Ho Ho Ho and Bounty....

Despite Kim and I believing that this was one of our most mellow holiday seasons (with the exception of Italy), we found ourselves busily cooking and preparing to become company
AND to receive company.
We have begun a holiday tradition of inviting friends for dinner. This year we met for Christmas Eve; last year it was the day after Christmas. It is a gathering of very special people, great conversation, laughter, good food and wine. What greater gift than having
fantastic company exists?

We were treated to a wonderful Christmas day gathering at friends
Chris, Mike, Conor, and Kevin's home.
What great decorations!

And more happy friends gathering....

May you have been as luckily gathered as we were.
On to 2011 and.....

Friendship....

There is a very old Japanese saying that says,
"When the character of a person is unclear to you,
look to who their friends are..."

Here I am with my friend Jill, one of the greatest people I know.

HAPPY, HAPPY HANUKKAH TO US ALL!!

Celebrations and More! Gloucester, Part II

Sieglinde knows how to celebrate;
she learned this from her mother.
And a thirtieth birthday--just how often do they come along??
Thus, an important holy day of obligation.
The festivities began at a local Gloucester restaurant with family,
closest of East Coast friends, and of course, Dan King.

Look at these b e a u t i f u l young women.
Siegy (Sieglinde) and Samantha (Sam).

Dee and John drove up from Connecticut--an aunt and uncle attend the celebration.
But they showed no embarrassment over their preferred brand of beer!
What I learned about Gloucester includes just why all those Bud
television commercials are so successful.

Dad (Steve) tries to outdo me.

Bio Mom and Dad. (Didn't they do a great job!!)
Steve got the prize for traveling the farthest--
he currently is living and working in Copenhagen.

More beauty.
Fantastic solidarity.
Friends who can count upon one another.
Sam, Siegy
Camille and Ann Marie.

Kim put together a book of Siegy's earlier, childhood life.
Here she cries as Mom and Dan look on.

I too helped with the behind the scenes creation of her book.

Whooo. It was a great night. The next day brought a trip to Rockport, MA.

Totally picturesque on multiple levels.

Fishing is the heart and soul of Gloucester and Rockport.

Dang, they look and are so happy together. What more could parental units ask for??

For anyone who has followed this blog, cemeteries are a big draw.
Can you imagine a better view??? (Well, maybe one along the Cinque Terre in Italy but
in the USA????)

This is the Old First Parish cemetery, established in 1630

This is the grave of a Revolutionary War Veteran (thus the flag and status symbol).
He was a pastor and apparently extremely well regarded and liked. He was described as a great asset to their community and would be very missed....

What a great acknowledgment. Today he is still remembered although time and weather is wearing away the ability to read his tribute. As I read the fading print, I couldn't help but think about those who wrote the words and chiseled their communication to the future.

May we all be remembered with such appreciation.
More celebrating and experiences to follow.

Thank you.

A Trip to Gloucester For a 30th Birthday!

Thirty years ago (11/12), Kim passed a 9 1/2 pound little bundle of joy who became known as, Sieglinde. She is making her current life in Gloucester, Massachusetts where she works, loves, and enjoys an abundance of friends. We were happy and to share in her celebration and get more of a glimpse of her life. Gloucester is just a little north of Boston on windy roads.

Sieglinde (aka Siegy!) and mom reminisce regarding her birth.

Wonderful partner (it seems odd to say "boy friend), Mr. Dan King. They are pretty wonderful together. It makes moms happy to see her with Dan--a kind, generous man. Only one tiny flaw: he's very allergic to cat dander. uh oh.

Dan plays the obligatory tour guide of Gloucester.

Oh, my goodness--I look like a little midget next to Dan!

A tribute to those lost at sea...

A tribute to those exploring Gloucester! Kim has died and gone to heaven with all the Italian and Sicilian bakeries that serve really good cannoli.

Things of beauty....

Kim's sister Dee and her husband, John drove up for the festivities. Here two sisters reunite and discuss their commonalities.

A real rock quarry, just like in the movies!!

La dee dah!

CRASH goes the Atlantic!

Sights of Gloucester:

Anchors Away!

"Fitz Henry Lane, also known as Fitz Hugh Lane, was a Cape Ann artist, print maker and world-renowned American marine painter. With his subtle use of gleaming light, Lane is generally regarded as one of the finest 19th century practitioners of a style known as luminism.
He was born in Gloucester on December 19, 1804."

Fritz's feet.

Did I mention we had perfect weather??

A hypnotic sea.

More to follow.
Thank you.