True Blue Baby Boomer...

Today we celebrate 36 years of marital bliss!

Anyone who knows us and a little bit about our life over the years, knows that this is a tongue in cheek statement! Is there anything we haven't been through as a couple? Yikes, it makes me tired just thinking about it.

There is one thing that we have not been through and for this am very thankful. We have always been—and always will be true blue lovers!

It's been an amazing journey, from the year 1970 when we met in my Dad's shop. (I was the boss's daughter) Here is a picture that makes me smile—taken in a photo booth at Seaside Heights, NJ.

Our love at first sight romance lasted about two years until we parted company. The world had become a confusing place with lots of questions but not many answers. The story of our getting back together—and marriage six months later deserves a separate post!

But until then, here's a little video I made for our 30th anniversary....

1956-The Red Coat with the Toggle Buttons

In 1956 I was actually taller than my brother "Little Wally"

In a family of seven children clothes were handed down on a regular basis—and Wally was happy to be wearing a red coat in this picture that was actually mine. It was a great coat as I remember—had toggle buttons and a hood. Great for sleigh riding—building snowmen. We were obviously heading out somewhere in this picture—in Mom's '53 Cadillac in the background. I probably wouldn't be riding out the window on this day as I did on others— because it was obviously a winter day—too brisk for that!

Fast forward to Christmas 2008—52 years! (..did I say that?)
My brother Wally surprised me with a gift that made me smile! He first presented me with the picture at the top of this post—and when I opened the box and saw the red coat with the toggle buttons I immediately recognized it. ......He was finally giving it back to me!

Just to assure you that the coat would not fit him now, here's one of my favorite picture of my "little" brother Wally—taken a "few" years ago when he was on the road with my Dad, Mr.Sawdust

Wally is son #4—named after my Dad. He is an incredibly gifted woodworker—and all around nice guy—a great brother!

These pictures were taken with my "baby" David—youngest of my four children.

Even he's taller than me!
(...and he always makes me smile!)

Happy Birthday Jeff!

(This was a great 50's toy—it was a Doepke Yardbird—a little train
that ran on a track in our back yard.
The metal train car moved around the track by
cranking the handle between two kids—
definitely a team effort!)

I was blessed with SIX brothers—each one is special to me—each one so different; each having his own gifts and special qualities.
Today is the birthday of my older brother Jeff. Older, yes—but only by a year— born two days after Christmas. When you're born so close to Christmas, your birthday often gets lost in all the commotion.
I was born December 19th....not quite as close as December 27th.
Remembrance of the birthday of a brother as special as Jeff should never get lost—even for a moment.
He is a kind, gentle and compassionate person—always looking for ways to do do nice things for others.

I'm told that when I was born, Jeff was not thrilled. He was still a baby himself—only a year old. My mother tells the story of a time not too long after my arrival when Jeff tried to push my carriage down a hill...but all that is behind us.
Jeff is the brother who built the greatest forts and little houses when we were kids—and the brother who can restore just about anything. And he is the brother with the greatest imagination; creator of a family of "paint brush people"—each with its own individual personality.

A few years back he created a chair—a one of a kind creation—made up of numerous paint brush people.
But as they say-a picture is worth a thousand words...

My brother Geoffrey with his incredible carved chair—
each head intricately carved- Notice the spindles on the back of the chair-
each one an individual "paint brush person" The seat was also hand-rushed by Jeff.


Happy Birthday Jeff!