BIG BLACK BEAR!

We were heading off to bed tonight when Kent heard a banging noise out back by the breakfast room. Turned on the back light, and there was "BRUIN" having a great picnic at our bird feeder! He had bent the heavy metal pole right to the ground that holds the feeder and snapped the top off one of the feeders. Tried to take a pic of him, but the flash just reflected off of the window and got nothing! Too dark without a flash.... So when he looked up and saw us, he just ambled off, came back, and sauntered away again. He was right below the window, so you couldn't get any closer than that. We have brought the feeders in for the night, hoping not to invite him back again. He was here in the spring and did the same thing, and even though he has made his appearance in the neighborhood off and on, he hadn't bothered our feeders again until tonight. He was in Brent & Johanna's yard a week ago. That's too close for comfort for me! Doors are locked tight, and I hope Bruin is snuggled up in a tree somewhere for the night.

This is a pic from Google Images, but is what he looked like.

OCTOBER AND A BEAUTIFUL FALL!

After such a dry summer, we are enjoying a gorgeous fall! The foliage is stunning and about peak around here right now. It has been a busy busy summer and fall with a lot of company. Kent was also busy with Milford's annual PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, and we had a beautiful week-end for that and huge crowds. Then last week he and Edgar Fandrich went to Haiti for a week to continue helping with the building projects down there following the earthquake in January. The major projects are winding down and all of the friends now out of tents, so that is great. I'll add some pics from that next time when I get them off of Kent's camera. HAPPY PUMPKINS!

AUTUMN HAS ARRIVED!

2010 SEPTEMBER -- HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY, PAXTON!

The birthday boy ready to open his presents! 7 years old!

(Brent's pic)

2010 BACK TO SCHOOL

First day of school has arrived, and all three kids are excited and anxious to go -- Ellie in 5th grade, Ava in 3rd grade, and Paxton in 2nd. Shaelyn doesn't know why she can't get on the bus with the rest, but she will enjoy story hour at the library once a week and other activities at Hampshire Hills. She really misses the kids when they are gone to school. (For some reason, I can't upload any pictures off my camera to the computer since we got a new computer, so I'm using some of Brent's pics. Thanks Brent!)

CHAPPELL FAMILY REUNION -- JULY 4TH WEEK-END

(Suzi's pic. Thank you, Suzi!)

5 Chappell siblings







Aunt Evie's family














Auntie Bea's family








George's family












Aunt Tessie's family











Auntie Ann's family










Nancy Blakemore's family












Ella Forbes' family








Aunt Alice's family (minus Aunt Alice)















Serving brunch











Lining up to divide into Scavenger Hunt teams.



We had a wonderful week-end!!! Very special! Nearly 200 attended the reunion on Saturday!
Started out Saturday AM taking family pictures and then brunch at 10 AM. After brunch and visiting, split into several teams and went on a Scavenger Hunt throughout the farm and woods with lots of memorable places and memories of years gone by woven into the hunt! Even out into the middle of the pond to pick up bottles! Lots of fun and took about 2 hours and 3 and 1/2 miles of walking!!! Then the little kids went through the spider web woven throughout the woods down by the brook, following their own thread to the prize at the end. Another fun activity! Corey & Eric set up a HUGE water slide down their back hill, drawing water from the pond to pour down the plastic and adding soap to make it slippery. What a blast!! Big and little "kids" enjoyed that from age 2 to near 60!!! A big hit of the day! Thanks, Corey & Eric! Back to the farm for a "sing" put on by the little kids of several patriotic songs. Really cute! The bed of a hay wagon was their stage. Then it was time for the Italian supper cooked by several of the gals! Tons of food and delicious!!! The evening was more visiting and water slide fun and then to Eric's for his fabulous fireworks display at dark!!! Thanks, Eric!!! A wonderful wonderful fun day for everyone!!! Sunday was a big meeting at the meeting shed for all the family reunion folks and all the union meetings in the area together. It was very special! A scrumptious potluck followed and more visiting and reminscing and "GOOD BYES" for some who were leaving. Several went to the local fireworks in Milford in the evening. See you again in 5 years.......?????

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!