Friday August 1,2008

The beginning of the new month and we are in New York State. Tom's father passed away when he was 52 years old back in 1974. His father's only living brother lives in Vestal Center, N.Y. About 45 minutes away. This is our day to visit Uncle John and his wife Aunt Vivian.

We headed out early in the day, taking Charley with us. It was a beautiful day. We arrived at their home at 10:00 am to find them ready and waiting for us. We started out talking and trying to find out a little information about the Milton side of the family. Tom's father was orphaned at 3 years of age so we don't have a lot of information about this side of the family and we try to learn every little thing we possibly can while any relations are still living.

When lunchtime came we wanted to take John and Vivian out for lunch. They wanted to go to Old Country Buffet. Not what we would have picked out, but this was what they requested.

After lunch, they took us to their lake house, this is in Pennsylvania, which is about 14 miles away. The setting is just as pretty as a picture. John just loved showing Tom his lake house. On the way to the lake house we passed cousin David's home so we stopped to see David and wife. After the lake house visit we headed back into New York to visit with cousin John and wife Lisa. They have lots of land and David has 4 barns with lots of old cars and trucks that he restores in his spare time. Many more than he will ever get a chance to restore in his lifetime. But, that is what he enjoys doing.

Son John and wife Lisa have ponies, chickens and goats. Charley was not too brave. She would go up towards the fence and when the animals would come towards her she would lurch back away and bark at them.

It was getting late in the day so we returned Uncle John and Vivian to their home. Saying our good-byes we saw tears in Uncle Johns eyes. He is not in the best of health and pushed himself all day long to try and show us all he wanted us to see. On our way down the highway we spotted some hot air balloons in the air and then saw one landing. We found our way around and Nancy managed to run up the hill and get some photos of them re-packing the balloon and then of a few others in the air.