More Photos

Sara and Maia taken in the big chair in Metuchen, Thatcher the charming 5 year old, pre-badger, and Maia ready for a recital.
Maia and Pete, Tedsey, and Will the aviator.

Shucking Corn

Here's What I'm Talkin About

3.5

Elizabeth Mary Shaffer turns three and a half tomorrow (3/28/08). Since the family rarely sees the little bird I thought I'd share a few recent photos of the apple of my (and Laura's) eye. She's growing up fast and sturdy (3'6", 38.5lbs.). She's a fast and furious talker when the mood strikes. She's plenty coordinated and fiercely competitive. She's strong-willed and as stubborn as her Pennsylvania Dutch grandmother. She likes chicken noodle soup and choco chip mint ice cream. She watches Sesame Street and enjoys that old Joe Jackson number, Is She Really Going Out With Him.

Elizabeth and her classmates: Jonah, Davis, Francesca, and Nicholas

jammin with her buds Sophia and Cooper

waitin for the 12:40 to Gladstone with Colin, Molly, Gracien, Sophia, & Matthew

celebratin something with baby rosie

Vancouver

Dave and I spent a night in Vancouver this past weekend. We walked a lot and explored the many neighborhoods throughout the city. It's a busy metropolitan center with futuristic architecture, wonderful restaurants, parks, shops and much more. With a back-drop of the Coast Mountain range and surrounded by water it's truly a unique place to explore--we feel so lucky that it's only a ferry ride away from our home. We're hoping for some visitors so we can show you all around! Enjoy the photos.

Love to all, Sara


Dave rides the ferry on our way to the city


False Creek Ferries-great way to get around!


We caught a hockey game on Friday night--GO CANUCKS!!


Stanley Park-Home to the Vancouver Aquarium, miles of hiking & biking trails and over 200 native totem poles.


Coast Mountain range-Whistler is up there somewhere.


Flashing the peace sign.

Creaky Knee Gets Shaved & Goodbye Flapping Cartiledge

I spent last Thursday hanging around Hunterdon Medical Center having fun. I was in and out of there in about 7 hours, most of which was spent waiting to go into surgery and then trying to wake up and eat graham crackers after the procedure was over.Here I sit with the amazing "cryo-cuff" on my leg. You can easily drain off the ice water when it gets too warm and then refill it so you can keep the whole knee area from swelling up. It worked very well. Now I am walking around rather gingerly and looking forward to climbing on the stationery bike and riding to nowhere very soon. Then its a real bike and in June the Tour de Provence.

3rd Anniversary

Well. I missed it by a day. The 3rd anniversary of mom's death, that is. It's the 16th, not the 17th. Anyway, here's a shot of mom with Unca Jimmy at the beach, circa 1928 or so. She's looking pretty sharp. So is Jimmy, for that matter. It's hard to believe three years have passed since she died. I think about her every day and often find myself missing her at the oddest times. Like when we're eating dinner off some plates she gave us, or remembering her sitting on our porch, or having coffee in the morning and I think of having coffee with her in Sanibel, or when I'm trying to deal with a difficult person who I'd like to tell to go to hell but I think of how mom would have kept smiling and being kind to them, so I try to be like that. It doesn't always work, but it's worth aspiring to.

Adios St. Croix

Our days are numbered here in St. Croix but we have enjoyed our visit. We spent a good bit of time looking for a bigger house to buy. We found a perfect place but when push came to shove decided we would be crazy to leave our little place here on the hillside. Now we only hope the hillside doesn't come down next hurricane season.

We went out on the tall ship Roseway, a national historic landmark, 183 feet long, weighing 230 tons. Once undersail it was quite thrilling going upppppppppppppppppp and downnnnnnnnnnnnnn with 8-10 foot waves and occasional swells. Then we hit a squall and we came about, the boat was up on it's side and we were looking down into the ocean clinging to our seats. There was some yelling, some vomiting, a small child almost hit in the head with a dingy.The largely untrained crew scampered about shouting" are you alright?" I was a little scared by that time since I basically hate anything to do with boats and being out on the open water, and we were very far out. Later Jimmy reminded me of how you can drown in 2 inches of water too which was exceedingly comforting. The wine dark sea my ass.

So heres Mr. Crabby trying to get across our walk. Its funny to see them when they are so tiny and then as they trade up to bigger and bigger shells. Well actually you don't see this but I wish you could. Where and when do they switch?