DAD & JOAN'S WEDDING DEC. 12, 2008

Friday, December 12th was Dad & Joan's wedding day. In spite of a destructive ice storm the previous day which caused a power outage for a week, Joan made it over from NY by noon on the wedding day as well as her daughter's family from LA arriving finally in Boston that morning. Thanks to generators, the wedding went off as scheduled and was very lovely. Charlotte Smith made the cake and sent it over with Nancy Knaggs, and Sharon & Lucille put it together and added the final touches. We breathed a sigh of relief when it was done, as neither of us had ever done any cake decorating before! It was a masterpiece, thanks to Charlotte! After the wedding, we all went to Longhorn Steakhouse for a lovely dinner. We had planned to go across the street from the farm to The Mile Away, but they didn't have power and weren't open.

The cake & cupcakes

Joan pinning on Dad's corsage

The groom

The bride

Kent & Sharon

Ivan & Norma

Carl & Sally

Patrick & Cheryl

The wedding ceremony

Mr. & Mrs. George Chappell

Her ring

Opening presents

Cutting the cake

The whole group at the wedding

(Norma's pic)

DAD HAS GONE HOME TODAY! DEC. 9, 2008

Dad went home this afternoon, and Norma will be with him there for the next few days until his wedding on Friday. He is doing "MARVELOUS, MARVELOUS!" He is just amazing! He feels really good and is getting stronger every day and enjoying food again. He is looking forward to Friday and having Joan here with him as Mrs. Chappell.
" All packed & ready to head home for a nap in my OWN Lazy-boy! Sharon says I can't take this one with me.... It sure has been comfortable!"












Dad & we enjoyed watching
the birds every meal -- a busy bunch!
Especially loved colorful Mr. Cardinal!

DAD IS HOME!!!

Dad came home from the hospital Monday and is doing very well. He is staying at our house this week. He spends his days in the Lazy-boy, works the Crypto-quip in the newspaper, sends text messages, talks on the phone, works on the computer, and catches a catnap here and there. He enjoys having people stop in for a wee visit. Today he even went out for a ride with Kent in the PM. Tonight his meeting came up to our house for meeting so he could be in meeting without having to go out. He is really doing great and came through the surgery and recovery so far with flying colors! He doesn't have much strength or much appetite, but that improves a little every day. He is amazing!

One week post-op
bypass surgery!

All ready for meeting!

WINTER IS HERE!

It snowed this afternoon but then turned to rain. However WINTER is definitely here! Soon it will look like the picture below (taken last December), so y'all get ready! :)

BRENT & JOHANNA'S NEW DECK

Brent & Johanna had a new deck built out back off of their diningroom. Eventually Brent would like to build a patio off of the deck behind the garage, which would give them much more room for a crowd and cook-outs. There are two sets of stairs off of the deck, one winding down to the backyard and a wider one on the side going down to the future patio area behind the garage. Brent & Kent worked on spreading some mulch cover between the two big rock walls below the deck. Brent loves outdoor projects and never runs out of ideas and things to do. It all sure looks beautiful, and they will really enjoy it next summer!

Spreading mulch

Side stairs
going down
to future patio

Back stairs

Going into
diningroom

Back stairs

Looking from
deck to first

stone walls
Brent built
last year.

Side stairs going

down behind garage

(These last 3 are Brent's pictures)

NOVEMBER 26, 2008 DAD HAD BYPASS SURGERY

Dad had 5 bypass heart surgery on Wednesday, November 26th and came through with flying colors! He was out of intensive care by noon Thanksgiving Day and eating a turkey dinner (though he didn't eat much...). The doctors and nurses all say he is doing "MARVELOUS", so we are very thankful. Miss Joan came over Tuesday night and has been with him at the hospital. It has been very special to have her here with Dad, and I think it has boosted his recovery with all this special nursing care! We hope all continues to go well in his recovery. Best wishes and GET WELL SOON, DAD!!!



This was taken in
August, but that's
the smile we see
when Joan is by his
side!!!

We hope Dad will

soon be back on his

feet again with his

"soon to be" new bride!

THANKSGIVING 2008 at the FARM

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving at the farm today. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we had very scrumptious food and a relaxing day. There were 42 of us. Carl & Sally's family were all up north at their camp for the long week-end. Thanks, Jananne, Jody, & Shelley for setting up the room in the barn so nicely! The guys played soccer and football at the Hampshire Hills Dome in the PM, and the gals walked around the track and watched the guys. Kids played and strolled around and had a great time. End of a wonderful day with much to be thankful for! It was nice to have Naomi and Yasmin with us as well.











































Desserts













Chocolate mice made
by Charlotte















The young folks'
table










The kids' table













Turkey dinner
& all the fixings!



























Table full of
adults



































































Matt & Charlotte













Corey & Jananne













Norma & Ivan













Heather, Roger,
& Bonnie












Clinton & Doreen
(Ivan's parents)












Brad, Shelley, &
Shaelyn














Kent & Sharon











Johanna & Brent














Kevin & Jody













Grampa rocking
Shaelyn to sleep












Shelley, Yasmin,
& Heather chatting











Having a game
of Rumicube
with Naomi












Jill, Nate,
Colby, & Kyle













Ivan & his Dad
giving us some
music!










Breanna, Ellie,
& Ava making
sculptures with
plastic silverware









Setting out the
goodies for supper