The Vatican

On day two in Rome we visited the Vatican, which is an independent counrty, with the pope as its ruler. We can't say enough about all of the antiquities, ceiling paintings,and wall paintings in the Vatican museum, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling paintings were very impressive. With all of the marble statues, dating back to 300 BC, we were in overload by the end of the morning. After a quick bite of lunch, we finished the afternoon enjoying the Villa Borghese museum and gardens. Pictured are a bronze fountain in the Vatican entry courtyard, one of the painted ceilings in the Vatican museum, a marble bowl in the Vatican museum, St.Peter's Basilica dome, and the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica.

Day One in Rome

Today we spent the morning touring the Basicila of St. Peter in Chains, the Forum, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon. We had read a lot about the sights in Rome, but actually seeing them for the first time makes them even more impressive. This is especially true when you consider that the City of Rome was about 1,000,000 people in those days. The Circus Maximus, where the chariot races were held, had seating for 250,000 people. Pictured are the ceiling in the Basicila of St Peter in Chains, the interior of the Basicila, the Home of the six Vestal Virgins at the Foreum, the road to the Colosseum, and Georgia & Hugh at the Colosseum.

Good Morning Novato

This morning at about 7:00 AM we had three hen turkeys in the back yard under the bird feeder. Then along came a perspective boy friend, who wanted to show off for the ladies. With the way he is acting, there are some openings on his "dance card".

Southern California Trip for Lain's First Birthday

On April 9th we left for Southern Calfiornia and Grandson Lain's first birthday. Enroute we met us with a classmate of Hugh's and some friends for some dining and wine sampling in Carmel. We left Carmel and went to Santa Barbara, where we met with some of Georgia's Pi Phi sorority sisters. On the 12th we arrived in Rancho Cucamonga to celebrate Lain's first birthday on the 12th and concluded it with a grand party on the 14th.

Pictured below are the wine samplers in Carmel, Lain eating a birthday cupcake on his birthday, Lain working on his cake eating skills at his party on the14th, and Lain opening presents with Georgia.

Grandson Cairn's 4th Birthday

On Thursday, March 15th, we travelled to Southern California to visit our daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons.  On the 15th we went to Kellen's science fair, where he won third place for his science experiment exhibit.  The next day we went to Rancho Las Palmas resort in Rancho Mirage to celebrate Cairn's fourth birthday.

Pictured are Kellen with his 3rd place science fair exhibit, Cairn's birthday celebration a Las Consuelas restaurant, Cairn opening presents, and the boys on the "Splashtopia" water slide.

Western Caribbean Cruise

On February 20th, we went to Pittsburgh to meet with Hugh's brothers to conduct a service for Hugh' mother , who passed away on January 3, 2012.  On February 23, 2012, we went to Miami Beach to spend three days on the beach. On the 26th we left Miami Beach and went on a Western Caribbean cruise on Oceania Line's Marina.   The ten day cruise took us to Key West, Florida, Costa Maya, Mexico, Roatan, Honduras, Santo Thomas, Guatemala, Belize City, Belize, Cozumel, Mexico, and Georgetown, Grand Cayman.  The majority of the trip was visiting Mayan historical sites with some sun and shopping.  Below are some of the pictures of the trip: 

Georgia bicycling in Key West

Mayan Ruins at Costa Maya, Mexico

 Mayan Ruins at Costa Maya, Mexico

 Georgia and Hugh by a Kopeck Tree in Honduras

 Georgia with a Macaw friend in Honduras.

 A Honduran monkey finds a new friend.

 Hugh is the one with the least hair.

 The "New River" wondering through the jungle flat lands in Belize.

 Mayan temple ruins on the "New River" Belize

 Upper temple at the "New River" ruins

 View over the jungle canopy from the top of the Upper Temple

 Restored Temple Carvings

Hugh & Georgia at Cozumel, Mexico

Lobster Feast

Hugh's brother, David and his wife, Debbie, sent us a gift certificate for four lobsters to be sent from Maine overnight for a dinner.  This past Saturday, 2.04.2012, we celebrated the feast with some friends.  Below are pictures of the lobster feed.  Thank you Dave and Debbie!!