Sunday, November 17, 2013

FALL VACATION 2013 --Connecticut-PA-NY-ME Trip

Robyn and I enjoyed our fall vacation--
To See Austin and Rachel In Connecticut, New Haven
Lori, Michael and Isaac in Hershey PA
Jan, John, Emma and Sophie in NY Downtown and Tarrytown,
And With Austin and Rachel along the Maine Coast
September 2013

 Robyn, Rachel and Austin
At their New Haven Apartment
Decorated with Rachel's Trademark Wall Stencils
 
 Rachel's Custom Engineering Desk
Her First Home Design is framed on the wall

 Pedestrian Walkway in New Haven, CT
On the way to the Farmer's Weekend Street Market
 Austin and Rachel's apartment building is a converted factory.
Mostly, the factory made girdles.
According to this sign, one area has a more macabre function.

 On our walking tour of Yale campus, Robyn, Rachel and Austin stop for a rest outside the Baenecke Rare Book Museum. (Look up the spelling for me.)
Built in 63, celebrating its 50th Anniversary.

 This standing mobile sculpture by J.A. Calder was installed in the early 60's.
It reminded me of the space-age rocket era, but had a completely different title.

 Stopping by the Yale Medical School Library,
 just before Austin started his overnight shift at the hospital.
 Dr. Austin likes to read and research at the Yale Medical School Library, on his off hours.
 Austin took Rachel, Robyn and me to the catacombs of the Yale Medical School Library, for an up close and personal tour of the Cushing Brain Museum.
Rachel is soooooo excited.  Its not every day you can gaze upon
 hundreds of diseased brains displayed neatly in formaldeyde-filled jars.
 
 Austin, holding Dr. Cushing's biography of Dr. Osler.
Some day, people will visit a museum and hold a biography of Dr. Austin. 

 High above New Haven, Long Island Sound in the distant view,
Austin, Rachel, Robyn
 Contemplation
 Robyn and Jeff set out by train, leaving New Haven, thru NYC, then to Hershey PA
 Visting the general store in Amish country, LAN-k-stir PA
 We had a great stay with Michael, Lori and Isaac--enjoyed their new home.
Two Sisters, Lori and Robyn

 Off by train again, to NYC, Manhattan
Jan took us on a fantastic walking tour, here stopping for a break on the "Highline" (elevated train bed converted to landscaped walkway)

 Beautiful sunset sail around Manhattan on a clipper ship, with Jan and Robyn.
 Robyn and Jan, on board, bundled up for the chill.

 My map screensaver pic of the ship (blue dot), as we sailed out of Manhattan, to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty.
 Moonrise over Manhattan

 Statute of Liberty, lit by full moon, as we sailed past.

 Jan and Robyn
Outside the Rockefeller estate in NY: Kykuit
 Saying goodby to Jan outside their Tarrytown Treasure of a house

 Rachel and Robyn: we're back in New Haven,
ready to pick up Austin for a driving tour of the Maine Coast.
The "Smoothie" garment factory in the background is Austin and Rachel's apartment building.
 My goals were few in Maine: see a lightouse and eat lobster at a lobster shack.
Here we are at the shack!  (Cape Elizabeth)
 An easy breezy day.

 Rachel and Austin inside the Lobster Shack.
 Waiting in line to get in the restaurant

 Actually, I had this for dinner later that night, at a Harbor Restaurant in Portland, Maine.

 Playful Austin found the "Rock-ing" chair outside the Lobster Shack.
Get it? It really did "rock" back and forth.

 Robyn and Jeff,
Kennebunkport Bush compound in the distance.

 Visiting the grave of our 
ancestor, Peter Brown, 1600s,
Palisado Cemertery, near Hartsford CT airport
 Peter Brown gravestone
One of three generations of or ancestors buried here.
 We were too early for the fall colors--but I did find one beautiful leaf at the cemetery!
Now we could return.
Robyn, Jeff and Austin
Just before we said goodbye!
Thanks to all who made this such a fun and historic trip!

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Date Night--Framed!

For a fun date night, Robyn and I picked out our own art-photo, matte, and frame--then wrote a poem together.  It was fun to work together, side by side--we had no idea what we would do when we started, and we were happy the outcome.

Here's the result: 

 
 LEAVES &  BRANCHES
                       HEARTS & HANDS
                                                LAUGHTER & TEARS
                                                                  ALWAYS TOGETHER
                                                                                       JEFF & ROBYN  
                                                                                                          8/31/2013

One way to look at it is that there are 6 leaves: one for Jeff, Robyn, Christian, Austin, Stephen and Ryan.  These are the original branches.  Our love will grow together, forever, with them and through their families.  Robyn and I put this on the wall to remind us to stick together through the happy times and the sad times, hold and love each other always.

Cooking with Robyn

Robyn has had an amazing garden this summer.
Nearly every day, her work schedule permitting, she prepares fresh meals with ingredients that she harvested from her garden, often with her own recipes.
Here are a couple of dishes this summer.

A crockpot, ready to start

Grilled steak and peppers; pasta with tomatoes and basil.

Family Photos

Some informal photos from a Sunday afternoon.

 Stephen Davis and Dad
 Ryan
 Mom and Stephen Davis


Our Backyard National Geographic Channel

Several months ago, I was eating breakfast,
when a lightning fast Cooper's Hawk struck its breakfast in our back yard.
 
 Our back yard fence was a fine perch for his catch.
We see Cooper's Hawks occasionally, but usually our little backyard finches, mourning doves, towhees, and songbirds are quick to hide.

Remembering Summer Sunshine and Flowers

A pot of zinnias, which grew from seeds planted by Dylan, Bennett and Grandpa Jeff
In late August, the Monarch butterflies paid a nice little visit.

Little Harbor--Catalina Beach Campout, July 2013

Months of planning culminated in a unique camp out on the Western Shore of Catalina, right on the beach--at Little Harbor.
Campers: Me, Ryan, Stephen and Eric; Christian and Dylan; Scott and Jake; Ryan Webber, Jaden and Tray.  We had a blast, from Thursday through Saturday in mid-July.



Playing at the group-site fire pit, with the neighboring camper family kids.

Our cooking fire, and nice shade structure.
Christian tending the fire, Scott setting up a meal.

Scott the pancake master.

Christian and Stephen, with breakfast.
Christian cooked bacon on the open fire.

Eric catching the rays, in between spearfishing expeditions.

Grandpa Jeff always ready to chase any kid, especially as a sea monster at the beach.

 Jake and Dylan in the waves.
Ryan W and son Tray flying a kite in background.

 Ryan and Scott taking a rest.

 Christian getting ready for another spear fishing expedition.

 Little Harbor at night. Each night a new boat or two would come and some would leave.

 No more battery power for the phone.

 Some of us hiked to the top of hill overlooking the harbor.
Front Row: Tray, Jaden, Jake, Dylan
Back Row: Ryan W, Jeff, Scott, Christian.
Not shown: Stephen D., Ryan R.
 
 Grandpa Jeff, Dylan, Christian

 Jake (with the walking stick made for him by Scott) and Scott
 Eric points back to the rocky point along side our camping area.

Muscle Men

 Ryan ran 14 miles (7 up and back) on this trail in the early morning hours before anyone was up.
 Scott and Jake test the hammock.

 Scott and Christian show off the spearfishing catch.
They made it back, after swamping the kayak twice!

 Christian samples his catch.  It doesn't get any fresher than that!

 Ryan R loved to show the little boys the tidepools, hermit crabs, limpets, and --best of all--lots of little shore crabs.

 Walking around the camp area, getting ready for our ride back to civilization.

 Stephen, Ryan R, and Eric, waiting for our bus.
Tired and happy campers on the windy ferry ride back home.

Not shown:
Whales seen on the ferry ride over, including their flukes as they dived.
Jeff and Stephen's various snorkeling expeditions around the harbor, where the saw a beautiful leopard shark swimming through the underwater grass.
I'll try to post some of the under water photos Stephen took.