Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Sunday - Leaving Paris

Finally, a connection! However, our wireless doesn't seem to work on Frank's (John's brother's) network, so I'll just a few notes for now and add to it later along with photos... I might also mention that this is a French keyboard where only half of the keys are in the same places. Arg!!!

At any rate we expected to leave Paris at 9:00 when the car rental place opened meaning Pat, the late riser in our group, had to drag herself out of bed earlier than usual but ready by 9 she was. Unfortunately, the French were not ready so perhaps Pat is really French at heart. (I can't believe this French keyboard capitalizes the location of the period... triple arg!!!) Anyway, by 9:45 the paperwork was completed & the car was being washed. 10:00 - wrong car - 5 seats. 10:20 right car, 7 seats. 10:35 most of the streets are now closed for a bicycle race but John & John managed to get close enough to our hotel to get us and our luggage. Is luggage going to fit? Just barely. John can't find directions for leaving Paris. Bob comes through with his 1971 map. And we're on our way at last!

Cousin John driving - first toll booth. Forgot the car was standard. Stalls. Where's the key? Finally remembers it starts with a button and our clown car is on the way again.

But it's late & this keyboard is driving me nuts but at least you know we're alive. Will write more tomorrow.....

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Last day in Paris (this trip...)

So much to see, so little time...
1. Yesterday Pat & Cyndy went to the Musee d'Orsay (my favorite). Not to be outdone, the rest of us went there today. Although it has one of the best collections of Impressionist art anywhere, you'll have to look those up to see them. Instead this is one of their "decorative arts" rooms. A cut above our hotel room I must say.
2. The museum is actually a beautiful old train station that has been converted into an art gallery - so wise the French. We said we'd meet up under the clock and actually managed to do just that.
3. This photo is amazing since we've all managed to stand and start moving once again after another wonderful lunch. Our restaurant (which I realized you can't see unless your screen is bigger than mine) is on the corner on the left. Where we're headed is Montmartre and the church on the hill which is visible at the end of the street (also probably not visible in this photo - oh well, I tried.)
4. The subway station, Solfenino (also the name of our restaurant) and Montmartre where we're headed. (I knew I'd never remember those names unless I took a photo. Besides, when was the last time you say the inside of the Paris Solfenino subway stop?)
5. Sacre-Cour, the beautiful church on the hill completed in 1914. It's up, waaaaay up, on the hill. After getting off the subway train the sign at the bottom of the exit stairs said (in 3 languages, almost unheard of in Paris) "Caution, 92 steps". We opted for the elevator even though we could have probably used to the exercise to walk off lunch.
6. The Montmartre area is full of artists and is a fun place to visit. This is one of the street performers who sang classic French songs to a crank music box. She was terrific and we contributed to her basket. Do you suppose John could do something like this on the streets of Earlville?
7. All over Paris are the "commuter" bikes. You put in some coins and take a bike for a few hours, then return it to any of the charging stations. Of course, you have to be absolutely nuts to ride a bike in Paris traffic but it's still a neat idea.
8. A little wine before dinner under the hotel mirror. Cyndy flies back to Philadelphia tomorrow. The rest of us brave all, pick up our rental car, and hope that most of Paris sleeps late on Sunday morning!
9, Looking down from our hotel room... Who are those rowdy folks? Could it be John, Pat & Cyndy?
Tomorrow we head to the country where the noise level will be considerably less. Am not sure what kind of internet access we'll find so it may be a couple of days before you hear from us again.

Back in the states, it's a little known fact that you can actually fly fish in downtown Boise (in the river that is). One fisherman reported seeing a whir of red on the street above. Could it have been?
Posted by Picasa

Friday, September 25, 2009

Another dome day...

The weather in Paris couldn't be more beautiful. Everyone is happy including the notoriously grumpy waiters!
1 - When I first saw these I thought they were an upgrade of the men's outdoor urinals that used to be everywhere (forget about ladies needs!) But equality has come and this convenience for men has gone away. These, instead, are recycling bins. I doubt you can see in the photo but there are pictures of items that can be recycled near the holes, the first picture is (you guessed it!)... wine bottles!
2 - This photo is especially for friend Debby who gave me a neat little book entitled Handmade in Paris. If it hadn't been for that book we wouldn't have found this little alley which is described as the "oldest arcade in Paris", a tidbit that none of the guidebooks we've read know about. The shop we're standing in front of is Pep's, an umbrella repair shop that's been there for over 100 years and where folks from all over the world come to have their umbrellas repaired. They were closed but, then again, none of us brought umbrellas, broken or otherwise.
3 - This is for Bob's sister Carole. We're at the Musee des Arts et Metiers (turns out that essentially means technology museum - not arts & crafts...). Anyway, Bob's standing next to a rustic loom made in the 1600's, part of a great display of various looms. (Carole is a textile artist so we thought she'd be interested.)
4 - For anyone who irons - MUCH more than I needed to know about how electric irons work.
5 - A fairly dramatic way to display old "aircraft". Judy & I decided we would NOT have wanted to be on the crew that hung that one up.
6 - Then it was off to the Paris Opera House (forgot to take photos - sorry) and to the local department stores. This dome was over the restaurant in the Au Printemps department store where we had lunch. Pretty impressive we thought. It's been a looooong time since I've suggested to anyone we have lunch in a department store. The food was wonderful too although John & I will probably be eating beans for the next year to pay for it.
7 - The other dome is in the center of the department store next door - Galeries Lafayette. It looks like a set for grand opera rather than shopping. Prices were WAY out of our price range so even Judy had no problem restraining herself.
8 - Paris' inside outside building where all the services for the building are on the outside.
9 - Look it up if you don't know what this is... We waved goodbye to the rest of our traveling companions at dusk here. They were all set to take a night cruise down the Seine, something John & I did last trip and loved.

Meanwhile, could it be that someone could actually drive straight through from Kenmare to Boulder? That red Corvette must have had the pedal to the metal!
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, September 24, 2009

A fun filled day...

1 - After walking several blocks before having the perfect coffee and croissant, we happened upon one of Paris' great open air markets. This photo of a mushroom stand is especially for Owen who raises mushrooms near us in NY.
2 - The Place des Vosges - the oldest square & most think it the most beautiful square in all of Paris. We're not arguing.
3 - This store carries "Original Chicken Clothes" - your guess is as good as ours. They were closed so we couldn't explore further.
4 - The Carnavalet Museum recommended by friends of Judy & John. It covers the history of Paris from 1500-1900. Very impressive especially since Judy & I lost the guys in just under 15 minutes. It has a ton of rooms.
5 - This is the ceiling of Bofingers where we met our friends Marilyn & Jim for lunch today. Another impressive sight as, apparently were the urinals that have been in use since 1919. A photo shot by me was not allowed...
6. - One of the bridges across the Seine where entrepreneurs have set up massage stations for hurting tourists.
7 - More entrepreneurs - this time a symphony in the subway. They were really good too and sounded wonderful in the underground - better acoustics than some theaters.
8 - The Arc de Triomphe Napoleon built and which Judy & John can now add to their "I've seen that" list. 12 boulevards (that means BIG streets) merge into a traffic circle around it. How any of the drivers survive is miracle!
9 - Our friends Marilyn & Jim with their poodles (French, of course) Zehper & Zazoom. We're sooooo lucky and it's sooooo much fun to have nice friends in far away places.

Speaking of far away places, I understand birds were being spooked all along the roads leading into and out of Kenmare, ND by a streak of red....
Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Bienvenue au Paris!

Photos of the day...
1 - Lizzie did it again and was the hostess with the mostest by having "her" car service pick us at the door and taking us to the train station (the ladies especially say THANK YOU!) If it had been left up to the Grossmann/Keck cousins you might have seen us fighting the luggage on the underground. Photo - John & Judy at the station with time to spare.
2 - Some of the happy crew on board the high speed train via the Chunnel to Paris. The women won again & got the men to part with a few extra dollars for better seats and wine and food! The trip was great and fast - as advertised.
3 - The lobby of the Hotel Jean d'Arc where we're staying in Paris. That's all of us in the mirror. Unusual frame,...
4 - Unusual room decorating - that's our room - even the lampshade matches the bed spread and, yes, that is a lavendar wall. Somehow I don't think I'll be duplicating this room back in NY.
5 - The group overlooking the River Seine on a beautiful day (why oh why did we leave all those warm weather clothes at home!)
6 - For Red's Auto shop crew - and you thought you didn't understand French!
7 - The back side of Notre-Dame Cathedral - the prettiest way to approach as far as I'm concerned.
8 - And of course you can't come to Paris without enjoying a cafe every once in a while.
9 - Just walking down the street and a whole store of nothing but cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese... am I in heaven or Paris?

And back in the states 2 folks were seen early in the morning walking along the Chicago waterfront, then getting in a red Corvette and zooming off. Could it have been....?!!
Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Our last day in London...

So many things to see and do and so little time... Solution - split up. John & I went to the National Gallery in the morning to see the painting, The Bathers by Seurat. (We'd taken a class on Impressionism and our instructor told us if any of us ever went to London without going to see it, he'd flunk us. It was an ungraded class, but still... we went, we saw, we were awed.) John went on to a concert, then to meet up with John, Judy & Bob in Greenwich where time begins. I stayed and did a tour of the gallery. While we were at the museum, John, Judy & Bob went to see the changing of the guard while Pat & Cyndy went to the Tower of London. Pat & Cyndy met me for lunch (with their heads still attached) at St. Paul's (can you believe they charge 11 pounds to see the main part of the cathedral? = we opted to forgo religion & get dessert at lunch instead.) Then it was on the Mayflower Inn on the wharf where the Pilgrims sailed from. Pat has 6 ancestors who were on that boat (I'm guessing they survived the trip...). The inn was closed - so much for visiting the past.

In the photos = "The Texas Embassy" (bar & restaurant). Bob contemplating applying for a job as one of London Dairies' deliverymen. The National Gallery. Pat & Cyndy in front of the Mayflower Inn. And Lizzie & Tom's favorite pizza maker & his wood fired oven. (Sorry, Leigh, he didn't speak a word of English other than, "I don't speak English", so I couldn't ask him any questions about building an oven.)

Tomorrow we're off to Paris and that red Corvette??? I heard one was spotted zooming through traffic at Niagara Falls.
Posted by Picasa

Monday, September 21, 2009

The Birthday Girl!!

Today was Judy's birthday (we won't say which) so... being the tennis player that she is (her team did go to the USA Seniors competition this year and placed second), she wanted to go to Wimbledon. Therefore, most of these shots are of our journey there.

On the left, Judy & John on H??? Hill that you see on TV if you watch Wimbledon tennis (and, if you're a tennis fan which I'm obviously not, you'll know what H??? is). Below that is cousin John fantasizing what it might be like to win the "Gentlemen's Doubles".

On to the right - the most beautiful little quail eggs. Lizzie "hard boiled" them as part of one of the best dinners I've ever had. (Perhaps John & I should take up raising quails for layers in our retirement...) Next is John (in his Riley's hat) posing in front of Center Court (THE top court at Wimbledon). Under that is Judy at the end of dinner (I know it's small and blurry but so was she at that moment...). St. Luke's, not far from where Liz & Tom live & where they filmed 101 Dalmatians (just in case you wanted a bit of trivia). Then we're back at Wimbledon with John & Judy sitting in the Members only section of Court 2. Bottom - Judy & John sitting in the chairs where all Wimbledon winners & losers are interviewed. (Players are fined severely if they refuse to be interviewed whether they win or lose. J&J didn't have to pay anything extra to sit there.) And last, the magic formula for growing those pristine grass courts - GOSTD or Graded Organic Sports Turf Dressing. (Obviously Terry, this is the vital ingredient we've been missing from the croquet court at TI Park. However, if you think I'm carting that home in my carry-on you have another think coming.)

Speaking of TI Park, I understand there was a red blur (might have been a Corvette) seen passing over the bridge to the US today...
Posted by Picasa

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Meeting friends...

Today we split up going in different directions. Cousin John, Judy & Bob enjoyed the London Eye among things (and left John G. breathing a sign of relief that he once again evaded taking the most terrifying ride of his life). Pat & Cyndy went off to Parliament - it just happened to be open to the public today which is rare (we're all envious) and even got a chance to talk with the guys that service Big Ben. (I can tell you the Johns were more than a little envious over that one!)

And John & I went to visit a long time friend, Zelda, her husband, Brian, and their daughter Chloe. It was a GREAT day we wouldn't have exchanged with the others for anything. The last photo is of John, Zelda & Chloe at one of the typical British open air markets that are sooooo much fun and which make you wish you'd brought a bigger suitcase and that fresh produce travelled better! (Notice in the background the double decker bus proving this is definitely London.) Lizzie wears nothing but pointy shoes with spike hills so I was tempted to get her the green & orange Wellies I spotted at the market but, since I didn't know her shoe size, she missed, or perhaps I should say, lucked out.

The larger photo is of Brian & Zelda on their back patio. Zelda wanted to take the clothes off the line but I axed that idea. Folks here tend to be energy conscious (gas is about $9 per dollar...) and a lot of folks have clothes lines, something more Americans should consider and use. (My green energy soapbox issue of the day.)

Meanwhile, I understand a red Corvette was seen heading into Quebec City...
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Bob is found!

It turned out that Bob, rather than being lost as some might suspect, was actually standing in line to go through customs (took 2.5 hrs.) Cyndy, who arrived two hours later, was through customs in 15 minutes. You tell me who lives right?

Today, in addition to eating VERY well, walking and enjoying a beautiful non-rainy day in London, we visited the Tate Modern. They had a great installation of a rusty VW camper (Tillie's cousin I'm sure) pulling 24 sleds filled with survival stuff. The caption was something like VW's (I hope Tillie isn't listening) aren't always the best survival vehicles. Also at the Tate - upper left... John as part of the "installation" or was he just feeling peckish as the sign suggests. (You should be able to pick him out of the crowd...)

A group photo left to right... cousin John (sorry I cut him off - the excitement of the moment), Pat, Judy, Tom & Liz (hosts extraordinaire), cousin Bob (he's hiding - probably doesn't want to be spotted by customs again), Cyndy and John in the red. Actually John's knees are probably already beginning to shake - no way did he want to contemplate going up in the London Eye in the background. Turns out none of us ended up doing that today anyway - our stomachs ruled instead and we had a great lunch on an upper deck overlooking the river instead.

Tonight it was on to the Globe Theatre for Shakespeare's "Troilus & Cressida". Wonderful, wonderful especially since we had great seats and didn't stand through the whole thing (it lasted 3+ hours) like the folks you see in the middle of the photo. I know standing in the middle was how it was done in Shakespeare's time and that it adds a LOT of atmosphere but, well, I'm a "modern" gal and much prefer to sit.

Back on the US front, I understand a red Corvette was spotted at the Maine/Canadian border....
Posted by Picasa

Friday, September 18, 2009

We have arrived!


Or at least some of us have... After taking over an hour to clear customs (through no fault of our own - guess they just wanted to make sure we all REALLY wanted to visit), John & I, John & Judy & Pat are here in merry ol' London. Bob, coming from San Diego, was to have arrived 3 hours ago and is still among the missing. Cyndy, coming from Philadelphia, should be here in about an hour.

In the meantime, we're enjoying Lizzie's apartment while she's at work and looking forward to a bit of sightseeing this afternoon (hopefully looking at London rather than looking for Bob...) And when Lizzie returns home we'll figure out how to sign onto her network and put up some photos.

PS - I couldn't be entirely sure, but was that a red Corvette I spotted as we flew along the Maine coast?!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

A good trade?

Cousin John & Judy have a beautiful candy red Corvette... seats 2... luggage? marginal. With 6 of us needing to go to the airport, 5 with luggage (Judy's nephew is driving us - lucky us!) the Corvette just didn't seem to be an option. So a trade was worked out - one shiny red Corvette for one dark blue Suburban. It remains to be seen who got the better of the deal.

In the meantime, if you see a couple streaking by in a blur of red, it's probably Joanne & Jack taking full advantage of the short term trade. How many miles & roads do you think they'll be able to travel in the next three weeks? I understand the leaves are starting to turn in New England and the fishing is still good in Montana and it's grape harvest time in California and...
Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

And we're off!!!

Another great adventure! Unfortunately, Tillie the VW is with us in spirit only as we're crossing the Atlantic this go around and Tillie is... well... sinkable.

Only appropriate as we head south to pass through the "gate" built by the workers of the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company to show their appreciation. The company treated its employees very well including giving everyone and their family members a new pair of shoes at Christmas. Doesn't sound like much? When was the last time your employer gave you a new pair of shoes or you decided your employer was good enough to its employees that you wanted to build a monument?! Need I say more? However, moving on...

We arrive at the first leg of our journey - cousins John & Judy in New Jersey where John was hard at work on his new bar. Pat, another of our traveling companions, John & John decided the bar top really needed a little breaking in before it is finished. Isn't it going to be beautiful? John is crafting it from the seven different types of trees growing on their property including the black walnut on the ends. The curve on the outside was formed using some sort of rig using parts from a Dodge Caravan. Much too technical for me but obviously cousin John knows what he's doing. I think it's best if I stick with taking photos and just sipping that wine...

Tomorrow it's off to Newark and the air. Wish us Bon Voyage!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Will the real winner please stand up?

In answer to your question - "Don't you ever PLAY on that croquet court you worked so hard to "improve" and that we read sooooo much (probably far too much) about?"

I don't wish to brag but yours truly won the first game of the season (which my husband conveniently forgot by the next time we played...)

Therefore, I will only mention in passing that he did manage to win the next match only to lose to his cousin John in the final match of the day. Take note folks, no one is kneeling at their feet...


No comment...

Is one to assume their second childhood has already begun? Oh woe is me!
Posted by Picasa

Soooooo big!

Peyton - what do you want to be when you grow up?

With those boots, perhaps a fireman? or a farmer? (he's only 5 so he does have a chance to grow up a bit to fill out those boots.)

However, notice that haircut, a la Peyton. Perhaps we have a budding barber in our future...
Posted by Picasa

And then there were...

Once upon a time there was a family named Keck who moved through the generations from Germany to what is now the Ukraine to what is still New York City. They had several sons (none of whom stayed in NYC) and a daughter who married a Grossmann and took her son "against his will" to Boise, Idaho. This son grew up in Boise and eventually moved to upstate NY, telling his wife (me) that, other than his brother, he had no relatives. So the photos you see are of the truly miraculous LIVING Keck family at the family get-together at our house this summer.

On to the photos - left to right. Bob & Carole hand grating the potatoes for those fabulous Keck potato pancakes. These pancakes are ABSOLUTELY the ugliest glop you've ever seen but somehow transform themselves into ABSOLUTELY the best potato pancakes you've ever tasted when Betty, photo 2, fries them up. Photo 3 - Frank, John & Jules (the patriarch of the family & whose parents took that boat to NYC) watch over the tray of German sausages. Photo 4 - It's Bob's birthday with one cupcake for every year (I'm not telling, you have to count them yourself.) 5 - The Lutheran heritage continues - John with cousins Michele & Helen (In case you can't read it, the tee says "I love Lutheran Boys".) 6 - The eating continues as John cooks breakfast for John (there were a LOT of John's) & Judy. (In case you're wondering that's oil, not boos. I trust the cap was still on. Yuk!) 7 - John & Bob keep the play quotient up. 8 - Ann (the Keck connection) & her family Robert, Helen, Michele & Bob. 9 - Bob huffed and puffed and blew & blew... and lived to blow another day...

The group family photo, related to my husband John and now to lucky me. Moral of the story - don't always believe everything your husband tells you...

And for those of you who care to know, from left to right, sort of - Bob, Michele, Brian, John, Noi, Kelly, Robert, Frank, Betty, Bob, John, Judy, Carole, Janet, Helen, Ann, & in front row, Paul, Jules & John (I got to take the picture.)