Friends for Life

Over 25 years ago,

in our very first house (small, but sincere),

 we lived next door to the very best people: Kem and Pat.

Last fall, we met them for the first time in many years when we went to Manhattan with the boys; they now live in Manhattan. (Kem and Pat, not the boys.)

A couple of weeks ago, they came to Philly,

and we got to spend a few delicious hours catching up with them.

It is amazing to me that after major life events, successes, losses, and changes, that good friends from 25 years ago are still good friends.

Good friends like Kem and Pat make life sweet.

Rainy Season

Starting into spring rainy season here. 

There is another rainy season in the summer.  

And another one in the fall.  

Well, and some winter storms are rain, not snow.

Okay,  it rains a bit here.  

But people are prepared!  

Everyone has rubber boots.  And some of them are quite fashionable.

 

 I took a few shots during the hurricane last summer.

And I have seen a lot of different fashions since. 
(Although I still haven't seen any that look like bacon, Aubry...)

But, really,

I just can't go around asking people if I can take a picture of their boots.

Even if they are cute frogs.

Because people will think I'm weird!

Not that there has ever been a question...

Lenten Goals

I may not be Catholic, but I really like the idea of Lent.

I like the idea that I can change.

I like the hope that my will and spirit can triumph over the horsepower of the merely mortal.

For lent this year, one sweet niece is giving up Facebook.  I can understand that.

As for me, this lent, I'm giving up my snooze button.

George Washington Slept Here

Question:  what is an excellent way to celebrate George Washington's Birthday?

Answer: By camping out at Valley Forge in the winter, just like he did!

I'll bet camping with Boy Scouts (7 boys 4 leaders this trip) is similar to camping with the Continental Army.  I bet we had fewer discipline problems.

Senior Patrol Leader Michael, and new scout, Fred, work on dinner...

...under the coaching eye of Scoutmaster Greg.

Meatball sandwiches, with green beans and potatoes.  The green beans ran out first, by the way.

Fred, first time camper, thought the food was great.

Michael tries on warm boots.

Sitha dodges the camera.

Breezy is chilling.  "Cold?  I don't feel the cold"

It was a bit chilly, though.  That denim bag in the front is actually a black nylon bag.  We got a bit of frost overnight, but everyone slept pretty warm.

No camping is allowed in the Valley Forge National Historical Park, except Boy Scouts, and only once a year at Pawling's farm.  This was the 100th annual sleepover.  It was a big deal: 2000 campers, and about 4000 people for the day activities.  It takes a lot of tents to Occupy Valley Forge.

After a pretty good night (lots of stars) we had a hearty breakfast (good eggs, Derence!)...

 ...and headed to the amphitheater for opening ceremonies.

 

 This shot is apropos of nothing except to note that in the right light, scouts can look like zombies lurching down the hill.  

I don't know, if they had colder nights that we did, they might BE zombies.

After that, we got demonstrations and history vignettes on cavalry,

 manuevers and muskets, medicine,

and field artillery.   This little chirping cricket made some chest-thumping noise.

 It's usually hard to tell Nathan apart from the other boys.

 Good-looking bunch of good campers.

We came, we camped, we got another patch!

(not actual patch, that comes later...)

Personalized Valentines Cards

In no particular order, here are some useful cards for Valentine's Day.  Collect them.  Trade them with friends.  Share them with someone you love. 

Thanks to nephew James for starting the creativity ball rolling with this one:

I select you, naturally.

You're the gorilla my dreams. 

(I know this isn't really that clever, but it's the first one that made me laugh.  Probably in the third grade.)

I'm crazy about you; I'd be crazy without you.

(Obligatory psychology one for my soon-to-be-PhD wife)

Sending you Love waves for Valentines!

(In case anyone wants to send this to our geologist son.  This could also be captioned, "The earth moves when I'm with you," or "You rock my world." Your choice.)

I'd search the universe to find you.

(In honor of Bethany who is spending her last Valentine's Day in New Mexico.)

 You make me glow. 

(In honor of granddaughter Grace AND New Mexico's radiological past--a two-fer!)

I will hold you as tight as baby toes.

(In honor of soon-to-be-walking granddaughter Alice.  It's not that clever, but is there anything as cute or grippy as baby toes?)

I scream, you scream, we all scream when we see the Good Humor man.

(In case anyone wants to send this to our son-in-law, Kit.  There's probably another caption in here about being so hot he melts ice cream, or something about a warm heart, but I'll leave the derivation of those to Lynne...)

 You keep me balanced. 

(In honor of my daughter who works in accounting for a group of NY charter schools.  Could also read, "It all adds up if you'll be mine.")

As for me, this one seems most nerdily appropriate:

Be mine, you will.

(For those of you that thought the previous one was clever or amusing, you might need to use the Jedi mind trick this year...)

Happy Valentine's Day.

You're welcome.