Friday, November 25, 2005

Thanksgiving Photos

Hi,

We have recovered from thanksgiving, our stomachs have emptied that is. We had a great day/evening down the road at Ken and Maggie's house. We were seven, including Anja, Ken, Maggie, Steef, Ann, Lynne and myself. We all ate lots of food which was very easy to do since it was all just delicious. Our thanks once again to our hosts for a great day and evening.

A game of trivial pursuit was just the right potion to keep us all awake after our meal. Lynne and Maggie were victorious whilst the rest of us were gracious in defeat.

Ken, Steef and myself felt it our duty to put the world to rights well into the evening!!

A great day was had by all.

Thanks

Paul
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Thursday, November 24, 2005

Happy Thanksgiving!!

To everybody in the US, happy thanksgiving.

To everybody in Europe, today we are eating a huge turkey meal and have a long weekend.

This is our third thanksgiving holiday since moving to the US, however, today will be the the first time I actually celebrate it with a large roasted bird and trimmings. This is the second time for Lynne. We will be celebrating it with our friends and neighbours, Ken and Maggie Morris. I do have photos of each of them but none together, have to fix that today. See weekend update for highlights of today's meal.

For those who may be interested, a description of the history and current customs of thanksgiving can be found here on the wikipedia site.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Weekend Update - We are on holidays

Hi

Unlike most, this weekend has been quite slow. I think it's most likely coupled with the knowledge that we are both on holiday all next week. It is Thanksgiving on Thursday so we get that off in addition to Friday which leaves for a nice break if one takes Mon-Wed off. So tomorrow we will start insulating our attic, a job that is long overdue. More on that later....

A relaxing day was had by all yesterday. Took a long walk in our local Happy Hollow Park There is something nice about getting ones lungs filled with clean crisp atumn air while on a long saunter in the woods. Last night we went to a neighbour and friends house, Gary, Cheryl and Claire, for a relaxing evening. Great food, good company and games to boot.

Today then, I was back at the brew pot in preparation for Davey and Sams visit. Today I cooked up a chocolate oatmeal stout, a beer that is modeled after an award winning commercial brew, Oscars chocolate Oatmeal Stout from the Sand Creek Brewing company in Wisconsin. Yum Yum...Have to wait and see how that turns out.

Lynne was also able to enjoy her favourite pass-time, pottering or working in the garden. She was doing a final clean-up before the winter finally sets in.

Lorraine and Randy will be arriving soon so I need to close. Have a nice week everybody......

Last Pictures from Mums Visit

Hi,

Just a short post showing the last pictures from Mums visit. We took a few pictures of Anja, Mum and myself on Friday evening. They are kind of modeled after earlier pictures with Lynne and her Mum. She departed Saturday morning for her long trip to ballybride, Roscommon where I grew up. (I diverse - Ballybride is a road with approximately 20-30 houses spanning about 4 miles but it has its own website!!).

Mum will now be checking out all the pictures from her visit when she gets settled in again at home. Thanks for visiting Mum, it was lovely having you, we all thoroughly enjoyed you being here with us.

More later.......
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Monday, November 14, 2005

Mums Last Weekend

Hi

Here follows the usual weekend update. It was a weekend of visitors. On Saturday Tere, Rodo and Monica visited. It was a special type of visit in that they arrived with food...yes with food. Tere was kind enough to cook her famous and authentic Mexican Chilli Rellenos, while Rodo did his killer guacamole. They were wonderful as normal.

On Sunday evening we had Lorraine and Randy around to dinner, they were keen to meet my Mum before she headed home again. Lorraine was actually in great spirits given that she underwent surgery on Thursday. She is recovering well.

Also had the usual weekend activities: I had my 6 miile run with Phil, Lynne went shopping and was baking for Anja once again this weekend. Anja now has enough food in the freezer until next May!!!! We also had a busy garden weekend!! Where do all the leaves come from I asked several times this weekend. Boy, two hours pruning and raking last weekend followed by a similar time this weekend has only put a small dent in the autumn clean-up. My enthusiasm is waning however.

Michele was back today, a married woman. I spoke with her briefly and it seems like her honeymoon went well.

Lynne is actually away tonight. She went to the East coast for a couple of days. She will be back Wednesday night. If you log on---Hi Love!! Chances are she will not since she has a busy schedule.

That's it for now...Have a nice week everybody.
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Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Wednesday Update!!

Hi

A short update from the middle of a, as normal, hectic week. I have traveled 390 miles to and from work already this week!! Life goes on!!! Most of Lynne's students are away at a conference so she is taking advantage of some free time to write a few grants and papers.


Mum was playing photographer today for a change. She had lots of opportunity since she is looking after Anja in Michele's absence. They seem to be enjoying each others company although she is delighted to see us home in the evening (Anja is also glad to see us!)

A few pictures are shown below from the last day or two, we'll back with more updates at the weekend....Only two more days at work!!!

Bye..................................
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Sunday, November 06, 2005

Michele and Jordan now Married!!

Hi

Just a few updates on the happenings of the week. As mentioned earlier in these pages, Michele our nanny and Jordan were married on Friday. Lynne, Anja and myself were invited and had a great time meeting their extended families. We arrived in plenty of time to get lots of pictures of everybody including a picture of Anja with Jordan's grandmother who made Anja's beautiful dress. We wished them luck on the evening but do so again here for good measure. We hope they both have a wonderful life together. They have gone this weekend to Michigan on their honeymoon, a well deserved break since I know they worked hard on the preparations over the last few weeks.

Other news; Mum is obviously still here. She was in Indianapolis this week. Spent the day shopping in the malls of Indy. I think she liked them. She was also conducting full grandmother duties in looking after Anja this week. She will also be minding her all this week.

I started my new job this week. First week was a lot of fun, got to taste how it feels like to commute 65 miles each way to work four days this week, it will obviously be five next week. I've been on the road at 6.00 or thereabouts, which gets me in the office at 07.30. I try to beat some of the traffic. More updates on all that later.

I think that's about all for now. More later.....

Paul
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Monica and Terre Visit Yesterday

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