First batch of photos off the new camera!

Yay! I finally got around to purchasing the proper USB cable for my new camera. I'm so happy with this camera. It's awesome sauce. I'm a little bit shocked by the picture quality. I haven't been able to use a snazzy camera like that since I was in film school. Sure wish I could remember how to use it properly.

BUT with the addition of  a USB cable I am able to give you all a quick update on what Fiance and I have been up to. Via photo essay or some such nonsense.

Last weekend we took the fabulous 6 hour drive to visit my grandmother in Mississippi! And by fabulous I mean long, but Fiance drove most of the trip so I got to mess around with my camera on the trip. Most of the photos came out fuzzy as I tried to remember where the f-stop button was so I excluded those to be nice to your eyes.

Fancy photo. This is at the point in the trip when Fiance is getting a little tired of me taking pictures of him driving the car. 

Funky clouds on the trip down. We left Friday at about 6pm eastern time. This was only about 20 minutes into our trip and it was already getting dark.

 We arrive in Mississippi and enjoy a great weekend with the family!You might remember my Aunt Donna (center) and Grandmother (right) from some other photos I have posted.

UNO!

This trip was actually good timing if you can call it that. Earlier this week I received a call that my cousin Kyle (far left above) was admitted to the hospital. He's still in the ICU, but they have plans to move him to a regular room this afternoon. We're all praying for his recovery to go as quickly and as easily as possible. After a quick visit we headed back home on Sunday, this time during the daylight.

Pretty wet lands.

 The trip back home was much nicer. There are some pretty views along the highway going between Atlanta and Biloxi. It's so much nicer to actually see when you're roadtripping. 

Some River in Alabama.

Check out the waterway between the raised highway. Starting to look like it's going to rain.

We stopped at the Shed for some BBQ and a few of our favorite hole in the wall family gas stations on the way home. We really had a nice trip until a monsoon decided to swoop in on us somewhere in Alabama.

That thar' be some rain clouds ahead.

But we made it home safely even if we had to drive at 35mph on 85N for over an hour. Yick.

This weekend as you all know I finally finished painting/converting our spare room, then friend's room, later my sewing room, and now Fiance's office.

Tada! Paint!

You can see what I mean by the room not having enough natural light. That's the only window in that room and both the back wall and the wall to the right are outside walls. I really do know what the builders were thinking sometime. Fiance's shoulder also make a mysterious appearance in this photo. Or maybe it's a ghost. We don't really know.

And the other side of the room. I should not have looked so closely at these photos. My ceiling line looks wiggly!

And there's my update. Now I'm off to find somewhere to put my sewing machine so I can get to work. An old friend is coming back to play this month along with Halloween costume sewing bonanza time.

Happy 29th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

I know I have been very scarce lately with costume production in full swing, but I had to take a moment to share the news! Yesterday marked the 29th wedding anniversary of my amazing and wonderful parents! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Bixler! Go act like newly weds and do something crazy for a day! Run away to the Bahamas Lake George! 

April 15, 1981

I'm so lucky to have great role models in my life to base our marriage on. You've taught me what it really means to love and honor your partner. I hope that Fiance and I can have such a long, happy, and healthy life together. Thanks Mom and Dad!

 

Here's to another 30 years of wedded bliss! (They still look the same don't they?)

 

Some very special family photos.

My grandfather was an avid photographer for most of his life. My family literally has boxes upon boxes of his photos, slides, and memorabilia. Recently my father began a massive project to digitize my grandfather's numerous trays of slides. They are a real treasure. The slides document my family's life from the late 1940s through the mid 1970s.

I never met my grandfather, but these photos have allowed me to get to know him in a way I never thought possible. As I'm sure you can understand they have great personal significance to me and to my family. So the decision to share these on the internet where anyone might take these photos was a difficult one for me, but in the end I decided that I wanted to share my grandfather's images with my dear readers for several reasons. My grandfather was a truly amazing person and I don't think his images should be locked away forever. Secondly, my readers have been so supportive of this little blog in its short life. I know you will enjoy these photos and appreciate them for what they are. Thirdly, these photos are a great piece of history. They document a time period through the eyes of the every day people who lived it.

I've posted only a few photos today, but please enjoy these precious memories from what I believe is the summer of 1952. I ask that you do not redistribute them.

My Grandmother is in the red skirt set to the far left, my great-grandparents sit in the two chairs farthest to the right, my Great-Aunt sits in the front in a lovely lavender swim suit. I love the cars parked behind the group.

My Aunt Donna and my Grandmother wade into the lake. My Grandmother has on such a lovely skirt set. I think I shall have to make one of my own.

My Grandfather Ray Bixler and my Father's older sister Donna.

My Grandmother is in the black swim suit on the right holding my Aunt Donna. Next to her in the blue swimsuit with the swim cap is my Great-Aunt Mable holding her son.

My very fashionable relatives.

I hope no one in my family gets mad at me for posting these, but look at how fashionable they all were! The 1970s were a good time for my clan. I just had to share some of these slides. I also think it's great to see what people actually wore. Magazines ads and other common marketing materials of the time don't always tell the truth. Think about it, do you actually go out and buy the $600 dollar dresses they stick in Cosmo? Well I don't, I'm poor. That's why I sew things for under $25.

 

Here we are in 1972. I say we, but I won't be born for another 14 years. That's my Father (in the 8th grade) on the right hand side leaning up against the wall and looking so very suave. I'm definitely digging his shirt and cool hipster pose. I love the print and I'm seriously hoping it comes back in style. You'll also note my Grandmother's very nice blue suit set as she comes in the door. (This was a surprise anniversary party for her and my Grandfather). My cousin is in the white (she now has a middle schooler and an elementary schooler of her own) and she is sporting some super super cute knee socks and Mary Janes.

Here they are at a different event. I want to say New Years 1974. In this photo you can see my Uncle in the upper right. Love the paisley and vest combo here. Very cool. My Aunt in the lower left sports a very cute floral top and white slack combo. She was just a doll wasn't she? She's still a doll, but she doesn't wear this type of get up anymore. Next to her sits her husband (my Uncle) and his white shoes with black socks. Yes! White mens shoes! I have proof that they once existed, but where did they go? Not quite sure I want to bring back the black sock pairing though...