Ballantyne Grandchildren 2001

Ballantyne Grandchildren

L-R
Row 1 Mary Uible Crowson, Sarah Dailey Helm, Gretchen Dailey Cook, Joe Dailey
Row 2 Roberta Uible King, Catherine Uible Morgan, Bob (Robert) Ballantyne, Tom Dailey, Bill/Freeman Dailey
Row 3 John Ballantyne Uible, Roger Ballantyne, Blaine Ballantyne

(missing: Ellen Walkley and Serena Uible)

Glendale Greetings

Finally getting back to some semblance of my pre-vacation routines, and read all the new blog postings! I'd make comments about them individually, but then you all would have to click on the comments for each posting instead of reading this. Anyway, I have survived my first three days back at work -- Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday -- had yesterday off as I work today. And today is the FINAL day in the Summer Reading Program so should be extra busy with lots of children picking up their prizes. Including the teen program we have ~11,000 participating this summer, up 15% at the Main Library. Glad to have good numbers for my personal final summer at GPL.

Mary -- liked the pictures of Don's pre-birthday celebration.
Roberta & Sid -- beautiful great-granddaughter and Sally looks good too!
Mom & Dad -- hope you are having a good visit with Cris & Angela.
John -- thanks for your call. (Do you need some book recommendations?)
Serena -- I'm participating in a Library 2.0 training (via blog) -- may post about that later

It is 88 degrees!

Took Roberta to work this morning - she started work at 7am - after a quick stop at Basha's. She said you could tell  it was low season - no line at all. Normally Basha's is pretty busy at that time of morning.

Later today I pick up Sid to take him to Chez Nous for the two of them  to go for medical appointments. Then on to Sun City to pick up van  at Hans Auto Repair. Then on to airport to pick up Morgans/Counts  - including Wendy Jean. I did manage to get baby seat out of Toyota ... does cutting all the straps make any difference?

Anyway, got a full day planned . . . need to get going.

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Comments

I had been waiting for Disqus to post how to remove Disqus, but keep comments. I got tired of waiting and just removed Disqus. I probably should have gone through and saved the comments, although I could just dig through Disqus and re-post. I may do that later . . .

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Miriam Callard

Above are photos with, among others, Sally Liszewski Callard and Miriam Callard -Sid's first great granddaughter. She is cute, but not speaking English yet.

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Mary Ellen Dailey Walkey

Her son has a  site - Moontimes.

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She also mentioned that it would be fun to do reunion on Kiawah Island - where she lives. That is only about 4 hours from the Crowsons.

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Back from New Hampshire/Massachusetts

Yesterday's trip went well - Sara and I left Northampton about 5:30 so I had time to fairly leisurely look around the Hartford airport which seemed  quite nice. They have big  rocking chairs on the sort of front main hallway for the  concourse so one could sit and watch planes land/take off. I sat and drank my McDonald's coffee ($1.89 for a small - but huge milk dispensers so I could drink my coffee half and half with skim milk in my own  container - which made the price more palatable).

Then Midway was fun to look around - I think the last time I was there was about 25 years ago. I got a gyro from a little Greek place and a coffee from a little burger place called McDonald's. Anyway, planes were all on time - well, last plane was about 10 minutes late, but everything else went very smoothly.

Sid and Roberta picked up both Sharon and me and also Sid's walker which had not made it to the airport with their flight earlier this week. We stopped at McDonald's on the way back to get something to drink. I  did try their iced coffee again - although out of the 6 or so I have had over the last 6 months, the first four were great. The last two have tasted more like sweet flavored ice water, with the emphasis on water and ice. So, I may be back to coffee and ice - probably cheaper and healthier.

I did have some leftover hummus last night before I crashed, but there isn't too much in the refrigerator. I'm  thinking about going out for breakfast and then do some quick shopping at Basha's. I haven't decided whether it is worth biking over to Wal-Mart area to eat breakfast earlier or just wait because I don't think that anyplace within a mile or so  is open early, early for breakfast. Actually, the distance is not so daunting as the bike security/traffic, etc. (not to mention the heat). Although right now it is only 73 degrees - projected high only 97.

Anyway, time to put in the third (and last) load of clothes for  the day. Then all vacation clothes will be clean, although I'm not sure that shorts I wore for the Northampton  cleaning project will ever look beige again. On the  other hand, since  they both had  a small hole just below the back pocket, maybe not a big loss. I'm pretty sure they were bought ($.50 each) at the United Methodist rummage sale last fall - great shorts, just  flawed by a small hole.

By the way, Catherine, Sara is also a great lover of the Alexander McCall Smith's series of #1 Ladies' Detective Agency book. She has the latest in the series which is the only one she hasn't read  yet.

Well, I'm getting really hungry - may head  over to WalMart area - can always go to McDonald's.

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The Birthday Boy

This would be (L-R) Sammy Crowson, Don, Linda Crowson Thomas and Danny Crowson

They were kind enough to supply their little brother with the hat, "Older than Dirt" balloon, handmade bowtie, laughing mirror held by Sammy and various other "old age" items.

Don's PRE-50th

Don's sister and 2 brothers surprised him (not me...) this weekend in celebrating his 50th birthday. We had dinner at Come Home to the Country tonight and that's where the picture was taken.

shown L-R

Ginny, MV, Don, Christian

In this picture, L-R Danny Crowson, Linda and Richard Thomas, Don and Mary Crowson, Sammy Crowson

The Northeast

Had a great time in the Northeast with parents, John and older sisters and other assorted relatives. Now back in Northampton at Sara King Lennox's.

Yesterday Sid, Roberta, Sara and I went back to Essalon - the place the group went for Sunday brunch. The food was very good - we ate outside - no waiting at all. When Sara got back from the airport we did quite a bit of work on the garage. Except for actually taking the trash/garbage out, we got it relatively cleared out.

Today we are going to work on the basement. I've been working on laundry and have moved a few pieces of furniture up and out of the basement, but otherwise sorta have to wait for Sara to see what comes next.

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Family photo, Northampton, etc.

Interesting how only John's, and perhaps MV's clothing style are still similar to the ones shown here. I did love that rose checkered wool jumper with the pink top - one of the few outfits that my older sisters hadn't already worn.

Well, I need to head down to the basement and do laundry. The plan is breakfast at 9ish and then I have time for a swim. Lunch at 12ish with Judy, Sara, Sally and Miriam and then we head on to the Fairfield Seacoast Inn then supper in Maine.

We did have a lovely dinner last night at Whatley Inn (pronounced "Whitely"). I had scallops. We had brunch at the Essalon - both excellent places -the food in Northampton and surrounding area has been great! Also been fun meeting Sally, Judy and Miriam. Although Miriam didn't have very much to say.

Well, laundry is calling.

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Sushi and sashimi in Northampton, etc.

Last night Sara and I walked to Moshi Moshi - a Japanese restaurant. We enjoyed sushi and sashimi there. Northampton is a pleasant, historic scenic place - rather reminds me of Asheville.

Weather here is pleasant - high today is to be 86, low 54. I told Roberta that she should bring her jacket since her blood freezes when the temperature hits 70 and below. Kings arrive this evening. Jonathan Lennox, Judy King Lizshefski(spelling?), Sally Lizshefski Callard and baby Miriam Callard arrive tomorrow.


Sara has two friendly cats wandering around. One has the habit of biting into paper - which is a bit strange. One of them - I'm not sure which - perhaps both - like to walk across computer keyboards while they are in use, which can make typing a bit of a problem.

MV - Sara is very interested in genealogy and she has some theory that Uibles and Kings came from the same area in Germany. I'll give her your email address so that she can quiz you at length about what you know. I told her I knew I had ancestors and that some came from somewhere in some part of Germany, but that was about the extent of my knowledge.

Back to work . . .

Now Reading

Ginny and I are working on this classic...which I had never picked up before. It is part of her required reading this summer for 11th grade along with Tom Sawyer and Mere Christianity.

Five Dysfunctions

Read this on Mary V's recommendation after reading her previous recommendation, Traveler's Gift.
Info from the book: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Patrick Lencioni once again offers a leadership fable that is as enthralling and instructive as his first two best-selling books, The Five Temptations of a CEO and The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive. This time, he turns his keen intellect and storytelling power to the fascinating, complex world of teams.

Made me feel better that part of the reason my work "team" doesn't function more perfectly, is it's size (10), rather than mismanagement! Better to divide into two teams for some purposes.

Happy 4th of July!

No fireworks in this post though -- although a good view of the fireworks could be had from our roof, just in case any of you ever want to try it. The Glendale fireworks are held at GCC, just north of Olive from our house, and I did read that 40,000 people are expected to be there this evening. Neighborhood parking will be at a premium.