Category Archives: Friends and Family

2018 Tucson, Arizona

During family trips we park the RV and stay in various Condos throughout the U.S. so we can all stay together.

In March we traveled to Tuscon, Arizona to meet family at the Varsity Club of America-Tuscon. The staff at the resort was extremely helpful as we had to find a place to park our RV and trailer somewhere for the week.  They had us park in the employee parking lot which was a secure gated area.

Sisters

The daughters of Gypsy….Sisters    Angela (left)  Tammy (right)

Gypsy’s Twin granddaughters, Kate (left)  Meg (right) walking Nala

We also had the chance to visit a friend who lives near Tuscon.   We all went out for a nice meal.   Kate and my friends son had a jalapeno eating contest.   The results were hilarious.   Neither wanted to admit how bad it burned going down.

We were able to spend time a my friends house and enjoy the fabulous view from my friends house

What a marvelous view for a picnic.

After the picnic the kids got into the pool.

We had a great time in Tuscon and looking forward to a return trip.

 

 

All About Family

Gypsy & Ten Pin
Gypsy & Ten Pin

Family is so important.  My brother and I were adopted when we were 3 and 4.  As infants, we were sent to our Aunt & Uncles farm along with our other sister, Joanne, and left there.

Our Aunt and Uncle had three children, we made six; an unexpected addition.   The heartbreaking decision was to give my brother and I up for adoption with the condition we would be adopted together. Our sister Joanne, the oldest, stayed with our Aunt and Uncle.

When we were in our early thirties, we found out the location of our sister, Joanne, whom we had never known and the fact that there were eight more siblings we had never met.  We all had the same mother but the oldest siblings and  youngest sister had different fathers.

With the passing of years some of our siblings are no longer with us including our sister Joanne. Being blessed with the opportunity to travel, we are now able to connect with our remaining siblings and even cousins.

Florida

In March 0f 2016, we were able to visit our sister Donna and her husband Chuck.

They have two airplanes and live in an Air Park, something I had never heard of.  Everyone in this park owns an airplane and the runway in right in the center with houses on both sides.

Donna, Chuck, LoneStar, Gypsy
Donna, Chuck, LoneStar, Gypsy

Donna & Chucks other Plane
Donna & Chucks other Plane

 

Donna, Chuck, Ten Pin & Gypsy
Donna, Chuck, Ten Pin & Gypsy

We had a great time visiting.  We did not get a ride in the planes but plan on it next time we visit.

Orlando, FL

After visiting my sister,  we went to Orlando, FL.  We met my daughter Tammy, her husband Guy and my twin granddaughters, Kate & Meg  there.  We stayed in an RV park and they stayed in a hotel.

Tammy, Meg, Kate & Guy
Tammy, Meg, Kate & Guy, Ten Pin, Gypsy

We visited the Aquarium in Clearwater, FL.  The twins love to visit places that have to do with animals.  The aquarium was on the top of their list of things to see.

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Kate (L), Meg (R)
Kate (L), Meg (R)

The twins really enjoyed our time together.  We get together at least once a year.

Phillips, WI

Our sister Judy and her husband Howie live in Phillips, WI. Judy was the youngest of the first seven kids,  She became the  driving force that helped to find all the siblings, as most were split up by adoptions and foster homes.

Gypsy, Ten Pin and sister Judy
Gypsy, Ten Pin and sister Judy

It was great to see our sister Judy.  She wanted to show us some sites around Phillips, WI.  Our first stop was the Wisconsin Concrete Park.  Amazing statues were built with rocks, cement and broken glass.

Wisconsin Concrete Park
Wisconsin Concrete Park

Gypsy with horse
Gypsy with horse

LoneStar with horses
LoneStar with horses

Indian Chier
Indian Chief

Team of Horses
Team of Horses

Mother and baby
Mother and baby

Horses & Wagon
Horses & Wagon

Horse Team
Horse Team

Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima

This Iwo Jima statue was one of my favorites.  What artistry.

It was an enjoyable time and if you ever get to Phillips, WI go check out the Concrete Park.

Judy told us they had little to pick from for showing us places but she found this really cool park, Big Falls County Park in Price County, WI.

As we walked through the woods the sound of rushing water became louder and louder.  The walking path was beautiful.

Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI
Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI

Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI
Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI

Then we arrived at the rushing waters edge.

Judy, Ten Pin, Gypsy
Judy, Ten Pin, Gypsy

Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI
Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI

Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI
Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI

Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI
Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI

Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI
Big Falls Country Park in Price County, WI

LoneStar & Gypsy
LoneStar & Gypsy

Ten Pin, I and LoneStar enjoyed this hike and the beauty of nature.

Wouldn’t mind going back there again sometime.

MINNESOTA

In August of 2016 we went  Kandiyohi County Park #2, Lake Lillian, MN for a family reunion with LoneStar’s family.

Our campsite
Our campsite

Jeanne, Gypsy, Ten Pin & Nancy
Jeanne, Gypsy, Ten Pin & Nancy

As I said earlier we got to meet some cousins we never knew.  Before the reunion, we met Jeanne & Nancy.  Their grandfather was our uncle.  That probably makes them 2nd or 3rd cousins.  I could never figure that cousin thing out.   It was great to meet them.

Some of LoneStars  relatives were camping there also.  So we were able to hang around campfires and catch up on 16 years of family.

LoneStars niece Kim and her husband Ron  took us out on their boat for fishing and relaxation.  Ten Pin fished the whole time.  We actually caught enough fish for supper.

Family boat ride/fishing
Family boat ride/fishing

As you can see the lake was nice and calm.  More of the family enjoyed the water in the distant boat.  It was a very pleasurable day.

LoneStar and Sisters
LoneStar and Sisters

Before the reunion we were able to go visit Elaine’s (R) home, LoneStar’s oldest sister along with Karen (L).

The reunion happened on Saturday, August 6, 2016.

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Ten Pin & Gypsy at Reunion
Ten Pin & Gypsy at Reunion

It was about 16 years since the last reunion.  Hopefully now we will be able to make this visit more frequent.

WESTON, WI  October, 2016

With the meeting of another cousin, Mavis, who lived in Weston, WI, we were able to visit the farm where we were dropped off at as infants.

The Farm
The Farm

 

The Farm
The Farm

Notice the build date, ‘1898’

Before all the family was brought together, I had a repetitive dream.  It was of an older lady in white standing on a side porch.  This dream kept repeating itself for years when I was in my early teens.  I had no idea what it meant but that dream was etched into my mind and I never forgot it.

In 2014, we had a small reunion with three of our sisters and our brother.  Judy brought us a book with photos of our birth parents and other pictures of family.  As I paged through it at the reunion, I turned the page,  and my mouth fell open and tears filled my eyes.    Before me was a photo of my dream!  Yes, the porch, the woman in white. Although she was sitting there holding me, it was her.   The photo shows my Grandmother, Amalia, holding me as an infant.  This photo taken right before we were given up for adoption.  I have been told by my cousins that Amalia love us deeply and it broke her heart to give us up.

The porch in no longer there  but here’s that proof that some dreams are reality.  The photos were scanned from the original taken sometime in 1951.

Amalia
Amalia

I am not sure of my exact age here but I was under one year.

Amalia
Amalia

It really is an unbelievable story, but true it is.  Me and my Grandma relaxing in a rocking chair.   I will see her in heaven and I can’t wait to give her a hug.

 

 

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Albee’s Little Sand Lake Resort II

Little Sand Lake Sunset
Little Sand Lake Sunset

Albee’s Little Sand Resort II – Albee Compound is owned by my daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Dave Albee, though no longer ran as a resort. From 1968 to 1993, Dave’s family ran it as Albee’s Little Sand Resort. In 1993, they sold it to a nice couple who enjoyed many summers at the lake. For years, Angela and Dave visited and stayed there, memories of childhood always flooding Dave’s mind as he had a special bond with Little Sand Lake and always hoped one day to own a piece of it. That day did come and in February 2016, they closed on two cabins on Little Sand Lake. They look forward to many seasons at the lake.  

Chateau
Chateau

Alpine
Alpine

Interior of the Chateau
Interior of the Chateau

Angela
Angela

Interior of the Chateau
Interior of the Chateau

Interior of the Chateau
Interior of the Chateau

300 foot of lakeshore to enjoy.

Little Sand Lake
Little Sand Lake

In April, 2016, we brought our Bass Tracker boat up to the kids cabin on Little Sand Lake.

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Fishing success

Angela
Angela

Sunning on the deck of the boat

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The lake front Dave and Angela had become overrun with reeds. With plans to build a dock these reeds had to be removed.

The reeds were removed by hand, looked like a big job but we all had fun doing it.

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The new dock, with plans to extend it farther out

The Dock
The Dock

The canoe is ready, there’s a clear path to open water, how inviting.

What is a cabin on the lake without a bonfire.

LoneStar firemaker
LoneStar firemaker

Sometimes an early fire can warm you in the crisp early spring days.

At night, nothing beats the warmth of the fire, the crackling of the wood, and the bonfire scent that fills the air.

Little Sand Bonfire
Little Sand Bonfire

Little Sand Bonfire
Little Sand Bonfire

Now that is relaxation!

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And when the day was over and we were tired from swimming, fishing the fabulous sunsets would bring closure  to the great times at the Albee Little Sand Lake Resort II.

Zorbaz Restuarant

Zorbaz Boat Dock
Zorbaz Boat Dock

The boat comes in real handy it you want to grab a meal at Zorbaz.  From the cabin to Zorbaz, it a short boat ride.

Zorbaz
Zorbaz

Gypsy at Zorbaz
Gypsy at Zorbaz

Inside Zorbaz
Inside Zorbaz

The staff, food and beverages all get a top rating from us.  We have several great meals  and we will definitely revisit  when we are back in MN.

 

 

© 2016-2024 ArchBooks, Inc.