Herding Cats: A “Fish” Story

(Heads up.  This is a ridiculously lengthy post of a seemingly non-ending Feast of Fisher Family Fotos.)

For more than 40 years the Fisher Family has been doing it – gathering and celebrating and making the Holidays more festive and fun and (sometimes) frivolous.  When I came on the scene in 1982 the event was always at Aunt Joan and Uncle Byron's’ beautiful home in Murray.  Who remembers the year Joan and Debbie made the most exquisite Santa Clauses?  Back then, everyone was expected to have a part (Grandma Fisher’s order).  Since the Fishers were such a musical bunch we were always favored with rare treasures – harp and voice and piano and flute.  We were the “Ol-Fish-Per-Skies” (Ol for Olsens, Fish for Fishers, Per for Harpers, Skies for Zabriskies).  Since then, we’ve had sledding parties, swimming parties, trap shooting, piñatas, slide shows, light parade, family trivia and family sing-alongs, and always good food, and, best of all, Good Company. From our core group of Fisher Aunts and Uncles, Aunt Shirlene (my mother-in-law) left us first, then Grandma Fisher.  Uncle Byron’s great, kind heart gave us a terrible scare for awhile.  Forever-young Aunt ReNon left us in August 2011, and Noble Uncle Lowell in 2012. We are changed-yet unchanged.  Family Principles like Love and Support, Encouragement and Strength are still a part of the OlFishPerSkie legacy.

 

Now, rounding us all up for a group picture was not unlike herding cats. But so much more fun. (I think - I’ve never actually tried to heard felines). I’m posting so many because, with this many Fishers, there is always something funny going on with someone. Perhaps you would like to take my ‘I Spy’ challenge in which you try to find the photo containing my particular spy clue.  You could make it more fun by adding your own.

Here goes . . .  I Spy:

* a ferocious bear

*a Yawning Aunt Joan, a Cheering Aunt Joan, a Aunt Joan-in –the-headlights.

*a Super Cool Peter

*a Miss Big Pucker Lips Loa

*a Tony looking like Male Model on magazine front cover

*a Ranae and Rachelle hidden by adorable little guys

* Lauren getting a pat on the head

*Boredom taking over cross-legged handsome fellow

*Emily being strangled by Usually-Benevolent-Brother

Hey, I just realized.  Nobody did rabbit ears.  Unusual for a bunch this size and silliness.  We are such a Classy Crowd, I think.

Photography tip: Unless you’re doing something edgy and artsy you want every face to have a place unobstructed and in focus.  Try to stack them “up” instead of  “back”.  That way your lens will be able to keep everyone’s face the same size and same importance and same focus. AMAP (as much as possible).  Take lots of shots to increase your chances of a no blink, grimace or look away image of everyone at the same time.  Ha! Good luck.

As a photographer, why do I always like the ri-dic-u-lous ‘group hug’ or ‘be silly’ shot?  Even when I know there are those for whom this request causes great strain and distress, discomfort and/or embarrassment?  Maybe even contempt for the photographer?  I will tell you why . . . Eyes brighten, dimples deepen, eyebrows rise, hands wave, stiffness either falls away or becomes completely acceptable.  There can be no ‘wrong’ expression or body language message.  Suddenly the picture comes alive with dozens of human emotions, and the perspective of anyone looking at the picture is such that they feel THEY are being winked at, laughed with, waved to, cheered for, kissed, teased,  etc.

. . . So go ahead Abby, chomp your cousins head; Peter, stick your nose a little higher; Andrew, ham it up a little more; Kyle keep doing that grandiose thing with your arms and Mark thanks for being a good sport, I know now you were feeling really crummy.  And everyone! Laugh harder, hug tighter, smile wider, there just isn’t enough time for family gladness unless we Carpe Diem (Seize the Day).

 

Papa and Shirlene’s progeny – all of them.

Tis a puzzlement: Why are Laura’s glasses reflecting green while Milts and Papa’s right beside her are behaving nicely?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Fishers.  Hope to see many of you throughout 2013.

Missionary Matt

It was fun this morning to get back in the portrait-taking saddle again for my handsome missionary nephew, Matthew – soon to be doing his part in spreading the Good News of the gospel in Melbourne, Australia.  I wonder how to say “G’day Mate!” in Mandarin, for that is what he’ll be speaking.

We stepped a few feet away from the house he grew up in, and here he is in the bushes and trees he played in.

. . . And just a few more of his HS Senior look so we’ll never forget his mischievous grin and wonder. (As in, I wonder . . . What does he put in those Grand Canyon dimples and cleft chin?) Grand Canyon dimples and cleft chin?  Gee, some guys seem to get it all.

 

     

Love ya, Mr. Missionary Matt,  you take great pictures and you’ll be a great missionary.  Always Affectionately, Aunt Lauri

Hey Honey!

At the beginning of the summer it was the big question.  Would the Italians outperform the Carnolians, or vice versa?  Kyle looks pretty confident in his 4 lb.nuk of fuzzy girl-bees, Mark a little concerned.  No need.  Our honey bees both did well and gave gallons of the liquid gold stuff.  Now Mark and Kyle have been busy bottling and labeling and are ready to sell the sweet success of Mother Nature.

 
Yum.  Watching honey flow is like watching ocean waves come to the shore, or a camp fire burning low – captivating, mesmerizing and irresistible.  Poke the fire, splash the wave, or dip a finger in the sweet, sticky stuff.  The twins were carefully instructed not to, but I still feel the urge and have to instruct myself too.
  
Here they are making custom labels for their honey jars (at no extra charge to their customer).

Wildflower Raw Honey – $4.00 a pound (that’s about what you can get it for at your local grocery store.)
Sold in sealed quart or pint mason jars
Quart size – $13.00   Bring an clean wide mouth quart  mason jar to replace and the honey is $12.00  (3 lbs)
Pint size – $7.00 Bring a clean pint mason jar to replace and the price is $6.00 (1 1/2 lbs)
Coming soon: 
Honey Crèmes  (The sweetest, creamiest most delicate hard candies EVER)
Honey Silk  (also known as Creamed Honey or Whipped Honey)

A Thousand Welcomes

Still blowing off  Election Blues and “grey clouds of trouble hang o’er us and threaten our peace to destroy” and doing that, in part, by getting creative.  Today it was finishing painting our front door.   Here it is finished:

My favorite part is this:

It is a ‘wee giftie’ that Cheri brought home for me when she went to Ireland a few years ago, searching our ancestors. (I was delighted to find out we had Irish and Scottish blood in our veins.  That explained the excitement and racing heart whenever I hear a bagpipe.)  The brass plaque is Gaelic for “A Thousand Welcomes”.

And here is my favorite Cheri and her Scott.   And speaking of Cheri:

*I call her to hear my own life philosophies expressed in new, lovely ways.  * I call her to tell her about my troubles and ask her my questions.  Got a problem?  She’s on it.  Got a question?  She’ll research it.  Need an idea for something/anything?  She’ll have one or find one.  Got the blues?  She’ll dispel them with her wit and wisdom and humor and love. * She doesn’t Facebook or Blog or email or have a dot com.  She’s not virtual or techy but she’s real.  *She uses the phone and the US Postal Service.  *Every October she becomes ‘Aunt Spooky’ and sends dozens of wee gifties to nieces and nephews so they can experience what it feels like to get something in the mailbox just for them.  *She’s  all about the business of  ‘smiles and  joy of living’  for others.  *Even when she is suffering  her own afflictions and disappointments, out comes her skill in the healing arts, ready for anyone around her that needs her special brand of it.  *Her approach is like a cheerful warmth.  *She has good will, good judgment in speech and conduct.  *She is discreet and has an utter calm and prudent silence timed just right.  * Her home is a retreat – always full of good reading and delightful projects and her brand of humor.

I think we look a lot alike.  I hope I resemble her inside too.  And now she is blushing and saying “Oh, Lauri.”  Oh, well.  I wish to wish her every wish she ever wishes to come true.  I have no doubt, in due time, they will.  The heavens will not be able to withhold them from such an angel.  In the meantime, may all her heartache and sadness (nobody is more nationally savvy and vigilant, and feels the disappointment of this last great American letdown than she) be swallowed up in Gratitude and The Reason for the Season and the knowledge that ‘there is Hope smiling brightly before us and we know that Deliverance is nigh.”

Yay for Sisters.

 

 

Just one more Fall image before the wind blows winter into town.

Pals and Puppies

Since the day we brought our Meg-girl border collie pup home, we’ve been dreaming about the day when she would have her own adorable pups.  Mark and Kyle have high hopes to raise Meg-pups in 2013.  This afternoon we took the Cox’s to Axtell to see Nannette and Kerry Despain.  Nannette breeds AKC Australian Shepherds and was so kind to answer doggie questions and show us her kennels and the adorable occupants.

Linda and Nanette were roommates during their Snow College days.





 

America, America God Shed His Grace On Thee

I was talking to Cheri this morning about this Big Historic Day for our country.  I really enjoy her calm assurance when she said , “I’m not going to be a nervous Nellie.  I’m going to be a witness to the Miracle.”

While the polls have everyone skittish, I like to think of the pollster (in Florida I think?) who said when asked who he thought would win this election that it was trending Romney because of the ‘ground swell’ that can’t be reflected in the polls.

Here’s one American-loving family who voted for a President who wants us to vote for ‘love of country’.  I love knowing there are millions of others too.