Nice Place To Sit

  While in Westfield we got a chance to check out the bench in Moore Park dedicated to our dad.  It's across the street from where his drugstore was, and is next to a bench dedicated to his partner at the store, Don.  Miss them both.

Happily Married

  Congratulations go out to John and Melissa for their wedding in November.  It was a wonderful occasion on a beautiful day, and we welcome Melissa to the family.  It may have been the only wedding to feature an add for full body wash, but maybe not with the prevalence of streaming music off the internet for ceremonies.
 

  It certainly was the first wedding officiated by Jim, now licensed by NY State.  It was also the first time Jenny and Jason got to see their dad get married.

Friends Weekend

  Dave and Laura organized, and did a damn fine job.  As always, if Howard has to pass Cuba, NY, he stops at Cuba Cheese and picks up a ten-pound block of sharp cheddar.

  Gail got into the lake both mornings while there, but not for long and not alone.  I went in once too.  Notice the icicles on the bushes in the top photo.  We also got a nice hike in at one of the Finger Lakes Land Trust's preserves overlooking Canadaigua Lake.

Friends Weekend

  The Westfield Friends group got together on Canadaigua Lake.  It's been going strong for 30 years, and I joined them 25 years ago.  More astounding is that Gail made a return trip, her first since 2003.  Sadly, it was the first trip without our great friend Karen Walker died last winter.  We missed her but were glad her partner, Brad, still joined us.

Brooklynites

  A former student and now graduate, Ting, returned to Ithaca with her brother, Xiao, to try to get him enrolled at IHS.  That's proving more difficult than expected, but she just like she proved by graduating, she's persistent and the fight isn't over yet.  We got to spend some time together and visit some of the better spots in the area.

  They came over for dinner and we learned the neighbors were having a pumpkin carving party so they got to carve their first pumpkin.  Every once in awhile Gail and I get to experience the joys of parenthood.  We were so proud of them when they carved the best pumpkin.

Adirondack Color

  I took the scenic route home from Pharaoh to catch some more color.  Route 8 didn't disappoint once I crossed the Hudson River.  A stop in Piseco for a quick trip up Panther Mountain was a real treat.

Return to Pharaoh Lake

  In October I joined a few of the boys for a trip to Pharaoh Lake.  I hadn't been on a fall trip since my first time there in 2000, choosing instead to go for the winter trip since then.  It was a nice weekend and we got to see some decent fall color, but mostly it was just perfect weather, the lake was smooth as glass the whole time.
  One of my desires has always been to climb Treadway Mountain at the northeast end of the lake and I finally did it, making a 15-mile trek that rewarded me with stunning views of Pharaoh Lake and Mountain.  I retired my shoes after this hike and nursed a blister for two weeks afterwards.  They've been up enough mountains.

Lake Swimming

  Gail has kicked her swimming obsession to a new level by adding open water swimming.  She's been joining some friends who swim regularly in the lake, and it culminated in a weekend of events in Seneca Lake that included several different lengths of swims.  Gail did a two-mile swim, the crazy people did the 10-mile, then swam along with her to keep her company on hers.
  I went out on Cayuga Lake one day to accompany them for a training run.

Laid to Rest

  In September the family gathered in Westfield again to bury our mom's ashes.  As with anything involving the McMahons there was a fair amount of humor.  I took this photo so I could claim the accountants in the family were saving a few bucks by scrimping on the urn.
  That's not really what this is about.