Thursday, July 23, 2015




Jeff's shuttle bus.


A Family Traveling


After returning to the United States from his most recent trip abroad, Jeff took some family vacation time. Ultimately, the Berthiaume, Davies, Fiddler clans would all meet up in the state of Connecticut for a wedding. My niece, Lindsay Fiddler, would renew her wedding vowels in front of friends and family who did not attend her previously reported marriage to Nicholas Valasquez in the Dominican Republic. The second wedding would take place on June 27 at Wickham Park in East Hartford, CT.

So, how did this go? The Davies', that would be Zed, Sam, Mia and Anna of Oklahoma City, OK would fly off to Colorado to attend a wedding on June 20th. After the wedding in Colorado they would fly to Michigan to visit Sam's paternal grandparents, Jim and Lois Berthiaume and Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Joe and countless cousins in Bay City, MI. Jeff would meet them at the airport and provide transport to Bay City.



Mia Davies enjoying the hotel pool in Bay City.


Anna being a pool rat also.
Jeff would depart from Allen, MD and drive to Bay City and pick up the Davies when they flew in. Jeff would make this trek west alone, both Abby and Kathy would have to work.  Abby would fly up to Michigan later in the week and join the crew already assembled. After several delays in her travels west, Jeff would go fetch her also.  On Thursday, June 25th, Jeff, Abby and the Davies would all pile into the Honda Pilot and begin their trip to Connecticut. According to all it was a great trip to Michigan for all.

Jeff  and Zed thought this was an interesting device, a coin operated Bait Machine observed along the way.

A stop at Niagara Falls would be in the cards for travelers with a wet walk beneath the falls.

Mary Agnes and I would head to CT on Thursday and Kathy and Sarah would head off to CT on Friday. We would both make the wonderful trip over the GW Bridge with it's plethora of Truck traffic. It's always a roll of the dice as to how long the crossing would take. For us on June 25, 2015, it was 22 minutes,  really not all that hateful. 






The Wedding

I would be honored once again to officiate at a Second Coming of the Vows. I had my first opportunity three summers ago for Sam and Zed on a 105 degree day in Maryland. The weather was much kinder to us this time around.
The Reverend Billy Lee Fiddler conducts the ceremony for Lindsay and Nick.

The happy couple. Thank you for entrusting me to help you to once again officiate such a ceremony.

The extended Fiddler clan. My brother Rick (Blue shirt center) provided a wonderful setting for the occasion. Thanks for a wonderful time Rick. 

On Sunday June 29'th the Maryland contingent would load up in three different cars and begin the trip back to Wicomico county.  Sam, Zed and the girls would spend the next four days with Pappy (Jeff), G (Kathy) and Abby in Allen. They would do some beach time and spend their last day at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore before heading back to Oklahoma via SW Airlines. The kids used Kathy's car to get to Baltimore. They left the car @ BWI on departure and Kathy picked it up Monday morning after Sarah gave her a lift to Baltimore. Between, Jeff, Sarah and Kathy, they certainly put the miles on. As for Jeff, still in the old USA working in DC and saving us some travel expen$e money.


Anna would have her 1'st birthday while in Maryland. As is the norm for Granny Fiddler, she would make a Raggedy Ann for the event. This year would feature a USAFA Cheer Leader to make Daddy proud. Last year Mia had one in a Cow Girls outfit.
Mia's 1st Birthday Raggedy Ann

The Birthday Girl 

The 4th of July



As is the normal on the 4th, Allen celebrated with a parade. Many thanks to the Allen Lions Club for all they do in our tiny little village. Leading the parade behind the Boy Scout Color Guard was our Wicomico County Sheriff, Mike Lewis. Click on the link and hear Mike's view of our 2'nd amendment rights. We are fortunate to have a man of his standards looking out for our counties well being.

The Sheriff gets his customary hug from Sarah Palmer.


Even Mary Agnes joined the hug parade with the Sheriff.


A well preserved Farmall moves along the parade route.

The Patriotic retired Pastor Larry Stookey, awaits the parade.

'Knee-high by 4th of July'

Not in Allen

Is it Global Warming?

Photo from Livescience


The Washington Post has a great article on Europes perception of our

Air Conditioning Needs.

Check it out @ https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/07/22/europe-to-america-your-love-of-air-conditioning-is-stupid/?wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

A Birthday in Freehand, PA

Agnes Maloney Brill recently celebrated a birthday, here's the birthday girl with hubby Lew and Evan Gregory, their 1st grandchild. Thanks FB for all the available family pictures. 

In Memory

It's interesting how life has it's ebbs and flows. During the past month I had the opportunity to officiate a renewing of wedding vows for my niece. We celebrate a birthday and the birth of a grandchild is recognized. To end this edition of the Rooster we remember my mother,  who passed away in Virginia as we celebrated Lindsay and Nicks day in Connecticut. After many, many years of enjoying the warmth of the Florida sun, her final months on this earth were under the watchful and caring eyes of my sister Megan and her family. For all your sacrifices during this time Megan, thank you to you and your family for everything.

For you Mother, "The Rooster" crows no more.