when your windows rot off your house

So this is what's happening here.

These very quiet looking windows are rotting off the house.

We paint all the time. This is a big house, not suitable to any all-at-once painting situation. We paint ourselves around the house, year by year.

Well. That's all fine and so forth until you come upon window sills which have not been looked at since the 80s.

It was the plan to scrape and repaint, same old.

Not going to work here.

This, however?  This is a snapshot I took of Jay's mother's dad, John, on the floor beside our own John Kenneth.

 Okay, good night. Time for bed.

Love, Val

fishing trip

Love, Val

bar harbor boat show

It was fun, something we haven't done before.  The day was perfect for it, pleasant, but not hot, cloudy sky minimized glare.

This is like the boat Jay had when we were first married.

 There's the little Larsen like Jay had again, from a different angle:

 It was a fun boat to ride in, cut sharp corners.

Anyway, a fun morning.  Love, Val

double birthday

One day, it's Dan's birthday. The next day, yours.

 Ever since you were a little girl, you've been a friend.   One day I bought a new picture for the wall, and the guys all marched past it, didn't even notice, but you did.  You came up the stairs and paused and pointed it out in a voice with approval, even though you couldn't talk yet.

No opportunity was missed for ruffled tights or big satin bows in your hair, shiny shoes.  No regrets.

You've been a gift to this whole family.  You're a sister people can count on, 

You've brought Dad and me more happiness than you can even imagine.

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart.  

With love forever,  Mom and Dad and Everybody

i do love you

This is one of my favorite photos of all time.

Our giant poodle, Tammy bit this ball, so the air deflated.  John put the remains on his head as a helmet, and he brought over the other scrap and placed it on your head.

Everything about this, from your little ID bracelet, to your curls and tearful lips, to Dad's own kiss against your cheek, and a hand big enough to cross your whole belly--it grabs a hold of me.

I took this picture with an old 35 mm with manual focus.  It's a second in time, captured forever.

 This family photo snapped in a one click photo by a photographer who had photographed the entire family.  The ornery scowl on your face, in your Smurf sweats, is because you were annoyed we stopped you for this picture rather than racing to the playground, which we did right afterward.

This is you sitting on Dad's side of the bed, hugging Kari on the day she was born.

 Oh, yes. Always the co-operator.  That's before we built the family room, when there was just a little bedroom off the dining room.

 Doing math:

 Blowing out candles with James and your cousin:

 Teasing Miss Maria after work, James as tiny photo bomber:

 Me and you and him, November 1, 1980.

And a beautiful family photo from last year:

Daniel?  You, whom I have loved since I was an 18 year old girl?  You and me and Dad and John?

In this whole entire world, there is not one single person I love more than I love you.

This annoys your brothers and sisters because somehow they twist it around to mean that I love them less.

I do not love them less than I love you.

How are these things actually measured?

Thank you for being brave enough to venture into a family as young and inexperienced as this one.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity, for laughing along with us, and saying, "Awww," in the right places, for working hard and being a fine example of devotion and dedication to your own family.

You kids.

I could not love any one of you more.

Happy Birthday, Daniel T.

Love forever, Mom and Dad and Everybody

another weekend

The lake was pretty.  It's just a lovely, beautiful place.

This picture was snapped on the ride up, rainbow.

 We went on a boat ride, and taking the pontoon is always the best choice for bringing along dogs. See how amused she is?

She's hardly even conscious.

That's fine.

 This one we were babysitting looks real lively too.

 The swing set in the field:

 Kari made that sign out of sticks she painted and decorated with gems.  We sprayed it with poly spray, trying to preserve the fragility of it.

 Here's Tim's fast, little, zippy remote control boat.  It was expensive, like his only Christmas present at the time.

 Getting ready:

Gone:

Anyway, there's that.

love, Val