We had parties.......

One summer evening, I put together a 'Hawaiian Party' on our little patio. I even got a fake palm tree (don't ask me where!), and various colors of netting for decorations. In this photo you can see me on the right (Vern must be taking the photo...), Marc and Sandy Anthony to my left, and Max and Lois (I think that was her name...) Brown on my right. The Browns eventually moved back to Florida, and I didn't hear anything about them again until Max called me after I was divorced and living in Ames to tell me that his wife, Lois, had committed suicide. They had two children...a sad end to that relationship. Lois had come from an extremely abusive childhood, and that may have led to her depression.

Here are Max and Lois Brown, in a happier time...

Vern and me...I see that I had made us matching flowery party outfits... I have no idea why my arm is up like that...but at least I had shaved!

I also dabbled in cake decorating...this is a Barbie cake, made before they had molds for the dress. I think I used an angel food cake pan for the skirt, and 'shaved' down the top to make it look like a pretty dress. Diane loved it, and I was pretty pleased too...

There's the 'birthday girl'...she looks very pleased with her 'Barbie' cake!

Here's a better look at the party goers...Doug and Dave are there, on the left. I can't remember the name of the next little girl, but the blonde next in line is Susan Barnes. Then, there are two more little girls, who I can't remember (Diane will probably remind me!) And, Diane on the far right. I'm not sure who is sitting at this end of the table with their back to the camera... I think one of the little girls is Dianne Thompson, but I don't know which one...

...and here's a birthday party for Doug. I think the red-head on the left is Jim Longnecker, then comes Steve Hansen (Doug's cousin), with Diane sitting in front of him. Doug is in the red shirt bending way down for some reason... Across from him, blowing his whistle, is Kevin Barnes, I'm not sure of the names of the next two boys, but they all seem to be listening to the story I'm reading them! If I remember, I was pretty much exhausted that day after the party was over. Little boys have way too much energy!

Oh, boy! So much fun to make noise on purpose! Left to right - Kevin Barnes, Jim Longnecker, (not sure of the boy in the gray striped shirt...), Greg Opsal, Doug, Steve Hansen, and on the floor in front, another boy I can't recall, and Diane.

Here's the crowd in the kitchen, ready to eat some of that 'train cake!' (Another of my concoctions...didn't have a mold for that one either....)

 Doug and Diane enjoying some 'train' cake...

Rub a dub dub....three kids in a tub! (Just had to throw this one in here to see if any of you guys are watching!)

I vaguely remember giving a shower for someone, and here is the table, all decorated for it. I made those pink 'flower trees'.... I see one of the candles is a bit tilted....