How little was required to entertain us in those days - Sepia Sat. post for Feb. 1st.

Sepia Sat. theme this week holidays. Holidays can mean anything from a weekend get-away to a full blown trip to the far corners of the world.

For most middle class people in the 50's and 60's a holiday usually meant a short respite from your weekly schedule.

When my mom and dad were growing up a 'holiday' usually meant a trip for the day to the seaside.
Mom's would have been some trip to a Yorkshire close seaside, while dad's would have been one easy to get to from London.

This first picture is a picture of my dad's mom and a sister at a seaside close to London (maybe someone across the pond will recognize the pier.)

Dad's mom would probably have been near or in her 80's at this period in time.
And in all other pictures I have of this day, she is dressed the same.




















This second is a picture with grandma and sister's husband.

Must have been a chilly day.





















This third picture is of the same sister and her husband.

Probably a few years later.
















This next set is of my mom's side of the family at a more northern beach.
Far right picture is mom and dad on the beach.

Mom is also in the black jumper in the far left picture, and we believe she is the one in the swim cap in the middle photo. (She looked a lot like one of her sisters.)

This next one would be the late 20's early 30's of mom and sisters. The young man is unknown. (Again, someone across the pond may recognize the buildings in the background.)

Once we came to the states 'holiday's' meant one week a year to the Lake of the Ozark's and weekend day trips with cousins and such. Well, at least for the first ten years or so.

This photo is of my mom and her sister with a handful of us kids. ( I am told I was asleep in the car. )

It is taken at Meramec Caverns in Missouri.

What is funny is mom (left) is posing with beer. She doesn't drink beer.











This second picture is mom and same sister posing at one of our local swimming holes. It was either Holiday Beach or Suntan Beach. The water would have been from the Missouri River.
A local farmer got industrious and dug out a channel and brought in sand and made a local swim area.
It was there for years.



Click on the image to join the trip in Sepia Sat.

This just in from my Sherlock Holmes friends

150 things about the Underground

I know 'the usual suspects' are doing their part to change this trend

But they can't do it alone.
Story here.

His heart was in the right place - Pete Seeger 1919 - 2014

Indeed, "Where have all the Flowers Gone"

1919-2014

I finally got my own office. . .

No, this is not it. I wish.

But everyone needs their own office at some point in their life. Whether it is at home or at work, at some time we need that space we can call our own. An atmosphere of productive solitude. I have always been very productive in my solitude.

Sure, every one's idea of the perfect office space is different. And most of us will never get the office space we really want; view of Central Park, top floor of a very tall building, hidden bar for those 'special' meetings, or not so hidden. A giant couch where we can close our eyes and contemplate executive orders, etc.

Well look at that! This one has a couch and a bar. Wow!

But we need that space to call our own. No longer do we have to share refrigerator with three month old pizza or worse. (Sometimes you can't ever tell what it was.)

We need our own coffee pot, even if it's just for boiling tea water. A tiny microwave is a must.

Sure, I had office 'space' before. Shared. With several loud furnaces, lots of dust, a couple invisible mice and all the other things needed in a shared space, people sharing it with you.

But now I have my own room. No one else. With a door. A window, although only looking inside the building, but a window none the less.

I can hide my lunch. I can eat where I want. And I can lock it if they ever give me the key.

But it is mine.

Sure. . . it's a little spartan yet.

And the decorators have not arrived with the hardwood and leather.

But I get to decide what goes where and what gets hung up. 

And did I mention it has a window.

Why pubs are good for us guys. . . now I just have to convince my wife.

Please, let us go!

I, to, could look like these guys.

New post on the Log Blog

Log Blog

And the below photo made it on Cabin Porn!

Nope, not even for a cup of tea.

Most people who know me, know that my day does not start unless I have at least one cup of good tea.
I can skip breakfast, although I rarely do, but not my tea.
But, I think the following story would kill that need if this was required . . . .
Tea

Part two New Years Day on Log Blog

HERE, again

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New post on Log Blog

HERE!

December catch up.

 Early Dec. brought a dusting of snow.

 Not enough to keep us off of the trampoline.

 Or out of the hammock.

 'shroom is still hanging on.

 Warm enough for a game of checkers,. . . with our winter gear on.

 Bigger snow a week later.

 Our family as snowmen.

Christmas programs

 Get the tree ready!

For the big morning.

Finally, the bow I wanted.

 And other stuff.

 Time to remember the ones who are not with us on Christmas.

 Day after Christmas game face at the Magic House.

One more day of presents at Grandma's.