Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Christmas 1971

Christmas can be the absolute best time or the most stressful. Before I had children, I did not appreciate how carefree my Christmases were. And then, after the children came, the time to get presents bought and wrapped seemed to compete with just our everyday schedules. Time was a commodity that some days was scarce. Now, with a house free of children, we are back to a more carefree Christmas attitude. We can place ornaments on the tree wherever we want. If we don’t want the Holiday music on, we don’t play it, and if I want to watch every version of A Christmas Carol, I do! Here we have the Anderson – Conover – Katz family, who are experiencing each of these Christmas feelings.

Lets start with Hazel. She sits by the tree and holds Yo Yo June’s toy poodle. According to Cris Yoyo was Hazel’s favorite. Sitting in front of Hazel is Todd, patiently waiting to open presents. Aunt Nancy Conover and oldest son Chad are behind Todd. Chad looks to be as much of a handful as the dogs. Gary is standing behind Nancy, but none of the Anderson boys can remember the name of the dog that Gary is holding. So if someone knows it, I’d be happy to include them.

Next to Nancy and Gary is Howard and June. June is holding Jigger, their other dog. Howard told Cris that he was named after the small device you could use to hold the gas pump lever down to keep gas flowing into the gas tank. This was called a jigger, and Jigger the puppy could fit in his pocket just like the gas device. Sitting next to June is Kirk, who looks ready to open presents, although maybe not as patiently as Todd. Sitting on his mom’s lap is Cris – I figure he’s about two and a half in this photo. And Sherigay looks like she’s ready for Christmas to begin. King the German Shepard is sitting next to Dick. All the dogs look ready to get out of the way of the opening of presents.

As I went through this photo and looked at each face, I thought about all the good times at June and Howards house on Christmas Eve. I’ve heard it said if I knew that this would be the last time we’d be together, I’d have stayed longer and appreciated it more. May those who are no longer with us have a Heavenly Merry Christmas, and may we have a holiday season filled with cherished old memories and wonderful new ones.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

JC Penny’s Photoshoot

Lately my social media feeds have been full of people who are going to JC Pennys to get their photos done. Their results aren’t as classy as the Anderson-Beldens achieved. I don’t know a date of when this gem was taken but I’m thinking very late 1980’s or early 1990’s. If someone knows please let me know!

At the focal point are Fran and Dick. Looking every bit the professionals that they were. Very put together and looking good. Behind them I feel the photo is two seperate groups. Those in suits and professional clothes and those dressed in casual clothes. It seems so evenly split too.

Leading what I call the suit group behind Dick are Kirk and Christy. Kirk’s rocking that Tom Selleck moustache. Behind Kirk also in a suit is Brent. Are those matching ties guys? Heading up the casual group is Deanna who I think is all in denim. She appears to have a tan so I’m thinking that perhaps this was taken during the summer. Next to Dee and also sporting the casual look is Wade in a white shirt and our last causal individual is Cris in a black shirt in the back row.

Did you know that JC Penny’s still has Portrait Studios? They do! I am challenging the Anderson and Belden siblings to go have a retro photoshoot done in honor of this photo and their parents. I would love to get us all together for a photo shoot, but don’t think we’d all be able to fit in the small JC Penny Portrait Stuidos but it would sure be fun to try!

Posted on by Michelle Anderson · 1 Comment

Do you want to build a snowman?

Time spent outside in the winter is different then anything else.  You are under a time constraint though you might not be aware of it.  For there’s only so much time in which you can experience being outdoors.  The first year I moved to Kansas I was so sick.  I was not use to one day it being in the 60’s and the next day it would be 15 degrees with a wind chill of negative 5.  I’m from the north.  When it got cold it stayed cold and then the fun would begin.  Making igloos with my friends and brothers, skating, sledding and staying outside until it felt like our hands and feet were going to fall off.  

Here we have the newly joined Anderson and Belden families, enjoying a great winter day in Wichita.  Dick only had eyes for Fran and the poor snowman doesn’t have any eyes.  But, it looks like a fun family time that I’m glad I get to share with you all.  

Winter Wonderland 
There are strange and mysterious sounds 
When the winds of winter blow, 
The long nights are crystal clear and cold, 
And the fields and meadows are covered with snow. 
The stars are frosty against the sky, 
And the wind's whistle is shrill, 
As the snow blows against the house 
And drifts against the hill. 

Yet, I like to see during the winter 
A white carpet on the ground, 
To plod aimlessly in the deep snow, 
where deer tracks abound. 
I like to feel the stillness 
Of a crisp winter's night, 
Watching a full moon rise over the horizon, 
Exposing a winter wonderland beautiful and bright.

 - Joseph T Renalid
Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Pour Me A Drink

Howard and Cris at the bar at 2630 N Belmont St Wichita, KS

When looking though photos at first I found myself overlooking this photo of Howard and Cris because of its simplicity. But then as I really looked at it there’s really so much to see. The first thing my eye is drawn to are all the decorative liquor bottles. These were the bottles that meant something to Howard. Most bottles get tossed in the garbage or now recycled, but these favored bottles got kept as a showcase item or as a memento of a certain time. And they aren’t just there at the wet bar. Look above Howards head and you can see a shelf that housed even more bottles. And that the house had a wet bar is really something. Wet bars has become popular in the 1950’s and 1960’s and were almost a tiny kitchen with a sink and refrigerator. One wouldn’t have to go to the kitchen for ice or mixes if one had a wet bar.

As my eye travels down the photo I first see the gumball machine. Ah what fun those were. I blame them for my love of mystery packages. In the fancy ones you never knew what you might get. A necklace or a ring or something even better! And then I notice at the very bottom of the shelf…the dog. At first I wondered if it was real, but yes indeed real it is.

And then I come to Howard and Cris themselves. Howard must be telling Cris something really exciting or interesting for Cris looks like he has been there a bit. I wonder if you took Cris’ shirt and socks and Howards shorts and put them together what that would look like. So while at first I thought this photo wasn’t anything much more then Howard and Cris, I’m happy to see all those other gems throughout it.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Ice Cream

Kirk, Cris and Todd Anderson

Summer is the best time.  School’s over, the days are warm and long and there was always lots to do.  At the end of a hot summer day it’s great to cool off with a nice bowl of ice cream. Here we have Kirk, Cris and Todd who I are ignoring that perfectly good couch behind them. But perhaps they are not allowed to sit on the couch when eating. Could they be at Mimi and Grampys apartment?  

While not as exciting as some of the other photographs I’ve shared over the years, I feel that this photo shows some of the best things about summer time spent with the family and something good to eat. Hope you all are enjoying summer 2021 so far!