Tammy and I both worked Thanksgiving Day; so we had our own Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday evening. This allowed me to enjoy some of my favorite things about Thanksgiving Day: leftovers for lunch the next several days and the ability to watch Thanksgiving football games non-stop when I got home from work because Tammy worked a 12 hour shift.
Friday after work, we traveled to VT for a weekend visit. Rick came over from NY with the twins on Saturday. We had a big Thanksgiving dinner with them, the VT grandparents, Jaclyn, and the B's that day. Later in the day, Jaclyn and I negotiated over the internet with a local dealer a price on a new Subaru Forester which she will be getting in mid-December.
We came home Sunday afternoon, decorated the house Monday for Christmas, and now await the arrival of Lizzy this coming Saturday, December 14 for her Christmas break from PCC.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Montreal
Thursday, October 17 after work, Tammy and I drove to VT for a quick evening visit with Jaclyn, the VT Grandparents, and the Beauchemins. The next morning, we left early for Montreal arriving there at 830 am.
Our plan was to head first to the Biodome which our GPS could not find. It did have an entry for a Biosphere. Turns out the Biosphere and the Biodome are two completely different things in different parts of the city. The unique thing about this unplanned side trip was that to leave our parking lot, we had to drive around the Montreal Grand Prix race course which we later learned is the only track to have been used for both Grand Prix races and a NASCAR race.
A half hour drive later, we found the Botanical Gardens which is within walking distance of the Biodome. We arrived at the Botanical Gardens just in time to take a 2 hour guided tour of the outdoor gardens. We then visited the Biodome and had lunch. We headed back to the Gardens and visited all the greenhouses. Having been on our feet for over six hours, we decided it was time to find our hotel in Old Montreal which was no easy feat.
On Saturday, we took a six hour tour walking tour of Montreal. We visited all the various sections of Montreal weaving east to west as we made our way north through the city. After the tour, we hit the tourist shops for some souvenirs for the girls.
We left Montreal early enough Sunday morning to make it to VT in time to attend church. Turns out after church, there was a pot luck for Pastor's Appreciation month. We arrived back in CT around 6 pm.
Pictures of our trip are posted to the right. Please click on them to see a slideshow.
Our plan was to head first to the Biodome which our GPS could not find. It did have an entry for a Biosphere. Turns out the Biosphere and the Biodome are two completely different things in different parts of the city. The unique thing about this unplanned side trip was that to leave our parking lot, we had to drive around the Montreal Grand Prix race course which we later learned is the only track to have been used for both Grand Prix races and a NASCAR race.
A half hour drive later, we found the Botanical Gardens which is within walking distance of the Biodome. We arrived at the Botanical Gardens just in time to take a 2 hour guided tour of the outdoor gardens. We then visited the Biodome and had lunch. We headed back to the Gardens and visited all the greenhouses. Having been on our feet for over six hours, we decided it was time to find our hotel in Old Montreal which was no easy feat.
On Saturday, we took a six hour tour walking tour of Montreal. We visited all the various sections of Montreal weaving east to west as we made our way north through the city. After the tour, we hit the tourist shops for some souvenirs for the girls.
We left Montreal early enough Sunday morning to make it to VT in time to attend church. Turns out after church, there was a pot luck for Pastor's Appreciation month. We arrived back in CT around 6 pm.
Pictures of our trip are posted to the right. Please click on them to see a slideshow.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Squirrel Proof
If you have one of these,
you know this is a problem.
You could spend the money on one of these;
or do as I did and purchase an air soft pistol.
Haven't seen a squirrel since hitting one. Apparently word gets out among them.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Keeping Busy
September 21 to September 28, Tammy and I along with her parents and brother rented a condo at Beach Colony on Perdido Beach to visit with Lizzy at PCC. We flew down to Pensacola, rented a car, and ended up traveling over 500 miles that week going back and forth - forth and back. The first few days' weather was a little less than ideal, but then improved allowing for morning and evening walks on the beach. One day, we even saw a turtle in the ocean.
The day we arrived back to CT on September 28, my work had its annual banquet at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell celebrating 44 years of being on the air. Greg Yoder from Mission Network News (http://www.mnnonline.org) was the guest speaker and Christopher Adams, the Singing Chaplain, provided the evening's music.
October 5, we went apple picking at Johnny Appleseed in Ellington. We picked enough apples to make 9 apple pies, 5 apple crisps, and froze enough to make 4 more pies during the holidays. It took 4 hours to peel, core, and cut up the apples -- mainly because our apple corer, peeler, slicer broke and only peels now. Everything but one apple crisp was given away.
October 11, Tammy and I went shopping to get items for Operation Christmas Child ( http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/). We filled three shoe boxes -- two for boys ages 5-9 and one for a girl 5-9. These along with the Gospel message will eventually be delivered to somewhere in the world.
A trip of several days to Montreal to visit its Biodome and Botanical Gardens and take a six hour walking tour of the city is next on our horizon.
The day we arrived back to CT on September 28, my work had its annual banquet at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell celebrating 44 years of being on the air. Greg Yoder from Mission Network News (http://www.mnnonline.org) was the guest speaker and Christopher Adams, the Singing Chaplain, provided the evening's music.
October 5, we went apple picking at Johnny Appleseed in Ellington. We picked enough apples to make 9 apple pies, 5 apple crisps, and froze enough to make 4 more pies during the holidays. It took 4 hours to peel, core, and cut up the apples -- mainly because our apple corer, peeler, slicer broke and only peels now. Everything but one apple crisp was given away.
October 11, Tammy and I went shopping to get items for Operation Christmas Child ( http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/). We filled three shoe boxes -- two for boys ages 5-9 and one for a girl 5-9. These along with the Gospel message will eventually be delivered to somewhere in the world.
A trip of several days to Montreal to visit its Biodome and Botanical Gardens and take a six hour walking tour of the city is next on our horizon.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
All My Children
Jaclyn - Had been working at Baystate Hospital as a nurse's aide since graduating from college this May. Has taken a job at Mary Fletcher in VT on the Cardio-Thoracic floor which begins the end of September. Will live with my parents. Will be visiting Oregon for a week this month.
Elizabeth - Flew to Pensacola September 1. Began her junior year of college as an English major and art minor. Has a class load of 16 credit hours. Not happy about having to change dorms from Dixon to Bradley. We will be visiting her this month.
Elizabeth - Flew to Pensacola September 1. Began her junior year of college as an English major and art minor. Has a class load of 16 credit hours. Not happy about having to change dorms from Dixon to Bradley. We will be visiting her this month.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Let the Games Begin
As a phoenix from the ashes, family fun has risen from the site where our pool once stood. On the now flat, grassy ground we have been playing a number of outdoor games.
Over the past two months, I have purchased a number of various 'tossing' games. These are great for us older people as the major activites involved in playing them are standing around, tossing the game pieces, then bending over to pick them up.
To date I have purchased, and we have played the following games:
Ladder Ball
Bean Bag Toss
Bocce Ball
Kan Jam
Washer Toss
Rubber bases (for future games of kickball and wiffle ball when enough people are present)
Over the past two months, I have purchased a number of various 'tossing' games. These are great for us older people as the major activites involved in playing them are standing around, tossing the game pieces, then bending over to pick them up.
To date I have purchased, and we have played the following games:
Ladder Ball
Bean Bag Toss
Bocce Ball
Kan Jam
Washer Toss
Rubber bases (for future games of kickball and wiffle ball when enough people are present)
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Four-Fifths
Four of the five Gangwer children and their families were able to spend this past weekend of July 19 and 20 together with their parents the VT Gangwers . The CT Gangwers, the NY Gangwers, Robin and her family from NC, and Rachelle and her family from VT spent Friday and Saturday at a nice home in Stowe, VT.
Pictures of our activities of eating, catching up with one another, and some friendly competition are posted for your viewing pleasure.
Pictures of our activities of eating, catching up with one another, and some friendly competition are posted for your viewing pleasure.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Our Summer To Do List
Ron - Work, Yard Work, Stay cool in the AC since no pool, Feed the birds, Water the flowers, Grill
Tammy - Work, Laundry, Dinner. Play games on phone, Help Ron with his list
Jaclyn - Work as a CCT, Take NCLEX July 22, Await second round of Grad Nurse hiring in Oct, Attend jury duty, Skype and/or call OR a lot
LIzzy - Work, Sleep, Drive Stas around
Tammy - Work, Laundry, Dinner. Play games on phone, Help Ron with his list
Jaclyn - Work as a CCT, Take NCLEX July 22, Await second round of Grad Nurse hiring in Oct, Attend jury duty, Skype and/or call OR a lot
LIzzy - Work, Sleep, Drive Stas around
Saturday, June 15, 2013
The Birds Revisited
Two years ago, I wrote a blog entitled That's for the Birds. It listed the many types of birds that visit our four bird feeders in the backyard.
This last Christmas, Lizzy received a nice camera, I used it this past Saturday and took some of the bird's photos. Please click on the slideshow posted to the right.
This last Christmas, Lizzy received a nice camera, I used it this past Saturday and took some of the bird's photos. Please click on the slideshow posted to the right.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
A College Graduation
Our journey to Jaclyn's college graduation began with our trip to visit my sister Robin and her family in southern NC. It took us 13 hours to get there with just one stop for a gas, food, and bathroom break. We spent Saturday and Sunday visiting with them - playing some football and going to church.
We left NC for Pensacola on Monday. We made that trip in 10 hours with one stop again for gas, food, and bathroom break. When we arrived in Pensacola, we meet with Lizzy's student advisor that afternoon concerning her course of study to no resolution. Because of a change in her major after her first semester from Graphic Design to Studio Art, she will need to go an extra semester.
On Tuesday, we attended Jaclyn's nurse pinning ceremony. Later that day we attended some commencement contests with the kids.
The main reason for our traveling arrived Wednesday, May 8 at 9:30 am. Four years of hard work culminated in the 30 second walk across the stage for Jaclyn as she received her BS in Nursing.
After graduation, our family, my sister Rachelle's family, my parents, Tammy's parents and brother, along with the girls' boyfriends all headed to Orange Beach, AL where we rented two condos on the beach for the week. We spent our days sitting and walking on the beach and playing volleyball,Texas Hold'em and PassPhrase during the evenings. On Sunday, we attended church by walking there on the beach.
On Tuesday, Jaclyn and her boyfriend Blake headed to OR to visit with his family for two weeks. Everyone else headed home Wednesday morning. Most of us making it there by Thursday.
Concerning Jaclyn's future career plans, she has a scheduled phone interview with a hospital in VT near my parents and a second interview with a hospital near our home.
We left NC for Pensacola on Monday. We made that trip in 10 hours with one stop again for gas, food, and bathroom break. When we arrived in Pensacola, we meet with Lizzy's student advisor that afternoon concerning her course of study to no resolution. Because of a change in her major after her first semester from Graphic Design to Studio Art, she will need to go an extra semester.
On Tuesday, we attended Jaclyn's nurse pinning ceremony. Later that day we attended some commencement contests with the kids.
The main reason for our traveling arrived Wednesday, May 8 at 9:30 am. Four years of hard work culminated in the 30 second walk across the stage for Jaclyn as she received her BS in Nursing.
After graduation, our family, my sister Rachelle's family, my parents, Tammy's parents and brother, along with the girls' boyfriends all headed to Orange Beach, AL where we rented two condos on the beach for the week. We spent our days sitting and walking on the beach and playing volleyball,Texas Hold'em and PassPhrase during the evenings. On Sunday, we attended church by walking there on the beach.
On Tuesday, Jaclyn and her boyfriend Blake headed to OR to visit with his family for two weeks. Everyone else headed home Wednesday morning. Most of us making it there by Thursday.
Concerning Jaclyn's future career plans, she has a scheduled phone interview with a hospital in VT near my parents and a second interview with a hospital near our home.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
A Mystical Weekend
I took Friday, April 26 off from work for a three day weekend.
Tammy booked us a Weekend at Sea package in Mystic, CT. It included a two night stay at the Whitehall Mansion, 2 tickets to the Mystic Aquarium, and 2 tickets to Mystic Seaport.
We spent Friday at the aquarium and visited Old Mystic Village (a grouping of about 60 stores) next door. We had dinner at 10 Clams and bought some cupcakes from the Bleu Squid. We took these to downtown historic Mystic where we ate them after we walked around some more shops and saw the Mystic drawbridge in operation.
Saturday, we went to Mystic Seaport. We returned to downtown Mystic for dinner at Mystic Pizza for a slice of heaven and had waffle cones at Drawbridge Ice Cream.
On the way home Sunday, we stopped at the Submarine Force Museum - home of the historic ship Nautilus which was the first nuclear powered submarine.
Tammy booked us a Weekend at Sea package in Mystic, CT. It included a two night stay at the Whitehall Mansion, 2 tickets to the Mystic Aquarium, and 2 tickets to Mystic Seaport.
We spent Friday at the aquarium and visited Old Mystic Village (a grouping of about 60 stores) next door. We had dinner at 10 Clams and bought some cupcakes from the Bleu Squid. We took these to downtown historic Mystic where we ate them after we walked around some more shops and saw the Mystic drawbridge in operation.
Saturday, we went to Mystic Seaport. We returned to downtown Mystic for dinner at Mystic Pizza for a slice of heaven and had waffle cones at Drawbridge Ice Cream.
On the way home Sunday, we stopped at the Submarine Force Museum - home of the historic ship Nautilus which was the first nuclear powered submarine.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Checked Off
It' might be Spring on the calendar, but you wouldn't know it by the cool temperatures we're experiencing. Nonetheless, we have been able to get a lot of items checked off our to-do list.
Outdoor Projects: Raked front and backyard-check. Cleaned out the garage-check. Mulched flower bed-check. Planted some new flowers in the backyard-check. Rehung and filled bird feeders-check. Power washed the back of the house-check. Installed new outdoor outlet-check. Begun cutting the grass-check.
Indoor Projects: Spring cleaned the house (including all windows washed inside and outside with all curtains washed and ironed)-check. Both bathrooms remodeled by contractor-check (and boy did he get a big one).
Now to get out that hammock and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Feeling the Need, the Need to Read
What does one do during the winter months of coldness and early darkness here in New England? Read of course, and read I did as I have the past several winters. (Don't believe me. See posts from the Spring months of the previous years.)
Below are the books that have been read from November through the writing of this blog.
The Amish Way
The History of Block Island
The Real Mystery of Block Island
New England Outpost: War and Society in Colonial Deerfield
The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion
The Unredeemed Captive
The Big Burn - America's Worst Forest Fire
The Summer of 1787 - The Men who Invented the Constitution
If you are a studious follower of this blog, you will see a common theme to all these books except one. What is it? Stay tuned or make your guesses.
Below are the books that have been read from November through the writing of this blog.
The Amish Way
The History of Block Island
The Real Mystery of Block Island
New England Outpost: War and Society in Colonial Deerfield
The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion
The Unredeemed Captive
The Big Burn - America's Worst Forest Fire
The Summer of 1787 - The Men who Invented the Constitution
If you are a studious follower of this blog, you will see a common theme to all these books except one. What is it? Stay tuned or make your guesses.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Rocky II
Thursday night, February 28 at 10:45 I was awakened by a sound I had heard twice before (see post from May 2012 for those sagas) and had hoped to never hear again.........a raccoon on our roof ripping at the gable vent.
I got out of bed and started rapping on the ceiling near the vent. No reaction. The ripping sound continued. I opened the window under the vent. The noise stopped. Then plop. There was the raccoon (a good size one at that) staring at me. It ran to the other side of the garage roof and jumped. I didn't sleep much after that keeping a listening ear out for its possible return.
When I returned home from work the next day (it's dark when I leave for work in the morning), I checked out the gable vents. The work that we had done last summer by a pest and wildlife specialist putting grates over the vents paid off. No damage!
Here's hoping word gets out around the raccoon community that our house is a no go for them.
I got out of bed and started rapping on the ceiling near the vent. No reaction. The ripping sound continued. I opened the window under the vent. The noise stopped. Then plop. There was the raccoon (a good size one at that) staring at me. It ran to the other side of the garage roof and jumped. I didn't sleep much after that keeping a listening ear out for its possible return.
When I returned home from work the next day (it's dark when I leave for work in the morning), I checked out the gable vents. The work that we had done last summer by a pest and wildlife specialist putting grates over the vents paid off. No damage!
Here's hoping word gets out around the raccoon community that our house is a no go for them.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
sNOw KIDDING AROUND
The Blizzard of 2013 started out slowly on Friday, February 8th. I saw the first flakes fall around 8am while at work in Middletown. It pretty much snowed lightly until I got home around 2pm. It seemed moderate until it got dark. The worst of the snow fell overnight.
Please visit the pictures to the right to see photos of what we woke up to on Saturday, February 9th.
Please visit the pictures to the right to see photos of what we woke up to on Saturday, February 9th.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Our Christmas Break Itinerary
Saturday, December 16 - The girls, Stas, AJ and Jordan arrive home from FL
Sunday, December 17 - Decorate the Christmas tree. Alan, Justin, and Brandon come from VT to pick up AJ and Jordan
Monday, December 18 - Alan and the boys leave for VT. The girls return to work - Jaclyn at Baystate in MA and Lizzy at Once Upon a Child in CT
Wednesday, December 20 - Lizzy and I in CT watch Calvary's (in VT) Christmas Cantata live on the web
Monday, December 24 - Celebrate Christmas as Tammy, Jaclyn, and I have to work Christmas Day. Attend Christmas Eve service at First Baptist Church in MA
Friday, December 28 - Tammy's parents arrive from IL for a week's visit
Saturday, December 29 - Chad, Tammy's brother, who is also from IL, arrives for a visit
Wednesday, January 1 - Chad returns to IL
Thurday, January 2 - Tammy' parents leave for IL
Tuesday, January 7 - Alan, Rachelle, AJ, and Jordan visit after appointment in Boston; and Blake, Jaclyn's boyfriend, arrives from OR
Thursday, January 9 - Alan, Rachelle, and AJ take Jordan to the Hartford airport for his trip to IN .Then they leave for VT
Wednesdya, January 15 - Blake returns home to OR
Thursday, January 16 - Alan drops off AJ at our house in CT and returns to VT
Friday, January 17 - The girls, Stas, and AJ head back to FL with a stop for a visit with Jeff, Robin, and her three children in NC
Saturday, January 18 - A very quiet CT house
Sunday, December 17 - Decorate the Christmas tree. Alan, Justin, and Brandon come from VT to pick up AJ and Jordan
Monday, December 18 - Alan and the boys leave for VT. The girls return to work - Jaclyn at Baystate in MA and Lizzy at Once Upon a Child in CT
Wednesday, December 20 - Lizzy and I in CT watch Calvary's (in VT) Christmas Cantata live on the web
Monday, December 24 - Celebrate Christmas as Tammy, Jaclyn, and I have to work Christmas Day. Attend Christmas Eve service at First Baptist Church in MA
Friday, December 28 - Tammy's parents arrive from IL for a week's visit
Saturday, December 29 - Chad, Tammy's brother, who is also from IL, arrives for a visit
Wednesday, January 1 - Chad returns to IL
Thurday, January 2 - Tammy' parents leave for IL
Tuesday, January 7 - Alan, Rachelle, AJ, and Jordan visit after appointment in Boston; and Blake, Jaclyn's boyfriend, arrives from OR
Thursday, January 9 - Alan, Rachelle, and AJ take Jordan to the Hartford airport for his trip to IN .Then they leave for VT
Wednesdya, January 15 - Blake returns home to OR
Thursday, January 16 - Alan drops off AJ at our house in CT and returns to VT
Friday, January 17 - The girls, Stas, and AJ head back to FL with a stop for a visit with Jeff, Robin, and her three children in NC
Saturday, January 18 - A very quiet CT house
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