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.