OR - CA 2008 / Chapter 11

Last Night in Oregon
After the celebration, many of the family members went back to Uncle Gordon and Aunt Kathy's house to relax and visit.
A good time and happy gathering for all.

Sunday morning we were all up bright and early. The plane was to depart at 10:40am and we needed to be there 2 hours early to check in.
I took some shots on the way to the airport...
...to give you a little more idea of the beauty of the area.
Next are shots from inside the Portland airport. This was the view out the windows...
...on our way to our gate for our layover flight to Fresno...

...here's a piece of the artistry on one of the walls.
Our gate was 'B', to the left in the picture below. Up the ramp to the center is a large central opening...
...not having checked out a map of the airport, I'm not sure if this is the main part, but it appears to be.

A musician, Bill Keale, was performing and selling his CDs here also. My mom and I had walked down here to see what was available to eat and so I could get some pictures. We were standing in front of the musicians table with CDs on it when his wife(?) came walking back, probably from the restroom. As soon as she came back, two children popped out from under the cloth covered table and started running around. She smiled and said they had their own little world set up under the table and then she laughed.

Next post will be our arrival in Fresno and the Mennonites Men's Chorus.

OR - CA 2008 / Chapter 10

The Celebration Continues...
First a nice shot of the happy couple. They were, of course, looking at the professional photographer and not me.
Below we have Uncle Gordon's brother and wife, the celebrated couple, Uncle Gordon's sister and husband, and my parents, Aunt Kathy's brother and wife.
Finally a nice shot of Uncle Gordon, Aunt Kathy, their 5 son's and wives. FYI, the wives are not all really short... Aunt Kathy is 6' and Uncle Gordon and the boys are all taller than she is.

The boys and their wives did a wonderful job preparing the meal for friends and family afterward.
Meats, potatoes, gravy...
...salad and beverages.
Plenty of food for everyone. A wonderful celebration for some Wonderful People! I'm so glad we were able to be there.
Happy Anniversary Aunt Kathy & Uncle Gordon!

OR - CA 2008 / Chapter 9

Finally the post about why we went to Oregon to begin with, to celebrate Aunt Kathy and Uncle Gordon's 50th Anniversary. At the church hall we were greeted with a lovely reception table where guests were invited to to sign not only the guest book but to leave a personal message in around the pictures in the gold frame.
We were entertained by a wonderful boys choir.
This choir director began the boys choir 40 years ago and several of the Fahlgren boys over the years have sung in it, one is currently a member.

The boys below played some lively Celtic music, the boy on the right is playing a Celtic drum.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment...
...especially this rendition of the "Soggy Bottom Boys".
I just wish I had either my tape recorder or my camcorder with me for this, but I didn't.
For the last few songs, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Gordon's boys joined the choir...

...and sang along with the boys.
The cakes were beautiful, the kids did a wonderful job on everything.
The cake cutting...
...and cake feeding went off without a hitch.
After everyone had cake and visited the family went to another area of the church for family pictures, I'll share these with you tomorrow.

OR - CA 2008 / Chapter 8

The Day Arrives
In case you've forgotten, the reason for our trip out west was to attend Aunt Kathy and Uncle Gordon's 50th Wedding Anniversary. On that day there were many arrivals, flowers and family. The picture below is Uncle Gordon's family when they were young...

...and his sister and brother upon his brother's arrival. Uncle Gordon with his back to the camera.Uncle Gordon's sister's sons arrive for the occasion...
...followed closely by my cousins...
...three of Uncle Wes and Aunt Ann's four girls...
...were able to make it.This is Uncle Dick's only son.
Food seems to be always abundant at all our gatherings...
...with many choices to suit the picky eater. I believe the sausage was elk.
...and we all sat down for a nice light lunch before the afternoon festivities.

OR - CA 2008 / Chapter 7

More Treasures - Family History
One of the treasures that Aunt Kathy keeps in Great Grandma's trunk is her nurse's cape that she received when she became a nurse.
In the collection of treasures below on the right hands side you will see the pin that Aunt Kathy received showing that she graduated from the La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing in 1955. This is what the L.M.S.N. on the collar of her cap stands for. Their are other odds 'n ends treasures in the display below, some of them have fallen. One of particular interest is the Red Cross. The note says, "Red Cross pin worn by Aunt Ruthie during WWII. Drove Red Cross truck with Shirley Temple Black - About 1943-45"The bracelet in the bottom of the display was brought "...to Kathy in 1946 by brother Harold from mainland China after WWII." Harold being my father.

OR - CA 2008 / Chapter 6

Tiny Treasures
I discovered that Aunt Kathy and I share a common interest in collecting miniature treasures. Below is a man with a large sombrero napping against what we believe to be a well.
Here you can see the size of it when compared to a quarter.

Several of these tiny tools actually work. The knife opens as do the pliers and cutters.
Here's Aunt Kathy's treasure chest for her tiny treasures. I believe it was made by one of Aunt Kathy & dad's uncle.
The outside is made of metal with the inner box being wood.
Below are a few more of her treasures, rattlesnake rattles and arrowheads.
Dad said there were lots of arrowheads around where they grew up in eastern Colorado.