Nonnie's Observations

Today this family would be called a blended family, but in the late 1930s, they were just a family.  The adults are the Kern siblings (including my mom in white clothes and my dad in the middle) with their spouses, mother and their step-father.  The three children are Duckworth siblings. Grandpa Kern died at age 41 leaving seven children.  I knew only my grandpa Duckworth. Two Kern brothers were not present for the taking of the picture.  Judging from the size of the three younger siblings, I was born two years after this.  sharing with Jane's VINTAGE WEEKLY Any bloggers who have vintage photos,  please join us in sharing them!

husband’s ancestor same name as his; died so young lived in Canada shared with Jane's VINTAGE WEEKLY please join us in sharing your vintage photos

stern looking baby Mom’s face full of joy and pride older sister too I have a vivid memory of my sitting on the blue divan and Momma’s putting my baby brother Charlie on my lap.  He was adorable and sweet.  His sweet nature never changed. He was so well-thought of that his home improvement customers not only came to Charlie’s funeral but chose to speak of how Charlie made them feel. I miss him still and I know that his family does too.  Rest in peace, my sweet brother. shared with Jane's VINTAGE WEEKLY

My great-uncle was a photographer/advance man for the 101 Ranch.  They were a traveling show.  I was fortunate that Uncle Barney’s album was passed onto me when my parents died.  In 1935 Uncle Barney opened a photo studio with his wife Pearl.  The baby portrait of me was taken by Uncle Barney; it can be seen here .  The name of his studio was Kern's Rembrandt Studio.   shared with Jane's Vintage Weekly

Charles and Dorothy wed in 1946 till death did they part linked to Jane's VINTAGE WEEKLY and Rebecca's  amazing  HAIKU MY HEART 

wedding day photo Ruth and Charles- my grandparents groom's delightful grin linked to Jane's VINTAGE WEEKLY

uncle in foreground Mom’s two-toned Buick in back here for fam’ly fun As far back as I can remember, I took pictures of my parents’ cars.  As I’m sifting through my memories, I wonder if my dad didn’t have an influence on the reason for that.  He loved and knew lots about cars. He maintained our family cars, the vans of the cleaner where he worked for his uncle and brothers and anyone who asked him for help.  I bet if I put the photos side by side, it would be an interesting history of the look of cars. linked to Jane's VINTAGE WEEKLY

me- age 4; brother- age about 16 months poor little brother attempting to dislodge me what was I thinking? What was the adult thinking  who took the picture?  I didn't see this picture until I started on the boxes of photos my parents left to me. So I figure that whoever took it had a good laugh, then made me get off this dumpling. linked to Jane's VINTAGE WEEKLY

four-month old baby photographed by great-uncle nicknamed Nonnie Belle linked to Jane's VINTAGE WEEKLY

Grandfather stands still. Following this, will he swim? I want the story. But there’s no one left to share where, when this took place. Snapshot found too late. shared with Jane's Vintage Weekly #132

 1965 dressed up for wedding party my aunt and daughter sharing this vintage photo with Jane at Vintage Weekly #131 Hoosier Quote: “Do not look back on happiness or dream of it in the future.   You are only sure of today; do not let yourself be cheated out of it.” ~Henry Ward Beecher~

appearing timid, reluctance in wearing smiles, Dad and his siblings pleased to be sharing with Jane's Vintage Weekly #120

the love of my life before I met him Charles served in the Air Force in the mid-1950s. He was stationed in Turkey. By the time I met him, his car was not as sporty as this one.  When I met him, he was driving  a plain black  1957 Chevy. other vintage photos can be seen at Jane's Vintage Weekly

young Kenneth with dog crooked smile delights my heart both posed perfectly This young lad is my husband whose father was named Charles; since hubby's name was the same,  he was known by his middle name. join Jane  by posting an old photo on your blog and share it at  Vintage Weekly

My uncle John was very proud to have served on the ship which safely recovered the shuttle on which Commander Alan Shepard had gone through space. Details can be found here . sharing with Jane's Vintage Weekly

my momma and her six brothers all lined up My widowed grandmother raised seven kids  (two died in infancy), remarried, had three more children. Whew! sharing with Jane's  Vintage Weekly and adding on Sepia Saturday

what a happy and  handsome couple! still married, 62 years and counting...

My great-uncle Barney Kern with Doran.  (no notes on Doran, so I don't know if he was a friend or was part of the show) Barney was the advance man  for the traveling 101 Ranch and Wild West Show. My cousin's daughter loaned the album Barney kept  during his travels so that I could scan the pages. I never got to know Barney because he died in a car wreck when I was a baby. sharing with Vintage Weekly #109 hosted by Jane

location: Valley Mills, IN my momma and her Aunt Pearl I remember our visiting Aunt Pearl only once when I was a little older than my momma is in this photo.  By then, Aunt Pearl was ancient (seen through my young eyes).  But I remember thinking that she was kind, which she appears to be here, what with her arms holding my mother closely. linking with pleasure to Jane's Vintage Weekly

my aunt Billie Rae dressed up for the wedding  of her younger brother She was a marvelous friend as well as an aunt for she was only five years older than I. I miss her sweetness and her long 'chapter' letters which would begin on one day and be continued on another day, and sometimes sustained for days. I wish that I had kept all of them, but I do have the one she wrote to me  just days before Charles and I married in 1958. sharing with Jane's Vintage Weekly