Hello how ARRRRRRRRRRRR YA?

So I am thinking we are all to busy to blog....yes?

The boys left for N.Y. yesterday right after Mike passed his driving license test...hunting and bonding...I will be here buying wine...

Dee I got your e-message and wrote you back in my head which is not at all satisfying , I know...

So I am thinking of you all as we dive, run, slop, crawl, shlep, shop, drag, skip and hop through the holidays and I am missing each and every one of you ...RIGHT NOW..

LOVE,
Marion

Remembering

HOkay...it has been a busy summer , so much so that the Giroux's have not had a vacation ( which for us is doing something together away from the home base for at least 4 days..simple criteria, unachieved this season...oh well...)

I saw Dad and Aunt Joanne yesterday at Mary and Buddy's home in Woburn , a farewell to Sam who leaves again shortly to be in harm's way in Afghanistan..Be safe, Sam! ( Good to see Joanne-ie! ....and by the by ...it was her B-Day! on Sept 1st which leads me to another B-Day! Mark's!! ( I can tell you Mark I remembered BEFORE, and AFTER , after speaking with you on the phone...reminding myself! I needed to remember next call and forgetting then, too! ~woo hoo it was a remembering disaster, I'm telling you!)SO.. Missed that, too, so Happy Birthday WHENEVER to you both!!!.Grandpa Dad was pretty appalled at all the B-Days he has forgotten.. and I, apparently without my mother's help have failed miserably also in B-Day remembering area...

...which leads me to finally finding my way here to you all...

I cooked a lot today, something I don't do often... most of it was because I had to, it's the end of the garden and time to get it in your mouth/canning jars or the freezer, and I'm getting too old for this I fear...so after the beets, and corn were boiled , cut, frozen and bagged and I made sausage and peppers ( I told Dad and Jim to come over my house since hey! they were in Massachusetts..) from our garlic, onion and long Italian red sweet peppers from the garden...Lili likes corn!, and then a peach cobbler with all of our 12 peaches this year...so I'm taking off the apron, today called for one and stopping by the blog...

This is a rough weekend for us all, only a short year ago, and it seems like no time has passed, speaking for me. I am having trouble keeping my head up these past few days....something like being "in the wash" at the ocean....and it occurred to me that maybe a joint effort would help us all through. So I started a recipe and you ( if you find your way here) should feel free to add , or whatever, as all good recipes need personal touches...


So here goes ...with LOVE...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Recipe for Rememberence~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time for preparations...? that's up to you.

The recipe is done when you start to feel better...




Preheat your heart to warm:


Gather about yourself:


1 cup of tea
Several well worn cook books
paper and pen
an apron, of course, but optional for the men
sweet memories


Look in your cookbooks, for at least 1/2 hour, in a comfy chair, preferrably at your kitchen table.


Discard cookbooks, who needs them?


Check cupboards and refrigerator for any likely indegrediants. Find something with chocolate, keep that with you. Cookies? even, better.


Pour yourself some tea, in a nice cup.


Resume sitting.

Write someone a letter.


Smile. And remember.


Take as much time as you like.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So....( and here's where I need your help! and input) some other things that will jog your memory..

1. Next time you make soup , only use what you have in the refrigerator, nothing is off limits as long as it's in there....call it "refrigerator soup"

2. Make brownies, or macaroni and cheese, serves 50.

3. Next time you feel alone, shout " JIM-mee!" at the dog...see what happens.

4. Make a list of all the ways you realize you are like Mom Smith ( at least 5) and try not to run screaming from the room, I dare you.

5. Look at that list again, rewrite it if you have to... and thank her.

Did I hear a smile?


Sending Love to all,

and don't forget to call the G-Pa...often.

Marion

Broadway Bootcamp!! :)

so the past week and a half have been fantastic! i have met some of the best people at my drama camp im going to with my friend michaela and it is appropriately called broadway bootcamp :) we do acting dancing and ALOT of singing! theres a performance this saturday and i cant wait! i have a solo in one of our many songs we will be singing and dancing to and am so excited :) i will be so sad when i have to leave all my new friends. i miss and love u all and am wishing you well and hopeing u are as ok as can be :) much love

~carlene~

Summer

Its been a long while since visiting here. Marion thanks for sharing the trip you took with Dad and Meaghan. Love seeing the photos of Dad dancing with Meaghan. ( I am probably still spelling your name wrong huh Meaghan?)

I have had a Birthday this summer and a visit from my friend Tracy and her family from LI.

Tick Tock I feel old...............anyway.

My friend Jen took this video on her iphone and then edited and sent to me as a gift. Jen is

very talented behind the camera and always an inspiration for me. I h ave learned much from her

creatively. She is now an Art Therapist but majored in Painting and Photography at USC.

Although I am not a big fan of the image quality on the iphone you cant beat that it is sooo damn user friendly.

So its not as fulfilling as coming home for a visit with my family; this short visit did much to

quell my desire to come home at least for a little while longer.

I am trying to get back maybe the end of August fora visit keep you posted on that.

okay video is on You Tube and it doesnt seem that I can dload to this Blog from here so if yu want to view here is the link: http://youtu.be:9CfYy-NaRNM..Sorry. Or you can see it on my Face Book wall.

i am sure there is a way but who has the time really. This video edit took 4 hours.

ROAD TRIP!

Little behind these days....ok..ok...a  LOT behind...Carlene you are really busy...isn't it swell how tests go back to back like that? Yes, NO! I think Mike is through his for the most part this year, His AP exam and SAT ended up one day after the other...he was pleased with my scheduling of that SAT! NOT.

So yeah...what a great trip Megan, Dad and I had....!!! For someone whose in the hospital at the moment, Grandpa was doing great with us on the road, I swear....Megan and G-Pa were on that dance floor a long time....yes, they were...here's proof!

Dad and I had maps and a GPS and we did very well, except for the rain , lightning , trucks, construction on the N.Jersey Turnpike , the trip ( Megan had to talk us in) through rush hour downtown traffic in Philly and the continued rain to State College PA, and the 4+ hour wait to get through to the GW bridge on the way home it was smooth sailing....

I am going to put the rest of the pics. ( taken with Dad's camera, I brought my Canon, but I didn't drag it out much .) When G-Pa is up to it ask him about the trip! The wedding required a trip from the hotel ( Thanks , Mike .. the rooms were great!) via a Trailways bus up into a mountain a bit, then a van up the driveway to the house and field, where the wedding was..

here's a list of some of our activities:

~I experienced the Cross Bronx expressway as an adult driver! It smells like I remember!

~Dad and I found our way through the rain and construction to Philly pretty well and then made a wrong turn and called Megan!

~ We saw Megan and Dan's apt. in Philly, Dan watched our car in the bus lane so we could pee and get Megan in the car and off on our way to State College.

~ We found a great diner and Dad was very happy with his turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing special!

~ The last hour and a half to State College was in the dark and rain and thunder and the exit for the Hampton Inn was a welcome site indeed!

~ A little wine and scotch and we were off to bed, I brought Megan lovely purple earplugs but alas I was not sure she would sleep through my alleged snoring...

~ Morning and breakfast with Inge, Al, cousin Alfred and daughter Kirsty at Eat and Park!

~girls and boys divided up after breakfast , we had a few hours before we had to put on better clothes for the weddding and I took Lydia, Inge ( here's where she lost her camera,under the seat in my car) and Megan set off to find Penn State campus, to see the stadium and whatever. We found a botanical garden area that was new and got out to have a walk in the sun and Karen called Inge back becasue she was panicked about wedding stuff, we returned Lydia and Inge and Megan and I went back to the gardens and enjoyed them and I "lifted" some seeds and I have yet to plant those...

~ We didn't leave much time to get ready but we managed, I had left my wedding clothes home and had to wear some quick choices from NY , but I lived through the aggravation of that!

~ So then we got on a Trailways bus, rode for 40 minutes ( I kid you not!) and when we arrived at the base of a hill and an old farm property, we got in vans to get up the driveway, where the parents of the groom had built a "cabin" for family vacations. Suffice it to say, it was more of a giant log lodge with 5 bathrooms and ...yes, well ...

~ The wedding was in a field, rain threatened but the sky opened mid way and we all started frying in the intense sun and heat, the mud factor was a bit trying for those in heels and the chairs in the field sank in a lot when everyone sat down. As I waited for the wedding to begin, I amused myself with watching others "sit and sink" Funny ...Megan also noticed they spelled "Canon in D" on the program wrong , the word Canon was spelled like the boom boom  ~cannon.

~ I took some pics http://thegirouxsstuff.shutterfly.com/

~the heat and flies were pretty unnerving and the food was plentiful but unshielded from flies and dinner was just plain forgettable...the company was good ( Aunt Inge , Uncle Al, Karen, cousin Alfred and daughter Kirsty)...at our table but the music was so loud we all were shouting...good times...

~ We said our goodbyes on Saturday night and hit the road Sunday.

~Megan took the first leg back to Philly ( Thank You Megan!) and with her driving we got back to Megan and Dan's place a lot easier! our exit ( a different route) was also much easier, so If anyone goes to Philly by car , ask me or Dad , because there definately is a right way to approach from the east and a wrong way, we experienced both...yay!

~Megan took us to the foodchannellfamous Philly cheese steak corner for Gino's and (what the heck wa the other one called...see photos) and on her advice we ate at Gino's, FUN and Tasty! Gino's theme is patriotism. so Dad was a happy camper!

~after that a quick trip down the road to the Italian neighborhood where I insisted we had time to shop for some goodies like provolone, olives and salami...

~dropped off Megan's and headed back on the roads, which were good until we had to rudely stop in NY and fight out way through 4+ hours of trucks and stop and go traffic ( mostly stop) GOOD THING WE HAD OLIVES ,AND PROVOLONE...had I known I would have gotten some bread!

~ We made it!  ...definately a memorable trip! It was great to see all the Dingler's ~ a very special reunion for me. We should do it again sometime soon.

Go see the photos ...http://thegirouxsstuff.shutterfly.com/

LOVE BEAMS TO BECK AND DAD TODAY>>>>

 Talk to me soon, Marion

school school school..!

woah no way! my last offical day is June 10th so technically my finals are over then too :). but then regents regents regents regents! 4!! oy....not looking forward to that..and science and trig r on the same day..shoot me now. within an hr of ech other b/c they WERE at the same time... deep breath. shout out love to all and much hugs and kisses.

..love~carlene ~~shortstack :)

Raindrops keep fallin on my head

I'm with Carlene...school is crazy right now! Finals week is over June 9th and I'm counting the days. My Garden is happy and exploding with growth and we've gotten lots of rain this week. I'll send a picture soon.

Getting ready to embark on my adventure with Marion and Grandpa to Inge and Al's granddaughters wedding this weekend. Stay tuned!!

Sending lots of love to all and know you are always in my thoughts. Dan says Hi too!

ahhhh!

checkin in... so much school work. AP exam is over..spring play is over..whew! i miss it already. lots of studying for math and other upcoming regents. thinking of everyone and sending out some love. miss you all lots and love you more...:) <3

A UnForgetteable Dad

OUR Un~ Forgettable Father 
 AND #1 G-DAD
~James A. Smith was born April 25th, 80 years ago today! ~


....and he can be reached at Jims and Joannes ( 941-661-8056) which is unfortunately a cell phone, but they will answer . You can also try G Dad's cell which is (941-661-8193)


I am pretty sure Grandpa-Dad doesn't have a clue how to access this Blog but...


HAPPY  80 th  BIRTHDAY to MY DEAR FATHER! One A-mazing DUDE!

If you haven't seen this photo , It's G-Dad and his cousin, their mother's bought them matching cowboy outfits...dudes of the Bronx!...wish we had those , eh?

Can you tell which one is Grandpa-Dad? Hint: That's the cowpoke with his guns in the right place! (of course!)

Hello family..

Wow, it's wonderful to "hear" from everyone in between gatherings. We need a gathering - I miss you all, collectively, individually, and otherwise!

I know that by now you have heard of Rebecca's cancer diagnosis. We are doing our best to take care of her and she is trying to endure the treatments right now.

It is all just very hard. She will need chemotherapy for several more wekes, then surgery, then possibly months more of chemotherapy to cure this cancer called osteosarcoma - it's a tumor on her left collarbone. She cannot work, feels lousy and knows it will be a long road. We're keeping our spirirts up and wish there were more we can do to help her.

To my busy and talented nieces and nephews especially - I know that it would be great for her to hear from everyone - although this week she hasn't really been able to answer calls/e-mails. If you could write to her (the old fashioned way that your Grandma preferred!)with news of your lives and encouragement that would be great. And we'll try for visits when she's up for it.

We are surrouded by love but her days will be long without a routine other that hospitals and dr. visits.

I cherish and count on your love and support..

Alison

The Olive mystery is solved!!

Hello All,

Recently I posted about how much I loved these little green olives that I loved, but was unsure of what kind they were and how you could all try them. NOW I HAVE DISCOVERED ALL THE MISSING INFORMATION!! The previous spoken about olives were noted as buttery, flavorful and green in color. As far as I knew they were imported and were spanish. Recently, at my local grocer (Shoprite) I discovered a brand name of olives that had a similar bright green color, were packaged in a similar way, and were about 1/2 of the price of the others. Drumroll pleeeeeease....

You can find them too if you can locate: CENTO (a yellow labelled name brand condiment) Natural Nocellara Olives. They are in a squat jar amongst the unpitted olive selection. Let me know if you find them, I reccomend trying them. They are fabulous!

This is one of the things I have been up to, but other than that I have been extremely busy with school (heavy hitter classes this semester), planning a garden for my dark back patio outside, visiting the other side of the family, and going to music therapy conference. Free time has been few and far between but I think of all of you often! Come visit this summer!

Love,
Megan Mae

checking in..

busy few weeks lately....dance recital..(which went great!) and am studying my lines for my upcoming play :) got inducted into the National Honors Society on tuesday...im counting down the hours till break in less than 24 hours! hopeing to hear some news and feedback on how everybody is doing and sending out some love to everybody. i love u becka and my thoughts jump around to you all as im missing everyone

~carlenie~ <3 <3

Much Needed Squeeze!

Just stopped in for a much needed squeeze, so thanks to all of you, it was received...a tough week for me , details later, not to worry though not a health problem just a minor setback in my field of dreams, I will share later...suffice it to say, when a door slams , it gets your attention....

Hope this is a better week..for us all...if you haven't called your Grandpa Smith lately use 1 813 938 5116 and tell him hello!

Still waiting on Spring...brrrrrrrrr!

Marion

Joanne in the hizzy

Good Morning - we are on paycation with Megan so life is good! She walked me through this blog thing so now I'm good to go - will update how the day went later. See you then!

Sunny Sunday

Hi All;

I think we are having the first sunny sunday since november, or at least sunny and above freezing. Will be making sugar syrup to feed a wild hive of bees that somehow managed to survive this brutal winter. I was walking past the old hive two weeks ago and decided to crack open the top and to my surprise there were very active bees running around. Assembling new hives as well for new arrivals at the end of april. So Spring cannot be far away.............

The chicks have started laying again as well. Time to start to cleaning up the wreckage from the winter. Branches, stray trash, porch furniture, lighter tools and the odd bit of house parts, that the winds have thrown, broken or ripped off.

Very tiny bits of green are beginning to show, so the promise of warmer days is at least assured.

Carlene, was of course radiant and out shone all others on the stage of her school play. The show was so good I went twice and was entertained and amused completely. it was really great!

Megan is off to Florida to party with Dad for a few days of well deserved r&r.

Carlene and I have already been discussing the summer schedule, so If anyone has plans that we should know about let us know. July 4 is on a monday so a long weekend will be nice..

Hoping to see everyone somewhere soon

Mark

all my bags are packed, i'm ready to go....

Well, my bags are almost packed but I am definitely ready to go to FLORIDA and visit gramps. Now that I'm getting ready to go, Philly is trying to keep me here with 75 degree weather today!

A brief recap on what I have been up to the past few weeks:

-School, Finals, and now I'm done! I have the next week off for spring break (hence the visit to Florida). I resume my Third trimester after break which finishes up early June and then I head into summer classes.

-I traveled home to see Carlene in the Seussical. She was fabulous of course. It was also the same play I did my senior year (way to go Southern Cayuga) so it was fun to see it all again (even though the costume I wore was decidedly better than this years).

-I went to the Philadelphia Flower Show! Student tickets are reasonable and one of my friends from school came with me. How amazingggg. It was beautiful and a tease because I dont have the ability to create anything even remotely close with any garden I may have anytime soon. Lots and lots and Loooots of orchids and other flowers kept me thinking of certain someone near and dear to flowers and my heart ;). I returned home with a fun item I found at the vendors...Wine slushie mix. Also, the card of a jeweler that takes real flowers (orchids, roses, etc.) and glazes them and turns them into necklaces, earrings, hairpins, broaches, etc. I cannot afford them but theres always a dream of a special occasion! Here ya go aunties:

http://www.hanamiusa.com/category_s/59.htm

-Did I mention I'm going to Florida? I just cannot wait. My mission will be to introduce Grandpa to the blog. And get some sun.

-I had a large gathering here last night for St. Patty's. I made a boiled dinner with the standard 6 lbs corned beef and 2 cabbages, 2 bags carrots, and 5 lbs potatoes. It was consumed in its entirety except for a few stray veggies that I will be making into stew. Being that it was mostly creative arts friends, we had large irish jam sesh too. Very good times.

That is all for me! Possibly more stories to come soon. Its good to hear from everyone :D

Love, Megan

emerging from the shadows of homework.

HERE I AM.
HELLO FAMILY.
I admit I moooostly scanned the earlier posts, though I picked up keywords: olives(YUM), snow(meh),suessical(YAY!), wedding!, the passing of george(way not to tell me, mom?), and the like, so I'd like to imagine Im pretty up to date on all things FAM.
as for me. I pretty much do homework all the time.
Im trying to document it all, so Ill post my tumblr link in case anyones interested in checking it out. Its all assignments as sadly, in art school, there is not a whole lot of time for ones own art.
but ENJOY none the less. I miss you and love you all! go team.
Love,em

http://feedingthegoodwolf.tumblr.com/

suess!!!!

had the best most stressful 2 make-up'ed hairsprayed 3 days ever! it was crazy and sleep deprived but i loved every minute of it! :) i was nervous for all of 30 seconds and then i hit that stage and i cant wait to do it again next year :)! i did forget to take pictures though oops...i know lots of people who did though so ill ask for some. no big part this year but i got some compliments so maybe next year :) we'll be putting on a spring play but im nopt sure which one yet :) miss everyone and i wish you could have been there :) i can't believe i didnt start this sooner :) love you all :) xoxoxo :)

SENDING OUT A SPECIAL LOVE HUG BEAM....TO JERRY AND ALISON

Hope that leg was broken!~ George no more~ Geese have arrived~Boiling Sap

Well!!! Carlene I hope you had a great time !!!!, last time we were with YOU you were practicing furious~ly w/ Megan on the piano for the tryouts....so I guess tryouts went well and I hope the play did, too, and make-up was bought and applied and that there are pictures for ME!!!!!

Sadness for Japan...the pictures are hard to look at...

It is hard to get used to the quiet outdoors, George , our 7-8 yr old rooster did not make it through this long winter... a credit to his species...I was hurt by him more than once, he ruined a favorite pair of slacks and regularly created havoc when we had to clean or do anything near the hens...just doing his job, I guess..but I often called him bad words that he really deserved..and since several of the eggs in my fridge are fertilized he was doing it right up 'til the end...tried to find his picture but since I am already down an hour (HATE DST) today I give up and will show the geese returning yesterday...they are "our" geese because they came right up to the deck looking for corn...which is what we give them before they disappear to their nests until we see the goslings...and we had corn! ..It's hard to know who is Fred and Ethel and Lucy and Desi , but 7 returned yesterday ...last summer there were the two pairs and each had five goslings that we saw get pretty big until once again they go somewhere to grow those flight feathers...7? yes, well I don't know what happened to number eight as they should have returned in pairs...the clear path that has melted was our snowblown path to the bird feeder...front yard still has a few more feet to melt..

Made a cup (yes, well) a maple syrup yesterday...definately not a winning economic equation...making syrup..but there must be something that drives us to boil...and today we are boiling again...

..off to knit ...hahahahahahahhhahehhehehehehhehehhhaaahhhhhhhhhhdhghhghghghgggggggh

Look for an e-mail from me today~and READ it (please)!

LUV, Marion

..

Sooo much to read so little time :)

well im not the greatest of keeping track of my e-mail but i do try :). i finally checked it and got to the blog and theres so much here to catch up on...i think it'll have to wait because im sapposed to be doing my homework but am fiddling a bit with my new laptop before mom's conks out permanently. sooooo busy! our SCCS SEUSICAL THE MUSICAL is next weekend and im just coming off of strep and then a bit of a rash from the stupid strep anti-biotics! ay ay ay! but i can't wait to get up on the stage :) we have crazy costumes and fantastically insane makeup! yikes! i went shopping to get the make-up and i pose a question..why are there so many different kinds!? its exausting trying to pick the right kind :P. buut i think its all coming together and i havent started rhyming everything for over-suess exposure so i think its all good :) im missing florida and the beach and all the family trapped in our many different storms and busy schedules and hope to see people soon wish me luck but i wudnt suggest the "break a leg" line...with my luck i just might ;) love you all lots and am hopeing aunt joanne would remind me which pictures from florida she wanted me to send :)

~carlene <3

Mark your Calendars and Start Looking for A Party Frock!

Hello Family! 

I finally had the time to sit down and join the blog! So, the big news is a date is set for the big day, June, 30 2012! We booked a place too, it's called the Oldfield Club http://oldfieldclub.reachlocal.net/  You can check it out in the "photos" section on the website. It was like love at first site when Joe and I walked in there, we knew it was perfect from the moment we walked in. This being said, there was also 1.5 ft of snow on the ground and we still fell in love with it <3>

Although we are very excited about wedding planning, our weekends for the past two months now have been consumed with working. Joe's parents own a house in Patchogue, NY (which is east of where we live now-about 35-40 mins) and they were renting to a family for a total of 15 years. Well, the renters have moved out and Joe, me and his parents have been working on the house since they moved out. Let's just put it this way- the people who were living there did not clean for probably 14 of the years that they were there, so needless to say we have been busy cleaning, painting every surface, and the bathrooms will be ripped out in the upcoming weekends. So, the bottom line of our involvement with the house is that Joe and I cannot afford to buy/live there together yet, but after the house is renovated, Joe will start to rent from his parents (possibly find a housemate to save $) and we will look into buying the house from his parents eventually, and I will most likely move in within the next 9-12 months. I'll stay living at home for now and working where I am for now (5 mins away from my parents house in huntington). I will be looking to move on from my current job to pursue another opportunity further east offering me compensation that is comparable to my degree. 

 Joe and I visited Philly last year before Megan and Dan moved there, and we took a pic in the same place too:)

So, that's all the big news for now, will keep everyone updated with future plans. Looking forward to hearing from you all! Hoping for some sunshine and warmer temps here, dreaming about palm trees and clear water, as always...

Organization and Olives

My weekend was about organization and Olives!

Organization: Dan and I spend most of the weekend out and about because it was actually SUNNY here for once. I went to a museum, went to the local market, and treated myself at a kitchen goods store (deadly and dangerous for a poor college student with a taste for flavor)...I only bought a scale, whisk, brush, and veggie steamer though. Phew.

While the sun helped organize our moods back into a positive place, the sight of Sun made me want to do a little springish cleaning. Basically, we reorganized our entire living room (all 3 pieces of furniture) which looks more more open and inviting now, scrapped alot of clutter, did laundry for the first time in a month A MONTH, I KNOW, bought a second hand spice rack and reorganized the kitchen (I have very limited poorly utilized counter space and this made ALLLL the difference), AAANNND reorganized the "study" which is supposed to be an office/music room but becomes the place everything goes that should fit into a closet that doesnt exist. The apartment looks great now and we find ourselves just walking around admiring it. It's so nice to love the space you're in and feel at home. I dont think I have REALLY felt that since I moved out on my own, even in the Nazareth Bubble. And it is good to be home :D

Now to the OLIVE part. For valentines day, I received a few things from Dan (a slotted serving spoon that I was miserable without, pretty antique earrings, and amazing green olives). These Olives are quite possibly the best olives I have ever tasted. I did not open them until Sunday night and I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS WAITING FOR. They had pits, were medium in size, and just the right color olive green. They are Spanish and come in this cute stout glass container. They are a flavor combination of bliss, butter, and that sweet tart olive taste that gets me everytime. I'm hesitant to tell you the brand because Dan and I looked online and had trouble locating them. It would be like glimpsing how gorgeous the Holy Grail was but being struck blind instantaneously. They are available in this small kitchen store in Philadelphia, however so come visit! I will tell you where they are from though: "coquet" is the brand and they are simply whole green olives, a product of spain. Good luck! I hope I havent teased too much. Happy March all!

hello yous all

I would suggest you posses your self with patience.............If I can get here once a week I would be suprised...........I normally have to deal with 30 - 50 legitimate emails a day plus texts. I am glad we have a place to "post". I will need a reminder occasionally that I am supposed to "attend" to this as well. It is interesting that as with all of these written items, i can hear your voices and that is a pleasure. The winter continues, and there is now an oppossum raiding the bird feeders and a red squirrel rooting around in the chicken coop. nice to know the new laser sight on the 22 will come in handy soon..............Sunny Days!

I was not successful trying to post a picture from my Aperture program........erg. Its only 9p here.

You all asleep or what? Nevermind. I am in habit of being on the laptop and watching the TV at the same time.

BUenas Noches

Sunday evening

Watching the Academy's and I know I should have already seen The Kings Speech but not.

How disappointing that the co-host of the show has such a hard time speaking his native language I dont know if he is mentally unstable, or just indifferent or stupid????

Ok I miss Alec Baldwin, he was a funny host. some really good Films this year especially Shorts and Foreign that we never get to see.

Has not snowed here yet in sunny wet Cal. but temps are in the 30s.

Looking forward to tomorrow when I meet with my dentist to hear about the treatment plan to extract and bridge/implant next. Hmmmmm...Good Times....

Love to everyone

Where is my family????

More freeaking snow--AWsome...NOT!

Time to return to work tomorrow....but there's a chance for a bad weather delay in the morning... in reality then....I LOVE well-timed bad weather!!!

We have tapped some trees...well not me, the Mike Dad...I am ordering plant seeds today , and taters...

Family?  Where art thou?

Luv, Marion

AHHHH the joys of leaving the woods.... the symphony....

 I am so jealous of you guys, right now I am very tired of the whiteness and ...wellll ...the whiteness...here's a pic. of your cousin playing the Tympani at the Central State Quabbin Music Festival...you've been to these I'm guessing ..where they have several HS students from each school and they get together twice and then all day before the concert and then play .... as a large band...This was Mike's first time ...Em went twice with her baritone in HS, this was Mike's first time...I am glad you go the opportunity to see the symphony...!! Wow.

I think that breakfast is called "A Taste of Cyprus", although I don't recall why it sounded so great , maybe the egg cooked in olive oil or the fried Greek cheese or the.....

Still looking for the rest of the clan to join!  .....?

CLIFF when you get here, I need an E-mail for Georgette, !!


YOU know I think that LOVE logo sculpture( picture of you and friends posed there) was done at Mass Art or was made by the metal working classes at MassArt or I will have to ask Emily...I remember ( but not clearly as usual, but It will come to me)They talked about that LOVE sculpture at orientation for parents when  Em first started there....I am sure of that at least...that it has some connection to MassArt...


...putting a little color where I can find it!!

Marion

Blogging is easy breezy

I just started blogging this past fall and this is my third blog that I contribute to now. This particular site is the only one that I have used but I like it for a few reasons. A) Free, B) connected to my gmail account which is my primary email, and C)its so easy!!

So yes, when everyone gets their email from Marion just click on the link embedded in the email and sign into your google (or yahoo as well I believe) account and it should shoot you right to the blog. Jim, Marion and I are the only listed contributors at this point so make sure you guys sign on as authors so you can write lovely posts to us all like this one, and be able to add pictures!

I find it's easiest to bookmark the blog so that each time you want to view it you don't have to sign in, you just click on your favorites or bookmarked link. Anytime you're on this page, reading these post and want to post your own, go to the top right hand corner where it says "new post". That will lead you to a template where you type whatever you want and then hit Publish.

Good luck!

PS: Dan and I just got back from seeing the London Symphony Orchestra at the amazing Philly Kimmel Center (the building we watched the Mummers parade in front of, Dad). Dan got free tickets through his school and we had "nosebleed" seats but they were perfect, right in the middle and no obstructions. They performed Mahler's 7th Symphony. One of the nocturne movements even featured a guitar and mandolin! It was great. Back to studying now. Happy blogging :D

Megan! Here's the restaurant...thanks to the internet!

www.kanellarestaurant.com - 1001 Spruce Street, Philadelphia - (215) 922-1773

Kanellas!  Write that down....  :O) I WILL FORGET!

:O) Marion

So does everyone know how this works??....let me know!!!

AS in I mean, reallly.... let me know, I get a bit confused... but I guess you have to first sign on to a Google acct., sign up if you don't already have one, g- mail users ...you already have one!!!

You can always comment on a post , but you have to have an invite (from me) to create a new post....THIS IS A POST. I sent all of you an invite to be posters...except Carlene and Deanna, which I will take of right now....Megan is this all right, since you seem to be more blog~talented than I, and you were the first to post sucessfully after me...???  Let me know.

..I saw a very good Philly restaurant on TV last night and I cannot remember the name   ...crap...I think it was Greek...bah...A Taste of Cyprus was the name of the dish I think, it was a breakfast platter to die for...I will work on this...

off to add Carlene and Deanna to our "author posts" list....

Marion

HOO-rah.....already a blog is on!

I still am not quite sure what I am doing ,but I got Megan's awesome post and pics and I am ready to see MORE!

Phreezing in Philly

Hello Fam Dam,

Yay for a family blog! Great idea :D. I'm posting to avoid studying for my upcoming Clinical Diagnosis Midterm. Family blogging holds precedence over juicy topics such as Sleep disorders and Attention deficit disorders. Life has been busy busy here. Since I last saw everyone I have mostly just been going to school. Dan and I went to visit some friends in Oneonta, NY last weekend and went to the Cooperstown brewery and Ommegang brewery (free pickles and cheese spread!) for tastings while we were there.

This picture was taken pre-tastings I promise! Behind us is a tower of Ommegang beer kegs. Thaaat was fun. I'm excited to say that I just got a flight booked to Florida, see you sun dwellers 3/20-3/24!! I cant wait. Like I said, its freezing in Philly. We had one glorious day of 68 degrees last friday and I was inside the hospital alllll day. It has now returned to the February drudgery that is winter in a city.

Looking forward to spring, I just spotted an organic community garden about 4 blocks from me. You have to apply to gain access but If I get in, I'll have an 8x5 ft. plot to plant anything in! If I dont get in, i'm going to need lots of creative ideas with what to do with the back area of my apartment that gets little direct sun.

The picture below is from an outing that I had with some girls from my program. We went to go see a band perform on campus. The lead singer/guitarist had suffered a brain anyeurism in 2005. He completely rehabilitated from a vegetative state with the help of his family and music (but not a music therapist :D). Well, thats what I'm up to, cant wait to hear from everyone! Send me sun!!

Hello Giroux~Smith~Dowlings~S !!!!

HI everybody!!

I took Mark's suggestion today and created this Google~blog. DO I know how to use this???...um no...but me thinks it is a better idea than e-mail....allegedly you can post links, pictures and everyone with a computer and the internet ( all you nieces and nephews ) can join in , too, without waiting for the invite or an e-mail to remember to forward....SHALL WE TRY THIS??  I will explain to Dad and send him the link and he can practice in his free time..I will be practicing too, DAD I assure you..I will have to figure out how to post pics but otherwise you post just like you email...yes?  So if you are reading this, and I hope you will eventually....I have sent you the link to the blog, which you will use to add to our family conversation... YAY!

WE went to Vestal, N.Y. on Saturday for Georgette's 85th BDAY, returned on Sunday night...the ride back being dry and uneventful, the trip there not so much, blowing drifting snow all day, thruway close, then 88 closed....BAH!!! WE made it around 4:30 a very good time to finally get off the road. Georgette's 85th birthday was on Friday and Saturday was the best we could arrange. We all had a lot of lobster rolls and lobster dip , provided of course by Mike...

I loved the posts on e-mail so far, retrieving Heathers and Marks from my junk Mail filters...nice pictures!...and I am reaching for the phone now to call Alisonofthestitches...ouch. OMG WE HAVE A WEDDING DATE~ that is so GREAAAAAAT!! ...

THE GSD means Giroux Smith Dowling....we can change the name if anyone has an inspiration!!!

See you here, and soon.

Love, Marion