the DVD. Thank you to my husband Ron who worked so hard to see to it that I got to do every part of my Idaho Trip Dream!

Now I am in touch with very special class friends on the internet and it is delightful!

I have celebrated my 69th birthday with family – fall is coming with the beautiful colors and the first of our winter storms. I love this time of year!

Love to all.

Visiting the "Funny Farm"

Visiting my brother Bob who is my only sibling and is 10 years my senior was wonderful. We not only enjoyed reminiscing, short car trips to see the old places we both remembered, but just exploring their little farm and antiques was fascinating.

Ever since they were married in the 1970's Bob and Barbara have been members of the Rock Club and active in collecting rocks, a variety of antiques, old farm equipment and a very entertaining yard decor.

They have used the beautiful rocks to build a waterfall, wishing well, sun dial, walls, the chimney on their house and have arranged whimsical creatures in every corner of the lawn and flower beds.

Base of Lighthouse behind the alligator

Since it was fall when we visited it was time to paint the wooden attractions so Barbara's daughter Kam was busy making them beautiful for spring when they come out again. Ron even got in on the painting. He had a good artistic time!

Gnomes and Rocks painted by my niece Janet

A project waiting for an idea above

My brother keeps many antiques in his home and nearby that private groups like his Rock Club get to enjoy from time to time.



Thanks to you – Bob and Barbara for feeding us and showing us a very good time!

Love to all -
Special Get Well to Johan in Sweden.
Next time I will have a few pictures of the "old people" at the class reunion
See you soon . . . .

Old Faithful Inn

I made reservations to stay one night at the Old Faithful Inn in January of 2010.  I was able to reserve one of the original rooms which were built in 1903 – 1904.  While there we participated in a guided tour – learning about the history and recent upgrades.  In the early days only the wealthy traveled by train from the East Coast to the Inn – the "place to see and to be seen".  After dinner in the grand dining room couples would parade in the finest attire around the promenade on each of the 4 floors that opened to the Grande Rotunda.  The individual rooms had no plumbing but the guests were given a warm "porcelain pitcher" of water to take to the room and use in the matching "porcelain basin".  A commode was provided for each room so that guests would not have to go outside during the nights.

The amazing use of raw timber in the construction of the Inn makes me grateful that it survived the 1988 forest fire.  It seems the perfect pieces of wood, including magnificent burls were selected individually to fit each application of the building.  This use of wood certainly does justice Trees!

I didn't realize the significance of

being assigned Room # 1 - but we were right across the hall from a beautiful guest bathroom with walk in

shower!  We were at the very end of the old building with our double windows looking right out onto the geyser basin.  Please click on pictures if you wish to see a larger version.

I always wanted to be one of those people who were sitting on the second floor balcony of the Inn watching Old Faithful Erupt!  There has always been a big clock displayed in the rotunda telling the estimated time of the next eruption.  Old Faithful has become less "faithful" over the years – so Ron & I had time to go to dinner in the Grand Dining Room at 6:00 – enjoying a wonderful meal and spectacular service and still have plenty of time to see the Eruption that took place near dark on September 8th – and we watched again the next morning before leaving Old Faithful Inn.

There She Blows!  September 9th about 10:40 am

The huge fireplace in the Rotunda has a fire pit on all four sides with places for guests to sit and enjoy the lodge.  This picture is taken from the second floor showing the big clock on the fireplace.  Note the beautiful wood construction throughout!  What a Grand Place!

 Hope you enjoyed the visit.  You must see this in person - it is remarkable.  More on the trip and 50th Class Reunion to come.  Love to all!