OK, it's been awhile. I think I'm waffling about where to start. My grandparents are deceased on both sides, so lets start with them.

J. (James) Gordon Downie Born: Sept 4, 1910 Oneonta, NY Died: March 1, 1990 Oneonta, NY
Married: Madeline Ruth Bacheller Born: Sept 28, 1909 Andes, NY Died: Sept 5, 1990 Oneonta, NY I realize now I do not have a wedding date - will get from Dad.

I was blessed to know both my grandparents on my fathers side, though they separated later in life. My Grandma Downie lived down the road from us, and even though it was about a mile away, my mom used to let me deliver ingredients for sugar cookies to her in my little red wagon, then return triumphantly later in the day, my wagon laden with warm goodies. I learned to play piano on her ancient "player" piano. As a child I was always curious about the player scrolls kept on the bottom shelf of her bookcase, but never got to see the player piano in action - it may have been broken (or at least that's what I was told). Favorite memories include her big white owl cookie jar and when she tried her best to make chocolate milk for us in her blender (for some reason milk got all over the counter and I remember feeling so sorry for her). My brothers and I spent hours exploring her root cellar, small pond, ginormous oak trees, creaky house, cow pasture, apple orchard and gazing ball in the yard. I stopped by the house as my parents were keeping vigil just before she passed away and I saw her for the last time. She had a perpetual smile and always reminded us of Queen Elizabeth in her countenance. Favorite phrase: (said happily, through a grin) "Oh, dear."

Madeline in blue. See what I mean about the Queen Elizabeth resemblance? With Aunt Betty and Uncle Stan at her house on East Street in Oneonta, NY. Grandpa's insurance sign in foreground.

Madeline (Downie), Herbert, Jeanette (Laures) and Lillian (Dartt) Bacheller. Late 1950's/early 1960's?

Gordon in green shirt and Madeline in blue dress (there's the perpetual grin). Madeline's mother Sarah Mae "Sadie" Worden (remarried Fred Bennett) is on far right. We knew her as Grandma Bennett. This must be May 1970 based on the candles and the kids.

I recall playing in my Grandpa's insurance office which was attached to my Grandma's house on East Street in Oneonta. I pretended his staple remover was a rattle snake and his old school eraser wheel was a tropical bird. Measuring office supplies on his letter scale was a favorite activity. He also raised chickens and beef cattle. My most vivid memory of him however is not anything visual, but rather his smokey aroma and deep, gravelly voice - gained from years of smoking unfiltered Camels and pipes. I recall weeping at his funeral over something my brother who hunted with him sent on his flower arrangement card, "I will miss hunting with you on the crisp fall mornings" (my paraphrase). For some reason, that sent me over the top and turned on the waterworks. He owned a maple sugar grove and taught my older brothers how to tap the trees, run the plastic sap lines and operate the boiler in his sugar shack. I was too young to be of any help, but remember meals of chicken and biscuits seated in close quarters around the boiler. Later the shack and grove were sold and a house was built on the property, but the shack and grove are still there.

Great shot of the boiler inside the Sugar Shack. Gordon with my brother, who later took over the reigns of syrup making. I inherited my grandpa's cheek moles and fetish for cool shades.

One of the kickass perks of growing up with Gordon was that we had our own pony to ride. Here is the venerable "King" in my Grandpa's driveway on East Street in Oneonta. Looks like someone forgot to bring in the hay.

Sheesh, bro give someone else a turn on the pony, will ya? Actually I wasn't born yet (@1970)- I put in this picture because it shows my Grandpa's pasture and barn in the background which has been renovated and still remains on Upper East Street in Oneonta. The pond and gazing ball were just down the hill to the right. My brother's face would freeze like that until Spring.

Thanks to my mom and dad for getting these slides scanned and sharing them!!!