Camera roll - 48 years.

How many memories are there after 48 years?   

Way back then in 1972, one didn't take thousands of photos like we do now.  The film had to be mailed off somewhere to be developed and it was expensive for those of us on a budget.  

After I retired, I decided that I would scan all of our old photos so that I would have a digital copy.   

I'm posting some of the collection in no particular order.  Photos of memories from almost fifty years.  Good times when everyone could get together.

Mom and my brothers and sisters in Victor, Montana.  Circa 1976.

David's 1st grade class at Hope Elementary School.  (The old school)

David's band concert at Clark Fork - 5th grade.  He is the baritone player.

Jon showing nephew Derek a turtle that we picked up along the highway by Denton Slough.  

My brother, Don, and his son Travis, performing "That Old Time Rock and Roll". 

Elk Camp at Independence Creek.

There were hundreds if not thousands of poker games.  

Jon was always active in the teacher's organization and promoting education.

Trying to catch a nuisance bear back in the 1990's.  Not a griz though.  I think David was working for the Forest Service Fire Crew that year.  Son Jamie, worked several summers at Round Lake State Park.  Summer jobs helped them get through college.

JP and David helping install the tank for the water line back in 1992.

The landcruiser that JP drove back and forth to Clark Fork during high school.  Hundreds of basketball practices and games.  It was old and beat up, but it was a 4x4, which was a necessity if you really wanted to make it home at midnight during the winter.  Before we had the cruiser there were many late night that we would wait on HWY 200 for the school bus to return from an away game.  There were no cell phones, so it was just a guess as to when the bus might be there.  

The oyster party when our grade arbor was delivered.  It was built by "Tony the Torch".  It is now covered with grapevines.

Clark Fork Football - 1990.

Our sons growing up, high school and college years and on to the future.

Good times singing "If I Were A Rich Man".

On the farm.

There were many years that we raised beef.

Fast forward to lots of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  The best part of 48 years.  We miss them a lot and haven't seen them since last January when this photo was taken.  

Yes, grandma baked a doll cake.  Who knew?

A trip to Virginia City.

Yes, we did remember our anniversary this year, but that was only because our daughter-in-law, Julie, reminded us on Monday. 

September Birthday cluster - a good thing!

It's a birthday cluster.  Today we are celebrating my brother Roy's birthday and daughter-in-law, Julie's birthday!  Plus, yesterday was our dear friend Neil's birthday.   All good reasons for multiple celebrations. 

 

Neil and Ann - Middle Mountain and Trail 120.  Lots of bushwhacking to get there from our house.   We did it!

Julie, who is a very gifted artist and most talented and inventive woman.  Her artwork for many of the Hamilton Players performances was amazing.

Whenever there is something to celebrate or a good time to be had, Julie is the go-to person.

My brother, Roy.  A most passionate outdoorsman.  Fishing, hunting, camping, backpacking and hiking.  

On Seagull Charters - way back.

Did I mention he likes Nebraska and Griz football, plus grilling?

 Happy day to all!  

I will mention that we are socked in by the smoke from the wildfires today.  It's very bad here, but I imagine that it's much worse in western Washington, Oregon and California.   Ugh!  

We were lucky this year.  We had blue skies the entire summer until now.  It's time to appreciate those days.

Notes:

Retired Mountain Man had his shoulder surgery.  After some rough days, he is on the mend and has no pain.  Working on his PT.

The windstorm on Labor Day blew over 14 of our trees.  All really nice big trees.  It's very sad to see so many go down.  

It also destroyed the corn and the green beans.  The storm was followed by a light frost that zapped the cucumbers and some of the squash.  The good news is that some of the veggies are still okay. Some of RMM's dahlias blew over or broke off, but many survived.  Plus, no trees fell on the cars or the house or the barn.  Whew!  

Say hello to climate change.  As a gardener, I will report that in my 50 years of gardening here, the biggest change in the weather is the wind.  We never used to have the fierce winds.  You can count on it every summer and fall now.  Plus, it's not unusual for it to happen more than once.  The hot, dry summer temps now extend well into the fall and are here earlier in the spring.  

We were without power for 54 hours, but kept the generator going and saved the food in our freezers.

Today seems like a good day to bake mulitple loaves of zucchini bread and watch the Seahawks play football!  Yes!

The heroes in our family

My Grandpa Reineke and three of his sons.  From left to right: my father, Jay Reineke, Grandpa Reineke, Jerry Reineke and Dick Reineke.  My Grandpa served in WWI.  My dad and his brother his WWII.  My Uncle Jerry in Korea.  

 

My Grandpa Phillips and his brother - WWI.  I have dozens of cousins who also served in WWII.  Some of whom were in the invasion of Normandy.  My Uncle Terrell also served in Korea.

Jon's father, Jim, who served in WWII.  His tank was blown up in Italy and he had shrapnel in his leg.  He met his wife, Lois, while he was recovering back in the states.  This is their wedding photo taken in Butte, Montana.

He was awarded a Purple Heart.

Retired Mountain Man  - who served in Vietnam.  (No bone spurs in this family.)  He was in the 101st Airborne with Military Intelligence.  The army sent him to El Paso, Texas, to their Vietnamese Language School, to learn to speak Vietnamese.  When he was sent to Vietnam, he was an interrogator.  Jon was awarded the Bronze Star.  

All of these family members sacrificed and gave up some of their life and many other things to serve and protect their country.  I am so very proud of them and I believe that the rest of our family members are too.  

After watching all of the news about the losers and suckers who served in the Marines and the military, I had to speak up.  We currently have a nephew who is in the Marines.  If the president doesn't have his back, I'm sure hoping the military and the American people do. 

A Christmas postcard from my Grandpa Reineke in WWI.