Virginia to Rhode Island via Massachusetts with a Bar Mitzvah included

April 22, 2015

After SC we flew north to Centreville VA where we spent three nights with Mark, our older son and his family: Rachel, Avi and Zachary. It was a whirlwind of activity and was all fun. We had good weather so were able to take some walks, Ron did a few minor house projects and we attended a recorder concert with Avi’s 3^rd grade class performing. We were amazed how the two teachers were able to get so many classes of eight year olds to hold still, not to mention play classical tunes. Kudos to those teachers. 

Mark with new dog Dimond

Mark and Rachel playing in the park

The Grand kids were great and we had a ball with them.  

Especially fun was an afternoon at the park where they and their parents played on the park equipment.

Avi

Zachy

Rachel, Mark, Ron and I have a grown up night out and went out for a dinner at an Indian restaurant, a long tradition with the four of us. 

Next we flew to Hartford CT where our friend Jock Conly picked us up. We headed to his and Laurie’s home in Granby MA about an hour away. Laurie arrived from her yoga class and we spent the afternoon and evening catching up. We met Laurie and Jock when we all were in the Rep of Georgia in 2009-11. We took advantage of the hot tub while J & L prepared a great salmon dinner. 

Camp Ramah Schul

Jacob

The next morning Ron and I headed to Camp Ramah where Jacob, our grandson will have his bar mitzvah on Saturday. We helped with set up at the camp. We made beds, helped with decorations, etc. That night services were held and then we had an 8:00 dinner before heading off to bed, back at at J & L’s house about 45 minutes away. We reconnected with many relatives from the east and west coasts. It was a wonderful evening.

Saturday was a very full day. Services started at 9:30. David, our son, lead the service until it was time for Jacob to read his portion of the Torah and then he completed the service which was a long one. Jacob did a splendid job and made us all quite proud of his command of Hebrew, his singing ability and his piece he wrote as part of the service where he examined the portion he read from the Torah.

Anne, Elishevah, Jacob, and David

Ron with his two California sisters Heidi and Robin

 Lunch was served after the service then we visited with folks before taking a break back and L& J’s place. That night we returned from dinner and more visiting. Sunday we joined folks for breakfast then we helped with clean up which involved cleaning the sanctuary, carrying laundry to a cabin, taking down decorations, etc. At 3:00 we headed back to J & L’s after watching Jacob opening his gifts.

David, Leah, Elyse, Erit, and Mark (1st cousins)

Heidi, Drew, Erit, Robin

We walked around a reservoir with L & J after we got home. It turned out to be much longer than anticipated as we left by a different gate than the one we entered. It was a very long way back to our car and it was not scenic. Jock prepared a wonderful lamb dinner.

On Monday we visited the historic town of Deerfield. I wish we had more time but we did manage to visit three of the historic homes there and have a great lunch at the historic Deerfield Inn. The town was established in the early 1700’s and there is much to see there. We ended our visit with another great dinner that Jock prepared.

On Tuesday we headed to Springfield and visited two of Springfield’s four museums that are all in one compound. It was fantastic. We saw few Impressionist paintings, a wonderful collection of Currier and Ives prints of firemen, and then went into another museum that was housed in a fabulous building with Tiffany windows, gorgeous tiles, carved staircases, etc. The collection included Islamic items (carpets, tiles, etc), Japanese warrior garb, ivory carvings, cloisonne, copies of famous classical sculptures such as Michelangelo’s Moses. It was a real treat.

Jock and Laurie left us at the Peter Pan bus station where we caught our bus to Providence RI and we were met by Sandi and Bill, Ron’s sister and her hubby. We ate a great lunch in town then drove to Kingston where they live. On Wednesday Maxine, S & B’s older daughter came over and the five of us took a walk by the ocean in Narragansett, about 20 minutes from here. It was a warm, sunny day and the ocean was beautiful.

We came back home for a quick bite then headed to the cinema where we got to see A Woman in Gold, about a famous Gustav Klimt painting that was confiscated during the Second World War. We all enjoyed the film. That evening we drove to Westerly for a wonderful dinner. Since Ron and I shared our entree we decided we could be bad and ordered two desserts (a lemon tart and a gingerbread ? with dolce de leche ice cream) for the four of us to share. It was a very good move!

April 23, 2015

Today we drove to Wickford and walked around town, poking into various shops. It was very cold with a chilling wind. Wickford was established in 1709 so there was an abundance of old homes and buildings which thrilled us to no end. New England is such a lovely place with its small villages, stone walls and quaint and grand homes. We ate at a tavern and I was treated to a lobster roll. That is a great big yum! Tonight we go to dinner and a play with Sandi, Bill, Stephanie and Peter, Rachel’s parents, who live nearby. Tomorrow we leave for Portland OR. Stay tuned as we do not know where we will be after May 29^th.