A belated contribution from BB

Hi to all,

Thanks to Domino, Susan and Matt for getting things started. For lots of days, nobody blogged after the 6/21, our first day in NJ.

That was a busy week and some of the highlights included helping Lyn and Declan tie his bow knot for the prom with the assistance of a video which we played a number of times after finding it on Ask.com!! Right after that we went to the home where Declan , his date and 7 other couples had a photo shoot and boarded a Hummer limo to go to the prom. Lyn took time on one of her first vacation days to take we grandparents for a nature outing at the Great Swamp, a F&G. She also found time to take us to a new food market in SO, Eden Place, and the Farmers' Market. Graduation ceremonies were impressive and fast paced in a gym at a local community college and this was followed by a dinner at a restaurant Declan chose; an Ethiopian place in SO where guests don't see any flatwear after the salad forks disappear--really Hands On! Didn't see of Magdalena as she was busy with 2 jobs, but enjoyed our final visit when she and Declan provided us with a ride back to the Newark airport on 6/27.

We were "hardly' home when we had a call from Kevin on Sunday evening 6/29 reporting that he, Magdalena and Declan had arrived at Grandma Georgie's safely. On Tuesday, 7/1, the three of them came to spend part of the afternoon with us
and Declan mowed the back yard which I promised him when in NJ that I would save for him. We had a quiet 4th and on the 5th, Magdalena and Kevin, after they had taken Lyn and Declan to their plane for home, came here to pick me up so that we could join David, Mark, Capri and Finn in Dousman for a Drumlin Trail bike ride. We rode to Sullivan and back, almost 12 miles, with Finn really setting a great pace--but Grandpa did manage to keep up!

And we weren't finished yet for 7/5. Our destination was then the Richter cottage at Blue Springs Lake. All the RO'C's were there along with Maura, Tim, Kevin, Mark, Magdalena, Calvin, and Capri. Susan and Jay came before dusk after attending a wedding. So there was great food, lots of visiting with Richter contemporaries and fireworks in every direction.

The weekend concluded with a band concert at the Lutheran Church where the 84th Division Army Reserve Band was excellent. Lots of local folks enjoyed the music and ice cream.

It has pretty much garden, yard and postponed chores since the 4th, except for getting busy on a blog entry.

Heard about a Agate show on WI Public Radio which was to be held at UW-Fox Valley in Menasha. Alerted Susan and David but Susan had been invited to the Madison Art program so could not think about attending. We drove up and got a great introducation to the agate WORLD! A nice break.

Spent last Sunday 7/20 in Sheboygan where we had a visit with every RO'C except Cooper who was at work. Toured the exhibits on a mild, fairly breesy afternoon--cooler near the lake!

With all the rain we've had our flower beds are doing well and the garden vegies in the squares are doing well. Had our first green beans this week and enough picked for another meal of two. Tomatoes have a lot of fruit and the vines bushy. Maybe we'll have some by 8/1. Even have 2 growing up-side-down from
modified hanging baskets.

Enjoyed the news from Matt along with the swimming pictures featuring Freya. Glad that experience enable you to cool off a little during the learning session.

Pleased, too, that Susan found time to write some blog news. We really haven't had a chance for extensive Europe de-briefing from the very busy Susan and Bridget!

Michele really was correct when she wondered about e-mail in the last month. There really wasn't much despite the teasing about
juicy items alluded to by Mark.

If your days have contintued to be as busy and hectic as those you described, Domino, you must be existing on minimum sleep. Wonder is you will be in Sienna when the horse races are held in the piazza? We had our first visit there 3 years ago and did a lot of walking and had lunch in the piazza. You need to know that I was turned away from the Duomo in Florence in 1975 when I was wearing long (Bermuda) shorts and knee high socks! I then put on long pants and was admitted. When we were there in 1989, we went to Saturday evening (English) mass and I was asked to be a lector and I agreed. On that trip, too, I climbed the bell tower, but not the dome. It was great to be back there 3 years ago and
go our favorite spots. I still believe that Florence is my favorite of all the places we have been. Hope that your trip to Rome is
wonderful, too! Aren't the freeways and all those great tunnels
exciting?

No time for more comments. We are headed for Quivey's Grove restaurant in Madison to have lunch with Charleen and Bob. Know that we there are other things we should mention.
Sorry. Not even time for spell check!!

Love and prayers, Mom and Dad