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Clear Lake - Big Rapids, Michigan
March |
There is a cottage by a lake, by a lake,
Where my vacation I do take, I do take,
Six kids, one frog, ten turtles and a snake.
There is a cottage by a lake.
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May |
We've all been coming here for years, here for years.
We've gone from soda pop to beers, pop to beers.
We've had our fill of the local souvenirs.
We've all been coming here for years.
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October |
We're all related to each other, to each other.
Your second cousin is my brother, is my brother.
And my great aunt is your grandmother.
We're all related to each other.
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Here is the weathered 100-year old cottage where our clan spends two weeks every summer.
The lake is shallow and full of weeds and turtles. The cottage has one shower and two toilets.
The bedrooms are full of furniture and fixtures from another era. The diningroom seats twenty.
There are five generations of memories. We have a ghost who smokes his cigar late at night.
More than any other place we've ever traveled, this is home.
2018
2018 Christmas card
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Clara, Sloan, Sasha & Clay
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Clara & James
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Viking chess
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The great fisherman
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Fine entertainment on the porch
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An evening of D&D
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Nick, Sloan, Sasha & George
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A fine family feast al fresco
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Last summer's visit was too short for Sasha and Sloan,
so this year they came to the cottage for three weeks.
To add to the excitement, Nicole and family joined us.
Kids having fun at Clear Lake is what it's all about!
2017
Julie & friends
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True balance
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The Fairmans
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Honey & her grandsons
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Frogs on his mind
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Jumping contest
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Sloan & Ella
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A day at Ludington
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Ice cream for lunch!
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Games, games, games
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The younger crowd
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Family feast
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The cottage was full for two glorious weeks this summer.
Julie brought a bunch of friends from camp
and the Fairmans drove up from Chicago.
Lots to do and nothing planned!
2016
Sierra's shingles
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James & Cameron
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Dan, Dave, Nick
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Jim, Nick, Dave
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The Fairmans
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A quiet spot
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Late summer sunset
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This was the year of the boathouse renovation.
James, Sierra, Cameron, Dave and Nick worked hard
with crowbars, hammers, saws and paintbrushes.
Jim and Monica came for the christening.
2015
2015 gathering
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Sarah & grandsons
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The Fairman swings
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Archery practice
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Sailing lessons
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With Ken Kuper
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Peace & quiet
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Chad & Julia
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New and old
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Ice cream all over
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A good book
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Bath in the kitchen
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Fireworks!
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We had a full cottage this year
with visitors from Chicago and Ann Arbor.
Everyone enjoyed the traditional Clear Lake fun.
Sloan says he wants to come back again next year.
2014
2014 gathering
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Family dinner
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Peaceful anchorage
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Warm fire on a cold day
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We had a smaller crowd than usual this August because
our 20-somethings all had summer jobs.
But we filled the chairs around the table
and enjoyed good times.
2013
2013 Christmas card
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Jim Fairman memorial service
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A reading by Dave
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Music at the graveside
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The Fairmans
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New life starts here
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Monica & Jim
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John, David, Moriah Jickling
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John Jickling memorial
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Dining with cousins
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Fall colors
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August was marked by memorials for Uncles John Jickling and Jim Fairman.
Both were celebrations of lives well lived and of their loving families.
It's the Circle of Life, while our clan continues to grow and change.
Meanwhile, music, good food, and fall colors stay the same.
2012
Amy, Alex & Jack
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The Stumpfs
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2012 Christmas card
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Music on the lawn
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Louise & Becca
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Louise & John
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Bob's venison stew
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Evening light
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Fish video by J.Noellert
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Every year, it's the same place with the same folks, more or less.
The children are a little older while the parents haven't changed.
We had a nice visit from Paul Stumpf and family this summer.
Good food. Good friends. Good times. See you next year!
2011
Here comes the bride
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Wedding vows
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Tying the knot
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Jean, Julia & Amy
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Julia & family
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Gentlemen & cigars
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Enzo, Sasha & Larry
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Sasha & Enzo
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The Human Weevil
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Beach crew
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Sasha & princesses
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The performers
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The Quality of Life
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Anna, Sasha & Josiah
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Reading together
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Down to the beach
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Beach buggy
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2011 Christmas card
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Sarah & Bob
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Sasha & Mark
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There is a wedding in July, in July.
I'm so happy, I could cry. I could cry.
Nicole and Craig, the marriage knot to tie.
There is a wedding in July.
2010
2010 Christmas card
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Black-eyed Susan
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Schuberg's farm
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A shady spot
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James at guitar
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Dan at uke
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Kids at play
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Evening in
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James & Joanna
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Yoga on the grass
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Family circle
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Our yoga instructor
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Julia at guitar
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The old stairs
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John's canoe
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A fresh breeze
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From the far reaches of the globe, the family gathered together once again,
with friends and relatives to round out the group and fill the dinner table.
A highlight for this summer was Deborah's yoga classes on the lawn.
2009
Anna, Allie & Sasha
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Learning to swim
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Girls on the dock
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Girls in the air
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Becca & Dan
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Dan & Sarah
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Becca, Jenny, Kate
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Feast of sushi
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Father & son
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Emily & Becca
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Sally & David
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2009 Christmas card
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Sasha
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Perfect afternoon
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Wakeboarding
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Clear Lake sunset
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We had a lively crowd this summer, with lots of talented musicians and cooks.
The big "cultural event" was the talent show, organized by Emily and Becca.
For Sasha, it was his first visit to the lake -- the first of many, to be sure!
2008
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David & Sierra
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A perfect day
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Kate & Jenny
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Smooth waters
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David on skis
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Russ & Jean
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Grocery shopping
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Jim & his 3 girls
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Old stone gate
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The Fairmans
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The gang of '08
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This August, the cottage hosted six Fairmans, four Jicklings, two Stiflers,
and one Lucas. Time stops and the fun begins as the clans mix together
as they have for generations. These are the good old days.
2007
2007Christmas card
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Fairman Family
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Anna, Mason, Sarah
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Mikka & friend
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Traditional shampoo
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Dweezil & John
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Water sports
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Apres swim
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A game of Blokus
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Rainy afternoon
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Emerging talent
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Standing room only
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Lead singer
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First mate
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Double rainbow
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Dog tired
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The crew maxed out at 20 this summer with a few new faces and lots of old ones,
with folks from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Washington DC, Michigan,
Illinois, Colorado, California, Hawaii and Australia. What a far-flung bunch of fun folks!
2006
2006 Christmas card
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The newest Fairman
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Mikka, Anna, Julie
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Mason & Ernesto
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The entertainer
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Clear Lake hairstyle
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Lively conversation
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The parent table
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A candlelit dinner
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Relaxing
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Jenny, Katie & David
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Jean & Alexandra
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Ready for adventure
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Katie & Jenny
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Clear Lake babes
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Photo by David Fairman
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During the past winter, we gutted and remodelled the kitchen.
This summer, we really enjoyed cooking ... for a gathering of 21!
Click here to see the remodelling project and the finished kitchen.
A couple of us also slipped away for a lovely day at Mackinac Island.
2005
Breakfast of champions
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Katie, Jenny, Jim
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Feeding fish
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A fine day for a swim
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Waterfront scene
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Point Sable Beach
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Sarah, Nick, Mason
Tim, Raelene
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Big Sable Point Lighthouse
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The "older" generation
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2005 Christmas card
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This summer, the cottage has had quite a facelift with a fresh coat of paint and a new bathroom.
To see pictures of our crew working hard and the end results, click
here.
2004
Summer 2004 started off with a wedding in Mystic, CT followed by
adventures on Block Island. Click here to see photos of these big family events.
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Indian girl
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Canoe battles
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Russ and ski boat
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Coasting to a stop
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While in Michigan, we took an overnight trip to the
Stratford Festival of Canada to see
wonderful performances of Guys and Dolls, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
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In Stratford, ON
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Acting up
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The costume warehouse
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In the cavalry
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Making a point
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2003
2002
2002 Christmas card
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Mikka defends
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Dan, David
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Becca, Mikka, Dan
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David
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Julie
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The troops
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Taking a breather
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David, Nick, Julia
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Dan, Mason, Mikka
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Bud & Sheila Meiers, Margie Peirce,
Helen Fairman, Betty Dove
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Three siblings
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David, Uncle Jim, Sarah
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Tim & Sarah
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Jenny Fairman
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Mom & Dad
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2001
2001 Christmas card
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Sarah, John, Nick
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Mikka, Anna, Mason, Dan
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Mikka, Dan, Julie
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Dan and Mason
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Mikka and Anna
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Julie and Dan
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Mikka and Nick
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| These two weeks at Clear Lake
were followed by a canoe country adventure in Ontario. |
July 2, 1975
Seated in front of the Wright cottage are 10 of the 12 Wright cousins.
This photo was taken at the time of Uncle George's 80th birhtday.
Back row: Eleanor Groves, Julia Stifler, Nancy Kuper, Barbara Jickling
Middle: Dibby Bos, George Wright, Janet Wright Biddlecome
Front row: Gail Wright Whitehead, Jim Fairman, Joan Wright Eastley
If you have any questions about our old cottage, feel free to contact me at nick@zoa.com.
To read about our adventures in more exotic lands, click here.
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