Vining Anthropology

Just spent some really fine days on Euclid Avenue; there's always a lot going on there, and always the prospect of people "going Vining" (quite serene visit, despite Arthur's appearance), but I decided to spend a little time pursuing some Vining documentation, and now I'm going to share it. Young Vining family, circa 70s:

If you know Ella and Margaret, chances are you're a little afraid of them; but look how sweet they were, once upon a time:

For some reason, there are a lot of framed school photographs of Maggie on Euclid Avenue.  Mrs. Vining and Ella thought she looked quite unhappy about this tie choice (11th grade):

Below is also from high school, circa late 80s or so.  I asked Maggie (in PDX working like a madwoman while we all cavort around the eastern lands), and she said, "my mother and grandmother were telling me to get my bangs out of my face ("no one can see your pretty face") and made me promise to do my bangs curtain style."

The percentage of Vining children in framed photos is 80% DKV, 10% MAV, 10% cats, 0% Ella.  Why is this?  Well, for one thing, the sisters say that DKV has been in the habit of giving framed photos of himself as gifts to his parents.  They're all very handsome, and all look quite similar.  Here's an earlier, more candid shot, which I found in a drawer with some knives and nunchucks, etc.

At last, hidden away in the "baby room" with some broken puzzles, I located this lost piece of Ella's childhood.  How cute is this?  (Quite really cute.)

Some digging through various Vining documents, after everyone went to bed, uncovered this document, from AP History:

This was honestly really sharp work, and Ella's grade was well-deserved:

What an excellent family!  I'm sure you've enjoyed this glimpse.

Tiny Trains of the East Coast

So, yes, we drove to New York City ("Imagine that," as Ida would say, quoting Michelle Shocked) to rendezvous with Ella's brother DKV and his family.  First we ate in a diner, to get up our strength.  ANd then soon Ida had hooked up with DHV and they had started running wild in the NY Botanical Garden.

NYC is so exciting!

There's the secret LV and HV, along with SHV (these people closely monitor the web exposure!). And you'll note, here, a very interesting parallel to yesterday's outing:

Yes, miniature trains!  Who knew that my wife Ella has a fixation about tiny trains and would plan various outings in which we could interact with them.  I also wonder if the TIGHTNESS of the east coast, all these people living together and piled on top of each other, makes things become very small in the way, say, that some islands allow giant monitor lizards to bloom (as in one of Ida's books) or elephants the size of cows, etc.  Anyway, HV awaits a train:

Meanwhile, these unrepentant and sincere hand-holders led us away, to a "Gingerbread Adventure"

Miki was down.  She kissed this gingerbread man.

At first we failed to find the gingerbread cookie decorating tent, and thought we'd misunderstood.  "Why," Ida asked me, "Is Mama always wrong about the things that will be at a place?"

Later, she conceded that Ella had been right, after all.

Thanks, V cousins!  An excellent adventure; until next time!

Eastward bound / Haddonsfield! / Morris Arboretum

Yes, we're traveling. Got up at 5; Maggie came over straight from the law office and drove us to the airport. Terrifying.

Soon, we were in Haddonfield.  The trip had its moments of Miki kicking Ella, but mostly it was okay.  And soon Ida had a new whoopee cushion.  Here she's patiently waiting for Grandpa Vining to get off his exercise bike so she can put it on his wheelchair.  Relentless fart noises, here.  And we're driving a Mazda 5, a vehicle Ella has long coveted.

A lot of preparations were made to get ready for Sagami.  Which Ida said was a meal she'd like to have every single night, only she'd choose the green tea ice cream next time.

These people are relentless with their exercise bike, speaking of relentless.

The very next day we all cruised out to the "Morris Arboretum," a sojourn proposed by Mr. Vining long ago.

Crazy walkways high in the air, gigantic nests and eggs....

Extremely dangerous rope something or others...

And then an outrageous train display, capped by Thomas and Percy, cruising around!  (Note, while on the east coast Ella is making our girls drinking two liters of Fanta Orange and Sprite a day, rather than milk or water.)

We even spent some quality, very cold time, in the log cabin that the lady Morris used to entertain in.  Toko-san showed some of her stamping and marching warm-up technique, here.

So, we got  new camera and will document adventures as we have them!  Everyone's delighted:

Maggie says, "it is not my sweater but if it was I'd give it to Ella right away, if she promised to always wear it with a scarf"

More soon from Euclid Avenue, home of the "Speed Hump."

Robin Lost an Egg

How'd you like to be on a plane with these two?

Holiday Train! (700th post!)

You know the holidays haven't exactly started unless we've gotten on the Holiday Train (a little different than the Dinosaur Train). So we hit it:

(Ida's new favorite song, which Miki finds hilarious:  "Jingle Bells, Butt Man smells, Robin lost an egg!")

Miki was ready.

The stars were O-U-T.  (I decided not to include Arthur's singing this year, though.)

Theo was sitting across from me and was quite pensive.

But upon news that Santa might be coming, she quickly turned around and began being good:

Ah, Santa!  So much is expected of you, big weird guy!

I'll see you soon, and when I do, I'll be wearing a tie.

Thanks, Holiday Train!

Tree

Yes, we got after it. Yes, we got the spirit.

Last year Ida chose her/our tree right away and had a tantrum when we considered other ones...

...this year she told us she was going to choose 5 for everyone to consider.

Once we arrived at the tree zone, though, she chose her one tree and that was that.

Fortunately it was not a very tall tree.  (I am 6'4")

Now wait a minute, who are those two sister vixens?  A two-headed vixen?

Actually, the Bradfords were there!  (It probably will not surprise you that it takes Arthur three hours to pick a tree, and then he picks a huge one and spends a lot of time anxiously talking about how much bigger it is than ours, and then he finds an old glove and starts talking about a technique called "the stranger," and then slips in the mud and tries to blame Maggie, etc.)  But anyway, before I get carried away, we were working on their Christmas photo for their card.  Here's the options (you can vote).

Option #1:

Option #2:

Champion D'Amatos!

So, yes, I mean no, let's not forget the magnificent effort of the D'Amatos, who came here from Wisconsin by way of Texas, who visited us when many thought they never would, that they would only take their talents to sunny climes south of the border at any hint of a vacation. Fantastic:

This is the first time Sam ever really ate fish.  Salmon, smoked and grilled.  Long may you run.

Man, that was a delicious meal on Martins St; some say Arthur made the wild rice out of a box, but man it was so fine.  Whoa!  Here's my sister, Jen:

I kind of wish I had a nice photo of the two of us together with our arms around each other, but things were just moving too fast.  Not too past to put our arms around each other, just too fast to document every moment.  Fortunately, Ida got hold of the camera to take pictures of us separately.

She also took this fine portrait of Fred.  Here he's drinking a Hop Czar, which unfortunately is not a beverage that leaves Multnomah County.

Ida also took this photo of the game--Cowboys vs. Redskins (RG III!)--Fred was watching:

So the actual Thanksgiving meal was maybe the best one I ever prepared, but not many photos were taken.  In fact, we even failed--probably due to the lack of Grambee or Kathy--to go around saying what we're thankful for. Thankful for you, D'Amatos!

Maggie worked very hard at a) looking good, in Ella's absence (working!) and b) keeping the kids' table happy.