Our Three Sons

Heather got to celebrate her birthday with family this year with our oldest son Josh and his family. For many years we've been away during April.  And every year is a milestone year now - she's 81! From left Scott, Jonnie (old friend), Jonathan, Josh, Maya, Michal, Shira, Heather and Daniel in their dining room.

Over the next several weeks we schlepped back and forth between our three sons and their families.  Our youngest had asked us to babysit their 2 year old, Rowan, while he and Will went to New Orleans. It was too early to get to Boston with the RV, so we flew down from Washington DC. 

Rather a gloomy rainy Easter but it didn't stop the 5 kids from
their Easter egg hunt!

Kolya diving into his Easter basket
with Mom looking on.

But first we spent a long Easter weekend in Washington with our middle son, James, daughter-in-law Morgen and grandson, Kolya who is 7.  Easter day itself was with Morgen's parents and sister's family. Despite the rain there was a successful Egg Hunt and then a wonderful holiday meal. On Monday we spent the day at the National Aquarium in Baltimore with Kolya. It's one of his favorite places and a remarkable building and location on the inner harbor as well as, of course, an excellent aquarium.

The live version of the stuffed alligator we brought
back from Florida for Kolya.

Kolya added a Moray eel to his collection at the
Aquarium Gift Shop. 

Our time in Boston with Rowan was great as always. We got to see son Sean the first night and he and husband Will the night they came home. Two days were with daycare so very easy but then two full days over the weekend. He is so much fun but keeping up with him was exhausting. One day we went to the Franklin Park Zoo. A huge success were the groundhogs, cranes, and especially the giraffes, which includes a baby one! The second day we stayed close to home. There is a terrific playground and park at a nearby beach. 

It was a windy day at the Franklin Park Zoo -
as you can see from Rowan's hair!

He loves to climb and is pretty fearless - he
keeps us on our toes!

After returning to Washington we spent three more nights including our 47th Wedding Anniversary with James and family. We went to dinner at a local Trinidad Restaurant and it was great. We spent many months there on 3 different times on our boat, including two summers and the 2 months of Carnival preparations and events. We also had another fun day with Kolya at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History - another big favorite of Kolya's, especially since it includes another gift shop. This time a beautiful butterfly. And Scott had a day visiting politicians for a bit of lobbying. He talked to staff at Chuck Schumer's, Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch. One of Bernie's staff took Scott on the underground train over the Representative Becca Balint. He was really sorry he didn't get a photo of that!

Lunch with a butterfly at the Natural History 
Museum.

James, Kolya and Morgen

Scott at Chuck Schumer's

The Capitol District's gardens were fabulous with
spring flowers and trees. 

Last, we took the Amtrak down to first, South Orange, NJ for a night with Scott's brother Brent followed by 3 nights at our oldest son's home in the upper east side of NYC. Josh, Michal and 4 of our grandchildren were at home. They had a wonderful birthday party for Heather, who turned 81!.  Several of their friends joined us for that. On Sunday we visited the Frick Museum and saw the Gainsborough Exhibit. We're usually away for my birthday so it was a treat to celebrate this year with family.

Michal and Daniel look on while I
attempt to blow out the candles.

Then back to Washington once more to pick up our RV at the Virginia State Park and head home James kindly offered to pick us up at Union Station and drive us. We decided to break up the long trip with 2 nights in Pennsylvania seeing Longwood Gardens. That will be my next entry.

Music, Music, Music

Our Shrewsbury concerts are usually held outside
the Shrewsbury Meeting House.

And we get a big crowd. A different food vendor
comes each time and provides dinner.

Our friend Sally joins us each summer for 
all Opera North productions and we have a
lovely picnic first. 

 

We don't lack for opportunities for live music near us of every kind. This last week alone we saw the New York City Ballet at Saratoga, the Marriage of Figaro at Opera North in Cornish, NH and singer/song writer Rod MacDonald right here in Shrewsbury. Earlier we saw The Little Prince and next week The Man of La Mancha, both Opera North Productions. 

That's Opera North's tent named "Charlotte"

The view from our picnic spot and the Opera North tent. It overlooks the Connecticut River.

A view inside the tent for The Little Prince!

Sunset at the outdoor Vermont Symphony concert
in nearby Castleton

This Thursday we're seeing White Christmas at the Weston and a few weeks later The Book Club Play at the Dorset. Right here in Shrewsbury we have a series of 6 concerts throughout the summer and could go to any number of others in nearby communities. Sean and Will joined Scott for a Vermont Symphony Orchestra evening and we'll get down to Marlboro for one of their Chamber concerts.  The choices are endless! And that's only July!

Graduations Galore

Sean, Scott, Josh, Shira, Maya, Heather & Uzi at the Columbia graduation

The happy graduates, Daniel and Ariella

Our grandson Nick, new graduate from 
University of California, Merced!

Three of our grandchildren graduated from college this May! We were only able to attend 2 of them, both our oldest son Josh's, Daniel and Ariella "Cookie" from Columbia University. Zoë's son Nick graduated from University of California at Merced the week before but they couldn't get extra tickets so we watched the live feed. That really worked out well and we were able to see Nick get his diploma! 

Daniel with his friends, all new graduates at the party (Ariella had left to attend another party)

We flew from Vancouver to NYC and stayed three nights with Josh and Michal and all five of our grandchildren. Our youngest son Sean also joined us from Boston. The graduation took place over 2 days. The first was the ceremonies of individual schools within Columbia. Both Daniel and Cookie attended Columbia College. The second day was for the entire university where the President conferred the degrees. Daniel is heading to Oxford in the fall for Medical School. Cookie finished in only 3 years and is taking a year before starting medical school as well. 

Daniel and Sean

We lucked out on weather on our first day but the second was rainy. It didn't stop thousands cheering their sons and daughters! We had a big party at the apartment with lots of new graduates attending. Altogether a wonderful time. We're so proud of our grandchildren!!!

On Thursday we flew down to Raleigh, NC. Walt & Honoree picked us up. They have been keeping Junior and Baby for us for the last three months. We only had one night there before driving north to Washington DC to visit our son James and his family for Memorial Day weekend. It was a grueling 10 hour trip due to arriving in the city at rush hour! But the result is a lovely visit, which I'll cover in my next post.

The graduates filing into the ceremony on the first
day!

That's Shira and Michal center left. We got very
good seats on the second day but not all 
together, 

Sean was able to whip out his phone and take this photo of Daniel and Ariella on the big screen - amazing since it was only up for a brief time!

On the Road Again!

The view from our deck down to Baby's usual spot. We're finished with digging her out and careening down the driveway!

Our little tree down by the pond 
looks quite wintery and sweet.

After Michal and our 5 grandchildren left, we had five days to pack and get the house ready for the winter (without us, but with expected visits from our kids and friends). I did yeoman's duty at Pierce's, working there (volunteering) running the store 4 hour shifts on 3 days! We left January 2nd from Exit 1 RV in Fairhaven, VT where we have been storing Baby since late October. We had only a sprinkling of snow there. But we had around 8 inches at home as you can see from the photo! The truck was packed as we are gone for almost 5 months. 

Scott at Chez Pierre in Gansevoort, NY near the Saratoga
RV Park. This was a favorite spot of Brian Armstrong and
myself back in the 1970's. It's still run by the same family!

From there we drove an hour and a half over to Saratoga RV and spent one night before a long day driving down to Washington DC. We can't use the tunnels in Baltimore because we carry propane tanks, so had to drive right through the city. After 2 nights there visiting our son James and his family, we hightailed south again to try and get out of the coming snowstorm. We got as far as Ashland, VA and spent one night there. We didn't escape the snow though, as we woke up to several inches of snow and slush. It took several hours of careful driving before we left the snow line. The temperatures however didn't go up.

The view out our RV window at the Americamps
RV Park in Ashland, VA in the morning.

Walt & Honoree in their kitchen

Our next stop was our yearly visit to our old traveling buddies, Walt & Honoree, at their beautiful home in Carthage, NC. Baby's spot on the edge of their pond is one of our all time favorites. We had a great time as usual with cold but clear sunny days. Some great walks, meals, card games, and conversation! One wonderful surprise too. They have volunteered to keep Baby on their property while we are away in New Zealand and Australia! We're flying out of Raleigh, about an hour away. This will save us a lot of money in storage fees and we'll get to visit them again in the spring!

Now we're off for another visit with old friends, Stephen & Kate Kelley in Pawley's Island, SC. But that will be covered in my next post!

That's Baby in her favorite spot at Walt & Honorees home in Carthage, NC

 

Summer Catchup!

Recent Photo of Rowan

Scott and Rowan

Heather singing to Rowan

Sean nursing

Will and guess who?

Zoë laughing at one of her great jokes

 

It's been a long time since my last post. Our new grandson Rowan is now 6 weeks old and thriving. His Dads, Sean and Will, are tired at times, like all new parents, but loving every minute (well, almost every one). And so are we! Scott and I were down helping for the first two weeks and then returned for another visit while our son James and his family came up. Our oldest son Josh and his kids flew into town to meet their new nephew/cousin and our daughter Zoë came for a week. So it's been wonderful family time. 

Playing with Kolya on the beach in Boston

Wine tasting with my appetizers at Pierce's
Store in Shrewsbury

Our friends Kristi & Roxanne 
entertain us at the wine tasting.

Spring Lake in the evening during our dinner at our friends
Lily & Eldred's cabin.

Just a few of the 20 people who came.

A corner of the Art in the Park in Rutland.

Cookie, Joshua, Heather & Scott in Sean & Will's 
backyard.

Jonathan, Shira, Maya and Michal

Morgen & Kolya

James admiring his new nephew.

The bad news for us was that my only sister Paula had a fall and a stroke down in Maryland. Her cognitive ability has not been compromised but after a month in Rehab she still hasn't been able to get out of bed and stand, let along walk. Scott and I went down for a week in late July and will be there again next week. We are looking at long term health care facilities for her here in Vermont and down in Maryland. 

Everyone enjoyed the Lake and all three of the
kids made it out to the swim raft!

We bought a Corn Hole game for the yard.

Bill, Kolya, Nora, Gracie, Claire, James and 
Morgen at the Fourth of July gathering.

Leslie shows off her Flag Cake. She's been making
it every year for our gettogether.

The stream was a fun adventure for all the kids.

James and Morgen.

Doug with his Indian takeout meal.

 

We had a wonderful Fourth of July gathering again this year. A total of 22 people came over 5 days. Sean & Will and Dick & Debbie were the only absentees (and of course a few of the second generation). James, Morgen and Kolya came up from Washington DC with Morgen's sister Claire and her family - Bill and their two girls, Grace & Nora. Marty & Russ with daughters Jenny & Julie, David & Leslie with son Scott and his family - Laura & Calvin, Larry & Zuzia and Larry's son Luke, Doug & Pat - and Scott & I. The weather mostly cooperated with lots of swimming in the Lake and exploring our stream and woods. There was a trip to the Montshire Museum of Science and the King Arthur Flour store. But mostly we caught up on our lives and current events over lots of food and drink. Unfortunately we forgot to take a group photo this year and in fact, very few photos got taken!

My sister Paula in the hospital.

Shrewsbury, our home town, is chocked full of events. We attended concerts, a wine tasting with appetizers (I made 20 plates of antipasto), Bone Builders, and many dinners over with friends. One day we drove into Saratoga Springs to attend a Lincoln Center String Quartet concert at SPAC and afterwards walked around town and ate dinner at a sidewalk table. We also saw two performances of  Opera North over in N.H. and Fidelio at the Middlebury Opera. Another String Ensemble concert was held in Woodstock. If we'd had time, we could have done 4 times more! We enjoyed Art in the Park on the Rutland Green with craftspeople, artists, food and live music. 

Scott is busy with 2 Boards, the Rutland Farmer's Food Center and Green Mountain Neighbors. I volunteer at Pierce's Store and I'm active in the Rutland Garden Club. Scott and I designed the website for them and run it, including a blog. We both volunteer also at our library and ferry new immigrants that have recently settled in Boston from Syria around the Rutland area. 

Last shot - and it's Rowan!