The "Gathering"

the Snyder clan at Thanksgiving 2007

New England Thanksgiving

Biggus and Bestus;

The "GATHERING" was at Karina and Thomas' new home in CT. Approximately 25 attended; unknown if any additional persons remained trapped in the "secret room".......

Robin and Michael are posting the group portrait.

"Sunrise Suzy".....at Cold Patch

Was 28 degrees this beautiful November morning . Hot tea, and later, a hot supper under the ambiance of a new light made everything warm inside

A Funeral and a Wedding....in Maine

October 18th found Suzanne and I headed to Maine for back to back "events"; her father's funeral in S. Portland, and her sister's wedding on Peaks Island. A quick respite was enjoyed in Old Lyme, CT where Annie scooted down river for lunch- scraps on the board walk near the RR (of course!) ... three days with LLSC in Kennebunk ... one at Delmar, NY with RMPL, and finally on to Geneva, NY for annual qualification on the Finger Lakes Railway as locomotive engineer.......Whew!

October Splendor.....sort of

No sharp frosts and lack of rain....make the 2007 "leaf season" late and spotty. Suzy and I did a "Allegany Highlands Trail" walk on Saturday. Cool....but not cold. Note Dave's dueling plaids; appropriate for a "Mance moment"

SANDPATCH WEEKEND !

Phil and Patty Larson visited us from Bloomfield, OH. Suzy created the perfect atmosphere of wine, cheeze, and snow-pod peas (stuffed with crab)..............before a roast beef dinner in the "new" dining room near the cozy wood stove. Dessert was "Lemon Lush", served while viewing Swiss mountain video, amid the Allegany mountains of Pennsylvania.

Summer Pro-longue

September 22, 2007......it's 88 degrees and the water is 75; Virginia Beach venue extends summer beyond the solstice.

Rain on a tin roof...

with a new roof, and gutter's in the rear, we can't wait for "first rain" to fall asleep to the sound of rain on a hot tin roof.....the heck with the cats.

TWO FERGIES !!

A 30 and a 35, both pristine, were the find of the year at the Jubilee in New Centerville, PA

Markin' the territory

Tulula saw the "big dogs" and chased them into the woods. Then, after all the excitement, she proceeded to mark her "Sandpatch" territory... to keep them away from the apple tree.

MORNING SNACKERS

Got up to put on a pot of coffee and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but fresh mown grasses, and four happy deer.

ALL DECKED OUT

.....and no place to go; except around and around. The used station platform scraps are dwindling, but held out long enough to complete the "surround". Now on to minor things...like a NEW ROOF!

"Leave it to Beaver".... know what I mean ?.

Well not really.............. Suzie's name is not HarvestSquaw

You talkin to ME?

Protection on the Board walk at Virginia Beach.....a big guy with a big poker

Breakfast at Tiffany's

New dining room taking shape at the "PATCH". Outside the new picture window the deck will continue to work it's way around the house.

Share the road.......hell !

Share the RAILROAD !

Memorial Day weekend resulted in a beautiful 24 mile (3 tunnel) biking journey down the east side of the Alleganies on the Western Maryland trail. After a picnic at the west portal of Brush Tunnel, our continuation was met by the headlight of an oncoming train. Do you REALLY think it was a considence?

Late afternoon found us hammock bound at the Mance Post Office.

TGIF

It's FRIDAY !!

Hokey Pokey....bug

backing up a few weeks, Robin's surprise trip to Manassas gave the happy "bug a hug" from all the Virginians.

Techachapi Trip

Roger and I , as we do about every other year, flew to California for "train chasin'. On the way out we took a bump in Phoenix and "left-behind-Suzy" now has a US Air coupon good for a round trip anywhere in the US.

Roger's ribs were feeling ok, as was my knee

....the weather was the best ever.

ah yes............THE DRESS

Seam...stress Suzie; chained in the garage until it is done. A lemon it is not; it exudes the freshness of Lemonade. Morgen was Proud!

Sherando Senior Prom....remember those days?

Morgen (Suzanne's 16 yr old daughter), and Ryan Witt pose for the obligatory photos for the Sherando High School Senior Prom. Suzy's magic fingers produced the beautiful daught.....er....dress, in about a day and a half.

Skyline birthday

After dinner in The Plains (the Railstop) on Friday nite, Suzie and I ventured up on Sunday morning to the serene beauty of Skyline drive. A "farmers breakfast' (albiet "Hawksbill") in the Skyland Lodge capped off a beautiful birthday weekend

Happy Bi.......er...Merry Christmas

Whatever. The irony of twins giving each other the same "tool" gift from Sears purchased approximately one hour apart four days before Christmas.

Today is our XXth birthday

I wonder what "gives"

Day of JOY

The joys of family
Laura, Lindsay, Soph and Charlie cruised in on April 20...a beautiful spring day. Lindsay, then left to "get something". It was Robin and HappyBug (Patrick), who had flown in from Albany as a joyous surprise.

Day of Sorrow

On Monday, April 16, 2007, 32 Virginia Tech students were executed by a crazed gunman in Blackstone, VA. Two days later, on the east side of the Blue Ridge mountains, Suzanne's sister's husband, died at age 48, leaving a wife and three small daughters. Burial was in a bucolic pasture on their farm...overlooking the Peaks of Otter.

Harbinger of things to come......

You missed our wedding? No, but here is the venue for June 2008

My senses restored

Morning tranquility on the Potomac was only a block away. The quiet serenity was soon puncutated by A Marine Base awakening. Soothing nevertheless.

When Time Stood Still !

"My heart was in my mouth"... but this Marine will live to fight another battle; a battle for first place in the presentation of the Darwin Theory

Snow foolin; twas EASTER

Easter Sunday; time to hide the eggs. BUT WAIT. I had to mow the lawn first to remove the snow. YES VIRGINIA, there is the Easter Bunny.