Family and Friends News

Family and Friends

September was eventful. Aunt Mary,

Gary's aunt, died on Sept 26. She was 3 months

shy of 100! My brother, Norm, finally got his

kidney transplant (Sept 20th) after years on dialysis.

Norm in striped shirt, cousin Diane, baby brother Greg, and Me

My friend Vicki's brother died tragically. He was 
a very talented writer and film maker. Although
I didn't know Geoff, Vicki is a dear, dear friend
and I'm sorry she is grieving.

Had lunch at the Bonefish Grill (coconut shrimp) 
with Nancy prior to her 3 week trip to the "stans"

(Uzbekistan, Kazakhastan, Turkmenistan...more).

Nancy and I

Friend, Karen, came in for the weekend from Michigan.
We went to a favorite diversion spot...the casino.
Had wine and laughed.

Karen

Went to the Purple Painted Lady Barn Sale and Junk
Jubilee in Palmyra to see friend's booths.  Bought a 
river agate necklace from Carol and Curt, Silvery Moon
Designs (beautiful work), saw Maryanne at her
Books, Etc. booth and bought soap from Chicory Farms
Goat milk soap. Ran into my cousin Lisa (unexpected), 
but so  thrilled to see her. We have had a gorgeous 
September weather, and this day did not disappoint!

Carol and Curt

Maryanne

Julie, baby goat/Chicory Farm soaps

Block Island RI

Welcome to Block Island Sept 8-14 2015

Sharon...we rode bikes along the coast

View from our hotel room

Breakfast on the porch

Guys exhausted after six flights of steps

Coming into block island by ferry

Gary and I joined our friends, Doug and Sharon, 

for a mini vacation, by ferry, to Block Island. 

Stayed in an old, quaint hotel with no air conditioning, 

and it was hot (but the breezes were refreshing). 

Somehow though I got heat exhaustion (we have a funny

video of my day recovering that I will NOT share except 

to a few). We biked along the coast line, ate clams and 

awesome dinners, and enjoyed the shops and scenery.

I love New England! 

Stayed with Doug and Sharon at their home in Conn. a 

few days. Doug cooked an amazing lobster and fillet dinner. 

We also went to the Brimfield Antique Show in Mass. First 

time there and we will definitely go next year (even if we 

have moved by then.) Spent a day at Shenipsit Lake, where 

the guys fished and Sharon and I relaxed and collected stones.

Shenipsit Lake

Thousand Islands

Aug 21-23 Thousand Islands

Gary had to pick up his shorebirds from the

Duck Shop in Clayton, so we made a long

weekend for a mini vacation, just the two of us.

We love the Thousand Islands, and would stay 

with friends, Patti and John, who have a great

house on the river.  But, now the verb is HAD!

Last winter did them in, so they sold and bought

a house in Greenville, SC.  They will only be 

1 /1/2 hrs away when we move to Cumming GA.

We stayed at the Riverside Hotel in Alexandria 

Bay, ate at Riley's (superb), and took a river cruise 

with Uncle Sam two nation tour.  The guide was 

great, intelligent and funny...had many personal 

stories of the people, castles and fork lore of the 

region. The cruise was 2 1/2 hours and very 

relaxing. We learned there are actually 1, 864 

islands in "The Thousand Islands."

We took photos along the way, stopping in 

Sacket's Harbor for lunch and Clayton for antique

browsing. The weather was perfect! 

Cruise video

Hotel where we stayed

View from our balcony

Sacket's Harbor for lunch

Sacket's Harbor Gardens

Indian Retro Bike

Smallest Island to the left-do you see it?

Love the ship's name

Thousand Islands all about castles

Hundreds of jet skis on parade that day

 

Busy Summer

Karen Moving to Michigan

My dear friend, Karen, is moving away.

We met over 12 years ago at a children book

workshop at Writers and Books. We were

sympatico from that day forward and over

the years were in writing critique groups,

went to antique shops and shared ideas, 

feelings, hopes and dreams. And laughed 

often!

Karen and I at the Macedon Park Butterfly  Garden

We loved to go out for a glass of wine and

calamari.  Karen was authentic and unique.

She was ethereal and whimsical. She brought 

out my wit, and I brought out her confidence.

She loved to draw fairies, so I created a fairy

garden for her going away present. 

Fairy Garden gift for Karen

Me, Heather and Karen

Karen loves jewelry and is extremely 

knowledgeable about antique and vintage jewelry.  

I am making organic jewelry now that combines 

clay, home-made paper, pieces of shells, and 

beach finds. I love to make jewelry for friends.  

Gift for Karen

Gift for Taylor (made similar one for Anna)

We will hopefully never lose touch for long...

texting makes it so easy to stay connected.

Finally had lunch with my friend Nancy.  

We tried the new Indian Restaurant, Flavors.

Next time I'm ordering the lobster!  Only $20

for two tails.  The food is the best, freshest

and beautifully presented I've ever had for

Indian cousine.

Also, finally had lunch with Dayle and Lily.

Went to Rio Tomatlan.  Lily just got back from

driving with her husband full circle to state 

parks in US.  Dale is now a grandma, so we

shared many photos of our families.

Dayle, Me and Lily

My friend Heather comes over a lot to swim

with her kids, Emily and Nathan.  With my

grandkids so far away, it's great to have lively

children around.  Sometimes the kids bring 

friends and Jake is never happier.  The video

will show you that Jake thrives on kids energy!

I met Heather substitute teaching at Pal Mac.

She reminds me of actress Helen Hunt in her

expressions.  She and her kids love Jake and

likewise. They spent an afternoon at our cabin

and Jake manifests his affection with gusto.

Jake greeting Heather

Emily and Nathan in loft

Playing checkers