Christmastime and OtherSites Along the Hudson

Christmastime Along the Hudson

December 2015

          It began with Marjorie’s viewing of PBS show “Craft in America” that highlighted Christmas decorations at the Vanderbilt Biltmore estate outside Asheville NC. The largest privately-owned house in the US: 252 rooms, Christmas decorating includes dozens of trees, more than 1000 poinsettias, miles of garlands & lights. “We should go there some time!,” M exclaims. Russ thinks we have plenty of mansions closer by, googles places in the Hudson River Valley south of us. And so our Christmas outings came to be. It’s been hard to get fully into the Christmas spirit  ̶  no snow yet, temps in the 50s  ̶  so maybe this will perk us up.

          Sunday, 12/13, begins with Marjorie as lector at 8am Mass, Russ later sings w/ the choir at 10, all wearing some pink for Gaudete Sunday. Fr. Walsh called beforehand to ask R to take photos for the church bulletin & website: it’s also Bambinelli Sunday, so children bring figures of Baby Jesus to the altar at the end of Mass to be blessed, 

and the hospitality gathering in the parish hall includes caroling & a birthday cake (along w/ the usual donuts, cookies, etc.). Russ is always happy to oblige photographically, and takes some other photos around the church. Back home for a quick change, then off at noon for the 1½-hour drive to Rhinebeck, an area we’d enjoyed during the fall colors.

Seasons

Seasons

          Some of my previous posts have stretched a bit the travel focus of this blog. I’ll do the same here with selected seasonal photos. But these have themselves often involved travel, so their inclusion should not count against my thematic efforts. My selections here include fall, spring, and winter. Somehow summer doesn’t seem as distinctive, and interested visitors to my blog can find lots of summer photos throughout other posts.

Fall 

           I’ll start with fall, whose colors and lighting seem to offer special photo ops. This can be seen close to home, with some berries and other views in our yard 

 

Jacksonville & vicinity

Jacksonville

 June 2011

          It’s our Spring Break!  A bit late, since we weren’t able to make schedule connections earlier.  But it’s technically still Spring.  We’re off to visit friend Caroline – we met on our Provence river cruise two years ago – using frequent-credit-card miles for free United flights.  Tight connections on our flights (due to several changes in flight times), so we pack light with just carry-on; Caroline promised needed supplies at her end.  Looking forward to meeting her new Goldendoodle puppy, we’re advised to keep things out of her reach.  We’re leaving our own babies behind: newly hatched finches atop a wreath on the front door (they’ve flown the nest by our return).  We arrange a rental car so Caroline won’t feel chained to us the whole time as our guide.  But some trouble finding directions from JAX airport via MapQuest or GPS; does she live in some kind of “Area 51” secret government location?  Some record-pushing heat here just before we leave, will it be cooler in Jacksonville?

Thursday, June 9:

A steamy day in Albany after thunderstorms last night.  10am departure (pretty civilized for us) to Dulles, on-time and flight #2 delayed a bit so no trouble making the connection.  About on time into JAX at 2:15.  Budget car is a deep red Hyundai Sonata, roomier than the expected compact and comfy for the 400 miles of driving we do.  My first photos: documenting some scratches and scrapes on the car.  A lovely PM in J’ville, aka “Where Florida Begins” and “First Coast.”   

An hour drive south to Caroline’s, past the city and nuclear plant cooling towers (also seen as the plane came in), over a pretty bridge, views of such Floridiana as palm trees and waterways.  Some confusion with directions cleared up via cellphone, Caroline (and Dolly) meet us by the gate to her community: Riverwood (within the larger area of Nocatee); and she had alerted gate personnel that we were “OK” visitors.  

New Hampshire Inn

New Hampshire Inn

July 2012

          Back in 1983 we did a New Hampshire trip w/ Uncle Bill.  Matt (then 7), enjoyed the motel pool; and there was a little boy who could walk along the bottom!  Matt struck up friends w/ another boy and his nice dog; they buried a dead bird behind the motel (“Here Lies Pidgie”).  A visit to Clark’s Trading Post w/ trained bears, I’m picked to be part of a medicine show.  Franconia Notch and Old Man of the Mountain (now gone!).   

Andalucia, Spain

Tales of Andalucia

October 2015

 Andalucia has been on my travel to-do list, but wider-ranging tours I’ve seen had not enough time there. Then I found a British-based company (www.tourandelucia.co.uk) focused on the region: staying in a centrally located hotel w/ small van tours radiating out to different cities each day. Sounded just perfect. 

And if we put together our own group of 6-8 we’d have our own tour plus a nice discount. So we put together our Grupo de Siete: my brother Doug (unfortunately, sister-in-law Ann couldn’t join us  ̶  we’ll miss her), their friend Una from a previous trip to Iceland (where we also traveled in March, and small world experience: Una’s a high-school friend of one of my colleagues!), Marjorie’s cousin Jim & wife Susan, & Susan’s sister Ann. I’ve acted as “Principle Guest” in arranging details and payments (& calculating exchange rates between British pounds & dollars) with Gary Montagu, aka Gary the Tour Guy, who has been very responsive to our wishes. AAA agent Donna helped arrange our flights.
One regret: I’ll be missing my 50^th (!!!) high school reunion  ̶  it was thoughtlessly moved from Sept. to early October after we’d made arrangements for this trip. But Marjorie made it to hers in August, and we’ve had some interesting activities leading up to the trip. M had her most successful sales at the big 64^th Annual Schenectady Stockade Art Show a couple of weeks ago  ̶  and we’re partly dug out from the artistic disorder at home. Last weekend we returned to the historic Stockade for the annual “walkabout” to tour some of the old homes & gardens. 

And Sunday (9/27) we saw the rare “super blood moon” eclipse; i.e., during a full moon when its orbit is closest to the earth, last seen in 1982 (full disclosure: left photo is mine, right is from the internet). This makes for a trifecta of heavenly events, combining with clear skies for peak Northern Lights in Iceland in March & for July 4^th fireworks viewing from the East River in NYC.

Schenectady Stockade

Schenectady Stockade

September 2015

 

          The Stockade area of Schenectady, along the Mohawk River, has been continuously inhabited for over 300 years, beginning with Dutch settlers. It was the site of the Schenectady Massacre of 1690 by a raiding party of French & Indians. The area contains some 40 pre-revolutionary houses, some dating back to the 17thC. Named as New York State’s 1^st Historic District, the National Park Service has described the Stockade as “the highest concentration of historic period homes in the country.” Marjorie & I have participated in two annual events: the Stockade Villagers’ Outdoor Art Show and the Walkabout. The former attracts artists from thruout the northeast, spread along several streets in the district radiating from a central circle. The latter opens up a number of the houses for tours. Most of the photos here are from the 64^th Annual Art Show and subsequent 55^th Annual Walkabout in 2015.

Marjorie's Baking and Artistry

Marjorie’s Baking and Art Exploits

           This blog is focused on travel: my trip journals & accompanying photos. So how does Marjorie’s baking fit in? Well, it’s my blog, so I guess I can do whatever I want. Here I'll offer examples of Marjorie's beautiful (and tasty!) baking and other artistic efforts.

Baking

             Marjorie’s baking has entailed a considerable variety of themes, occasions & events, & holidays; and her yummy concoctions have been created for family, friends & neighbors, and friends of friends. Plus she prides herself, and rightly so, on creations that both look beautiful and taste good. I can’t show the “taste good” part here, but the photos that follow surely indicate how beautiful they are. The photos are organized into 3 sections: 1) weddings, 2) birthdays, and 3) other occasions & holidays.

Weddings: 

Outings With My Boys

Watching Over the Boys

January 2019 

          A couple of years ago our Queens family took a winter break to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. This year Matt & Anthea are off to Grand Paladium on Montego Bay in Jamaica . . . but sans William & Miles. So the grandparents are called into action. In my gerontology teaching I’ve referred to grandparents as the “family national guard;” this doesn’t qualify as an “emergency,” but we’re happy to answer the call and to add to our enjoyable Christmas time with the boys. And now that they are older (13 and 11), they’re relatively low-maintenance. Matt has also added a few perks for us: use of their garage parking spot and a free week of HULU so I can watch football.

          M & A fly out Friday 1/4 after William & Miles have gone to school. We drive down during the day to be home when they get back from school. Greeted by their rescue cat, Roxy; well, not exactly greeted ˗ she’s watching over us in a favorite perch atop high shelves in the master bedroom. But after being a bit standoffish when she joined the family, Roxy is quite affectionate with us now. 

We admire the boys’ “new” rooms now that the adjoining studio apartment has been purchased to create a 3 bed-2 bath space. Lunch at Vanilla Café across the street. Miles comes home first, walking as usual from his school at 74^th St. & 54^th Ave. (he’s a 6^th-grader at IS 230: a “Magnet School of Civics in the Community”) to their 87^th St & Roosevelt building. He and Marjorie head out to take the subway to his dance class at the 92^nd St. Y in Manhattan’s East Side. 

 I stroll thru the Jackson Heights neighborhood, finding photo ops of many Christmas decorations still up, including (later) the brightly lit front of their building (the answer here to the traditional “When Should Christmas decorations be taken down?” is clearly “Not yet!”). 

William returns via a short subway ride from his Academy of American Studies high school in Long Island City. He proudly shows me the computer he build from components we helped fund for Christmas. Very impressive! We all enjoy dinner when Marjorie & Miles get back.

          Saturday is our busy day, and a rather wet one; but warm, well into the 40s. Miles and I head out first to the 92^nd St. Y for another dance class followed by rehearsal for a production of “Annie Junior;” dancer/singer Miles plays Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s evil brother. Miles is greeted by friends who are prepping for the same exam he will take next week (see below). 

Having some 4+ hours, I head off in very light rain toward Central Park after peeking in at Miles’ tap class. The rain becomes heavier as I reach the reservoir, tho there are still many walkers & joggers out, including strollers with rain covers. Opting for more indoor pursuits, I head down to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which I haven’t been to in quite a while. 

A bit of a wait in line to get in, and busy inside, but I have an enjoyable couple of hours wandering and taking photo samples of the wonderful variety: Asian, African, European, American, Egyptian, etc.; ancient to modern; paintings, sculptures, period rooms. So much to see! 

 

One highlight is the traditional Christmas tree with 18^th-century Neapolitan Nativity scene. 

The rain has let up when I leave to walk back to the Y. I’m again able to peek into the “Annie” rehearsal.

          When rehearsal ends, and after rescuing shoes Miles left in his previous class space, we head off in very light rain to rendezvous with Marjorie and William at Asphalt Green, a sports facility several blocks away where William plays soccer. It’s indoor season, today working on drills to enhance their skills. We’re particularly impressed with William’s nimble footwork! 

Afterward we head to “Dig Inn,” an informal spot where bowls are filled from buffet choices; not “fine dining,” but plenty hearty. A stop for treats at Vanilla Café on the way home, followed by a spirited game of UNO.

          Sunday is a quieter day. Marjorie heads out for 10:00 Mass at Blessed Sacrament, 93^rd & 35^th. The 3 Kings (it’s Día de los Reyes) come down the aisle in all their finery. A very lengthy homily, all in Spanish, and the service lasts longer than 1½ hours (not at all like our “1-2-3” Fr. Walsh, with his usually 3 key points and 45-minute Masses). The homily is met with applause from the congregation (it would be unkind to wonder: because it’s over?), then Marjorie wonders why many people don’t take communion. She returns excited about a big Nativity “city” set up along the outside of the church. We all have leftovers from last night’s bowls for lunch. 

          Marjorie goes out again to see “Book of Mormon” at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre near Times Square. 

I do a bit of nearby grocery shopping before the boys and I go for a walk on a nice sunny PM, making our way to the impressive Nativity tableau at the church. Back home, William and I help Miles set up a sample test for the Hunter College Campus Schools exam he’ll take next week as part of applying to go to a school for gifted students. Logistics prove a bit frustrating, and we don’t realize until the next day that Matt had left some additional information (including the answer key) that would have helped; oh well, Miles could at least see what the questions are like. 

After Marjorie returns, dinner at a nearby place for fried chicken & fish.

          Monday brings a beautiful sunrise over the 7 Train from our window. As Matt assured us, “both boys are good about getting themselves to school.” We walk to school with Miles so we can attend an honors ceremony he’s part of. Too early for that, so coffee and pastries at a nice convenience store recommended by the friendly crossing guard. Back to school for the awarding of honor roll certificates in the assembly hall. Miles has made the higher Principal’s Honor Roll: a 95+ average plus meeting other criteria. He seems (and should be!) very pleased. But ever the iconoclast (or just forgetful), Miles is in gray when everyone else is wearing a blue shirt. And a reminder of the vagaries of school life: a mid-ceremony PA announcement of a “throw-up in Room 102.” The end of the ceremony becomes a mosh pit of parents coming up to take photos. 

We head back home to hang out the rest of the day. Miles has a chorus rehearsal tonight, but we had already conferred with Matt and decided it would be difficult for us to find our way out to the Long Island location in rush hour traffic. And based on a troublesome forecast of “wintry mix” tomorrow, I decide to head back to Albany tonight rather than tomorrow (when I wouldn’t really be needed anyway). An easy ride out of the city and up the Thruway, home about 9pm.

          Marjorie oversees things on Tuesday. She’s able to get together for lunch with childhood friend and sculptor Nene. Matt and Anthea return from Jamaica on time at about 7:30pm. They had a fine time and come back with gifts: Jamaican coffee, jerk seasoning, and a colorful beach bag. On Wednesday Marjorie returns to Albany via train, arriving about 2pm.

Outings With My Boys

August-September 2015

          It’s not unusual for Grandma & Grandpa to be called into action to watch over (& have fun with) grandsons William (age 10) & Miles (8). Our son Matt has a busy musician’s schedule, juggling responsibilities as Percussion Department Coordinator at Julliard with a performance schedule ranging from gigs with percussion ensemble Talujon to regular stints in the pit of a Broadway show. Daughter-in-law Anthea is also plenty busy as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestras. So we weren’t surprised to have the boys coming to stay with us for a week in mid-August. But a different twist this time: Grandpa will be flying solo for several days when Grandma goes to Wisconsin for her 50^th HS reunion.