76th Birthday

on the 27th James and John will be 76. Hard to believe!

Family photos from the Australian branch

Some more pictures from Michael & Lizzie's holiday.

Our Orchard

It is 5 years old. There are 15 fruit trees. Plums, cherries, pears and apples. The shrub which is not like the others in the second photo will be replaced by an other fruit tree. When pruning we pruned the best part off. Whoops.

Secret Garden Tour

We went on 'The Secret Garden Tour' on Sunday. I tried to capture a few without the 'foot traffic'.

This tree house had plumbing, electricity and a shower below. You can just about make the shower out in the last photo (it's under the house, behind the chair). It had 2 signs 'Shower $1.00', 'To Watch $2.00'.

Remember When

Photos of my brothers many years ago.

4th July Canal Walk

We took a walk between the canal and the Hudson river today. It was quite beautiful. We saw a few snapping turtles in the canal. The snapping turtle pictures are not mine. The cameras I had with me were not out in time. These creatures are shy and 'plop' into the water within seconds of hearing anything.

We watched the spaceshuttle take off before we headed up the hill to build cages for our tomatoes.

It is Mum's birthday on Friday

Happy Birthday Susie!












She may dress up like she did once for a party in Ireland!

Dick, Sue, Mark, Mollie & Florence

Dick, Sue, Mark, Mollie & Florence

Harold Markham

Here is an image of a young Harold Markham. This is Dick's uncle.

It won't be long...

...to the annual 'invasion'. My 1st experience of the 'invasion' was in 1999. Since 2001 we have towed mum and John's Award trailer to Brockport, NY for the 'Invasion'. 'Big Red' towed the trailer that year. We had 240 air-conditioning. 2 windows down at 40 miles an hour!

Here is Florence the day after last year's invasion.

Tree House

1st is a nuthatch, 2nd is a tufted titmouse 3rd is a gold finch and the 4th a squirrel on a tree. Other species we have seen on our birdfeeders are House Finch, Chipping Sparrows. Our suet feeder attracts Hairy Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, nuthatches.
We have trees on the East and South side of our apartment and our second floor kitchen has windows on these sides too. At this time of year we feel as if we live in a tree house.
Father John married a couple at his church yesterday and last night, after the rehearsal he visited us. We sat chatting in the kitchen and John was amazed with the activity at the bird feeder. He said "in all my life I have never been this close to wild birds!"

Last summer I climbed out our dining room window onto the roof to take this photo during restoration of the stained glass windows.
John is Headmaster at The Adirondack School and the Rector for St. Stephen's Church.