Chloe's Baptism

This past Sunday, Chloe Labarthe, daughter of Jules and Jennifer and granddaughter of Jay and Carroll, was baptised at Calvary Episcopal Church during the garden service. Though Chloe lives in California she came east for the big event. Some photos:

THE ARRIVAL



THE PREPARATION



THE MAIN EVENT



THE SMILES AND THE APPLAUSE



The Labarthe and Smith families go Way back together. It was a privilege for us to be a part of Chloe's baptism.

Biking on the GAP

Nikki dropped me off in Garrett this morning for a 27 mile ride to Confluence along the GAP, hard by the Casselman River. The town of Rockwood lies about a third of the way there and offers a most interesting bit of trailside sculpture, shown above.

The trail crosses the river at least 3 times, offering some great views of a rather remote area.

The ride took about 2.5 hours and was capped off with a nice lunch with Nikki at the River's Edge Cafe.

Catbird babies

As Catbird mom was sitting on the nest early this morning I believe these babies were born during the day today. The nest is in a Rose of Sharon tree in the sunken garden adjacent to our east terrace. I'm wondering why we don't call catbird babies kittens -- even their eyes are still closed. Or maybe the three of them are just asleep.

Phipps Conservatory with Gargoyles

Gargoyles have always facinated us so Nikki and I trooped off to Phipps today to see the Summer Flower Show and the gargoyles.


There were also little reminders of prior exhibits which worked very well.

Coyotes

We may not live in Texas or Canada, but we do have coyotes. Like black bears, they are quite happy here in the Allegheny Mountains. However, they are rarely seen. In the 12 years we have been here I have seen one, very early in the morning on my way down to Powdermill. Anyway, there have been at least 2 dens of pups in the past 4 years or so, both in the woods on a steep slope behind our house. There is a small stream at the bottom of the slope so they have safety and water. You would have no idea they were there except for the occasional yapping of the pups and mother, usually at night and usually very quick, then nothing. Last night we heard them at least twice, once at about 9 and again around 5 AM this morning. Very cool!! Like the black bears they do us no harm, except that the bears like to eat Nikki's black raspberries.

Biking on the GAP

Biking on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) is great exercise and great fun. The photo above is typical of the trail between Ohiopyle and Confluence, the section nearest our house, a 22 mile round trip which takes about 2 hours. My usual turnaround spot is on the bluff above the confluence of the Youghiogheny and Casselman Rivers -- always pretty.
There are usually interesting things to see along the trail -- birds, deer, unusual bikes and people, fishermen, hikers, and so forth. This week it was rhododendron in bloom and a kayak stuck on the rocks of one of the rapids near Ohiopyle.

Summer harvest

Yesterday the Hood Farm field across the road from our house was relieved of its hay burden, as happens at this time every year. It is fun to watch the bales being thrown from the bailer into the hay wagon. This year the "catcher and stacker" was female -- don't mess with her!

It is also berry season and we have had a very good crop of currants, raspberries, and blueberries. Nikki and Cokie Lindsay are picking the blueberries which are excellent this year. I'm sure Cokie has a great recipe for bacon and blueberry something or other which I hope she will share -- and I don't mean the recipe. :)

45th Anniversary

Nikki and I spent our 45th wedding anniversary weekend with Chris and Gary in beautiful Penfield, NY. There was golf with Gary, biking with Chris (20 miles) along the Erie Canal, dinner with Meg and Scott, and the consumption of appropriate amounts of wine and spirits throughout the weekend (evenings only, of course). Being neither silver nor gold, the 45th year must be the year of anthropomorphic animals, as Nikki and I so celebrated with our gifts to each other.


It was a most enjoyable anniversary weekend with the Burton and Tudman families, filled with good laughs, good food, good times.