Balloons and music in the air

Dan, Julie and Christine, Andy and his girlfriend Shannon spent an evening watching hot-air balloons ascend and listening to music at the annual Quick Chek Festival of Ballooning in Readington, N.J. on Saturday. Click the slideshow to see lots more.



After the balloons took off and drifted away, the humorous Canadian rock band Bare Naked Ladies put on a fun show, including hits like "If I Had a Million Dollars" and "One Week." As the sky darkened, several balloons that had returned to the site were reinflated for a "balloon glow."

Introducing Xander to the sights of Washington

Marie and Brian took Xander to Washington last week to visit the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and the Air & Space Museum. They also made a stop at the U.S. Botanical Garden, and here's Xander and his dad on the Capitol Steps.



"It was a very, very hot day but we had a good time," Marie writes. "Xander enjoyed getting a chance to see 'Daddy's Train Station,' too."

PotomacLocal.com photo

Brian's work as a conductor on the Virginia Railway Express regularly takes him into Washington's Union Station. He recently marked his first anniversary on the job.

... Think cool thoughts ...

Hope this helps you beat the heat!

See how the rest of the family is faring:

Check out our new and improved Weather Station page to see the current conditions in our various home towns.

(Right now I think those of us on the East Coast would rather be in California!

Cathy wins 8 ribbons at county fair

Cathy's skills at photography, scrapbook making and cross-stitching won her eight ribbons at the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard, Ohio last week. Two of her entries - a photo and a scrapbook page - won blue ribbons.

Here are photos of her award-winning entries.

Marie & Brian, July 15, 2002

Happy anniversary!

Lakeside for the Fourth of July (Updated)

Ok, another place to be for the Fourth of July was Hugh and Dolores' place at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland.

Cathy visited with her parents over the weekend, and being back in Maryland gave her a craving for steamed hard crabs. "We actually found a restaurant called the Crab Shack at Deep Creek Lake, and they provided us with a dozen still hot from the steamer," Hugh writes.

"Monday we had hamburgers and corn of the cob and then went to see the 'Fire on the Mountain' fireworks display at the Wisp Ski Resort."

Click here to see Cathy's videos of the fireworks

Photo by Hugh

Ohio update: Stephanie's concert, Christopher's award

Catching up on recent doings in Ohio...



Stephanie performed in her first school concert on May 15. The show included her 5th grade band from Hilliard Crossing Elementary School along with the Tharp 6th Grade School band. See two video clips here.

Christopher completed 8th grade at Hilliard Heritage Middle School, and received a certificate and medal for academic achievement, for having a grade point average over 3.75 for the year. Click on Chris' photo to see more.

A great Fourth of July weekend in Noyac

Kathy & Ted's summer house was the place to be over Fourth of July weekend.



Daughter Vivien and several of her sorority sisters were visiting, in between forays to conquer the Hamptons. Julie, Dan, Christine and Andy along with Brien spent the weekend at the cottage on Birch Street. On Sunday they and family friend Madelon joined Kathy, Ted, Patrick and Vivien for a barbecue. And the Fourth of July proved to be a fabulous day for a sail around Noyac Bay.

In between there was beaching, relaxing, and fireworks viewing - both an official display in Sag Harbor on Saturday night and an unofficial show from the "back beach."