Family Reunion, Wimbledon, England

Circa 1937

A cousin who was at the reunion with his mother.... who was not

2010

Most people, including me, are already up on the stage waiting for the group photo. The reunion is held in a church hall where they have lots of tables and a kitchen and toys and things for the children to do. 

My great grandfather had fourteen children -- or rather his wife did. (Gosh!) Two died very young in the First World War. There are tables with lots of photos of relatives  -- my father,  aged two, wearing a dress --they did in those days...... and Auntie Rose looking glam on her wedding day.

All generations tumbled together (we wore name tags).  I met several people I hadn't talked to in almost forty years.

And the newest generation played around and had lots of fun......

....dancing .....

...or just looking.......

Shadow Shot Sunday/Bedtime

Henry comes to visit.

For lots of other shadowshots go here .

My main blog is now here.

Inspiration

I've cheated and read Weaver and Willowmanor and Titus's posts about inspiration.

I'll admit, nothing inspires me nearly so much as looking at what other people have done.

So, first of all, family. The date on this photograph is September 1939.

My father's brother Maurice, who hated school

 and was good at tennis in an erratic sort of way.

Look how his hair has been flattened down for the photo.

He died, of course.

One of Claudia's first photographs when she was taking photography in high school.

A pumpkin grown from one we had kicked off our porch.

I've learned everything I know about taking pictures from her.

Something magic and fairy tale about pumpkins always.

West Square in London, near the Imperial War Museum Film archives.

Why do the mossy steps lead nowhere?

What possibilities in the quiet window.

Colors in Morocco. A life saturated with visual delights

but all sorts of other things too.

I hope no one finds this last image offensive.

David Shrigley captures so exactly how I sit at my desk

and get distracted all the time.

Out of the City

Sometimes one has to get out of the city to look at historic things.
This is the DeWit House in Tappan New York. Built around 1700.



It was George Washington's winter headquarters one year during the Revolutionary War.



Sometimes one leaves the city to go to family parties.
This one was given by by my son's in laws for Bobby's 30th birthday.
It was a really happy day.



The wonderful Abby and Charlotte (Kristin's nieces) were the stars of the day - as they should be.
You need lots of children at a birthday party.


Then you have to go home to the city on the rail road.........