The Burgess Family

January and February 2012

2012-01-30T06:13:00.004-05:00

Icy weather Jan/Feb 2012

Little Martin's new 'do'... adorable does not describe it well enough!

King Cake... a Louisiana tradition.

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John pulls Maeve in the wagon; we had some mild winter days in January.

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Laurie and I visited Aunt Louise who was having a good day; she lives at the Rockland 'Knox' nursing facility and is now under the care of Hospice. She recognized us as her nieces.

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Lizzie enjoys her adoption day party! Complete with a candy cane and candy cane frosting!

Martin likes a party, too.

Dan with Maeve- she likes to try on every one's shoes and boots.

When asked how old she is going to be on her birthday this month...

Maeve relaxing and reading with her Mommy...

This picture is from a few months ago, but Dan just received a copy of it...

Dan works hard for the Democrats, and his work is appreciated.

Kate and Emily preparing for Maeve's birthday party. Our beautiful daughters!

Such pretty decorations and delicious food!

Buster and Mike enjoy Maeve with a balloon at her first birthday party.

Maeve's first birthday with cupcake...

Maeve enjoys her birthday beanbag chair and her family's iPad early the next morning.

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Dan was a guest at the White House this month; he got to go along with the Boston Bruins as a perk for all of his work for President Obama. There are several pictures from this visit, but this is my favorite.

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John and I took a walk early one beautiful Sunday morning...

December 2011

2011-12-16T04:22:00.027-05:00

2011 comes to an end...

Happy New Year!

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December 29th, 2011.

Here Lizzie helps cook. She is growing up so quickly!

At nearly 3 and 3/4, she can do so many things by herself.

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We enjoyed a nice get together with the Dows, Bowmans and Kuses.

...Getting caught up with each other.

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December 27, 2011

The Dickens, McLean, Rush, Parker and Burgess Family Party

We decided to have appetizers only plus homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt with cookies for dessert. There was SO much food. Everyone brought goodies to share; and, Tom made Dad's (Grampy Dickens) Holiday Punch ... we cooked up a home grown ham and sliced that along with brussel sprouts with craisins and balsamic sauce (delicious!); shrimp, chicken wings, black bean veggie dip, all kids of cheeses, crackers, other dips, breads with spreads... fruit and veggies. We did not lack for food!

The McLean children gave us a beautiful candy cane 'beamer' to add to our collection!

Yankee Swap going on here...

Ryan is looking at a bird feeder, trying to decide to keep or trade it!

Laurie has a step stool... will she trade?

The children all got a gift...

fun!

Maeve is happy with her toy...
she is making vroom vroom noises, appropriately.

Stephanie and Maeve talking things over...

Feeding Maeve is a group project here.

The 'Carmel' McLean family; plus Martin and Maeve.

Mark and Stephanie

Emily

Mark takes Michael and Maddie for a snowmobile ride-

very little snow, but just enough for a little ride- by evening the snow was gone (rain).

More food pictures

Chris, Laurie and Tom talking over the technology (iPad).

Emily, Lizzie, Maddie and Laurie

Tom, TC, Kate, Maeve and Char.. and the punch bowl!

Tom, TC, and Sue

John with the new beamer!

Lizzie, waiting patiently for the festivities to begin.
She looks so grown up in her dress, red shoes clip on earrings, and new scaft!

Ryan with Martin

Emily, John R and Char

We had a little snow.

Michael opens a gift.

Laurie and Tom and the i-Pad

Emily, Ryan, Lizzie and Martin

TC gets the step stool- I think he will trade it!

Maeve and Gramp

Lizzie and Maeve

Maeve

Tom, Char and TC- what a nice family photo!

The McLean Family

Lizzie and her Uncle John R

Maeve

chaos and fun!

more fun!

more family fun!

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Christmas morning at the farm. Lizzie in her new boots, scarf and excitement!

Santa came!

Sue checking on things- caught by Dan.

Santa left gifts on the roof, too!! [This is an old Dickens tradition being carried forward.]

John puts a coat and hat on the snowperson that Ryan made!

Vegetable eyes, nose and mouth.

Maeve lugs around the tool box.

Maeve in her party dress.

Martin so happy!

Lizzie's new shoes.

The bag of gift wrap used as a 'beanbag' chair!

Lizzie helps harvest brussel sprouts for a family dinner.

Ryan climbs up to get the gifts that Santa left on the roof!
Lizzie looks on with excitement and wonder.

It was an iPad Christmas!
What a fun surprise!

Our outside lit tree.

I am so thankful for the love and good health of my family.
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Lizzie showing her Christmas Eve Excitement!

This is the evening of the 'made' gifts!

Maeve, fresh out of the tub, is excited, too!

And trying to do whatever Lizzie does.

Maeve helps Grampy open the traditional first gift.... (candy).

Lizzie looks on patiently as John R opens a gift that she delivered to him.

Martin plays... happily.

Ryan made a train for Lizzie... very cool! and very fun!

The year of the coupons... oil changes! and ice-cream cones!

Martin enjoys the train, too!

Ryan made a memory box for Emily.

John R's promise of a new outlet in my kitchen area!

Martin wears his new sweater.

John's made gift from me again this year is a book of photos from this blog

...it's been a great way for us to save and manage digital pictures year to year.

Dan had calendars made for all of us...
love the pictures that he chose to highlight!

Lizze painted rocks that will be very pretty in the flower garden!

Here is my necklace holder (thank you, John)

and beautiful purse or bag that Kate made! I might use it as a knitting bag.

Emily was busy making several kinds of jams and jellies...

we are already eating the raspberry! yummy!

John and I made grape jelly again this year, and
I made candied nuts, too, which were a big hit.

Emily made her now famous and sought after cinnamon coffee!

Ryan carved sets of kitchen utencils- beautiful!

Ryan made Maeve a step stool with 'M' ... she used it right away!

Maevey's hand print.

Lizzie's table that Ryan made for her.

Emily's $$ origami airplane for Dan.

Kate made beautiful pillows for Dan.

Maeve enjoying her stepstool.

So many other 'made' gifts not pictured... carved cedar blocks (Ryan);
framed photos, coathook racks... socks, mittens...
all so thoughtful and creative!

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Mourning doves... at least a dozen visit our backyard feeder every day, and sometimes they rest in the maple trees and look like fluffed out peachy brown blossoms.

Lizzie has her bells on for Christmas Eve!

Dan brought Lizzie an early gift- a top.
He is teaching her how to make it go.

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Beautiful Icy/'frosty' morning

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Maeve at 10 mon (Nov)... getting ready for the holidays.
Love this picture, Kate! It really captures her spirit!

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Almost as close as we can get with cardinals around here...
(thanks to John Crowley for sending it to us.)

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Kids and Grand Kids
another photo from the Thanksgiving weekend photo shoot.

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Winter Solstice Party 2011

It's about light, being with friends... food, drink, warmth... holiday spirit... FUN!

Lizzie, Laura, Emily, Martin and Gabriella (backto)

Tom's picture of table lights. Pretty, Tom!

It was a two puzzle night!

Getting ready...Grandma's old cook stove heating up the space.

Tom, Bruce, Jan and Kathy

Chris, Emily and Char...

Jean, Renate, and Russ enjoying Lynn's delicious chowder)

Julianne...

Jan, Flint, John, Russ, and Royce...

Trudy and Martin (in Zach's hat!)

Friends at the bonfire... it was a cold night.

Lizzie watches in the glow and heat of the fire.

and, of course, the bonfire.

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Laurie gave us a bird for our tree... she is made from bark and beautiful! She looks like she belongs there, and she does- sitting up there with the peace dove.

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Maeve (10 months) reads with Grammy; she is wearing a hair bow for the first time.

Maeve loves books.

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Dan and Rachael in NYC

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Ryan's delicious produce... (In December!!)

John's brussel sprouts- so delicious!

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Michael works on the puzzle...

Emily and Laurie join Mike and work on the puzzle, too. Stephanie and Mark are in the background.

Maddie with a snack after having had hot cocoa. This was the day she and her family got their Christmas trees... good to come inside for a visit and warmup! She and Lizzie had fun together.

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Maeve and Martin

Lizzie invites Maeve to sit with her to get in the picture.

Lizzie, Maeve and Martin

Lizzie helps Grammy make ginger cookies

Kate and Lizzie making 'handprint' salt dough

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John works in the 'wreath room'...

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Martin gets another bath in the sink.

Lizzie listens to books on CDs

Neighbor, Samantha, helped out with the g- kids on the big 'tree' weekends.
Here she is helping with Martin.

Happy Baby!

November 2011

2011-11-24T06:31:00.014-05:00

A few more family pictures...

I love this one...

.... and this one....

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I think this picture of Maeve captures the essence of the words happiness and glee as Grampy gives her a wagon ride on a warmish late November day.

Tree sales began the day after Thanksgiving.

Here Dan has helped someone cut and load a huge tree.

We took a break for family pictures.

Beautiful late fall sunrise.

Maeve plays with the beads.

Kissing Ball.

We needed to bring in trees ... here is a big load!

Set up for tree sales.

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Pictures from our family Thanksgiving with the McLeans in Winterport

It was a wonderful day!

Emily

Great Aunt Char and Martin

Great Aunt Char gets properly greeted by Lizzie and Maddie! Such love!

Maddie and Lizzie have their own special table near the cozy fireplace.

Lizzie and Uncle Dan talk things over.

Michael gets to light the candles.

Lizzie and Maddie blow out the matches.

Great Uncle Tom shares his tricks!

Uncle Dan and Martin

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Getting set up for Christmas Tree sales...Dan helps out Thanksgiving morning.

Early on Thanksgiving morning, the Rush family stopped by on their way north to Benedicta.

Maeve is off to climb the stairs...

Maeve and Grampy enjoy the beam.

Maeve knows her way around...

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Decorating the beam.

Lizzie is a big help!

Martin enjoys the process ...

Maeve in her highchair.

John helped... It's beautiful!

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Lizzie's masterpiece!

As the holiday season approaches, the weaths get decorated... Lizzie helped this year!

Maeve just woke up and has 'bed head'... just like her mother use to when she was a little girl.

I am bringing summer inside for the winter- nice to have a bit of color in November!

even brown....

winter window boxes

Brussel Sprouts... amazing crop this year!

Kate and John decorating for the holiday... This old apple tree is almost entirely dead now, but we have enjoyed it for all the 35 + years that we have lived here, so we decided to decorate it before cutting it down next summer. We have had turkeys roosting in it, bluebirds nesting in it, deer enjoying the drops, shade, apple pie and sauce from it... thank you dear old tree.

Kate...

Emily's birthday supper

Lizzie is very excited!

The mild weather this fall continues to confuse the forsythia bushes... the colors on this bush are amazing- leaves with shades from green to red, purple and yellow blossoms!

October 2011

2011-10-07T08:08:00.019-04:00

One of the best of the 500+ pictures taken that day... ! All 3 in one frame!

Photo Shoot day.. Here is Maeve (9 months)

Martin, getting ready for his holiday photo (6 months)

Lizzie 'helping' Maeve...

Maeve

Martin

It is not easy to get them all in one general area!

Kate helping Maeve get ready...

Emily helps Martin to get ready... new outfit! Lizzie has on her new dress, too, and 'her' Trudy necklace.

The relative calm before the 'organized' picture taking began.

Lizzie (three and a half)

Lizzie at Aunt Kate's house... where we gathered for a photo shoot...

Happy Halloween!

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Fall Sunrise

Fall Sunset

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Mixed weather message for the forsythia... is it spring?

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Martin gets a bath in the sink...

He comes up for air... he's a very good sport... accepting about the whole thing.

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Dan and Rachael... making cider

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Martin ... zzzzzzzzz

Maeve with her Daddy...

Martin and his Daddy...

Visiting the turkeys who do not disappoint..

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What a beautiful fall weekend! (Mount Battie)

Dan and Rachael with Camden Harbor in the background.

Kate and Maeve

Rachael, Emily, Dan and Lizzie

We all met up on top of Mt Battie

Dan and Lizzie

John and Maeve

We took a good look around.

Then an extra good look around...

Martin in the backpack.

Dinner at The Whale's Tooth Pub in Lincolnville.

Will and Kristin and baby Liam joined us.

Maeve and her Daddy (John)

Dan and Rachael

Lizzie, Martin and their Daddy (Ryan)

The Parker Family

Tom and Char joined us, too. We had such a nice meal together; nearly a full moon, too.

Grammy and Lizzie

The lobster lovers....

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Here comes Fall...

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Grandchildren in a basket!

September 2011

2011-09-02T07:23:00.027-04:00

Evolo Energy Solutions at the Common Ground Fair
Maeve gets a nap on Kate's back...

Kate, John, Mike and Brian...talking things over at the end of the day.
John R is with a customer behind them.

Evolo Energy Solutions... nice display.

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Fall flowers... these belong to the Parker Family and are on the camp deck... pretty.

Lizzie and Grampy hear eagles and are looking for them.
We had some wonderful weather at the end of September... a few 80+ degree days! This was clearly one of them.

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Maeve enjoys this wheeled toy... she crawls and pushes it and/or pulls herself up on it and makes it 'go'... it makes music/noise, too. All very exciting!

Maeve is trying to show Martin about the exersaucer...

it has noisy buttons that need pushing!

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The Blue Women hosted the Welcome Table this week. Here are Lizzie and Jan. Lizze served the cranberry sauce to compliment the chicken casserole that Jan served. Lizzie dressed up (princess extras) because she was 'going to church'. 'Her' Trudy made her beautiful necklace...

Royce helped with and enjoyed Martin. Royce had Martin giggling... great fun! It really does take a village- at least a village really helps! We are so blessed with such good friends in our village!

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We celebrated Kate's birthday with a small family party and an ice cream cake.

Lizzie decorated the chairs..

Martin has started eating solid food.

Kate had lots of help opening her gifts.

Delicious ice cream cake!

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Labor Day Family Gathering

Char and Lizzie read.

Maddie brought her baby and stroller

The lake was low, so walking and finding treasures along the shore was fun.

Bullet loves a good family party.

eating...

more eating...

Michael keeps the bonfire going.

hanging out

relaxing...

getting reacquainted...

picking pumpkins; riding in the back of the pickup is a special treat!

Heading out to gather apples for cider making.

Cider making.

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Look at those huge bubbles! Fun!

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John built this new boardwalk at camp through what will be a meandering garden path to the lake. Lizzie really enjoyed walking, skipping, jumping, and running on the path as he worked.

Emily helped John set the path. These pictures are too dark, but show the project.
I have a lot to learn about my camera!

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Lizzie finally got her train ride! She and Gramp are always trying to catch a look at the trains in East Newport; sometimes the engineer waves to Lizzie, and that is very exciting!

This train has three cars, and we were allowed to look them all over.

Up and down between two of the cars.

What a nice ride!

This conductor/engineer waived to her and made her day! At the end of the trip, she even got to talk with him...

(Belfast)

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Maeve at 6.5 months...

Maeve is crawling and pulling herself up to stand at every opportunity! She likes to see how things work, and this 'busy box' is just the thing!

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Newport Festival Day: a parade and book sale at the library... passing thunder shower, so we waited under the porch roof of the Newport Library and Cultural Center.

Look at the rain come from the gutter... it was just pouring!

These begonias in the window boxes at the cultural center are gorgeous!

The kids waited patiently for the rain to stop.

Maeve's busy little hands.

Martin wears earphones so the loud firetruck horns do not scare him or hurt his ears.

He and Grampy hang out.

Maeve is ready for the loud noises!

Lizzie enjoys the parade.

The Rush family

Lizzie's pockets are bulging full of candy thrown at the parade... VERY exciting!

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So, the 'fog came in on little cat feet' at sunrise this morning... what a beautiful morning!

Cindi cleans up for us around here... thankfully!

She found a place for some of the footwear!

Bluebirds... we have been lucky to have several families on the farm this summer, and unlike the swallows, the bluebirds are still here... foggy fallish morning. This was taken through the window, so not very clear.

August 2011

2011-08-07T07:52:00.014-04:00

Goodbye August... :-(

Trumpet Lily

I came across seeds for these trumpets late this spring. I had saved them from the several plants we had for Ryan and Emily's wedding SEVEN years ago~ I got these seeds started in the house in June and put them outside hoping to get flowers! Now I will hope to be able to save seeds once again. Incidently, I saw trumpets in Rockland that were a deep purple- gorgeous! ... I will look for those seeds!

Morning Glory in all its glory.

Nasturtiums..

and windowbox flowers...still pretty.

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Kate and John R hosted us all for brunch last weekend (08/28/11), which was fun and delicious!

Maeve at 7 months with Kate, Emily, Lizzie and Me; The Rush kitchen

Lizzie (3 yr 4 mon)

Grampy held Martin, and they became so relaxed that Martin fell asleep... very nice.

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Martin (4 months)

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GREAT weekend... after moving the little camp, John added soil and seeded down where the little camp use to be; he also set up a new fire pit that we had to try out!

We feasted on lobster, and Ryan's huge tomatoes...

Maeve enjoys the ride with her Mama and watching the campfire.

Dan and John R keep the fire going.

The dogs take a swim to cool off.

The lobster mentioned above.

Canoeing and kayaking at sunset.

Nice picture of Dan...

and Emily...

and Lizzie... (love the dress and boots!)

and Ryan....

This shows Lizzie 'paddling'... she takes canoeing very seriously. She and Ryan go frequently.

In this picture Dan is trying to race with Emily or cut her off or whatever- in the play, he got dumped!

Setting sun.

All return to the dock... in good spirits, if damp.

The sun has set.

Griffin looks on with concern (and his new summer hair cut.)

New look with little camp moved...

Here is John spreading grass seed in the new area.

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Parker Pigs

Brittany's Sunflower

Queen Anne's Lace....

The apple trees on the farm are loaded this year!

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John moved the 'little' camp with help of Ryan and John R.

I think it looks perfect in its new spot!

Here they are moving the little camp to its new location ...

a ground nest of yellow jackets was discovered very nearby, which added to the challenge!

Kate picks a bouquet from Nellie's hydrangea in the camp garden... It's a beautiful bush!

Lizzie helps...

A quiet and calm lake day...

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Here is John with Martin (3.5 months) and Maeve (5.5 months)... his arms are full of love.

Hydrangea (from the Parker family) that turns from white to pink... so pretty.

And the stargazer lily blooms...

July 2011

2011-07-10T05:49:00.029-04:00

Don and Jane Woodruff took us on their sailboat out of Belfast - what a wonderful day!

Donna Chale...

Trudy and Sue

Jane teaching John a bit about sailing.

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Lizzie goes to soccer camp! Here she is trying on some of her soccer stuff.

There are a lot of 3 and 4 year olds to manage! Lots of fun games played.

Turns out that water breaks and snacks are a big hit!

(Gail Stevens talking with Lizzie.)

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Tom and Alice share their 'old' friends from CT, Jeannie and John Crowley, with us. Here are Trudy and Royce, Jeannie and John, Tom and Alice, and John and I (empty chair, actually). I call it: Sharing refreshments and politics in the shade with good friends

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Sarah Adams and her fiance, Mike L., and children visit Maine... here are Sarah, Mike, Michael and Allie. That's a lot of Mikes!

Emily and Martin

Laurie and Sue with Martin, Allie and Maeve (what is Laurie feeding Maevy?).

Here are the kids who were that the day we visited: Lizzie, Michael, Beth, Allie, Martin, Mike, Maeve and Maddie. Not an easy task getting them all in the same place, looking at the camera, and smiling! We settled for getting them all in the same photo! Martin looks adoringly up at the girls....

Madison

Ryan and the 'new' water hand pump; Bullet is very interested!

Madison, Stephanie, Michael, Sarah holding Martin, Mike L., and Mike A.

Fun on the tractor tire tube! Madison, Lizzie and Michael.

Maddie and Lizzie playing with dolls.

Beth learned card tricks from Uncle Tom...

Uncle Tom teaching card tricks..... very attentive audience!

Hanging out together.

enjoying ice cream...

Laurie and Sarah; Bullet wants love, too.

Maddie likes to hula hoop.. she practices a lot and is very good at it!

Michael tubes!

Sarah and Mike L.

Ryan's pigs are a big hit!

...As is Griffy!

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Pittsfield Egg Festival Parade

Trudy znd Royce let us watch the parade from their lawn where we had a front row seat.

Trudy showed Lizzie that the parade had started and gave her a bag so that she could collect the candy that would be thrown- very exciting prospect! Lizzie loves 'her' Trudy.

Martin enjoys the gathering.

Maeve is ready for the big noisy fire trucks!

Trudy, dear friend.

Parade watchers

We were not able to keep Maeve on the blanket- she wants to move!

Lizzie enjoyed a pony ride at the festival.

The UU Church sold Ice Cream Sundaes and Root Beer Floats at the festival.

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Humming Moth on the butterfly bush.

Shade garden gets the ol' 'Anderson' cart...

Sunset.

Many of our day lilies are blooming now... so pretty!

Here is a pretty hollyhock...

And morning glories...in all their glory!

And this is a type of hydrangea- new to our garden last fall.

Ryan's raspberries are getting ready...yum!

The ever growing woodpile...

Christmas trees before their annual shearing.

Pumpkin patch in the background....

I love this oak tree- we started it from an acorn from Lincolnville!

This is our stroller 'collection'...

And this is Maeve having a nap ...

My favorite farmer.

more day lilies...

look closely for the baby nuthatch!

Asiatic lily

more day lilies...

New Butterfly Bush

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Lizzie wears NeNe's wide brimmed hat... doesn't she look dashing!

Emily and Martin enjoy a relaxing time together- it was a hot July day at camp.

The Rush Family took to the water... Lizzie, too. She learned to jump in by herself today off the little/side dock- over and over she practices. She learned to plug her nose and go for it! She got some water up her nose now and then, but she eventually was able to coordinate the jump with a plugged nose.

And Maeve got to sit in the baby floaty and seemed to enjoy it.

This is a nice way to enjoy the hot July weather!

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Fourth of July Fireworks in Boston

from atop of Dan's apartment in Cambridge.

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Martin is snugly and kissable! Here he's getting some Grammy love!

Family (Dickens, McLean, Parker, Rush, Burgess) gathers at camp for the 4th

Stephanie and Mark enjoy the day.

Madison and Michael

Madison 'doctors' Aunt Char

Maeve and her Daddy enjoy the hammock

It was a beautiful day. Tom and Char brought up their boat and several went tubing and skiing... I didn't get any pictures of that. We had a good thunder shower, too, and when the sky cleared again, we went back in the boat for more!

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Maeve gets a sink bath with Grammy S.

A bit of haying that weekend, too.

That is Dan on the tractor.

Emily enjoying the swing on the Parker swing set in the garden,

Hands up!
Lizzie Slides with flair!

Martin is in the stroller; he and Emily are enjoying a bit of shade. Beautiful weather.

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Rainbow over the farm... at times full and double...

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Burgess Family Reunion in Sudbury, MA this summer, at Mary and Yusef's lovely home. It was a beautiful July day and wonderful party! I didn't get very many pictures, but here are a few:
Here Aunt Irene has Maeve with Uncle George, Aunt Mary and Cousin Bekah in the picture, too.

Maeve gets around!
Here Owen is holding her with his parents, Jeff and Lisa, looking on.

Dan learns his secret number for the game from his Aunt Irene.
We played a 'picture caption' game and great prizes were won!

Kate, Uncle Sherwood and Maeve

Chris and Avery...

Aunt (Thea) Polly and Maeve...

June 2011

2011-06-03T07:05:00.025-04:00

First a nice visit with Aunt Louise (Rockland)

...and then lunch and fun at Lincolnville Beach.
Debbie and Michael (holding a crab)

Char plays in the sand with Maddie and Michael.

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When we celebrated John's birthday (on Father's Day), Lizzie helped him make the 61...

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What a summer for flowers!

This climber is just loaded with buds!

Griffy watched the goings-on from here.

We all watched John R run the excavator and move rocks so that John B can get the little camp moved.

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Marilyn Parker (Mimi) with Martin (10 weeks)

Lizzie sporting an old wig of her Great Grammy D's... she walked in with it on to surprise us!

Then we had to try it on Maeve...

Emily and Martin...

hay wagon...

Kate and Maeve (5 months)

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Maeve has a lot to say to Gramp these days...

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Martin at 2 months; photo shoot day!

What a comedy trying to get a picture of the three of them!

fun!

Maeve wants to do what Lizzie does, and visa versa, naturally!

Maeve at 4.75 months

Maeve isn't sure she wants to do this any more.

Lizzie is 3 yrs old

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Maeve 'talking' things over with Gramp.

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New window box... (June 8, 2011)

Martin is about to outgrow his little vest. (06/07/11)

Lizzie likes to help me 'shark' (steam clean) the floor!
She has on her painting clothes (lg shirt held with clothes pin)

Lizzie helped Grampy paint a window box- guess what color....

We put up a little tent, which was great fun!

Martin 'talks' to his mother...

Emily, Martin and Lizzie play in the tent, which turns out to be a miniature screen house!

Spring flowers...

New window box on the garden shed.
John's favorite apple tree (behind it) is almost dead now- just a couple of living limbs left... he is going to try to graft from it - it is an old variety. It is/was such a beautiful old tree...

June flowers... (06/06/11)

Jack is hiding ....

Shade garden

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Baby Martin...

Grandbaby Martin wearing his new sweater from Great Aunt Laurie.

Lizzie with her mother's old baby doll.

May 2011

2011-05-15T07:15:00.012-04:00

Off to see Newport's Memorial Day Parade...

Lizzie, Rachael and Dan are waiting on the curb.

Maeve gives us a goes to sleep, but she doesn't look all that comfy!

Checking out the 'new' Evolo Elm Street property... it has potential!

Putting in the dock at camp.

camp flower garden

John dove in!

Lizzie jumped in over and over!

onlookers

Martin and Dan have a conversation of sorts.

Lilacs!

Memorial Weekend...
Dan and Rachael and John work on the garden shed- they jacked it up and painted the trim... it looks GREAT! What a wonderful gift to me!

Early monring fog... at sunrise.

Dan and Martin.

Rachael, Dan and Lizzie play soccer.

Dan checking out the pigs.

Lizzie helping to plant the window boxes; maeve working hard at her toys.

Dan and Rachael.... working on the garden shed. Rachael is wearing Dan's old high school t-shirt.

John, Dan and Rachael jack up and paint the trim on the garden shed. Happy Mother's Day to me!

Lilacs...

Bleeding Heart

Phlox

Another type of bleeding heart.

Martin stretching while trying to catch some zzzzz.

Maeve's first swing outside.

Pretty new windowboxes... Kate and Lizzie are filling them for me.

Fresh Greens and Fresh Eggs all from Parker Produce!

Lizzie enjoys getting cleaned up in the sink.

Gramp...

Maevey hard at work... studying her toys.

Maeve reads with her mother... look at the feet...

***
Two gifts: the water color of the birch trees is from a client and the lighted silk flowers are from the Rush Family... both beautiful!

The girls made cinnamon rolls... 3 huge batches! Here is the ring leader...

***
Here are various spring/May pictures.

We celebrated my birthday- Lizzie was in charge of decorating. She did a great job! This is my chair...

This is her chair.

John made and decorated some beautiful window boxes!

Emily mowed the lawn at camp.

Martin grows...

Maevey grows...

Ryan cooks for us...

Kate cooks for us!

Gramp and Lizzie check things out.

We hang out together.

***

The Kus Wedding (Doug and Robin)

It was a beautiful spring day and venue!

Kate with Maeve who is sporting a very fine and fashionable hat for the occasion!

The groom awaits.

Tom and Alice come 'down the isle'... what a good looking couple!

(Caroline in the foreground.)

Here comes the beautiful bride... with her father.

Ryan and Martin

Family look on and enjoy the beautiful ceremony.

Lizzie tries to be quiet during the beautiful wedding ceremony.

Lots of smiling friends and family look on...

Robin and Doug

enjoying friends

Emily sports a very fine hat! [okay, it's mine, but I think she looks really good in it!]

Brian and Ryan are serious badminton players!

Martin snuggles up with his Grammy B

Martin and Lizzie with Grammy

***

John and John bought Angus steers; feels (and smells) kinda 'farmy' around here again.

Family business going on ... busy Dads here

***

Maeve and Martin

***

Dan gets ready to graduate with a master's degree in Public Administration from Northeastern.

There he is! Diploma in hand!

Celebrating after the ceremony with a wonderful meal together.

Proud parents

Dan will classmates/friends.

Maeve and her Daddy talking things over.

The Rush Family.

Outside Dan's apartment in Cambridge.

***

Peace Vigil Signs

April 2011

2011-04-17T21:17:00.004-04:00

The Easter Bunny must have stopped by. It was a busy weekend with Martin's recent arrival, Lizzie's third Birthday party and Easter. Dan came home for it all, too... great family time!

Lizzie and Martin

Our Grandchildren

Busy Moms

Lizzie helps Gramp get the clothes in off the line.

Awaiting her birthday cake... so excited.

Three!

Lizzie and 'Neen'

Quiet time for Maevey and Mommy

Uncle Dan and Grampy color eggs with Lizzie

Baby stuff

Maeve begins to enjoy toys.. she has the Burgess 'stare' down...

Maeve with Grampy.. she is almost 3 months here.

Lizzie with her hair bow and rubber boots... styling!

Kate and Emily made the girls matching tutus... adorable! (04/17/11)

We went for a walk to visit the chickens....

and the new piglets- look closely to see them snuggled up in the 'hay' house that Ryan made for them.

Lizze wore her new tutu, winter jacket and rubber boots- a very good look!

John takes Lizzie for a wagon ride.

Parker Produce has a new sign....

Maeve fell asleep during the walk.

+++

While on our March vacation, the Evolo crew resided the barn 'baker' ...

and new barn doors- looking good!

March 2011

2011-04-09T08:21:00.012-04:00

Maeve Louise Rush; I think this child has been smiling since day 1!

On vacation! We flew to Florida and met up with Tom and Alice; spent a week with them sharing their time share... very nice. Perfect weather, too.

John on the balcony of our spot.

Enjoying coffee and the computer 'early' morning...

Oh, the flowers everywhere were beautiful! So nice to see such color in March.

Puzzling...

Our amazing room!

enjoying the balcony-great weather and great friends...

***

After a lovely week with Tom and Alice at their time share in Weston, we were off on a Caribbean cruise together!

The Hemingway House in Key West.

John in a Banyan Tree

Key West Light House

Jamaica... rain forest visit.

John enjoying his coffee and watching the goings on from the deck early morning on board ship- I think this was in Grand Cayman where we had to be tendered to shore in small boats.

enjoying beautiful birds...

climbing the waterfall in Ocho Rio

what a wonderful and relaxing vacation!

***

and then we girls packed up the Evolo van... trot trot to Boston...to visit Dan. Great fun, great visit!

Lizzie relaxes at the planned parenthood rally in Maeve's seat.

Amanda met us at the rally on Boston Common.

Lizzie in her new hat! She is 'almost 3', she will tell you.

February 2011

2011-03-25T05:05:00.002-04:00

February was such a hard month... so much sadness, but so much love, too.

So much love...

So much happiness...

and SO much snow...

January 2011

2011-01-03T05:46:00.006-05:00

These are professional pictures of Maeve taken in the hospital... I picked a few of my favorites.

Great Aunt Laurie and Maeve Louise

Introducing our granddaughter: Maeve Louise Rush; born 01/17/11

Happy parents, Kate and John

Aunt Emily and cousin Lizzie

Lizzie does a great job holding Maeve.

Adoring family...

She already loves her Uncle Dan!

****

An evening of panini making and playing dominoes... with old and new friends. Look at this spread of panini making options!

Now, this was delicious!

yup... amazing!

Pretty and tasty sauteed olive dish.

Kate: almost 40 weeks. Note the jars of ginger... she can't get enough of it!Lizzie busy at the sink- note her earrings.

Kate makes popcorn balls. We were late making these this year.

December '10 addendum... (this wonderful picture taken by Lizzie's Grandmother Parker- Mimi) Sunrise, January 1st, 2011 Making punch for the Burgess Family PartyGifts on the roof... Santa?It was a great warmish winter day...Owen gets ready to go for a snowmobile ride.Sam plays with Lizzie.

We worked on and finished a puzzle.

The 'old' folks gathered around to visit. (George, Sherwood, Art, and John)

John and Elliot have a snowball fight! Plenty of food. (Lisa, Jeff, Mary, Sam, Mary, Yusef)

The kids open their gifts; here are (Lisa) Bekah and OwenLisa, Bekah and Joey

Ryan, Kate, John R, Yusef, Mary, Barbara, Elliot, Sam, Lisa and Lizzie Playing in the snow...

Yusef and Jeff visiting

Sam and Lizziefort building

snowperson made

Lisa and Kate (Sam and Barbara in the background)

December 2010

2010-12-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite pictures... and what did she want for Christmas? "a candy cane, please." Lighting Kwanzaa candles became part of our celebration this year. Tom and Alice gave us this 'trees for sale' decoration...how fitting!

The smell of Christmas.

Another snow/lights picture. Pretty new beamer from Julie and Ken plus the little 'disco' ball from the Liberace museum.

The dogs want to party, too. Griffin's drool looks frozen!

pretty holiday colors... Michael and Madison in their jammies in front of their pretty tree. More pictures from the Blizzard of 2010

-out the back barn door-back of the old cow barn
camp snow

More of the 'Blizzard of 2010'.

First day of Kwanzaa and Boxing Day... and the Dickens, McLean, Rush, Parker and Burgess Family party. See the pretty 'hands around' bowl of nuts... part of the tradition of sharing. Tom made 'the' delicious punch! The dogs looked on from outside.

Stephanie manages to hold both Maddie and Lizzie who want to snuggle with her.

The McLean family. Lizzie snuggles with her new bear... Sue reading about Kwanzaa... we lit the black candle.

Christmas morning.

We must stop for a tea party with new dishes...

Christmas Eve Night...

Make your own pizza supper.

Relaxing Christmas Eve day.New galoshes from Uncle Dan- she loves them! Christmas eve day... making and decorating cookies. Baby Rush is really growing!

Kate and Lizzie making cookies.

John and I took Lizzie to Karen and Frank's cookie party. Trudy helped Lizzie decorate some pretty cookies.

The morning after the solstice celebration: Sharon stayed over night with us, and we hung out and had breakfast together.

Solstice celebration 2010... what a beautiful evening!
John R gets the fire going.
Tom got a picture of the wind tower lights and 'hay tree' lights.

Watching the fire. Kate and Emily with Allison. Folks visiting by the fire.

Anne and Mark Carney visiting with John.

Sharon, Donna, Jean, and Jan

Smoke rises like clouds over the moon.

A new 'candy' beamer from Kathy and Dennis... Puzzle doers.

Dan, Char, Tom and Lynn.. Hazel plays her tin horn for us.

Char and Dennis... Dan, Mike, Hazel and Tom...

Dan and Lizzie take in the fire.

Onlookers visiting by the fire.

Tom seriously working on the puzzle.

Sharon and Sue.

Sharon brought us a pretty new beamer!

From rain to snow... a couple of days later (see below), Yes, it is December, but we had a couple of days with temps in the 50s and heavy rain... huge puddles and mud all around! Sights of the holiday season:

Peace.... ... trees from folding catalogs... Peace

The kids love this thing... dancing snowman.

The Hay Tree at night... it's hard to see, but maybe you get the idea. It is really quite pretty at night! Here are pictures of some of the trees leaving the farm... this first one was more than 15 feet tall... and had quite a wide span! another big one leaves the farm!

Dan's Boston 'tree'. Festive!

November 2010

2010-11-03T05:29:00.000-04:00

Here are more pictures from Thanksgiving with the McLeans.

Sarah and MikeLizzie and Maddie talking things over...
Burgess/Parkers

Sarah and Laurie

All family present this day- warm enough to take pictures on the deck! (we missed the Rush family)
Dan and Emily

Happy and Smiling Snowpeople!

Thanksgiving with the McLean family.. here's the turkey (and I don't mean Laurie!)Michael and MaddieMaddie and Mark

The McLean turkey collection...

The Dickens Family

Dan and TC

Mikey

Delicious drinks were served... Cosmopolitans - the drink of the day!

Magic Tricks being taught and practiced.more magic.

still more...

Allie can do a split!

Laurie and Sarah

Snowman cutouts ready.

The Rush Baby Shower

Dear friends, Evie and Julie... Lizzie helped by washing the grapes. This took about a half hour ... if you had grapes at the shower, you can be sure that each one was carefully washed! She did a GREAT job! What a dear one.
Molly, Aunt Louise, niece Sarah, ... kids helping Kate open shower gifts. Ryan made us a new sign... isn't it festive and beautiful?

Beautiful trees, John. Our wind turbine was down- literally- for some maintenance... hard mentally to have the wind blow like it has beel lately without it generating electricity for us! Anyway, it is back up now and with fresh holiday lights 100 feet of the tower! The 'Newport Needle' at night!

This is Danny standing back-to in late October meeting and greeting President Obama on the tar mack at Logan airport when he visited Boston ... very exciting! He got this opportunity because of his considerable work for the Democratic party. Dan will get a face-to picture with the president from the White House... eventually.

There is a new model at Macy's... this is my great niece, Allie, who was in Maine with her family over Thanksgiving. I think she's a great addition to the display!

This may look like a pile of hay during the day, but it is such a pretty 'tree' at night all lit up! We are ready! Let the tree sales begin!

(11/21) We celebrated Emily and Dan's birthdays on the same day this year when we all could be together. We had a great meal including a veggie lasagna, which Lizzie helped to make, a beautiful Parker Produce salad with greens freshly cut from the greenhouse moments before the meal, (!), homemade bread (pumpernickel- a family fav) plus two desserts- cream puffs and apple crisp! oh yes, and wine. Not the usual birthday cakes, but what Emily and Dan chose this year. Here John delivers the 'birthday cream puff' with candles supported by the whipped cream! Emily is now 31...

And Dan is now 82 or 28...?

The kids got a head start decorating the beam, and Lizzie really got into the action this year! Here she is holding one of my favorite decorations- a large glittery peace symbol that came from NYC last season. I had admired it in a window in the city, and Kate bought one for me as a surprise gift, and now it is also a reminder of wonderful trip memories as well as a symbol for peace, which along with love, is at the heart of the holidays for me.

John and Dan went for a hike in Acadia today... windy and cold, but beautiful still. These clouds contained snow flurries... (11/20).

Lizzie was on the go here, so I had to take this picture quickly!

Griffy (wearing his hunter orange vest; adult XL and zips up the front) likes to be close to his people.. Very close... John is cutting out and making a snowman decoration / backdrop for picture taking.

With November comes the last of the squash... what a great harvest this year!

Hunting season means the big dogs around here have to wear orange, too.

John and I missed most of Halloween Trick or Treating this year (DC trip), but here are pictures that Emily and Kate shared with us of Lizzie in her Cookie Monster costume and candy bag... notice boots and snow on the ground! Lizzie is 2 1/2 now.

Annual Turkey Supper at church with a new emphasis... The 'Greater' Burgess Family enjoys the turkey supper- the big tables were full, so they found the kids table! And it was handy to the pies...
***

We celebrated Donna's birthday with a cake from Frank's Bakery... delicious!Happy Birthday, Donna.

***
Off to D.C. and the Rally for Sanity...
Heading to 'the' mall...
Early signs....
We were there early and set up a great spot complete with chairs... thanks to our hosts! and lunch...
throngs of happy, nice, considerate and friendly people... what a wonderful crowd!

Trudy is our joyfully subversive one... and the one to get this trip together for us!

waiting comfortably for things to get started...

October 2010

2010-10-03T06:52:00.001-04:00

Pictures from our visit with Dan this past weekend: Here we are, getting a little history. Dan had to work Monday, so we went to Concord with him (where he works), and we stopped along the way to have a nice breakfast and to see the Old North Bridge.

What a lot of history in Concord!Reading about the Revolutionary War.

Watching SNL on Dan's computer at his apartment in Cambridge. Honk Fest at Harvard Square... this is a stationary marching band... I really think our lawn chair drill team would have fit in perfectly!

***

"Fruits" of our labor... delicious! *****
The grape harvest begins! Wow- what a crop this year!