How to Keep Warm!

So far this January, 2009, our low temperature in Lakewood has been a -13 (wind chill below -30). Here are our tips on how to stay warm.

Wear a warm, cozy sweater, like Augie.

Wrap up in fleece and wool blankets while drinking hot tea and watching the U.S. national Figure Skating Championship, taking place in Cleveland. (Jim's version of a Snuggie!)

Buy a house in Florida, like Mel and Mo are doing.

And make sure the house has a pool!

Stay warm and enjoy the season. It will be over before you know it!

Lucky Buckeyes

During our recent visit with Jeff, Lexi and Michaela in Washington, GB introduced Michaela to "lucky buckeyes" from Ohio. This video, although a little dark, captured some of the action as we made necklaces with lucky buckeyes and beads.

Visit With Jeff, Lexi and Michaela

We enjoyed a wonderful holiday visit with Jeff, Lexi and Michaela in Washington, D.C. Our time together included:

• A visit to the National Christmas Tree display, near the White House, complete with elaborate model trains which Michaela loved. She referred to each train as "Thomas."
  
  
• A visit to the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum where Michaela expressed delight in seeing all the airplanes. She and GB had a great time operating an exhibit which simulates a plane taking-off from Washington Reagan National Airport.


• Making necklaces with buckeyes we brought from Ohio.

• A delightful tea party using Michaela's new table and chairs and a splendid new tea set (given to Barb by Lexi and Jeff) complete with flowering tea. (The tea bag really does morph into a beautiful flower!)

• Invigorating walks including, on our last day, at Tedddy Roosevelt Park on an island in the Potomac River.

What a great time!

At the White House Christmas Tree Display

A railroad volunteer shows Michaela a specially-made, self-propelled "Oval Office." In the background is one of several train displays.

At the Air and Space Museum.

Modeling buckeye necklaces.

Out for walks. (Some had it easier than others!)

Michaela models her Christmas gift from Great Granddad and Great Grandmama.

Confession: One of our walks turned into a fun visit to Arby's.

Happy Holidays!

The Holidays have been a wonderful time for gatherings with families and friends. Please see the pictures below. Unfortunately, because of travel restrictions due to Jim's recent back surgery, we were unable to join the family gatherings in New York. Better luck next year!

Scenes from the Good Family Gathering

Zolls gather at the Good family gala.

Cousins catch up on the latest news.

John and Barb.

Erin and Lucy.

Andrew, Jim and Ed.

Scenes from the Zoll Family Gathering on Christmas Day

Chef Jen invites one and all to enjoy.

Tom prepares the banquet table.

Jen, Tom and Anne served a nontraditonal tapas-style Christmas dinner, complete with lobster bisque, seafood paella, smoked trukey with assorted olives, smoked salmon with capers, chipotle-barbecue meatballs and more! It was scrumptious!

Carly and Granddad pause during the festivities.

Jim and Kim meet JJ.
However, we were so caught up in the gift exchange that we didn't get any pictures. Hopefully Sarah did and we can add them later. Evan was very impressive as he accurately named the train cars (Thomas, Edward, Bertie, etc) as he unwrapped them. The "free to five" gifts were incredible - including a $ 50. gift card (Myra swears it was free) of which Tiffany was the lucky recipient.

With Ray and Birgitta and Family

Ray and Birgitta strike a Christmas celebration pose.

Birgitta with Claire Addison--born three months ago to Mandy and Eric.

Barbara meets Claire.

A portion of Ray's collection of Santa Claus statues and figurines. The wood carving in the left foreground, with green body, was made for Ray by Jeff at The Highlands Camp when Jeff had Ray as a secret friend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Zoll family gathered at Dave and Lois' home for a wondrous Thanksgiving holiday. What a spectacular event! From bright sunny weather, to a delectable turkey dinner, to the sharing of kindred spirits, this was a truly great family celebration.

Ready for carving!

Granddad's view of the Thanksgiving table.

Birthdays were also part of the celebration--for Evan Michael, Jacob and Jen.

Jen celebrated a very special birthday with a lifesize likeness (referred to as "JJ"). Below JJ cheers on participants in the 2008 Zoll Family Thanksgiving Football Classic.

Below are two highlights from the Zoll Football Classic. In the first, Mike intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown. In the second clip Carly catches a pass from Tiffany and weaves her way to the end zone for a score.





Here are the true football fans - Granddad and Parker!




What are they thinking?



Did you know Parker had a human twin?



Here's the entire "David & Myra" crew: Sarah, Mike, Ben, Amy, Evan, Myra, Harper, David and Ida Jane

A Beautiful Fall

We have been blessed with some wonderfully sunny and warm Fall weather. The ginkgo tree in front of the house has been radiant in its beauty. That's true of many trees on our street. Recently, Barb completed her annual climb of the ginkgo.

Congratulations Nicole and Darrell!

Nicole and Darrell successfully closed yesterday on their purchase of a wonderful co-op in the historic Jackson Heights neighborhood in Queens, New York City. They will be the newest residents of Laburnum Court, one of 10 garden-style apartment buildings constructed as a planned community in the 1920s. Noted for their distinguished English and Georgian architecture, Laburnum Court and the related buildings were the first to be constructed in New York City around large interior gardens. Below are photos. No doubt Nicole and Darrell will greatly enjoy their beautiful new home!