9/29: We enjoy a day off from our vacation and visit with the Feero family - pics

Today we are taking it easy. This evening, we will meet one of Margi's long lost east coast relatives. We arrived about 45 minutes late due to a last minute plumbing problem. Had to have the water tank replaced. Bill Feero will meet us for dinner at Nino's in Waterbury. Present clockwise starting from my left are; Debbie Giattino (Bill's Sister), Jimmie (Barbara's son), Bill Feero, Jeff Roth, April Roth (my sister), Barbara (Bill's sister), Ellen (Les's wife), Les Feero (Bill's uncle), Anne (Bill's mother), Kristine (Bill's niece), Blanche (Bill's wife), Margi Maki (Bill's 3rd cousin). Ed (me).

Eastern Feero gang at dinner with the Roth's and Maki's.

9/28: Butterfies, candles and horses - pics

This Monday, April drove us to Deerfield, Massachusetts to see the Magic Wings Butterfly House. Thousands of butterflies and lots of information on exotic insects. Next stop was the Yankee Candle shop. It is their flagship shop and was huge.

We had a chicken dinner at home.

thanks April!

9/27: Foxwoods Casino, Rhode Island and the blood moon - pics

On this fine Sunday, we went to the Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, Conneticut. We had lunch at a California Pizza Kitchen. April and I each had a bowl of her favorite split pea and barley soup. Margi had a chicken tortilla pizza. Jeff had a salad.

I bought a souvenir Foxwoods baseball hat and a pair of sandals. Margi and I each lost about $100. April won about $200. Foxwoods is huge! It is the largest casino in the U.S.. Las Vegas has more total, but not in a single building/complex.

We then drove on to Rhode Island and walked out to the surf on the Watch Hill beach. Many beautiful homes and picturesque harbors. Dinner was back in Mystic, Connecticut at the Captain Daniel Packer Inne. I had a blue point oyster followed by scallops with truffle oil, mashed potatoes and asparagus. Margi had a caesar salad followed by hearts of artichoke. April had a pear frezee salad followed by a tenderloin bruschetta. Jeff had half of duck from arrowhead farm in Arizona. Our delicious desert was apple pie and coffee with Baileys and amaretto. Margi had her usual white Russian. I bought a pirate t-shirt for Michael. This was the night of the rare blood moon. The t-shirt must have fallen out of the car during one of our stops to check the progress of the full lunar eclipse. We back tracked to the Cumberland gas station to no avail. I figure that it must have fallen outside a witches hut.

9/26: Vermont - pics

After breakfast at Egg & I, We walked the Marginal Way trail about 1 mile along the Atlantic Ocean coast. After we dipped our toes in the Atlantic, we had lunch at Cafe Prega. I had an eggplant sandwich and shared half a lobster roll with Margi. Another delicious meal! We drove back to Granby with a side trip to Brattleboro, Vermont. Made a Dunkin Donuts pit stop. Had a Mexican dinner at Besito in Hartford. We got home to Granby at about 9pm. Phew! Lots of walking this day..

9/25: Off to Maine - pics

Today, April and jeff drove us up to Maine. We passed through Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
We had an excellent lunch at Rein's Deli restaurant. Lots of great menu choices, but I couldn't resist the corned beef and cabbage. Margi had borst soup and kugel pudding. We had a lobster dinner at Jonathan's in Ogunquit. Jeff and I enjoyed a couple of Long Island ice teas. After dinner we went to a comedy show with Krazy Jake. We stayed overnight at the Ogunquit Inn.

Maine based stand up Comedian "Krazy Jake"  Hodgdon is One of New England's fast rising comedy stars.  Jake is a cast member on the new hit TV show "Yankee Jungle" on Animal Planet.
http://www.krazyjakecomedy.com/

9/24: Godzilla Maki - pic

Tonight we had dinner at the Han Asian food restaurant in Granby. I had the Godzilla Maki (flying fish roe, crab, avocado, etc) delicious sushi rolls. Margi had sesame chicken. Margi called out the owner on the crab. Advised them to do a Google search for sea cucumber. Fun times.

9/23: On to Hartford, CT

This morning we took a taxi from our hotel to see the Empire State building and then we were off to the Amtrak station to Hartford. We boarded about 11am and will visit my sister April and Jeff Roth in Granby, Connecticut. We arrived about 3 pm. Got a tour of Jeff's yard gardens. For dinner we had home made lasagna.

9/22: Broadway, statues and samovars oh my! - pics

Lady Liberty

After a big bus tour of uptown area including harlem.
We had a quick dinner at the Samovar. It is a Russian cuisine type restaurant. I had 3 peroskova, that I discovered are not same as my beloved peroghi, Instead these are pastries stuffed with mushroom, meat, cabbage. Close but no cigar. Also had a Russian type tea with a cherry sauce. Margi had potatoe pancakes. We then had a brisk walk to Gershwins theatre for a performance of  "Wicked", It is based on "The Wizard of Oz". It was our first Broadway play.

Wicked map

9/21: Central Park - pics

Today we walked through the Central Park zoo. After the zoo we took a carriage ride with our driver Abel for 35 minutes. Our horse was named Snow White. We bought some new shoes at a shoe parlor an then Xmas presents at an I love NY store (Landmark Gallery). Our dinner was at a fancy schmancy Bobby Flay place named "Bar Americain". Margi had asparagus chopped salad and a pork chop with tangerine sauce. I had venison with rice and mushrooms.

globe outside a Trump building

Margi under the globe

Dakota apartment building by Central Park

Snow Leopard in the zoo

4 lil monkys

store where we bought figurine boxes for our twins

pork chops with quail egg

venison at Bobby Flays place

statue of Alaskan husky Barto

gold statue

Central park carriage

Us 

Abel and our carriage

9/20: Arrive NYC - pics

We are due to arrive in New York city at 7 pm. We checked in to the Hampton Inn. Dinner was at an Applebee's. We took a short walk down to Times Square. Lots of pretty colored lights!

9/19: Last day in ol Chi town and on to NYC - pics

Today we checked out from the Hyatt Place and stashed our bags at the Amtrak station. We then caught the Metro down to the Navy Pier and walked around a bit. We rode the Willis ferris wheel and ate a simple lunch at the food court. We were planning to go to the Lincoln Park zoo, but time got away from us. Managed to luck out by picking the correct bus to catch the train in time to move on to New York city.

9/18: Setharoo tour - pics

Picasso baboon

a big bean!

9/17: Arrival in Chicago - pics

Today we checked in at 5pm to the Hyatt Place in Schaumburg, just outside of Chicago. We wer a bit stressed but ok. After figuring out the light rail, we got some confusing directions on how to make it from O'Hare to the hotel. There are several Hyatt type hotels in town.. we got on a Pace bus and missed the stop (along with some other frustrated riders). We finally got off at a mall and paid $20 for a hop back to the hotel. Dinner was at a Rams next door to the hotel.

9/16: Last day in Mora - pics

Today is our last day in Mora for this trip. Roger and Barb drove us to downtown St. Paul on their way to Angela's birthday party. After lunch at Kay's Kitchen, we checked in to our room at the Crown Plaza hotel at 11 East Kellog. We went for a walk in the park. Had to hurry out due to rowdies asking us to "wait". Room service for a hamburger dinner followed by a piece of New York cheesecake. Margi had a chocolate tort for desert.

9/15: Map of the Crawford trail system - pics

Today we relaxed at home and I made some final touches to the map of the Crawford trail system. I took the 4 wheeler ATV out to confirm the accuracy of  the map and mark the deer stands. It is now 8.5x11 inches after enlarging on the copier. I suggested that Barb might ask Angie to try transfer the map to a wood burning to hang on their wall.

9/14: Pine City home appraisal and Mall of America - pics

Today I went along on a house appraisal in Pine City with Roger. He took pictures and measurements of the outside and also inside the rooms. He also took pictures of other homes to compare their values. Margi and Barb visited the Mall of America.

9/13: Visit with Elizabeth - pic

Today I worked on a map of the Crawford trails. Google maps made this very accurate and fairly easy. Later in the day, we went into Mora to visit my cousin Elizabeth.

Elizabeth at the reunion

9/12: Hoe down in Mora - pics

On this fine day, Margi and I went four wheeling on the ATV trails on Roger's 40 acres. I wore sandals with no socks and got a nasty burn on my left ankle. Stupid is as stupid does!
Margi found a turtle and almost got pooped on :)

Later that afternoon we went to a hoe down at Barb's friend Angie's cabins.
We took a carriage ride with driver Paul Olson. We met two of Angie's neighbors, Bonnie and Bill Richert. Bill has a brother in Juneau. Also met a couple from North Pole. Angie's North Pole friends were Les and his wife name? (some help please Barb). There was plenty of good food, live music and a very nice turnout at Angie's hoe down.

9/11: Lake Superior and North Shore Drive - pics

This morning started with a fine breakfast at the J.R. Astor revolving restaurant on the15th floor of the Radisson Hotel in Duluth. We then drove the North Shore Drive road alongside Lake Superior.
We stopped at Gooseberry Falls and took a walk along the trail.On the way back to Mora, I had a peanut butter parfait at the Dairy Queen in Two Harbors.

9/10: Duluth - pics

Today we started on a road trip to Duluth with Roger and Barb.
We had lunch at Tobie's in Hinkley. After we checked in to the Raddisson, we went down to the Maritime Visitor center. I dipped my toe in Lake Superior near here.

9/9: Lunch with aunt Jeanette - pics

Today we had lunch with my aunt Jan and Dave Bain at Applebee's in Cambridge, MN. Margi drove there from Mora. We had a nice visit.

Aunt Jeanette and Dave

9/8: Grand Casino in Hinkley

Today we went to the Grand Casino in Hinkley. We had a late breakfast with Barb at one of the casino's restaurants.We lost a mere $100. At one point I was up by $140. Oh wells, we did have fun..

9/7: State fair to see Merle Haggard - pics

According to a text that I sent to Carmine, we wandered around the State fair again today...
Roger, Barb, Margi and myself went to a concert to see Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson.

A fair bear

It's a moo moo!

Big Piggy!

Told ya...

A nice mail box that I wouldn't buy

cool!

Concert crowd for Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson

A happy Roger and Barb

The stage

9/6: Mowing the 4 acre lawn - pics

It took over 5 hours using a riding lawn mower, but I had fun and did a professional looking job.

Mowin, mowin, mowin!

Mowed out

9/5 - Reunion - PICS

Today was a reunion day with my cousins. These are also Rogers nephews and nieces with some of their children and grandchildren. Chuck, Donny, Amy Jo. All of Rogers children and grandchildren were there to visit.
Angela and Jeremy with Georgia, Luka, Teague.
Andrea and Nathaniel with Solomon, Ike. Parents of Nate are Peter and Jean Rhinehart.
Elizabeth and stepchildren; Noah and Addie.
Chuck and Joann.
Donny and Pat with Riazza, Azzair? (need help on this).
So good to see my cousins. Some that I had not seen for 50 years.
Good food and amusing to watch and chat with the kids.
Noah's ark with Ike and others.
Card tricks with  Teague and Georgia.
will add some captions to the pics.

Paul Crawford.

Old Crawford cabin

Jeremy, Angela and kids with Roger and Paul

Amy Jo with Donny's crew

etc