Back in the U.S.A.

When last you heard from us we were leaving Trinidad for the holidays at home in Vermont. Thanksgiving and Christmas were both marvelous with all but our daughter Zoe and her family present. Our oldest son Josh, his wife Michal, and their children, Daniel, Ariella and Maya came for both holidays and in fact were still enjoying themselves in our home when we left it!

James and Sean drove up from Washington DC for both holidays as well and Scott's brother Brent and his wife Wilma were able to make it for Thanksgiving. This was a late year for snow in Vermont. For the first time in our memory not one mountain opened for Thanksgiving weekend. It was mid December before there was enough snow and cold weather. Scott and I didn't ski AT ALL!


That's the first winter for me for 41 years. Josh, Daniel and Ariella did however, that's the latter two under all that ski clothing! We did however play lots of games and make jewelry & bead work. Daniel is already a formidable chess opponent. That's him playing with James, Josh looking on above.
We had our annual Holiday Open House at our friends Karen & Ted Martin's home in Winchester. This allows us to catch up with our old friends around the Boston area at least once a year. I started giving this party with my first roommate in Boston, Juanita, in 1969, so this was the 40th year.
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Christmas in Vermont

I've included some views of our new home here. That's several angles of the living room and our Christmas tree. Our grandchildren named it "The Hundred Acre Wood", being all huge Winnie the Pooh fans. We've had the whitest November and December in years. The skiing has been great but we can cross country or snow shoe right from our door too. That's Daniel skiing with Josh on the right. Not long after this shot he was skiing on his own - and did an intermediate slope before the week was out.



We were lucky to have all three sons home for Christmas. James took the bus from NYC and met us in Boston on Saturday the 22nd. for our Holiday Open House - this year at our friends the Wolfs in Concord (see my previous Blog entry). Sean flew from Aspen later that night, where he was attending a training session for work. We four drove home to Vermont Sunday morning. Josh, Michal and our three grandchildren joined us on Christmas day. We had a huge prime rib roast beef for dinner that night and even my three sons couldn't finish it!
We watched a lot of movies over the week. Disney's animated "Robin Hood" and the classic "Winnie the Pooh" were the favorites of all. Somewhat more adult favorites were mostly sequels, "Harry Potter", "Spiderman", "Bourne Ultimate" etc. That's Josh with Daniel with a tense bit of something and Ariella in her leopard pjs!


We still do stockings for the two youngest boys with mostly chocolate, DVDs and books this year. There was still one toy each - matching radio controlled helicopters that dueled all over our high ceiling living room. That's Sean in his Columbian soccor shirt and James with me, dressed in the fluffiest white bathrobe he gave me. Hits with the grandchildren were toys, toys and toys - plus books and DVDs - no clothes please!On December 27 Daniel celebrated his fifth birthday. He chose a chocolate on chocolate cake combination (we made it) and decorated it with candles - great with lots of ice cream.

The 38th Annual Holiday Open House

That's son James and Jennie, the Wolf's oldest daughter on the left with Pam Pinsky and myself on the right.

Below left (left to right) is Carole Sharoff, Gene Brzek, his son Brian and wife Julie. On the right below is Debbie D'Arpa and Marty Wolf (on the right). Below that on the left is Bill Fonvielle and Susan Youmans.




In 1969 Heather had her first Holiday Open House with her roommate Juanita Head on Marlboro St. in Boston. Their second was at a new apartment on Newbury Street. Later it continued there with her next roommate Karen Dunn and even later with successor Kathy Herald. In 1976 Heather bought one of the first condos for sale in Boston at 311 Commonwealth Ave. and the party moved there first with Kathy and then with Scott. After their marriage they bought a Victorian in Brookline and for 23 years we had the annual event there.

In the early days we made the ornaments for the tree at the party and those ornaments still hang on our present tree, bringing back some wonderful memories. At first also we were almost all single and childless. Then spouses and children joined us and every year we all got older. Our oldest son Joshua now has given us the next generation!
When we sold our Brookline home and bought "Scott Free" several friends volunteered to host the party at their home. Karen Martin (my ex-roommate and cohostess years before, Karen Dunn) and her husband Ted hosted the first two new Holiday Open Houses in their beautiful home in Winchester, MA. This year for the second time Russ and Marty Wolf have been our hosts in Concord, MA. The guest list is pretty much the same but it's so much more fun for Scott and I. We now plan, cook and decorate with great friends.
From left to right on the left is Josh with Maya, Russ Wolf, and Karen & Ted Martin. Below right is Julie Wolf reading to Ariella.

This year, like many in the past, coincided with Scott's birthday, his 60th. Unfortunately a northeaster storm was also predicted to share the date - a big one. For the first time ever we postponed the party a week! We still had a cake for Scott - along with a groaning table of other desserts. Of course these followed the appetisers, turkey, ham, salads, veggies, pasta, and meatballs & sausage & sauce.