February makes me shiver....

Well toward the middle of February and winter just won't stay and keeps tempting us with days in the high 60s interspersed with days of 20 or lower. Frustrating! Lots of flu-ish and strep-type bugs floating through the halls of school these days.

On a good note, Gretchen is doing well 3 surgeries down the path from where we started. She is now clear for preventative radiation and we believe that her prognosis is very good. It has been a scary three months or so for all of us as we watched her progress so closely.

Jan 20th came and went and it's now been 3 full weeks since our new President was inaugurated. The state of the Nation is very tense and watchful. I don't even think his supporters feel completely safe these days as programs of all sorts are in a state of upheaval. It remains to be seen if he will last - as it seems each day he breaks some rule of order or fails to follow the protocols of good governing. We may not ever have a first lady in the White House as his wife is not amenable to living in it. It makes one feel uneasy much of the time.

Hoping for better things ahead as spring must eventually come.

Two by Two

Marriage is on my mind in this post...
On Dec. 29th 2009, Ed and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. We chose to remember the day by going out to dinner with all our kids and grandkids. The place? Frankie Tocco's restaurant on Jefferson and Main St. in St. Charles.... one of our favorite eateries and a place where families are always welcomed warmly. So there we were, all ten of us, and I looked up and down the table feeling really thankful for all the people we've been blessed with in our lives.
My girls are both married to great guys and you can tell by these shots that they have great "personalities" and senses of humor... that is something Ed and I have found to be an integral component in our marriage... an ability to laugh and find humor in the day-to-day things that life brings. So here's to married life, our daughters, their hubbies, and laughter that binds us all together!

Pre-Holiday Blessings & My Girls: a Mama's Joy.

It has been an incredibly exciting week for us! Well, actually more for our kids which as those of you who are parents know makes it equally exciting for the parents! Our daughters have had major blessings come their way and it has left us all so excited, happy, and (of course) proud that we feel like we got our Christmas gifts early this year. So if you don't mind, I'd like to share.

Our eldest daughter, Gretchen, was surprised by a HUGE promotion at her company, Concordia Publishing House. She has been made the Director of Public Relations and Corporate Communications for the company. Just slightly less than 2 years ago she began working at CPH so this is a great vote of confidence by her company in her abilities to do what she does for them! The job comes with some obvious new benefits (a bigger desk chair among them, we hear) and wider responsibilities, but she has a great team of folks working with her so we know she will be wonderful at her expanded role for CPH!

Next, our younger daughter, Katrina, has been quietly working on her first novel throughout the past year. In August she informed the family that she was going to "go for it" and seek getting it published. This week saw exciting developments in that adventure... she has a literary agent now working for her! Her book got some great feedback from several agencies but she has now chosen a very prominent New York based firm to work with her in marketing her novel. So in the new year we could actually get to see her work in stores with a cover on it! This is a dream come true for her and is especially exciting to both of us who have taught her English over the years and seen her talent and voice develop! Now, don't ask me the million dollar question as to what the book's about or if I liked it, because in typical Katrina-fashion she's been very quiet and private about it. None of us in the family have had the privilege to read it yet... but are told that once it "has a cover" we'll get a chance to read it. All I know is that it's Young-Adult Fiction genre and involves the great lakes plus the mythical creatures of mermaids... (not certain how many). My students are waiting with baited breath for a chance to read one of their fellow LHS alumni in print. So stay tuned in the New Year for more about my girls!

A Small Bite of the Big Apple (East Coast Adventure continued)

The Manhattan skyline shot from the Staten Island Ferry... a classic!

New York City conjures up so many images in the mind. We have seen it in countless films and television shows. We have watched the ball drop in Times Square since we were old enough to stay up til' midnight on Dec. 31st. For me, I have always imagined it as a crossroads of the world, a place where every kind of person on the planet must pass through at least once. And in that respect, New York City did not disappoint me. Within minutes of arriving there, I heard at least 20 languages fly past my ears, saw signs for at least a dozen different cuisines, and saw hundreds of faces that all looked like they came from as far from my Midwest experience as possible! It was a total delight to have my imaginings be reality! Gretchen and I caught the "first off-peak" (cheaper) train into town and had a MARVELOUS day! Hope you enjoy of my photos! (and yes, we did see all this and MORE in ONE DAY!)

The Staten Island Ferry is the best deal in town, a free ride past Ellis Island and Lady Liberty! This was our first pick of the day. We went to the tip of lower Manhattan and hopped aboard! What a fun start! This shot of a returning ferry was taken from our outbound ferry.

Ellis Island... a place with unique connections to millions of Americans. Now a museum, a tour guide giving his spiel on our ferry ride said that 2 out of every 5 Americans living today has an ancestor who passed through Ellis. Pretty remarkable since the place hasn't been used for decades and in light of how immigration has changed throughout the years.

There she is! Warning here, I got a bit infatuated with this gal; took quite a number of shots of her.
Thank you Nikon for making my wonderful zoom lens!

Looks just like the shot in my history book as a kid!

"Bring me your tired, your poor, your humble masses yearning to breath free....
I life my lamp beside the golden door!" -Emma Lazarus, "The New Colossus"

This enormous open space filled with cranes and bordered by skyscrapers was where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center stood. Ground Zero is not open to the public for viewing anymore, but it is a place of intense rebuilding. Even so, I got the chills as I walked the several blocks past this area. Life continues and Americans are nothing if not resilient. The "Freedom Tower" and 9-11 Memorial are being constructed here. May they be able to stand as a tribute and NOT as a target.

Keep walking north and you pass through Soho and end up in Greenwich Village. For a child of the 60's and early 70's, this was like a visit to Mecca! Really quaint and TRENDY neighborhoods grace this area now. Lots of wonderful shopping and restaurants. It bustles and yet it's got quiet spots as well.

Classic row of Greenwich brownstones! Love it! Could sit on the steps and sip a.m. coffee.
Ever seen "You've Got Mail"? Meg Ryan lived in a place like this!

We arrived at Washington Square Park after a visit to the famous Magnolia Bakery home of the best cupcakes in NYC. We each had a box with 2 cupcakes in it (curious? $2.50 for a cupcake! - we need to catch up on this trend in St. Louis!) Sat here for almost an hour watching a film being made and watching the nannies walking their assorted charges in the park.

Another view of Washington Square Park. It's mid-day on a Thursday... and the place is hopping!

Looks just like the Arch de Triumphe in Paris... or one of the early scenes of "When Harry Met Sally". Note the Empire State Building framed in the arch (along with my lovely daughter)... some snazzy city planning at work there!

Carnegie Hall! We're now at the lower west corner of Central Park. When I return to NYC, I will attend
a concert here. (Notice I said WHEN, not IF!)

Being the quintessential tourists, we HAD to take the carriage ride in and around Central Park. Our driver, Umet, was a delightful fellow from Turkey. He took our photo midway through the drive! What a gorgeous park! The only one that rivals it in size is our own Forest Park in St. Louis.. however, this park was BUSTLING! Interesting that it includes a zoo, an art museum, a carousel, a skating rink... all sounds a LOT like home. However, it has a much less "controlled" or managed feel to it... more woodsy and rocky, very beautiful, cool, and shady!

Another shot of the big lake in the park and the surrounding city. Beautiful!

That's all for today... tune in next time for the Hudson River Valley collection!

East Coast Adventure - Part One

I had a tremendous opportunity to travel with my daughter Gretchen during the first week of June. We went to New York City and Boston together. It was our first "girl-cation" together. She was on business for Concordia Publishing, and I was able to "tag along". What a fantastic 5 days we shared! We began in New York City and ended in Boston with lots of super sights to see in between. So for the next few posts, I'll share some of our adventures! We made many memories of great food, great fun, and two great cities!

This is New York's Grand Central Terminal. It is a busy place 24/7. We arrived here by train from our hotel.

Since both Gret and I are English teachers and bookworms, our first stop was the giant reading room at the New York Public Library. Actually, it's practically next door to Grand Central, so we aren't quite the nerds we appear to be! (well, yeah, we are!)

Strolling up Fifth Avenue... we come upon Saks 5th Ave. and its neighbor, St. Patrick's Cathedral.

You guessed it, instead of going into Saks, we went into the Cathedral! Again lots of people coming and going. We stopped, lit a candle, and said a prayer of thanks for Uncle Jon's successful surgery that morning!

All "Today Show" fans know this site - we're at Rockefeller Center! An open air dining area sits where the ice rink is in the winter.

Ever watch Tom Hank's in "Big"? Here we are at our favorite store... F.A.O. Schwarz.
And yes, grandkidlets, I got something for you there!

It's now about 9pm but Times Square is bright like daytime! This was taken without a flash! If you look up above the red Toshiba sign near the top, you can see the ball and the "2009" from New Year's Eve.

That's it for today... more tomorrow my friends!

Cousins Get Together

Asher gets to be more fun each day!

Rhylah is into her toys now that she can sit up on her own.

Sydney is still little enough to watch all the goings on and wonder what it's all about.

It's Stroller Time!

Moms and kids head for the park! Roll em, roll em, roll em!

It's been a wonderful week here! Kate arrived on Tuesday for a 5 day visit. Asher and Rhylah came along... Gabriel had to stay home with his dad so he wouldn't miss school. The weather turned more spring-like this week so the when the sun managed to shine it was delightful! Kate watched Sydney for Gretchen on two of the days she was in town. Both moms had fun swapping notes on what the babies were up to and taking the kids out in the strollers. We got to spoil them each night when we got home from work! All in all, it was a wonderful week for being a grandparent!

Easter Fun

Miss Sydney Grace Jameson in
her very first Easter dress.

Easter morning we were greeted by a very interesting snowstorm that threatened to make the day feel more like Christmas and continued on and off throughout the day.

After Church (which was lovely with all the music and lilies you could wish for) and a stop in at the Immanuel Youth Group's Easter Breakfast (complete with the famous Egg Bake and French Toast Sticks), we headed for Gret and Leon's to celebrate with some great food and relaxing fun.

The photos that follow don't begin to capture all of the day. I even discovered something new about my daughter.... she had NEVER seen the Disney classic, "The Swiss Family Robinson!" I can't begin to imagine how we overlooked that part of her childhood! So, of course, Leon and I (who are "experts" on this film) had a blast telling her what was coming next as we watched it on the Hallmark channel. What a hoot! Do you all remember the ostrich race? Or the rather hilarious battle vs. the pirates (who spoke no language anyone could recognize) that included a tiger pit? Well, friends, it is high time to revive this classic!

Sydney stayed dressed in her Easter finery long enough for me to snap about 50 adorable shots of her... no, I won't post them all here. But I will put up several.

A pretty table set for a feast.

"Whoa...here comes grandma with that camera!"

"Okay... I'll smile for one...and then
maybe she'll go take a photo of Bailey!"

"What do you mean I'm too little to look for an Easter basket??!"

"So who gets all my candy? Daddy?! That's not fair!"

"Well, forget it then.... I'm going to take a nap!!"

Finally, no holiday would be complete without a shot of the cooks. Gret and Ed were in their very best form as they prepared roast leg of lamb, grilled potatoes, Waldorf salad, oven-roasted asparagus, and carrot cake. Last November they had fun comparing their tummies... but it would appear that Ed has regained his lead in that category, too, as measured (sort of) in the kitchen on Sunday!

We hope your Easter was happy in every way!

Christmas Joys

It goes almost without saying that this Christmas was a very special one for us. We had the whole family together for an entire week of fun and laughter. There's nothing quite as good as having little ones around to make the entire holiday seem much brighter and happier.

Gretchen and Leon continue to await the arrival of their little girl. Will it happen in the New Year or before? We wait and see. Meanwhile, everyone was home and happy and healthy!

This goes into the record books as one of our top Christmases ever!

The Importance of Being Earnest... and Finished!

Last night was the closing performance of the LHS Fall play, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. Gretchen directed and the show sold out both nights. The challenge of all this was balancing our concern for Gret with her need to see this project through to completion. I am happy to report that all went well, Gret is fine, and the show was quite a hit with the audience. I must also add that I will totally enjoy this coming week so much more having done last week.... I am beginning to appreciate being able to say that I am a bit too old to run that sort of schedule anymore. Fun as the show was, I am ready for some down time and I KNOW Gret is!

Bella Notte! August 24th, 2007

I am a little behind in getting this post placed, but wanted to post the first ever "Taste of Tuscany" Dinner held at Rolling Meadows. The dinner was purchased by the Hoenigs and 3 other couples at the LHS Dinner Auction last March. The date was finally set for Aug.24th. The candles were lit and Italian music was playing in the background, as my best friend, Carol Gaunt, and Gretchen put their phenomenal chef skills to work and created a dinner that will long go down as the most sumptious ever served in our little dining room!

It all began with Antipasti and Bruschetta starters with a wine tasting and walk in the vineyard as the sun set low in the west. Next came salad... a pear and bleu cheese with light balsmaic/vinagrette dressing, then a dash of sherbet and champagne to prep the palate for the next course. The main course included fire-grilled Tuscan vegetables, Italian Saliccia roasted and served on cheesy bread, and Spinach and Cheese Cannelloni. All served with the diner's choice of wine. Finally, dessert was a parfait of chocolate brownies, vanilla icecream, and raspberries, layered with homemade hot fudge! OH MY it was good!


The Rohlfings, the Schmidts, the Boyers, and the Hoenigs arrive for their "Taste of Tuscany!"


A pretty table awaited the guests.


First comes the antipasti!


Gretchen and Carol were in their element assembling this dinner!


Ed took the diners on a tour of RMV wines.

Door County Days - Part 2

Sailing + Sunsets = SMILES!



One of the best things we did while in Door County is charter a sunset cruise on a classic double-masted sailboat. The day had been cloudy but just as we set out, the weather cleared on the horizon and we were treated to a gorgeous sunset. It was probably the most relaxing thing we did all week. There is nothing like the quiet of a sail to make you just want to lean back and grin!