Saturday July 28, 2012

Carol & Nelson invited us to their house in Highland Lakes for a bar-b-que on Saturday.  Adele, Michael, Sean and Jill joined us and we celebrated Jill's birthday.  As luck would have it, a terrific rainstorm broke out, so once again, the party was inside.  Everything was delicious:  cheese & crackers, chips & salsa,  hot dogs, cheeseburgers, grilled chicken and country style ribs plus salads and home made brownies for Jill's 25th.

Matt, Annie, Sean & Jill playing Wizards

Carol found an old photo of Adele, Carol, and me taken in Adele & Michael's first home in November of 1982

the 3 of us 30 years later...

Jill, the birthday girl

The birthday girl and the birthday cake

When we got back to the unit, we were without power.  We used the LED light Donna had given me when Bob and I first started our travels two years ago, and it sure came in handy.  Luckily, the power came on before we went to bed.

Today (Sunday)we went to the cemetery for one more time before heading south, and later at the campground, we started getting things organized for the trip back tomorrow.  Once again, we had a terrific stay in Jersey, and loved seeing all of the family.  Thanks to everyone for the good time!!!

 

 

Joe & Melody's Big Day July 27 2012

The wedding festivities were being held at F.E.A.S.T on Round Hill Road in Washingtonville, NY.  The ceremony was performed in the gardens under white clouds and blue skies. After, everyone went into the grand hall for appetizers, drinks, dinner, and of course, dancing.  Joe & Barbara have 5 children: Al, Joe, Christine, John, and Luke.  Al got married last year; Joe today. Adele & Michael have three children: Rachel, David, and Jill. Rachel was married this past May. Carol and Nelson have two:  Annie & Matt.  With 3 of the 10 kids married within the past year,  folks were taking bets on who would be next! ( I found out later Annie caught the bouquet...)

The grounds 

Bob

Me

The bridal party

Melody & her dad

Melody & Joe

Mr & Mrs Joe Piascik

Baumstamm Sagen (an old Bavarian tradition wherein the newly married couple saws a log in half which symbolizes that together they can accomplish anything)

Inside the hall, wedding photos of family members and friends were displayed.  This one is of Barbara and Joe, parents of the groom

Barbara

 Barbara's parents, Mr & Mrs Jones

Uncle Mickey & Rita

Alex & Christine

David & Kim

Adele with a vegetarian "ice cream cone" appetizer

Carol, The Groom Joe, and Adele

Sue Ann & Lynne, Melody's aunts

Bob & Joe,  father of the groom

Bridal Party Table

Uncle Mickey & Rita Rockin' & Rollin'

Jill, Kim & Annie

Melody designed the programs which were a fan used by many during the ceremony, favors and name place cards.  Joe is a high school chemistry teacher in Warwick, so she used the periodic table for the place cards and test tubes for the favors.  Very clever!

Melody & Joe had rented a photo booth, like ones on the boardwalk.  Although Bob was reluctant to have pictures taken until Annie dragged him to it, once inside, he mugged so much I couldn't stop laughing.

Rehearsal Party at the Piasciks

Thursday morning was laundry day, and then pretty much a do nothing day until late afternoon when we drove to Salisbury Mills, NY, to the rehearsal party held at cousin Joe and Barbara's.  A severe t-storm erupted just as we got to their house.  Joe & Barb had set up tents in their backyard, but the rain forced most folks inside.  Luckily, they have a very large home, so there was plenty of room for the 50+  guests.  I must apologize that I did not get many pictures, especially of the principal players.  We left about 9 pm since it was over an hour drive back to the park along winding country roads, but we had a thoroughly enjoyable time, and are looking forward to the wedding Friday.

Cousin Adele,  nicely tanned and recently back from the Merson family annual vacation at Love Ladies on LBI 

One of several pictures which were displayed in the dining room of Joe and Melody growing up. In this photo Joe is being honored for one his many athletic achievements.

 The bride-to-be...Melody

Mr & Mrs Jones...Barbara's parents and grand parents of Joe, the groom-to-be

Annie had come down with a case of poison ivy, which prompted Adele to recall her getting it when at Sponja Farm in Pennsylvania when she was about 14.

Adele asked her dad if he remembered her getting poison ivy, which led him to relate how he had gotten it as a young man while playing ball with the guys in the club.  The baseball had gone into a field of weeds and no one else was willing to go in for it, so Uncle Mickey did.  He ended up getting poison ivy, and everyone assured him the cure was to "pee" on the rash.  So, he did.

Matt, Jill, Sean,  David, and Annie listening to the stories (or texting)

  David enjoying the punch line to his grand dad's anecdote for a poison ivy antidote.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

This morning, we took Charlie Dog to The Clip Shoppe, a groomer we use when we are here. He was much over due for a "do"...the last time being when we were up for Rachel's wedding about 9 weeks ago (and he usually gets cut every 5 weeks).  With him in good hands, we headed to Carol's.  After viewing awesome photos of her daughter Annie's 5 week school study in Spain, we traveled down Breakneck Road, a very steep, winding street that lives up to its name with its  25% grade.  We went to The Mixing Bowl Diner, which was built in 1885 and was originally a general store, post office and  all around meeting place, and then moved to its current location under interesting conditions outlined on the back of the menu.  As you might be able to tell, Carol's chic madras shorts co-ordinated with the diner's color scheme. After a tasty lunch, Carol took us to a boardwalk along the Appalachian Trail in Vernon Valley.  The elevated walkway wound through the wetlands to the Pochuck and Waywanda Mountains .  Thank you, Carol, for a very enjoyable afternoon!

Tuesday July 24, 2012

Tuesday morning Bob and I ran some errands and then we took a ride up to The Blue Ribbon Restaurant on Culver Lake, a place we happened upon 2 years ago.  Since then, we try to get there every time we come back to Jersey. The food is delicious, the service excellent,  the atmosphere very pleasant, and the ride along Rts 15 and 206 is very scenic.  In the evening, we went to Highland Lakes for a quick visit with cousins Carol and Nelson.  Back at the camp, we enjoyed a citronella candle fire since ground fires are not allowed in the park. 

Jersey Tomato Field

Jersey Corn Field

Nelson & Carol and some of the smaller veggies from Uncle Mike's tomato and  Kirby cuke patch

 Sun setting seen thru woods along Reservoir Road  on our way back to camp

Faux Campfire