Halloween Festivities

Let the Halloween celebrations begin. Julia went to an EDM concert, Ally's cowboy party, and "steak night" with friends Sam and Hannah. All is well with Benjamin and his training. A post-travel cold kicked in, so we didn't do much here in the 'hood. Lisa and Tony went to see Ethan—beautiful views! Check out Mom's X-ray.

Reunited in Madrid

Julia met us in Madrid, a vibrant and friendly city with great open spaces and amazing food. Some highlights were Campo del Moro Park, Sabatini Gardens, Casa de Campo Park, El Retiro Park, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. A real gem Steven arranged was tickets to the Temple of Debod, an Egyptian temple dating back to the 2nd century BC, donated to Spain by the Egyptian government to prevent it from being flooded after the construction of the Aswan dam. We also had a tour of the Royal Palace--so opulent with many little rooms that are hardly used today. The markets were a must-see and did not disappoint. Mercado de San Miguel, Mercado San Anton, and Mercado de la Paz all had many great tapas to try. The most impressive flea market, dating back to 1740, was the Mercado El Rastro. It was packed and went on for many blocks. We scored some souvenirs. Julia arranged our visit to Toledo, the original capital city of Spain (about 40 minutes south of Madrid by train). It was oozing with historic charm and had plenty of churches, cathedrals, mosques, and synagogues to tour. All in all, the best part was being with Julia. 

Wedding, Race, Birthday

Julia has been in the UK for a wedding and visiting friends around the area. I'm so glad she was able to spend time with everyone. On the home front, Booberry was able to reconnect with Meme (she was on a mission for attention). I spent time with Vera, Maggie, and Vickie. Is there anything better than a hug from a toddler? I don't think so. Then, we had the wonderful surprise of seeing Kathryn for a family dinner on Monday. Lisa makes the best pulled pork (and Tony saves me all the fat!). Yesterday was Carrie's birthday, and she sent a picture of her holding the photo book from our trip to Traverse City. Such good memories. Remembering how blessed we are with a close-knit family and wonderful friends is good for the soul.

Band Album Released

Julia's band recorded and released their songs on Bandcamp! They performed this past weekend. Julia had friends in town--including childhood bestie Jessie. Mom was in Rochester with her besties, Linda & Tim, and made a trip to see Kathryn, her roommate from Cortland, Barbara, and the Trezises (at Letchworth State Park).