“free-bird” “hippy-chick”
are just a couple of the descriptive terms I could use to describe my Aunt Dinos
“Dinos” is not her real name
she, Uncle T and their two kiddos lived at the hub of Tony Creek
we played in her backyard on the creek I’m pretty sure every.single. day of our preteen years.
which also meant lots of days we ended up in her kitchen, pantry, bathroom and often her bathtub.
When I think of Dinos I think art, fairies, fruit juice, trolls, rock, herb and flower gardens, bleach and fruit trays. Not bleach & fruit trays together of course -but she loved clean…& bleach..And bleach would either clean it or kill it & that suited Aunt Dinos just fine.
and fruit trays because she’s the health nut of the bunch..at our house the fresh fruit buffet consisted of a banana or an occasional apple- at Aunt Susan’s (momma’s sister) you could find an orange or two but Aunt Dinos introduced us to the exotic world of kiwi and strawberries and blueberries & delicious pineapple!!!—She would cut it up into the shape of stars or hearts-before serving us..she made fruit fun! and convinced us that Twinkies were BAD-really bad. Looking back she knew a lot more about stuff than I gave her credit.
Fruit wasn’t the only thing Aunt Dinos made fun…She baby sat us a lot through the years as our parents chased the dream –singing on the weekends …she ended us with all seven of the Tony Creek girls many, many nights—
She hiked with us, danced with us, built indoor tents, painted our faces and hands lots of times..We wore her slap out!
One of her favs, “Girls, I’m pooped!” and I’m sure she was! Seven girls is enough to wear out the toughest of tough!
Dinos’s style was different from ours..whimsical, artsy, eclectic, with a rustic twist! She painted murals on her floors, ceilings and walls..She and Uncle T are a neat pair…he builds- she paints and decorates…their house was never the same…really. From one weekend to the next certain areas of their house would be or feel totally different that it had from the week before…he would have remodeled or added a cedar tree here or a rustic built-in table or shelf there…she might have painted a trailing vine or brick road…it was like visiting the set of the movie The Labyrinth with David Bowie..which of course we watched for the first time with Aunt Dinos. ..and the Princess Bride too!-gosh we loved that movie…
Her endless herb & flower gardens seemed magical. Once she rescued a bluejay she named “Marlin”..after nursing him back to health she released him and swore he came back to visit her often. I believe her. She LOVEs her family and friends and thinks animals are really special…
And though there were/are lots of things she did or believed differently –she’s a one of a kind-–The kind you never ever want to forget. The kind of woman you want to hug-that makes you smile and laugh. The kind that you love with all of your heart in spite of how very different you are because deep down… as it turns out -we’re really not that different after all…<3
Perfect description of her! Love her she is so sweet!! I also love that cedar tree used for a coat rack. that is the coolest thing ever. Good memories with the Tony Creek gals for sure!
I appreciate the way she thinks….ahead of her time on the twinkles! Lol. An herbalist, loves animals and her family! I like that hippy chick!
always a ray of sunshine. Never afraid to try anything new. If you are feeling down and she is around when she leaves, you are much better. True nature is her life…..