sorry for the lack of images...will have to talk to my Dad about that and put them up when i figure it out.

"catechist web site"

I hope this link works.

"picture"

The sun is bright and the morning clear and cool. Now the orange glow of dawn shines through the rows of trees and outlines the ridge above us. Before, the forest would keep the house in shadow until mid morning. The sky has opened up and so too the forest. Along the road we find homes and other structures that were previously invisible.

I have fed the dogs, cats and horses. With the pasture now at rest, I must provide oats and hay daily. The lawn growth has slowed too, but I will have to mow a time or two more. As glorious as is this homestead, I itch to get back on the road. Enough of these daily chores.

This article from the NY Times talks about the new development in Rahway that has Mike and Sam excited.

Using a newly renovated train station as its centerpiece, the mayor’s huge project includes more than 1,500 rental and condominium homes to be built over the next three years, and rows of restaurants and shops, some already springing up on streets newly lighted with Victorian lamps.

The new Rahway will be a pedestrian-oriented, distinctly upscale commuter mecca, sort of the Hoboken of Union County, according to the plans.

Saw this Thursday night. It's very good. Dad told Margaret it was realistic. See it quick. It won't be in the theaters much longer. I think it's important to see it to witness Dad's experience on Iwo Jima.

in Cherokee, western NC. Anne is a doctor at the Cherokee Native American Reservation and at the nursing home. It is for tribal members only at no cost. Chuck maintains the property of 44 acres. The horses use most of the land. There is a shed and natural pond for the horses. There are three beautiful horses, three loving, eager dogs and two cats. Chuck voluntarily mows a large portion of the grounds and has a very productive garden as you would expect of him. Anne and Chuck made delicious dinners every evening with fresh produce from the garden. The house is built like a lodge with large rooms and a porch which surrounds the whole house overlooking the garden, horses, valley and distant mountains. The foliage was very colorful while we were there.

So, let me start by apologizing for waiting so long to post a blog on here. I have been in India for 4 and a half weeks now and the whole experience has been very rewarding. Part of the reason it has been so rewarding is that there has been very little free time, and with the time that my fellow classmates and I get, we of course have many sights to see and things to do. On top of this, the internet in the hotel we are staying at (The Oakwood in Pune/Poona) has had spotty internet and when it is up it is often slow especially when many of us are trying to use the wireless (which also makes it very difficult to share photos). However, enough excuses. I feel bad for not filling you all in earlier. But maybe i can make up for it now.

It has been some time since we have posted here. That does not mean that Sylva has become routine. Yes there is a pattern here, and there has been more sameness not only of place but also of Anne’s work and Chuck’s chores, and of being in western Carolina; but our time here has been eventful. We have largely been successful in reserving weekends for recreation, mostly hiking, birding, and paddling and also motoring, shopping, blue grass, and Cherokee events.

The summer passed quickly and now as fall begins we are short-timers. New challenges are emerging – feeding the horses and managing the household in cold weather being most significant. Autumn is usually spectacular here. At six thousand feet the birches are already yellow and dropping leaves. Even here at 2500 feet the dogwoods are already purple and the sourwoods and blackgum are starting to redden. Two cold fronts have already passed and night temperatures are into the forties and fifties even as the mid-day sunshine is warm. The days are beautiful.

Patty and I drove Dan to Logan airport on September 20 and he flew out of Boston at 9:05 PM to Heathrow and then on to Mumbai. He arrives in Mumbai 12:15 AM 9/22 India time, which is 2:45 PM 9/21 our time. We sent him off with lots of prayers and well wishes. Patty and I managed to make ourselves annoying enough that he was dying to get away from us. We all have our roles to play. we expect him back sometime late 12/8.