Once again, Peter Miles and I went up to Hanover and did the 4-mile stretch
of the AT where it first comes into NH from VT. Pete had heard that there
might be a lot of damage this year from last week's storm. There was.

We left Auburn a little after 7 AM and started down the trail from the road
and headed back towards Hanover about 9 AM. We made it to the beaver pond
and bridge where we found the first tree uprooted and laid over but it fell
away from the trail. Shortly, we found the first of about two dozen plus
trees that were laid across the trail at various spots. We ate lunch at
the top where we usually have lunch but we didn't get there until 2 PM.
Pete went through an entire tank on the chain saw and we didn't make it
through the last set of trees. We got to Hanover about quarter to 6 PM and
man, did those three scoops of Ben and Jerry's ice cream ever taste good!.
Lots of snapped and uprooted trees in the woods both hardwood and softwood.
We commented several times that we were very glad not to have been there
when everything was snapping and cracking. Very extensive damage
throughout the forest lands. They estimate that they will harvest over a
million board feet of pine from the blowdowns and there are already some
logs at landings along the road. All in all it was the longest day spent
on that stretch of trail and I had no trouble sleeping when I got home.

Dad W

Should we start building an Arc?

With all this rain, I believe that we are just going to have really soggy Spring and Summer seasons. Our back yard will never dry out before snowfall.

Due to an unthinkable occurrence Michael and I had to purchase a new bed set. And, another result from the occurrence, Jasmine went to the doctor's and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. All-in-all, Tuesday turned into a really expensive day.

Hey, what about the couple who, last week, traveled to Mississippi to aid in the repair and reconstruction from Katrina? Haven't heard much from that area of the state. So, what happened? Ami, for it being your first time down, how'd things go? Do you have stories, photos, etc to share?

Oh, oh and Mom Slater...so how was Matt and Machen's wedding in Florida? I've only heard bits and pieces.

How about the Worsters...Mr. and Mrs...how's life in NH?
And Matt...How are things in your neck of the woods? MA?

I know, what it is that keeps everyone from the blog site (in over a month since the last post), it is ALL of this RAIN. Like Millie Vanillie sang "Blame it on the Rain"

Stay dry!!

Sue

R/POW

Met up with Ami for Breakfast (well, late lunch for her) on Saturday - a new (to us) spot Leah had heard of - Mikes Diner in Southie. Big portions of yummie food. It was a walk from Northeastern, so Ami took the car back to the confrence while Leah and I finished up our breakfast, then walked it off in search of the car. A quick check into the antique collective before they closed, and then some newspaper crossword action.

(our aprox view from our table in Mike's, though not our pic)

This Friday will be getting G-ma's wireless up and running in Windham, NH. Saturday is the move, though I'm still not entirely clear on where to show up when.

Welcome to "The Move"!

This weekend's ROW starts on Thursday with dropping off Andy's Pilot to have it wired up with trailer brakes so that we can tow the enclosed trailer that we purchased last fall. Till now, we have always borrowed other trucks for towing with.

Friday's work was successfull and so we picked up the truck and were on our way. A quick check and a few minutes of work had everything set to go for the morning. Unfortunately Logan was also diagnosed with Strep and so he stayed home with Ami during the day.

On Saturday Ami got up to see the sunrise in order to make it to Boston for a RID workshop held at Northeastern University. Andy and Logan thought twice about being lazy in bed all day, but finally pulled it together to welcome Andy's mother and father in to help start moving. The suv and trailer were packed and moved to the big blue house and then the trailer was partially repacked in expectations of another trip on Sunday. Logan was feeling much better as of Saturday afternoon - running and playing - keeping everyone busy during the move.

Sunday was a day for church - Andy took a call with the Ambulance right after church and then it was load up time for the afternoon trip to Manchester. We were back just in time to have some dinner and get Logan off to bed. Hope everyone remembered to set their clocks ahead an hour last night ;)

Ami and Andy will be making small trips this week and we hope to have a handle on what is left plus a full trailer to start unloading first thing in the morning on Saturday. Logan is very excited about the move and can't wait to get to sleep in the new house. We are sure he will miss the Wethersfield house, but are very happy he is looking forward to the move.

Warm wishes and thoughts...

THINK SPRING!!!!!!!
Maybe it will get here sooner than later.

YEA I'm in now

I think I have finally figured out what it is I should be doing to do "the next best thing". Dad and I will be hopefully be helping Andy and Logan do some moving of furniture and things to the big blue house this weekend. Ami will be busy in Boston. I spoke to Ami a short time ago and we went over some of the furniture that has been stored here in Pawcatuck for the past year. I will be happy to have the room back to allow me to move things around here as well. I am working evenings the rest of this week with the weekend off. Dad has National Guard next weekend and I am scheuled to work. I guess that means no green stuff for us!!!!!!
LOL
Nana

Gratuitous Puppy Pic

From last week.

Address correction

I see that I made a mistake in prining our address further down(earlier) in the blog here. We will be living at #33, not 31. Our landlords, Colombo and Amy, along with their kids, Colombo (C4)who is 8, Madison, who is 6, Nathaniel, who is 3, and Trevor, who is 8 months, live at #31. Oh, and Gunner, the golden retreiver (and he's 2, just like Katahdin).

The big move is scheduled for the 17th and 18th of March, and we will look into providing green beer, but you may have to settle for authentic Irish grog instead. Logan will be serving green eggs and ham.

New House pics

Welcome to the BIG BLUE HOUSE . . . We have signed a lease today for the duplex apartment. Colombo (and Amy) have been kind enough to let us start dropping stuff there already. I will be dropping off small stuff each time I take Logan to daycare, which will be everyday this week as his dad is on vacation.

New House pics, continued

Dining Room . . . Why yes, we will actually have an eating room in which one might sit down to have dinner without having an unobstructed view of all of the dishes it took to make the fine meal in front of you.

Wouldn't that built in hutch look great if it were natural wood instead of white? Hmm ... we'll see.

New House pics, continued

Kitchen . . . The Far Side with the back door. Do you think that we should put a breakfast table in here or what?

New House pics, continued

The Kitchen...past the sink/stove there is what might be referred to charitably as a "butler's pantry," but it's the laundry with a little more storage.

New House pics (last)

And this is the back yard, taken from the steps of the back porch. The door in the kitchen, on the far side of the fridge opens there.

A note from the M-S-J household

Hello, All!

I have figured this blog thing out. I just need to figure out a POW and there isn't much of a ROW for this side of the Slater clan. I guess the current POM is on the 17th and 18th is the Connecticut River Working Group dog show in West Springfield that Mike, Jasmine and I plan to attend, not enter, so that we can meet up with other members of the NEMC, (New England Mastiff Club).

Congradulations to Ami, Andy, Logan and Katahdyn for the sell of their Wethersfield house and their future rental of half a house in Manchester. Good luck to you. We'll have to attend the UMC in Manchester together one Sunday.

Hope all are happy and healthy! Spring is almost here!!!

Paul's POW

Happy Belated Birthday to Andy!!!!! I had no idea til just now.

Exciting times - today was one of those days that I resolved [while still in bed] to finally clear off my work desk by getting rid of the missing parts / damaged items that I've been meaning to do all week, but then arrived at work and looked at a filled schedule of meetings, training, and the gym. Yikes.

Friday I plan to head up to G-ma's (barring white-out conditions) to finally get her back online! I don't want her to feel stranded, afterall. Also with the dial-up to broadband upgrade will come a move to Windows 2000, which will require some memory chips that I also have for her. That part of her computer will now be 4x faster, with any luck (and way, way, way more stable). That should give G-ma and me some nice tea and talk time, perhaps even with cucumber sandwhiches and talk of the queen. (I really do like visiting g-ma for conversation and tea quite a lot, it just sounded so very British just then) Hopefully dinner with M+D fri night, though details are still being worked out.

Saturday is a documentary movie with the cambridge kids to take Leah's mind off her recent breakup. And food shopping and cleaning and all that.

Fun starts now!

OK, it's for real! We are moving to the Big Blue House at 31 North Elm St in Manchester, Ct 06042. Logan is going to meet the kids and dog today.

To add to the excitement, I just found that I have a women's retreat with the church scheduled and paid for the last weekend before closing. Greeeaat! And an all day workshop in Boston on the 10th. Excellent timing. oy!

ROW and Big News

Lots of catching up to do after this past weekend. Lets see. . . On Saturday Paul & Mom & Dad Worster met Mom and Dad Slater. The Worsters and Ami, Andy & Logan all met up to discover what was to be discovered at the Mystic Aquarium an Institute for Learning. Lots of learning to be had and I think that Logan showed Paul through each exhibit at least twice ( so if you need to know about what we saw ask Paul ). Once we had worn Logan down a little we all caravanned over to the Slaters for lunch. Dad Slater was doing his Gaurd Weekend for Uncle Sam, but was able to meet us all later in the day. We had a wonderful meal and everyone enjoyed the company. After lunch and talking for a few hours we went out to Panera for dinner and everyone went on there way to get home. As Ami, Andy & Logan were on their way home they received word that the first offer had been made on Ami's house. On Sunday Andy celebrated his Birthday and Mom and Dad Slater traveled to Wethersfield to have dinner and help celebrate with us.

Now for the Big News. On Monday afternoon, with not too much in the way of haggling, a bonifide contract has been signed on the house. The house will have a new sump pump and electrical panel, by the end of March, but things look good so far. Inspection on Friday so keep us in your prayers.

On another note we are seriously considering moving to an appartment in a multi-family house side/side unit in Manchester, CT. As that developes we will update you all.

Hugs and Kisses
A & A & L & K

A play with friends: Dad's ROW

Went to the blog and saw Logan's interesting picture of the butterflies. Good shot. The story of Logan and the seven trips on the hill reminds me of Paul when we went to Maine one winter and he "fell 77 times while walking around in the snow" at Dingleys and fell asleep on the couch and couldn't be awakened for supper. And then the really long nap he took after the X-country ski tour in Houlton after we got back to the motel with the Jacobsons.

Haven't quite mastered the blog site so that I could write this directly on the site.

We went to MRT at Lowell with the Millins and what a show it was! The show is "Dinah Was" and is a play to show Dinah Washington's life and her fight to stay in the Sahara Hotel where she was the Headliner attraction in 1959 with flashbacks of her life. It was a powerful story with lots of good songs and done very well. It runs for 4 or 5 more weeks and we can recommend it highly for anyone who can make it to Lowell to see. The Jazz orchestra that supplies the music is also really good. We enjoyed another fine meal at the Village Inn in Dracut and the Millins shared more stories of their trip to Paris and Paul's upcoming trip to Israel. He leaves a week from today with 40+ other pastors for a package tour. The idea is that they will come back and talk it up in their congregations and jump start the tourist industry in Israel again. He's done a lot of research in what he wants to see and also into the security so that he feels comfortable in going. We look forward to the next show and the tales of his trip.

Weather is cold, +2 F, sunny and windy with wind chills in the negative territory. One more day of very cold and then snow flurries Tuesday through Thursday but temperatures may get as High as 39 F!

Mom's schedule is Hampton for Tuesday and Lewiston for Wednesday and Thursday this week so she'll get another visit with Aunt Debbie. She is still very excited with the new job and is enjoying the big challenges of her new responsibilities.

Enough ROW for now.

Logan's trip to EcoTarrium

Here is a picture that Logan took himself. He's been taking lots of pictures with the digital camera he got for Christmas, and we'll be posting some next time.

...And... We're Back!

Woah! Every time I had tried to log in to make a new post, the page would just blink and blink at me, alternately showing the page I would need to use and then wisking it away, telling me it was "loading." I was confounded on how to get in here ever again, but now I've found I simply need to disable my privacy wall, and I'm in.

Here is the Review Of everyone's Weekend from last week:
Matt:

I hiked 5 county highpoints (actually more than that, some counties had
multiple points) on Saturday and 3 peaks over Boulder, CO, on Sunday :-)
I woke up today (after flying in last night) and wanted my weekend!
Chari had to give me the boot out of bed. I hope to get some photos and
a trip report up soon. Colorado, especially up by Boulder, is a
beautiful spot. The peaks were only 8,000 ft, but I got a full day and
plenty of snow out of the deal. The county highpointing was way easier:
all of them were within 100 yards of where I parked the car!

Chari:

Hopefully stay at Maika's for one of the evenings and maybe some snowshoeing - We finally got some snow.

Dad W:

I went north on Friday, stopped and talked to Mildred and the lawyer. Our
executor appointments should come through this week from probate court. I
stopped by the house in Lee and checked on it. It seemed strange to walk
through with no one there.

I delivered some can goods and flour to Dad and Edna then bunked in with
Harry and Chris. Harry's back and ribs were bothering him so we didn't
plan on too big a weekend. Saturday we visited Scotty on Dobsie Pond. He
had a bob house set up on the ice with two holes inside and a few outside.
We stayed awhile and I got some good pictures. Weather was -20 F in the
mornings and warming up to 5 F but still cold with 10 to 15 mph breeze.
The heat in the bob house was appreciated.

We visited a second hand shop and then went home. Frank visited and we had
a good time. Took the meat from Auburn One out to camp and ate a meal
out there then came home. Sunday Berle came out and we had another good
visit so I got to see everyone.

Came home Monday and stopped in to Jake's office to break up the trip. GPS
said total trip was 602 miles up and back.

Mom worked in Lewiston Monday and is in Hampstead today. She'll have
tomorrow off due to the impending storm. We'll see what it brings.

Paul:

I've been trying to figure out the POW(hence the delays in answering - sorry M+D!), but I've been trying to coordinate too many people and places so far.

Assuming (!) all of G-ma's tech parts have not yet arrived, I will not stop by her place tonight to update Windows/Inet connection/RAM, but hope to do so sometime Sunday, if all parts have arrived by then.

So: Tonight (thr), up to Oxford(-ish) Maine, to the lakehouse with Dave, KC, Matt, Gabe, and Nate (I think) for general geeking-out and potent potables.

I hope to see Jake (prolly Sunday) in Raymond, then fix/upgrade G-ma's computer(Sunday*), then get back to Cambridge, maybe even in time for some work on Sunday. Far as I know, I'm working Monday (hooray for doubletime and a half!), so i def'ly need to be back for that.

*Even if the inet parts arent there yet, I could update RAM and Windows version. Or, I can wait til the parts are there, since inet is what she uses it for anyway.

And, the A-Team:

We are staying home, Logan will be out. Saturday, we'll fix the gaping hole in the garage to the basement wall. Later in the day, we'll have Sue and Micheal's dog, Jasmine here while they are out to play. We need to edit and burn the sermon onto CD before we go to church.

That's all. We might go sledding on Sunday afternoon. Logan and I took some time to sled from the front yard to the back yard between the houses on thursday morning before school. What a blast!! We almost hit the house behind us. We were going "so fast I couldn't even breathe well!" he reports.

The family blog is going through some engineering troubles, so I can't add anything to it just now. When I can get back there, please expect invitations to become blog contributors.
Ami and Andy

The surprises we have to add was that friends of Sue's and Micheal's came around with their Mastiff and we all went to the rather crowded dog park. The girls had a great time running around with the other dogs, and there was a Great Dane there, too, so Jasmine and Patience weren't the only loping large dogs. Well-dressed for the cold, and with no wind to speak of at the time, we, the dogs' companions, were content to laugh at their antics for at least an hour in the sun.

On Sunday, we got Logan back early, because of a heater problem at his Dad's house. We took the opportunity to go sledding up at the golf course, where a serious hill is roped off for the purpose. I didn't think we needed to go down the whole hill, really, but after one time down with Andy, Logan wouldn't hear of any bunny slope compromises! Everyone got their exercise walking back up the hill 7 times, and Logan was totally tuckered out by the end of it! A round of carmel hot chocolate for the boys refortified them though, in time for a sunday dinner of homemade soup and parmesan bread.

Next up: guest blogger invites for all of you!