Happy Birthday Dad...

Dear Dad, today would have been your 94th birthday! If you were still here you would have scolded me for saying this in public! I still dream of our fishing and camping trips together, backpacking trips and eating out of a peanut butter jar in the rain. I still wonder what happened to that string of 20 trout I dropped to the bottom of 11 Mile Reservoir in Colorado...still remember how you very patiently extracted that fish hook from my thumb, and sitting in the car during thunderstorms while our fishing lines were still in the water...the Cessna flight to Pueblo, Colorado, you flew with me, grinning at my strange shade of 'green' while winds buffeted us along the front range of the Rockies. I love you Dad.

(photos copyright Estate of Thomas Jones)

Candy tin assemblage class coming soon to Seattle!

Tom Nicho, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

This is a candy tin assemblage I made a number of years ago about my dad, and some of his travels and adventures during WWII (T. H. Jones, 1916-2004). If you are in the Seattle, Washington area on July 8, I will be teaching a class on how to do this. To find out more details, go to:http://www.teachstreet.com/seattle-wa/art/candy-tin-assemblage/cl-408ei46usg

To register, just go to:
http://depts.washington.edu/asuwxpcl/catalog.php

(The hula skirt photo was taken by an Air Force buddy during his stay in Hawaii. My dad really knew how to have fun!!).

My dad...Memorial Day thoughts.

My dad...Memorial Day thoughts., originally uploaded by jomoma58.

I believe this was taken in the late 1940's or early 1950's. Good lookin' guy, wonderful father and military man for 22 years, who served his country proudly. During World War II, he flew as a pilot with the USAAF 82nd Fighter Group. He retired from the Air Force in Colorado so that he could enjoy hunting, fishing and camping. He and I spent many days fishing and eating fish, so that we could catch MORE fish! We also did some incredible backpack trips together. I remember eating out of jars of peanut butter and cans of tuna fish when the weather was not cooperating, listening to KOMA (Oklahoma City) on his tiny radio. I was so lucky to have known him...Lt. Col. Thomas H. Jones, USAF. He passed away in 2004, just shy of his 88th birthday. He loved his life to the very fullest, and had no regrets. Love you, Dad.

Photo COPYRIGHT 2009 Estate of Thomas H. Jones