Julie honored by Girl Scouts for volunteer work

At the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey council's annual Volunteer Recognition dinner, Julie received the Thanks Badge in recognition of her "selfless volunteerism over the years and her lasting commitment to the mission of Girl Scouts." Above, Julie stands with two other award recipients. Behind her are the executive director and two board members of the council.

The award citation noted that Julie has been a troop leader, Service Unit Manager for Scotch Plains-Fanwood, nut-sale manager, religious award liason and recording secretary for the service unit, "and much more." She also served on the committee that guided the merger of three councils into Heart of New Jersey.

In addition, Julie and the other members of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Service Unit team received the President's Award as one of the outstanding teams in the council.

"With a service team comprised of over 25 volunteers, this team spends countless hours planning various activities throughout the year to keep the girls engaged in Girl Scouting," the citation said.

A spring stroll in NY for Gen, John, Beatrice

One of New York's most fabulous families was spotted in Central Park enjoying Saturday's beautiful spring weather. Six-week-old Beatrice looks to be riding in style - and snoozing in the fresh air.

Of birds and blossoms and a beautiful April day

Look closely at this robin and you'll see water droplets on its feathers. This fellow enjoyed hopping in and out of the spray from a lawn sprinkler at Birch Street headquarters on this gorgeous April day.

SPRING has finally really truly broken out here in New Jersey and environs. Dan says: "After a long, snowy winter and a cool, dreary early spring, this wasn't just any sunny-and-70-degrees day. It felt like perfection.

"Hyacinths! Azalea buds! The neighbor's magnolia tree against a spectacular blue sky! On a bicycle ride around the neighborhood I saw high school and Little League baseball games, a full playground, joggers, strollers, gardeners, someone washing a boat in a driveway."

"Over the land is April," added Robert Louis Stevenson. "Hear you the songs of spring?" Yes, Bob, we do.

Marie now writing for web-designer site

Marie on the "About" page at CSS-Tricks

Marie is now a member of the staff of CSS-Tricks, a web site that provides tutorials, tips and other information about CSS, a language for formatting web sites.

For the past few years, Marie has been operating her own blog about blog design, called codeitpretty.com.

She started editing and writing for CSS Tricks in late January. She continues to work from her home office.

Marie writes: "CSS-Tricks is one of the world's most popular websites about front-end web development. I learned so much about what I do from CSS-Tricks, so it's very exciting for me to be part of the team."

Chris, Steph & Cathy on band trip to Disney: Photos

Cathy has put together this great selection of photos from the Hilliard Darby High School music trip to Disneyworld in late March.

Senior Christopher, freshman Stephanie and chaperone Cathy were all on the trip. Looks like a great time!

(If the photo album isn't displayed above, click here)

Dolores takes part in NAN Assembly

Dolores and Hugh traveled last month to Troy, Mich., where Dolores took part in the National Association of Needlearts 2015 Assembly. Above, Dolores gives a lecture during the opening reception on the judging of embroidery.

One of the awards presented at the event is named for Dolores, and is given to "an original entry that demonstrates creative use of color and design in any medium."

Above, the ballroom of The Somerset Inn is converted into an exhibit hall for The Exemplary, NAN's annual needlework showcase. "We filled it with marvelous embroidery from all over the country -- plus a few from Canada," Dolores said.

During their trip, Hugh paid a visit to the Henry Ford Museum. Naturally, there's a Model T on exhibit there, along with many other auto specimens (not all made by Ford). The Hot Dog Mobile (below) is just inside the entrance. But the museum also includes collections of Americana and objects connected with U.S. history.

Easter greetings and gatherings

Hugh and Dolores played host to some family members for Easter Brunch in the dining hall at their Oak Crest community in Parkville, Md.

Julie, Dan and Christine were visiting from New Jersey and were joined by Doug, Lisa and Liz. They spent the rest of the day relaxing and talking at Hugh and Dolores' apartment and then at Doug and Lisa's house.

The previous evening, Julie, Dan and Christine joined Hugh and Dolores at the Easter Vigil service at Trinity Church in Towson.

Cathy, Christopher and Stephanie celebrated Easter together at their church, St. Patrick's in Dublin, Ohio. They sent along this photo with Easter greetings to all.

Please share your Easter stories and photos

Happy Easter to all

Cathy, Chris, Steph enjoy Disney with HS Band

The Hilliard-Darby Marching Band spent Spring Break at Walt Disney World last week. Senior Christopher, freshman Stephanie and chaperone Cathy were all on the trip.

Above, a family pose. At right, Cathy with other chaperones. Cathy plans to send along many more photos, so check back!

Finally! Signs of Spring at Birch Street

Could it be? Is winter really over? These little green sprouts and these crocuses seem to think so!

Brien hosts annual Watch Party for St. Pat's Parade

For a third consecutive year, family members and friends gathered at Brien's apartment on McLean Avenue to watch the Yonkers St. Patrick's Day parade pass directly under his front windows.

The parade and the crowd get bigger every year. This was just the fourth year that a parade was held along McLean, but the second year that it served as the official St. Pat's celebration in Yonkers. McLean has become the Main Street of the large Irish community in southeast Yonkers and the adjoining Woodlawn area of The Bronx.

Here is an album of photos of the party, mixed with pictures of the parade from The Journal-News, which has a big photo gallery on its LoHud.com web site.

Getting to know Beatrice: New photos

Week-and-a-half-old Beatrice met some more members of her family this past weekend. Above, Shanna holds Beatrice with happy mother Genevieve looking on. Below, Beatrice poses with her proud Grandma, Uncle Patrick and Aunt Vivien.

The last of the snow? We can hope!

After another round of snowfall at the end of last week, the weekend brought a break in the wintry weather and the snowpack at Birch Street Headquarters began to melt. Could Spring actually be on its way?

Dan took this photo Sunday afternoon. He says: "This picture tells a lot about the winter we've had. The pile of dirty snow on the right represents the many times we've had to shovel the driveway. The fresh white snow on the left is from just two days earlier. And the Christmas lights still strung around the tree show that the yard has been snow-covered continuously since Jan. 10, the weekend when I would have taken them down. Maybe I can finally do that next weekend!"

Genevieve & John bring Beatrice home

Genevieve and John brought newborn Beatrice Kathleen home from the hospital to their Manhattan apartment on Saturday.

Here's a collection of the photos we've seen so far of our newest family member.

Genevieve, John have a baby daughter!

Genevieve and John welcomed their daughter into the world on Wednesday night.

John writes: "I'm overjoyed to tell you that our daughter, Beatrice Kathleen, was born at Mount Sinai Hospital on March 4, 2015 at 7:20 p.m., weighing 8 pounds 8 ounces.

"Mother and daughter are well, but are very sleepy. We are looking forward to introducing her to all of you."

Genevieve showered with baby gifts

Friends and relatives held a baby shower Saturday for expectant mom Genevieve.

Here, sister Vivien helps Genevieve open gifts.

It appears Genevieve and John's daughter will be well supplied!

Seeing friends, family & sights in Texas

Cathy, Christopher and Stephanie are back in (freezing) Ohio after visit to (balmy) Texas, where they visited friends and relatives, including Cathy's Uncle Alan and Aunt Norene.

Cathy writes: "We had a great time last weekend! We visited with Steph's friend, Kenzi, and her mom, who moved to Plano last summer. We toured some museums in Dallas on Friday and saw 'The Book of Mormon.'

Chris, Kenzi, Steph at arboretum

"On Saturday the weather was beautiful - nearly 80 degrees!!

"This was the perfect day to visit the Dallas Arboretum. There were plenty of people there having picnics and celebrating Valentine's Day.

"That evening we did a little shopping at the Galleria Mall.

Michael and Cathy

"On Sunday we caught up with my cousin Michael. He works at a restaurant in downtown Dallas. It is near the Continental Bridge and Trinity Skyline Trail, so we walked around there for a bit before heading to Comanche where my Aunt Norene, Uncle Alan and other cousins live. Along the way we stopped to have some delicious Texas BBQ for dinner.

"On Monday we took a day trip and drove to Waco with the intention of visiting the Dr. Pepper Museum. When we got there we discovered it was closed that day due to their limited winter hours. So instead, we toured the Texas Ranger Museum.

"That evening my cousins Susan and Lisa came over to Uncle Alan and Aunt Norene's house for dinner. Also attending was Lisa's husband, Jerry, and their kids, Kenan and Noah. The kids all got along tremendously since they're all around the same age and shared many laughs.

"Tuesday morning we headed back to Dallas to fly back to snowy Ohio, wishing we could have brought some of the warm temperatures back with us."

Here's an album with lots more photos of highlights of the trip.

Resting on a blanket of snow

Christine flops down on a blanket -- not warm and soft, more like cold and crusty -- of snow.

This was right after conquering the driveway at Birch Street Headquarters, clearing off a few inches of thick, icy, heavy snow. (Well okay, Dan and Julie helped.)

The temperature was warming up toward 40, but the forecast was calling for another deep freeze, dipping down to zero or below Monday night. How long 'til spring?