Season's Greetings! Photos of Family, Friends and Travels in 2013

Wishing you all a joyous Holiday Season and many blessings in the New Year.

(If you look at the Blog Archive, you will find blogs on some of the events below).  

The year began in Manila.  Here we are with the Sieber clan when we climbed up Mount Pinatubo, the volcano that caused such devastation back in 1995.  It literally created a new landscape and the most beautiful crater lake (where we had lunch after an uphill hike through lahar canyons).

After lunch at Sonia's Garden in Tagaytay, about 40 miles south of Manila.  The Honeymoon Chair!

Sarah holding the first ever lettuce from my garden.  It was delicious--but only six survived an early  May frost.

We went up to Boston for Max's birthday on May 6.  Here is the birthday boy with Veronica and Lola.

After seeing Jose's show, "Here Lies Love" at the Public Theater with our friends, Bob and Lyndsey

Mother's Day in Williamsburg, Brooklyn when we stayed with Jose and Erik.

Jane's birthday and Mother's Day combined was celebrated at Chef Geoff's in D.C.  21 today!

We had Max's baptism at our house in Falls Church.  Regee's sister, Gracita, on the far right, was able to join us on a lightning trip from Manila via Switzerland and New York! Max was so mellow.

I went on the annual Road Trip with my old ADB buddies, Rich and Wayne.  We spent a few days at an amazing fishing camp in Montana on Lake Mary Ronan.  This is our trusty fishing boat on the back of Rich's pick up truck with our luxury accommodation in the background.

In England, my great nieces, Paige and Eleanor, are growing apace, as is the latest Newport addition, young Finlay, soon to be two.

Veronica's birthday is in September.  She had a big pool party but this photo was taken after her birthday brunch at MASA in Winchester, MA.  She loved her new dress from Lola.

In July, we had a visit from Bill and Sue George who are Civil War buffs.  Here they are with Stonewall Jackson at the Manassas National Battlefield in Virginia.  I studied at Lincoln's Inn with Bill and was at Liverpool University with Sue. 

In September, Regee headed off to Manila to continue work on her cookbook.  While there, Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Visayas.  Regee and sister Gracita (above), together with a restaurateur friend from New York (Amy Besa), rounded up a number of local chefs and put on a big dinner at the Swiss Residence to raise funds for the survivors.  They raised almost $10,000!

The Fall came and that's when we do a lot of walking in the golden woods.  This is Paul and Sarah with Dottie who belong's to Paul's girlfriend, Valerie, who had to work that day. 

The end of November. This brought us almost to the end of the fishing season.  Unfortunately, our last fishing expedition on December 8 had to be canceled.  We were willing to brave snow and freezing rain but high waves tipped the balance in favor of sanity!

We had a quiet Thanksgiving at home.  Instead of turkey (traditional), Jane persuaded us to try cooking goose.  Amazingly, it turned out very well--especially in a thick port wine sauce.

Paul spent his Thanksgiving with Valerie in Florida--on da beach!  The bundle is Dottie the Dog.

And now it is the time of ice storms and snow.  The tree on our front lawn froze!

Below is the whole gang on Xmas Eve--minus Sarah (who was out with Jane that night) and Paul's girlfriend, Valerie, who took the photo!    

Here are Sarah and Veronica playing dolls the night before Xmas Eve--Veronica loved Sarah telling her stories about Cinderella and Rapunzel for over an hour!!

And here are Paul and Valerie

HAPPY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE.  STAY WARM!!