~Happy Father's Day!~

This is one of my favorite photos of my Dad. Its with my cousin

Willard. My parents never could have their own children, why they

adopted Gayle and I... But look at the smiles..on both of their faces.

Willard still lives up there in the UP and I know my Dad was one of his

favorite people..well both my parents loved him and his sister Beatrice

and of course Larry.. The photo I put on a while back of me and Larry

in that kids parade..well this is his older brother. Willard still has a huge

farm. I last heard that Larry has the home place where they grew up just

down the road from Willards. The one with the private lake-great spot.

This is my Grandfather, on my Dads side.. His name was Irwell..and he

was a surveyor..Did most of the roads in the UP..he made maps.. This

photo was one I think they used for up in M I T in Houghton his alma

mater... Lots of his works are up there..I have 3 mining books I plan to

donate to them or to the Iron County Museum, Very interesting books. He

made the family tree that is MOST interesting-took him 20 years to do it

but he traced the family back to when they landed in Salem from one of

the boats back there in the 1400's.. ITs a wonderful thing to read ...

This photo was taken from a magazine thats why its so furry..But if

you look over to the right you can see the desk I wrote the story about

on my bravenet site.. the link is on the right over there. He was a big

man and very proper... VERY respected..I think that thing on his desk is

a sexton? or something its called lol..Im not sure. This is how he always

dressed.. a tie and suspenders..and when he had his suit on he had a

pocket watch that hung across in front. I have the watch. I plan to give it to

my cousin Ronnie to pass down to his sons. Ronnieis my cousin.The son

of my dad's brother Richard..

Isnt this a great photo...This is my grandpa Wales.. look at the

furniture. he even has the chain and pocket watch. I think this was

taken in the UK,not here, but I dont know as it wasnt dated. Its not a

normal kind of picture its very thick..old kind...wasnt he just a handsome

man? such a kind face...

This is how I remember Grandpa..Such a dear man.. I still can taste

that licorice he shoved in my mouth..and can see him sitting in his

chair listening to his baseball games that he loved.. He walked alot

all over the hills behind their house.. He left for a sunset walk one

evening, to go to those places he would sit and look out over the town

below.. thats where they found him the next morning, that was in 56 i

think..or 57 not real sure.. This is Sidney Wales, My grandpa.....

This is Dad..with his favorite Jeep..a Willys. see the front board? was for

pushing cars and for his plow..This Jeep had 4 on the floor.. and a clutch

and brake and gas pedal.. and THIS is the jewel that I LEARNED to

drive in.. Yup..4 on the floor and I could shift that thing so you would NEVER

feel a tug even.. Dad taught me well.. Only problem I had were the gas and

clutch were kinda rounded and at 15 I wasnt very tall..my feet kept slipping

off ..so Dad made this like grippy rubber thing he would put over them for

me so when he took me driving my feet didnt slide off..By the time I got to

drivers ed in school (at 16) I knew how to drive..just had to get used to using

a column shift.. that was easy..1 less gear to contend with.. lol.. Dad had a

jeep up until he died in 89..when mom told me "daddy sold the jeep" I knew

Dad KNEW ..or he would never have sold it.. Dad died in 89..at 80 years

old and worked up until then..

This is his garage, its where he spent half his life. If you look out the window

you can see the snow outside. The big furnace was a coal one at one time but

he converted it to a wood stove. I remember when I got my house in Indiana, it

had a wood stove and I hated that thing. I could NEVER keep it going.. So I

would call him "DADDY! I can't keep the wood burning!" he told me all sorts of

tricks to keep that fire hot and burning-saved me alot of grief let me tell ya. The

ladder there on the left went up to the attic..he kept all sorts of stuff up there..it

was warm and dry so he stored his hunting and fishing stuff there. I wish I

had a dollar for every time I climbed that ladder to go snooping around lol...

Dad was a fisherman, hunter and LOVED the outdoors..always said he

lived in the best place in the world. He was ready to go fishing.. My Uncle

Stanley took this photo..My Aunt Ethel is on the left, his wife (this is Grandpa's

brother) then my mom and then mom's mom..Gramma Wales... See the car?

was a Nash Rambler station wagon..Red and white.. 1963 this was taken...

This picture is so damaged..but this was one of Dads favorite spots.. I put

a photo of Bond Falls a while back.. this is that place.. He has his waders on

and was in his glory when he had a fishing pole in his hand, or a gun he loved

to hunt as well..ski..swim.. just loved the outdoors.. I found a puzzle once that

looked just like this photo..over the years its disappeared. I had it on my wall

for a long time..with this photo by it.. got damaged i think in the last move.

This is my Dad, he taught me many valuable life lessons..he was a wise,

honest and smart man.. He taught me well.. I would not be the person I am

today with out him...Isnt he just a dear?This was him... Ralph was his name

he died of cancer in 1989..Happy Father's Day Daddy, I know where you are.

well im done with this journey down memory lane.. I am tired..and have not

eaten if you really Knew how long it took me to decide which pictures to use

you would laugh at me if you saw all the photos I have.. I could write a story

about every one of them. Now all I have to decide is what I want to eat lol..

THATS not as hard to decide thank goodness!!! :-) nitey nite!

Y'all have a good one now y'hear? Luv ya,, and thanks..

ALways, Lois****

May God Bless you today,

I'm so honored to call you friend,

I pray the Lord will keep you safe,

Until I write again...