Happy New Year

 Happy New Year

I know I want to make my New Year happy.
It's been too many years since we've had angst run our lives.
This is the year to make it what it should be.

Bob and Leotta's "best" photo

 Bob and Leotta go to a football game

This photo of my parents is from the 1950s
Written on the back, in my mother's handwriting
it says,
"This was taken on our way to a football game
with friends.
I think it is one of our best pictures."

I like to think they were on their way to a

Greenbay Packer Game.
my Dad loved the game.

[Baseball too.]

The Man in the Window

 The Man in the Window

While studying some old photos, searching for a particular building,
I noticed this man in an office window of a nearby building.

I wonder what business he might have been conducting.
I wonder who his family was.
I wonder how he made his living.
I wonder why I wonder.

No wonder, I'm happy.

Van Gogh Immersive

 Van Gogh Immersive
All of it was eye opening.
Here are two images that have stayed with me since
the visit to the world of Vincent.

Dad and Mom's Honeymoon Trip 1947

 Honeymoon Trip 1947

Dad kept a travel diary that included post cards to document the trip. We might now consider it scrap booking, Here's a great card showing a "new" ferry.
This trip was almost ten years after they were married.

Dad and Mom on their Honeymoon in 1947

1947 Honeymoon

Dad and Mom took a "honeymoon" trip in 1947 to Canada where they visited with family members on Dad's side. Oh, they did have a short trip to the Dells right after their marriage in 1938--not the same.

My New Logo

 My New Logo

The Tucson Festival of Books wanted a logo
from me so this is what it is.

Nan Weber's Voice Résumé

 Nan Weber's Voice Résumé

I am so fortunate to be able to
record my voice castings and auditions
in my home studio.
To say it's mine is not entirely accurate because
Paul Boruff has been recording me for years and it is
technically his music studio.
Here's my latest Voice Résumé

Web Page Dedicated to Yellowstone Chip's Music

 

Web Page Dedicated to
Yellowstone Chip's Music

Yellowstone Chip Samuell was a songster, a dude wrangler and a lover of people and animals.

These songs on the web page coincide with the book,
"Singing in the Saddle, The Life and Times of
Yellowstone Chip."

Take a listen, click on his name.

Yellowstone Chip Samuell

Paul Boruff with Dark Fiddle Concert

 Paul Boruff with Dark Fiddle

A concert at Carolyn's Summer Garden Concert

Come hear Paul Boruff with Dark Fiddle at Carolyn's Summer Garden Concert.

Sat, August 28, 2021

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM MDT

We can't wait to play for you.

https://www.eventbrite.com/.../carolyns-summer-garden... 

Old bicycle/New bicycle

 Old bicycle/New bicycle

Recently my Trek bicycle was stolen from my yard.
I've had it for 12 years and I miss it terribly.
This is a photo from last year when I was participating in the Great Cycle Challenge.

Searching for a bicycle that reminded me of my Trek,
I found this one for sale and bought it.
It's only a 3-speed but I already am getting the hang of it.

Photo of the Family

 Photo of the Family

This family photo was taken in 1917.

Leotta Van Vliet (mom's godmother) is in the center,
and my family members clockwise from the lower left
Uncle Bob, Aunt Betty, Aunt Inez, mom--Leotta and Aunt Hallie.
As it states on the back of the photo--
"Some bunch!!!!!!!"

Magdalena's Butter Knife

 I love Magdalena's Butter Knife

I love to use Magdalena's butter knife.
This was my great great grandmother's knife.

Here is her signature.

And here she is.

And with her husband.

Mendenhall Glacier and Sports Knickers

 Mendenhall Glacier

Ruth and Etna with their host Nellie
explore Mendenhall Glacier in July 1926

You may have noticed,
my great aunt Etna is wearing sports knickers.

In 1926 it was still a bit daring to wear this "outfit."
But that defines my great aunt.

Check out this 1926 advertisement for sports knickers.

Eagle River Alaska; Herbert Glacier

Eagle River and Herbert Glacier 

Ruth, Etna and Nellie
with friends Lew and Kay
picnic at Eagle River with Herbert Glacier
in the distance.

Sitka 1926

 Sitka

Aunt Etna and Cousin Ruth continue their explorations

in Alaska.

A charming view of Sitka

Visiting Sitka National Monument

Ruth calls it Park but in 1926

it was still a monument.

Interestingly, one of the totem poles from Sitka

resides in Ruth's and Etna's home town

of Milwaukee.

For the story of how it got there

visit the NSP site:

Sitka Historical National Park

The pole in Milwaukee, resides in the Milwaukee Public Museum.
During Etna's and Ruth's time it looked like this.

In Tlingit it is Qadakedi (kaw-duh-KAY-dee)

Currently it is displayed inside.
Here's a link to the Milwaukee Public Museum display
Tlingit Pole

Gold was found in Silver Bow Basin in 1880.

A Trip to Alaska in 1926

A Trip to Alaska in 1926
In the next few days I will post
a 1926 trip to Alaska with my great aunt and her cousin.

Their trip began in June 1926. They likely traveled to Seattle

by train, or in the cars, as they often said.
They boarded the Steamer Queen to Juneau.

They were visiting a former neighbor, Nellie Lee Boyle.

The visit began in Juneau with Nellie and her husband Frank Boyle.
Frank was a comptroller for Alaska.

Here's the Boyle's "wash."

On July 6, 1926 they visited Sitka National Monument.

 

 

 

Wall Mansion in Salt Lake City

 Wall Mansion in Salt Lake City

Much has been written about the Wall Mansion in Salt Lake City. Its transformation from the James Sharp Italianate Victorian design to the Neoclassic design of today by Richard Kletting.

My favorite part of Kletting's re-design is the idea of making it as fire proof as possible with steel framing and reinforced concrete.

This is an advertisement from the company that helped to make it possible.

[Architecture and Building Vol 43 1 Jan 1911 W T Comstock Co]

Eaton Hall in Chester England

 Eaton Hall
in Chester England

The Family Wing

In 1914 my great aunt Inez went on tour

in Europe and England

This postcard to her niece (my aunt) shows her excitement for Eaton Hall in Chester.

These are likely some of the rooms Inez visited in 1914.

Aunts and Uncles

 My Aunts and Uncles

These are some of my aunts and uncles
before my mother was born

1913

School Principal

 School Principal
My grandfather was a school principal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
This 1913 notice discusses textbooks and lessons.
The superintendent of Milwaukee public schools and some staff members visited select schools to see, first hand, whether or not the textbooks were adequate.

My grandfather's school is discussed on the second page.