Hillman Family Connections

April 12, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion

THINGS JAY HAS MADE IN HIS WORKSHOP/STUDIO

PUPPETS, RATTLE, HALLOWEEN COSTUME, BIKE REPAIRS

Jay has made several PUPPETS for his 48 Hour movie productions as well as a few commissioned puppets. He made a lathe-turned RATTLE for his nephew in 2023. In 2024 he put together Cecil’s Ninja Turtle HALLOWEEN COSTUME. I wish I had a photo of the shell, it’s pretty cool. Numerous BIKE REPAIRS in have been completed in Jay’s studio/workshop spaces as well. That makes four items for this grouping. I considered including “Christmas ornaments” – many may have missed it, but there was a lathe-turned Christmas ornament in Hillman Family 2024 Yankee Swap that Jay made. I think Bev ultimately ended up with it.

GIFTS FROM GIL

LATHE-TURNED BOWL, PHOTO BOOK WITH WOOD COVER, HANDKERCHIEF BOX, PEARL RING

When I started working on this project I reached out to a few people in hopes of getting some background information. I talked with my Aunt Judy (Gil’s sister). I was a little disappointed at first because she didn’t have much information on the specific questions I had for her. There’s a pretty big age gap between Gil and Judy so she was still just a kid when Gil was out of the house as a young adult.

My disappointment turned to glee however as we talked and I got unexpected information. Somehow in the course of our conversation she mentioned some gifts she had received from Gil over the years: a LATHE-TURNED BOWL, a PHOTO BOOK WITH WOOD COVER, and a HANDKERCHIEF BOX were specifically mentioned. The bowl and book cover were both made by Gil, sorry no photo of the book cover.

The last item in this grouping, a PEARL RING, was a gift given to Claire by Gil for Christmas one year – I’m guessing, mid-80s.

STUFF CHRIS HAS HAULED OVER THE YEARS

TURF, POTATOES, GENERATORS, STEEL

An actual, all-inclusive list of things Chris has hauled over the years would no doubt be lengthly, but I only needed four items – these came to mind pretty quickly: TURF, POTATOES, GENERATORS, and STEEL. I’ve included the photo of Dave in front of one of Chris’ rigs because it’s just so stinkin’ cute.

THINGS SEEN OUTSIDE 49 POTOWOMUT

SLEDS, A FLO, CUSTOM ROAD SIGNS, MONROE DAIRY BOX

SLEDS, so many sleds over the years at 49 Potowomut! I thought I had a picture of a bunch of sleds piled up at the top of the hill but I can’t find it. In the photo here, Catherine is sledding with a few of her friends (they were in high school if you’re wondering how old the photo is). I like this photo for this blog post as it shows multiple sleds, clearly establishes the location as 49 Potowomut (the house) and…. bonus: I think that’s a custom road sign up there at the top of the hill.

Once upon a time “FLO” was seen outside 49 Potowomut in conversation with her teacher Mr. Kenyon (who apparently lived on the snowier side of the street).

I could only find the one clear picture of the CUSTOM ROAD SIGNS seen outside 49 Potowomut. There are Halloween and Christmas signs that show up and disappear at the appropriate times each year. The signage department at 49 Potowomut is top notch!

I had a couple items in mind for the fourth item to close out this grouping. It was a toss up between the Smart car and the MUNROE DAIRY BOX. Oddly, for reasons unknown to me, I happened to have a photo of the dairy box so that’s what was included. I had also considered begonias or sunflowers as well because I know both have appeared there over the years — but no photos.

Nancy Knott

15 responses to “April 12, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion”

  1. So I had to go in and out a couple times but I finally got it!
    Loved the gifts from Gil! That you had pictures was awesome! Handkerchief box…who knew!
    Dave…so stinking cute!
    Great pic of Mom!

    • I got it!!!!!! Only one mistake. I got gifts from Gil first, though I thought they were gifts to mom. I believe I have mom’s pearl ring here, though I’m not sure if it is the one from Dad or Bob.
      I was trying to make one “things mom might of made”. Could not come up with four. Finally made the Jay connection.
      Then I got the Potowomut connection. I admit i did not get the Flo connections to it at first but none of the others fit.
      Last was Chris. But,duh! Should of been first! And Dave is soooo stinky cute in that photo!!!! One of my all time favorites!

      • I think it’s very funny that you got the “Chris” group last – I would have that was the easiest.

        • You’re right about that! Just things made, Potowomut and gifts just for some reason all kind of jumped put at me at the same time. I was trying to sort out those three and I wasn’t even paying attention to what the 4th category could be.‍♀️

          • That’s funny I put a face plant emoji but the female sign was printed. Let’s try the shrug.‍♀️

  2. Needed a few tries. Loved the picture of mom. I remember the bowl but that was it. The stuff outside 49 I knew but never got A Flo so that one stumped me.

    • Yeah I was thinking Flo from Progressive so that one stumped me too! Got it by a process of elimination!

      • I thought about flo had something to do with the river. Lol!
        I got the Munroe Dairy box because it was used during the pandemic to do food exchange, punch I think.

    • Bill – the bowl in the picture actually belongs to Aunt Judy. I’m sure we had something similar hanging around the house when we were kids though.

  4. Epic fail for me this week. I got none :-/ and tried a few times.
    I was on track with the Jay things but could just never quite get all 4.
    And things outside Potowomut but never got Flo.
    Fun one and great pictures!