Christmas

Everyone zoomed back to Stamford to celebrate Christmas.

Again, a couple of The Elves needed a Break.

But when Cordelia cracks the whip Things Get Done.

More Pecan Rolls needed to be made...

...and a Christmas Tree needed cut (in Amy and Chris's own Woods).

Back to the house.

Cordelia approves.

All work and no play won't do.

See the Snowball in the air from Cordelia

aimed at her Dad?

The Tree was decorated and...

...the Stockings were hung

by the Chimney (stovepipe) with care,

in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

And so it was Christmas morning and

it looks like that Jolly Old Elf found his way.

There was even a letter to Cordelia

explaining that her American Girl Doll

was waiting under the Tree at home in Mt Lebanon.

This Craft Supply kit,

put together by Uncle Chris and Aunt Amy,

made a big hit with Cordelia.

Violet enjoyed her first Christmas.

This Elf has her Mommy work cut out for her, Eh?

Sometimes Mommy gets a bit of help from another Elf.

Aren't they Cute?

Merry Christmas!

No New England Christmas would be complete without a Blizzard.

Looks like Katz was disturbed.

Location:Stamford, Vt

Christmas Preparations

While Jan was meeting Baby Nate, Lew was babysitting....the Siding men.

This is what our poor little house looked like

after having it's failed 28Ft high Chimney partly torn down.

Something had to be done.

Tearing down the rest of the chimney

and installing Vinyl Siding did the trick.

The little house is Cute again, Eh?

Lew even found time to put up Christmas Bows.

Meanwhile, inside Cordelia and Grandma

were busy making Pecan Rolls

(a Tradition with them).

Another Tradition: building a Gingerbread House.

Santa's Elves needed a Break.

Location:Bethel park, Pa

More House Work and the Baby whose house it is

So on Oct 3 there was this phone call:

Amy: "Dad, can you come and help Paint 'cause we are a bit behind"? (subtext: "the baby is due Dec 17 and the house isn't done").

Lew: "Sure. I'll be there day after tomorrow".

No PICs of me because I was too busy painting. But this PIC shows the just-completed Solar installation. Chris installed all the Collectors. Once the interior paint was done and all the lighting fixtures installed, I took off for Bethel Park.


In case anyone hadn't noticed from the PICs, Amy was expecting her first Child Dec 17, so it was time for a Baby Shower. So back to Stamford we zoomed.

We loaded Katz into her mobile Digs (Adam says that for her it is "Traveling Hell") and away we went. The CG at Robert Treman stays open for Hunting Season so we spent the night there. Marco's electric heat kept us Toasty. It did cost us $28 and this is in a State Park!

This is what the Swimming Hole looks like when drained for the winter.

No PICs at the Shower 'cause we were way to busy.


Then we zoomed back to Bethel Park....on December 8 the call came with the news of Baby Nathaniel Johns Warren had been born around 11PM Dec 7! So Jan got aboard the Tin Bird and took off for Stamford to meet our third Grandchild.

Meanwhile, back in Bethel Park, Christmas preparations were ongoing.

Location:Stamford, Vt

Marco MODs Update

An update of Marco modifications is in order.

The oiled Pine countertop didn't stand up so

it was replaced with Polyurethane finished (3 coats) Pine.

The new location for the A/C works well.

The Aircard/Router and Amplifier fit nicely and out of the way.

Above is the new medicine cabinet.

The Internet equipment runs on 12VDC and is available

even when Boondocking.

A clean installation of the A/C. Notice the LED lights.

Notice also the compact Bike Rack which holds our two bikes handily.

Now this is the best thing since sliced bread.

I'm talking about the BAL Lock Arm Stabilizer Bar running diagonally from top right to bottom left.

The Stabilizing Jack (the heavy black part running fore-aft)

is thus braced in all directions and all "rocking 'n shaking" is ended.

Bathroom Tile and end of the Summer with Paul McCartney and other Diversions

We made our way to Stamford to help Amy and Chris a bit more with their house construction.

 Laying Tile was a new experience for all of us.

Those Tile are special. They are cut Limestone and have many Fossils Tests.

After laying the Tile in Thinset it must be Grouted to fill between each piece.

Yup, proof that the Yinzers Contingent was there.

With us helping Amy, Chris was freed up to pursue other Vital work, like building interior walls.

With Summer coming to a close it was soon time for us to bug out. We stopped at our favorite NY State Park near Ithaca (Robert Treman) for thee nights so we could take our favorite walk.

The CCC built this Staircase as well as all the Trails and the Campground. This is on a 4.5Mi loop trail.

Fortuitously, on our way home we were able to attend a get-together of ALiner people.

This Bike Carrier gave us a way to solve the problem of carrying Bikes while towing Marco. We ordered one and it works well.

Location:Stamford, Vt : Bethel Park

Paul McCartney, the Zoo and other Diversions

You see, we needed to be in Pittsburgh for something Special. The Beatles played at the old Civic Arena in 1964 and Paul McCartney returned on 8/18/2010 to Dedicate the new home of the Penguins. We got to see and hear a live concert by a Beatle. 

Sir Paul is as good as ever and has a Stage Presence which is bigger than Life.

Our last weekend before School started we zoomed over to Orbisonia as we hadn't been there for many years. While there, we hopped on over Blue Mountain to visit with my Double Cousin Mon and his wife, Nancy.

Orbisonia, Pa is home to the East Broad Top Railroad,

the remnant of an extensive 3Ft gauge system

which served the coal mines of the area.

Boooaard!! This lovely Parlor Car is always the last car.

Adjacent is the trolley museum,

which operates two miles of track on which they run

any of a dozen restored Cars.

A favorite Fall weekend venue for us is the CG near Rockwood.

Rockwood is on one of our favorite Rail Trails,

the Great Allegheny Passage.

You can ride on the grade of the old Western Maryland

from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC.

Another Fall diversion is a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo with Cordelia.

Cordelia was intrigued with this sculpture at the entrance

to the Pittsburgh Children's Zoo.