A Font of Nothing

Archive for the ‘Holidays’ category

All’s Right with the World

July 6th, 2010

It’s only the 6th, but what a July it’s been already! Matthew Charles and his mom have been visiting for a few weeks, and above is one of my favorite pictures from their trip: Matthew on the swingset at Mom and Dad’s. And here’s a good shot of Sarah, me, and Linds on an oddly chilly Thursday afternoon.

My other favorite picture (so far, as I’ll be seeing the Merrills again later this week) is of Matthew and Mom in mid-giggle:

I spent last weekend in DC with Mandy and her fabulous friends. We ate out, we saw a movie, we went to a Nats game, we tubed down the Shenandoah River. And to cap it all off: We watched the fireworks from the South Lawn of the White House! Here’s Evan, me, Carol, and Mandy right as we arrived:

It was an amazing experience – the nicest portable bathrooms you can imagine (!), the friendliest people, Secret Service everywhere, yummy Dove chocolate ice cream bars, lots of beverages, a concert by The Killers, and the most gorgeous backdrop for watching fireworks I’ve ever seen. I guess the Obamas made an appearance, but we didn’t get to experience the meet and greet. Still, thanks to Keri for the amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Here’s me at the White House!

There are more pictures from Sarah and Matthew’s visit in the Summer 2010 album, and lots more from DC here.

In other news, I hit a raccoon with my car, and I had a chipmunk in my apartment! For a few days, I felt like I was living in an evil Disney movie. Ha! And this also happened…

Chav injured his paw again, and has to wear this ridiculous cone. I think it’s been more traumatizing for me than for him! He’s doing much better than he was when I snapped this picture, thankfully!

The title of this post comes from a quote by Ada Louise Huxtable:

Summer is the time when one sheds one’s tensions with one’s clothes, and the right kind of day is  jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief  that all’s right with the world.

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Posted in Chavo, Family, Friends, Holidays, Travel

The Present You Love Most

June 25th, 2010

I wasn’t away on Father’s Day, but it’s been a very busy week since I got back from Nashville, so I’m just getting around to posting. Here’s a picture of the dads who were present on Sunday: Tom, Dad, and Grandpa. There are more pictures from the day (including a visit from Aunt Cindy and an appearance by Meghan and Joe’s new puppy, Jackson) in the Summer 2010 album here.

The title of this post comes from a quote by Bill Cosby:

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.

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Posted in Family, Holidays

The Legacy of Heroes

May 31st, 2010

Happy Memorial Day! It was a gorgeous, sunny, hot weekend, full of picnics, parades, family, and friends. On Friday night, Linds, Heather, Jena, and I shared s’mores and lots of laughs over a bonfire in Jena’s backyard. On Saturday, Linds and I braved the Outlet Mall, then enjoyed some pool time and dinner with the family on Ogden Street. Yesterday was a picnic at the Woods and an evening with Heather and the Winchester boys. Today was the parade in PY, more pool time, and a picnic with the family. I’m tan, full, and tired. On to the photos (the one above is of a rose in Mom’s garden)!

Here’s Dad marching with the honor guard in the Penn Yan parade:

And here’s Jennie waving a flag as the parade goes by:

More photos in the new Summer 2010 album here. The title of this post is from a quote by Benjamin Disraeli:

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.

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Posted in Family, Friends, Holidays, Photography

Water and Sunshine

May 9th, 2010

Happy Mother’s Day! Spent the day with the moms in PY. Here’s a picture of Mom, me, and Jennie:

And here’s Debbie and Sarah:

And Tracy and Meghan:

And Grandma with (three of) her girls!

The title of this post comes from a quote by Terri Guillemets:

I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine – she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights.

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Posted in Family, Holidays

What It Is Made

April 4th, 2010

Happy Easter! Above is a picture of Grandpa celebrating at Tom and Tracy’s today; below is Grandma and the girls enjoying the afternoon sun on the back deck.

And here’s a shot of me and Kate, home from college (her, not me, obviously).

In non-Easter news, last weekend, Linds, Julia, Heather, and I went to Buffalo to see (the hysterical and bloody) Evil Dead: The Musical – and as a bonus, I got to see my old college friend Tammy! Here we are with Ash – minus a hand:

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And yesterday Mon Pion, Sophie, and I luncheoned at Biaggi’s:

Finally, here’s a self-portrait of Katie, Heather, and me, all gussied up for Singles Mingle:

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The title of this post comes from a quote by Tennessee Williams:

Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.

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Posted in Family, Friends, Holidays

Goodbye, 2009!

January 1st, 2010

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What better way to ring out the old than with good friends? On Wednesday, Matthew, Kevin, and Sarah came to Mom and Dad’s for lunch and presents. The highlight of the day was night vision goggles Matthew got from Mom and Dad. Kevin was very jealous! Here’s a great shot of Jennie and Matthew sharing a hug:

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Last night, I drove through the rain and snow to celebrate New Year’s Eve with the Dowds and Merrills. Here’s a shot of Matthew and me:

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And here’s one of SarahBeth and Kim in front of the Dowd Christmas tree:

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There are more photos from the last days of 2009 here. Lots to look forward to in 2010, including a trip to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras Half Marathon with DH, starting grad school, the annual (!) trip to DC to spend Fourth of July with Mandy Lou, the annual Rochester Half Marathon in September, and hopefully some other trips (South Carolina, Dallas, Nashville, Maine…). Good thing I have five weeks of vacation!

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Happy New Year!

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Posted in Family, Friends, Holidays

The Best of All Gifts

December 27th, 2009

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Merry Christmas! It’s been a whirlwind of food, family, friends, and wrapping paper over the past four days. We celebrated with the family at Scott and Debbie’s on Thursday night – that’s Grandpa by their tree in the shot above. The highlight of the night was green bean casserole – I mean, the video we shot for Jeff, Tennessee Swarthouts, and Richmonds. Who knew Grandpa had such sweet moves at age 90?!

There are tons of photos from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and The Day After Christmas here, including guest appearances from Leah, Lisa, Sarah, Kevin, and Mr. Matthew Charles. Here’s half the BL-13s, photo courtesy of Matthew:

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Next up: Merrill Day on Wednesday, and New Year’s Eve. Then we’re on to 2010. I need a nap!

The title of this post comes from a quote by Burton Hillis:

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

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Posted in Family, Friends, Holidays

My Christmas Elf

December 16th, 2009

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It’s a busy time of year, so I haven’t had time to post in awhile. To make up for it, here are some pictures of Chavo. Above, The Bean snuggling up to my festive Christmas socks. And here, he helps me with the present wrapping. Always helpful, that Chav. Happy almost Christmas!

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Posted in Chavo, Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving, Y’all!

November 27th, 2009

The subtitle of this post should be “Why Are There Always So Many Pictures of Jennie?” But first, let’s start with a group shot we took last night. My intention was to send it to Cindy, Steve, Mike, Leisl, Chris, and Meghan, but I forgot my camera cord. Anyway, here we are, waving to the Nashvillians. We took this photo in response to this one below, which Meggie was kind enough to send – Chris showing off his redneck culinary skills!

A few more highlights from the delicious day… Jennie and Kate. Um, the camera is over this way, Jen!

Bussey whipping up some mashed potatoes.

Sarah picking the turkey carcass (can you fit that into your resume?).

Jennie and Grandma, in the corner for getting in trouble?!

Jennie learns to text (thank goodness I have an unlimited plan).

And, finally, Jennie buttering up her “favorite” uncle, Tom. Christmas is less than a month away, after all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Posted in Family, Holidays

Days of the Dead

November 1st, 2009

I can’t believe it’s already November. Where did October go? Where did the year go?! Above is a picture I snapped on the walk I took with Mom, Bussey, and Jen this afternoon. The teeny pumpkin is cute, but I love the face on the one on the right.

We saw the month out with a bang – or, rather, with a boo! Friday night was Leah’s second annual Boo Bash. Linds and I went as Sam the butcher and Alice from The Brady Bunch, dead and frozen after getting trapped in the meat locker at Sam’s butcher shop. Brilliant idea courtesy of Linds!

Here’s another picture from the night: Leah, Jimmy S, and David P, aka The Disco Witch. There are a bunch more photos in the Boo Bash album here.

Finally, a very belated and very happy birthday to my darling mama. What more could a girl want on her special day other than potato chips? Oh, right: hot olives! Happy birthday, Mama!