93 Degrees Yesterday

It's hard to believe that the mercury hit a whopping 93 degrees yesterday, especially on April 7th in Connecticut. It would seem that we've transitioned from a four season climate to a two season one: hot and cold.

Last week we had quite a bit of rain and some flooding. No real damage to anything, just created a traffic nightmare as the number of roads over Talcott and Avon mountains were reduced.

Had a nice Easter, 85 and sunny. The whole family was here. We hope that yours was outstanding as well.

Gavin, Evangeline and I visited the Wadsworth Antheneum, Hartford's art museum, the day before EASTER. They both had a paper to turn in and needed to do some research there. I'm always a sucker for art museums, so I went along for the ride.

For a small town like Hartford, they have a really impressive collection. There were several Picassos, Rembrants and Van Gogh's - including this self potrait. I imagine that between the Colts and the big insurance companies that there has been some significant patronage over the years.

This coming weekend, Hannah will compete at the RPI in greater Albany. She's to move up and will dance at the Silver level. Hopefully, we'll have a few new photos and what not to share via the blog.

Take care all.

Websites and Blogging

Hannah and Susan left this morning at 5am for Cambridge, Massachusetts and the Harvard Invitational Ballroom Tournament. Left to my own devices for the day, I managed to keep up with the laundry and didn't even turn anyone's socks pink.

While bumming around the house, I got started on my latest project: a website for the Simsbury Farmer's Market. I had responded to a call for volunteers in the Simsbury Post. As it turns out, they were looking for someone to build a website and blog as well as start an email newsletter. For some reason, I volunteered... and I'm quite glad that I did.

This weekend's assignment was to create a simple place holder site and style sheet that could be used for a larger site. Most of my work has been industrial and business to business, so the look and feel of this site were a little bit different. Plenty of work still to do, but it's headed in the right direction. Check it out: http://www.simsburyfarmmarket.com.

I've also spent a bunch of time on bouldenhistory.org, our family genealogical site. Having studied history in college, I've always been drawn to my past. Working on the lineage charts has helped me understand the connections that link one generation to the next, and encouraged me to learn more about the individuals on the chart.

The narrative histories collected by my father have provided an education. I never knew that William Louis Boulden fought in the War of 1812 and used his bonus to buy his wife out of indentured servitude from the governor of Delaware. Neither did I know that her descendants came to the colonies because they were on the wrong side of Oliver Cromwell in the English Civil War.

Pretty cool stuff. Alright, no more blogs about Boulden history for a while.

Derrick Leaves for the US Army

Over 100 of Derrick's family and friends gathered last Saturday evening at Simsbury's Coon Club to say goodbye to him. He left the next day to be sworn into the United States Army at Westover Airforce Base in Massachusetts before proceeding to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for 10 weeks of basic training. Upon completion, he will progress to Advanced Infantry Training (AIT) and ultimately Jump School at Fort Benning, Georgia before joining the 82nd Airborne's Rangers.

Susan and I provided our home made pizza for the event. It took most of the day, but we were able to provide sheets of Cheeseburger, Barbeque Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper for the event. In the spirit of the Coon Club, a hunter's getaway, there was also Southern Barbeque and a roast leg of venison grilled over an open flame. A good time was had by all, except for my belt which suffered repeated assaults as it was loosened throughout the night to cope with all of the food.

Derrick, Erick, Gavin and Fred had really become the four Amigos over the past year, doing everything together. Derrick was in many ways like a third son to us. In fact, he joined us on our August trip to the Jillson Cottage in Empire, Michigan. A polite, respectful young man, we wish him the best and will hold him in our thoughts and prayers throughout training and his eventual deployment.

Gavin and Erick have not rushed down to the recruiter to join up and follow Derrick. They are both continuing in their present course at Tunxis Community College. More to come.

Holy Croos Ballroom Competition 3-13-10

Yesterday, Hannah competed at the Holy Cross Ballroom competition. She had to be at the bus by 5 am and then I left at 7am. While she was dancing her heart out I was video taping her. I left at 2:30 to return home and poor Hannah did not get home until after 11:30pm. I always love watching her dance so I thought I would post a few of her dances for viewers to see:)

---

---

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.

---

---

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.

---

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