RI Keatings in Austin

360 Bridge

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Block Island Three Sisters

BLOCK ISLAND 2011

This morning we saw the time trials for the Palio in Siena. Every year there is a horse race and the teams are the different districts of the city who each have a flag and animal mascot. The man above is a part of the Snail district (there is a small snail on his hat) and he is marching in a parade standoff with the Giraffe district. We stumbled upon this tradition, and the people of Siena were very enthusiastic. The woman who we bought pottery from informed us that they used to have two districts stand on either side of Il Campo and throw rocks at each other. There also was a period in which they raced cows. The horse race has been going on for 400 years now.

Here is Giovanni and Caterina trying to push over the tower!

This picture of St. Peters at night was taken by our own Johnny Frank.

John and Katherine and I walked a lot today. This is them at Circus Maximus!

John Juan Ponce de Leon

Notice the close resemblance:

A Kitty Miracle

Dear All,

As you may know, we have a small white kitten left from the litter--her name is Goggles. This morning we noticed that she was not romping about the house per usual. At first we gathered that she was just sleeping or stuck somewhere in the house, but after a while it became clear that she must have slipped out the night before. It was cold as could be and we feared the worst. We decided to all go looking in the snow and ice wonderland that our block had become. After a bit, I heard a weak meowing from the driveway but no feline was to be found. It then became clear that the soft sound was coming from inside the car--but that was not possible. John looked through the frontgrill and saw a puff of white. Sandra unlatched the hood and after some struggle with the lever we unvieled one dirty, cold and frightened kitty nestled atop of the engine.

Let's not think of the obvious alternative plotline this story could have taken.

Jim

Pictures from Thanksgiving: Part III

Dancing in Bryant Park



The Rockettes' 3D Spectacular



Radio City Music Hall at Night

Pictures from Thanksgiving: Part II

Toys R' Us: Lego Empire State Building



Geoffry is a jerk



Katerine's Thanksgiving Dinner

Pictures from Thanksgiving: Part I

Christmas tree at the Museum of Natural History decorated with oragami




The hall of dinosaurs


Capt. Mickey Mouse

Jimmy Fallon

Just a quick word of thanksgiving to Aunt B, Kellie, and Laura (whom I didn't realize was there until I saw a picture via Sandra's phone) for giving John and Katherine such a memorable Thanksgiving. They have not stopped talking about this and that thing that did, saw, or eat.

Thanks for carrying on this family tradition (Elizabeth must surely be pleased) with our kids.

Thanks,

Jim and Sandra

I still have not quite figured out how to post pictures, but some should be coming from John's and Katherine's soccer triumphs. As some know, I went to Levenworth for the funeral of Mary Jo Steiger, one half a couple that was very hospitable to Sandra and me. Mary Jo and George introduced us to the ministry in the prison and we spent many a happy and restful hour at their house. Father Ed Hayes (he's quite famous, and is the painter of the glorious picture of St. Nicolas that we hang over our fireplace every yuletide). He gave a very wonderous eulogy that spoke movingly about their fifty plus marriage and her unflinching faith in the adversity's face. Despite the hassles involved in flying to Leavenworth, renting a car, and the rest of it, I am grateful that I made (and was convinced by Sandra to make) the decision to go.

John & Katherine in Boston - Day 3

Day 2 did not yeild any pictures, because there was lots of rain. We decided not to walk to the USS Constitution and saw Despicable Me in 3D. Very cute.

Today, we went to the New England Aquarium and took over 200 pictures on my camera alone. We have quite the young photographers in the family. Below are some of the many pictures.

A day without the Kids

Dear All, As readers know, John and Katherine are with their Aunt (oops!) their cousin Kellie for the day in Boston. We've taken advantage of the alone time by taking Bob Barry and his wife to Cafe Andiamo (we owed him for picking us up from Boston). Today we went to Little Compton (the best shoreline town Rhode Island has to offer) and had a great time despite the cold, windy, and wet weather. At the moment we are watching a movie.

John & Katherine in Boston - Day 1

Hi Everyone!

Yesterday, we went to the Public Gardens and rode on the Swan Boats and fed the ducks. We saw the island of Make Way for Ducklings fame and the statues of the ducks.








After dinner we went to Copley Square where we took pictures and played in the fountain. There are also some Tortise and the Hare statues. Katherine also worked on her yoga.

Then we went home, watched Ice Age, and ate popcorn and M&M's. We had one mishap when Kellie tried to run 3 major appliances at the same time and the power went out. We all trekked downstairs to flip the braker and everything came back on. We will have to be more careful.

Much love to you all and talk to you soon.

Our first hike

Dear All,

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures, although we will be providing some soon. Sandra and I just moved into the attic room. It's quite nice and the stairs don't seem as steep with the carpet and the two handrails. Luckily it's been quite cool at night and we've yet to use our fancy (and expensive!) air-conditioner.

Of course the big thing for us is the impending month in the Rome. As always happens, the weather is beautiful and the garden is blooming and we can't think why we take this trip. But, I assume, once we get there it will seem that no other place else will quite do.

Both John and Katherine are wrapping up their baseball seasons. It's John's first year in the "majors" and there are some adjustments required, but there's always next year. Katherine says she dislikes baseball intensely but there sure was a smile crossing her face when bat finally hit ball and the swift-footed Katherine made it safely to first. She was called out on third base eventually but I think that was just becaue the umpire wanted the game to end.

Jim

Katherine's big day!

Here is a photo of Katherine is her first communion dress. Don and Marie went to Providence to help them celebrate. Congratulations Katherine!!!