Visiting Jackie

On Monday we drove from Buffalo to Weston, WV to visit Jackie.  Although she has lived in that house for 20 years, Mark had never been there. I went out there 13 years ago with Evey.  It's a shame, but it's sort of out of the way.  For all of those years, Jackie drove into Baltimore for holidays with the family.  Still, the last time we saw her was a year and a half ago.

It was lovely staying at her house and having time to catch up on everything.

We also had time today to visit the graves of my parents.  My dad is in Weston and my mother is in  Cumberland.  It's so hard to believe that it has been so many years since I have been to those graves.

Now we are safe and sound back at Cindy's house.  So much fun here.  We will miss her!

Tomorrow the Auto Train and home to Florida.

Lockport with Ellen

After the breakfast with the family in the hotel, we drove to Williamsville to visit our friend Ellen.  We haven't seen her since 2009.  It was good to catch up on the news. I joked with her, though, that there is nothing to talk about.  She is my MOST loyal reader of this blog and knows everything about what we are doing!  If I ever say anything, she can truthfully say, "I know. I read it on your blog."  Maybe I should stop writing!  LOL!

After catching up on her news, we drove north to a little town called Lockport.  It is famous for having two back to back locks on the Erie Canal, and we wanted to ride the boat tour there because the captain in Herkimer mentioned it.

First we had a lunch at a lovely AAA recommended restaurant.  Mark and I each had Cajun blackened haddock that was just excellent.  We realized that we hardly ever see haddock on the menus in Florida. 

The boat ride was perfect.  It was windy and sunny but not too hot.  We sat on the upper deck to get the best views.  It was fascinating going into the locks and watching the water raise us up as we went toward Niagara and then turn around and be lowered down as we headed back toward Herkimer and Albany.  So much fun!  I would highly recommend riding the Erie Canal if you get up this way.

When we got back to the hotel, we had dinner at Denny's with Mark's cousins Mike and Judy.  This morning we are going to meet them in the hotel breakfast room one more time before driving south to Weston, WV to visit my stepmother, Jackie.  We will have dinner with her tonight and sleep over at her house.  Before driving back to Baltimore, I will be able to visit my Dad's grave in Weston.  One more night at Cindy's and then we are going on the autotrain.  Thursday afternoon we will be home.

Enjoy some pictures from the Canal boat tour yesterday.

Approaching lock 34

The captain said there was a 40 foot wall of water behind those gates.

The gate behind us closes and then we will be raised up over 20 feet.

Looking back at the water level after we had raised up through the lock.

Widest single span bridge in the country.  "Low bridge, everybody down."

Beautiful day for a boat ride.

Returning through locks 34 and 35.  This is the only place on the canal that has two locks back to back.  It's because it's the biggest change in elevation on the route, 49 feet. 

Heather and Chris, the newlyweds

Mark and I said good bye to Ron and Barbara as they left to go to shul.  Shortly after, we got on the road to Buffalo.  No problems.  Easy drive.  We had a Subway lunch in Buffalo and then went straight to the church.

What a church!  It was truly magnificent.  It was a full Catholic mass that lasted an hour and a quarter, although a chunk of that time was everyone taking communion who wanted to.  The bride and groom looked very happy and very beautiful.  We had a great time talking to all of Mark's relatives.

When the wedding was over, we went to the hotel, rested a bit, and then took the shuttle to the reception.  We were surprised to find we were on the third of four floors, and we did not see an elevator.  Glad we weren't the wedding on the fourth floor!  I might have had to crash the third floor one.  We were seated with Mark's Aunt Esther, Uncle Pinky, Aunt Flor (grandmother of the bride), and cousins Michael and his wife Judy.  Great table!  We had a blast and even danced to two songs.

Sunday morning we had breakfast in the hotel with the family before heading out on another adventure.  Tomorrow's blog will be about our adventures with Ellen C in Lockport, NY.

Here are a few of the pictures that I took of the wedding, the reception, and the breakfast.  Congratulations to Dr. Heather Wasik and Mr. Chris Wasik.  Good luck on your new life in Baltimore.

Heather Be's Wedding Day

Mark's cousin Nancy's daughter Heather is getting married this afternoon in Buffalo, NY.  We will be leaving Herkimer around 9 a.m. to head straight to the church, which means eating lunch en route at a Subway in our fancy wedding clothes.  That should draw a few odd looks, I should think.

Meanwhile here are a few pictures from our visit with Ron and Barb.  We have had a marvelous time.  At least I know we will see them again next summer at Lowell's wedding!  Maybe they will even come down to Florida to visit us before then.  Who knows?

Their house in Herkimer was built in 1899 but has had many nice improvements over the years while retaining the beautiful woodworking from an older era.  There's even a fun back staircase out of the kitchen that goes to a room housing a gigantic jacuzzi bathtub. 

Barb on the back deck.

Front of the house on Church Street.

Working from home with her kitty Fred helping.

A room for the pool table is an add-on from the kitchen and dining room.  Doors to the deck are in the back.

Friday afternoon we went to take a boat ride on the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal.

There's our boat, captain, and first mate.

Enjoying the pleasant weather and cruise.

Heading up the canal toward Lock 18.

Ron and I took simultaneous pictures of each other.

After the cruise...

...we drove past Rabbi Ron's shul, Beth Joseph, which is only two blocks from their house on the same street.

Shabbat dinner.