December 2006 USA Trip

Our 3rd trip to the USA in 2006

December 7-17

With news of our niece, Ann, coming from Australia in December to visit her folks (Artie's brother Larry and his wife Marianne) we decided almost at the "last minute" to make one more trip to the USA to see her as well as more family and friends. We arrived at the Newark NJ airport on Friday morning, and the first order of business was to unpack the winter coats! We've become used to summer weather in December.

Our first stop, directly from the airport, was to pick up Artie's mom, Adella. We visited with her a bit before heading to Ray and Shelley's. At almost 93 years of age, she seemed in better condition for the winter cold than we were!

Sharing photos of our Patagonia trip was followed by one of Shelley's typically wonderful dinners. Jill and Ray did some playful pre-dinner antics.

Artie and Jill exchanged hugs for Coté and Mónica. We enjoyed Shelley's special "Thanksgiving Dinner" Friday night, and then the next day headed to New Hampshire, with a whistle-stop luncheon visit at Ali and Lenny's house along the way. It was a brief but fun visit.

We arrived at our Condo in New Hampshire Saturday evening, and Sunday morning headed out to Maine, to see nephew Stevie and his wife Nadine's progress on the home they have been building by hand for the last 5 years.

Their temporary "enchanted cottage."

Nadine warming-up next to the new house's stove.

Stevie describes their vision for the use and layout of the interior spaces. A great project that within a year may be completed. Quite a difference from the tiny but cute home that they've lived in while working on this grand project.

From interior views of the unique post-and-beam construction to the now finished exterior siding.

Although surprised by the early sunsets, about 4:30 in the afternoon, we marveled at the beautiful sky.

Mid-week we visited Larry and Marianne, and enjoyed a brief stop-in visit by Danny, Max and the new addition to the family: "Indy," their friendly mixed-breed dog.

Thursday, Stewart drove up from Boston with Sherry in their 1999 Corvette. We enjoyed the day with them, walking around our golf-course community, shopping, and having fun together catching-up on family activities.

Then Friday Ann, Dom, Bri and Jay spent the day and overnight with us, plus we had a full house when Danny, Roberta, Maddie and Max dropped in. It was a great family reunion that joined representatives from three continents: Australia, South America and North America, and two hemispheres.

Brother and sister, Danny and Ann, plus "the cousins" Jay, Bri and Maddie, all had fun being together. The next morning we had breakfast in downtown Nashua, and saw Larry and Marianne on our way to the Boston Airport to head home.

We're so glad that Ann and the crew came to visit the USA, and that we decided to fit in this brief vacation. It's always nice to be with friends and family, especially around the holidays. A great visit!

Back to Margy and Artie's homepage

With news of our niece, Ann, coming from Australia in December to visit her folks (Artie's brother Larry and his wife Marianne) we decided almost at the "last minute" to make one more trip to the USA to see her as well as more family and friends. We arrived at the Newark NJ airport on Friday morning, and the first order of business was to unpack the winter coats! We've become used to summer weather in December.

Our first stop, directly from the airport, was to pick up Artie's mom, Adella. We visited with her a bit before heading to Ray and Shelley's. At almost 93 years of age, she seemed in better condition for the winter cold than we were!


		Sharing photos of our Patagonia trip was followed by one of Shelley's typically wonderful dinners. Jill and Ray did some playful pre-dinner antics.

Artie and Jill exchanged hugs for Coté and Mónica. We enjoyed Shelley's special "Thanksgiving Dinner" Friday night, and then the next day headed to New Hampshire, with a whistle-stop luncheon visit at Ali and Lenny's house along the way. It was a brief but fun visit.

We arrived at our Condo in New Hampshire Saturday evening, and Sunday morning headed out to Maine, to see nephew Stevie and his wife Nadine's progress on the home they have been building by hand for the last 5 years.

Their temporary "enchanted cottage."		Nadine warming-up next to the new house's stove.


Stevie describes their vision for the use and layout of the interior spaces. A great project that within a year may be completed. Quite a difference from the tiny but cute home that they've lived in while working on this grand project.


From interior views of the unique post-and-beam construction to the now finished exterior siding.


Although surprised by the early sunsets, about 4:30 in the afternoon, we marveled at the beautiful sky.


Mid-week we visited Larry and Marianne, and enjoyed a brief stop-in visit by Danny, Max and the new addition to the family: "Indy," their friendly mixed-breed dog.


Thursday, Stewart drove up from Boston with Sherry in their 1999 Corvette. We enjoyed the day with them, walking around our golf-course community, shopping, and having fun together catching-up on family activities.


Then Friday Ann, Dom, Bri and Jay spent the day and overnight with us, plus we had a full house when Danny, Roberta, Maddie and Max dropped in. It was a great family reunion that joined representatives from three continents: Australia, South America and North America, and two hemispheres.


Brother and sister, Danny and Ann, plus "the cousins" Jay, Bri and Maddie, all had fun being together. The next morning we had breakfast in downtown Nashua, and saw Larry and Marianne on our way to the Boston Airport to head home.


We're so glad that Ann and the crew came to visit the USA, and that we decided to fit in this brief vacation. It's always nice to be with friends and family, especially around the holidays. A great visit!

Back to Margy and Artie's homepage