Norma with typewriter, at parent's home in Colton, en route Mexico. Colton, California c.1953.

Jack taking the sun with clipboard. Chapala, Mexico c.1953.

Norma enjoying the sun with Beverly Herbert. The Vance and Herbert families set up a "writer's household" in Chapala. A flag was hoisted in the apartment every day during "writer's hours". The experiment lasted a few weeks. Chapala, Mexico c.1953.

Lunch at Las Varas. Jack and Norma with Beverly and Brian Herbert. Chapala, Mexico c.1953.

Construction of West Side Firehouse Begins. Jack and one other carpenter, Forest Lamberton, largely built the firehouse. Newspaper article, Santa Cruz Sentinal May 9 1954. Santa Cruz, California c.1954.

Norma outside the house in Glenwood. Jack and Norma lived here (with their cats) while Jack worked on the West Side Firehouse. Their automobile at that time was a Willys Jeepster. Glenwood, California c.1954. 

Forest Lamberton and Jack preparing to pour concrete slab for West Side Firehouse. Santa Cruz, California c.1954.

Edith Hoefler (Jack's mother) visits Jack and Norma in Glenwood. Glenwood, California c.1954.

Norma, Jack and Joe the cat in the strawberry patch outside house in Glenwood. Glenwood, California c.1954.

The slab is poured. West Side Firehouse, Santa Cruz, California c.1954.

Framing is underway. West Side Firehouse, Santa Cruz, California c.1954.

Jack and Forest Lamberton at West Side Fire House, roof installed. The two worked for contractor C.B. Bagnall to build the West Side Fire House. Santa Cruz, California c.1954.

Norma outside the shack on Valley View Road, soon after buying and moving in. The house was modest, but the location was pleasant and safe for the cats. Oakland, California c.1954-55.

Norma with one of the cats. Oakland, California c.1954-55.

Norma with radio, record player, and reel-to-reel tape collection. Oakland, California c.1954-55.

Jack and Earl Sears enjoy some scotch. Oakland, California c.1954-55.

Norma and Manny Funk pitch in on the garden wall. Oakland, California c.1954-55.

Jack and Manny pause for refreshment. Oakland, California c.1954-55.

Joe the cat supervises construction of the garden wall. Oakland, California c.1954-55.

Progress at Valley View. Norma helps with the front of the house. Oakland, California c.1955

Party at the Vance's with Poul and Karen Anderson, Alador and Lily Szantho. Oakland, California c.1954-57.