Back in the Burg for Xmas

We drove north on Tuesday Dec. 19. Got into Pgh on time for dinner with Barbara and Howard B. and Joel and Nancy W. There are no good Chinese restaurants in HHI.
Today were went to the JCC to watch Nathan in the swim team and Mollie swim. Abe played basketball the entire time. Then it was pizza for dinner. Also something we do not eat in HHI very often.




There was a deer sitting on the hillside for over two hours this morning.




We had a sleepover with the kids. Jack saw the movie Jack Reacher once with me and again with Abe. Xmas eve we went to a Chinese restaurant with the W. Little Noah came and slept during the meal. Then we went to see the movie the Hobbit. Not my kind of movie.




On Xmas day I had a dinner for 32 family and friends. Everyone brought something and the food we excellent. We had many appetizers. Corn flake crumb chicken and mustard panko salmon. Two different salads. Ellen S made a large brownie cake and Laura made an ice cream cake.




Here is the dinner.




When we are done with a platter, I put it outside the front door for the cook to take home. Here is everything lined up. Very few left overs as the food was GOOD.




Jack and Renee B




Laura and Stu A




Rosa, Howard, Julia,




They are playing poker. Bernie S on left.




Nancy, Liz, Joel W




Jack went biking in the snow. Not so!




I took Abe shopping for his Chanukah gift. He insisted the only place to shop was Ross Park Mall. So off we went. Three stores and we found the perfect basketball shoes, LeBraun 10. And they are very expensive! Abe thinks he jumps higher with them. Then we found a perfect gym bag that holds the ball and shoes. He then let me look around the stores a little bit.
Here he is with the old shoes.




And with the new shoes that he wore out of the store. But when we were ready to leave the mall and it was raining outside, he changed his shoes back to the old ones.




I bought Mollie an antique doll dressed in a poodle skirt and saddle shoes. That was what she dressed up in for Halloween. No more than two hours after she got the porcelain doll, she dropped it. And now 'Ruthie'. Is an amputee with her left leg taped on. I never thought about how she would play with the doll. Just how she would love it. Or that the doll was fragile and she would drop it!




For Nathan I bought a basketball shirt. He did not like it. So I returned it. Bought him a remote control car. Not the kind he wanted. Bought a second one and it does not work. So I will need to return.
Mollie and I went to see the Nutcracker ballet. She likes it and we will go again next year. I bought her a nutcracker ornament. She was thrilled and then she broke the head off it the next day. Laura needs to buy super glue for the nutcracker and Ruthie the doll!




She is all jeweled up for the day.




The men went to see the Harlem Globetrotters on a terrible snow night. We had six inched of snow, that started with a freezing rain in the AM. Dec. 26. Big day for stores and many of them closed at 3:00 PM. I had dinner with Laura and Mollie and high tailed it home as it was snowing. Jack would have loved to not go to the show as the weather is BAD.
Boys night. Abe is a cool dude now days. He refuses to wear a winter coat or long sleeve shirts. And Nathan follows whatever Abe does. It should be an interesting winter as Laura argues with them every day about their going to be cold!




Girls night




It also was snowing in MD and the VH girls went sled riding and made a snowman.

Newton, CN and the 6 flags cemetery.

Sandy Hook elementary school. On 12/14 -- 20 elementary school children and 7 female teachers were killed by a shooter, killed himself, at the school. Boy had mental problems. He also shot him mother. The country is in grief and I feel so SAD. We need. Gun control, better mental care and more love between people.
Photos of the victims.








The flags are at half staff everywhere in the USA.




I was out walking and heard TAPS playing at the cemetery. Walked over and all the military groups were having a service for the veterans. About 100 people attended. Then there were a couple hundred wreaths to be placed on graves. None are placed in the Jewish area of the cemetery. They knew not to put them there. They put flags on the veteran graves at Beth Yam.




Beth Yam. No wreaths




The Levins have a bench just off the Jewish section. They plan to be cremated and there was a problem being buried on the Jewish ground. So you sit on their bench and your feet are in the Beth Yam area. I placed a wreath in the tree behind the bench. The bench holds 20 remains. They said we can be placed there but I think NO. It should be just their family. but that was a very generous offer.




People in charge of service.




The cremation area.




In 1966, Sea Pines was just being built. Charles Frazer had plans for everything. Families were living on the island, to develop and build it. A 6 year old girl became ill. He never thought to have a medical staff here. She was taken to Beaufort. But died because it took too long. He was in shock. How could this happen. He never thought about his employees and families getting sick and he had not provided health care on the island. In one day, a group of his men planned , designed the cemetery. And four days later this little girl was buried there. In the beginning the Jewish people were buried with others. Now they have their own area.




The VH lunch with Santa. Good picture.




Did you ever buy something and it is a mistake? Well the dishwasher broke two weeks before we were leaving in the spring. I bought a new one quickly and it stinks. I just can not go buy another new one. So try to find a
solution ! The tray has too large openings and things do not place well and tip over. So I am fixing the problem. Looks funny. But works. What will the renters think next summer when they see this.

Chanukah and parties

We had a big week of celebrations. First there was a Cycle Babbler party at the Pennock's with a gift exchange. I made a brisket.





We were invited to a second party at Gay and Sam's at the same hours. So we hopped in the car and went to that party. Evelyn Solomon, Gay's mom, 94 years cooked most of the food. She is from Youngstown, Ohio and is an amazing person. She comes to HHI for four months of winter. she used to do the cooking but Gay and Sam gained too much weight from her jewish food and now she is more of a guest. Positive, fun, bright, and what a good cook. Taught a group of women to play maj. She has the card memorized and would run around the table telling us things. One woman said she would take a tile, Evelyn said as she ran to her, you are not playing this hand, you are playing that! After filling up with food and talk at that house we went back to the first house for a second dessert.
I love this woman. She is fun. Reminds me of Aunt Gladys. It is a treasure to have older people part of your life.








We had a neighborhood Xmas dinner at a house. Everyone brings something. There is every food, drink and talking. I brought mundel bread.
Thursday night was the Chavarah dinner. Bernie P did a program about the history of the holiday. We then sang songs with Steve W playing the accordion and Sue W. playing the guitar. People brought their menorahs to light all together. I made a chocolate cake and the mundel bread.






Here we are singing to the song A Partridge in a Pear Tree with Jewish things. Bagel with cream cheese, dreidel, candles, etc.


Friday with Shirley was with the Other Ruth. We went to Savannah. Shopped and had a great lunch at the Jeptson Museum. They celebrate Xmas and it is eye opening for me. I never think about all the decorations that you can buy. I was going to get Leopolds ice cream but came to my senses and bought coffee for the drive home. We left at 9 am and got back at 4:30 PM. Fun Fun!
Here we are in Williams and Samoa.


Friday night we went to the temple for services. It was called 100 Menorahs. Everyone brought theirs and it was quite a sight. Very large crowd attended.

Cycle Babbles go to Columbia, SC overnight

20 people went to Columbia for fun, foods and biking. We had 16 bikers and 4 eaters. Our meals were great. Jack had the best trout ever and I regret not taking a picture of it. Garibaldi cafe.
















Morty Hess celebrated his 80th birthday with a chocolate cake with a wide filling of whipped cream. The entire meal was perfect.








We went biking on trails on the river both days. Very pretty. They are old train tracks. Rails to trails. Many people were walking the paths. I am glad we did it on a week day. Could be very crowded. The city seemed very nice, a college town. Many building are old and being used for new business.








The bikers 16 people. One person takes the picture.








Jack




Maxine




Breakfast. There was a large group from a corp. also staying at the hotel. They left at 7:00 AM. We had the breakfast room all alone . We pushed the tables together and babbled the morning away.
The hotel also had a cocktail hour from 5-6. Very nice hotel. Coffee, and fruit were out all day. Cookies put out in the afternoon. And we ate everything.








Fridays with Shirley. We went to all the stores in Harbor Town. Then to the bakery in HT for a quick lunch. We went to an Arbor Day celebration with third graders. They wrote speeches and made posters. Here they are planting a tree.




Off the Honey Horn museum. Looked at some art but were late for the outside art show.
Dinner was with Shirley and Dave. So I spent the entire day with her and it was fun.
Today Mollie was in the show at school for Chanukah.
That is such a sweet face. Remember her blond hair. The darker brown hair is underneath and will be arriving some day. In case you did not notice, Laura and Mollie have MY little lips.




Nathan got a Itouch and FaceTimed us right away. Two cell phones and the iPad were ringing at the same time. You see two days ago, jack took my old iPhone 4S. I got a new iPhone 5 and we are having fun. He is playing Bridge Baron all the time on the iPad and now on his new smart phone. He is after all, a smart man!
I have a Vera Bradley cover. My old cover was pink and Jack thought black was more suitable for a man. I think he made a good decision.




Have a healthy and happy Chanukah.
Made out of vegetables.