Three videos of Zahira playing and talking and kicking and finally getting fussy. Best viewed on my Picasa site - get to it by clicking on the image above and then either selecting each video separately or clicking on "Slideshow" and seeing all three together. If you are looking at a video individually you can see it full-screen by clicking on the four arrows in the bottom right corner of the video. Sorry about the first two being a little sideways but it has taken me a while to figure out video on my Nano.

Zahira & Christmas in Oberlin

Zahira and Sarah have arrived. Nicki continues reading. Oliver meets the baby and he shares his toys.

Memmott Sled

This is a sled that I believe was designed and built by my father. He constructed the box and mounted it to a traditional Flexible Flyer style sled. The sled was painted a deep black and the box was white with red trim and a red “M” on the back panel. I changed the black to hunter green and lost the "M" under several coats of paint. I needed to replace the bottom of the box as it was rotted and plywood was peeling. I also replaced most of the hardware - either the metal pieces were rusted and brittle or were oddly mis-matched (big screws to connect the sides when trim nails would have worked better). The pull rope was very deteriorated of course. Lots of sanding and tweaking and painting. The intent is to bundle-up Zahira and she will become the first next-generation rider. I'm sure she will be much cuter than the occupant in the scene above. Photos to be added later.

First Snow

Winter has arrived.  Oliver doesn't mind playing in the snow at all.

Eastern Screech Owl

I thought Oliver was barking at a squirrel in our back yard - until I saw a little gray feathery creature watching us. Not sure if he/she has established a residence on our property but it is welcome. A much better visitor than the usual squirrels. (Photos are being continuously added as long as the owl remains in residence)

Zahira Reads

From Zahira Reads

Click above to watch Zahira read with Nicki. Books are easy stuff when you are 3 months old.

Oliver Wants That Ball

Oliver put his ball up onto the clothesline and he wants to play with it.

Hans' Burial & Obituary

Hans-Axel Stechow passed away Saturday, August 28, 2010 at New Life Hospice of St. Joseph in Lorain, Ohio.

Born in Gottingen, Germany, in 1933, naturalized in 1945, grew up in Oberlin, Ohio.

He graduated from Oberlin High school in 1950, attended Oberlin College (‘55), radar training at the Naval Air Station in Memphis, and electronics engineering at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute New York.

He served five years in the U.S. Marine Corp. (‘50-’54 Korea); ‘56-’58 he worked under government contract for Butler Aviation, La Guardia, NY installing radar systems in Europe. After working for RCA Cherry Hill, NJ as a technical representative in Europe, he transferred to a position with the Strategic Air Command where he conducted classes in electronic theory and supervised the repair of systems manufactured by RCA. Under government contract with Unitec Corporation, Timonium, MD as a field engineer stationed in Southern Germany, he supervised men on a special assignment to Turkey visiting Turkish military establishments. With Brush Instruments Division (Clevite Corporation - Cleveland, OH) in Belgium, he provided technical support at International electronics expositions, and conducted demonstration tours through-out the continent.

Employment in Oberlin - first at Gilford Instrument Laboratories (technical writing of operators’ and maintenance manuals; sales office manager; advertising manager). In Cleveland, he was senior account executive at Brand & Gerber & Shick.

Before his debilitating stroke in ‘93 he served as Director of External Affairs; Director of Bridge to Asia at the National Association of College Store, Oberlin, OH.

Stechow was a member and former president of the Prospect School PTO, president of the Oberlin City Club, past member of Rotary, past secretary of Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA), member of Cleveland Advertising Club and American Society of Association Executives; served as council member then five years as president at Grace Lutheran Church; a member of Gideon Bible Society; a member of the American Legion.

Hans’ ability to communicate really touched people; writing, editing, music, public speaking. He was a voracious reader and possessed an exuberant curiosity. His interests included music, animals, sports, table tennis, pool/billiards, languages, puns, chess, tournament bridge, motorcycles and sports cars. Three dogs, a variety of birds, ferrets, a skunk, and Rex rabbit owned Hans. He was a golfer and bowler on local leagues as well as basketball player in his earlier years, most notably on various Marine Corp. teams. As a teenager, he won several awards as a cellist and in 1950 was first-chair cellist in the Ohio All-State High School Orchestra. As a self-taught jazz pianist he was much in demand in the Cleveland area and for his extensive musical talent at weddings and civic entertainment.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years Norma (nee Gordon); sons Peter Wolfgang (Laurie Nixon), LaGrange; Keith Richard, Oberlin; Michael Ara-Thomas (Marijana Andjelkovic) - Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia; David Bryan - Buffalo, NY; six grandchildren Alexander Wolfgang, Alyssa Stechow; Jennifer, Jonathan - U.S. Marine Corp., Andrew and Lauren (Dan) Stechow Schilke; two great-grandchildren Wesley and Meira Schilke. Sisters Barbara (Robert) Harris, Lansing, Mich.; Nicola (John) Memmott, Oberlin.

Predeceased parents Professor of Art History Wolfgang and French Teacher Ursula Hoff Stechow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Oasis Animal Shelter, Oberlin OH, New Life Hospice of St. Joseph - Lorain, OH, Grace Lutheran Church, Oberlin, Ohio.

Celebration of Hans’ life will be held September 11, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 310 West Lorain Street, Oberlin, Ohio. Burial was at Oberlin Westwood Cemetery at 10:00 that morning.

Common Snapping Turtle

On her way home from work this afternoon Nicki found a rather large turtle crossing West College St. Of course it needed to be relocated. So we contained it in a recycle bucket and drove it over to the Oberlin's Westwood Cemetery - which has a small algaed-covered pond well protected with a border of shrubbery. We checked a half-hour later and it wasn't where we left it so all may be well. We're pretty sure it was a Common Snapping Turtle. (By the way - the picture showing Nicki picking up the turtle is NOT the way you are supposed to pick up a snapping turtle. We know that now after doing our research tonight) (And the last photo is a toad that Nicki found in a flower pot)

Findley Lake 8/20/10

Quiet, warm evening. Especially quiet for a Friday night. One regal great blue heron - a real poser - never gave up his roost. Water level was a little low. The area could use some rain.

Findley Lake 8/13/10

Another late afternoon/early evening excursion on Findley Lake. The usual herons. But the unusual deer in the forest, a cormorant, and an osprey - and a huge snapping turtle swimming next to my boat that startled me so much I didn't the camera in position fast enough to get a shot of. My back has been cleared by a specialist so we are ready to officially re-begin this kayaking season.

Blimp

Nicki and I were taking Oliver for a walk in Tappan Square this afternoon and a Goodyear blimp flew overhead. Oliver was too busy doing his squirrel herding to notice. (photo by cellphone)

Findley Lake 8/10/10

A warm summer evening. A very quiet owl watching me watch him. A very compliant heron posing. And even a sleepy turtle. Nice time on the water.

Findley Lake 8/6/10

Turtles - lots of turtles. A very calm snake. And several herons. A good evening on Findley Lake.

Back to Kayaking

Finally! Back in the boats - despite medical advice. And it felt very good. Nice weather. Our animal friends missed us. A couple hours on the water as the sun set. Maybe we'll do it again this weekend. The weather is just too good to pass up.

Oliver visits Hans

Zahira in the Movies

From Zahira Movies

From Zahira Movies

Zahira

Zahira Yaretzi Cruz - born 9:59 PM, July 16, 2010, to parents Sarah and Sergio Cruz in Oakland, California.

Origin and Meaning of the Name Zahira
Gender: Girl
Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Radiant, dazzling

Origin and Meaning of the Name Yaretzi
Gender: Girl
Origin: Aztec
Meaning: You will always be loved
Pronunciation: (yah RET tzi)

From http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/

Family Reunion - Little Valley & Ellicottville Weekend

A gathering of the brothers and sisters for the Little Valley Central School Alumnae dinner weekend and Memmott family celebrations in Ellicottville.

California Trip - January 2010

Driving to California to deliver to Sarah a vehicle and several baby items (the family bassinet on wheels in particular). A long and entertaining drive with lots of wondrous sights. Perhaps I'll add details as time becomes available. (The Picassa view of the above slideshow has the captions - just click on the photos)

New Driveway

Having our driveway replaced. The crew came yesterday (Wednesday) and tore out the old well-cracked drive and did the framing and foundation. Today (Thursday) they brought a bigger crew and did the pour. Note that we had "color" added to the concrete. Watch for more photos of the finished product.

New Vehicle

Here's our new "kayak-hauling" vehicle.

Kayaking Again

Thanks to the unusually and early warm weather (and the lack of a need for physical therapy) we have started our earliest kayaking season - and it felt very very good. The wildlife at Findley included lots of turtles, some very relaxed geese, and more turtles. Hope the weather holds up so this will be a long season.

Michigan Trip - North Coast of Ohio

Nicki and I took a trip to Lansing to spend the weekend with Bob & Barb. Good weather for a change so it made good traveling. We spent most of Saturday at the Quiet Water Symposium held on the Michigan State University campus - a celebration of paddling in Michigan. Lots of canoes and kayaks and information about parks and waterways in that state. Big event - lots of people attending. Sunday we did a leisurely trip back to Oberlin along the coastline of Lake Erie. First saw several groupings of trumpeter swans in the middle of cornfields - mostly in pairs. Explored Magee Marsh which is a protected wetlands and a great spot to observe migratory birds (though it is early in the seasons so we only saw geese and ducks). Just after leaving that spot and just before the Davis-Besse nuclear power station we discovered two eagles perched in a tree near the road. All of the photos were taken by my "little" camera so the quality is a little less than I'd prefer.

Snow

We had some snow over the past two days. Views around our house.

More Snow, More Oliver, More Chasing

You can't get too much of Oliver chasing his ball in the new snow. He really could do this all day long.

And this is Oliver after chasing the ball - panting.


Maybe it is time to start an Oliver blog?

Chasing the Ball - Winter Style

Oliver would chase the ball all day long - regardless of the weather.
But in the snow is better - and bestest when you can get all covered
with snow.

Oliver in the Snow

We had some snow today. That doesn't stop Oliver from playing in the backyard with his ball. The photos show Oliver's ball before he started playing (covered with new snow), the ball after a little play, and Oliver waiting for me to kick the ball into play (covered with snow after playing for a while).

Collegium Musicum

Nicki participated in the Oberlin College Collegium Musicum 20th Anniversary Reunion this weekend. She was one of about 100 choir members - mostly alumni from the past 20 years mixed with current members of Collegium and guests. The program can be downloaded here. Rehearsals were Friday evening, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon, with the concert Saturday evening.  My job was to take photos during the Saturday rehearsal. Most of the rehearsal photos were taken at Fairchild chapel where the Collegium usually performs their concerts. The last few photos are from Warner Concert Hall - a bigger hall was needed to accommodate the size of the choir and the audience. Excellent music - mostly from the 1500’s. Nicki wants me to explain that she sang in Collegium when she was in college and was invited to sing in Collegium in the 80's as an alum. This reunion was mostly to honor Steven Plank who has directed Collegium for the last 20 years.

Snow

Scenes of snow around our house from February 6th's winter storm.

Winter's Night

A very cold clear night with a full moon - experimenting with my camera.

California Trip - January 2010

Here's the sampler set of photos from our California trip (reduced from the 1,500 or so that we actually took). Hopefully more explanations will be added here but that takes more time and thought. Short outline: fly to Los Angeles, one night in Santa Monica, Getty Museum, drive up the coast on Highway 1, one night in Morro Bay, one night on the Monterey Peninsula, four nights at Sarah and Sergio's, museums, lots of good food, Sarah's school, great weather, rainy weather, and fly back from San Francisco.

Day Trip to Western New York

I did a quick day-trip to the Western New York area Sunday. The objective was to attend the visitation for Mary Budzinski's mom at he the O'Rourke & O'Rourke Funeral Home in Salamanca. On the way I drove by the 413 Fair Oaks homestead. The photos note the ice problem on the western side of the house and the unusual (but maybe correct?) trimming of the rhododendrons in the front yard. I liken it to the palm-tree approach. Met Jim and Martha at Dina's in Ellicottville for lunch. Note the photos of hard-edged photojournalist Jim and folksy commentator Jim demonstrating the use of flash and non-flash styles. We all then went to the funeral home meeting Ed and Theresa who were already there. A brief discussion was initiated concerning Memmott brother/sister reunion possibilities - most likely is the usual June Alumni Weekend. Details will need to be further explored. On my way out of Salamanca, while I was driving across the Main St. bridge, an eagle flew low over my car and west along the river - not more than 8 or 9 feet above me. Very pronounced white head and yellowish beak. I've never seen an eagle in that area but the water in the river was still ice-free and flowing so maybe it was a good hunting area. All happened too quickly to get a photo. Driving for this trip was uneventful - roads were clear and traffic light. Back in Oberlin a little after 8:00PM.

Winter

Just a few shots from around our house.I sort of feel obligated to document this season's weather.