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Sailing Mishap from 1779
This passage is from Chapter Five of “Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation” by Cokie Roberts. This recounts John Jay and his wife Sally’s voyage to Spain after Congress named John Jay as Minister…
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Lake Huron Nature Preserve Recap
Jonathan tweeted this week about our visits to two nature preserves along Lake Huron in Northern Michigan. I know that at least one person wants more details, so here they are: The John…
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Somewhere in Time (How to Really Time Travel)
Jonathan and I set out to save $10 – $5 apiece – on the ferry ride to Mackinac Island last week. Oh, but we also time travelled. We boarded the same ferry that…
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7 Quirky Tips for Mackinac Island
I am not on Mackinac Island right now. I’m not even in Northern Michigan. I spent this gorgeous sunny day in Pittsburgh and New Kensington, and I had a wonderful time. However, we…
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Waterloo Memoir
I just realized that the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo (June 18, 1815) is this week. Do you like history? If so, I highly recommend the following: “The Autobiography of Lieutenant-General…
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God Bless the Wedding Helpers
Thanks for all of the wedding anniversary wishes on Facebook! Jon and I enjoyed a beautiful wedding nine years ago on April 29. We had a world-class cookie table – and the love…
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This One Time at Phipps Conservatory . . .
This weekend the 2015 Spring Flower Show opened at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens . Jon and I went to it today (even though he’s still getting over a bad cold) because he will be…
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Parnassus in the Spring
Here is Parnassus in the spring. I intend to post more in a few days. Tonight I will listen to Jonathan baking bread and try to forget that we still have to finish…
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When the Johnstown Flood Came to the Alle-Kiski Valley
Here’s something that I learned this winter: Shortly after the Johnstown Flood of 1889 (the flood that killed 2,209 people), tourists took picnic lunches to Johnstown, Pennsylvania so they could sight-see the damage.…
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Why Places Matter
I will always remember our Halloween this past Friday in Parnassus. Why? Two reasons: 1.) We got over 200 trick-or-treaters at our house, just like last year and the year before that. 2.) …