I went to a friend's house for NYeve. She and her husband invited her sis and bil and me over for snacks and a game/puzzle afternoon/eve. Very low key. But the bil was on his ipad the WHOLE time we were there. He'd put it down and within 30 seconds he'd be looking at it again. Then his wife got hers out and spent 2 hours showing or trying to show us funny things from the internet (as well as some good photos of her garden and grandkids). Then my friend's husband got his ipad out and so 3 of the 5 of us were on a device! I almost left, but it would have embarrassed my hostess friend, so she and I just gave each other looks and kept chatting. Finally we decided to play a card game and the bil joined us, but kind of because he was sitting at the end of the table, not because he really wanted to, I think. Then, as we were in the middle of the game, my friend's husband announced that her sister was hungry! They'd just spent 2 hours on their devices and the minute we did something without them, she wanted fed. My friend told her to look around and help herself and we continued our card game. It wasn't the game/puzzle event I imagined and these are all people in their late 50's. Addicts every one - it's not just the youth.

A standard, but nice photo. Back in the 1870s, exposure speeds had improved. In good light, speeds of 1/50 sec were possible, but in a studio setting with lighting less than outdoors, the speed was more likely 1/25 sec which is getting a bit slow, but still practical. However, the subjects would have been instructed to 'freeze' just before the photographer snapped the shutter. The problem was that it was not many years before this when long exposures were required, and that idea persisted in the general population long after shutter speeds were upped. People holding a pose for several seconds struck a pose they thought they could hold without moving. A nice smile is fleeting, changes, and produces a blurry photo when the exposure stretches over several seconds. Also, a family picture was serious business, so a dour expression was common. In the early days of photography, studio portraits made use of 'props', literally, real props. The subject's back was held against something to help the person to hold still. This may have been a heavy rod that was hidden by the subject's body. Some of the dour expressions reflect's the subject's attitude about having their picture taken.

Wow, Still lynski...you make a great point too! BTW-This is why I am awful on a jury. As the prosecution speaks, i am thinking "Fry the ba$tard!" Then the defense gets up and I think "OMG, this poor defendant has been framed!" If I hear good points and reasons, I can be easily swayed. Everyone here has made a GREAT point. I guess I have a lot to digest and think about. I love this forum because I have quickly learned my gut instinct/first choice is not always the correct way. Before the internet and forums like this I also learned my gut/first choice was wrong, but only through trial and error. This forum saves me from making the mistakes with my time and my money. anyway, Still lynski...you make a great suggestion about the groups, and also the "group in 3" rule. But I don't want it to look too contrived. Also, toward the end of the hall, I would need a runner (the 3rd/last runner) but there are a bunch of doors at the end of the hall...my master and guest bath on the right, and DD's room, guest room on the left. So, there would be no place to put pics down there. ahhh, so much to think about! lyban-WOW! see...I know that *I* love to look at family photos in someone's home. I can totally see why people would want to look at the walls of your hall! Ok, now tell me, and explain very slowly....how did you laminate on wood? I am not a crafty type of girl. Is this easy to do? Did you do it for any reason...as opposed to just framing? I am enjoying this thread and all the help. Thank you again...this is great fun for me!

I don't think I've ever seen the 'hands' done before. Wonderful! When I was a newlywed, the mother of a rather coddled friend told me I should not be wearing out my hands doing household chores. (I should have a maid?) Forty-eight years later, my hands are clearly 'used'.