I think we all could agree that I adore taking nostalgic visits through the old family photos. To be honest, I also ADORE food and have so many cherished memories of family gatherings for meals. Dinners at our kitchen tables, at the Elks Club, at Howard Johnson’s, Bill Knapps, The University of Michigan Union, and hundreds of other venues. Also, picnics at the park and visits to ice cream parlors. And, let’s not forget the many birthday cakes that have delighted us.
I have many family members that are gifted cooks/chefs/bakers. Personally, I lack skills in this area. In fact, my father who would never say a bad thing about me answered a question I posed to him in the most clever way. I asked him to tell me if I was a good cook. I was goading him. But…like usual he came up with a PERFECT answer that still has me smiling. He looked at me lovingly and said, “Well, I don’t think you would be known for your cooking.” (My Dad was amazing!)
I decided that it would be fun to write this post using photos of some of the meals, kitchens, or tables that were photo documented by my family. My secret hope is that these photos, put together as a collection, will serve as a storytelling tool and enable my family members to share anecdotes and narratives about the family history of dining together.
There are not many photos that show our food…just us eating. I so wish that I had a photo of Grandma Pet’s niffles and her french fries. I would love a photo of Madalyn’s shrimp bowls and Aunt Babe’s pan fried fish dinners. Still, this collection should be fun.
To all the good cooks in my family (past and present) I thank you. Enjoy
Photo 1 -my estimated date is 1917
Photo 2 – my estimated date is 1953
Photo 3 – March 18, 1954
Photo 4 – February 11, 1955
Photo 5- March 18, 1955
Photo 6 – I estimated the date to be 1959
Photo 7 – I believe this is from 18 March 1960
Photo 8 – photo from 27 Nov 1958
Photo 9 – this photo is from 27 Nov 1960
Photo 10 – this photo is from 11 Feb 1962
Photo 11 – This photo is from 18 Mar 1962.
Photo 12 – I am estimating this photo was taken in 1963
Photo 13 – I estimate this photo is from 27 Nov 1963
Photo 14 – I estimate that this photo date is 1964.
Photo 15 – I estimate this photo date is 1964.
Photo 16 – I estimate this photo date is 1965
Photo 17 – This photo is from 15 Oct 1964.
Photo 18 – This photo is from 15 Oct 1964.
Photo 19 – I estimated that this photo is from November 1965.
Photo 20 – I estimated the date for the photo to be 1965.
Photo 21 – I estimated this photo date to be summer of 1966.
Photo 22 – I estimate this photo to be from 1966.
Photo 23 – I estimate this photo to be from Spring 1966.
Photo 24 – I estimate this photo date to be 1968
Photo 25 – This photo is from Oct. 1964.
Photo 26 – I estimate this photo was taken in 1969.
Photo 27 – This photo was from 1970
Photo 28 – This photo is from 1970.
Photo 29 – I estimate this photo to be from October 1972.
Photo 30 – This photo is from the summer of 1972.
Photo 31 – I estimate this photo to be from 1974.
Photo 32 – I estimate this photo is from 1975
Photo 33 – I estimate this photo to be from Christmas 1975.
Photo 34 – This photo is from 13 Aug 1977.
Photo 35 – I estimated the photo date to be 1979.
Photo 36 – I estimate the photo date is 1979
Photo 37 – This photo is from 1980.
Photo 38 – This photo is from Sept. 1982.
Photo 39 – This photo is estimated to be from 1982.
Photo 40 – photo date is estimated to be 1982
Photo 41 – I estimate this photo is from 1982.
Photo 42 – I estimate this photo is from 3 Jul 1989.
Photo 43 – I am estimating that this photo is from February 1983
Photo 44 – My date estimated is 1985.
Photo 45 – 3 Dec 1986
Photo 46 – Easter breakfast c1987
Photo 47 – My photo estimate is April 1987.
Photo 48 – December 1989
Photo 49 -This photo is from 1989.
Photo 50 – I estimate this is from 1989.
Photo 51 – Photo date estimated is 1991
Photo 52 – 1992
Photo 53 – December 1992
Photo 54- 1992
Photo 55 – April 1993
Photo 56 – 8 Jan 1994
Photo 57 – I believe this photo was from 1998.
Photo 58 – 10 May 2000
Photo 59 – estimated to be from 2001
Photo 60 – photo estimated to be 2007
Photo 61 – photo estimate 2008
Photo 62- photo estimated 2008
Photo 63 – photo estimated as 2008 or 2009
Photo 65 – photo estimated as 2008 or 2009
Photo 66 – photo estimated to be 2015
Photo 67 – photo date is estimated to be 2016
Photo 68 – estimated to be from 2016
Photo 69 – photo estimated to be from 2019
Photo 70 – photo from 2022 – dinner for one at 2502 Pittsfield Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI
Photo 71 – Christmas dinner 2022