Family Archive Photo: Brother Ron Pulls Car Engine 1987

Scanning negatives recently with a Plustek film scanner.  Pictures here were taken in June 1987. It's brother Ron and friend Tim "Gringo" Gonseth. They were swapping car engines at Ron's house on Mundy St., Watertown, NY 

Young Violinist Violin Music

We did quite a bit of yard work yesterday.In the afternoon we visited my mother and met daughter S & JJ there. JJ's birthday was a few days ago, S's is today. So we took over a carrot cake and gave them their gifts. We got J a violin which he appeared to like greatly. I snapped a photo of him in front of the picture window, deliberately silhouetting him.  J is 13, S is 40. We had a nice time and watched The Great Race on tv at 8:00 after which I started editing the wedding photos from Saturday.

JJ tries out his violin at his great grandmother's house.  Phto by Gary Walts (of course!)

Today I have to photograph a social event at the Land Mark Theater in Syracuse, and then a Syracuse Chiefs baseball game.

Mom Has Cataract Surgery

I took my mother to the hospital today to have cataract surgery on her right eye. It went smoothly. We got to the hospital at 9:00AM and were back to her house at noon.

This photo is her and her great grand son JJ, this afternoon.

Guy Pyke Missing Twelve Years

This is a photo I took of my mother and may father's cousin, Guy Pyke from Syracuse, NY. It was taken in April, 1999 at my mother's house in the hamlet of calcium, NY. I just happened to stop in to see my mom that day and naturally took a snap of the two. The odd thing is that when Guy drove away that afternoon he was never seen again. His family has been wondering and searching for him for twelve years now.

I came upon this photo a couple of days ago while digging around in my completely unorganized digital archives.

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THis past Saturday I played guitar at a wedding in the Victorian garden at the Jefferson County Historical Society in Watertown, NY. I arrived an hour and a half early. Set up a small sound system (the Fishman Solo Amp), and began playing as the guests started arriving. It went very well, the bride & her family seemed to be pleased. So life is good.

April Fool's Day

It is dark, gray and rainy here in Chaumont NY at 9:00am. I took a vacation day today from the Post-Standard. Guitar practice this morning was frustrating. Like evrything one has good adys and bad days. I will be working on that vacant apartment today. It is nearing completion. I was hoping to have it rented by today, April 1rst. Fool that I am, I should have known better. The photo at left is of my younger brother whom I believe is ten years younger than I am. (Might be 11). I took it back in the early 1970's. Probably '73. I came across the negative a couple years ago and scanned it. I've been meaning to post it here for quite some time. Today was the time. It was taken with Kodacolor film and a Minolta SRT-101 camera. I loved that camera, in fact I still have it.
I am still in the process of reading a Mark Twain biography written by Ron Powers. With that in mind I offer this quote:

"It's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and leave no doubt." --Mark Twain

Day 327:

Today the high temperature here in Chaumont NY was -4 degrees. (that's 4 below zero farenheit). However, as is most often the case with these low temps, the Sun was out. I spent about three hours outdor in it. I was perfectly comfortable. I Had two layers of clothes covereing my legs, four layers on my arms & torso, my head covered with a knit toque(a knit hat, not sure how it's spelled). I also split up some firewood. These activities make one warm indeed out there in the frosty elements. At 4:30pm it has dropped to 5 below zero. Tonight it is supposed to go down to minus 20 to minus 30 degrees. We shall see.

Well it is now 9:00pm and the temprature here in Chaumont, NY is minus 14.

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Gary Walts photographer serving Watertown, Syracuse, and surrounding areas. Photographing weddings for over 30 years.