Speaking of weddings past, I thought you might like to see a few of the wedding photos that I have here at my fingertips….
A quiet day with Annie and Rob Nichols.
Phoebe in her cage next to the Nichols Christmas tree.
Annie and Rob Nichols are our adopted family. They issued Dave informal “adoption papers” for Christmas in about 1993, granting him “full rights” as a member of the Nichols clan. Since that time forward, they’ve treated him as if he were their own flesh and blood.
When I turned up at their home in 1996, Ann and Rob extended full benefits to me as well. When Dave and I married in 2001, Annie, Rob, and Annie’s son Jay, were among the eight members of our bridal party.
For years, Dave and I spent Christmas Day at their home in Allen, Maryland — a place we all lovingly refer to as “the clubhouse.” The place has stayed the same, though the actual house changed. (Home, we say here in the States, is where the heart is. “Americans” are a traveling bunch, and home means something different to us than it does to most Europeans.)
Annie petting her bird. Who knew birds like to be petted?
Rob and I designed a new clubhouse together in 2000 (it’s the one pictured here). Our design was based on the original cottage clubhouse, but the new house is much larger and more spacious. That was necessary because the house is nearly always full of friends and relatives. We all spent one Christmas in a rental house, in the period when the old clubhouse had been sold and the new clubhouse was under construction.
Yesterday, Dave and I spent a quite day with Annie and Ron, ushering in the New Year with a feast of delicious, Shannon-friendly foods.
We had also visited Annie and Rob earlier during the break on a day when the house was full of people….
The Christmas tree at Ann and Rob’s is always decorated with items of significance from the past year. This year’s included a camera ornament for Annie’s granddaughter (to commemorate her success in the realm of photography) and photos of new family/friends.
Tommy with big brother David.
David and Christopher and I have been viewing the Chance Christmas blogs. They’ve decided they want to post one about their baby brother, Tommy.
David says to let you know that Tommy wants to go to school. Tommy will go when he’s four, in three years, David explains, just like David does now. When Tommy gets there, he will play. David is sure he’ll be helpful, too.
Sometimes David’s teacher needs David to do things, like make things for his mom and dad. Sometimes the teacher sends homework. Other days, she sends a project home for him to do, like the Easter gift they made for his mom.
Most of the homework, David says, has been fun!
My nephew Christopher became tons of fun while I was away. He’s snuggly and chipper and he has developed an impressive vocabulary in his 28 months.
I expected to find someone in his “terrible twos” but am delighted that his twos are down right terrific. I feel so blessed to have a few days here in Maryland to get to know this little guy better.
Lucy worked at the hospital all day yesterday. Matt, Dave, and I spent the day with the kids. I’ve developed a world of respect for Matt, who has shaped up to be a fantastic dad. He’s also a great cook and serves up meal after tasty meal.
Tommy headed for Mom Mom’s house.
We all look forward to visiting Dave’s Mom, Christina, who the family calls Mom Mom. We headed to Mom Mom’s for dinner last night, and baby Tommy was clearly excited about the trip.
In these photos, you see much of last night’s merry crew:
Dave, his Mom, and his brothers Matthew, Michael, Andrew, and Adam. You’ll also see Matt’s wife Lucy and their three boys (David, Christopher, and Tommy), Michael’s wife Julia and their two boys (Connor and Evan).
Dramatic bridge that spans the C&D Canal at Chesapeake City, Maryland. This image is from Wikipedia.
Headed to the eastern shore of Maryland by auto last night, Dave and I enjoyed spectacular evening sky. The vibrant pink and purple Pennsylvania sunset melted into a jacquard pattern of clouds illuminated by a bright, shiny, and very-full moon. Unfortunately, my iPhone didn’t do the sky justice from the window of Dave’s truck.
Along the way we stopped for dinner at the Bayard House along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in Chesapeake City, Maryland.
The picturesque town is fully decked in Christmas cheer.
While we ate, we had the thrill of seeing a large cargo ship — the type that delivers new cars to the Philadelphia area — pass under the bridge spanning high above the historic city and the wide canal. This canal “is one of the few fully sea-level shipping canals in the world. The original C & D Canal was built privately in the 1820s, and it opened for business in 1829” according to the PennWays website.
The Star Barn in panorama.
Waving goodbye to Mom, Leslie, and Heather yesterday, we made a quick last visit to our favorite barn near Highspire, PA. The sun shown gloriously in the sky; it brought this stately barn to life for us once again.
Dave and I are thrilled an organization stepped forward a few years back to save this barn and to get it recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Other beautiful old buildings we love in this area are not faring nearly as well. It’s likely a number of them will be demolished for strip-mall “development” before we return.
Outbuildings beside the Star Barn.
C-Ville Weekly published a fascinating article about the Blue Ridge Tunnel project. Also, please don’t forget Kevin Donleavy’s radio show this Saturday:
A chairde and pals,
Ireland by Chance 