Judy, Judy, Judy

Reminiscing today.

The picture above is of my cousin Judy and me.

It was taken when we were four years old.

Note the matching sun suits.

This picture was taken in Michigan,

where both our families lived at that time.

About a year later, my family moved 

to Alabama.

However,  Judy and I stayed friends

all during our childhood.

Vacations were family trips,

either north or south,

depending upon which family was

traveling that summer.

The above picture shows Judy and me at the door

of my family's home in Alabama.

I'm the one with the ponytail.

Our mothers, who were close sisters,

are on the porch

with my sister Nancy between them.

They are all eyeing Judy's and my

life-sized dolls.

These dolls were so large they wore

real children's clothes!

On a later trip south for Judy's family 

the above "cousin" picture was taken.

I'm in the middle, with Nancy between Judy and me.

My older brother Bill is beside me

with Judy's little brother Ron in front.

How's this for dressed up girls?

We were at Judy's house and

getting ready for 

her violin recital.

I am the older, by about a month, and larger.

Judy was always (and still is) petite and 

I always felt  a bit awkward next to her!

This is a picture of all the "girl" cousins,

at that time. 
We have a few more now.

It was taken in Michigan.

I'm the one in the yellow sweater,

with the gosh awful pixie cut.

Between Judy and me 

is Linda, Patty in the center,

Nancy in the blue (what a cutie!)

and little Terri.

Which brings me to why 
I'm revisiting my past.

Sadly, family trips back and forth 
have become obsolete.
Too much distance, time,
marriages, children and life in general
put us on different paths.
However, a few years ago
Judy and I reconnected
via Facebook

and Judy has been keeping up with the 

Hummingbird Cake Bake Off.

She surprised me recently with the above picture.

Very nice cake Judy!
And YOU  look great too!

Allrecipes was her inspiration for her cake.
She says it was "yummy" and that she'll
"be making this again."

Thank you, thank you, thank you Judy,
for joining in with our cake fun.
But more than that,
thank you for helping me remember
what special times we had growing up.
Sure do wish we lived closer!