A visit from the north.

Last night the Connecticutites ventured down for a visit during their winter school break. It's a New England thing that I'm sure was invented to subsidize the ski industry. So Matt, Beth, David, Keven, Jillian and Rebecca are here for four days to give Granny & I our grandchildren fix.

It was a busy weekend with just miserable cold and windy weather. So much for coming south to escape the cold. The kids mainly played with their cousins. I made several trips to the local Giant. One trip with David, one with Kevin. On the trip with David we stopped by the Verizon store and opened an internet broadband account. Once home Matt got everything up and going. I'd been using Earthlink for the past six years and it had it's limitations. So far so good with Verizon Broad band. It's much faster than Earthlink's Satellite. It's tough living in the country without the speedy internet available.

When I go to the grocery store I usually let the kids get a treat of one sort or another, their choices are interesting. On the day of the arrival from the north, Tommy and I went to the store, his choice was Ice Tea. David selected a power drink and Kevin brought home a box of Ginger Snap cookies for all to share. My treat to myself was a jar of peanuts, not tainted I hope.

We had two big family meals while the kids were here. Granny fixed an oldfasion ham, (in the oven) dinner one night and Beth made us a great spaghetti dinner on Friday. We all ate well, so much for the New Year's resolution.

On Friday, in the freezing cold and wind, the kids took a trip to a farm up the road with horses and a mule. They were gone quite a long time and had a neat ride back in Miss Jo Moore'S Golf Cart.

The kids left Saturday morning for the return trip to CT, they wanted to beat the snow. Granny and I got our selves and the house together a bit and then set out for Bethany Beach, DE. We were going to Join Bobby, Barbara and Aunt Sarah for a Parrothead Ice Breaker at Mangos. It was a great night.

The featured band was a group called "Jimmy and the Parrots". Take a moment and check out the web site. If your ever near where there playing, go see the show. What a great night of Nostalgia, dancing and music enjoyment.

The cold weather is still here on the Eastern Shore, 17 F this morning with the bird watering trough frozen once again. Where is that weather change, or should I say Global Warming. And to close for the day we continue to watch the Dow drop and look to a speech to Congress and the nation by President OBAMA, who continues to be Mr. Doom & Gloom. Lets get it together people and start saying something positive!

Friday the 13'th

Mary Agnes trying to stay warm in the house. Our new President looking on.



Aunt Barb & Colleen holding up Aunt Barb's Christmas Quilt made by Mary Agnes, with Love.



Willis C., oops, it's Uncle Bob and Aunt Barb>




Captain Fiddler and C4C Berthiaume



Some of the girls sipping libations on Thanksgiving.

Here I finally enter another page after being delinquent for several months. I guess everyone can figure out we made it home from our Anniversary weekend. The quilts, I'm sure due to the economy sold much lower than two years ago. We figured in the area of 3-5 hundred dollars less. We only made couple of small expenditures and came home with money in our pockets. It was a great trip to celebrate a great occasion. The only thing missing from the trip was our friends of 35+ years from Connecticut, Bob and Linda. Linda had to have foot surgery, so they missed joining us.

Thanksgiving saw Samantha make it home from USAFA, her first time home since 062508 when she departed for Beast Summer. It was a great reunion with Sam, learning all that had gone on in her life first hand.

We had our usual Turkey day dinner at the farm I manage. It was a small gathering this year with only 23 family and guests. We've had as many as 51 for this very special event in the past.

It seemed like Sam had just left, when she appeared once again for her Christmas break. The little red Mazda was loaned out to Sam as a mode of transportation. Loaning the car out saved Kathy & Jeff from leading disrupted lives due to the lack of their own transportation.

Once again Aunt Barb and Uncle Bobby provided the yearly family Holiday gathering at their home in Lewes, DE. Most all of the Fiddler/Romspert clan attended. It was a fine event as usual. Aunt Barb goes out of her way to make it a special and memorable occasion every year. The usual toast to the family Patriarc, Willis C., was celebrated by downing a shot of Old Overholt straight Rye Whiskey in his memory.

Christmas was quiet with us going to each of the grand children's homes at an ungodly early hour to view the opening of gifts. The Bloody Marys at Kathy & Jeff's were the usual great libation. Ham sandwiches from the night before helped sustain us through the morning. The Connecticut Fiddlers were supposed to be down the day after Christmas, they never made it. Seems they were going through a stint of walking Pneumonia.

New Year's Eve we watched the kids at Kathy & Jeff's while the parents went to a New Year's eve party. We had friends come over and played Pinochle for the first time in many years. Was a great evening of fun and the kids were great.

January 4'th saw same hop on big bird and head back west. January was a brutal month for cold and wind. The heating and electric bills zoomed upward and we all struggled to stay warm. Everyone you talk to is ready for spring and warm weather.

Mary Agnes went through January not knowing if they were closing her facility or not. Some inmates were transferred out and after a few weeks they began coming back. At this juncture the place is still open and she has a job.

Last weekend the Wicomico Yacht Club had a Fran Sinatra-Patsy Cline entertainment night. Bobby and Barbara came over for the event and a good time was had by all. We shall return their visit next week to a Parrothead Club Ice Breaker in Delaware at the beach.

Sam is going through her 40 Days of suffering in preparation for Prop & Wings. Today marks 100 days to graduation for the academy class of 2009. You can check out the going on through Sam's Blog.

And if you'd like, check out Kathryn's Blog also.

OK, now I feel pretty well caught up and a few readers will not bug me for a while. May this Friday the 13'th be a day of happiness for everyone.