NELSON'S NOTES #91

Fun N Sun, San Benito, Texas, January 2, 2013

 

PICTURES AND CAPTIONS FROM OUR CONNECTICUT TRIP,
NOVEMBER 15 – 23, 2012

We flew to Connecticut for a week to be with two of our four children and their families. During the week we celebrated Thanksgiving and my birthday (78th) and our granddaughter's 20th birthday and a 26th wedding anniversary for Teri and Ken. Whew!

 

FAMILY PHOTO

 

After much discussion, we landed in these positions in Kristi and David’s living room. Bruce set up the shot and then jumped into place.

 

Front L-R:  Bruce, grandson Matthew, daughter Teri, granddaughter Abby.

 

Back L-R: Marianna, grandson Colin, son-in-law Ken, daughter Kristi, son-in-law David.

 

 

CROCHET LESSON

 

Kristi (on the right) gives Teri a crochet lesson.

 

 

 

 

ONE OF KRISTI’S HATS

Kristi learned to crochet a year ago. She has made afghans, scarves, book marks, Kindle cases, and many hats. After crocheting a black hat shaped like a cloche, she made it into a top hat by felting it -- a process that uses hot water, soap, and agitation to stiffen and shrink the yarn. Then she shaped the hat and decorated it with whimsical flowers.

The hat is on display at the Enfield Library with P.D. Eastman’s book Go Dog Go opened to the page that reads, “Do you like my hat?”

 

 

STAR HILL

 

 

On Friday afternoons the home-schooling group Matthew belongs to goes to Star Hill Family Athletic Center in Tolland, Conn. The gym is in an air-supported dome where the temperature is kept in the 60s, except when snow collects on the dome. In that case, the heat is raised to melt the snow and not put weight on the dome. There was no snow the day we were there; even while walking I wore a jacket to keep warm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the moms and I walked the track around the perimeter while Coach Bill led the teenagers in sports in the center of the dome. After that, in the adjoining building, moms Laurie, Holly, Kim, and Kristi gave me a tour of that part of the facility. It included a swimming pool and an exercise-bicycle room where I took a video of Coach Bill and the kids. They were pedaling to music as fast as they could without rising off the seats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a workout! (see video)

Grandson Matthew is in the white shirt in the center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GETTING USED TO COLDER WEATHER

 

           

 

In November in northern Connecticut, night temps get below 30 degrees. We scraped ice off the car windows and turned on the seat heaters.

 

 

 

 

 

OLD FRIENDS

 

 

 

Charles Smith was Bruce’s roommate in college. Here he is at the Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Ellington, Conn., eating waffles with ice cream on top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles and Dot showed us the beautifully maintained historical district in South Windsor on the Connecticut River . . .

 

 

 

 

 

. . . where the Bissell Ferry transported goods in days past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A cat peers at us from its window seat in the big house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nearby Bark Park, a popular place for dogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROSE HILL MEMORIAL PARK, ROCKY HILL, CONN.

    

Unlike most cemeteries, all the grave markers at Rose Hill are laid with the tops at ground level; this gives the park a neat, uncluttered appearance. Both sets of our parents are buried there.

 

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Marianna Nelson