The Big Three

Today Elizabeth Mary Shaffter turned three years old. To her Mom & Dad it seems like we only brought her home from Overlook a couple months ago, yet neither of us can remember a thing BE.

Happy Birthday to all you September babies. especially elizabeth, seen below modeling her special birthday high steppers, the most beautiful, okay i'm a little biased, kid in the world!

Another Shot of the Birthday Boy

Here he is again, looking quite serious. Perhaps he is pondering his advanced age. Happy Birthday, Rick. Keep on truckin'. Hey, are you 53 or 54?

Happy Birthday Ricky-Boy

Yesterday was Rit's birthday. He was basking in the sun with his honey on the pink sands of a Bermuda beach. Later they dined out and had birthday cake. Hope you enjoyed your day Rick , and your vacay. Be careful on those scooters!

A New Ride

Elizabeth on her New Ride, Bay Head, NJ

Last week elizabeth lounged on the beach at Bay Head, then rushed home to begin the long, arduous journey of institutional learning at st. john's preschool in b-ville, nj.

Mr. 60 Does Europe

Here are a few belated shots of Jimmy Simpson, aka the birthday boy, during his recent European Turbo Tour.

In Amsterdam he ponders whether to visit the smoke shop or the sex shop. As there was no bridge nearby to cross the canal, he rejected both and had a Coke instead.

Taking a breather, he puffs a fine large Cuban whilst cousin Huntie Hunt consults a map (for a change).

In this hidden-camera shot, the American adventurers purchase locally grown organic produce from renowned Dutch pharmacologist and red cabbage entrepreneur, Rolf.

The boys pack up after completing the rigorous 7.5 hour Rhine region section of the trip.

In Rothenburg he happily poses with Huntie and their stern German friend, Bertold.

At Marienplatz he gets off a droll remark about German girls and their irksome obsession with mirrors.

In Munich he laughs heartily at a clever joke Huntie has made at Adolph Hitler's expense.

Another town, another Cuban.

HAPPY 60th, JBS!

Summer Day

Philo, California, 8/07

The Summer Day
by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Trip to Toronto

I had a training course to attend in Toronto. So Rich and I made a little trip out of it, visiting my friends, cousin etc.

Rich liked one tower near the City Hall.
He bought it and renamed it to The Simpson Tower. ;-)


It was a bit cold in Toronto. Yet I wouldn’t let Rich turn the heat on in the room.
To make his point that the room is “Icy Cold", this is how Rich brushed his teeth.

More LBI

Hunter operated a foot rub business. He was quite relentless in setting up appointments
and timing your "sessions". Over the course of 5 days his skills improved greatly. He managed
to make $36, grandpa and unc Chris being his best clients.( $1 for 5 minutes)

Seems like most kids and quite a few adults wear these rash guards. We should call them sun guards and be done with it. In a few years time we'll all be wearing silver jumpsuits whenever we venture out.
We did not dig a hole for Hunt, just a light covering of sand.
This was a new sign this year in addition to no dogs, food, alcohol, containers, parties, fires, talking, smoking, staring, farting, fun allowed.
Hope would stay in the water until slightly blue and then wanted to be covered in sand and decorated.

Last Days of Summer

The dunes are still beautiful in Barneget Light.

Hope is a real sand dog.
Jim likes to take a picture of ol Barney coming out of my head.
We just returned from our vacay on LBI. The weather was quite beautiful the whole time and the biting flies were few. The gang was there for a long Labor Day weekend and we had some big fun. Hunter and Hope stayed in the ocean for hours and took their knock-downs well. Hope gets smashed all over the place but she is game. She and Grandpa had some good times riding the waves, Gidget goes ballastic. Thatcher suited up and launched himself in his bulletmobile. He soon ran afoul of the lifeguards when he suddenly intruded into the swimming area rather forcefully driven by a wave. Luckily he didn't brake anyone's legs.

Ted has left for URI

Today was an emotional day.
Ted left for URI in the morning.



Ted is moving to a bigger life full of adventures. So he sure must be excited and yet sad at the same time.

Pete, Rich and Ted - a final group hug before leaving.