Hi,  thanks to some input from Uncle Mike we have better info on who is in the picture (I forgot to mention Mike may have been in the picture, as Nadine might be pregnant in this picture). I’ve changed the original post to reflect this.

I wanted to share this picture for several reasons. First, I want this backyard! Second, it shows great-grandpa Gus in a Hawaiian shirt, how cool is that? One of the boys in the photo is Jay Shipp, who sadly passed this week.

Based off the age of the children I know I am guessing this is 1955 or 1956, at Gus and Alfrieda Almquist’s Riverside house, on Elmwood Drive.

At the far left is Nadine Almquist (27), my grandmother. In her lap is my mother Pam (about age 2).

To the right of her are two boys, Jay Shipp (front ) and David Almquist (back), (age 9). They are in front of B.J. Shipp.

To their right is a boy in glasses,  James Shipp.

Mary (Almquist) Shipp (31) is to the right of the plant.

To the right of her is another boy, wearing headphones(?) that is Steve Almquist.

After that is Alfrieda (Munter) Almquist (70) and at the end is Gus Almquist (76) in the aforementioned Hawaiian Shirt.

The person behind the camera is Clarence Almquist.

There are several interesting details in the photo. I love the great wagon wheel lamp, that I’m sure Gus made himself. The epic gardening skills I’ve heard my grandma Dean talk about are very much evident in the hibiscus, geraniums and many other happy plants.  The table is interesting, is that cement? And maybe it is just my imagination, but the scalloped wood on the overhang (again made by Gus) is slightly reminiscent of Swedish architectural embellishments. Take a visit back to this post and let me know what you think.

Well that’s it for today.  My thoughts are with the Shipp family, Jay was a kind soul and I’ll miss him.