Italy Day Three- Our Wet Venetian Tour

Today, we awoke and enjoyed a hot cup of hot chocolate before starting the day. The main question was will it rain or just be overcast all day. We boarded the bus and proceeded to Venice where we had to catch a ferry, boat, bus, or whatever they want to call it to the dock at St. Marcos Square. Now we had come over 3600 miles to see Venice and first we are going to spend 2/3rd of a day there and then on top of it all by time we boarded our vessel to take us to the island it had begun to sprinkle.
Venice consists of a series of hundreds of islands. We proceeded to the main island. A quick tour of what is around St. Marco’s Square was made and then on to the Venetian Glass Shop. After a few Euros spent we were on our own for a few hours to explore. Cheryl and I visited St. Mark’s Cathedral. If only we could have taken photos of the inside. This is a must for those planning on visiting Venice. The bastilles were all decorated with gold mosaic artwork that was beautiful.

After St. Mark’s it was time for a bit of lunch and of course, oh did I forget to tell you that it has been raining steady since we landed on Venice, well of course we looked for an opportunity to move inside and sit and watch the rain. A pizza shop off the beaten path provided the ideal location and we enjoyed a delicious pizza and meringue cake. Mmmm… may need to return to Venice just for another meringue cake.

With time running out we hustled through the back alley ways and located the famous Rialto Bridge. A few photos and it were finding our way back through the maze to our meeting place for the tour group. Now luckily the rain had subsided enough that the gondola boats came back out and we were able to take Cheryl’s dream boat ride through the streets of Venice with an accordion playing and a singer in the next boat close by. Okay so it is a bit romantic. See honey there is hope for me yet.

This other than the walk back to the docks and a short ride back in our boat to the mainland conclude our Venice visit. Next it was a four hour drive to a mountainous village of Montecatini. It was a beautiful drive as we entered into the hillsides and even perked my interest more to observe a new freeway being constructed next to the existing road with new tunnels, and bridges to make a safer road for the traveling public. Hm..could I now call this a business trip and write the vacation off? We’ll now spend the next four nights here in Montecatini and set out on various excursions from here.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Due to technical difficulties, I'm a day late in getting this posted. You know how it is there is always something not updated, something trouble shooting, or just doesn't work when you need it to on the good old computer. Okay, so I was trying to post a video of our Thanksgiving Weekend; however, due to operator error...no I mean technical difficulties I'm still working on the video. So you'll just have to do with the good old photo and dialogue.

Our Thanksgiving weekend started out with a party, that is a party for my Grandmother who celebrated her 95th birthday. At least we believe it is her 95th, she won't confess to it.


The whole family clan gathered and begin our Thankgiving Holiday by wishing her a Happy Birthday. Now this is one classy lady, and she has touched many of our lives and we just love our Grandma Pinkie.

Wednesday evening after the party it was time to create a salt brine for the Turkey to soak in over night. Thursday morning bright and early we rinsed the bird off, stuffed some herbs and basted the bird with butter. Then into the oven for family and me.



Meanwhile, tables were set and decorations arranged to create the perfect setting for a Thankgiving Dinner. Oh, did I fail to point out that this was the first time that Cheryl and I have hosted let alone cook a Thanksgiving Turkey. Hm, I wonder who really is the turkey.


About this time, the first annual Turkey Bowl in the park near our home was begining to unfold. A number of brother-in-laws, nephews, sons, and friends gathered to brave the perfect Turkey Day weather and play a game of pigskin. I believe there is a few Heismen Trohpey winners in this group as you can see.




It was now time for the feast. Thirty-five brave adults, okay, thirty three brave adults not counting Cheryl and I sat down and bowed our heads for grace. I believe there may have been a special blessing on the food. The meal turned out to be grrrrreat. The turkey was moist and tasty. There was plenty of food for all. Here are some of those times well wasted.










































Afterwards, a quick clean up of paper plates allowed the family to visit and play games. Even had a match of Mario Kart going on at one point. I think that we all enjoyed the day.




Best of all was the time spent with family. We missed my younger brother and his family; but otherwise, all of my sisters and their families were there with my parents. I even better was the time that my children and grandchildren took to spend Thanksgiving Day with Cheryl and I. That was indeed the best part of the day. Thanks everyone for making this Thanksgiving Day the Best!

Sheep Dogs and Splash Dogs

Jenny called this morning and said the she and the kids were on there way to Soldier Hollow Border Collie Competition. Cheryl and I said, "Why not" and hurried and packed our belongings and headed up to meet them.



Now I nor Cheryl have ever been to a Border Collie Sheep Herding competition and had no idea what to expect. I had imagine a collie chasing a few sheep around, yelping at their heels and driving them into a pen. Hm, well I was somewhat close but it was much more complicated than my simple mind could imagine.

The collie would have to search and find the sheep on the hillside and then drive them through a gate, drive them to the sheep herder, turn them and drive them back up the hill through another gate, across the hillside through the last gate and then back to the pen. Once at the pen, the collie would spilt the herd for a brief moment and then drive them into a fenced pen. The owner and their dog would receive points for each task and it all had to be accomplished within 15 minutes. No small feat when you consider that the owner would give directions to the dog by way of whistles. Nothing but amazing.


Included in the competition were the Splash Dogs. This was a lot of fun to watch as the dog owner would hold a retrievable toy (rules would not allow anything that was alive or could be eaten) and throw it into the pool and the dogs would run and jump into the pool and retrieve the toy. Just look at these dogs fly!

Well as you can see by the pictures, we had a lot of fun watching these skilled dogs compete in an amazing way. We'll definitely keep this as a fun activity for future years to come.

Master of the Helm and Fishing

Woke up yesterday morning with the urge to go fishing, fly fishing that is. However, we first had to try our hand at mastering the premium water skiing boat. Taylor has been dying to have us join him on his new boat and show us his new toy and his hot dogging skills.

After a few loops about the lake and becoming comfortable operating the boat, we began to see if I had indeed master the skills to operate the craft. Taylor, first with his solo ski on instructed me to hit the throttle and at 30 mph back off and settle in at a cruising speed of 33 mph. Hey, right! Off we went. Oh, now you tell me about the perfect pass setting. Okay this isn't so difficult.



Taylor was able to enjoy the early morning slightly calm lake has he moved from his ski, to wake board and finishing up on the surf board. Hey wait a minute where's the photo of Captain Jeff, Master of the Helm? Hm, my photography crew may be heading for a brusin.








This evening, I venture out onto the river to enjoy some fly fishing. This evening's fishing demostrates my abilities as a fisherman. I hooked one pig of a trout and landed another pig. Hm, the pig I landed has two hooks... hey that is my fly that the first pig took when he snapped my tippet. Yup, that's right, I hooked a fish that snapped my line and so I grabbed another fly and "Fish On!" was the cry.
Best of all I got my first fly back and my pig was let go for another day of fishing.



Hey, it would have been nice to have a photo of my pig. I tried reaching my photo crew by radio but some lame excuse that the battery had died was all I got.

So you'll just have to enjoy photos of my son surfing here and yes, I'm the captain creating the perfect wake for him to surf. I'm sorry, everyone will just have to believe that I am the Master of the Helm and a grand fisherman.

2009 HIGHLAND FLING

Our traditional family get together for Highland Fling days happened this weekend. Started our celebration and get together with Pizza on Friday night, and a trip to the splash pad at the city center and then the grand kids sleepover. Saturday Morning, we had a great Grammy breakfast with eggs, bacon, and cinnamon rolls. Found a good spot for the parade and came home with a loot of candy. Toured around the park and visited a number of different events including the Scottish Games and Face Painting. After lunch it was time for cotton candy and a nap. Finished our get together with glow sticks, sparklers and fireworks. Here are some of the great pics from the weekend.

On our way to splash park.

One, two, three... jump!










Jump like this Lexi...



















Hm..cheerleaders uh.













Lexi scores.



Boston is wondering what this whole rucus is about.







The Scottish Games.





Hey, wait a minute that long thrower has a pony tail. You mean they let girls do this too.




Mmm, cotton candy.

Glow stick fun.

We missed Taylor and his family..hm, that's right we have to get Taylor married first. We still missed him.

John and Rachel we all missed having you there this year. 1200 plus miles is a long way to come for the Highland Fling; but we all wanted you to know that we were thinking about you. Maybe next year.

That's All Folks.

Grandpa #5 - Welcome to the World Porter

April 8th, my 5th grandchild arrived all 8lbs 9oz and 21 inches. Mom and child are both well and healthy. Whew!! What a relief to have Porter and Boston now here.

Everyone is breathing a big sigh of relief. Hm, maybe we ought to be resting for the on slot of activities that two little boys can achieve. Gabe now has a little brother and you can see that he is glad to have the little brother or is that a mischievous smile already plotting.

I keep telling my children that with each and every grandchild, I'm becoming older and older. 5 grandchildren before 50 and I'm starting to feel as if I'm way over the hill. Departing tomorrow to go and visit the little one. Nothing like the real thing! Welcome to the Clyde Clan Porter!