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!

Clambake, Engagement and Hall of Fame!

Carly and Tiffany's third annual clambake and lobsterfest was a seafood spectacular. Guests came from all over the country. College friends of Tiffany came from Denver, St. Louis and Milwaukee. Les and Pam flew in from Cincinnati on their private plane. Sarah and Don represented the state of New Jersey. Anne hitched a ride from Lexington, Virginia. Ohio cities of Findlay, Fostoria, Huron and Toledo were represented. Over 50 guests attended the party.

The calm before the storm--the firepit before the event.






















The rocks at the bottom of the firepit are ready. Carly and Andrew load in the lobsters.



















Some lobsters are still wiggling as steam rises from the seaweed at the bottom of the pit.



















Joe throws on bags of clams. Then the mussels will be put on last.



















Carly and Jen ponder the pit.






















Guests socialize while waiting for seafood to steam.




















Tom grills the chicken, chorizo and brats while Scout and Parker wait for a morsel.






















Tom checks the test egg. If it's hardboiled the lobsters are done.

















The tarp is pulled back, seafood revealed and the crowd applauds.




















SUCCESS!

















Let the feasting begin!



















GREAT PARTY CARLY AND TIFFANY!

At the party, newly-engaged Joe and Becky showed off her ring. Congrats to them. Are they excited?

















YES!


















And finally, who knew when Slider attended our Indians party in July that he would be inducted into the Mascot of Hall of Fame in October? Way to go Slider!

October Happenings

It's hard to believe that it's October! Where has 2008 gone?

Thus far this month we've enjoyed two special family gatherings, both in the Washington, D.C. area.

First, we provided daycare services for Michaela and celebrated Jeff and Lexi's seventh anniversary.



















Then we had a wonderful visit with Ben, Amy, Ida Jane and Harper. This was our first opportunity to greet Harper in person. What a cutie!

















Michaela says "Hi Kittie!"

















Stay tuned for Clambake pics, an engagement, and a Hall of Fame winner!

A Wonderful Visit to Washington, D.C.

Jim recently had a wonderful opportunity to stay with Jeff, Lexi and Michaela in Washington for several days, providing daycare for Michaela and celebrating Jeff's birthday. What a great time!

Jeff reads Michaela a new book created by GB specifically for Michaela and delivered by Granddad.
















Family portrait taken just before Mom and Dad head to the Metro for work.
















Michaela on the Metro platform, on her way with Granddad to visit the National Aquarium.
















Visiting with Dad during lunch hour in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House.
















Helping Dad celebrate his birthday. Dad sports a special "Birthday Prince" crown given to him by Michaela.

Visit to a U.S. President's Summer Home

We recently made a day excursion to Lawnfield in Mentor, OH, a far eastern suburb of Cleveland. Lawnfield is the summer home of James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. President. Originally a farm, it is now a national historic site maintained by the National Park Service. The house is shown below.











Here are some facts we learned on the house tour that you may find interesting:

1. James Garfield was assassinated in 1881 about four months after taking the oath of office. But he did not die immediately. He lived another 80 days while doctors attempted to heal his wounds and overcome infections. At one point inventor Alexander Graham Bell, using a newly created electrical device, tried unsuccessfully to help doctors locate a bullet that remained lodged in Garfield's body. Because of the then recent invention of the telegraph, Americans nationwide for the first time received daily, if not hourly, updates on his status. This created enormous "mass media" interest over an extended period of time, a new phenomenon. When he finally did succumb, the event caused a stir greater than that of the death of Abraham Lincoln.

2. After his death, President Garfield's wife, Lucretia, added a wing to the home to house his many books and papers, setting the precedent for presidential libraries. The main room is stunningly beautiful with massive white oak beams, Victorian design and even a cement-lined side room for storing papers in a fireproof setting.

3. Garfield is the only U.S. President elected to that office while serving in Congress. (Gerald Ford, another member of Congress who also became President, was not elected into that office.) Garfield was also the last U.S. President born in a log cabin.

4. In this year's Presidential election both candidates are expected to be nominated on the first ballot at each party's convention. That wasn't the case with James Garfield. It wasn't until the 36th ballot that he was nominated. And he didn't have to travel far to campaign. He conducted his campaign primarily from his front porch! Reporters and dignitaries came to see him, in such large numbers that the railroad built a special station near Lawnfield.















James Abram Garfield (1831-1881)

Great Time in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

We recently completed an overnight getaway in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, home of the Shaw Theatre Festival. Downtown streets are adorned with beautiful flowers maintained by a local horticultural school. Our bed and breakfast was excellent. We were surprised at how the local area features many, many wineries, helping to make Niagara-on-the-Lake a destination spot for tourists worldwide. On the way home we stopped to inspect Niagara Falls. We could not have asked for more beautiful weather!

















In front of statue of Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw.
















View of Lake Ontario and Fort Niagara which is on the U.S. side of the mouth of the Niagara River. Here is where water from Lake Erie flows (from right to left) into Lake Ontario.
















Inspecting grapes at a local winery.
















Our sightseeing included a visit to nearby Lock #3 on the Welland Canal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welland_Canal) which enables ships and boats to sail between Lakes Erie and Ontario, bypassing Niagara Falls. It just so happened that the freighter Halifax went through the lock while we were there. It was amazing to watch this 225 foot vessel maneuver into the lock with little room to spare. The lock filled with water within minutes, raising the massive ship smoothly and quickly as though it were on an elevator.

Approaching Lock #3.

















The Halifax will maneuver itself into this narrow space bow first. Lock doors at the ship's stern will then be closed and the lock flooded.


















Going up!


















Thanks for the show!
















On our way back home we stopped to admire Niagara Falls. This video shows the views from atop Horseshoe Falls.

On the Peace Bridge between Canada and the U.S., overlooking Lake Erie. (Double click to enlarge.)