Friday, January 31, 2014

Christopher takes the stage in comedy


Christopher is currently playing the role of Richard the lawyer in the Hilliard Darby High School Theatre production of "Moon Over Buffalo."

The comic play by Ken Ludwig ran on Broadway in 1995-96.

Chris' mom, Cathy, took these photos on opening night Friday.
Here's a local news article about the school's production.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

The snows of January: Wearying, but beautiful

Bundling up, unbundling, bundling up again. Shoveling, shoveling again, and again. Driving on slippery roads, peering through icy or slush-splattered windshields. This wintry month has become a bit exhausting.

Still, it can be a beautiful sight when flakes are falling gently but steadily and spreading a new coat of white over the landscape. It's good to stop now and then and just look.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Join Tish's Team in Rally Against Cancer

Visit Tish's team page
Tish has started a team to participate in the Rally Against Cancer on behalf of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund.

Visit Tish's team page to learn more about this fund-raising effort.

Tish writes: "As many of you know, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in July. I am blessed to be living within driving distance to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

"I am receiving amazing care, feeling well, and staying positive. Please consider supporting my team in the Rally Against Cancer!"

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Snowstorm covers the East Coast (Updated)

Tuesday brought heavy snow to much of the East Coast. At Birch Street Headquarters, where it snowed from early morning until late at night, there was around 8-10 inches of snow on the ground when Dan took these photos around 11 p.m.

The heavy afternoon snowfall pretty much paralyzed New Jersey roads, and it took Dan more than three hours to get home from work - normally about a 50-minute trip.

We've seen just a couple of other snow pictures from family members -- perhaps many of us are too tired of winter to bother snapping pictures. But here's a nice scene shared by Brian's mother, Barbara, in Trenton, N.J.

Hugh and Dolores were in Rehoboth, Del., which did not get the full force of the storm. "There may have been 6 inches here, but it looks to be closer to 4 inches," Hugh writes.

"It was enough snow to close the local schools - and to close The Rehoboth Art League, where Dolores was to teach a watercolor workshop Wednesday. She will have a make-up class on Saturday. It is cold on the day after the storm, with morning temperature 7 degrees - and since the wind always blows at the beach, the wind chill temperature is in the minus single digits."

The snow reached as far south as Elon, N.C., where Lizzie attends Elon University. The school posted scenes of its lightly-dusted campus.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Tish meets a Snowy Owl


Tish writes from Cape Cod: "I photographed this Snowy Owl near West Dennis Beach. I originally spotted her in the marsh, but she was frightened away by a person walking out to her. I was so pleased to find her perched on the roof of a house near the beach. A perfect subject for me to use the telephoto lens that was one of my Christmas presents from Owen!"



The population of Snowy Owls on Cape Cod has surged this winter, as reported in this Cape Cod Times article.

Tish adds: "I am feeling well, staying positive and continuing treatment at Dana Farber. Love to all!"

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Another national tournament ahead for Rebecca

Rebecca will be playing in the 2014 USA Curling Nationals competition in March.

Her team, based at the Rochester (N.Y.) Curling Club, qualified for the national tournament by taking two solid victories at a qualifying competition held this weekend in Grafton, North Dakota, by scores of 9-5 and 10-3.

Rebecca and her teammates - Caitlin, Emily and Abby - now move on to the women's competition at the Nationals, held March 1-8 near Philadelphia.

2013 Mixed Nationals champions
Last year, Rebecca was a member of the team that won the USA Curling Mixed National Championship, held in Willmar, Minnesota.

She's also a veteran of three Junior Women's National competitions, which took her to Devils Lake, North Dakota (2010), Fairbanks, Alaska (2011) and Madison, Wisconsin (2012).

For a change, this year's Nationals are being held in an East Coast metropolitan area. The site is the IceWorks Skating Complex in Aston, Pa., in Delaware County about 10 miles outside Philadelphia.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Look who's turned 21!

Happy birthday Christine!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

On the 11th day of Christmas...


Dan, Kathy, Brien and Kevin and most of the "kids" gathered at Kathy's house on Jan. 4 for a Christmas/New Year's celebration. Here's a selection of photos, some more candid than others.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Catching up on Christmas photos


Marie sends along these photos of Xander opening gifts on Christmas morning in Fredericksburg.


The previous weekend, Marie, Brian and Xander paid a brief visit to Brian's parents in New Jersey, where Xander helped baked gingerbread cookies.

Friday, January 3, 2014

A wintry start to 2014


A winter storm moved into the Northeast on the second day of the year, bringing snow and putting the region into a deep freeze. This was the morning view through the windows of Birch Street headquarters in New Jersey, before anyone had the courage to venture out.


Fortunately the snow was fluffy, and Andy and Dan made fairly quick work of digging out.



Here's the view from the back porch at Nanette's home on Shelter Island - posted by her daughter, Courtney, who says she's jealous of the winter wonderland.



From Rochester, Lisa's brother-in-law Dave posted this photo with the comment, "15 inches of snow and it's 3 degrees."



Some estimated snowfall totals from weather.com: - Fanwood, N.J.: 5.4 in. - Yonkers, N.Y.: 5.5 in. - Shelter Island, N.Y.: 5.8 in. - Saratoga Springs, N.Y.: 5.4 in. - South Dennis, Mass.: 9.7 in. - Baltimore, Md.: 4.9 in. - Fredericksburg, Va.: 2.1 in.
Please share your snow scenes and stories!