We have been having a wonderful white december at home and at camp.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 01, 2007
Sugar and spice
What are little boys made of?Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tailsThat's what little boys are made of !"What are little girls made of?"Sugar and spice and all things niceThat's what little girls are made of!"
Oh, tis true, tis true. This is the boys with the 'Bug Museum' including at one point or another a woolly bear caterpillar, dragon flies, lady bugs, pill bugs, spiders, box elder bugs, worms, butterfly, moths, etc. etc.
And Gabriella in her 'princess' outfit with her ever-present 'baby'.
Camp Schuckers
We closed on our camp last week and had a fabulous fall weekend there. We were able to canoe, fish, and hike, but too chilly for swimming. We had beautiful sunrise (steam from the water which was warmer than the air) and sunsets.
We can sleep six upstairs easily (even eight), in addition to bedroom and living room.
We can sleep six upstairs easily (even eight), in addition to bedroom and living room.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Triathlon
So Saturday some Schuckers' and Lucenti's did the Norwood Beach Triathlon. Schuckers did the whole thing. The Lucenti (Kate, Kara and Lisa) were a team with Kate doing the swim, Kara (and Lisa) riding the bike and Lisa anchoring the team by running. The distances were 400 yard swim, 15 mile bike and 4mile run. Highlights include Kate beating Uncle Michael by two minutes in the swim, Uncle Michael blowing chunks on each leg, all the grandkids running with Aunt Lisa to finish and Uncle Michael taking 6 minutes of last years time.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Camp Schuckers
As of 8/12 we have an accepted offer on a 'camp' in the Adirondacks. The property is on Mountain View Lake in Belmont, NY which is about 25 minutes south of Malone and 45 minutes north of Tupper Lake and Lake Placid. We'll start taking visitors next June. (The camp is three
season, meaning it is not fully winterized).
Here is the view of the camp from the dock area.
Here is the view from the 24' x 24' dock which comes with the camp.
Another view of the dock along with our flag pole. The key here is that there is a beach area with sand and that the slope is gentle, very gentle so it should be really great for the kids.
A close-up of the back door and windows. Upstairs is an attic/loft with steps that fold into the floor. That area should be able to sleep 4-6.
season, meaning it is not fully winterized).
Here is the view of the camp from the dock area.
Here is the view from the 24' x 24' dock which comes with the camp.
Another view of the dock along with our flag pole. The key here is that there is a beach area with sand and that the slope is gentle, very gentle so it should be really great for the kids.
A close-up of the back door and windows. Upstairs is an attic/loft with steps that fold into the floor. That area should be able to sleep 4-6.
Some picture from our last week in Italy. Here is one from Gabriella's birthday.
We were very lucky to have Meme and Carly with us to help
us celebrate.
Here's a picture from the beach in Alghero we stayed in.
And then we found Stintino. It was easily the
most beautiful beach on the island. We all agreed
that it is likely to be the most beautiful beach on
the planet. The water was crystal clear and warm,
the sand was velvet soft and the setting was
spectacular with moutainous rocks around. There
was lots of good snorkeling, too.
Daniel wins the darkest back contest!!!
Oh, we will miss this place.
We were very lucky to have Meme and Carly with us to helpus celebrate.
Here's a picture from the beach in Alghero we stayed in.
And then we found Stintino. It was easily themost beautiful beach on the island. We all agreed
that it is likely to be the most beautiful beach on
the planet. The water was crystal clear and warm,
the sand was velvet soft and the setting was
spectacular with moutainous rocks around. There
was lots of good snorkeling, too.
Daniel wins the darkest back contest!!!
Oh, we will miss this place.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Last for awhile
This is the last post for awhile. We are a jumble of emotions right now. We will very much miss Sardinia and Cagliari in particular, but we (especially Daniel and Christopher) are excited to be starting back home. We will spend the next week in Alghero leading up a conference for Michael and Stephanie and then we will fly home on Friday June 8th.
Grazie e arrivederci!
La piccola marina a Cagliari
Monday, May 28, 2007
Steph's Purse Stolen
It was stolen from the back of our vehicle. While we (Meme plus the usual crowd) were at a beach on the southeastern coast, someone broke the back window and took Steph's purse. Inside were 3 credit cards, her NY state driver's license, Michael & Stephanie's International Drivers licenses, some cash, our digital camera, the registration & insurance information for the car. We managed to cancel the credit cards with little trouble and we filed a police report on Sunday. We had bought a new camera before we left but it broke so we sent it home with Pop-Pop. It got fixed and Meme brought it with her. So we'll still have some pictures to take and upload.
No one was hurt. We didn't lose any passports. We'll muddle through the next 10 days. 10 days. That is just crazy for us. We will miss this place.
No one was hurt. We didn't lose any passports. We'll muddle through the next 10 days. 10 days. That is just crazy for us. We will miss this place.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Cagliari v. Roma match
Sunday, Carly, Daniel and Michael went to a soccer match. It was Cagliari (Il Rossoblu) our team fighting to avoid relegation (moving down) against Roma (one of the powers of Italian soccer and in second place this season). There were 7 teams roughly tied for the last spot to move down. Cagliari need to win one of its two remaining games, including this one to avoid moving down. Roma had just won the Italian Cup (championship of Italian club teams - I think - on Thursday). I wrote earlier about a different match that we attended in March. This was nothing like that.
First, we got there about 20 minutes before the start to find zero parking (the first time we could have any spot in the lot). This was a sign. It was to be different. We parked and hustled through security which required us to show passports and to pass through a gated turnstile individually. Daniel had to do this alone. We made it. We got to our seats which this time were visible because they were 3 of 6 empty in the whole section. The place was rocking.
Early it was clear that Roma was better but that Cagliari had momentum. Typically in a match like this it means that Roma needs to control the match for the first 10 or 15 minutes and then the momentum will swing. In about the 10th minute some Roma fans set off M80's and Carly put on her riot gear. This was gonna be exciting.
Unfortunately for Roma, Cagliari scored in about the 12th minute.
David Suazo (who may move to Inter Milan next year and is the fastest soccer player I've ever seen) got behind the defense and past the keeper for an early goal. Now the place was nuts.
Cagliari was holding their own and had the lead but there was a long way to go.
Roma got a free kick a few minutes later and their shot went wide but then the ref whistled for a penalty kick for no apparent reason. The place went balistic. Thank god Daniel only knows a little Italian. He could have learned a lot of new words in the next 5 minutes. Roma scored on their penalty kick. It went back and forth for the rest of the half until Cagliari scoreed with about 10 minutes to go in the half on a sweet series of passes.
This whole time Michael had been sitting behind a lovely old Italian man who was so sweet. He knew the game well and he was making all the gestures (praying and shaking his hands) and constantly watching the scoreboard. When Suazo scored he gave Michael two high fives.
Halftime and we need liquids. We left to go get food. Carly says that the concessions at an Italian soccer game are like a mosh pit of testoterone. There is no line, a woman is likely to get groped and it is just he who yells and pushes the loudest gets food. (It's a lot like Italian driving) She refuses to even enter. I (Michael) went in there trying to get water and some food. I came out with Pepsi's and popcorn. I just missed water by about 5 orders. Daniel wouldn't touch the Pepsi's but he ate plenty of corn. Back to our seats. We were ecstatic to be up by a goal (2-1) at half. At tie would be huge for Cagliari since next week they were playing a much worse team but on the road.
The game went back and forth but Cagliari was getting chances. Suazo was getting open. It went this way until the 70th minute when Cagliari scored. 3-1 and the place exploded. Forza Cagliari! Forza Cagliari! (Onward Cagliari! Onward Cagliari) . Now we waited for Roma to attack and attack they did. Cagliari is not a team used to killing the clock with a lead and it showed. In the 85th minute Roma scored (the 200th goal for Totti who is build like a Penn State linebacker/safety). We held our breath and held our breath and then....
the final whistle: 3-2.
Cagliari wins, Cagliari stays in the first division (Serie A) and all was good. We got out fast fearing a riot but it appears that is was just a joyous celebration. Here are some highlights....
First, we got there about 20 minutes before the start to find zero parking (the first time we could have any spot in the lot). This was a sign. It was to be different. We parked and hustled through security which required us to show passports and to pass through a gated turnstile individually. Daniel had to do this alone. We made it. We got to our seats which this time were visible because they were 3 of 6 empty in the whole section. The place was rocking.
Early it was clear that Roma was better but that Cagliari had momentum. Typically in a match like this it means that Roma needs to control the match for the first 10 or 15 minutes and then the momentum will swing. In about the 10th minute some Roma fans set off M80's and Carly put on her riot gear. This was gonna be exciting.
Unfortunately for Roma, Cagliari scored in about the 12th minute.
David Suazo (who may move to Inter Milan next year and is the fastest soccer player I've ever seen) got behind the defense and past the keeper for an early goal. Now the place was nuts.
Cagliari was holding their own and had the lead but there was a long way to go.
Roma got a free kick a few minutes later and their shot went wide but then the ref whistled for a penalty kick for no apparent reason. The place went balistic. Thank god Daniel only knows a little Italian. He could have learned a lot of new words in the next 5 minutes. Roma scored on their penalty kick. It went back and forth for the rest of the half until Cagliari scoreed with about 10 minutes to go in the half on a sweet series of passes.
This whole time Michael had been sitting behind a lovely old Italian man who was so sweet. He knew the game well and he was making all the gestures (praying and shaking his hands) and constantly watching the scoreboard. When Suazo scored he gave Michael two high fives.
Halftime and we need liquids. We left to go get food. Carly says that the concessions at an Italian soccer game are like a mosh pit of testoterone. There is no line, a woman is likely to get groped and it is just he who yells and pushes the loudest gets food. (It's a lot like Italian driving) She refuses to even enter. I (Michael) went in there trying to get water and some food. I came out with Pepsi's and popcorn. I just missed water by about 5 orders. Daniel wouldn't touch the Pepsi's but he ate plenty of corn. Back to our seats. We were ecstatic to be up by a goal (2-1) at half. At tie would be huge for Cagliari since next week they were playing a much worse team but on the road.
The game went back and forth but Cagliari was getting chances. Suazo was getting open. It went this way until the 70th minute when Cagliari scored. 3-1 and the place exploded. Forza Cagliari! Forza Cagliari! (Onward Cagliari! Onward Cagliari) . Now we waited for Roma to attack and attack they did. Cagliari is not a team used to killing the clock with a lead and it showed. In the 85th minute Roma scored (the 200th goal for Totti who is build like a Penn State linebacker/safety). We held our breath and held our breath and then....
the final whistle: 3-2.
Cagliari wins, Cagliari stays in the first division (Serie A) and all was good. We got out fast fearing a riot but it appears that is was just a joyous celebration. Here are some highlights....
YABB (Yet Another Beautiful Beach)
We have just looked over the blog and realized that we have not truly done justice to all the beaches we have been to. It is hard to fathom, but most sunny days go like this. M, S, D and Ch to work/school at 8am. M and S to pick up D and Ch at school between 3:30 and 4. Back to the house where M, S, D, Ch, Ca and G all head to a beach. The waters have been crystal clear (yesterday M and S snorkeled and saw 1000's of fish, mostly muted colors) and it has gotten warm. D and Ch go in regardless of the weather. G has started to just walk right into the sea. She goes up to her neck and just walks around. Sometimes she'll head back to the shore and lie with her head just out of the water and let the waves crash on her body. At right is Chia (Key-a) which is a famous beach that is on the most southern tip of Sardinia about an hour to the
southwest of Cagliari. (Did you know you can click on the pics to get larger versions of them?)At right, Christo is looking cool with his swim googles on.
At left, Carly is swimming in the sea (no really she is in there)
Venice and home again
More Venice pictures.....
The view from the tower that overlooks Piazza San Marco. All the pics below are from that tower.
To get home from Venice we took a waterbus (in Venice) to a train (Venice to Florence) to a train (Venice to Pisa) to a taxi (Pisa to Pisa airport) to a plane (Pisa to Cagliari) to our car (Cagliari to Via Enrico Tazzoli, 63) and nobody, nobody, not once threw up. It is now known as The Miracle of St. Stephanie of Canton and it broke Michael's Rule of 5 which limits travel to five forms of transportation per day.
Our Gondola Ride
Some pics from the gondola ride....
Looking back toward the Bridge of Sighs (left) and Daniel wearing the gondoliero's hat (right).
Views from the Grand Canal (left) and from a small canal (right)
To Venice
There is not much to say about Venice that will do it justice. We had a two-bedroom apartment (with kitchen) less than 5 minutes from Piazza San Marco. We walked there every morning to take in the scene, to watch the pigeons, to look for crabs on the steps of the Grande Canal and to each fresh warm muffins and apple turnovers. At left is Daniel relaxing in Piazza San Marco. In the mornings (before 9) we had the piazza almost all to ourselves. Later in the day there would be as many as 2000 people there.
Here Dad and the boys search for crabs (at left). At right, the view of the Grande Canal from Piazza San Marco on a hazy morning. It was very hot and humid when we were in Venice (about 85).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)