Itching for Spring

Yesterday it got warm. The weather channel reported a balmy 57 degrees. It warmed the face and the back of your neck as you walked around outside. The kind of warmth that hadn't been seen around these parts in at least five months.

It was also the perfect day to take one's dog for a long walk. Setting out just after 1pm, Sadie and I walked nearly eight miles up Iron Horse Boulevard and alongside the Farmington River. A few miles down stream from the Tarrifville rapids, the river meanders through farmlands and open fields. Thank goodness that the Town of Simsbury and the State of Connecticut set aside large tracts of land adjacent to the river as a nature preserve, closing it to development. The combination of the openness, lighting and warmth made it just beautiful.

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This was also the first time that little Sadie (all 80lbs of her) had the chance to spend some time with other dogs. The first dog she encountered was an Irish Setter. Approaching very gingerly, she touched noses and then backed away quickly. OK, a little intimidated. Later in the walk, we ran into a Jack Russell terrier who had the nerve to bark at her, sending a terrified Sadie behind my legs. I could almost hear her say "Dad, protect me." After the taunting by that 12lb dog, she was done. Geriatric Labradors sent her scurrying for cover. We'll have to work on this.

Before leaving, I spent a little time looking at content management solutions for www.bouldenhistory.org. Wordpress has been suggested by a number of sources as a great 'off the shelf' content management solution. While researching Wordpress, I came across this cool blog posting about Haiti, from Dispatches from a Fragile Island. Unable to stay on task, I had to check out the photos. I know nothing about the author or his project, but was struck by the photos: happiness in the midst of tragedy.

Honoring Arlene Oakley

After nearly 100 years on this earth, Susan's grandmother, Arlene Oakley, passed away recently. Mrs. Oakley was a bright, driven, woman who loved to travel. A long-time educator, she worked hard to improve the lives of those that she touched.

A few years ago during the Christmas holidays, she and I were able to connect through American History. Returning home, she sent a box of books that she thought I would enjoy. As I write this, I am working my way through one of those books: A Benjamin Franklin Reader, by Walter Isaacson. A collection of Franklin's writings throughout his long life, it has given me a better understanding of Franklin than any biography could. Thank you!!

Marisue Besse, my Mother-in-Law (at left in the photo below with her mother), wrote the following memorial.

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Arlene Oakley
1913--2010

Arlene Rockleman Oakley was born to Amil and Ida Rockleman in 1913 in Lakeview, Michigan. She married Harry Oakley in 1934. She taught in a two-room schoolhouse until the couple moved to Charlevoix, Michigan where their first daughter, Marisue, was born in 1937. Their younger daughter, Linda, was born in 1940 in Bloomington, Indiana.

In 1950 Arlene went back to school and got her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. She taught in Redford Union, a suburb of Detroit. Her master’s degree is from Wayne State University. Her PhD dissertation was never completed. She was the principal of Westland School in Redford Union. She founded an alumnae sorority, Kappa Kappa Alpha at Western Michigan. She was its first president. Mrs. Oakley was on the Detroit lecture circuit. She inspired other women to pursue their education and gain independence through a career. She is listed in Who’s Who of American Women.

Arlene and Harry retired to Sun City Center in 1977. In 1983 she lost Harry to a heart attack, and in 1987, her younger daughter, Linda also died of a heart attack.

Arlene Oakley for many years was active in Armchair Travelers and two bridge groups She served on the boards of Mary Martha House in Ruskin and the Community Foundation of Sun City Center. She traveled more than 70 countries on four continents. Many she visited several times. She died at 97 in Ocean City, New Jersey, where she had moved in January to live with her granddaughter. She is survived by her daughter Marisue, five grandchildren, and eleven great children.

Cold Friday in February

Bone chilling might really be the best description for the cold. It's the kind of day when the snow crunches beneath your feet and nose freezes shut. People will say that they like the seasons, that they could never live in a place in California, Arizona or Florida because one doesn't get to really experience winter.

Surely Arizonians enjoy summer. The leaves fall in California and the spring rains come in Florida. So, what they're really saying is that they like Winter. I have to admit that the Holiday season would seem strange without snow and cold. However, nose freezing cold and a tank of heating oil per month come along with that joyous noel cheer. It seems like there out to be some sort of a trade there.

One must continually guard against becoming an old grouch. It sneaks up on us. We start to get a little bit inflexible about this, the next door neighbor's eccentricities become annoyances instead. Pretty soon we're trying to find the best shuffleboard game. We'll I don't think I'm there yet.

You see, the fall colors here in New England are just breathtaking. A slight chill in the air lets you know that winter will be here one day, but today requires no more than a sweater in compensation.

Talcott Mountain State Park. Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A little more than five years ago, in October 2004, we made our first trip to Connecticut as a family for one long weekend. That Saturday we piled into Susan's Trailblazer and drove all around suburban Hartford, looking at places in Avon, Simsbury, West Hartford and more. Brilliant oranges, vibrant reds and muddy yellows jumped from the trees. It was beautiful.

The five autumns since then have been more or less spectaular. Some years the colors are a little muted. I think it has something to do with the amount of rain in the summer. Still, they have all been wonderful.

Since the holidays ended, I've been struggling with what to post in the blog. I took the trash out this morning, crunched through the snow and found my inspiration. The cold and the seasons aren't the only things to report. Marisue joined us in mid January for a nice visit, and the boys have started their spring semesters at Tunxis. Both are taking full schedules.

More to follow

Bouldenhistory.org

Yesterday afternoon Bouldenhistory.org, a website for those interested in the history of the Boulden family and its collateral lines, went live.

Perhaps I am overstating things a bit. A temporary site went live while the main site is under development. Visitors to the page today will learn that the site is intended as a colloborative venture for Boulden geneological research around the world. They will also be able to see a sample post and communicate with the web development team through the admin@bouldenhistory.org email distribution list.

Posting the notice on this blog seemed a logical thing to do as many of the people who read the blog are Bouldens themselves. So, tell us what you'd like to see. Do you have old stories, diaries, rememberances that you would like to have preserved? How about old pictures?

Send them along with your comments to admin@bouldenhistory.org

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah to all. In the past we have written a year end letter to friends and family sharing details about our lives over the past twelve months. One year ago the Boulden Family blog was born, with the first posting serving as the 2008 letter.

Over the course of this year we've updated the blog consistently. It would seem redundant to rehash those events in the 2009 letter as those posts already exist. Erick's graduation, Hannah's successes at regional ballroom competitions and Gavin's twentieth birthday can be found in previous posts on this blog.

Rather, we would like to extend our heartfelt holiday wishes to you and yours. At this festive time of year, it is easy to get caught up in details and loose sight of the bigger picture. Making sure your shopping is done, the house is clean, travel arrangements have been made, and Christmas dinner is a big success blurs our focus.

Little more than 2,000 years ago, our heavenly father sent his son, Jesus Christ, to us through the Virgin Mary. In his short time here Jesus delivered a consistent message of peace on earth and love for all. While you're opening gifts, visiting with family and enjoying a long holiday weekend, please take the time to reflect on that message and the blessings you have received.

In closing, we'd like to ask for your prayers of comfort for Arlene Oakley as she makes this difficult journey. We'd also like to recognize Owen Simmons; we are truly blessed to have him with us.

Peace be unto you. Enjoy a great performance of Handel's Messiah.

The First Snow & Getting the Christmas Tree

Earlier this week we had our first real snowfall of the year, the kind where the flakes are small and driving. It arrived overnight with no warning and put down about 6 inches just in time for the morning rush hour. What fun.

Before leaving for work, Susan and I let Sadie outside to "see" the snow for the first time. She ran several laps around the back yard, jumping into the snow and flipping it up with her nose. It was a little like watching a kid at Christmas.

She tried to engage me in a little game of pounce as you can see from the before and after photos in this post. I guess that I was a bit of curmudgeon that day and didn't want to play. It was Monday morning though, if that makes any difference.

Yesterday, we drove up to Southwick, Massachusetts to cut down our Christmas tree. A cold wet rain was falling, soaking us the bone. Our first pass through the farm yielded no "perfect trees." A perusal of pre-cut trees was disappointing as well.

Everyone was soaked through to the bone. Finally, we all decided on a couple of trees with a few holes in them - one for Erick's apartment and one for our home. Cutting them down was an adventure in itself because the trunk was completely frozen and steamed up glasses prevented me from seeing what I was doing.

Later we slogged through the muck up to the farm house to pay for them and get a little hot chocolate. It was so warm inside, and the hot chocolate so good, that we didn't want to go back outside. Ah Christmas in Connecticut.

Tonight, we'll post the photos of the decorated tree.

A Few Photos and a Story or Two

Susan is working date night this evening at the clubhouse, Gavin's at work and Hannah's sleeping over at Sarah's house. I find myself dinking around on the computer and looking at photos.

Here's an old photo, taken in the summer of 2000 - I think. Erick and Hannah are sitting on the front steps of Bill and Marisue's home on Drexmore Road in Shaker Heights, Ohio. The other children with them are TJ, Rachel and Christian Heist. That was the summer that we moved back to Cleveland from Grayslake, Illinois. We had put our house on the market in June or July, hoping to sell it before the school year started. After a week or two of no offers, Marisue and Bill graciously offered their home to us during the transition. So, we packed everyone up and moved into Drexmore, enrolling the kids in school: Erick and Hannah at Boulevard Elementary and Gavin at Woodbury. In December our home finally sold and we were able to purchase our new home at 3316 Aberdeen Road in Shaker.

In the four or five months we lived on Drexmore, we enjoyed meshing our families together. Here's a photo of Gavin getting his pumpkin ready to carve that October. My apologies to all of the children for showing these photos; they were so cute I just had to share. Other memories that stick out that fall were picking apples and making apple betty. Marisue loved apple betty and would often sneak down in the middle of the night to grab a spoonful or two. After about the third time I made, she told me that I had to stop. Her waistline couldn't take another tray. Ah good times.

Speaking of good times. This last photo is current. Sadie had her first bath a few weeks ago. She's growing so fast, I can hardly believe how little she was just a few weeks. For the record she loved the bath. Splashing around and playing with the suds. Tonight it snowed, a wet heavy snow. Sadie had a great time outside chasing snow flakes and generally being a little nut. I think she's about 55-60 pounds now and five months old. A little large for a lap dog, but don't tell her that. I hear Susan pulling in the driveway, so I'm going to sign off now.