Las Madres '80 East
NOVEMBER 2012 NEWSLETTER

Happy Thanksgiving

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
4th     Wanda Tsafos
15th   Sara Hennig   
16th   Jeff Hennig
24th   Jim Brooks-Schulke
           Bill Rasmussen
27th   Sue Butler
COMING EVENTS
Month of November
Saturday Coffee Clatches

9 am
LeBou at San Felipe/Yerba Buena
Contact: Randi
November 9-12
Ladies Fall Fling

3-7 pm
SLO
RSVP: Sally
November 15
Meeting?
7:15pm?
Vicki's?
Contact: Vicki
November 17
Coffee Field Trip
9:00 am
Roy's Station Coffee & Teas
Contact: Randi
December 1
Napa Holiday B&B Tour
3-7 pm
Napa
Contact: Sue Butler


November Meeting
When: Thursday, October 15, 7:15 pm?
Where: Vicki's?
What: Thanksgiving Floral?

Editor's Note:  Only know what was scheduled at the January planning meeting.  Check back for updated info.



Missouri Missive - October Happenings
    Wow you know you live in a different place when one package of treats will be enough. I remember one year when Shirley counted 400+ trick or treaters came to the door. It was fun to see my Halloween decorations once again. My wooden Wanda the witch and Vladamir the vamp are being enjoyed by our neighbors. Walt cut them out and Carolyn Westcott did the fabulous painting…..that was 1992.
    October did bring a few changes mostly weather wise. After a mild September the leaves were slow to change colours. We went on our second annual Fall camping trip thirteen miles down the lake. My kayak got a good workout. The lake is lovely in the Fall. The jet skiis and boaters are not as evident and lots of lazy fishing going on. Our boat is ready to be “winterized” so our days on the water are almost done. We did take a picnic lunch over to our summer campground last Sunday. The renovations they are doing are fabulous and we are set to reserve come December.
    Walt’s cousin came to stay with us as their daughter, Shannon, competed at Missouri State University band competition. The Midwest is very into football and it was amazing to see all the area high school bands compete. I haven’t seen performances like this since my high school days. Many of the bands have 200+ members and came from three states.
    Walt has been busy making my “craft closet” table so I can resume my scrapbooking.
I have been managing the mega amount of leaves and we may be a quarter of the way through the process. As time-consuming as it is, we are so blessed to live here. We have good friends from Apple that have a beautiful home on the Jersey Shore. That home now has their two cars buried with sand and five feet of water in their home. What a shame for those people suffering from the wrath of Sandy.
    I wish you could see the beautiful orange sunrise over the lake….I guess it is in the Halloween spirit. Enjoy.




Randi's Fall Color Trip - "If it's Tuesday, it must be Vermont!"
A number of people have asked me (especially Joan!) to write something about my 2 week trip to New England.  Having never been to see the fall colors (due to being in the classroom in the fall!), this trip was always a dream for when I retired.  We decided to go right after our last play was over (which meant we started the trip on very little sleep and David was sick) and embarked with our good friends, Lynn and Bill.  (Many of you know Lynn, who was my partner in "crime" and taught with me at Westmont and just reitred also).  We had planned this trip for many months and that was part of the fun... getting together with 3 laptops, guidebooks, maps, cell phones, etc. doing research.  On our trip we traversed 7 states and we definitely enjoyed the journey, sometimes as much as the destination. 

Lynn chronicled the trip in a blog so here is the link to her blog, complete with pictures:
 http://falltrip2012.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-1-october-15th.html

(Please visit as she is more eloquent than I am!)

Here also is a list of my highlights: (you can see some photos if you have Facebook and search for my name)

1.  Boston:  Always enjoy the Freedom Trail... hard to believe all the history here and "old" buildings that we don't quite have here in California. Boston Commons, the Public Gardens, Paul Revere's house, the Old North Church were the highlights along the way.   The "Mapparium" (a huge glass walk-through globe) was very interesting at the Mary Baker Eddy library.

2.  Walden Pond:  Inspiring to see where Thoreau wrote his beautiful works and nearby touring the Louisa May Alcott house.

3.  Kennebunkport:  Cute town... would love to go back and explore(and shop) some more!

4.  Bar Harbor Inn:  Very pretty location with great views.  Las Madres friends who went on the Emerald Princess with us to the Caribbean... the ship was anchored there so it was fun to see.  Lovely dinner with piano player playing some of my favorite show tunes.

5.  Acadia National Park:  Beautiful fall colors and dramatic rocks by the sea, blow hole, etc.  This is the second most visited National Park in the U.S., which I literally knew nothing about before I visited there.

6.  Rivendell House:  Lovely Bed and Breakfast in Bethel, Maine.  Very nice hosts (we were the only ones there) and the Maine blueberry pancakes were the best!

7.  Driving through the White Mountains on the Kancamaga Highway:  Known to be one of the most scenic highways in the U.S. and I agree!  Beautiful fall colors, scenic views, and covered bridges.

8.  Stowe, Vt:  Interesting to see the Trapp Family Lodge (of "Sound of Music" fame) and stopped on our journey at Champlain Chocolates, Cabot Cheese, and Danforth Pewter.  Short detour to see Montpelier capitol building.

9.  Ben and Jerry's:  Who could not stop there?  Interesting tour and samples!  Also went to a cider mill nearby.

10.  Hanover, NH:  Dartmouth College town... very nice.  Visited nearby Quichee Gorge which had great views and the small quaint town of Woodstock.  Also went to Sugarbush cheese and maple syrup farm and had lots of samples.  Met up with a childhood friend who I hadn't seen since 6th grade and we ate at the famous Simon Pearce restaurant (and store... known for his glass and pottery all over the world).

11.  On to historic Sturbridge, Mass.:  Vermont Country Store, Rockingham Meeting House (1700's Georgian style) and stayed at the Publick House  which was quaint and we had dinner there at their Tavern.

12.  Cape Cod:  Sandwich Glass Factory, cranberry bogs, and beautiful views.  Provincetown at the end of the Cape is very picturesque with cobblestone streets.  Enjoyed Nauset Lighthouse and we arrived late to the Ocean Club at Smuggler's Cove which was nice.  Spent time in Hyannis and visited the JFK Museum which was interesting and the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory.

13.  Providence, R.I.:  Beautiful Statehouse and visited Brown University (nice campus).  Stayed at the Christopher Dodge
B & B which was from 1858.


14.  Drive to NY:  Even though long, we drove I-95 all through the length of Connecticut, to get to NY which was very pretty.  Had a nice stop at the Beach House Cafe in Old Greenwich.

15.  I Love NY:  Saw 2 Broadway shows, "Spiderman" and "Newsies" which were both great.  Went to the 9/11 Memorial which was beautiful but sad.  Subway up to Central Park and explored and took pics of the Guggenheim, the Met, Belvedere Castle, etc.  Finished our trip with an NBC Studio tour visiting Dr. Oz's studio, Jimmy Fallon's stage and other parts of where they film.

All in all, it was a great trip... driving, shopping, too much eating, shows, talking, picture taking, walking, observing, learning, and having fun!  It will be a trip I will always remember....



Ladies Fall Fling.....Sally

On Friday, November 9th, meet at Sally's at 9AM to go in the morning.  We can stop in Paso Robles for an early lunch and explore.
Talk to Robin or Sue Butler to car pool down after work on Friday.
One car to go back Sunday 11/3
The rest are leaving Monday 11/12 as it is a "school" holiday.
Sally will bring coffee, decaf, tea, creamer, one breakfast meal, healthy and treat snacks--we will split the bill--please give any input desired into the food--brands, types, etc.
BRING: a bed, towels, bedding.  All the bedrooms are carpeted and have shades.
walking shoes, raincoat, games, liquor, soda. We have a water filter on the fridge. Movies--there is a TV (with no service) but it plays DVDs

Guests:
Sally
Vicki
Robin
Merillee
Sue
Janis
Randi
Shirley is probably coming.  Anyone else is welcome, there is also a den that would work well with air mattresses, and a bathroom on that  second floor.

There is a queen air mattress there, I will bring a double and a twin, and they blow up very easily from a vacuum we have there.

Don't hesitate to make suggestions.




Happy Anniversary

Congratulations to Robin & Gary Nevoli who will be celebrating 40 years of wedded bliss on the 17th!



Napa B&B Holiday Tour & Taste Event.....Sue Butler

DATE: Saturday, December 1, 2012
TIME: 3-7 pm


It's time to start planning for the annual Napa Holiday B&B Tour.


We've been leaving Saturday morning and staying 2 nights at Embassy Suites for the last couple years.  We spend Sunday going to different wineries, restaurants etc.  Cost is around $170 per night at Embassy.  We are within walking distance from the Napa Inn and at the Embassy we have bigger breakfasts, bigger rooms, and a place to play games.

Tickets for the tour went up to $65.00 per person, but it's still well worth it.

Go to www.napaholidaytour.com to purchase your tickets and view the list of B&B's that are participating this year.  It looks like 10 B&B's so far; 10 is plenty!  Great entertainment, food and decorations - besides the wine and some even have beer!

Some friends just come for the day, but think about coming either way.  Mary and Ed Ryan are coming into town with friends again this year.

Let me know if you decide to join the fun as we usually go to lunch beforehand at Buckhorn in Napa.
z

Saturday Coffee Clatches Continue
We meet every Saturday morning at 9 am at Le Boulanger at San Felipe and Yerba Buena.  There is a Starbucks nearby if you need something "special" to go with your bagel or pastry.   This month's coffee field trip will be on November 17th to Roy's Station Coffee and Tea in Japantown.  Sally suggested it... Here is the link:
http://roys-station.com/     (NOTE: This was October's planned trip but no one was able to go.)



e-Mail Tidbit
Wasn't This Us?

A little house with three bedrooms,
One bathroom and one car on the street.
A mower that you had to push
To make the grass look neat.
house
In the kitchen on the wall
We only had one phone,
And no need for recording things,
Someone was always home.
phone
We only had a living room
Where we would congregate,
Unless it was at mealtime
In the kitchen where we ate.
living room
We had no need for family rooms
Or extra rooms to dine.
When meeting as a family
Those two rooms would work out fine.
kitchen
We only had one TV set
And channels maybe two,
But always there was one of them
With something worth the view.

For snacks we had potato chips
That tasted like a chip.
And if you wanted flavor
There was Lipton's onion dip.

Store-bought snacks were rare because
My mother liked to cook
And nothing can compare to snacks
In Betty Crocker's book.
cookbook
Weekends were for family trips
Or staying home to play.
We all did things together --
Even go to church to pray.
hula hoopbasketballchurch
When we did our weekend trips
Depending on the weather,
No one stayed at home because
We liked to be together.
car trip
Sometimes we would separate
To do things on our own,
But we knew where the others were
Without our own cell phone.

Then there were the movies
With your favorite movie star,
And nothing can compare
To watching movies in your car.
drive-in
Then there were the picnics
At the peak of summer season,
Pack a lunch and find some trees
And never need a reason.
picnic
Get a baseball game together
With all the friends you know,
Have real action playing ball --
And no game video.
baseball
Remember when the doctor
Used to be the family friend,
And didn't need insurance
Or a lawyer to defend?
doctor
The way that he took care of you
Or what he had to do,
Because he took an oath and strived
To do the best for you.

Remember going to the store
And shopping casually,
And when you went to pay for it
You used your own money?
shopping
Nothing that you had to swipe
Or punch in some amount,
And remember when the cashier person
Had to really count?
cash register
The milkman used to go
From door to door,
And it was just a few cents more
Than going to the store.
milkman
There was a time when mailed letters
Came right to your door,
Without a lot of junk mail ads
Sent out by every store...

The mailman knew each house by name
And knew where it was sent;
There were not loads of mail addressed
To "present occupant."
mailman
There was a time when just one glance
Was all that it would take,
And you would know the kind of car,
The model and the make.
carcar
They didn't look like turtles
Trying to squeeze out every mile;
They were streamlined, white walls, fins
And really had some style.
carcar
carcar
One time the music that you played
Whenever you would jive,
Was from a vinyl, big-holed record
Called a forty-five.
record
The record player had a post
To keep them all in line
And then the records would drop down
And play one at a time.
record player
Oh sure, we had our problems then,
Just like we do today
And always we were striving,
Trying for a better way.

Oh, the simple life we lived
Still seems like so much fun,
How can you explain a game,
Just kick the can and run?

And why would boys put baseball cards
Between bicycle spokes
And for a nickel, red machines
Had little bottled Cokes?
bikecoke
This life seemed so much easier
And slower in some ways.
I love the new technology
But I sure do miss those days.

So time moves on and so do we
And nothing stays the same,
But I sure love to reminisce
And walk down memory lane.



praying turkey

NOVEMBER WEBSITE
http://stg.do/9i0c

Getting Older Prayer



CLUB OFFICERS
President - Merrilee Claverie
Treasurer - Sue Ballard
Newsletter & Webmaster - Ginny Gomez
Coffee Coordinator - Randi Heinrichsen
Executive Committee - Randi Heinrichsen, Sally Brooks-Schulke, and
Tina Cuneo