tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61507437727329115082024-03-04T22:26:10.168-08:00For My FamilyA place to post family photos and comments. A place to share with people close to my heart but far from my homeSusan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-74329245424239983282014-09-08T08:26:00.001-07:002014-09-08T08:26:23.701-07:00Aunt Janet's Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEkCC_0uWuPvOlZrImwYD_Y_NrY2vCpCkY4v6BGhT7ulQGdfB3zJOniZ8N-_V-TMJLY-XvFM2Xtf5IxzGzS_Hphp_457EcnezJs_o9bef6SSnhm_sKyHKTFFz0FvxwuCqc4LJ-hbtq1Y/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+photos,+112,+March+1,+1973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEkCC_0uWuPvOlZrImwYD_Y_NrY2vCpCkY4v6BGhT7ulQGdfB3zJOniZ8N-_V-TMJLY-XvFM2Xtf5IxzGzS_Hphp_457EcnezJs_o9bef6SSnhm_sKyHKTFFz0FvxwuCqc4LJ-hbtq1Y/s1600/Aunt+Janet's%2Bphotos%2C%2B112%2C%2BMarch%2B1%2C%2B1973.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Above: Aunt Janet and Uncle Howard, March 1, 1973.)</div>
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Steve and I volunteered to scan the photos Aunt Janet had at the time of her death and upload them into a Flickr! album so that everyone in the family could see, print, share, enjoy, etc. The task has been completed. The album is<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157647317140536/"> HERE</a>. (For those of you unaccustomed to Flickr!, these images can be individually opened by clicking on the desired picture. They can also be viewed in a slideshow format by clicking on the icon in the upper right corner of the computer screen ... under the listing that there are 262 photos in the album. The icon is a rectangle with a right facing arrow inside of it. Click it ... a slideshow will commence. There are arrows at the bottom of the slideshow screen to proceed more quickly to the next image or to go back to an earlier one.)</div>
Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-43005906732341803612014-09-08T08:17:00.001-07:002014-09-08T08:17:41.955-07:00Aunt JanetSusan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-32751946572362030712014-08-09T09:36:00.000-07:002014-08-09T09:36:02.973-07:00Aunt Janet's Memorial<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbVwbqXogFFgN3fIT_9Zi4EmwrS8EH_5k7XFvAiRveciy8JjwbhQmAfj7d_A3Yx2dn05JBZVxht7AOf7VQoY75wkJfBWUM-YKbKZCFMnLMLA-1dzFaVvzND8yrm7fBLClRo8LVZS497o/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+Memorial,+Rose+from+Wanda+and+sepia+photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbVwbqXogFFgN3fIT_9Zi4EmwrS8EH_5k7XFvAiRveciy8JjwbhQmAfj7d_A3Yx2dn05JBZVxht7AOf7VQoY75wkJfBWUM-YKbKZCFMnLMLA-1dzFaVvzND8yrm7fBLClRo8LVZS497o/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+Memorial,+Rose+from+Wanda+and+sepia+photo.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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Aunt Janet was everyone's "favorite aunt". Maybe this was because she and Uncle Howard had no children. We could all imagine what it might be like to call them "Mom and Dad", to live on their farm, and to bask in the warmth of their love and laughter. What they really would have been like as "parents" was up to our imaginations. Nothing but "wonderful" was the result.<br />
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Aunt Janet is impossible to talk about without also including Uncle Howard. They were inseparable even though Uncle Howard died on March 28, 1995. As teenagers, they were married one weekend by a justice-of-the-peace in Kentucky. (This was the weekend after they tried to get married in Ohio ... which was the weekend before being told they were "too young" by a justice-of-the-peace in their hometown of Huntington, West Virginia.) No one remembers a cross word between them. Everyone remembers the best country cooking, the amazing fields of daffodils, the down-to-earth practicality that ran their lives, and the fact that they paid cash, in advance, for absolutely everything they ever owned. We all loved them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXgBvddQ-HNb1UQ5pEWnU7wb0sXY5HhjY_WYOsB8xqEUUuUqxtRid8PlZgarkzB52rGjB4Um9JLxeTXq9Px1aBXtTESzuUoZIGsB7Qlxx3-ZZ9gZP3vKvRpm9iEUNiZ3QFwdN6ybxHK4/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+memorial,+Flowers+from+Linda+Wichman+and+sepia+photos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXgBvddQ-HNb1UQ5pEWnU7wb0sXY5HhjY_WYOsB8xqEUUuUqxtRid8PlZgarkzB52rGjB4Um9JLxeTXq9Px1aBXtTESzuUoZIGsB7Qlxx3-ZZ9gZP3vKvRpm9iEUNiZ3QFwdN6ybxHK4/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+memorial,+Flowers+from+Linda+Wichman+and+sepia+photos.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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There are too many fabulous stories about Aunt Janet and Uncle Howard to share in a blog post. My favorite, however, is on my left hand. It is the gold band that Uncle Howard gave Aunt Janet on their tenth anniversary ... because obviously two eloping teenagers in the early 1930s didn't have such a token of fidelity and love. On September 12, 1981 the platinum rings with which Steve and I were supposed to get married were temporarily lost (for four months). I got married with Aunt Janet's ring. I tried to return it after the ceremony and she said, "Well, somebody finally got married with the old thing! You might as well keep it!" I will always cherish it. Who wouldn't want to be married with such a ring!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxp6AJPdtAm40tbK8Pj6dbhHm1ZfJmrOQb4v_2-cFVk1zpuWjvQNAGE70-k1UwvFWT7yqGa7OPAQ0Mv1KR3tmGCtsmdgWBuJC2JY-CubcCKvGyQjilLGkj3Bh67QYbtOoo7uS5J1KE4s/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+Memorial.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxp6AJPdtAm40tbK8Pj6dbhHm1ZfJmrOQb4v_2-cFVk1zpuWjvQNAGE70-k1UwvFWT7yqGa7OPAQ0Mv1KR3tmGCtsmdgWBuJC2JY-CubcCKvGyQjilLGkj3Bh67QYbtOoo7uS5J1KE4s/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+Memorial.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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Well, now Aunt Janet and Uncle Howard are united. Below is her obituary. The memorial service was very touching and attended by people who knew her from Woodlawn Retirement Community, her church, her garden club, her dear neighbors, and plenty of family members. The flowers were amazing. Aunt Janet would have liked them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SR87dKoHrgpBdLoByhyphenhyphenoVhIOMIaj2haH5p0eXky-o0treVkPW9mMNnEll6ZVf_RN0lcccwXeI5W1Yq7QPJCZTnuY23E63sZFgp7Lj7GiEqj1CL-hf8HzWralVrMtVpVKwmfno2gyFLA/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+Memorial,+Flowers+from+Larry+and+Gloria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SR87dKoHrgpBdLoByhyphenhyphenoVhIOMIaj2haH5p0eXky-o0treVkPW9mMNnEll6ZVf_RN0lcccwXeI5W1Yq7QPJCZTnuY23E63sZFgp7Lj7GiEqj1CL-hf8HzWralVrMtVpVKwmfno2gyFLA/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+Memorial,+Flowers+from+Larry+and+Gloria.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
Above is the arrangement given by Uncle Larry and Aunt Gloria.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRGB742DFpYUfgrQsATXX9nSMj9G_60B6CntQCyEdNIn-RPNuB-lEsRfGph12Z_SI7Rv5MSwE2ChlE_Z7YhQsZ_LSEffiCBmvb5Yw-cPivXRs7whwqQ8MQW0EhMyVkEYgfnM6o7TvOIQ/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+Memorial,+Flowers+from+Linda,+Henry,+and+LoraDell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRGB742DFpYUfgrQsATXX9nSMj9G_60B6CntQCyEdNIn-RPNuB-lEsRfGph12Z_SI7Rv5MSwE2ChlE_Z7YhQsZ_LSEffiCBmvb5Yw-cPivXRs7whwqQ8MQW0EhMyVkEYgfnM6o7TvOIQ/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+Memorial,+Flowers+from+Linda,+Henry,+and+LoraDell.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a><br />
This is the arrangement from my parents, Henry and Linda Lenz, and my grandma (Aunt Janet's sister-in-law) LoraDell Baker.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GDoSSFVyFP9GlfUFwmkw5hzUR0d-GEIoGfZH1ZtKubRV873uC93XmtYuCGQKC38SOx1xBNvCeKvMMNV7amT-TOzh_K3gpdC7CREZrk70pzvn0VtvygsMx4XvuPv1PfKr3Yr5Pb3SXO4/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+Memorial,+Flowers+from+Susan,+Steve,+Wanda,+Reinhart,+Erica,+Tim,+Sonya,+and+Vipin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GDoSSFVyFP9GlfUFwmkw5hzUR0d-GEIoGfZH1ZtKubRV873uC93XmtYuCGQKC38SOx1xBNvCeKvMMNV7amT-TOzh_K3gpdC7CREZrk70pzvn0VtvygsMx4XvuPv1PfKr3Yr5Pb3SXO4/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+Memorial,+Flowers+from+Susan,+Steve,+Wanda,+Reinhart,+Erica,+Tim,+Sonya,+and+Vipin.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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This arrangement was from my sisters and their husbands (Sonya and Vipin, Erica and Tim, Wanda and Reinhard) and Steve and me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzfzh9g8X80Qcjb5ccMcwku9apPiOdmw-LOepBfcot5eev5xgEpevMNNV0c5g7CszYV1105SgKDQvZIPtZ9iDzRmXz_mGBfqTg4V1G9NrOHlzVFvCdJ0LxZP4OyOiAE_Qsz39hjz2Sxk/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+Memorial,+lowering+coffin,+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzfzh9g8X80Qcjb5ccMcwku9apPiOdmw-LOepBfcot5eev5xgEpevMNNV0c5g7CszYV1105SgKDQvZIPtZ9iDzRmXz_mGBfqTg4V1G9NrOHlzVFvCdJ0LxZP4OyOiAE_Qsz39hjz2Sxk/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+Memorial,+lowering+coffin,+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
After the memorial service, the funeral director and cemetery employees went to the grave site.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibF7wfhkLHANcVw2c0Ti_9E3KD0sBKDVt8X6STjgbjrM9ewk5ulC3Tnx3JswmanXsMBM5DWSx3rlvJTikhToAApuM-q_yjtuwEk2BX2j-ppnR386fJ3ocstMhRGSzbSSuizTatPIbulDs/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+Memorial,+lowering+coffin,+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibF7wfhkLHANcVw2c0Ti_9E3KD0sBKDVt8X6STjgbjrM9ewk5ulC3Tnx3JswmanXsMBM5DWSx3rlvJTikhToAApuM-q_yjtuwEk2BX2j-ppnR386fJ3ocstMhRGSzbSSuizTatPIbulDs/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+Memorial,+lowering+coffin,+2.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a><br />
From the distance, we could see the coffin being lowered into the ground.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjxMYKKFKFtiNXC91byaQT6oTKVYAare0hBH7LzEIxoKVpC4sg0PJDESjc5uLQbLGa35Lk7-BPidf96bJDK95ZV9pPug2D3J1Oy7qC4t6pD__ZkBF1zT9fjcssERUlv_WCrZBZtwuNxE/s1600/Linda+and+Larry+at+the+Baker+plot,+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjxMYKKFKFtiNXC91byaQT6oTKVYAare0hBH7LzEIxoKVpC4sg0PJDESjc5uLQbLGa35Lk7-BPidf96bJDK95ZV9pPug2D3J1Oy7qC4t6pD__ZkBF1zT9fjcssERUlv_WCrZBZtwuNxE/s1600/Linda+and+Larry+at+the+Baker+plot,+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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We went to another part of the cemetery ... to where "Mom and Pop" are buried. They were my great, grandparents ... Uncle Howard's parents ... Aunt Janet's In-laws. Also buried here is Elma, my grandmother's sister who died right before her sixteenth birthday and Grandpa Baker.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPor1cXRL9s_GBbOXcM0beb6py33CEYSKU8DZ1awVhlbaQ4DB_1O19PVHsOj4AwZT9_oSvf061665bjN4iLyCleyVx-EoKkS3NA0fB7AC9qtMvGtPW7LfDJYiVRq5QmAMPI8l3gw1jIo/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+Memorial,+Rose+from+Wanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPor1cXRL9s_GBbOXcM0beb6py33CEYSKU8DZ1awVhlbaQ4DB_1O19PVHsOj4AwZT9_oSvf061665bjN4iLyCleyVx-EoKkS3NA0fB7AC9qtMvGtPW7LfDJYiVRq5QmAMPI8l3gw1jIo/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+Memorial,+Rose+from+Wanda.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a><br />
We brought the single red rose that my sister Wanda ordered. She generally has one for Uncle Howard's grave every Memorial Day. Instead of placing it there, we took the rose and the flower arrangement from my sons, Mathias and Alex, and their cousins Vincent, Tony, and Nicole ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2vMljzf6kJuQTYh5-17G47alPXvzKVi3PCHjYyqGB6QgF10DvEZ1Iv5vTXAkROs_y2Jq3Ss_DTWz8RX7leyKRgJsQLNyp19AnHAlmWdkXtcna7UtD8qt3dW_OXtW39F957Z-acJNyes/s1600/Aunt+Janet%27s+Memorial,+Flowers+from+Mathias,+Alex,+Vincent,+Tony,+and+Nicole.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2vMljzf6kJuQTYh5-17G47alPXvzKVi3PCHjYyqGB6QgF10DvEZ1Iv5vTXAkROs_y2Jq3Ss_DTWz8RX7leyKRgJsQLNyp19AnHAlmWdkXtcna7UtD8qt3dW_OXtW39F957Z-acJNyes/s1600/Aunt+Janet's+Memorial,+Flowers+from+Mathias,+Alex,+Vincent,+Tony,+and+Nicole.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
(Above: Arrangement from Mathias, Alex, Vincent, Tony, and Nicole.)<br />
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... to this area ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUwJ5JmzVKOi_Rdm6OfbBeaXfj79kSJ7qkZmO8u7dFCwBOfVpdzNC3_TvQF-ZunPyoHXL2Y72ISWxxJWpsvoNzmc1_rJsLm_gQyHTd0ArXrAkDehjo4MsHWawLddriOkKP-Uv88uobJw/s1600/Flowers+at+the+Baker+plot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUwJ5JmzVKOi_Rdm6OfbBeaXfj79kSJ7qkZmO8u7dFCwBOfVpdzNC3_TvQF-ZunPyoHXL2Y72ISWxxJWpsvoNzmc1_rJsLm_gQyHTd0ArXrAkDehjo4MsHWawLddriOkKP-Uv88uobJw/s1600/Flowers+at+the+Baker+plot.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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... where I tried them first on one side of the family marker ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeaF_PszRRxgCSUD3EMmBD_fzrCmIY48u5tNF5hJKnzFQAHdAzzIQCsWEwcvexq1kjUzD3YovIpcrQSf5308-heWmDJhD6bL08VWBjcNaFLy3CsaMbGHbBhg-L4HqrC8JHltJIMOl2Sk/s1600/Flowers+on+the+other+side+of+the+Baker+plot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIeaF_PszRRxgCSUD3EMmBD_fzrCmIY48u5tNF5hJKnzFQAHdAzzIQCsWEwcvexq1kjUzD3YovIpcrQSf5308-heWmDJhD6bL08VWBjcNaFLy3CsaMbGHbBhg-L4HqrC8JHltJIMOl2Sk/s1600/Flowers+on+the+other+side+of+the+Baker+plot.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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... and then the opposite side.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX5IWkr-xZ9j1d3hnqU24R_PB_KEL38mJanUNAF8iDkx-jatFZRtRJtLXoLeO01nLdTZBklZANPxU_HfnPMP9r-Eyo2_w3YrcGWXiSgMly91L8m8Dp-ibZwsY2tOe9aaFRX9H2xOYjUI/s1600/Wanda's+rose+on+Grandpa%27s+marker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX5IWkr-xZ9j1d3hnqU24R_PB_KEL38mJanUNAF8iDkx-jatFZRtRJtLXoLeO01nLdTZBklZANPxU_HfnPMP9r-Eyo2_w3YrcGWXiSgMly91L8m8Dp-ibZwsY2tOe9aaFRX9H2xOYjUI/s1600/Wanda's+rose+on+Grandpa's+marker.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a><br />
In the end, I don't remember which side got the bouquet but I do know that the rose was left here.<br />
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Please know that though this day was solemn and prayerful in many ways, it was also a time to celebrate and laugh and remember Aunt Janet and Uncle Howard. They will always be loved and missed.</div>
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In Memory of<br />
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Janet Frances OSWALD</h1>
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December 13, 1914 - August 4, 2014</div>
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Obituary</div>
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<b>Janet Slone Oswald, 99, widow of Howard E. Oswald,
died Monday, August 4, 2014 in the Woodlands Retirement Community. She
was born December 13, 1914 in Ashland, KY, a daughter of the late
Garfield M. Slone and Wilhelmina Meyers Slone. In addition to her
parents, she is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Howard E.
Oswald and her only sister, Mary Madeline Richardson and her husband,
W.E. Richardson “Rich” of Huntington, WV. She is survived by her
sister-in-law, Lora Dell Baker of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, a special
niece, Mrs. Henry Lenz, of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and a nephew,
Larry Baker of North Carolina and their families, who have many
wonderful memories of growing up with aunt Janet and uncle Howard.
Janet loved growing flowers and horticulture and designing flower
arrangements with them. She gave seminars on her techniques and taught
many in our area. She was instrumental in the annual Daffodil Flower
Show and the annual Rose Show in the design divisions. Janet was a life
member of the National Garden Club as well as the Huntington Garden
Club and the Beverly Hills Garden Club, of which she served as president
on two occasions. She was an Emeritus Master Flower Show judge and
gave inspiration to many. A friend tells the story of going for a walk
in the woods with Janet and how exciting it was hearing her talk about
the things found in nature in the language of the principles and
elements of art and seeing Janet’s soul emerge as she spoke with wonder
and amazement at God’s Creations. She was a member of the Central
Christian Church serving in many capacities but particularly as a Sunday
school teacher and as president of the Christian Women’s Fellowship.
Burial will be in Woodmere Memorial Park. There will be no visitation.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 7, 2014 by the
Rev. Kevin Snow in Woodmere Memorial Park’s Abbey of Remembrance. Those
who wish may make expressions of sympathy to the Central Christian
Church. </b>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-15691287344648947972013-12-18T13:11:00.000-08:002013-12-18T13:11:19.605-08:00The Nutcracker, birthdays, anniversaries, and a college graduation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU1bYnt47LybbK-gKWJPQreAZXayH0_wqPm9w3k-R9I_HAPmmDB97t3QdDBMPj4oBAAVqEpvlIUP1oBd1qupmevJd6AJjxqPfi9HA9nZKVZ2Eflio6T4OhUDA7FF8AMWKHiv7ISQjWec/s1600/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+5,+Grandma+and+champagne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU1bYnt47LybbK-gKWJPQreAZXayH0_wqPm9w3k-R9I_HAPmmDB97t3QdDBMPj4oBAAVqEpvlIUP1oBd1qupmevJd6AJjxqPfi9HA9nZKVZ2Eflio6T4OhUDA7FF8AMWKHiv7ISQjWec/s320/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+5,+Grandma+and+champagne.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: LoraDell Baker raising her champagne flute in a toast to her 95th birthday.)<br />
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I've got plenty of wonderful family news to share in this post! December 2013 will most assuredly prove to be memorable! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TYMCb16SXd1lTpR-rZMakyR4oYXm-itdtzCMPIzhagxS1BVwVhJlx-2MAlcjpMb-KwWZgn7PuxTEIxrpC5tUG1Pz3nC1QWMWQFtS3LRsBCiRuWSYRYavayT7fYUWfgcA-Mb6fCNRem4/s1600/Mathias,+Natasha+Oughtred+and+Miki+Mizutani+in+The+Nutcracker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TYMCb16SXd1lTpR-rZMakyR4oYXm-itdtzCMPIzhagxS1BVwVhJlx-2MAlcjpMb-KwWZgn7PuxTEIxrpC5tUG1Pz3nC1QWMWQFtS3LRsBCiRuWSYRYavayT7fYUWfgcA-Mb6fCNRem4/s320/Mathias,+Natasha+Oughtred+and+Miki+Mizutani+in+The+Nutcracker.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
(Above: Natasha Oughtred, Mathias Lenz Dingman, and Miki Mizutani as the Sugar Plum Fairy, The Prince, and Clara in <i>The Nutcracker</i>.)<br />
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Steve and I flew to England for a wonderful week of Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of <i>The Nutcracker</i>. In different casts, our elder son Mathias danced the role of "the prince" and his girlfriend Laura-Jane was Clara. We were thrilled, of course ... and flew back to the States in time to immediately travel north to Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. It was a BIG, BIG weekend! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgolk9mS_CK-CSWBXRB_fgUx_s7Fu_x6VGkN-y538Y1gEu2eVA-hgNtSPxiknvpQFeAQkiuXSd12O3ffq6_7N7XbmLcs34qqBkS1_D5QEKVoRFr0rKjBln1fNXH5YVLlSMNp2Nn7K3tE/s1600/Mom's+75th+birthday.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgolk9mS_CK-CSWBXRB_fgUx_s7Fu_x6VGkN-y538Y1gEu2eVA-hgNtSPxiknvpQFeAQkiuXSd12O3ffq6_7N7XbmLcs34qqBkS1_D5QEKVoRFr0rKjBln1fNXH5YVLlSMNp2Nn7K3tE/s320/Mom's+75th+birthday.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Linda Lenz and Gloria Baker on Friday, December 13th ... Linda's 75th birthday!)<br />
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It started on Friday the Thirteenth ... my Mom's 75th birthday. We had a great time at Lenzelhof, her lakeside log cabin home. Aunt Gloria (who turned 80 last September) and Uncle Larry came out. My sister Sonya and husband Vipin were there too. We talked about the coming day ... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYep5ey__AVCST8coIkXugg32fMGlgU4ptnbbyfWVcshyjF8UhITTHZIN1if7cN5rl-7R4rlFuCm184yyk20BV1D-C3MxrZyVmNxy_K-yNRwtjnd0vFjr2iWkicQozmXKFF9TjDTkCyBQ/s1600/Tony's+Graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYep5ey__AVCST8coIkXugg32fMGlgU4ptnbbyfWVcshyjF8UhITTHZIN1if7cN5rl-7R4rlFuCm184yyk20BV1D-C3MxrZyVmNxy_K-yNRwtjnd0vFjr2iWkicQozmXKFF9TjDTkCyBQ/s320/Tony's+Graduation.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Tony's graduation from Slippery Rock University ... beside my mom and Dad, professor emeritus.)<br />
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... my nephew Tony Papley's graduation from Slippery Rock University. Dad donned his gown and The Ohio State University hood to walk with the faculty as a professor emeritus. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHp9jVoB4fIFec3Y5KhsmH1o4gDF37Jpn7qXUiyEl5xBysEnOOdK75RWHe72CxXqYDmikXHjYuEM9jF6iDbyMvjqMC-In_S1yU28o8Jy6AVD9X3qJ07u8yFI24L_JIt8k8pRcNMW4R7U/s1600/Grandma's+95th+Birthday+preparations,+1A,+Sonya.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHp9jVoB4fIFec3Y5KhsmH1o4gDF37Jpn7qXUiyEl5xBysEnOOdK75RWHe72CxXqYDmikXHjYuEM9jF6iDbyMvjqMC-In_S1yU28o8Jy6AVD9X3qJ07u8yFI24L_JIt8k8pRcNMW4R7U/s320/Grandma's+95th+Birthday+preparations,+1A,+Sonya.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: My sister Sonya after Greystone Manor's committee room had been transformed into a beautiful birthday setting.)<br />
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Bright and early on Sunday morning the committee room at Greystone Manor was transformed into a a beautiful birthday setting. My sister Sonya went out of her way to make every detail special. The place mats were reproductions of a foxy photo of Grandma in c. 1965 on the Atlantic City boardwalk. This image was used on Grandma's 95th birthday cake too. Sonya found Grandma's cloth napkins and punch cups too. She also made little gnome-like party favors for all 30 seats and brought bags of recycled and natural materials to decorate the table. Feather boas, twinkle lights, spray-painted twigs and pine-cones and an assortment of tablecloths and lace were used. It looked FANTASTIC! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwV-SqFnepXpiV5WfH0z1h-ZzU3hZ4A7WPui7qU8NNwK95XpGI21HzkO8hkkMTfWuqKJC06w5vv3VBhmsnEwjuCm8Ti1pdn_UMA4qz6nqr_HQP3K0dF0jxh0gxsozegiP9xeQdS1roNyI/s1600/Grandma's+95th+Birthday+preparations,+2,+photo+collection.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwV-SqFnepXpiV5WfH0z1h-ZzU3hZ4A7WPui7qU8NNwK95XpGI21HzkO8hkkMTfWuqKJC06w5vv3VBhmsnEwjuCm8Ti1pdn_UMA4qz6nqr_HQP3K0dF0jxh0gxsozegiP9xeQdS1roNyI/s320/Grandma's+95th+Birthday+preparations,+2,+photo+collection.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Grandma's photo collages.)<br />
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From Grandma's storage area, collages of family photos were retrieved and displayed. Everyone was in at least one picture! Grandma was brought to tears and it was so much fun to remember former occasions for other grand celebrations.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MvWVDVQc7JTzMSiqVIQ6FeZmnaMxo8aDFOGgqLnH7cLrez5OVxl98MXAom2HtahKYK7BQa0esdK2bcjNgwIdkHczalZ0Xrcwl4_RkfwB5gTAQPPCfKgafkf6uDHiHEcX_ZTjaTo9ycw/s1600/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MvWVDVQc7JTzMSiqVIQ6FeZmnaMxo8aDFOGgqLnH7cLrez5OVxl98MXAom2HtahKYK7BQa0esdK2bcjNgwIdkHczalZ0Xrcwl4_RkfwB5gTAQPPCfKgafkf6uDHiHEcX_ZTjaTo9ycw/s320/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+9.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: <a href="http://www.jpceventgroup.com/"> JPC Event Group</a> catering.)<br />
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With so many people coming, it only made sense to hire a caterer. Jen was great! Not only was everything hot, delicious, and perfectly served ... but she put up with Sonya, Joann, Emily, Steve and I as we moved around the furniture and worked on the party decorations. We were often in her way but she "went with the flow". She had no problem working with the fact that we were doing the tables ... including the tablecloths and napkins ... and deducted some of this normal expense from the final bill. Jen even cut and served the cakes that we brought. Not many caterers are so easy-going, friendly, fast, and flexible! Thank you Jen and JPC Event Group! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu2YuGpPqoPEW8cdyfwKnI-bjV3q1T7_z2eA1Vc0QavZKz4_sAguf9CNkSDEblhZiizg7AeQ0QDQW_pMPBI3Ko62iOG56102HkfzbWJIRThE07H5t5-J6xWqdVc_IEXHJUyKJ8BBvqtY/s1600/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu2YuGpPqoPEW8cdyfwKnI-bjV3q1T7_z2eA1Vc0QavZKz4_sAguf9CNkSDEblhZiizg7AeQ0QDQW_pMPBI3Ko62iOG56102HkfzbWJIRThE07H5t5-J6xWqdVc_IEXHJUyKJ8BBvqtY/s320/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+10.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Birthday dinner for 30!)<br />
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The meal was great! The conversations were hilarious, and Grandma was definitely "Queen Bee".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd3DSRB4scu6Q2ZJXwtlJ1fBk-4xGwb06Au9-FzLLaH7bwwVPIfOcjfqX1p4fjBMWRqxKXdZkAauZecD3LmfCkhxU6NgENX2ybjVI6jDtbwcW_ILvJhV1FeMYxSyU2dO2xJjFKxfaVlM/s1600/Grandma's+95th+Birthday+preparations,+15,+Cake+Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd3DSRB4scu6Q2ZJXwtlJ1fBk-4xGwb06Au9-FzLLaH7bwwVPIfOcjfqX1p4fjBMWRqxKXdZkAauZecD3LmfCkhxU6NgENX2ybjVI6jDtbwcW_ILvJhV1FeMYxSyU2dO2xJjFKxfaVlM/s320/Grandma's+95th+Birthday+preparations,+15,+Cake+Table.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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(Above: The "cake table" ... featuring carrot, marble, and decadent chocolate on three different cakes ... one for Tony's graduation with his football photo, one for the 55th anniversaries with a photo taken less than a month ago of Mom and Dad with Uncle Larry and Aunt Gloria celebrating their years together, and one of Grandma ... obviously the decadent chocolate one.)<br />
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We had a special table for the cakes but also another special table for punch and champagne. We all toasted the big occasions before the meal began. (See first photo on this blog post of Grandma!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCFn3sdbZD-Z_BXGQLzoPobDkAAW84n4CFNN4YxPsJoKE08OtuTj9fwPH1sJY7oyv8blj6Mk4XyX8oPeOkrf4Am7pB18ECY0Bj1JR5Cri8U4Do9i-8EjvVAVVrif8FxW_WLVPVhvMLs8/s1600/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+Reception+for+Greystone,+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCFn3sdbZD-Z_BXGQLzoPobDkAAW84n4CFNN4YxPsJoKE08OtuTj9fwPH1sJY7oyv8blj6Mk4XyX8oPeOkrf4Am7pB18ECY0Bj1JR5Cri8U4Do9i-8EjvVAVVrif8FxW_WLVPVhvMLs8/s320/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+Reception+for+Greystone,+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Residents of Greystone Manor at Grandma's 95th birthday reception.)<br />
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The brunch when from 11 until 1:30. From 1:30 until 2:00, the table settings and food were cleared and the room was transformed once again ... this time into Grandma's 95th birthday reception with all the residents of Greystone Manor. Everyone had a great time. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z-NyGzhCSVVmqQjCi-_l9UEB2ldjf3SHcUYt6Omtfkh6AkSVLJTBi4ihj5L4IE6Ha2X5_rFgO5V_D_hJL1sg1QHJt3TXiZEK-kqcp2dLg9fuj-Y0Ol36hGPLyhE69Sj4ALhx0P3e3HA/s1600/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+Reception+for+Greystone,+3,+party%27s+over.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z-NyGzhCSVVmqQjCi-_l9UEB2ldjf3SHcUYt6Omtfkh6AkSVLJTBi4ihj5L4IE6Ha2X5_rFgO5V_D_hJL1sg1QHJt3TXiZEK-kqcp2dLg9fuj-Y0Ol36hGPLyhE69Sj4ALhx0P3e3HA/s320/Grandma's+95th+Birthday,+Reception+for+Greystone,+3,+party%27s+over.jpg" width="208" /></a><br />
(Above: The party's over!)<br />
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The last visitor left about ten minutes before 4:00 PM but Grandma insisted on staying until the very last minute. It was her day ... and she left with a basket of cards and candy and covered in balloons. (All the other presents were already transported to her fifth floor apartment.<br />
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The photos here are only a sampling of those I snapped. To see the entire set on Flickr!, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157638802183823/">CLICK HERE</a>.<br />
Yet, I also took eight videos. Why? Well, my sister Wanda wasn't able to attend. I know she missed being with everyone and really wanted to feel the joy, love, and Grandma's excitement ... so I shot videos. Unfortunately, my camera doesn't take videos that coordinate with Windows Movie Maker (despite attempts to add software to alter that fact). Thus, I can't create something with titles, credits, transitions, and other editing ... but I was quite capable of uploading all eight to You Tube! (If I'd watched them before uploading ... I'd have realized that # 7 and # 9 are only three seconds long and the result of forgetting that my camera was set to "video" mode instead of "photo" mode! LOL!)<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPDYpBivjrQ"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPDYpBivjrQ">Video 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rIPzcBk8m8">Video 2</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNiBTGxlGdM">Video 3</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEbCqspTDPs">Video 4</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxQyIQ2ocC0">Video 5</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8llLf_T1UDU">Video 6</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fQahmbIT_Y">Video 7</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqFcQRyghiw">Video 8</a>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-64542785549588722732013-07-29T07:16:00.001-07:002013-07-29T07:16:13.783-07:00Mathias and LJ's summer vacation photos!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoMJlQp04g4C6KkMCKA5Ne2OSMg95EKeLNPtGZjBI1Tn1Z3ORNS-oMBI9OoyuP6mpUY_nCuBTi5M22AEC2LqcPcE46KTukUtGG91VS_ny8Q5z3_BpacbEOep3_8GQOVAs3ZkUIeq3ei0/s1600/Mathias+and+LJ+France+vacation,+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoMJlQp04g4C6KkMCKA5Ne2OSMg95EKeLNPtGZjBI1Tn1Z3ORNS-oMBI9OoyuP6mpUY_nCuBTi5M22AEC2LqcPcE46KTukUtGG91VS_ny8Q5z3_BpacbEOep3_8GQOVAs3ZkUIeq3ei0/s320/Mathias+and+LJ+France+vacation,+40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mathias and Laura-Jane booked passage on the ferry to France for their "mini" and for themselves. They spent nearly two weeks traveling through World War II bunkers, historic towns, vineyards, and sunny beaches. They returned to England in order to wash clothes before going on to a friend's wedding in Scotland. The photos from these adventures were shared on Facebook ... and now they are on "My Family Blog" ... so that my Mom and Dad can see them too. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157634840189203/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157634840189203/">CLICK HERE</a> for a Flickr! set.<br />
Dad ... Flickr! has changed. I can't seem to find a link directly to the slideshow. Just click the link above and then click on the first photo. You will see an arrow on the right side ... so that you can go to the next image. It is easy! You don't even need Mom's help! Try it ... You'll like it!<br />
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<br />Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-71638170507840976632013-07-15T11:12:00.001-07:002013-07-15T11:15:31.307-07:00Alex's Longboard Event<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTgWGK2Ymz5rPDkoJKLel6lub6uuU89usOqH3WKU-6nIpcQWe_7avY78pb2OthuD22U-JNuf8UpKVwPtotgD0vnd6bbEcvtTPA9HyYEfQ7amAkIq97YFxXscvWVsZi6prQHys_l-mit0/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTgWGK2Ymz5rPDkoJKLel6lub6uuU89usOqH3WKU-6nIpcQWe_7avY78pb2OthuD22U-JNuf8UpKVwPtotgD0vnd6bbEcvtTPA9HyYEfQ7amAkIq97YFxXscvWVsZi6prQHys_l-mit0/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: 11:00 AM ... Skaters arrive.)<br />
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It's been since February's Pub Night, a fund raiser for Columbia Music Festival Association (CMFA), since Steve and I have seen or heard from Alex. We've heard he's working ... frying chicken at a place called Zaxby's. We know what building he lives in with his long time girlfriend Erica. The bank tellers at Arthur State Bank have told us that he still has an account there ... and that he's nice and friendly. We've also heard from friends that Alex still helps out at CMFA. We knew that the <i>Jasper Magazine</i> release party was at CMFA this past Friday night. Ordinarily, we would have been there but this past weekend found us in Washington, DC. We were at Wolftrap listening to the National Symphony Orchestra play Mussorgsky's <i>Pictures at an Exhibition</i> and Orff's <i>Carmina Burana</i>.<br />
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We couldn't help but to think of Alex. He knows both pieces very, very well. (I used to promise to buy him a Beanie Baby toy if we could get the entire house cleaned by the time<i> Carmina Burana</i> was over. It is GREAT music for house cleaning! Alex was also involved in a 2005 joint art/music project between the visual arts community and the local philharmonic featuring <i>Pictures at an Exhibition</i>.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoJfuTNCocBYIx_FcaavDRr6XnJlO-SOP8VFZko0ECx1Rg1yupuLe-oWVhyphenhyphenzyZG9WTGKQFaTOAE_nq_JKFAFcDAY152KmUWGdPwWIY_31lt-nVWf5WTGObMQb0Wo86yVIa4J3c6i3_h4/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoJfuTNCocBYIx_FcaavDRr6XnJlO-SOP8VFZko0ECx1Rg1yupuLe-oWVhyphenhyphenzyZG9WTGKQFaTOAE_nq_JKFAFcDAY152KmUWGdPwWIY_31lt-nVWf5WTGObMQb0Wo86yVIa4J3c6i3_h4/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Alex talks to the assembled skaters.)<br />
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Steve and I wondered if Alex was at CMFA ... and we sort of got our answer when Steve's cell phone started to vibrate just as the final "O Fortuna" was about to be sung. Obviously, Steve didn't answer. Later, we noticed Alex's number ... one we got back in February. We called and left a message. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTSYf3LvAvJL0sb5j7jaFw3H0tR8injsbzsA9f5r196wmeV5cndtv8LO6Z6QcHpafzHZe-e6oLnHuqsK0dXHWk2MBZxENoydzK9lRBjDoy9Yov6c9m4uYR9vjVhefQJ1FyaSfYO11VTo/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTSYf3LvAvJL0sb5j7jaFw3H0tR8injsbzsA9f5r196wmeV5cndtv8LO6Z6QcHpafzHZe-e6oLnHuqsK0dXHWk2MBZxENoydzK9lRBjDoy9Yov6c9m4uYR9vjVhefQJ1FyaSfYO11VTo/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Alex telling the skaters that helmets and gloves were required ... to walk up the side of the road and beware of any cars ... and to have lots of fun.)<br />
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Well, yesterday evening Alex called again and invited us to a longboard event he was hosting today. Unfortunately, the start time was 11:00 AM ... during regular business hours. So, only I got to go. I snapped these photos. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qhJEBaVyKpgs-QXYDaInwpVfQ7-j-7L-M52OYs_bXT_aDAh4QuAH4nukwM8FEmNzdhog8VnehMg1l7b8SOvlaQz8uUibxfnCn7OIYTkwzmaF7RWxlXNlVg0yX0NkM7HzcobhxSggPbw/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qhJEBaVyKpgs-QXYDaInwpVfQ7-j-7L-M52OYs_bXT_aDAh4QuAH4nukwM8FEmNzdhog8VnehMg1l7b8SOvlaQz8uUibxfnCn7OIYTkwzmaF7RWxlXNlVg0yX0NkM7HzcobhxSggPbw/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+4.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Three skaters climbing the hill.)<br />
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I learned that Alex organized and publicized the event on Facebook. It was called The General Lee Slide Jam and Birthday Bash. Alex rounded up prizes and served as the judge. This meant he didn't actually bring his own longboard to the event. He was too busy watching the others and determining who would win. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrfFRKzoOPmzh3lm0gfJHU5YMm5PvHRSm8BcKtPJKLqrN-LOdUBp0yaiZO3VLZAdDCyfXw5S7z5z2secESB0qh1J_cqqF4Au55fYLdYv8MOh_oRQwUFjauZb5MkHbwmkZbj61kq4S0gE/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrfFRKzoOPmzh3lm0gfJHU5YMm5PvHRSm8BcKtPJKLqrN-LOdUBp0yaiZO3VLZAdDCyfXw5S7z5z2secESB0qh1J_cqqF4Au55fYLdYv8MOh_oRQwUFjauZb5MkHbwmkZbj61kq4S0gE/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+5.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Alex on a borrowed long board carrying water to the top of the hill.)<br />
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The parking was about three blocks away from this steep hill. Alex explained that the pavement was "icy" ... which meant it was "slippery". He told me how some of the wheels are softer than others. Softer wheels allow the rider to do different tricks. Harder wheels make for faster conditions. Several of the skaters brought two boards ... one with soft wheels and another with hard wheels. It sort of reminded me of Steve's bowling days ... when "scratch" bowlers (those good enough not to have any scoring handicap) brought several balls that reacted differently to the way the lanes were oiled. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4OKy0xOElsT0w66ZebDIRFAyTeNcTPjIaE3448PFC9roft75PY1Na3TT1n1wCnwPiYJVhYaPxEZoa8132kbFKFwbuXdtjsJ2tCDiz8s16xwVtgqKjGF0fcYnqY1-xuu5fT2Ht-87EiI/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4OKy0xOElsT0w66ZebDIRFAyTeNcTPjIaE3448PFC9roft75PY1Na3TT1n1wCnwPiYJVhYaPxEZoa8132kbFKFwbuXdtjsJ2tCDiz8s16xwVtgqKjGF0fcYnqY1-xuu5fT2Ht-87EiI/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+6.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Going to the top of the hill.)<br />
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Some of these longboarders came from out-of-state ... looking for a new, interesting hill to try. Just the day before several were in Atlanta at another event, including Alex. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_Pk-KJCYwXu5xy8pj7yIeWqi9FNFLmiiwUnmAwcxlbmRYTEwyR32H9NfOS-A2o0RzPe2sPSPuoQBG1d4eenq4g4FQHMobyAAi-5254tUBBrufw-v28Y7uh1ZdXJJEOWKCti2Ozo53Og/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_Pk-KJCYwXu5xy8pj7yIeWqi9FNFLmiiwUnmAwcxlbmRYTEwyR32H9NfOS-A2o0RzPe2sPSPuoQBG1d4eenq4g4FQHMobyAAi-5254tUBBrufw-v28Y7uh1ZdXJJEOWKCti2Ozo53Og/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+7.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
(Above: Climbing the hill.)<br />
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Most of the skaters also wore heavy knee pads. They all wore the required helmets and gloves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9HghGxlgMN6fUVT2ZogM2Ftjh8LRZvRt2L9cY8ZO-9Ou7c5RzOkp4GLUbJV8_anJRYQcSSDu1o43iNf8E9Vq36SKOEfP7YMZPcZcWvVCKJUqfCwrZdz5mMWsuAM1jZcT6wrjozepjQ4/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9HghGxlgMN6fUVT2ZogM2Ftjh8LRZvRt2L9cY8ZO-9Ou7c5RzOkp4GLUbJV8_anJRYQcSSDu1o43iNf8E9Vq36SKOEfP7YMZPcZcWvVCKJUqfCwrZdz5mMWsuAM1jZcT6wrjozepjQ4/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+8.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Alex returning with a bottle of water for me.)<br />
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I saw most of the older skaters do lots of fancy slides and footwork. Alex brought me one of the bottled water container before it started to rain. It's been raining almost daily here in Columbia for over a month. These longboarders still skate in the rain ... but the conditions change, of course.) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_utdLN4e6iNsgu3ZTtzeXaHx3vs7Z4Kg6qD6YBttFUOpxJ-SoO2uDZvDd1yMOAdFyZo3tP6r6L0eiVnMOpRXnhJZnvbLAuUjpvsSJvvuZePXHoToyCEkgQT5jWfa3vJzz6m6IH8ikxw/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_utdLN4e6iNsgu3ZTtzeXaHx3vs7Z4Kg6qD6YBttFUOpxJ-SoO2uDZvDd1yMOAdFyZo3tP6r6L0eiVnMOpRXnhJZnvbLAuUjpvsSJvvuZePXHoToyCEkgQT5jWfa3vJzz6m6IH8ikxw/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+9.jpg" width="228" /></a><br />
(Above: Robert E. Lee ... the birthday boy for whom this event was organized.)<br />
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I also got to meet Robbie, the birthday boy. He's twenty-seven today. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1qEuDl_ewHerrdwMz48pBXCSl6RcxOFrf8Y4nvHYuzXV30JmAW1CVWsv0kAT6cn2x369MyIK08Bg1wEg3IKiL88MdyBWnmHUElKjAA_GDBGgI2FB2hNKksgJx40k6QKxqBt0Jp2QMXw/s1600/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1qEuDl_ewHerrdwMz48pBXCSl6RcxOFrf8Y4nvHYuzXV30JmAW1CVWsv0kAT6cn2x369MyIK08Bg1wEg3IKiL88MdyBWnmHUElKjAA_GDBGgI2FB2hNKksgJx40k6QKxqBt0Jp2QMXw/s320/General+Lee+Slide+Jam,+10.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: The group waves good-bye.)<br />
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I didn't stay too long. After all, it was a regular "work day" at Mouse House plus the rain seemed to be coming and going. I drove to the top of the hill for this last photo. Alex asked everyone to wave to his Mom.Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-19707993184099402652013-07-11T09:45:00.001-07:002013-07-11T09:45:32.586-07:00Mathias and LJ leaving for a French vacation!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT8JbZDZlCQGUNwImWyssug9UKijuue7bPLNn6SxXWfU5msG41HVDt-VnlV3z5xhiMjtzzkcGSn1Jm3KUWuL3rUD_UDJu_IIzQ2Pp5PjJxOgqRdmHU3sDyD60COJUgYBBkFRfs-CUMLA/s1600/Mathias+and+LJ+leaving+Dover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT8JbZDZlCQGUNwImWyssug9UKijuue7bPLNn6SxXWfU5msG41HVDt-VnlV3z5xhiMjtzzkcGSn1Jm3KUWuL3rUD_UDJu_IIzQ2Pp5PjJxOgqRdmHU3sDyD60COJUgYBBkFRfs-CUMLA/s320/Mathias+and+LJ+leaving+Dover.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Mathias and LJ are on vacation in France. They posted this photo of them leaving England via ferry ... with the White Cliffs of Dover in the background!Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-35825611808758705702013-06-30T06:28:00.001-07:002013-06-30T06:28:23.561-07:00Two videos of Mathias ... from seven years ago!I guess the IBC (International Ballet Competitions) in Seoul, Korea is getting geared up for another event. They posted a slew of videos from past years on the Internet including one of Mathias' classical variations and also Sertaki by Bejart. Here are the links:<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54r9f5b95Mo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54r9f5b95Mo</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1768335393"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqz1dqDPC5k">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqz1dqDPC5k</a><br />
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Steve and I wondered if Mathias knew these were now available ... so during a telephone call yesterday, we asked. Mathias said he knew about the videos because the competition emailed him. Then, we asked what he thought about his performances in these videos. After all, they were taken years ago ... a month or so after his seventeenth birthday. His answer, "Not bad for a kid." LOL!Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-4982050999748185022013-03-15T06:33:00.000-07:002013-03-15T06:33:03.335-07:00Mathias and Laura-Jane are interviewed for BRB's blog!I love the fact that Birmingham Royal Ballet is using social media and blogging to promote their company, its productions, and their performances! This past week both Mathias and Laura-Jane were interviewed! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YoRfc48Tnt3DzQVmDw9UVipChCjbAn4O_BDDft26JccpLC8ssNgjvWBdrw-RAkEy5XyBM2ylcN5iOVH-Ii6Taae6L95LQvPShkh1L51rnmBCDdA0AM91R160yha_NpTLI6rjfP-py4A/s1600/Laura-Jane+in+Aladdin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YoRfc48Tnt3DzQVmDw9UVipChCjbAn4O_BDDft26JccpLC8ssNgjvWBdrw-RAkEy5XyBM2ylcN5iOVH-Ii6Taae6L95LQvPShkh1L51rnmBCDdA0AM91R160yha_NpTLI6rjfP-py4A/s320/Laura-Jane+in+Aladdin.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Laura-Jane's interview is called "The Quick Change Artist" and is <a href="http://www.creatingaladdin.com/2013/03/the-quick-change-artist/">HERE</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsHtPoDyx-yunIDrnEELpcOmmKzefGBx0hgoV4DMROM4Onz8v5L-colg4NxVg6p-yH2Em8oM0ik0M5yU4tCciwUsrKfdvOI6Eht21kgTo-khDkT-3_fCrlzmzPiQiwmx8QiSsxyly7u0/s1600/Mathias+and+James+Barton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsHtPoDyx-yunIDrnEELpcOmmKzefGBx0hgoV4DMROM4Onz8v5L-colg4NxVg6p-yH2Em8oM0ik0M5yU4tCciwUsrKfdvOI6Eht21kgTo-khDkT-3_fCrlzmzPiQiwmx8QiSsxyly7u0/s320/Mathias+and+James+Barton.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Mathias' interview is called "The Multitasker" and is <a href="http://www.creatingaladdin.com/2013/03/the-multitasker/">HERE</a>.<br />
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Steve and I are both so proud ... and Steve is especially excited as he leaves next week to see the production of Aladdin while the company is touring to London!Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-78219798695244360002013-03-04T10:03:00.001-08:002013-03-04T10:03:35.993-08:00Mathias as Aladdin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdpKCord14F6OrnoHqDJ6Ix8p8iheRsF1bmTIBvjz6gmNEyeIv3xh2PBj8426-6_IIy4MdUJy3vtDXonr8MrWJjmj9Vg0rSd0r25YXpMIlnnpkFjTJF0sdT_Ut8t0PfnIJS_gQKoFEPc/s1600/Mathias+as+Aladdin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdpKCord14F6OrnoHqDJ6Ix8p8iheRsF1bmTIBvjz6gmNEyeIv3xh2PBj8426-6_IIy4MdUJy3vtDXonr8MrWJjmj9Vg0rSd0r25YXpMIlnnpkFjTJF0sdT_Ut8t0PfnIJS_gQKoFEPc/s320/Mathias+as+Aladdin.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
(Above: Mathias as Aladdin and Maureya Lebowitz as <span class="userContent">Princess Badr Al Budar after their debut performance last weekend of David Bintley's Aladdin at the Lowry in Manchester, UK. Click on image to enlarge.)</span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[7].[1][2][1]{comment10152594115070114_18920693}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[7].[1][2][1]{comment10152594115070114_18920693}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[7].[1][2][1]{comment10152594115070114_18920693}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0]"></span><a class="profileLink" content="Maureya Lebowitz" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=509563744" href="http://www.facebook.com/maureya.lebowitz" id=".reactRoot[7].[1][2][1]{comment10152594115070114_18920693}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[1]" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span><br />
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<span class="userContent">(Above: Mathias as Aladdin and Maureya Lebowitz as Princess Badr Al Budar and James Barton as the magical Djinn. Click on image to enlarge.)</span></div>
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<span class="userContent">I love it when Facebook opens to a photo of my son in a glorious costume with a smile (or smirk) on his face! I hope the future brings more images, especially one in which Mathias is in the blue body paint! Yes, for some of the shows, he's the genie!</span></div>
Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-10699644449623292112013-02-27T14:03:00.001-08:002013-02-27T14:03:33.930-08:00Entrechat, Mathias Dingman's profile article <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdstarsaOZ3Vz4l7lLkhXQ4GTtPS82FaTriwqfOMhs64NlR-YSmlJfdveqFRwSX8USC2uPb3Vc6fcb62I4or2crnYRh5qPiCLUDVFj8sDpUXTNU3abaaF9jhNWkjsKtaIksMWIaLzB5H4/s1600/Mathias,+blue+background.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdstarsaOZ3Vz4l7lLkhXQ4GTtPS82FaTriwqfOMhs64NlR-YSmlJfdveqFRwSX8USC2uPb3Vc6fcb62I4or2crnYRh5qPiCLUDVFj8sDpUXTNU3abaaF9jhNWkjsKtaIksMWIaLzB5H4/s320/Mathias,+blue+background.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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A couple of month's ago Mathias called to tell us that he'd be featured in a magazine that <a href="http://www.brb.org.uk/">Birmingham Royal Ballet</a> produces for members of a special group called "Friends of Birmingham Royal Ballet". We were excited for him and excited to see this publication. Of course, it took months before Mathias got the magazine and even longer for him to mail it. <br />
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It was well worth the wait! In fact, we were floored. Everything about this magazine is first-rate and the photos are drop-dead gorgeous. Naturally, we only got three copies: one for my parents, one for my grandmother (Mathias' great grandma), and one for us. This meant "sharing" the pages was problematic ... especially since scanning and posting is against copyright regulations. So, I wrote a message to<a href="http://vimeo.com/roblindsay"> Rob Lindsay</a>, the media officer for BRB asking for permission to "share" the article. <br />
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Fabulously, Rob wrote back with a link to every page, page by page, and permission to post it! <a href="http://www.brb.org.uk/pdf/friends09/Mathias_Dingman.pdf">CLICK HERE</a> to read the words ... which are Mathias' personal account of his work, training, and life in the company! (It takes a couple seconds for all FIVE pages to upload ... but this, too, is worth the wait!) <br /><br />THANK YOU ROB!Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-34361976251854003202013-01-27T10:51:00.001-08:002013-01-27T10:51:56.207-08:00An Evening of Music and Ballet, gala performance in Birmingham<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-krRrY-QnhbkBpu6r8bM6iyMY_gY7Nnth1AO12RtrGB5q3csXL6sIqmtsm_lsPRPZ1zuP1VNFpmCwX9eIq-dPgtWTfuNpUDy2X3LragnxJuRs1lSI2N6jr39eNP8MmxmM81TC4qLZIc/s1600/Mathias+and+Nao,+Evening+of+Music+and+Ballet,+BRB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-krRrY-QnhbkBpu6r8bM6iyMY_gY7Nnth1AO12RtrGB5q3csXL6sIqmtsm_lsPRPZ1zuP1VNFpmCwX9eIq-dPgtWTfuNpUDy2X3LragnxJuRs1lSI2N6jr39eNP8MmxmM81TC4qLZIc/s320/Mathias+and+Nao,+Evening+of+Music+and+Ballet,+BRB.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
(Above: Principal dancer Nao Sakuma and First Soloist MATHIAS DINGMAN in costume at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, UK. Click on image to enlarge.)<br />
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Gotta love Facebook when you log on and find a photo of your elder son from the evening before ... in costume for the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux that closed a gala performance called "An Evening of Music and Ballet" in Birmingham's Symphony Hall. Don't they look wonderful! Steve and I wish we could have witnessed the performance! Fortunately, we have friends who did and Facebooked their cyber applause and congratulatory remarks! Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-66453691617793246982012-12-26T13:46:00.002-08:002012-12-26T13:46:40.165-08:00Snow in Slippery Rock! Christmas 2012<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDP0EEiQvt6KTi5BJ0KQLszsshTuTBOl010cc7cotCgBdNg9qbiL9he3-68NcgiJH_KHz245QV6v2M-la3RghJATlBN_2kGAtWOL0rlGmJByvTOGgZ87DeqpHk0vImakHi_lG7kuGVZg/s1600/SR,+23,+woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDP0EEiQvt6KTi5BJ0KQLszsshTuTBOl010cc7cotCgBdNg9qbiL9he3-68NcgiJH_KHz245QV6v2M-la3RghJATlBN_2kGAtWOL0rlGmJByvTOGgZ87DeqpHk0vImakHi_lG7kuGVZg/s320/SR,+23,+woodpecker.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Female Downy Woodpecker. Click on any image to enlarge.)<br />
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On Christmas Day Steve and I got up very early and traveled north through dense fog in West Virginia and all the way to Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania ... in time for Christmas dinner. It was GREAT! We opened presents afterwards ... including the one I bought for my sister Sonya and brother-in-law Vipin. <br />
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Okay, I admit it! This found-object artpiece was really bought for their little pup Lulu ... for this photo op! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JbJg_IAmiUCAwX0hVCuSwqAWOaF4qBP9cKgoYS82JI42qL4T2Xb6TnaOJf_BAcpNw21xbSn94Bk0ksoMaKKmoPGzKRHM7ObmIVaANysbWxj0Yuwo7Ei5QsBkLjb_7PX_5T9UGks-Soo/s1600/Lulu+and+the+Christmas+Crab.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JbJg_IAmiUCAwX0hVCuSwqAWOaF4qBP9cKgoYS82JI42qL4T2Xb6TnaOJf_BAcpNw21xbSn94Bk0ksoMaKKmoPGzKRHM7ObmIVaANysbWxj0Yuwo7Ei5QsBkLjb_7PX_5T9UGks-Soo/s320/Lulu+and+the+Christmas+Crab.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Lulu and the Christmas crab!)<br />
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The next day snow storm Euclid dumped plenty of the "white stuff" and we
went for a walk by the ice covered lake and through the woods. We also
spent plenty of time watching the dozens of different types of winter
birds eating at the feeders outside my parents' sliding glass doors. A
dozen turkeys wandered by as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNRgst1wcG8onLNDR1_kuu8FFkTuGEVtyqjMMvV1OglcxpfNSHm-AaZEWAXcEKG8Sz-BEIMaSYArK1KjuSqrc7QQxcO3OS3IPHC1jqrYeuvpqqcPzIj-pCvJ9M5ayJZsR5cizqPPAfX0/s1600/SR,+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNRgst1wcG8onLNDR1_kuu8FFkTuGEVtyqjMMvV1OglcxpfNSHm-AaZEWAXcEKG8Sz-BEIMaSYArK1KjuSqrc7QQxcO3OS3IPHC1jqrYeuvpqqcPzIj-pCvJ9M5ayJZsR5cizqPPAfX0/s320/SR,+12.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Snow covered cat tail reeds at the side of the lake.)<br />
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We are now officially snowbound ... and loving it. It is an excellent excuse for staying inside and stitching! I posted 29 photos on a Flickr! account ... <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157632350447604/">HERE </a>or HERE FOR A <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157632350447604/show/">SLIDESHOW</a>! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVoj4YDRPIzLr3rEM9RgTCBQCC2JcA8po3FfQc5XwhjOXT388keN2NAxc24zON1ZoekdIlW6Xj6kzN2ajfEsur2xdYQWBGinwkXLSGI0-1xnYhKN9KP7lTKvVZMd24_IrYrSmPqJrjtg/s1600/SR,+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVoj4YDRPIzLr3rEM9RgTCBQCC2JcA8po3FfQc5XwhjOXT388keN2NAxc24zON1ZoekdIlW6Xj6kzN2ajfEsur2xdYQWBGinwkXLSGI0-1xnYhKN9KP7lTKvVZMd24_IrYrSmPqJrjtg/s320/SR,+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: View to my parent's house from the workshop/garage.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVl6YNPsQ6L4saGeDhQ1j8piOQdMJmuw10D9QDrpwX7pSuhUL3tGy0-XOoF9pPycBOwcIuPILuJ1TzjnIV0w1tjt-sJU-eQ2WN3E3iJgyVIwO3goT-S8SA0rVqWAh7T1FgfB1fj0mHlw8/s1600/SR,+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVl6YNPsQ6L4saGeDhQ1j8piOQdMJmuw10D9QDrpwX7pSuhUL3tGy0-XOoF9pPycBOwcIuPILuJ1TzjnIV0w1tjt-sJU-eQ2WN3E3iJgyVIwO3goT-S8SA0rVqWAh7T1FgfB1fj0mHlw8/s320/SR,+4.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
(Above: Me in my mother's winter coat ... the one she called Nanook of the North.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXevS81-Ub71TWVggPIwOp5XQOKfm4HYsaUS05QRt1bmsUX2m-IG352aR-zg4gtmJTv76ipmccCW2jpPsdrkEfV36t7Ebza4k9TBgJwbNsBeW5Z5sjKyRN1z301JivVMI2b_cAgTdRu8/s1600/SR,+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXevS81-Ub71TWVggPIwOp5XQOKfm4HYsaUS05QRt1bmsUX2m-IG352aR-zg4gtmJTv76ipmccCW2jpPsdrkEfV36t7Ebza4k9TBgJwbNsBeW5Z5sjKyRN1z301JivVMI2b_cAgTdRu8/s320/SR,+22.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
(Above: Steve ... as we approached the bird feeders ... where I took the photo of the woodpecker at the beginning of this post.)Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-44781116724325654432012-10-04T06:19:00.000-07:002012-10-04T06:19:15.595-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbD7FGixftiuHEso7rfeaBrWKu-4T-n1MP_s92Hl2-y779RsXnCghwebl_fHhyphenhyphenEWuaMcESpfMzCj3yF9ptsRWzwHqN1C3X5HMwrc7I7pT9FJnAZybZ7AJsL1Z6-7aeG-tzdwYg2BsT1eE/s1600/Mathias+at+ABT+summer+intensive,+2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbD7FGixftiuHEso7rfeaBrWKu-4T-n1MP_s92Hl2-y779RsXnCghwebl_fHhyphenhyphenEWuaMcESpfMzCj3yF9ptsRWzwHqN1C3X5HMwrc7I7pT9FJnAZybZ7AJsL1Z6-7aeG-tzdwYg2BsT1eE/s320/Mathias+at+ABT+summer+intensive,+2005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
(Above: Mathias, age 17. Summer of 2005. ABT summer intensive.)<br />
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I have a "google alert" on my elder son's name. Yesterday a message appeared and I found this photo of Mathias. I knew he looked "young" ... or at least younger than his current age of 24 ... but WHERE was this photo taken. I emailed Mathias. His answer: ABT summer program. He also told me about a gallery of photos from last week's triple bill. These great images are on Dance Europe's website. They're embedded into the site in such a way that I can't "grab" them and post ... but <a href="http://www.danceeurope.net/gallery/brb-opposites-attract">here's the link</a>! Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-89912228637490120602012-08-27T12:21:00.001-07:002012-08-27T12:22:43.385-07:00Mathias as Puck ... from the BRB Facebook Photo Album<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWA-rDGrvu6o9CdGGeZquw_BX5qHZQb7YWjS4cHkHfnex1LZwzdFGa8FCifxnjZi_IrvU3rCgTdYtV1bvDlhTH-DPB1mQF-sPxWfUEWHTR_pRSLi65haTM7_1fEwE9qu7KEUBljyEWuU/s1600/Mathias+as+Puck%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWA-rDGrvu6o9CdGGeZquw_BX5qHZQb7YWjS4cHkHfnex1LZwzdFGa8FCifxnjZi_IrvU3rCgTdYtV1bvDlhTH-DPB1mQF-sPxWfUEWHTR_pRSLi65haTM7_1fEwE9qu7KEUBljyEWuU/s400/Mathias+as+Puck%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781435437591773234" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDBtnFzIM8GEIlHY_ivrWLHfwyJZmwxuStV7BN2slbqtJzw1QVwrfdHa_kZOiMw-ai5VDNqz8IxU61UJL7ltiyBv_ky1i6KICfoOM6hQ_UddVfY_GcpsNOW5BYXP6v57fBgm49DHbgrQ/s1600/Mathias+as+Puck.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDBtnFzIM8GEIlHY_ivrWLHfwyJZmwxuStV7BN2slbqtJzw1QVwrfdHa_kZOiMw-ai5VDNqz8IxU61UJL7ltiyBv_ky1i6KICfoOM6hQ_UddVfY_GcpsNOW5BYXP6v57fBgm49DHbgrQ/s400/Mathias+as+Puck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781435425384966514" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixReI4ggNEEx-J2FvICIwO_ehC1Y8lueVjDlaPUr4uBaqyOhpgF9imRVkSVhxQTpmtO8p45p2aZZTrWU6-_u0vkOGtz72L5W_pgABxZK3NX4k_fsw26StDfV9FE37HCiJ9tiHli8SY-eQ/s1600/Mathias+as+Puck%252C+3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixReI4ggNEEx-J2FvICIwO_ehC1Y8lueVjDlaPUr4uBaqyOhpgF9imRVkSVhxQTpmtO8p45p2aZZTrWU6-_u0vkOGtz72L5W_pgABxZK3NX4k_fsw26StDfV9FE37HCiJ9tiHli8SY-eQ/s400/Mathias+as+Puck%252C+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781435447723231666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-56718511016865702472012-06-27T12:24:00.003-07:002012-06-27T12:37:47.928-07:00Grandpa's Slides, 1953-68<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR2C2lWp2oXLxsL1Uh5_54vqXl3lt4FP_uvVmI7OJ2x7XZSLJKyLZp5Q7nFl4IwM8laQCnIQ3IcRJfAFr9BHIIh88auL2kyLlvEz1762LYDWa3HuZcPJwC0q3VYHx20JSdoafN_NaQw0/s1600/LoraDell+in+Atlantic+City%252C+1966.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 389px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR2C2lWp2oXLxsL1Uh5_54vqXl3lt4FP_uvVmI7OJ2x7XZSLJKyLZp5Q7nFl4IwM8laQCnIQ3IcRJfAFr9BHIIh88auL2kyLlvEz1762LYDWa3HuZcPJwC0q3VYHx20JSdoafN_NaQw0/s400/LoraDell+in+Atlantic+City%252C+1966.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5758800019102338754" border="0" /></a><br />(Above: LoraDell Baker in Atlantic City, 1966. Click on image to enlarge.)<br /><br />In March 2012 while I was at an art residency in Key West, Steve took digital photographs of slides taken and organized by my grandpa, Connel A. Baker, Jr. I've finally uploaded them to Flickr!, a public site. Using Photoshop, I've "played around" with the two photos in this blog post in order to minimize the look from the slide projector screen.<br /><br />Suitcase # 1 is <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157629877095839/">HERE</a> or as a slideshow <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157629877095839/show/">HERE</a>. Total 1,613 images ... all with Grandpa's captions.<br />Suitecase # 2 is <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157630298378196/">HERE</a> or as a slideshow <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157630298378196/show/">HERE</a>. Total 1,786 images ... all with Grandpa's captions.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Xf39AB4NUeGOHJT_GnRNXVAYRzfmHgz8fFF54Y7Be0NX8ERJplAA7UVdTNmprwuc5xEZZVHJOTMUJkckykIk06_RDF9xxbS0jR29Z2slsRL7Fdxe5JLFCLuBo15IbVtfhtrHwGHUhzc/s1600/Seven+Grandchildren%252C+1967.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 397px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Xf39AB4NUeGOHJT_GnRNXVAYRzfmHgz8fFF54Y7Be0NX8ERJplAA7UVdTNmprwuc5xEZZVHJOTMUJkckykIk06_RDF9xxbS0jR29Z2slsRL7Fdxe5JLFCLuBo15IbVtfhtrHwGHUhzc/s400/Seven+Grandchildren%252C+1967.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5758800012137020994" border="0" /></a><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span><br />(Above: The seven grandchildren, 1967. Click on image to enlarge.)<br /><br />Steve's <a href="http://mousehouseinc.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-at-mouse-house.html">blog post from March 8</a> reads:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The head mouse, Susan, is spending the whole month of March at </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.tskw.org/">The Studios of Key West</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> as one of their artist-in-residence. Today she is teaching her famously </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://artbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/">"Hot"</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> class to 12 eager students (a class that had 8-10 people on a waiting list). She is spending this month creating faux stain glass fiber pieces and more InBox pieces for an upcoming show in </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.fccava.org/">Fredericksburg, VA</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> in June. Needless to say she is having a great time away from me and the business. I will join her on March 29 and we will return on April 2.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">One of my duties ( it is actually my pleasure and honor) in her absence is to record and document the hundreds of photographic slides that Susan's grandfather, Connel Baker, created during the years from 1954-1968. I never had the pleasure to meet him because of his untimely death in 1978. The slides contain photographs of his trips (with the love of his life, LoraDell, still alive and kicking at 93) all over the United States and Europe, family photos of his children, grandchildren, immediate family members and friends, and everything else in between. He even took slides of President Lyndon Johnson's Inauguration in 1965. There are no fewer than 95 boxes of slides with 36 slides per box. Every slide was named and dated, and each one was enclosed in a metal case. The metal slides were placed in a </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.old-photo.com/pages/airequipt-slide-magazine.htm">Airequipt</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> automatic slide magazine and viewed using a </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Erlwrdk7VoA">Argus 300 Slide Projector</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. This was cutting edge technology before the invention of the Carousel projector that most people of my generation would remember.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The vast majority of the slides are in incredibly good shape with crisp colors and clarity. Many have not been seen in 50 years or more, and many of them have never been seen by Susan's family. Before Susan left for Florida, she set up a tripod with my digital camera and movie screen borrowed from her sister, Sonya, in our living room upstairs. We set up the Argus Projector, and I began taking digital photos of each slide as projected on the movie screen. Each container and slide is named using Connel's descriptions and stored on the computer. Although the quality is not as good as the slide itself, one can get a reasonable idea of which ones may need to be scanned for better reproduction (and believe me, there are many that warrant this!).</span></span>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-59448826798352398292012-06-21T11:03:00.005-07:002012-06-21T11:10:38.135-07:00Lyric Pieces ... a photo I found on-line<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6txtx3NwR6S1oEu3THFPt8POPPMqHrEJB8FvV4dXH8vd-VuiNccAIZ5vNgIwjkFYmWwQcinVEhmnXvGe0FS6EdLCeHuyOAhNtMVzI7tgbwGzQcybpT-fXU043PIM0ryRnPZ-d3eTpV4/s1600/Lyric+Pieces%252C+Mathias+Dingman.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6txtx3NwR6S1oEu3THFPt8POPPMqHrEJB8FvV4dXH8vd-VuiNccAIZ5vNgIwjkFYmWwQcinVEhmnXvGe0FS6EdLCeHuyOAhNtMVzI7tgbwGzQcybpT-fXU043PIM0ryRnPZ-d3eTpV4/s400/Lyric+Pieces%252C+Mathias+Dingman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5756552402868199826" border="0" /></a><br />(Above: Members of Birmingham Royal Ballet dancing in <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Lyric Pieces</span>, a new work by choreographer <a href="http://www.jessicalangdance.com/">Jessica Lang</a>. I saw this work during my spring trip to England. It is WONDERFUL and Mathias was wonderful in it!<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d789NL_E-Q&feature=player_embedded"> Here's </a>a video of Ms. Lang talking about her commission.Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-78254952966113737132012-05-07T12:26:00.010-07:002012-05-07T13:58:24.425-07:00Family Photos from our trip to Munich<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J4g-K1Rli_pTNfk3wENCqoSBAdKjP7w7Lo1w49w8jWQgdYtNN_GRiHJb9eU06eukLvvBAIkp45_mrKfnDGoX3-qsTsh5RGJADACKYlWI2yOLa5Ju6YlpeTBkIu89TTl9S2nH8zDCLVU/s1600/Munich%252C+family+in+front+of+theater%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 372px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J4g-K1Rli_pTNfk3wENCqoSBAdKjP7w7Lo1w49w8jWQgdYtNN_GRiHJb9eU06eukLvvBAIkp45_mrKfnDGoX3-qsTsh5RGJADACKYlWI2yOLa5Ju6YlpeTBkIu89TTl9S2nH8zDCLVU/s400/Munich%252C+family+in+front+of+theater%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739885048820965202" border="0" /></a><br />(Above: My Dad, my sister Wanda, my elder son Mathias, my husband Steve, and my Mom ... all in front of the Stadtoperhaus in Munich. Shortly after this photo was taken, we were all inside the theater watching Mathias' stunning performance as Puck in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dream</span> ... aka <span style="font-style: italic;">Midsummer Night's Dream</span>. What a treat! Click on this or any photo in this post for an enlargement.)<br /><br />I'm a week behind in my blogging ... but I'm determined to catch up! I also got some flak from family members for not posting here on "My Family Blog" ... which isn't just for family but is primarily the blog where silly family photos and non-art related things find there place.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjh17rY70kT6BpF88jvG61so-aswBsVZAlH5wPSjfSQAhFbd5B2unYprzz5IKbQv02wD21IOehFL_SzNrAI-nf0_SnpO-vZqa_L-86cY6zRX2YXUd6OwvVkSUort1nJcFqUJws7hEYxI/s1600/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+36%252C+Susan.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjh17rY70kT6BpF88jvG61so-aswBsVZAlH5wPSjfSQAhFbd5B2unYprzz5IKbQv02wD21IOehFL_SzNrAI-nf0_SnpO-vZqa_L-86cY6zRX2YXUd6OwvVkSUort1nJcFqUJws7hEYxI/s400/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+36%252C+Susan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890751027002658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So ... here are the family photos in no particular order ... starting off with me riding in the train as it cogged its way down the Zugspitz.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAIJHyaPp08QwE_cwFZTpyH7O8fSy4I64Eg9PJhI9adoPvK7dUg0X5TgAyj63ozOrjUu6U3Q5psK835h4eWX1yd1feum5R462UbqMJqvyeR7PTc9iA5Z4kdsbGj1FjBPKsoi_0gXeehg/s1600/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+35%252C+Steve%2527s+self+portrait.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAIJHyaPp08QwE_cwFZTpyH7O8fSy4I64Eg9PJhI9adoPvK7dUg0X5TgAyj63ozOrjUu6U3Q5psK835h4eWX1yd1feum5R462UbqMJqvyeR7PTc9iA5Z4kdsbGj1FjBPKsoi_0gXeehg/s400/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+35%252C+Steve%2527s+self+portrait.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890745687151682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Steve ... taking his own photo. He loves doing this! Now ... for all the photos we both took, saved, color & contrast corrected, and shared, please visit my Flickr! site. Nearly 400 photos cover the week in Munich and surrounding areas. These are just some of them. The Flickr set can be viewed <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157629988122743/">HERE</a>. As a slideshow, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10060630@N06/sets/72157629988122743/show/">CLICK HERE</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SNm1rRx8tCEdadBj_BGKXLjjSXrl4iW40a6I4k-Z74meJ4gE4GfQ6DAIPODwD5Moo8A03Lr5rj-70lP8bpRVLW69eVALOZgZlk0rXrvtEt9nUXIJU-93BtDkm5-gWvFPj1M4sQyuIKk/s1600/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+21%252C+Reinhard+and+Steve.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SNm1rRx8tCEdadBj_BGKXLjjSXrl4iW40a6I4k-Z74meJ4gE4GfQ6DAIPODwD5Moo8A03Lr5rj-70lP8bpRVLW69eVALOZgZlk0rXrvtEt9nUXIJU-93BtDkm5-gWvFPj1M4sQyuIKk/s400/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+21%252C+Reinhard+and+Steve.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890733294223458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Steve and I went down the Zugspitz on the train ... but we rode up with Reinhard on the cable car.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OPm1RSaM_xMnFVp2b-mxqBqkA3jtTIlLBljMX3fpvXvLD4fo9XhJTpVMzv-41QWa2GSVOC4zoBHEzUqkw9Bp_zVD9CAO5IYNqMZYe-bQL0U3WlzrPFRjKQAFb6-IUOkp75aTaIH2Up8/s1600/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+15%252C+Steve+and+me.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OPm1RSaM_xMnFVp2b-mxqBqkA3jtTIlLBljMX3fpvXvLD4fo9XhJTpVMzv-41QWa2GSVOC4zoBHEzUqkw9Bp_zVD9CAO5IYNqMZYe-bQL0U3WlzrPFRjKQAFb6-IUOkp75aTaIH2Up8/s400/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+15%252C+Steve+and+me.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890722280606786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The people selling tickets thought I was nuts ... because I was wearing flip-flop sandals with this dress and sweater. Obviously, I wasn't going to ski ... and this inappropriate footwear didn't bother me at all. Steve and I made a little video of our ride from the summit to the glacier slopes just below. It is<a href="http://videosbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2012/05/zugspitz-with-susan-and-steve.html"> HERE</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl39ja1Xj5IxPc1qKrwj0a75d53frWRXNrgDX74hUfgUFI5uPXZOkHvejNft49pnoxFmVJpvlhZUiAz3QtnF7Y6oua9GblIngO9mBevNg7hcdnJRyg3BE3rNmvag8UZSfPzqJgAZOm3Mg/s1600/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+Susan+and+Mom.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl39ja1Xj5IxPc1qKrwj0a75d53frWRXNrgDX74hUfgUFI5uPXZOkHvejNft49pnoxFmVJpvlhZUiAz3QtnF7Y6oua9GblIngO9mBevNg7hcdnJRyg3BE3rNmvag8UZSfPzqJgAZOm3Mg/s400/Munich%252C+Zugspitz%252C+Susan+and+Mom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890767483089762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Mom and me back at the bottom of the mountain.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LU6YqbutRQRSFL698Igt465Tn4OdPlmABwr9197w5m-Dp6epeaaWHa4newzzDfqQiklyREWIfmLsoCacb-_ZfEs7xymX50l4ugix3uGhxPIWWXCgn4bHRcIB5O90lkfLVAuD9XmwhX8/s1600/Munich%252C+Oberammergau+trip%252C+22%252C+Susan.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LU6YqbutRQRSFL698Igt465Tn4OdPlmABwr9197w5m-Dp6epeaaWHa4newzzDfqQiklyREWIfmLsoCacb-_ZfEs7xymX50l4ugix3uGhxPIWWXCgn4bHRcIB5O90lkfLVAuD9XmwhX8/s400/Munich%252C+Oberammergau+trip%252C+22%252C+Susan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890109814159602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We went to Oberammergau on the same afternoon. Dad had both Wanda and me taking all sorts of photos of these unique, wooden bird feeders. Hopefully he'll soon be making some like these.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5V-lhS5n95p9YH7B0i0hIRU2CyJhyphenhyphenqklRzV5XjlSY3sNzLmlrZp_moJ08yyCLj1JSz7R-95jbNYpMmyb3RlnxWzd7cYCMhrnRLkslb9Oqh02915Zv5okMu2Ebo1UMozVTxTd_-lC3Hs/s1600/Munich%252C+Oberammergau+trip%252C+6.5%252C+Dad+and+birdhouse.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5V-lhS5n95p9YH7B0i0hIRU2CyJhyphenhyphenqklRzV5XjlSY3sNzLmlrZp_moJ08yyCLj1JSz7R-95jbNYpMmyb3RlnxWzd7cYCMhrnRLkslb9Oqh02915Zv5okMu2Ebo1UMozVTxTd_-lC3Hs/s400/Munich%252C+Oberammergau+trip%252C+6.5%252C+Dad+and+birdhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890101285580930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Day examining the feeder and instructing Wanda on the shots he needed!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ja1VaTuChadIwrZQgzessqYZBH2U_uSMUgFPV3Uzq_yRcjc2llEEmjXik3ixFWOZ4LWZw0EiOeWlo3W6FaA_vljrCXsjDSva0Zr3sYJlI995S4geU8XJYB5XR7uGRdNyUOSjXNDw6vE/s1600/Munich%252C+Oberammergau+trip%252C+6%252C+Wanda+photographing+birdhouses.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ja1VaTuChadIwrZQgzessqYZBH2U_uSMUgFPV3Uzq_yRcjc2llEEmjXik3ixFWOZ4LWZw0EiOeWlo3W6FaA_vljrCXsjDSva0Zr3sYJlI995S4geU8XJYB5XR7uGRdNyUOSjXNDw6vE/s400/Munich%252C+Oberammergau+trip%252C+6%252C+Wanda+photographing+birdhouses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890088414163442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Wanda was quite obedient ... so, Dad, when are we getting bird feeders like these?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqDafXO913wh-NQpGc6E53DCMMHtNMooCyeh0YkaA2bOq8Mv2rFlddlp7Q-7dKbTdYfIC9eaIbEHqgjJH8s0ws1GV_AFHxWaautUn8jR9t4Igrh6NxSANjqpXJp_pvGdQ44VGRvjh1rA/s1600/Munich%252C+Oberammergau+trip%252C+5%252C+birdhouses.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqDafXO913wh-NQpGc6E53DCMMHtNMooCyeh0YkaA2bOq8Mv2rFlddlp7Q-7dKbTdYfIC9eaIbEHqgjJH8s0ws1GV_AFHxWaautUn8jR9t4Igrh6NxSANjqpXJp_pvGdQ44VGRvjh1rA/s400/Munich%252C+Oberammergau+trip%252C+5%252C+birdhouses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890084991925042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's my best photo of them!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyHn6u728ax_L_hzJTeAlLWzn31bU6uRaZz4o0vJr3mhfATcwDOb5nRrmJtlJOhHd7H-3vyPsY_3HyZuXb_vruPUQehlUpb8NOC6igcoGVESKW73FhWssxXF1gL0olFIuki2WHmfv_iU/s1600/Munich%252C+Olympic+Park%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyHn6u728ax_L_hzJTeAlLWzn31bU6uRaZz4o0vJr3mhfATcwDOb5nRrmJtlJOhHd7H-3vyPsY_3HyZuXb_vruPUQehlUpb8NOC6igcoGVESKW73FhWssxXF1gL0olFIuki2WHmfv_iU/s400/Munich%252C+Olympic+Park%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739890120791165922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Steve and I visited Olympic Park ... and really wished that we could join the kids in these hamster-like plastic balls on the water. What fun! Steve shot a video of this too. It is <a href="http://videosbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2012/05/olympic-park-in-munich.html">HERE</a>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivamQ1oQWf6AoHrgF_Cqd2C7bqPwkU_i7bMkA9WfMMYzPfTEJ06KEiey4oOQZYpT7FvM8bUw3J1WotWhnjxvl3me9EX-bamWvpHjQLWcjQfcGYi94L1rijfirCx6ApSXESjoMLOVaXp5o/s1600/Munich%252C+Market%252C+Steve+and+lobster.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivamQ1oQWf6AoHrgF_Cqd2C7bqPwkU_i7bMkA9WfMMYzPfTEJ06KEiey4oOQZYpT7FvM8bUw3J1WotWhnjxvl3me9EX-bamWvpHjQLWcjQfcGYi94L1rijfirCx6ApSXESjoMLOVaXp5o/s400/Munich%252C+Market%252C+Steve+and+lobster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739889589416459890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We visited the Munich market ... and I insisted on a photo of Steve by this silly lobster.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_55v21RTkSLWCgn45SCHwr5E2QpeoU7-J1TThPfFizSOwGUgghOEuaeVqXex0-HcaOjP-9NyYYqtZwKBbN_9TbY2K10bjvcJ8upmlMa2bxniojYc5_JlKjC-f54vuVQhxO_2rCdBPBEc/s1600/Munich%252C+Market%252C+LJ%252C+Mathias%252C+Dad%252C+Mom.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_55v21RTkSLWCgn45SCHwr5E2QpeoU7-J1TThPfFizSOwGUgghOEuaeVqXex0-HcaOjP-9NyYYqtZwKBbN_9TbY2K10bjvcJ8upmlMa2bxniojYc5_JlKjC-f54vuVQhxO_2rCdBPBEc/s400/Munich%252C+Market%252C+LJ%252C+Mathias%252C+Dad%252C+Mom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739889580803927234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Laura-Jane, Mathias, and my parents in the market. This is now our computer's screen saver.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbai2n8p5IjhOisBnWNAzZ_iTpXJCPbtPSN2ywjL9kifIGXgL6Y_bB0UD3C1_F_6GmaIP0tt8slAGISEvgpFy4e5oesZIf4lcyGe2L2EQsb0dD59F1YLqpI92gw7q54gdTph6UaEKXA04/s1600/Munich%252C+Market%252C+decorative+animals%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbai2n8p5IjhOisBnWNAzZ_iTpXJCPbtPSN2ywjL9kifIGXgL6Y_bB0UD3C1_F_6GmaIP0tt8slAGISEvgpFy4e5oesZIf4lcyGe2L2EQsb0dD59F1YLqpI92gw7q54gdTph6UaEKXA04/s400/Munich%252C+Market%252C+decorative+animals%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739889557391207298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Okay ... whose going to make these furry things?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXd5LS4HBnPS2jEiQ9JQEXACbkkq3QGaY1zTQ43NvRn8FA8VU6HGzXwLu9eHWtnT9KVC9_g0D1gy0hzOT7D0sFjWTnRpss8sITwhNZDgyVrZ1jdhf_B_N3cjLhWZoPOmTKEKVz5V72z-k/s1600/Munich%252C+Nymphenburg+Palace%252C+8%252C+Susan.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXd5LS4HBnPS2jEiQ9JQEXACbkkq3QGaY1zTQ43NvRn8FA8VU6HGzXwLu9eHWtnT9KVC9_g0D1gy0hzOT7D0sFjWTnRpss8sITwhNZDgyVrZ1jdhf_B_N3cjLhWZoPOmTKEKVz5V72z-k/s400/Munich%252C+Nymphenburg+Palace%252C+8%252C+Susan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739889602447056322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On another late afternoon, Steve and I went to Nympenburg Palace. It wasn't open but we enjoyed the gardens.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpPmloQ-k7ozybb0Y16_AI4s5yqbnZEEgfFDE1AAsxybew381CkLfLp5AKPwiIkcZ8eIJ6z25GxFgrpZaiwk54btYcEfesgOyzJmn5SoYL6jBXL6Hd082JTXORxGiwIoiIc8VxQWdKTQ/s1600/Munich%252C+Hofbrauhaus%252C+Wanda+and+Reinhard.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpPmloQ-k7ozybb0Y16_AI4s5yqbnZEEgfFDE1AAsxybew381CkLfLp5AKPwiIkcZ8eIJ6z25GxFgrpZaiwk54btYcEfesgOyzJmn5SoYL6jBXL6Hd082JTXORxGiwIoiIc8VxQWdKTQ/s400/Munich%252C+Hofbrauhaus%252C+Wanda+and+Reinhard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739885089412941298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Wanda and Reinhard in the Hofbrauhaus!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HZajcuZdy7yUiUNmoPVl1h6O_h_j22IsofNLmZX2mEU1BT0WN6E92xOJpAqLVFu8UXSdetUl1bNwTbZGQXXFyvMYBJSgTY_2GBpLtZ60AMDUWQjTiJ4uzFVx5S4JpEq284uQIUANKkI/s1600/Munich%252C+Hofbrauhaus%252C+Wanda+and+Dad.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HZajcuZdy7yUiUNmoPVl1h6O_h_j22IsofNLmZX2mEU1BT0WN6E92xOJpAqLVFu8UXSdetUl1bNwTbZGQXXFyvMYBJSgTY_2GBpLtZ60AMDUWQjTiJ4uzFVx5S4JpEq284uQIUANKkI/s400/Munich%252C+Hofbrauhaus%252C+Wanda+and+Dad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739885078831892210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />She was also sitting beside Dad!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneII611agIlKwa-5CzH9XklH06MmWtYLt5iyZFb0BeZD-3NcEjlEvtJBzw9i2MY0JpLbTq4afh6ByGA2GYJXe7leEd62BoB2fFTB5xUK4H7iho6ifGCTPvINdkK3aZurSV7J76wVUeuU/s1600/Munich%252C+family+in+front+of+theater.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneII611agIlKwa-5CzH9XklH06MmWtYLt5iyZFb0BeZD-3NcEjlEvtJBzw9i2MY0JpLbTq4afh6ByGA2GYJXe7leEd62BoB2fFTB5xUK4H7iho6ifGCTPvINdkK3aZurSV7J76wVUeuU/s400/Munich%252C+family+in+front+of+theater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739885072059960178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here we are before the performance ... in front of the theater ... after a marvelous meal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J4g-K1Rli_pTNfk3wENCqoSBAdKjP7w7Lo1w49w8jWQgdYtNN_GRiHJb9eU06eukLvvBAIkp45_mrKfnDGoX3-qsTsh5RGJADACKYlWI2yOLa5Ju6YlpeTBkIu89TTl9S2nH8zDCLVU/s1600/Munich%252C+family+in+front+of+theater%252C+2.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4oCft2DHqiHMz9F807fZSroxsIYAZRrqlk9P2NDQovdrQbHqgEOoMxhkSykGB_p6D19LeynjzwHDTWonPxqSSs3Ol5drxvmCuu8VEPAiHoK5c61FofzAUGJE9PZJsXuTprqXVBAzLxI/s1600/Munich%252C+Marienplatz%252C+Mom+and+Dad.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4oCft2DHqiHMz9F807fZSroxsIYAZRrqlk9P2NDQovdrQbHqgEOoMxhkSykGB_p6D19LeynjzwHDTWonPxqSSs3Ol5drxvmCuu8VEPAiHoK5c61FofzAUGJE9PZJsXuTprqXVBAzLxI/s400/Munich%252C+Marienplatz%252C+Mom+and+Dad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739885096041987666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is Mom and Dad in the Marienplatz.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmuJq5BtB90d2W2hZ7gAyPCdJmAZL3A6mAAmZK9DJwhN4IU5CfUcyuor25mLLV0d0uuOsq3Wi-U77mu_Xu4o_iDLGY0xnWGjnZv7AhR3veg807Y7rJzW2VldiKgIzJCnhl7Kl19tKnXA/s1600/Munich%252C+dinner+in+outdoor+biergarten.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmuJq5BtB90d2W2hZ7gAyPCdJmAZL3A6mAAmZK9DJwhN4IU5CfUcyuor25mLLV0d0uuOsq3Wi-U77mu_Xu4o_iDLGY0xnWGjnZv7AhR3veg807Y7rJzW2VldiKgIzJCnhl7Kl19tKnXA/s400/Munich%252C+dinner+in+outdoor+biergarten.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739880761746578626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What we really did best was eat and drink! The weather was so wonderful that most of our meals were enjoyed outside!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHgrjCvgZ6KA1NymMjHCqou6_blpXveLOSLd2mZTKhteCEv39UDTnBFVDn5YLyGwG2Mxuqz68rpRPjZY19lzGXjQFKjlleq6x0kOc4Ct_f3vnoflgbRyNQccnQzOkXKO63eyhugeYL0E/s1600/Munich%252C+dinner+in+outdoor+biergarten%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHgrjCvgZ6KA1NymMjHCqou6_blpXveLOSLd2mZTKhteCEv39UDTnBFVDn5YLyGwG2Mxuqz68rpRPjZY19lzGXjQFKjlleq6x0kOc4Ct_f3vnoflgbRyNQccnQzOkXKO63eyhugeYL0E/s400/Munich%252C+dinner+in+outdoor+biergarten%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739880755570364850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47RSyAF6iUkJ2ejyTDbV5TxzTIu9IikpPFxkXrq59qml5kpva6DRldsyPkznhUSCUmBKkzY1YtNat4PvL83ZGQa26ccijYWBca3Y4gFjFN1J7iQGkJv9wXyKh6gxRTAMkZ0J0npF81K0/s1600/Munich%252C+dinner+5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47RSyAF6iUkJ2ejyTDbV5TxzTIu9IikpPFxkXrq59qml5kpva6DRldsyPkznhUSCUmBKkzY1YtNat4PvL83ZGQa26ccijYWBca3Y4gFjFN1J7iQGkJv9wXyKh6gxRTAMkZ0J0npF81K0/s400/Munich%252C+dinner+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739880741884021730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So ... Here's some German food!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStZgtIAwia5wrv0EW9UF6qw-rqlrF7QcgUbEVCSrxdWdKM1zheV1SbiiJYbsHgSfZssAQwVIdb2jc1ao2rHkVSk68xJQGa752ZhhjQvv_Nhgefpd9VfgDn9WtTOnN96OKPL0-knMO0ko/s1600/Munich%252C+dinner+4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStZgtIAwia5wrv0EW9UF6qw-rqlrF7QcgUbEVCSrxdWdKM1zheV1SbiiJYbsHgSfZssAQwVIdb2jc1ao2rHkVSk68xJQGa752ZhhjQvv_Nhgefpd9VfgDn9WtTOnN96OKPL0-knMO0ko/s400/Munich%252C+dinner+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739880731701821954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These photos sure explain why we ate and drank better than anything else!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHDaXVe6UdtucCMHMhaZC6qI3uRNS3OBdGOnPKNQu1QeCsaL9iP0gagsOAIDLPd0YL6N9WdRENtEjo4HD8-QIi74mmKteIgxpgbsfMYN2XppqzSxxYzvIU4BwVHaFRlfS8ncFGWgrx68/s1600/Munich%252C+dinner%252C+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHDaXVe6UdtucCMHMhaZC6qI3uRNS3OBdGOnPKNQu1QeCsaL9iP0gagsOAIDLPd0YL6N9WdRENtEjo4HD8-QIi74mmKteIgxpgbsfMYN2XppqzSxxYzvIU4BwVHaFRlfS8ncFGWgrx68/s400/Munich%252C+dinner%252C+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739880776821367650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Another lovely meal!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAKOMFZa9OsVoaf0vfiyfQYolDRPirEBnQMpkUOYZzDK08Z5dgS3fD8Oq7p94W8Axm126axZpKvmi40POIkrxOtHb2cEaXo8w9QvcpB-QLBkQaQ6ryYIUTWXS8UfEkkI6509_RQkm2Mc/s1600/Munich%252C+dinner+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAKOMFZa9OsVoaf0vfiyfQYolDRPirEBnQMpkUOYZzDK08Z5dgS3fD8Oq7p94W8Axm126axZpKvmi40POIkrxOtHb2cEaXo8w9QvcpB-QLBkQaQ6ryYIUTWXS8UfEkkI6509_RQkm2Mc/s400/Munich%252C+dinner+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739878562829700834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dessert ... Wow! This was a selection that included bite-sized portions of all the desserts on the menu! We shared, of course!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGBcPgkbJl3Rv6QfzUO0_XvNyVwIGtm2juVuMDeVfLrKmV7GZwyuVlbD9Ojnc9pi8epZqKnCm5mwdePmt9k5gjskZOEfRHWEKb5BAfRbLC08aNKRvG4VL83xFECtZ4AmRUKxYFcSpvwE/s1600/Munich%252C+dessert.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGBcPgkbJl3Rv6QfzUO0_XvNyVwIGtm2juVuMDeVfLrKmV7GZwyuVlbD9Ojnc9pi8epZqKnCm5mwdePmt9k5gjskZOEfRHWEKb5BAfRbLC08aNKRvG4VL83xFECtZ4AmRUKxYFcSpvwE/s400/Munich%252C+dessert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739878557236999538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Almost too pretty to eat .... NOT!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvsnZcM9Y6xinXAYLXF0krIPR2c0JlXbMKcXAaivGt809aJTHYYV-D-2IE9xcvyPVqvDuXGMjxqTSBVK9trqMZmOJBj1nqcHzMZTRjut-c0sAUeNjUKcyfFCYT8ogTMAw35p2UQfdvz0/s1600/Munich%252C+dessert%252C+5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvsnZcM9Y6xinXAYLXF0krIPR2c0JlXbMKcXAaivGt809aJTHYYV-D-2IE9xcvyPVqvDuXGMjxqTSBVK9trqMZmOJBj1nqcHzMZTRjut-c0sAUeNjUKcyfFCYT8ogTMAw35p2UQfdvz0/s400/Munich%252C+dessert%252C+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739878548533852002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This was supposed to be "mouse ice cream". It didn't look like the photo in the menu. I guess they were out of round cookies for the ears ... so I ate it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6UtUH8kj4_i9ZUXjvTKZ9IRYcnJooJPCiDjOcjs1Pzb1lyGA9BtQGG8Jn8FGR9K0SeTaJTKlLTlj1O9HC7a613ayksaT62ZTYcwKM-fRSExs2OjtKXrG6IZungBRSCFJmwSTkLij_5k/s1600/Munich%252C+dessert%252C+4%252C+apfelstrudel.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6UtUH8kj4_i9ZUXjvTKZ9IRYcnJooJPCiDjOcjs1Pzb1lyGA9BtQGG8Jn8FGR9K0SeTaJTKlLTlj1O9HC7a613ayksaT62ZTYcwKM-fRSExs2OjtKXrG6IZungBRSCFJmwSTkLij_5k/s400/Munich%252C+dessert%252C+4%252C+apfelstrudel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739878539791022866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Apfelstrudel ... nothing more needs to be said when four utensils are diving into it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM_h3srcSPlg99tY5Km6RYew7kEHP5zPc6H6SZtoyKYpQMghvkMqas3Eu0iiqWnt0dMcoq2hhlJIucLL5SyS2PcIcZZ7ZVGOuTSeIP7yNE6oMb1WfPnwKJW5qOpUMT0bolVaYfeTW80Y/s1600/Munich%252C+dinner+3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM_h3srcSPlg99tY5Km6RYew7kEHP5zPc6H6SZtoyKYpQMghvkMqas3Eu0iiqWnt0dMcoq2hhlJIucLL5SyS2PcIcZZ7ZVGOuTSeIP7yNE6oMb1WfPnwKJW5qOpUMT0bolVaYfeTW80Y/s400/Munich%252C+dinner+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739878570904176722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love semmelknodel!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyGznsn0o_RxcoMt6VAdBfV1uamB6gMlxK8ctSOMYXMa16miSpFZLD9yME2Hja2BxEbTlyOaliX85onHCOe2b-_bDliwmDBVRfF-98Goq_NrcUIG21MUuHWp6azorYHRlECfhFhXlbmY/s1600/Munich%252C+dessert%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyGznsn0o_RxcoMt6VAdBfV1uamB6gMlxK8ctSOMYXMa16miSpFZLD9yME2Hja2BxEbTlyOaliX85onHCOe2b-_bDliwmDBVRfF-98Goq_NrcUIG21MUuHWp6azorYHRlECfhFhXlbmY/s400/Munich%252C+dessert%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739877853151250690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />More ice cream!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70632VrNpSpP0lsv-1awBC3b7B0l9hDwWitgfWi3TtXPefR_mFNv3RqXSnv67R-XfXylWkyntavz8f8NHjucCxDnnkXi8CrZh7ea2YQu_84wGBzqGCFMVvVNf3ddq4JblvQhdqHkFRDI/s1600/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+family.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70632VrNpSpP0lsv-1awBC3b7B0l9hDwWitgfWi3TtXPefR_mFNv3RqXSnv67R-XfXylWkyntavz8f8NHjucCxDnnkXi8CrZh7ea2YQu_84wGBzqGCFMVvVNf3ddq4JblvQhdqHkFRDI/s400/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+family.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739877845201124258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We stopped along the Isar River to view this unique rock installation. We know nothing about it ... so, if someone has information, please leave a comment or email me at mouse_house@prodigy.net. I also created a little blogger video. It is <a href="http://videosbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2012/05/outdoor-art-on-isar-river.html">HERE</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklSi-8h0FhH3f-74bD2atDW6BnKL2kKDcBInMcdq19VXpz3JoOkra0O-4ez8iZFYqzUJn-xxvdYZsmQOeG7cfoRx2NMaxhlY9prbR25vz_Yy1AmJ46Zu3DP5Y2EScTQrijhwhm5874uk/s1600/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+40%252C+frog+crossing+sign.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklSi-8h0FhH3f-74bD2atDW6BnKL2kKDcBInMcdq19VXpz3JoOkra0O-4ez8iZFYqzUJn-xxvdYZsmQOeG7cfoRx2NMaxhlY9prbR25vz_Yy1AmJ46Zu3DP5Y2EScTQrijhwhm5874uk/s400/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+40%252C+frog+crossing+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739877836859487138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We laughed and laughed about all the frog crossing signs. Yes, this is a big deal in Bavaria!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M_xkqSNScE4wlqZaTAFD9zvbeonq4UVzn2U2Nt-_yIzoUiNIh_a7B6J9BBMT4CeFbxfVvgPkBfKYZ7-_280RPCozhHVUK4DAd13oufPJ4uE9BZEPAZeY6tOQJWq2Flgwx4LwSs5x4pE/s1600/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+37%252C+Susan+on+bridge.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M_xkqSNScE4wlqZaTAFD9zvbeonq4UVzn2U2Nt-_yIzoUiNIh_a7B6J9BBMT4CeFbxfVvgPkBfKYZ7-_280RPCozhHVUK4DAd13oufPJ4uE9BZEPAZeY6tOQJWq2Flgwx4LwSs5x4pE/s400/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+37%252C+Susan+on+bridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739877828330047906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here I am on a bridge near the Bavarian/Austrian boarder.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XRHeLTlOJ4ex5cHRyO3-7gUqbFyh-JmRPKlVSs1iQmuach1qFZBETpY3lNvqd3nzDMATxRZhMthtw0UbSMmSPYKkpYerNF3Hx0ld3E7RpwJc3uvp1In3I79YRA0NqHzRSDXJH1-WXjs/s1600/Munich%252C+dessert%252C+3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XRHeLTlOJ4ex5cHRyO3-7gUqbFyh-JmRPKlVSs1iQmuach1qFZBETpY3lNvqd3nzDMATxRZhMthtw0UbSMmSPYKkpYerNF3Hx0ld3E7RpwJc3uvp1In3I79YRA0NqHzRSDXJH1-WXjs/s400/Munich%252C+dessert%252C+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739877868748101058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was Mom's apfelstrudel ... but we all helped her!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg9SrqO5Lrw6zto9Fx_w5AzQpby0wN1bgIAgjoqSPMea1cZu0HreNfRz1MEiCuJVhBJ2_n1JYdjCcEXfnChfpRaBVxDGXW3INmROkDSAZLyy8eM2bnLMPM0QZURqJ4B3Xr-RJbm5hcrs/s1600/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+35%252C+Mom%252C+Susan%252C+and+Dad.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg9SrqO5Lrw6zto9Fx_w5AzQpby0wN1bgIAgjoqSPMea1cZu0HreNfRz1MEiCuJVhBJ2_n1JYdjCcEXfnChfpRaBVxDGXW3INmROkDSAZLyy8eM2bnLMPM0QZURqJ4B3Xr-RJbm5hcrs/s400/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+35%252C+Mom%252C+Susan%252C+and+Dad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739875379181974050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The alpine water is so clear and beautiful!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlKBKycrauLOHcoRMWlvWVjxMfkQmBjLh5I2Q5nmiEvKSurO4a9HDnS_MBLQ8ssZSH_wIzrinAgHdAKadKq9ADbSbjbaGObZgQAqFCICqHFOaBG9oMeCpW-hO4lc0qdGD7PN7s6sxPY8/s1600/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+34%252C+family+by+river+and+snow.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlKBKycrauLOHcoRMWlvWVjxMfkQmBjLh5I2Q5nmiEvKSurO4a9HDnS_MBLQ8ssZSH_wIzrinAgHdAKadKq9ADbSbjbaGObZgQAqFCICqHFOaBG9oMeCpW-hO4lc0qdGD7PN7s6sxPY8/s400/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+34%252C+family+by+river+and+snow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739875367519023378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Steve and I enjoyed the snow too!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WaIpWgkLr3PdzaBEClb7ImfpIzzuNwg30nCoQV_44_3jkzvwGLdNYR1W-5ggYSG3dpoM1B2YZf3fDUeYNXnWGGsVZAXW4Ci0iWhaJuVru2dfVbLJYAMKNTwpjh3la-urCDZ3kM6W9-Q/s1600/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+32%252C+Susan+in+water.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WaIpWgkLr3PdzaBEClb7ImfpIzzuNwg30nCoQV_44_3jkzvwGLdNYR1W-5ggYSG3dpoM1B2YZf3fDUeYNXnWGGsVZAXW4Ci0iWhaJuVru2dfVbLJYAMKNTwpjh3la-urCDZ3kM6W9-Q/s400/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+32%252C+Susan+in+water.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739875358504357410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course I had to wade into the water. It is cold ... really, really cold ... just like the melting snow and ice ... straight off the mountains.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYcezTAWQre2cnMb_RUY2xThIINOHv5AlmbdtRkzb79UkHz62BYV1f8XogSIytqo-g2Lr29Mn_ifONlar8fUaucNxgSDW6TrA7jyPpx9F3S47BOhw0ftEA0T2-AjN-3AoDi4PEOLTSzA/s1600/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+11%252C+Susan+and+Steve+on+snow.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYcezTAWQre2cnMb_RUY2xThIINOHv5AlmbdtRkzb79UkHz62BYV1f8XogSIytqo-g2Lr29Mn_ifONlar8fUaucNxgSDW6TrA7jyPpx9F3S47BOhw0ftEA0T2-AjN-3AoDi4PEOLTSzA/s400/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+11%252C+Susan+and+Steve+on+snow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739875353015336770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is more snow than we saw all winter in Columbia!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4h0l1A71zKq6XDjbvmp996omlYNUwu2PftVOaNKdxfFVY34gZqy_GKTqS3h_L4A6ziySzS2KoC9Sw2nBQNA8VcFECEC7mCewig0Y_dslhOhJ0B_hyIv0rXsMqDIN8Urqvf07lKqRMl0/s1600/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+family.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4h0l1A71zKq6XDjbvmp996omlYNUwu2PftVOaNKdxfFVY34gZqy_GKTqS3h_L4A6ziySzS2KoC9Sw2nBQNA8VcFECEC7mCewig0Y_dslhOhJ0B_hyIv0rXsMqDIN8Urqvf07lKqRMl0/s400/Munich%252C+alpine+trip%252C+family.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5739875390982683330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Back along the Isar with the rock installation.Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-13314154407937418082012-01-26T07:34:00.000-08:002012-01-26T07:39:30.251-08:00Mathias and LJ in NYC<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WxzmT4URT8Lto_y822gPfLmncaK9N9tU0XtkTjWHCMXcH8yoqfy8pHi5xUVKFk_U3932CN42nxbokzkvyFdJGPz2aEQTWUPvdfogjcj71WJf_Pz_ZupYAghuuoohXFW48Zxwc5H9OBU/s1600/Mathias+in+Times+Square.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WxzmT4URT8Lto_y822gPfLmncaK9N9tU0XtkTjWHCMXcH8yoqfy8pHi5xUVKFk_U3932CN42nxbokzkvyFdJGPz2aEQTWUPvdfogjcj71WJf_Pz_ZupYAghuuoohXFW48Zxwc5H9OBU/s400/Mathias+in+Times+Square.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701965081221597218" border="0" /></a><br />I love Facebook ... if, for no better reason than I get to see great photos like those taken by Mathias and Laura-Jane! Yet, my Mom and Dad and others in my family aren't on Facebook. They do, however, read my blogs. So ... this post is for them! Photos from NYC! Enjoy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmacR5IzFl-qHGLZYpf4hp2mwFoUs7Vgh2TCvBG_vjvbelvcbGzzNuCb9xGK8UdnQqbALmo90zH39CILJ8i6gn3ortT1jW3YR3JWESyzXPwmCvcS4ZLYnT6pVjQoZ-9pArwVQu2Lxx10I/s1600/Mathias+and+TRex.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmacR5IzFl-qHGLZYpf4hp2mwFoUs7Vgh2TCvBG_vjvbelvcbGzzNuCb9xGK8UdnQqbALmo90zH39CILJ8i6gn3ortT1jW3YR3JWESyzXPwmCvcS4ZLYnT6pVjQoZ-9pArwVQu2Lxx10I/s400/Mathias+and+TRex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701965065133696098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Vk-oRVW0SM7xsS_YMxhFXZjuTZjpCtFwYl_5zBu1HMZjE-PImbQWLsL6kra1wpKHB0YHKPjFUFPQxLKSz9o4mjYWdDOGP-6F62eTIouI0YuE3966blyUlBDWjNPYifMqIXpgs1yv1eg/s1600/Mathias+on+Staten+Island+Ferry.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Vk-oRVW0SM7xsS_YMxhFXZjuTZjpCtFwYl_5zBu1HMZjE-PImbQWLsL6kra1wpKHB0YHKPjFUFPQxLKSz9o4mjYWdDOGP-6F62eTIouI0YuE3966blyUlBDWjNPYifMqIXpgs1yv1eg/s400/Mathias+on+Staten+Island+Ferry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701965082223386754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcC7ikuzVVqRLpPaJHe7NNPjSPilcbWeIzsrtGekhaKuR1sT6X0u4tZGvbJyDWNHRu3JkR5-um0IWcw5nxLadl8JfMQHqNcQifflAuFwyj3pITE0k5oTWZRPXq97q4WwiM8yTcZXCY1A/s1600/Mathias+and+LJ+on+the+Empire+State+Building.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_IpS_O1JYaSbWqfRUX7l8AFBnzNR-DgWMi1hjLR393LQIufTFR1epxjXNxq853aSk4Av1pGaPjCJG7nXNEXkHKk3vMrwH0DrhDEhUpbfxqGleOpkbuLhNhdGLHhH8kJNc8uRGIQfLGg/s400/LJ+on+Staten+Island+Ferry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701964666392239730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbehvvvRabSZtbpft5VjjsuDUhROMe7Wq_EADRVB6C2W6phGXUQQ2BNLGA-DzM8DR5K6rSaKd69UOIPwWF17Jd7kPkwyLqG_gofKFUZB0tPBgTbY13bk5QCzLYRx4yIezIn4bd260MB4/s1600/Mathias+and+LJ+in+NYC.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbehvvvRabSZtbpft5VjjsuDUhROMe7Wq_EADRVB6C2W6phGXUQQ2BNLGA-DzM8DR5K6rSaKd69UOIPwWF17Jd7kPkwyLqG_gofKFUZB0tPBgTbY13bk5QCzLYRx4yIezIn4bd260MB4/s400/Mathias+and+LJ+in+NYC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701964699071500482" border="0" /></a>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-25686857982769262532012-01-02T08:37:00.000-08:002012-01-02T08:56:02.628-08:00Wanda's Christmas present<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmXkoLtErqXdNu5wYUXVgsZ3sO4loCdR2DKHAWr_MmTrH97uJobtREASB9Z-OlXfT0qH1wvjTJfJ-UVLS4AKWGE4L2Y00zJ_2MwnaUM4BYODZTAJCE1dlLX9JhfkLKfQI1BDk86B2Jlk/s1600/Don+Gato%252C+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmXkoLtErqXdNu5wYUXVgsZ3sO4loCdR2DKHAWr_MmTrH97uJobtREASB9Z-OlXfT0qH1wvjTJfJ-UVLS4AKWGE4L2Y00zJ_2MwnaUM4BYODZTAJCE1dlLX9JhfkLKfQI1BDk86B2Jlk/s400/Don+Gato%252C+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693076047722302018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While visiting Oil City's artist relocation program over Christmas in Pennsylvania, Steve and I met a very, very talented illustrator in the midst of his own solo show. He had the original works for a new book on display but he also had a table of past books ... including one that had all sorts of problems for its publisher. It seems that the American translator of this Spanish song sued. The legal battle that ensued meant the book could no longer go into future publications and all sales of existing books had to have money go to charity. Thus, the purchase price for this volume included a $20 donation to an animal rights organization. I know my sister Wanda would appreciate both the rarity of the book and the money for the pets. So, even though this book was the most expensive one in the place ... I HAD TO BUY IT ... for Wanda, for her Christmas present. Since I won't be seeing her until April when we travel to Munich for a visit .... Here's the book. Enjoy. I know the music will be stuck in your head for days! (Sonya has no memory of this song but Mom started singing it as soon as she saw the cover!) All images can be enlarged so that you can get all the words for your singing pleasure!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELvL_o7nSSIl_vun6zJ_YFPpqtB68_ewaPAUN01c2PKXFuqzEbQsHImLvQA75jqpQI4-Bx5Pht0aHA-b6xptWWWDn9nXeSytRaNHk1lRnEnDBlA8lM7gC68FN9BlZyYrUDLO505ipTkQ/s1600/Don+Gato%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELvL_o7nSSIl_vun6zJ_YFPpqtB68_ewaPAUN01c2PKXFuqzEbQsHImLvQA75jqpQI4-Bx5Pht0aHA-b6xptWWWDn9nXeSytRaNHk1lRnEnDBlA8lM7gC68FN9BlZyYrUDLO505ipTkQ/s400/Don+Gato%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693076049684053458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1RlGi8iNqy95xujjNTPX-_TnJ_SmWndS3P5IWw5JVe4enVzXD2CpqXYYbcrNTG4BPCpThXwz1nRsW4HjvTqk1Q3b9bxUEnakoAP0GEmX4Vi-TLFr704bgD4bey8fyF9_NCljx7thKLY/s1600/Don+Gato%252C+3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvnK-dPCR4rBNVXS9zlm8BN0f495huZQhOPPILf1-GrCPzzlDhiQ6EdHWheFEgnf8b9DBjQlQBeJLzdmbUHWS5qN-N_8LYeGvbt4hInpqdYADbJ91EEBWLzSGRr-Nli_rZPk_CBovKSk/s400/Don+Gato%252C+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693075117460467666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuauJDNkQ92Nr4O0-NDD7UgUZgJyTNeDhwgMlgt4HrUQpWVCMWZTogFPZo9lqZBfFw24LVd0jxSheCG2eeco995HIzR15bEFAnu2kcHvBc0NGuP8z7IJDpkw1MkOoi9qHTQkyGTscmnrc/s1600/Don+Gato%252C+12.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuauJDNkQ92Nr4O0-NDD7UgUZgJyTNeDhwgMlgt4HrUQpWVCMWZTogFPZo9lqZBfFw24LVd0jxSheCG2eeco995HIzR15bEFAnu2kcHvBc0NGuP8z7IJDpkw1MkOoi9qHTQkyGTscmnrc/s400/Don+Gato%252C+12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693075126963534322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5x7mok5XHilEWP6fYshzDVmuuH6LTMV_a2f8gopbDFoOBlAoYLv7adap3mSVHo1oPUv2g9OY_trrE70ozM_3ta6w4MOslzvQhNL9H93arp7893z4EWyPkUUOhmL0nNAcebfIFcdpCgk/s1600/Don+Gato%252C+13.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5x7mok5XHilEWP6fYshzDVmuuH6LTMV_a2f8gopbDFoOBlAoYLv7adap3mSVHo1oPUv2g9OY_trrE70ozM_3ta6w4MOslzvQhNL9H93arp7893z4EWyPkUUOhmL0nNAcebfIFcdpCgk/s400/Don+Gato%252C+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693075130869079010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mcmKuR-bYBGZCD7OP7_vf_wP9fMyaN0ft48rPNrLWYNzqbDwSSzJhxc3dvmypVEbBehTET3irEqr7iw793M9dU3EUOc3eRXYO7wsvgBxLA0ZvNtttwp4bjL3qngdxwg0PtgtDkegu8I/s1600/Don+Gato%252C+14.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mcmKuR-bYBGZCD7OP7_vf_wP9fMyaN0ft48rPNrLWYNzqbDwSSzJhxc3dvmypVEbBehTET3irEqr7iw793M9dU3EUOc3eRXYO7wsvgBxLA0ZvNtttwp4bjL3qngdxwg0PtgtDkegu8I/s400/Don+Gato%252C+14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693075144523746706" border="0" /></a>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-55683426187648993112012-01-02T08:15:00.000-08:002012-01-02T08:57:43.104-08:00Christmas 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-iiIfYr_TEe_JPjE9xB4ng4IIcjWJ_YG4jlitZ5djccdI0rUJU0QlNrGYyFO5ijN_K1xMNlY_l9wc89_9raOoQBTJ_WxutiLFgElbTNwElnz85hTMpcwm0129PuHXWJQjBzPKnnOLf4/s1600/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+Grandma+and+chocolate.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-iiIfYr_TEe_JPjE9xB4ng4IIcjWJ_YG4jlitZ5djccdI0rUJU0QlNrGYyFO5ijN_K1xMNlY_l9wc89_9raOoQBTJ_WxutiLFgElbTNwElnz85hTMpcwm0129PuHXWJQjBzPKnnOLf4/s400/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+Grandma+and+chocolate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693069200555816610" border="0" /></a><br />Generally I take load of photographs ... bracketing the exposures, changing the light settings, and playing with other options when off the "point-and-shot" automatic setting. Somehow, I didn't manage to do any of this during the recent Christmas trip to Pennsylvania. I have no idea why ... but these are the only pictures I snapped. I apology to family members who are blurry and don't have a smile ... but these are the only ones I took! Why am I posting poor photos? Well ... these are the only ones I took ... so these are the only ones I can share with Wanda in Germany who couldn't be with us! Merry Christmas!<br />However ... I have more to share with Wanda because I also bought her Christmas present while in Oil City, Pennsylvania checking out the artist relocation program. That post is <a href="http://susanlenzfamily.blogspot.com/2012/01/wandas-christmas-present.html">HERE</a>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkgPD9f9FMhZOKbvyX3wOIvLc7BivOGl_9dAA5olaV-lj59H21RDjHDR8QG-sdz0dqJy8Diikmzak43HuvPKl56GKB0jPcYH_uG5GPoeUDmLj0DtSNlfyVaL8iUcGpYpUc68T0CAv_0c/s1600/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+Dad+and+Vipin.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkgPD9f9FMhZOKbvyX3wOIvLc7BivOGl_9dAA5olaV-lj59H21RDjHDR8QG-sdz0dqJy8Diikmzak43HuvPKl56GKB0jPcYH_uG5GPoeUDmLj0DtSNlfyVaL8iUcGpYpUc68T0CAv_0c/s400/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+Dad+and+Vipin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693069178325326706" border="0" /></a><br />Vipin and Sonya got a really cool, retro cell phone attachment for Dad ... one that might allow him to hear better while on his phone ... doubtful but worth a try.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX2d6ygKDRZSM4o0S3meYeiwluDpEzxgEi8gyeKYl9wZZj-i9rTJ2LAtUX1FTecLakyPgR6pC6XxsfkKUPU1mU6diHDAnlOZsTCwJB-KRbHQbSkF1ohVDMcBCieH3FKkIQzKPAQlu0y4/s1600/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+Dad%2527s+cell+phone+attachment.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX2d6ygKDRZSM4o0S3meYeiwluDpEzxgEi8gyeKYl9wZZj-i9rTJ2LAtUX1FTecLakyPgR6pC6XxsfkKUPU1mU6diHDAnlOZsTCwJB-KRbHQbSkF1ohVDMcBCieH3FKkIQzKPAQlu0y4/s400/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+Dad%2527s+cell+phone+attachment.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693070527245825298" border="0" /></a><br />Plus ... it is really, really cute!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNzmr3ww1vaHkMz1WFDMHETwfVZ5XAAh6BcSbah6MfQL50i7Kzm5Q95hUdQBYNPlgV-7q1IogoKTozAtJP3rQPlvrVno6ThzwcOFlevcEVSe9D-eQe_IzyZI6hRpfvOMLz2U96lvLeic/s1600/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+Dad%2527s+cell+phone+attachment.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDgsk9HXTYt1UnzqEwcHsN_qfmhqWlhw0UAtF81SRu3jA_dy3CoBqf-C4ZiPo8WZbkHIHYzvaN_6JwPbsbPpXHJ7s61UU2LYZlDp5HG_0cqWdu634iVDtAfxQ7F3Uh9LPjNWOkUvYttg/s1600/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+Mom+and+Sonya.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDgsk9HXTYt1UnzqEwcHsN_qfmhqWlhw0UAtF81SRu3jA_dy3CoBqf-C4ZiPo8WZbkHIHYzvaN_6JwPbsbPpXHJ7s61UU2LYZlDp5HG_0cqWdu634iVDtAfxQ7F3Uh9LPjNWOkUvYttg/s400/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+Mom+and+Sonya.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693069206794609154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Even our kitties got Christmas presents!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrprvZQtCjfvi1vmmYmdPTjW0RABkWC1QCc3pVNqaGFybr1iw4ykjQJeqNx0FB4rZcMMUC4BYwn6auRmg0ZhDXNxZgk1_XYXM5j-f0-iLZNyLCZig2EecZ-LryFQ6Rm-3PbIX5lnOXACI/s1600/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+fancy+cat+food.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrprvZQtCjfvi1vmmYmdPTjW0RABkWC1QCc3pVNqaGFybr1iw4ykjQJeqNx0FB4rZcMMUC4BYwn6auRmg0ZhDXNxZgk1_XYXM5j-f0-iLZNyLCZig2EecZ-LryFQ6Rm-3PbIX5lnOXACI/s400/Christmas%252C+2011%252C+fancy+cat+food.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693069196247546882" border="0" /></a>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-48829602254435686132011-11-27T18:36:00.000-08:002011-11-27T18:55:12.294-08:00Thanksgiving 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksppLssBYObT5hR4J9TsvitLUOJ5jg-5scfsNCR_4l-E3wcPWabWjZehsxobv7wkYCP8JIIQV_u4MhtgD6lpdsrGIRqf3g1JKRS4UCBzjCdIg3o5vu7KZvXS-LMadPT4JawqWLK0z0X8/s1600/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksppLssBYObT5hR4J9TsvitLUOJ5jg-5scfsNCR_4l-E3wcPWabWjZehsxobv7wkYCP8JIIQV_u4MhtgD6lpdsrGIRqf3g1JKRS4UCBzjCdIg3o5vu7KZvXS-LMadPT4JawqWLK0z0X8/s400/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870498511793746" border="0" /></a><br />(Above: My youngest sister Sonya putting the final touches on her exquisite Thanksgiving dinner table. Click on any image in this post to enlarge.)<br /><br />This year my youngest sister Sonya and her husband Vipin hosted our family for Thanksgiving in Slippery Rock. Their house was once my parents' home ... the place in which I lived from 3rd grade until the end of high school. Lots of Thanksgiving dinners took place here ... but it was a totally new experience this year!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwSCaLS1Eg21T2Swsoct3YiFd_vD8RMRJmdPPZquFeFqrXu06yijxwmuXC4UWMmGHvE38BfX3pqnTeSSZem4MSaB413XE9TNXL3-QwVRoQFPNXNWbqGrIzp1Auxs67DGZ52QmeKMY92U/s1600/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwSCaLS1Eg21T2Swsoct3YiFd_vD8RMRJmdPPZquFeFqrXu06yijxwmuXC4UWMmGHvE38BfX3pqnTeSSZem4MSaB413XE9TNXL3-QwVRoQFPNXNWbqGrIzp1Auxs67DGZ52QmeKMY92U/s400/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870493647748530" border="0" /></a><br />(Above: Vipin, Grandma Baker, and Sonya in the kitchen before dinner ... appetizers!)<br /><br />Why? Well, Sonya and Vipin are incredible hosts, have impeccable tastes, and also introduced us to a new Thanksgiving tradition .... TURDUCKEN!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7Vus1LogMbpwQsEoziGNWhQpXQCJgsZu3Ld1esQJb8QoxGADagVv-p9_W97PC3JHx9oKVe0Uv3alHq4_5HdNPsfRwSggL05FXfMRSFC90hOKrcAeZtooe6-CaplHjKPc763WRxQusc8/s1600/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7Vus1LogMbpwQsEoziGNWhQpXQCJgsZu3Ld1esQJb8QoxGADagVv-p9_W97PC3JHx9oKVe0Uv3alHq4_5HdNPsfRwSggL05FXfMRSFC90hOKrcAeZtooe6-CaplHjKPc763WRxQusc8/s400/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870523314675458" border="0" /></a><br />(Above: Mom and Steve getting ready for Turducken.)<br /><br />What's a TURDUCKEN? It's a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with cornbread and a hen! It was delicious. I made a video of Vipin carving this exotic bird. It is<a href="http://videosbysusanlenz.blogspot.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-turduckin-2011.html"> HERE</a>. Vipin also popped the cork for champagne.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR19cxyG8iXkV6uU1uoZ6yfzHpdrnPRjVauu7zi-0R9raiXVpvXchwK8KKeZ2FONFX9hCzeBP0OHphBdC1NBV2WbPEzEbU6OJag3aCIJIhRZoRehEXHRWr_vhDjcJHVy9pAe8oo8iy1XM/s1600/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR19cxyG8iXkV6uU1uoZ6yfzHpdrnPRjVauu7zi-0R9raiXVpvXchwK8KKeZ2FONFX9hCzeBP0OHphBdC1NBV2WbPEzEbU6OJag3aCIJIhRZoRehEXHRWr_vhDjcJHVy9pAe8oo8iy1XM/s400/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870815770570674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We all had a blast ... especially since the evening included a slide presentation ... images from 1953 - 65 ... taken by Grandpa Baker in fabulous Ecktachrome color and all carefully labeled. It was a walk down memory lane and a most memorable Thanksgiving!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTTScadwzXKTLYFBSxXuM-Znvrg0rR7Om9pTb4T32OAtMqukvehSdy4eAGBXrpmG_CuLUa_KuvJHHNDuXaRvJXrruEr265_4DcM6RZflWw9INXmyei4kbJWRnf8yYHCfUEv8g4ILNM2w/s1600/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTTScadwzXKTLYFBSxXuM-Znvrg0rR7Om9pTb4T32OAtMqukvehSdy4eAGBXrpmG_CuLUa_KuvJHHNDuXaRvJXrruEr265_4DcM6RZflWw9INXmyei4kbJWRnf8yYHCfUEv8g4ILNM2w/s400/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870831623078770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The photo above was taken with my camera resting on the table ... using the automatic timer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOwmmmknJae6vWhNfnkS728BfC1051vNVx2MZYKDsU4a41d0Pvfs663nW-pm_b_hBNW67cjhLWYlM8FUXSGzFcyIioMAH7V_zy5OcPU5FrZ6ByDkjkTHuOSmgu5lnCmLu4WHqggLOyD4/s1600/Cranberries.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOwmmmknJae6vWhNfnkS728BfC1051vNVx2MZYKDsU4a41d0Pvfs663nW-pm_b_hBNW67cjhLWYlM8FUXSGzFcyIioMAH7V_zy5OcPU5FrZ6ByDkjkTHuOSmgu5lnCmLu4WHqggLOyD4/s400/Cranberries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870487650454514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I tried all sorts of "strange" things during the course of the afternoon ... including CRANBERRIES! They weren't horrible ... but they are still the one food item that I despise the most ... even if they are layered with truffles!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmcsbfDLJSnYAftgPqgnK7SV6UwmCA2PpmI0Mw5DMWQinHRJqhVtLYWs0ZySFwfnikqNc8Mr-y0HGwD-V1Tx6g3wvZ2vKAIdxRJ4scxQG-WVBwYymtlXBFThZq51gw90hZCIT7l2YBOE/s1600/Cranberries+in+a+daze.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmcsbfDLJSnYAftgPqgnK7SV6UwmCA2PpmI0Mw5DMWQinHRJqhVtLYWs0ZySFwfnikqNc8Mr-y0HGwD-V1Tx6g3wvZ2vKAIdxRJ4scxQG-WVBwYymtlXBFThZq51gw90hZCIT7l2YBOE/s400/Cranberries+in+a+daze.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870484156992946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unbelievably, they weren't too bad ... even though the thought of them sort of makes me dizzy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpW84Yy0s2Jn_hufHtrsObCpG3qSZ6sHBfk_t1hENWQTMsg_8XwmjvptNYt-3A1k0DvPyWM_Mxs6asz8iUqM_u5aa4K6iHaxoeavXcNmo7uHvnzQOwylkWMrk7-e5ZjSPsK_V6tEEKjY/s1600/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpW84Yy0s2Jn_hufHtrsObCpG3qSZ6sHBfk_t1hENWQTMsg_8XwmjvptNYt-3A1k0DvPyWM_Mxs6asz8iUqM_u5aa4K6iHaxoeavXcNmo7uHvnzQOwylkWMrk7-e5ZjSPsK_V6tEEKjY/s400/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870826258557154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Above is Mom and Grandma ... sampling shrimp before dinner!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivL4Hq-w1gYlqb8Ofh_HjLU2htFn3nTvHCy6IzokTmMCbiM8oqCqarMQMLWDR3iWsBfhJ23poA74TwnHfJ2d80KB2sajqCyQo_EZFLmrk1bbY20MZZYI-BWj7lhLmpjlG_l0gB3YuEQHQ/s1600/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivL4Hq-w1gYlqb8Ofh_HjLU2htFn3nTvHCy6IzokTmMCbiM8oqCqarMQMLWDR3iWsBfhJ23poA74TwnHfJ2d80KB2sajqCyQo_EZFLmrk1bbY20MZZYI-BWj7lhLmpjlG_l0gB3YuEQHQ/s400/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870809177627426" border="0" /></a><br />(Above: Mom, Steve, me and Sonya.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmRKWymJAsud32XF2KJMPjqlzA0hXhduC-2zhl7pc9FUtvTEU5dX3_j08E91Fij_QnTGW4t5HPhsDqLcCb_HqlYIzgsVdTN1z8rhTQXqCj6q7cAcBT0MzfjKp9KyqP66w1ZeK7EEiaAw/s1600/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmRKWymJAsud32XF2KJMPjqlzA0hXhduC-2zhl7pc9FUtvTEU5dX3_j08E91Fij_QnTGW4t5HPhsDqLcCb_HqlYIzgsVdTN1z8rhTQXqCj6q7cAcBT0MzfjKp9KyqP66w1ZeK7EEiaAw/s400/Thanksgiving+2011%252C+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679870836883178098" border="0" /></a><br />(Above: Grandma, Mom and Dad at Thanksgiving!)Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-34970062909100985942011-10-28T14:01:00.000-07:002011-10-28T14:03:18.758-07:00A Review from England!Mathias and Laura-Jane were both mentioned in a review! Read it <a href="http://www.bachtrack.com/review-birmingham-royal-ballet-sadlers-wells">HERE</a>!Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-47197431837445594192011-06-28T12:59:00.000-07:002011-06-28T14:00:17.673-07:00Back from a trip to Pennsylvania and England!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyd87KrKZiyhhDnfxGmDdb_7wH1oJU_Qq90Df1_PQbDjKq6q4iexSuKg04i6G31bgAfxz76hocNSBfUtV3QUccbpneOhlTpTyu8gSw5YHx4WmyYm3_sXi6pnCP7OVxwCe7chHm57xcmkU/s1600/Mathias+and+LJ%252C+before+Carmina+Burana%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyd87KrKZiyhhDnfxGmDdb_7wH1oJU_Qq90Df1_PQbDjKq6q4iexSuKg04i6G31bgAfxz76hocNSBfUtV3QUccbpneOhlTpTyu8gSw5YHx4WmyYm3_sXi6pnCP7OVxwCe7chHm57xcmkU/s400/Mathias+and+LJ%252C+before+Carmina+Burana%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363458629542306" border="0" /></a><br />(Above: Mathias and Laura-Jane ready to dance in David Bintley's <span style="font-style: italic;">Carmina Burana</span>, Birmingham Royal Ballet. Click on any photo to enlarge.)<br /><br />It feels like I've been out-of-town for a long, long time. Yet, I actually wasn't even away for a full two weeks!<br /><br />First, Steve and I went to Pennsylvania for Father's Day weekend ... and to celebrate my sister Wanda's 50th birthday. Wanda and her husband Reinhard were visiting from Munich. I took several photos of us relaxing at Lake Lenzelhof, my parents' "private" 10-acre lake ... but I'm saving those for another post. For Father's Day, my youngest sister Sonya arranged for a lovely brunch at the <a href="http://www.foxburginn.com/">Foxburg Inn</a>, a beautiful place along the banks of the Allegheny River.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN4N4u9NrB3P0iF39_NswV6cN7qYdwkar4g2rrOW2VF5nOajO-PXGRrRIbG_4zHrz_iL8wBjtW2k7sRPCjKluvErqW3fY0huI-5JDUnjVS4x8H5uNEYVoQSMNRbnDneBiF6_n1U8MkXE/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Alleghany+River.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN4N4u9NrB3P0iF39_NswV6cN7qYdwkar4g2rrOW2VF5nOajO-PXGRrRIbG_4zHrz_iL8wBjtW2k7sRPCjKluvErqW3fY0huI-5JDUnjVS4x8H5uNEYVoQSMNRbnDneBiF6_n1U8MkXE/s400/Foxburg%252C+Alleghany+River.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363830978974098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was quite a spectacular day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpeNTN3lHlLcBqXCPeps3aldUGQ2UjprSH_XClvMMZ1caJ4agkrR8SRVfgo_kXit6iOE3nKGd_DKCPGop4Rba0Cnwudp7bj1Kiaq8xef9TRsDuMqG0V0wBD6mfpF5kRyNzkVN0TdZq4U/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Father%2527s+Day.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpeNTN3lHlLcBqXCPeps3aldUGQ2UjprSH_XClvMMZ1caJ4agkrR8SRVfgo_kXit6iOE3nKGd_DKCPGop4Rba0Cnwudp7bj1Kiaq8xef9TRsDuMqG0V0wBD6mfpF5kRyNzkVN0TdZq4U/s400/Foxburg%252C+Father%2527s+Day.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623365658609745922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The dinner was great. The gift shop was nice. The view was crystal clear.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL04x3N11SZ9ENneo3uBoMuiSOUr50IcWrPV18YVcYUUfK5UZcmHutyQ9c7j1N479Bup9yTQNehZWliEXWoPnFJBCdHDPbxRhoTnedNa-klzRKL9WFVwvptbQpu2gXJodWBMeL5_wax7Y/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Alleghany+River%252C+water+snake.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL04x3N11SZ9ENneo3uBoMuiSOUr50IcWrPV18YVcYUUfK5UZcmHutyQ9c7j1N479Bup9yTQNehZWliEXWoPnFJBCdHDPbxRhoTnedNa-klzRKL9WFVwvptbQpu2gXJodWBMeL5_wax7Y/s400/Foxburg%252C+Alleghany+River%252C+water+snake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363828587052770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We saw a water snake....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnCJmVW6aRMZ7IXUZCa4Yw3aAvwRifAwUZ30Keh1Iu3zYuOA_TFoP1r_NDCMp5FPBL24RNlNvIqd3g_NW9Un8YSoUBkK_nbT7eIYgu2gr8cX93ueeiCptofcVVGOQfgR0vacm9V69KUM/s1600/Foxburg%252C+bug.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnCJmVW6aRMZ7IXUZCa4Yw3aAvwRifAwUZ30Keh1Iu3zYuOA_TFoP1r_NDCMp5FPBL24RNlNvIqd3g_NW9Un8YSoUBkK_nbT7eIYgu2gr8cX93ueeiCptofcVVGOQfgR0vacm9V69KUM/s400/Foxburg%252C+bug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623364251966865506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />... a giant pincher bug ...<br /><br />before going on a family SEGWAY tour with<a href="http://www.segwaywpa.com/tours.html"> Segway of Western PA</a>. Sonya arranged the package ... with a golf cart for Mom and Dad and segways for the rest of us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SdhUQ6cYRohEkH0dWcs5ro3kn3r5AQ3bWDpyW_pjuTD1Q6giD87mA_-wRqLsJgvWb-7qkSKA4cc9rMhGxhZ158ljZA50b_gKPkLEhyphenhyphen9G7GiS8WplezgYIK6uto4QDtTz10aug8wxftE/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Sonya+gets+ready+for+segway.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SdhUQ6cYRohEkH0dWcs5ro3kn3r5AQ3bWDpyW_pjuTD1Q6giD87mA_-wRqLsJgvWb-7qkSKA4cc9rMhGxhZ158ljZA50b_gKPkLEhyphenhyphen9G7GiS8WplezgYIK6uto4QDtTz10aug8wxftE/s400/Foxburg%252C+Sonya+gets+ready+for+segway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623367071147615650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course, Sonya was prepared too ... with the perfect shade of lipstick!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi118bZ_BU7rKufsPnsyBlrdFc33xbA8NNTWaGKpax-jp3trR7gCvk7ev6Y_mbKfKI-1ZeIJs7-NBuEZjoHtU18lv_HSA82xMOc8xd_Y22WUt3vc5QvkOT2qf0iLDHXhZmSP9ReBOGGFIU/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Barns+with+segways.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi118bZ_BU7rKufsPnsyBlrdFc33xbA8NNTWaGKpax-jp3trR7gCvk7ev6Y_mbKfKI-1ZeIJs7-NBuEZjoHtU18lv_HSA82xMOc8xd_Y22WUt3vc5QvkOT2qf0iLDHXhZmSP9ReBOGGFIU/s400/Foxburg%252C+Barns+with+segways.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623364245274320402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We drove to the stables on the Fox Mansion ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6ro1K0dBs1ao0zJEnSu_j8Li3A6SAl9avg_etve8lyacP1I_zGPNqT6KHOgCUsZbTiZyFUcbgLjNQxQnEalrWHu_F-kKCFvTek0WD9T2eeaZ5KiYpfziaDCWwo-yrNvjTenq-wBv_ek/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Mom+and+Dad+and+horse.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6ro1K0dBs1ao0zJEnSu_j8Li3A6SAl9avg_etve8lyacP1I_zGPNqT6KHOgCUsZbTiZyFUcbgLjNQxQnEalrWHu_F-kKCFvTek0WD9T2eeaZ5KiYpfziaDCWwo-yrNvjTenq-wBv_ek/s400/Foxburg%252C+Mom+and+Dad+and+horse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623365663413466866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...where we got to see the horses ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJT9eg5pyG0UfdFm-xeDLwmVJjkrEmRpdfAfzb67xpJtJSh4cvbu_frvvzHZ51_CDnyNym3Fin8SCetKbCyY7sf70Q8neao39UNfMjfgJVhUV8WzaZ-HpiH-HTL17IEvorl9wWQK3ubE/s1600/Foxburg%252C+antique+carriage.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJT9eg5pyG0UfdFm-xeDLwmVJjkrEmRpdfAfzb67xpJtJSh4cvbu_frvvzHZ51_CDnyNym3Fin8SCetKbCyY7sf70Q8neao39UNfMjfgJVhUV8WzaZ-HpiH-HTL17IEvorl9wWQK3ubE/s400/Foxburg%252C+antique+carriage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363841384988098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />... and the collection of antique carriages ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQUeybFvi_H2WfnWpP-UP-CZC2NX7vbRd0X97cBMZ4h66122PFn9j0YLfHy5YrC92tWs9icz6P9SZEG_mKkloRc7RUZrp-4JTY2m93Xq5ylaYY9WIQ5zCFIgFIocJoNIas1SVjzxQdE4/s1600/Foxburg%252C+antique+sleigh.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQUeybFvi_H2WfnWpP-UP-CZC2NX7vbRd0X97cBMZ4h66122PFn9j0YLfHy5YrC92tWs9icz6P9SZEG_mKkloRc7RUZrp-4JTY2m93Xq5ylaYY9WIQ5zCFIgFIocJoNIas1SVjzxQdE4/s400/Foxburg%252C+antique+sleigh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623364240077168546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />... and sleighs ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCXC5LpiQpomdKv1JoODgOTD6b72hNxl6yTwhkjDPFT15QYxqlqExouJxA3bBg5dstKuMKlLKM4nmHiWsrKfN7ueAmUx3MnrEhkfFAe2TvT_eTgtMcO89kCkkR3h_-uPP5QVbMj7T55o/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Steve+gets+segway+lesson.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCXC5LpiQpomdKv1JoODgOTD6b72hNxl6yTwhkjDPFT15QYxqlqExouJxA3bBg5dstKuMKlLKM4nmHiWsrKfN7ueAmUx3MnrEhkfFAe2TvT_eTgtMcO89kCkkR3h_-uPP5QVbMj7T55o/s400/Foxburg%252C+Steve+gets+segway+lesson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623367079550258226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />... and finally arrived in the section for our individual segway instructions! Steve was the first to be taught how to operate these two-wheeled vehicles that are programmed to respond to one's shifting weight.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQZ6cAih1_vmHJQ80c7uYcN8MOq9wrs9U-1gPbsZyG-Du7HA8df68VSW0C53Z2NKaDlqdbUbc1m3MOz_mkpofTqggaEyMukAXdPXFQaIFI3e3PyrjAA70PFfiYsPYz-h7qm7zTudyV78/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Wanda+on+segway.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQZ6cAih1_vmHJQ80c7uYcN8MOq9wrs9U-1gPbsZyG-Du7HA8df68VSW0C53Z2NKaDlqdbUbc1m3MOz_mkpofTqggaEyMukAXdPXFQaIFI3e3PyrjAA70PFfiYsPYz-h7qm7zTudyV78/s400/Foxburg%252C+Wanda+on+segway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623367236492267506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Before long Wanda was ready to go from "snail" pace to the whopping 12 miles per hour maximum! (We were "upgraded" for speed on the final stretch of the road back to the stables! Boy was it FUN!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvReVvjjjUoEbMrAqCj8I0TC0DMnq4gUgi-js6NXx4B3iK1D1SBZgYxkAt-s5YF_m7MLMiQveO_XRbE3TX-0jOWiH5ltC-11c77iYI95_JIjUnzlzwaG4GxHwJLLFb5BstA_HBtFFUHN0/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Vipin+and+Sonya.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvReVvjjjUoEbMrAqCj8I0TC0DMnq4gUgi-js6NXx4B3iK1D1SBZgYxkAt-s5YF_m7MLMiQveO_XRbE3TX-0jOWiH5ltC-11c77iYI95_JIjUnzlzwaG4GxHwJLLFb5BstA_HBtFFUHN0/s400/Foxburg%252C+Vipin+and+Sonya.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623367229345717858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Vipin and Sonya looked <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">fine</span> in their protective helmets.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGXtNXj4_WpG5_twq0k_WMhvumv4VK_XFB1F1XM2SdJntfnCxJtlQ28xnW-kfQ8RzxZji30RaLG3tRwkX98NWJ8hna8fDv-7WG0-b2whDsquYnOoTQcfqIkXb1BftYnBhATTlsmD3PXM/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Mom+and+Dad+on+golf+cart.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGXtNXj4_WpG5_twq0k_WMhvumv4VK_XFB1F1XM2SdJntfnCxJtlQ28xnW-kfQ8RzxZji30RaLG3tRwkX98NWJ8hna8fDv-7WG0-b2whDsquYnOoTQcfqIkXb1BftYnBhATTlsmD3PXM/s400/Foxburg%252C+Mom+and+Dad+on+golf+cart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623365666750094610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mom and Dad looked fine in their golf cart too!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLXRDeIgK3EkYTi004wn5YJLNcVUB2-bOZX-7OOZHLNMcGKxR0J7hDOfdcvdvEpiKKJUUpe_SBBemTIYFN5yppI7GCB1IwPiYF6_EVs-FEBfyqS8KEpMDVefzcC07jzuHxdBDbhZjwU4/s1600/Foxburg%252C+Segway%252C+mansion.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLXRDeIgK3EkYTi004wn5YJLNcVUB2-bOZX-7OOZHLNMcGKxR0J7hDOfdcvdvEpiKKJUUpe_SBBemTIYFN5yppI7GCB1IwPiYF6_EVs-FEBfyqS8KEpMDVefzcC07jzuHxdBDbhZjwU4/s400/Foxburg%252C+Segway%252C+mansion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623367067049529218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The "Heritage Tour" took us past the Fox Mansion and all over its property ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Jmkh4jh2rGKi_6tSzIuW6WWVWHHQ0Ha9gegjjk8zfKtHPQslxChuieHMDzUwddwjINbXZYB31zy8RfIO89m5eHW9h-SRmmLPEMwpsbkJrs5EhyDrl5kwEH0rOflVItLuGqYvzQyPCo/s1600/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Jmkh4jh2rGKi_6tSzIuW6WWVWHHQ0Ha9gegjjk8zfKtHPQslxChuieHMDzUwddwjINbXZYB31zy8RfIO89m5eHW9h-SRmmLPEMwpsbkJrs5EhyDrl5kwEH0rOflVItLuGqYvzQyPCo/s400/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623366332442151778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...including a guest house ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYYPtuVtjq3NyH3kB5-tOdEMIfiMHezZ8qWk2PcdptBGpll4A2OYhIast9KKyPcz67D8rJVdXu41qnqlckapLCKfheliq3zs5dHDjq9KYOzUTjr53qFHxvuq1DtLjLukfl5m_ONk7VNQ/s1600/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYYPtuVtjq3NyH3kB5-tOdEMIfiMHezZ8qWk2PcdptBGpll4A2OYhIast9KKyPcz67D8rJVdXu41qnqlckapLCKfheliq3zs5dHDjq9KYOzUTjr53qFHxvuq1DtLjLukfl5m_ONk7VNQ/s400/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623365684837656994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />... and an aviary where we saw strutting peacocks ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UhQ__X2gNaG52X-JvYHXEu1H95fxGsskSHlvMjiGEgnMBjJUECPYUlA2DhbqEqvTxwhWv5LVrN2Pp7QkinnRxmGue7Vompyc-4Apb_ss-f79-4UDD8j3ztPFd2gnbE8UNwHj3cQb7bI/s1600/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UhQ__X2gNaG52X-JvYHXEu1H95fxGsskSHlvMjiGEgnMBjJUECPYUlA2DhbqEqvTxwhWv5LVrN2Pp7QkinnRxmGue7Vompyc-4Apb_ss-f79-4UDD8j3ztPFd2gnbE8UNwHj3cQb7bI/s400/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623365672853236098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />... to a barn ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PCeVFns6os7S3NcgA04RaFkUbjHBm6vPVqK5BsF8iTDHWZNMZVjbam8L59X4pWneL1MBLq-m-sTvgCs_FyTDGiyw8o7eoRs1wthvoGgb9h2hFo3wrKnIz6xCWlDoPvJqAaCLDod9_uU/s1600/Foxburg%252C+antique+machine.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PCeVFns6os7S3NcgA04RaFkUbjHBm6vPVqK5BsF8iTDHWZNMZVjbam8L59X4pWneL1MBLq-m-sTvgCs_FyTDGiyw8o7eoRs1wthvoGgb9h2hFo3wrKnIz6xCWlDoPvJqAaCLDod9_uU/s400/Foxburg%252C+antique+machine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363848050547362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...with all sorts of antique machines ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClbhENhBtGnunkIpzQXRi92R5B97UhBK3fPdv6GPRwq3_u7oyWwWU8x20aLClI3baTcNLiIh5n4lMvzyYIqA8y-GPk_rXEUbsbvdYw1wyweGhbQP0MIRMJhJKZ2x_pty4CqMfCYeRth8/s1600/Foxburg%252C+antique+press.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClbhENhBtGnunkIpzQXRi92R5B97UhBK3fPdv6GPRwq3_u7oyWwWU8x20aLClI3baTcNLiIh5n4lMvzyYIqA8y-GPk_rXEUbsbvdYw1wyweGhbQP0MIRMJhJKZ2x_pty4CqMfCYeRth8/s400/Foxburg%252C+antique+press.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623364233531275906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />... and a wine press. Foxburg does have its own winery too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jKN25JlWeYsNBfB1ZlVH-XR50rToSuAn8zkizgONeApkjzzW_QFxXuCIgNi8azq33vRh_1QsbHmefejA4R1wcaN4T5KokI29aLm2AWP1iZsHjF39GmynDh94Ujbw8-yIbNCjC-X0DbE/s1600/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour%252C+alpacas.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jKN25JlWeYsNBfB1ZlVH-XR50rToSuAn8zkizgONeApkjzzW_QFxXuCIgNi8azq33vRh_1QsbHmefejA4R1wcaN4T5KokI29aLm2AWP1iZsHjF39GmynDh94Ujbw8-yIbNCjC-X0DbE/s400/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour%252C+alpacas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623366343848110178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the grounds were small buildings for alpaca and miniature donkeys.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlL4OqRtuu6RW9KLBU8sAVU5IW1qhI1bMidqXFxRt8OUVe48Yb6uR3i66Ng6WJlEVwN140vOn0rloW5JQAEbqxkB0WCtKPkWUoYWIITa3dcvWGUMni_240o3t6gN13vxv5ZMbmOvrtXs/s1600/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+3%252C+firewood+chopper.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlL4OqRtuu6RW9KLBU8sAVU5IW1qhI1bMidqXFxRt8OUVe48Yb6uR3i66Ng6WJlEVwN140vOn0rloW5JQAEbqxkB0WCtKPkWUoYWIITa3dcvWGUMni_240o3t6gN13vxv5ZMbmOvrtXs/s400/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+3%252C+firewood+chopper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623366327518700338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dad would have like to take this firewood shelter with its great chopper home!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4-giu22uUcPeiyvaakc7lyT3m66DgEgbj6U2pH4vSW1the7dhGT7w_JgRQ-_mCgfaeJ1ZPf2NdqpTXJA3WDzhyN79FQdamgvDE-rz01VxYsVg_nDy-MknRQZ6r7fD5YQmzw-3aOxEoU/s1600/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+5%252C+birdhouse.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4-giu22uUcPeiyvaakc7lyT3m66DgEgbj6U2pH4vSW1the7dhGT7w_JgRQ-_mCgfaeJ1ZPf2NdqpTXJA3WDzhyN79FQdamgvDE-rz01VxYsVg_nDy-MknRQZ6r7fD5YQmzw-3aOxEoU/s400/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour+5%252C+birdhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623366339447912178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The birdhouses were even fancy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgateJa_GZk5ENMRsc_llMZUYJCi-L-KRALdGBTVt6hB8xLc88cmxYGmPw5jihtbiRLO1GDtLPsrp-rtTDaR3xkvtUidD3UvtNnqZnLT2U37sHHXdj-z2Vm8CuitWIOY2Uyf7KNyaTCRqI/s1600/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour%252C+outhouse.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgateJa_GZk5ENMRsc_llMZUYJCi-L-KRALdGBTVt6hB8xLc88cmxYGmPw5jihtbiRLO1GDtLPsrp-rtTDaR3xkvtUidD3UvtNnqZnLT2U37sHHXdj-z2Vm8CuitWIOY2Uyf7KNyaTCRqI/s400/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour%252C+outhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623367059206741346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The outhouse was cute too!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV-tnqW5QfLhwJbygDvz2YWqy407hxD0gBhgY_cSCJB6r5vgm5hBNhlOJoCHTe-GTMAzocCBeY3k-q-ZKDpPF20vW05M-PbPT1wfe6UPYKkhpwNDysWLaLBEeUjcWf9Gf2IuAx83oXO4/s1600/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour%252C+iron+bridge.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV-tnqW5QfLhwJbygDvz2YWqy407hxD0gBhgY_cSCJB6r5vgm5hBNhlOJoCHTe-GTMAzocCBeY3k-q-ZKDpPF20vW05M-PbPT1wfe6UPYKkhpwNDysWLaLBEeUjcWf9Gf2IuAx83oXO4/s400/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour%252C+iron+bridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623367052566809986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At one point we got off the segways to enjoy this view to the Iron Bridge over the Allegheny River.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWHSiGncCXihAimOTld1-2aNYDJ63NzaBK_v0cyljcyH7EK3_dIiBQbb_9Ha9X6208LJLqCZ6vVUxmYG9FwYvahDVeTa_Zimb7vU0N3KcaOrlnMC4cyYn8mRom_udjpD32SegtAj8MiQ/s1600/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour%252C+family+photo.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWHSiGncCXihAimOTld1-2aNYDJ63NzaBK_v0cyljcyH7EK3_dIiBQbb_9Ha9X6208LJLqCZ6vVUxmYG9FwYvahDVeTa_Zimb7vU0N3KcaOrlnMC4cyYn8mRom_udjpD32SegtAj8MiQ/s400/Foxburg%252C+segway+tour%252C+family+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623366352072002530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our guide took our photo there. It was a great weekend.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X9DHmnpOn_WxM2cDeokxClxusGBbQ1F5X-HMwEaWVspZmKDvX3F1wIHhyMiBBRkIu1NmYiFzdGRrA9T76jLJh6icn7tiNeJlclihEBfhgeIEIWPWCAGJqx7CtvzAbaTH0h87OT51kR0/s1600/Weaste+Cemetery.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X9DHmnpOn_WxM2cDeokxClxusGBbQ1F5X-HMwEaWVspZmKDvX3F1wIHhyMiBBRkIu1NmYiFzdGRrA9T76jLJh6icn7tiNeJlclihEBfhgeIEIWPWCAGJqx7CtvzAbaTH0h87OT51kR0/s400/Weaste+Cemetery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623372265319807618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />From Pennsylvania, I flew on to Manchester, England on Monday. I spent most of Tuesday exploring the Weaste Cemetery and a church in the suburban town of Bury. I collected several epitaphs and made a few great grave rubbings on fabric. Then, I took a train into Birmingham.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY8uzTlVhhTUc3iKeeMu2bMjsx5cKKbDTYfMFzjE9OpKBIVO8_fQZMC9J1A4heeE4bIW3IB4Jh0uWWq_CmbaXjMOr2wYv6qC4x_p97NIJuf9J4syN-2PhyphenhyphenmGil0H9NdwhoofiCyDJLbg/s1600/Mathias+and+LJ+in+front+of+their+house%252C+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY8uzTlVhhTUc3iKeeMu2bMjsx5cKKbDTYfMFzjE9OpKBIVO8_fQZMC9J1A4heeE4bIW3IB4Jh0uWWq_CmbaXjMOr2wYv6qC4x_p97NIJuf9J4syN-2PhyphenhyphenmGil0H9NdwhoofiCyDJLbg/s400/Mathias+and+LJ+in+front+of+their+house%252C+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363101829358226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It is wonderful to have a son and his girlfriend with their very own HOUSE ...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAg1Wcx17Ji8gM_dYAHWLJlQVGZjfgWqXFnUMjcFbjeTz5j6qeoW_kyGWG3Dlb_D2b9vY8Cbjp9XHYOIjZvMAkTv41OKf85glk06nLkEyU9aE2WttNFViqOe70fWGVk6xRjCUgmeSXW0/s1600/Mathias+and+LJ+in+front+of+their+house%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAg1Wcx17Ji8gM_dYAHWLJlQVGZjfgWqXFnUMjcFbjeTz5j6qeoW_kyGWG3Dlb_D2b9vY8Cbjp9XHYOIjZvMAkTv41OKf85glk06nLkEyU9aE2WttNFViqOe70fWGVk6xRjCUgmeSXW0/s400/Mathias+and+LJ+in+front+of+their+house%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363446396836930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />..and a car ... so I never had to drive on the wrong side of the road.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcYIGvvl3OgPKPFwJY3shRUjTT-2EmWwgdXgTDbkrWjKBS7LnVJjbf-3UEk4tvTi1bPmlIOTaI9ni8I7sueuRfDPkmZPjo9CDrgtAq4bRlrnFWE500Y3BsBMAzY8cSZayvBNW98MXHUU/s1600/Mathias+and+LJ%252C+laundry.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcYIGvvl3OgPKPFwJY3shRUjTT-2EmWwgdXgTDbkrWjKBS7LnVJjbf-3UEk4tvTi1bPmlIOTaI9ni8I7sueuRfDPkmZPjo9CDrgtAq4bRlrnFWE500Y3BsBMAzY8cSZayvBNW98MXHUU/s400/Mathias+and+LJ%252C+laundry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363470292684930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ballet dancers stay very busy ... especially with laundry.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaB54Pt3-O6C5piIKfXHrMMTPuhlT3C5iLVbqpHSA8oBj6RCh8uvt6MQc1lvrQVQNAa2qGkgPZCGLGL8ZcOTCIkg4R7rRI9hTbQeutOtmBdvS8fqaEu-RcrFn5kVBnIprXEECY05IJdA/s1600/Mathia+and+LJ%252C+kitchen.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaB54Pt3-O6C5piIKfXHrMMTPuhlT3C5iLVbqpHSA8oBj6RCh8uvt6MQc1lvrQVQNAa2qGkgPZCGLGL8ZcOTCIkg4R7rRI9hTbQeutOtmBdvS8fqaEu-RcrFn5kVBnIprXEECY05IJdA/s400/Mathia+and+LJ%252C+kitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363090113260898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They've hung a few of their framed pictures ... including this hand colored wood block by my friend Jeff Donovan.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEatb6UVfFiJE3y3IJBrKi0hA-IWtAk29fMyQ7nHJdAghPZ7xRkJtERqKUM4Y7D3x0UJHCyUxglefWbDEmFrF999R_EuxQOBtkCMfC4JCh4RmFfPsG6RaE0DHQ6HuWK-44ho84wPZrt2E/s1600/Cast+for+Allegri+Diversi.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEatb6UVfFiJE3y3IJBrKi0hA-IWtAk29fMyQ7nHJdAghPZ7xRkJtERqKUM4Y7D3x0UJHCyUxglefWbDEmFrF999R_EuxQOBtkCMfC4JCh4RmFfPsG6RaE0DHQ6HuWK-44ho84wPZrt2E/s400/Cast+for+Allegri+Diversi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363082222841106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I insisted that they take my camera back stage for these photos. Above is one of the casts for Allergi Diversi. Naturally, the guys are still in their "warm-up" pants.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJEIgwH47XE01_e2SwaP8HTDzsISTy-lRhNqQjpSdvuZeIXjZ7nDGZor_tbIpnkhd0IPBIrwJTcYlxDnvivHXai2i1h2z9qs14TTlEWQ57i31l7Oz2XQ33JfEoYQWJAvu_kWwHeTPoPI/s1600/Oliver%252C+Mathias%252C+and+LJ+before+Allergi+Diversi.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 324px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJEIgwH47XE01_e2SwaP8HTDzsISTy-lRhNqQjpSdvuZeIXjZ7nDGZor_tbIpnkhd0IPBIrwJTcYlxDnvivHXai2i1h2z9qs14TTlEWQ57i31l7Oz2XQ33JfEoYQWJAvu_kWwHeTPoPI/s400/Oliver%252C+Mathias%252C+and+LJ+before+Allergi+Diversi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363824705447810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is Mathias and Laura-Jane with their friend Oliver.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOegvLG1zlg2om9Vv8xof6XJVKn14G7dLIi4tcYygOxIKQurQs_j9Bi-JEKUJezldyJZojnQNru7sNOLzxytxYFNVS_BurNBsFqoER9jiCDl7LV68Ez0r0KiAN3kEpBxvlzgDMzxEc3SM/s1600/Oliver%252C+Mathias%252C+and+LJ+before+Allergi+Diversi%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOegvLG1zlg2om9Vv8xof6XJVKn14G7dLIi4tcYygOxIKQurQs_j9Bi-JEKUJezldyJZojnQNru7sNOLzxytxYFNVS_BurNBsFqoER9jiCDl7LV68Ez0r0KiAN3kEpBxvlzgDMzxEc3SM/s400/Oliver%252C+Mathias%252C+and+LJ+before+Allergi+Diversi%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363467105330834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(Anther shot of the three friends.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvPlEf7-_6KZJPwlE6F_qF1NpBAa7b2U0BLBiTwMZTYOgsi7Jz7X_vbqZKJcx5IPgD1UM7Ad-RKfkEuvFSuDstC19LhmhIxJU8OAggZ3bD5xn8C0sCrgQrpg_ZmiHp6RFIIxINpUJPbA/s1600/Mathias+and+LJ%252C+before+Carmina+Burana%252C+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvPlEf7-_6KZJPwlE6F_qF1NpBAa7b2U0BLBiTwMZTYOgsi7Jz7X_vbqZKJcx5IPgD1UM7Ad-RKfkEuvFSuDstC19LhmhIxJU8OAggZ3bD5xn8C0sCrgQrpg_ZmiHp6RFIIxINpUJPbA/s400/Mathias+and+LJ%252C+before+Carmina+Burana%252C+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363455260087250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yet, the performance that I most wanted to see was David Bintley's <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Carmina Burana</span>. It is undoubtedly my very favorite music of all time. Obviously, Mathias was one the seven seminarians. The ballet showed the trials and tribulations of three of them ... lust, anger/gluttony, and spiritual weakness. Mathias danced a role called "Boiling Rage". It was in the section about gluttony. Laura-Jane was obviously part of the section on lust. <a href="http://www.excathedra.co.uk/">Ex Cathedra </a>sang with live music. THEY DANCED FANTASTICALLY. Laura-Jane was featured in her role for all six shows. Mathias danced his principal role in three of six performances. The English audiences are usually quite subdued ... but not for this production. It was an honor to finally get to be part of a standing ovation.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjZcsLFR3YaPa8Ie0_KwxNrxlRHmS3ByhCM6pvVMUskQyp0siSYjxN7l2k5064JNxkKFgopilsr4gNk0CgIxIuTxZWj06TI42fWXb9YffVakVJ9mvAZuSX7UBwJgVh0B35FIie4k9gXg/s1600/Mathias+as+Puck.htm"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjZcsLFR3YaPa8Ie0_KwxNrxlRHmS3ByhCM6pvVMUskQyp0siSYjxN7l2k5064JNxkKFgopilsr4gNk0CgIxIuTxZWj06TI42fWXb9YffVakVJ9mvAZuSX7UBwJgVh0B35FIie4k9gXg/s400/Mathias+as+Puck.htm" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623376671074262722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now ... to catch up a bit. Above is the photo from the <a href="http://brbontour.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/japan-2011-backstage-at-the-ashton-double-bill/">Birmingham Royal Ballet's tour blog </a>featuring Chi Cao, Nao Sakuma, and Mathias Dingman in their "The Dream" costumes. (Basically Midsummer Night's Dream). This was taken while touring Japan.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ6NMoCd0IXVna0xSj_teabr9PA-o0H_Ja9vdAkwSuWHD4kCJo1KKCpQCeqp4HoU7w8R3tQ9oj8tPFdPpopIomPixwFXBFzJsdvL7sPRQMpEv5ON_gPbbjnGFF5qslHH6KOLFB1kkVjk/s1600/After+Jamie%2527s+graduation%252C+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQ6NMoCd0IXVna0xSj_teabr9PA-o0H_Ja9vdAkwSuWHD4kCJo1KKCpQCeqp4HoU7w8R3tQ9oj8tPFdPpopIomPixwFXBFzJsdvL7sPRQMpEv5ON_gPbbjnGFF5qslHH6KOLFB1kkVjk/s400/After+Jamie%2527s+graduation%252C+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363068694080370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also, above and below are two photos from Jamie Schumacher's college graduation day! I simply forgot to post them but know family members will enjoy them!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LwBMYpN5ce3lwthNQpT1jKbqr2mVCbKE8SkYabfXMaklCozZUO_qghyphenhyphenGN9hZEgXD9HMg3iC2I11WLQW46INJMTnE3i8J5amIoJhQaerqil61aeIW8RIMukRGImNdwIfsOqkvjrOwW4c/s1600/After+Jamie%2527s+graduation%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LwBMYpN5ce3lwthNQpT1jKbqr2mVCbKE8SkYabfXMaklCozZUO_qghyphenhyphenGN9hZEgXD9HMg3iC2I11WLQW46INJMTnE3i8J5amIoJhQaerqil61aeIW8RIMukRGImNdwIfsOqkvjrOwW4c/s400/After+Jamie%2527s+graduation%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623363073033843954" border="0" /></a>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6150743772732911508.post-88287600909249140512011-05-02T09:19:00.000-07:002011-05-02T09:29:15.765-07:00Artista Vista and Runway Runway with family<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7k2wgttqVZlCfVnK27ImYXu-2nAypzvTtkwP1sJ82tsGCp6VHGEpelrJ0DiG19BENxjnGVC74nF68Lz9HppYNhqwsp8bf2tVPUyZYPhZ7QPF6lcl9bmVawDO56kv7_759EvYWAeVaPdE/s1600/Lulu+and+the+Unwantables%252C+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7k2wgttqVZlCfVnK27ImYXu-2nAypzvTtkwP1sJ82tsGCp6VHGEpelrJ0DiG19BENxjnGVC74nF68Lz9HppYNhqwsp8bf2tVPUyZYPhZ7QPF6lcl9bmVawDO56kv7_759EvYWAeVaPdE/s400/Lulu+and+the+Unwantables%252C+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602154588653060066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I took hundreds of photos during the past several days at my <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I do / I don't</span> installation and at Runaway Runway. Most will be in Flickr sets, on my "Art in Stitches" blog, and/or Facebook. Yet, there are some that just have to have their own post. This is it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn2cN2EVLHHKM3htF_pHb1qKmoD16NsQAPCk57uuSyGzV_ddCACarv0wnbUH3Gpsf1QBC0WIXW2uDGMy6sOL9OL936P3dJ43ty0Cd3lOpIqzWywlCiEfb1im3nH6IzhVkt8GNw82-t-U/s1600/Having+drinks+on+the+Sheraton+rooftop.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn2cN2EVLHHKM3htF_pHb1qKmoD16NsQAPCk57uuSyGzV_ddCACarv0wnbUH3Gpsf1QBC0WIXW2uDGMy6sOL9OL936P3dJ43ty0Cd3lOpIqzWywlCiEfb1im3nH6IzhVkt8GNw82-t-U/s400/Having+drinks+on+the+Sheraton+rooftop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602154582914720370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My Mom and youngest sister Sonya surprised Steve and me completely by showing up unexpectedly for the weekend! They booked a room at the Sheraton that came with all sorts of food coupons, shuttle service in the downtown area, and free drinks at the rooftop bar. The view was great ... but I forgot to snap that photo!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMp76hGh8nvhcW5gUAuNyHcuWSKAuk_6bNZzyLjmvm_7YGZ4QdPsi-WPXSXDLQU0QJR6JF4vIznlcN848Sq8X6F-93NGhkswFJDuTea5R0D_NDHmrya53i0PhNNhipWsfXtijzOVcPP8/s1600/Runaway+Runway%252C+after+party+and+my+family.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMp76hGh8nvhcW5gUAuNyHcuWSKAuk_6bNZzyLjmvm_7YGZ4QdPsi-WPXSXDLQU0QJR6JF4vIznlcN848Sq8X6F-93NGhkswFJDuTea5R0D_NDHmrya53i0PhNNhipWsfXtijzOVcPP8/s400/Runaway+Runway%252C+after+party+and+my+family.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602154920917851618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The photo above is my Mom, Steve, Sonya, Amanda (Jamie's friend who graciously provided hair and make-up services for our group of models), Jamie and her mother/my first cousin JoAnn. The photos was snapped at the "after party".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDZ20GXQ47lBGabW-bqJK-ULpop6JQTMh0H8PNz9iwjWLsXbNcJHkPTAgnNS-irAAL9DnZ6JpO_WbqgNejibzo8Y5dC6Y4VGDQbp-9eRhZmq0xXy7GpEuyLE2pQYlrp2CV84gVWK5TNo/s1600/Mom+and+Steve+looking+in+on+the+Unwantables.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDZ20GXQ47lBGabW-bqJK-ULpop6JQTMh0H8PNz9iwjWLsXbNcJHkPTAgnNS-irAAL9DnZ6JpO_WbqgNejibzo8Y5dC6Y4VGDQbp-9eRhZmq0xXy7GpEuyLE2pQYlrp2CV84gVWK5TNo/s400/Mom+and+Steve+looking+in+on+the+Unwantables.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602154919461944770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Above is Steve and my Mom looking into the installations at 927-929 Gervais Street. The first room, just before my installation, was Marius Valdes' <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Unwantables Zoo Project</span> of little Sculpty formed figures with screen-printed boxes. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoNEstyzTncNVmLYIX8RELqQFW9uuhaW6JDa0fvjug30RPMfcqcNdsw5rL-WkGluP4u9hKf0jkSWKVMCzP6RoYsRy8f-oCnz4pgGyoQS6NOf5MZncCoJCnan6Czqt610mjgU35GeWaog/s1600/Lulu+and+the+Unwantables%252C+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoNEstyzTncNVmLYIX8RELqQFW9uuhaW6JDa0fvjug30RPMfcqcNdsw5rL-WkGluP4u9hKf0jkSWKVMCzP6RoYsRy8f-oCnz4pgGyoQS6NOf5MZncCoJCnan6Czqt610mjgU35GeWaog/s400/Lulu+and+the+Unwantables%252C+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602154606707969682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well, Sonya's extremely well behaved Yorkshire terrier Lulu had come to Columbia too ... and Sonya and I worked really hard to get these adorable photos! Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fwq1NsYkvcnKQjVlfpE53-ueAiLrZIulOMsMwk3A1xdT2HeXTDfaRGuyPDfMhqYJtC3IUvxl4U7kx3IrXpj8oiHwt2XGh2vb8rL9cJnGalAw_9Pi7NuUG4TMtNgcKA4PP3iFcI8a0ug/s1600/Lulu+and+the+Unwantables%252C+4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fwq1NsYkvcnKQjVlfpE53-ueAiLrZIulOMsMwk3A1xdT2HeXTDfaRGuyPDfMhqYJtC3IUvxl4U7kx3IrXpj8oiHwt2XGh2vb8rL9cJnGalAw_9Pi7NuUG4TMtNgcKA4PP3iFcI8a0ug/s400/Lulu+and+the+Unwantables%252C+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602154619425917922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByZC73U_l-lSAtKCoJU_FB2z0UaWXJioaHJqeYy0gRuKysuNN-iQwI_lLNYQVAZ8bqfeqNwQCYzfYg7kHquspK6BqDEi1BXPQvhWSAnsGdRE0Jkv16LmoJKwgksgc8LZpJnxUWIJGzeQ/s1600/Lulu+and+the+Unwantables%252C+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByZC73U_l-lSAtKCoJU_FB2z0UaWXJioaHJqeYy0gRuKysuNN-iQwI_lLNYQVAZ8bqfeqNwQCYzfYg7kHquspK6BqDEi1BXPQvhWSAnsGdRE0Jkv16LmoJKwgksgc8LZpJnxUWIJGzeQ/s400/Lulu+and+the+Unwantables%252C+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602154608974975282" border="0" /></a>Susan Lenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13828597703914908801noreply@blogger.com3