Pre-ephiphany

Son-in-law Steven snapped these pre-epiphany photos of the girls on January 6. I downloaded them from his blog, where he stated that the lighting gave them a glow that seemed very fitting for pre-epiphany. The blog also has some very unusual points of view of nature. I encourage a visit: http://homepage.mac.com/steverinojohnson/iblog. He's been experimenting with some different angles and techniques. Always a fan, I think his recent photos are amazing.


There's been one blue-eyed girl and one brown-eyed girl in my family now for three generations. My ma said she had some Spanish in her ancestry and she loved the Spanish style of dress. My oldest daughter, my brown-eyed-girl, is named Anna Maria, partly because of that Spanish heritage (and partly she's named after my blue-eyed sister). Magdalena Hope (above) also received a Spanish name, carrying on the tradition.

Dickens' Village

Frank Tischer in Canandaigua has been collecting shops and homes from the 1780s, the Charles Dickens era. The entire village spreads out along three walls of a room about 8x8, and takes 40 hours to set up. See the chimney sweep?

Chad

Chad is one reason we all got together for Christmas; he drove Sam (Ana) from Hornell to Fillmore where we all gathered. His willingness to do so (he didn't seem to mind at all!) made the logistics and timing work.

Family reunion

My girls, Anna Maria (left) and Ana (right) and the newest edition to the family, Ebony Rose. Ana (whom I call Sam), Anna Maria and her family, and I celebrated Christmas together this year on the Saturday before Christmas.


Eliza enjoys her new Barbie doll; this Barbie is an art teacher.


Magdalena Hope. She, too, is playing with a Barbie; hers is a pet sitter and care giver.

The Boys

Hanging out on a Sunday

Nelson's house has become the place to hang out on weekends, and lately a variety of friends have gathered there (top photo - clockwise from left: Nelson, Steve and Camelia). Like family, these folks are comfortable helping themselves or helping out, doing a group activity or an individual one -- just being themselves. That's Steve (bottom photo) taking a turn at the kitchen sink. (Photo by Nelson).

Holidays with Church Family

Holidays with family are the best holidays. Besides some time with both of my daughters and my oldest daughter's family before Christmas, Camelia came over Christmas morning before she left for work. Then John Bacon ate a ham dinner with Nelson and me; the dinner was a Bowen-McCracken team project. On New Year's Eve Steve Bragg (bottom photo), Nelson and I ate pizza, played Phase 10, and watched a movie while waiting for the birth of the New Year. Before going home the next day, Steve, Nelson and I explored property in Naples (see earlier post). We took a hike-jog through Ontario County Park and then wolfed down spaghetti (mine part of a gluten free gift from a faithful Victor Presbyterian volunteer). (photos by Nelson Bowen).

Dreams

Took a look at this property in nearby Naples today. Top right photo was taken from the hilltop and shows a view of the whole property overlooking the pond. The second and fourth photos show the view from the clearing overlooking Cananddaigua Lake. Can you imagine waking up to this view? Click on either photo; the lake is in in front of the second hill, just to the left of the tallest point in the fourth photo. This property has it all -- a large pond with an island, pine trees, a fantastic view, solitude, room for lots of guests and a great place to run. Bart's (2d photo) Terrier-scent-senses were in overdrive. (photos by Nelson Bowen, 01 Jan 2007).

Then...and now

Top photo: Magdalena Hope, now 3, and Eliza Grace, 5, giggle through a Mary Poppins video with me. (Photo by Steven David Johnson, 22 Dec 06). Compare with the bottom photo, taken three years ago, in May 2003 when Maggie was just a month old and Liza 1 1/2. (photo by Anna Maria Johnson)

Gramma & girls on carousel

Eliza Grace (left), Magdelena Hope (right) and I rode the carousel at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester. The girls and their parents were visiting family and friends in New York the week before Christmas. (Photo by Steven Johnson, 21 Dec 06).