Back to Brooklyn

When we returned from two days of leaf peeping in New England, we spent one last day in New York with Andrea and the kids.  We just took it easy, enjoying the grands and took a walk to do a little shopping in Brooklyn.  Funny, Wally though he heard “going to the park and lunch.”  He seemed a bit confused when we wound up on 86th Avenue and Andrea and I kept stopping in the stores.  He did get to sit on a bench quite a bit though, just not in the park!

A little excitement on that morning happened when Wally went out to check on the bike and trailer parked on the street.  One of Andrea’s elderly neighbors fell on the sidewalk.  Wally rushed to help her up and she fell unconscious right into his arms.  He yelled for Andrea to call 911 and Andrea’s landlady, who is a nurse, came to help.  It was kind of interesting to see that huge fire truck work its way down the narrow street.  More interesting was the cars that scooted right around it and kept on moving!  Turns out the neighbor lady had recently had a pacemaker put in and it needed some tweaking!  I will say that the neighborhood people really rallied around to check in on her and bring her food.  They do take care of each other.

Then we set out on our walk.  I am surprised Andrea gets anywhere on her own, Elaine is in a world of her own walking down the street!  It is enjoyable to us grandparents and I’m glad Nolan was content in the stroller!

Elaine and Grandpa both lagged behind a bit as we passed a new pretzel store that had opened.  And they were yummy…Auntie Ann’s move over!

It seems that all the pics I took of Nolan he was on the move and they were blurry, or he was eating!  Pretty much describes his life though!

I think we actually took these photos the morning we set out for New England.  We brought Elaine’s birthday gift along with us and gave it to her early.  And Nolan got a “just because” gift. 

A tea set for the Birthday Princess and what could be better than…

….a bath time tea!

We sure enjoyed being with Andrea and the kids…and also Ben before he went out of town.  We had a wonderful time and loved their hospitality!

New England-Bennington

While we were mainly on a motorcycle ride to enjoy the fall of New England, Wally and I both decided we would love to return to Vermont someday.  There is a lot to to see and enjoy.  We were planning to have lunch with Ben’s folk in Pittsfield, MA.  When Wally called Jim to confirm our plans, he suggested if we were going through Bennington to take a look at the Battle Monument and the graveyard where Robert Frost was buried.  So we did. 

This obelisk was built in 1880 as a monument for the famous Battle of Bennington during the Revolutionary War, in 1777.  It is 306’ high.  The battle actually took place ten miles away in Waloomsac, NY…sound familiar?  It was a turning point in the war as it was a great blow against General Burgoyne and reduced his army by 1.000 men.  August 16 is a legal state hoiday in Vermont, Bennington Battle Day.

This is a statue to Seth Warner, Captain of the Green Mountain Boys who joined with the Continental Army against Burgoyne.

And this is Wally, we just pulled up to the curb and enjoyed the monument.  It was built on a green circle at the top of a hill.  Just down from here was the First Church.

I finally found some red red leaves on a low hanging branch by the church.

I thought the graveyard was beautiful…so many old and ornate stones.  There was a sign stating tombstone rubbings were not allowed due to the age and historical significance.  I never knew there was such a thing as “tombstone rubbings!”

There is something sobering about wandering about a graveyard.  The markers that represents someone…their life, their, dreams, their family.  Yet sin’s curse is so well represented, death!  Some lives were so short.  I wondered about the illnesses that claimed lives hundreds of years ago which we now have cures for.

Here is the grave of poet Robert Frost, his wife Elinor, and two of their children, a daughter Marjorie and son Carol.  They had six children.

We ended our afternoon at Jim and Sissy Hamilton’s house.  We had great fajitas and great fellowship.  It was nice to see their home.  I didn’t realize they were nestled in the mountains and Pittsfield reminded me a little of hometown, USA. 

Sissy, Jim and Fezzi

This is Fezzik, named for the giant in Princess Bride.  When the kids leave the nest, we are left with our dogs. I think Sissy chose Fezzik and really likes him.  We have Gypsy, whom I inherited and she has never been a favorite. Elaine differentiates between her Grandmas by these dogs…Grandma Fezzik  and Grandma Gypsy.  Kind of cute, but I am not really fond of it!

Birthday Wishes!!

Today is our daughter’s 30th Birthday!  Happy Birthday Andrea Michelle!  A year ago I shared the story of your birth here.  It’s always fun looking back at old photos and remembering special times.  And then to think how that little precious baby so quickly became a lovely young woman.  I did notice that in many of the pictures our daughter had a tongue issue…

We probably should have had that looked at before she became a bride!

Okay, that was for fun.  Some Birthday humor!  When I was looking back through the photos, I seem to have a big gap from baby to young lady.  I guess those photos have not reached the digital age yet. You were a pretty cute little girl and someday I will be able show those off. I did have lots of photos of you as that young lady...you always look very nice and clean and feminine!  But you did grow up in Colorado.  I thought you might like reliving some of your mountain adventures.

Remember this fishing trip?  We had just picked you up from camp at the Wilds and a week of Camper in Training.  Then we hiked up to Cataracht Lake to fish.  Wesley took a big cast with his pole and landed it right in your leg!

This was your first elk hunt.  The scrapbook said, “this was all the action your gun saw.”  No elk, but Dad remembers lots of mud.

This was skeet shooting at Uncle Lewis’ in OK.  No memories from Dad and I on this one…did you get any?

And here you are, the great white hunter!  The scrap book says about this, “perfect lung shot at 150 yds.!”    This was a family hunting trip just after Christmas.  I thought after one day of hanging out in cold, you and I would stay in the hotel and scrapbook while the boys hunted.   But you were very determined to have an elk and sure enough, the last morning out, you and Kenny both were successful!  Dad made you gut it and all! Not bad for the girl who can’t stand to patty out burgers!

These next photos are of you at Georgia Pass on the Continental Divide.  I think you had several outings with Dad there.

You took special friends there when they came to visit in Colorado…Danielle and…Ben!

Leaving the mountains behind, we sent you off to college and by graduation God brought a wonderful young man into your life, Ben. 

 

Ben tagged along on part of our vacation after graduation.  We piled into the our Camry wagon which had a seat in the back end. Kind of cozy for you two, until your brothers joined you!

Remember that little poem,” A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be your best friend?”  I have always felt that long before I read it!

And Dads are no different.  You are his little girl.  He would do anything for you!

Which is why it is so hard to give you away.

It does help a bit though when the grandkids come along!  How fun to watch you as a Mom! 

You have your own family now and it is growing!  So are the experiences we get to share with you.  Thirty years certainly have come quickly! We thank the Lord for each one of them as your Mom and Dad. 

Happy Birthday Andrea Michelle!!

“being confident of this vey thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”  Phil. 1:6