On the way home from New York

(This post was written on Monday, Feb. 16--I've been a bit busy since getting home.....)


We’re on the plane headed back home now. What a morning. Up at 5:45 to get to train station by 7. We have to switch trains at Seacaucus--and I goofed up big time and got us on the wrong train. We ended up in New York City Penn station instead of the Newark Airport station----which cost us an extra $30 and an hour wait--to get on the right train. So, we missed our flight but got put on another one going through Dallas instead of Chicago and we had to rush to get on that one. Only one security line which took forever and I misplaced my boarding pass….found it on the floor, and we made a run for the gate which, of course, was at the farthest end of the terminal. BUT….good news, the plane was delayed AND we got First Class seats again. This was so wonderful to hear as it is a 3 ½ hour flight to Dallas so the extra room AND the wonderful breakfast they served us was so nice. Thank you, Lord, for taking such good care of us even when we mess up---ESPECIALLY WHEN WE MESS UP. And thank you, Josh, for being a pilot and allowing us to fly like this--cheap, last minute, and First Class. Guess I’m reaping the rewards of those college expenses.


We have had a very enjoyable time in New York, in spite of the sad circumstances. Fun to be with members of Don’s family we don’t get to see often. We learned a new game--it is a Gin rummy sort of game--but you can play it with 2 players or up to as many as you want--you just have to have a deck of cards for each two players. It was lots of fun--easy but challenging.


On Saturday Don and I went into New York City for the day. We did not have long to stay as there was a big family supper and game night that night at Barb’s we wanted to be back for. So we left on the train early, headed for Wo Hop’s in Chinatown for Won Ton soup and Egg Fu Yung for our breakfast. Was as delicious as always. Was a cold, breezy but sunny day so we headed toward the Brooklyn Bridge to do our traditional walk across it. But, after walking about 10-12 blocks through the Bowery, Don figured out he had headed us in the opposite direction of the bridge. Soooooo, we changed our plans and decided we would head over to Astor Place and catch the subway up to the Empire State Building.(Yes, I did get to be at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day) But we were walking through areas we had not walked before and I was loving all the architecture and sights of the city and taking lots of photos since I had not been there (NYC) with my new SLR camera before. So when we did get to the subway stop we decided we would just walk to the Empire State Building. Mind you, we were walking up 4th Avenue and just hit 1st street and the Empire State Building is on 34th street. But we kept going knowing that, if needed, we could catch a bus. We passed the Flat Iron building and got some good shots of it; a farmer’s market in Union Square; and lots of other interesting sights to photograph. I was having a wonderful time and it really felt good to walk.


Got some great pics of the Empire State Building and got a stranger to take our picture with it in the background to prove that we were there on Valentines Day (even though we didn’t get to see it lit up pink at night). The lines to go up in it were very long so we decided to forego that and save our $40 so we just kept walking. Soon we were at the New York Public Library where we took my picture with the lions and walked around inside that incredibly beautiful old building. Then I saw St. Patricks Cathedral down the street--it looked so close but really was at 50th street--so we walked there, then to Rockefeller Center to watch the ice skaters, then to Times Square back down around 42nd street. So all in all, including our hike from the subway into and out of Chinatown we figure we walked close to 100 blocks. Don’t have a clue how long that would be in miles but it was hours of walking. I loved it! Great way to see sights you would never see otherwise and just get the true feel of the city. At Times Square we bought a hot dog with kraut from the street vendor, then caught the subway back to Penn Station and caught our train back to Barb’s house. Was a great Valentine’s Day.

Josh and Kevin ( husband and son of Angie, Don’s sister Chris’s daughter) had come to the city with us but they did their own adventures like the Museum of Natural History and the cool Toys R Us store. Angie and family live in Kentucky and we don’t see them often so was so fun to get to spend time with them and their two boys, Kevin and Kyle.

I am so looking forward to being back home. I am homesick. I just really miss home and my animals and church and everything. Can’t wait to get there.

Want to go back a bit though and talk about the funeral. It was a Russian Orthodox funeral--done mostly in Russian. Very different and interesting. Wally’s parents immigrated here from Russia--came through Ellis Island--but Wally was born here. Lots of very interesting history of his life was given at the funeral. I want to write about it but will wait until I get the actual transcript from his son, Gary, as I don’t want to mess anything up. The weather that day was so warm and sunny--so glad--as that allowed so many more friends to attend. He was a much loved and respected man. It was so touching to hear his sons speak about him and what a great father he was to them. One of the neatest things he did was take them on extended camping trips every summer as they were growing up. As his son Stephen said, it was on these trips they really got to know their father and be guys together and really talk with him about anything and everything. I just think that is such an awesome thing for a father to do with his kids and it paid off as both sons had such love and respect for their Dad. I just feel so blessed and honored to have known him and so thankful that he brought so much happiness to Mom. She is doing very well. It will just take some time to heal that void in her life, to get used to a new routine without him. She misses his companionship so. But she has two of her daughters close by and many close friends to help her.

We are all looking forward to June when niece Kim marries Josh (Chris will then have two sons-in-laws named Josh) in Florida and we can gather once again as a family for a joyous occasion instead of a sad one.

Photos to go with previous blogs

One of our raised beds we were mixing soil filliing

what I see looking out Barb's window

pretty sunset at home

Don's dirty face after working with dirt in the fierce wind all day

another golden end to the day

unusual, cool cloud formations at sunset

almost looks like a tornado forming, doesn't it

"I wanna go, too, Mama"

"I can play Wii just like my bubba"

This is a typical Wally pose--He was always interested in what others had to say. He was the ultimate good listener.

Wally and Mom dancing on her 80th birthday.

I loved Wally in the hats he wore. He was such a treasure to us.

Barb and Carol's house I love this place!

Snowy woods beside their house

It is just so pretty outside. Quite different from our brown at home.

Update from New York

Wally and his son, Steven

Note: this blog was written Sunday (yesterday)


Right now I am on a plane headed for Chicago, then to Newark. Sure was not planning on this trip. We love going to New York but this is twice in a row we have gone for funerals of loved ones. We don’t like that--much prefer going for birthday parties.



Wally, Don’s step-dad, passed away yesterday. He was dearly loved by all of us--a real treasure. I always looked forward to chatting with him and seeing his beautiful smile. He was such a sweet heart. It just won’t be the same without him there to lighten up the room, crack a joke, or give his opinion on something. I feel blessed to have known him for the past 8 years. Mom and he were so very happy together.


We spent all day Saturday in Johnson City taking a CPR/AED/First Aid class for Red Cross. We have to have this class to drive the ERV and we just plain like having the skills and knowledge it teaches. I think everyone should have this course.



On our way home we got the news about Wally--so we knew we would be leaving today. Ran some errands in town then spent the rest of daylight finishing up tasks outside--like planting the two peach trees we bought at Sutherlands…..and the 20 asparagus plants that arrived in the mail..and just getting things set for Alisa to take over. We ran into her in Walmart so that worked out well. We were stocking up on ammo in Walmart as we are scheduled to take the Concealed Handgun course in a couple of weeks. But Walmart said as fast as they get ammo in it is bought up and they did not have any that we needed for our guns. I guess lots of folks are worried about the state of our country and what our President may do. Did you know that in part of his stimulus package is a clause that any schools or public facilities that receive money from this package can no longer rent to or allow a religious group to use their facility. So no more could churches hold services in a school gym or auditorium if that school receives funds from this stimulus bill. That package is so full, so many pages, no telling what other little clauses like this are lurking inside it. ok-I will get off my soap box now.


If you have a chance please go view my daughter Jenny’s new website and see all the awesome photos she has taken. It is http://www.sprinkleofgracephotography.com/ An awesome website. I think Jenny did a terrific job of expressing just what her photography business is all about and described her heart for expressing her creativity through photographs.


Almost to Chicago so I will close. Miss you all. I am so sad that I had to miss our gathering in Austin for Josh’s birthday. We were so looking forward to seeing those family members on the southern end of the state.



Ok--It is Monday morning now and I am sitting at Barb's breakfast table enjoying the beautiful view of the snow covered ground. The weather is sunny and gorgeous.

We left home at 5am Sunday after about 3 hours of sleep--so much stuff to do before we left and then to try to pack for really cold weather. Thank goodness Josh is a pilot and we get those flight privileges so we can easily leave on a moment's notice. Our flight was at 7:25--through Chicago instead of Dallas this time. We thought it would be nicer to break the flight time up into 2 - 2 hour segments rather that a short one and a really long one. Weather was gorgeous and looked good in Chicago so we took this one and we got to fly First Class. Wow! Was that nice--lots of good food, lots of room.

It was a great day of travel. And to top it off when we got on the train to take us to Pearl River, NY where Mom lives, we met up with niece Kim, arriving from Florida. We arrived at Mom's to a huge feast being prepared by two dear family friends, Judy(fondly known as Princess Judy) and Eileen (the owner of those gorgeous gardens I photographed last summer). Judy makes the most wonderful pasta sauce and Eileen made a huge, wonderful salad and the greatest, most garlic laden, garlic bread ever, and they topped it with fresh fruit to dip in a heavenly chocolate fondue. What a delicious way to show their love for Mom and all of the family. Mom was doing well and delighted to have all her children and dear friends surround her. Later in the evening Wally's son, Steven, arrived from Texas. It was a nice, warm family gathering. Just what Wally would have wanted. But I must say it was so nice to get to Barb's house and crawl into a warm bed and catch up on some sleep.

I must get out and take snow pictures. Us "girls" of the family are going to go out and "stimulate the economy" (go shopping). Barb is busy putting together a slide show of pictures of Wally. The wake is on Tuesday and the funeral on Wednesday.

Here is something interesting: In December Don and I watched that best movie of all time, SLEEPLESS IN SEATLE and I mentioned to him that I would love to be in New York City on Valentines Day. And now....the possiblity is here...we will see how it pans out. Wouldn't it be so cool to go up on the Empire State Building on the evening of Valentines Day?

More news from down on the farm...

Note: this blog was written Friday and just posted today. We are now in New York.


Today Don and I worked all day getting our raised garden beds ready to plant. We bought a pickup load of compost from the nursery down the road and mixed it with peat moss and coarse vermiculite. Sounds simple but it was not. We were using the stock tank/swimming pool as a mixing bowl and our feet and legs were the mixers. But the peat moss was all clumpy and we had to stomp on it to get it to crumble. So picture Lucy and Ethel stomping grapes. Talk about leg exercise--try walking around in knee deep planting mix kicking it around and mixing it up. And all this being done with 15-25 mph winds with gusts higher than that. It was crazy.
But we got it done. Filled the 4’x4’ asparagus bed, the 4’x12’ bed, and most of the 4’ x 24’ bed. They look so pretty and nice.

Also, that same day my next shipment of fruit trees arrived so I planted 3 plums, 1 apricot, 1 pomegranate, and Don planted the two pecan trees and 10 blackberry vines.

And then I tackled my chicken problem. Moved the three girls who insist on setting into a separate pen and used dog crates for their nesting boxes (so I can lock them up safe from predators at night). Moved them eggs, nest, and all --boy, were they ticked off-- they all had a giant hissy fit. It was like they were telling the rest of the chickens they were being violated so the whole barnyard got involved and carried on squawking their heads off loudly. But now they have settled down and seem happy in their new quarters. It is much nicer to gather the eggs without getting my hand pecked when reaching under them to swipe the fresh eggs other hens lay in their nests.

So that is the news from down on the farm.