Three guesses what we are doing....

Just hangin' around with the baby & wishing you all a wonderful Christmas! Love & peace to you all, Jane

Welcome Dexter Hamilton Barr aka Dex

As many of you know, Pete & I were just blessed with our 8th grandchild; Nora & Joel's first. Dex was born on December 7th, 2006 at 5:25 in the morning. He weighed 8lbs.6ozs. and was 20.25 inches long. My daughter shared the event with me. I have always thought that birth should be a time that mom's are with their daughters...but I do allow for a difference of opinion.

Dex has many women in his life that love him already. He has many on his Mom's paternal side & his Dad's side; however this discussion is just about Welch's. So I guess you should multiply everything by at least 4.

He has his Mom of course, and his cousin Rory who waited impatiently for him to come out. She talked to him all the time through his Mom's tummy. I am sure he recognized her right away.


He has two wonderful aunts that will always be there for him. He has so many loving and giving great aunts, he will be surrounded by family all the time. He is also very lucky because his great-grandma loves to hold him and rock him too.

Then there is me...his grandma Jane. I have spent a couple of days with Dex, and his Mom & Dad. He already has me wrapped around his very long thin fingers.
Of course he has wonderful men in his life as well; but that is not today's story.

Over the river & through the woods; to Grandmother's house we go....

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a great gathering of the clan at Dawn's. I think there were a zillion little girls running all over the place. Terrific fun.

When I think of Thanksgiving; I think of Grandmas, like the song above suggests. Thanksgivings and Grandmas seem to go together. While we were in Lithuania, I met an aunt of Pete's. I felt as if I knew her my entire life. Then as we were walking through the garden she was so proud of,I knew I HAD known her my whole life...she was just like my Grandma Foster! Although they had never met and they lived half the world apart and in different times, they are alike in so many ways. They both radiate(d) lively gentleness from their eyes, they have wonderful hearts, they are both short(and from me that is saying something), they both love(d) their gardens, have AMAZING granddaughters (Hi Daiva!), and they walk(ed) around the garden using sticks.

I use sticks when I walk around Hummingbird Hill. As a matter of fact Pete has fancied one up for me so it is my stick. Is it that wise women understand the power of trees reflected in their sticks? I have been to a crone ceremony where a crone stick was given to the new crone to symbolize her wisdom. Perhaps I should make crone canes for all interested future crones...anyone interested??????

No shock; real awe...

I know that it has been a very long time since I last wrote. It seems the very books I told you I love are pretty much drowning me. Not a complaint...just a fact. At any rate I am, for this post at least, leaving the subject of our wonderful trip to Lithuania. Instead I want to share our trip to Washington D.C.with you. I am currently here; leaving tomorrow. This has been a business trip with a very full agenda. We did,however, manage a few hours of sightseeing the night we arrived.

I don't care how many times I visit DC. It awes me. I believe that it is no accident this place became one of the most powerful places in the world. You can just feel that power surging under the ground.


Pete & I, when we see an unusually beautiful place, ask each other if we think the people who get to see it every day continue to appreciate it and remain awed by it... or do they get so used to it they become immune to the beauty? Worse, do our leaders we send here forget the glory of this place? When they come to represent us do they honor the trust they were sent with?

Do they sense the sacred?


I hope so...but Pete says the reason they built the Washington monument was to prevent "Abe" from seeing what they're up to at the other end of the mall...


I HOPE NOT

The Prince

I give up...I have not been able to upload the picture of the book where it belongs, so I will just post it here..."On the Commonwealth" by Nicolaus Machiavelli.

Oh for the love of bibliteka!

I have been drowning in books. Those that know me well, understand I am not complaining...only about the deadlines that go with them. This leads me to tell you about one of the best parts (I think they all are bests, but this is very special) of the trip. Sabina's cousin; Valdas (sp?), is a professor at the University of Vilnius. This University is one of the oldest in Europe. It's history dates back to at least the 1500's possibly older. There are portions of the buildings still in use from that era!

Well he was giving us a tour & wondered if we would like to see one of the libraries. He had received permission for us to see the 2nd best library. Well of course we wanted to go. We went through this magic door:

This led to delights unimagined.

The room was exquisite; everything I think all libraries should be (such as our old central library where I USED to love to get lost & read & dream, etc.). ...and there, under that glass, and sitting
on the beautiful wood were the most amazing original books I have ever seen.

The first book I saw was by Copernicus...
the next was Optics by I. Newton! I couldn't absorb it all. How did Lithuania get all these books? So many authors, I just could not believe my eyes... Blaise Pascal, Rousseau, Kant...I asked Valdas what was in the first room, the Gutenberg Bible? He just laughed & said it would take many signatures to get in there. I amazed that the books survived so many of the wars, bombings, fires, etc.
that seems to have hurt so much of Lithuania. He said that whomever was in power, the University was an asset. It was protected. Thank goodness for that.

The book that caused me to go weak at the knees, grab on to the counter & consider breaking the glass to read was by one of my fav authors; the one, the only, Machiavelli (I have uploaded the picture of the book 3x, no luck.I will try later.) Pete had to drag me out kicking & screaming.

Sooooo it seems appropriate to end with a quote from Niccollo':
...whenever men are not obliged to fight from necessity, they fight from ambition; which is so powerful in human breasts, that it never leaves them no matter to what rank they rise...

Birthday Blogging

My family has certainly become basic "birthday bloggers". I must say,however, that it was nice to read their good wishes, given I was away in Lithuania for my birthday. So, as I wondered what part of the trip to blog about next, I thought I would tell you about my birthday celebration.

Everywhere we went was great, but on this night (the best of the year, by the way) we went to a restaurant that was not a tourist spot. It had old polished wood & was warm & wonderful. There were old farm implements all around, like the old blacksmith above. People were singing and dancing, etc. etc. etc. It was very old style Lithuanian. We ate outdoors on a second floor balcony. I had my first potato sausage, we had cepilini and my new passion...Lithuanian beer snacks.



The group arranged to have musicians come and play for me. There were only two, but they sounded like an entire group. One of the men played a BIRBYNE . It had such a wonderful sound. First they sang happy birthday in English, then they did the Lithuanian happy birthday. Their version is much better than ours. It seemed to go for five minutes, the entire place sang, it got louder with each verse & everyone was standing up and waving their hands in the air...all in all a very good day.

Happy Birthday Nora!

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby Nora, who is soon to have a sweet baby of her own... I am sure this was just yesterday...I guess the years have happily sped by...Love, Mom

Large Feasting, small dining...

If you have ever spent any amount of time with me at any of my homes; you know I have never had a dining room. Of course, that has never stopped me from entertaining. In order to feed my friends and family, number notwithstanding, I have always used my coffee table as my dining table.

I not only felt welcomed in Lithuania, I felt right at home. Everywhere we went we were met with feasting of the highest order. Huge amounts of amazing food and drink...and we all cozied in around the coffee table. I enjoyed it there, as much as here.

Welcome to Vilnius

Janes Lithuania (15)
Originally uploaded by jstrong.

I am back at work and our wonderful trip seems like a glorious daydream. But it was very real. Pete now knows the Welch clan is not his only large family. We were met at the "aeroharbor" in Vilnius by his and Edward's family & Sabina's family, all carrying beautiful flowers. It was quite moving.

Of course we were in Vilnius less than 10 minutes & we were stopped by the policia. I used a little judgment & did not call them what I was thinking. Pete, of course, jumped out & was Mr. Chicago Cop. They were not impressed...but they did allow us to continue on to the hotel.




The hotel we stayed at was the Apia hotel(www.apia.lt) in the Old Town section of Vilnius. The hotel was charming, not air conditioned, but that was ok. This is a nice section of the city to stay in, as we were able to walk or be peddled wherever we wanted.




More later.

Wonderful, wonderful, Copenhagen...

Well we are finally home; quite jet-lagged, but the trip was more than we could have hoped for. The journey home was difficult. I will not bore you with the details, but the result was 3 hours of total sleep in 48 hours. Not good. The good part was an unexpected chance to tour Copenhagen.


It is quite a city. Pete says he thinks it could handle Katrina with just a little dust blowing around.


There are bikes everywhere. You can rent, borrow, use or purchase bikes at any point in the area. There are repair kiosks. They are serious about their biking.

We are just glad to be home. I hope to review the trip. It was too wonderful to ignore. I just need to get my "bearings" first.

Kryziu Kalnas

This is the Hill of Crosses in Siauliai (pronounced Shoo-lay) Lithuania. I thought this would be one more wonderful religious monnument. I was so wrong. I have never been to such a sacred place. There is no description that can explain what it is like to have so many millions of crosses. These are not a testament to a man-made religion; but to the spirit of man. The Soviets did not let Lithuanians practice religion. Some people put up a few crosses; the Soviets knocked them down, many more put up crosses, they were knocked down & so it continued. Amazing sculptures slipped in the dead of night. It continues to this day.

So, almost 3 years to the day since we physically lost Tom (you are with me always in my heart), we placed a memorial in this very sacred spot to very special people:



To Sabina's father, a patriot who died trying to free Lithuania. We have no knowledge where he is buried, but we know where to honor him.

To Pete's brother Joe, who died fleeing the Soviets. We have no knowledge where he is buried, but we know where to honor him.

To Pete's Mom, Dad & my Dad. Remarkable people we miss & honor always.

To my brother Tom & my nephew Joey, who were taken too early & truly had the spirit symbolized here.

Lithuania, the beginning

Well we made it to Lithuania & we are having a very wonderful time. This is Pete's first step on his homeland since he was a baby. Sorry about cutting off his head

He has found he is part of a large, fun, family & will add pictures as I have time & can figure it out.

The Party's Over....

...but the fun is just beginning. Pete and I can not find words to let you all know how blessed we are having all of you in our lives. This was such a team effort. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

As pictures become available we will post them. We have many. As Liza stated, the Flickr badge on the side & the link in her message will take you to the photographers pictures. I have an account that I am posting pictures the people have sent to me. They are great. I don't know how to do what the kids do, but I will ask them to help connect to my account. I hope this is the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34056963@N00/

Nora also has hers posted on her blog. Tomorrow I will upload some from the ceremony on Friday, June 2nd. I will continue to add as we go along.

So now the question is what to do with this blog next?

We leave for Lithuania on Sunday night. Pete will be seeing his native country for the first time (he left as an infant). He will also be meeting some of his family. We are excited & perhaps we can share the trip?

Also, our Kelly did have a beautiful daughter on Thursday June 8th. Ella Rose is 7lbs. 7ozs, 21 inches. Family is doing well. So we have seven grandchildren to talk about; with #8 expected before the end of the year.

We could also discuss birds and being. Two of our other favorite activites.

All suggestions are welcome.

Say Cheese!

Hi, It's Liza. The professional photographer, Tanda, gave us the pictures digitally, so I've posted them on my Flickr account (Link). You can download them or order prints. Contact me if you have problems.

The Time is Fast Approaching

Well Saturday is the big day. We are certainly looking forward to seeing everyone. I will have various brothers and sisters at the farm on Friday. We will arrive Friday evening. I will have the bus schedule posted at the hotels. Please feel free to call (217) 346-3129 if you have any questions.

Don't forget the bar-b-que on Sunday. Make sure you have swimming, hiking, relaxing clothes.

Weather Again

Hi, Your friendly weather girl, Liza again with another weekend weather update:

Countdown...

Hi, It's Liza again. According to Weather.com the 10-day forcast in Oakland for Friday, June 2 is sunny and 81. We'll find out tomorrow what it is for the 3rd. Keep your fingers crossed!

GOLFING

Anyone who is interested there is a nice 9 hole golf course about two miles from the farm.
http://www.golfguideweb.com/illinois/oakland/jgag.html

There is a links style 18 hole in Tuscola which I haven't played due to the fact fourteen of the holes have water hazards, and being on a fixed income I can not afford to be losing that many golf balls.
http://www.golfillinois.com/departments/coursereviews/ironhorse-golf-club-1112.htm

- Pete

The Wheels on the Bus.....

It is about one month to the wedding. Things seem to be coming along.

You will at least have a place to sit and to dance, food to eat, liquid to drink, and most importantly, good stimulating companionship.

Please remember to let me know what hotels you are staying at. I will need to arrange for the bus to pick you up and drop you off. You can e-mail Pete (pelmo@earthlink.net), me (mstrong1@earthlink.net)

or you can post a comment to the blog.

The wearin o' the green has caused quite a bit of questioning.

If you are interested in standing up in the wedding; simply wear green:

somewhere.

Green is also my favorite color, we are "green" minded people,

Remember...

It's not easy being green!

A rose by any other name....

I just want to let everyone know, I had my name legally changed to Mary Jane Welch yesterday. I will not change it at work until all my various licenses have been changed. I do not plan to change it again. I would like to thank my sister Colleen, who was an enormous help.

Farm News

Hi, It's Liza! It is less than two months until the wedding; and the farm has had a lot of rain, which made the water levels high. The weather is getting warm though. Now everyone needs to hope that the wet weather continues so that the pond and lake will still be high for the wedding like my mom and Pete want them to be.

Well, when I wake up tomorrow it will only be 2 months left for getting things ready for the wedding! Where did the time go? Erin's wedding was wonderful. I was planning on putting a picture of her here & Nora beat me to the punch. See both of our pictures on her blog www.shemeanders.blogspot.com

We have the bus to shuttle people back & forth from the hotels to the farm. I will need to make sure what hotels people are staying at. Please drop either Pete or I an e-mail (see last entry) or you can comment on this blog. Of course there is the phone.
I guess we will be seeing you soon. Jane

Happy Birthday Colleen!

My beautiful niece, Erin, will be getting married next week. Her wedding allowed me not to focus on mine. I have no more excuses. It sounds as if it will be fun; many family & friends are planning on trying to come. It sounds like many will be flying into Midway, renting a car & driving to their hotel of choice. Here are more details as I know them.

Colleen will be at the farm on Friday getting things set up.

The ceremony will be at 4PM on Sat.

We are planning on having a shuttlebus run between the hotels & the farm & then taking people back to the hotels. We do not have this set up yet. Not sure of the times, but having the bus start at 2:30PM - having 5PM be the last pickup seems to make sense. I thought they could start again at 9PM returning to the hotels. This will be based on what is needed so if the times do not work, let me know.

If you are interested in standing up in the wedding; wear green...somewhere.

Breakfast will be on your own the next day. You are invited back the next day to enjoy family, friends & the farm. Pete will start grilling about 1 PM.

I hear there are a lot of questions, etc. Please contact us. Pete's e-mail is Pelmo@earthlink.net My home e-mail is mstrong1@earthlink.net

Where and what is Treehenge

I have been asked where and what Treehenge is? Treehenge is a place on Hummingbird Hill (the name of our farm...Thank you Mary Ellen). Treehenge is a circle of sassafras trees. Very druidic. This is the place where the ceremony will take place if the weather permits. See below.

...and the band played on....

After coming all the way to Hummingbird Hill for the wedding, we hope you will allow time to enjoy the place the next day. There is plenty of space for walking and talking, enjoying the trees & the woods along the river. Here is my favorite tree. It grows next to the river, it is huge, old & fun to climb (or look at).



There is also fishing, paddleboat, swimming (if it is warm & we actually get some rain between now & then).

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Pete says he can always find things for you to do...do you like to mow?

Since the news of our impending wedding has become public, a frequent statement to me is; "What! Not you! I thought you would be the last person to get married again! Although I acknowledge that the following has been my viewpoint for a long time...



... things seemed to have changed. Pete seems to be able to tolerate me & I him. Plus, we have all these grandchildren popping up all over...it seemed the thing to do.

Questions without definitive answers

Some of the questions that I do not have answers to, however are in the planning phase, but are NOT carved in stone:

What time of day? I would like it to be 4 PM.

How far from Hummingbird Hill are the motels? 13 to 20 miles. There are many more just a bit further. I am hoping to be able to lease a bus to drive a circle from Arcola to Tuscola to Hummingbird Hill starting around 2:30 PM and continuing ????

Where should I fly into? See below. Where are you able to get the best deal?

Who is coming? That is my question. I would like to know who is interested. I need to know a rough estimate...do I plan for 10 (not likely with my family) or 10,000? Gosh I would need a ton of portapotties!!!!

Are children allowed? Let the little ones come to us. Just know there is water around.

Please post any questions you might have; I am sure I won't have answers for them either. It will, however, help me know what I should be thinking about.

Local Lodgings

Here are the local accomedations. I have been trying to set a block of rooms aside without luck. Arcola is the exit from I 57. Tuscola is also an exit and it has a large outlet mall.

Arcola, Illinois (12 1/2 mi) www.arcola-il.org

Arcola Inn(Ok, Sue Sparr & I checked out the rooms... Not the Ritz, but not bad) 1-888-729-9137
236 South Jacques St., Arcola, IL 61910

Budget Inn (217) 268-3031
640 East Springfield, Arcola, IL 61910
Large remodeled rooms. Comfortable, clean, outdoor swimming pool, deluxe continental breakfast. Close to all area attractions.

Comfort Inn (we have received good reports on this one) 1-800-228-5150
610 South Ridge St., Arcola, IL 61910
Best in Town! Outdoor Pool.
To make a reservation call 1-800-228-5150, or 217-268-4000.

The Flower Patch B&B
(217) 268-4876
225 East Jefferson, Arcola IL 61910
Featured In Midwest Living & Country Sampler, this Victorian B & B offers a downstairs parlor, shaded porch swing, quiet gazebo for tea or coffee & gift shop.
www.arcolaflowerpatch.com
E-mail the Flower Patch at harsh8@aol.com


Tuscola, Illinois (About 19 mi. Outlet Mall Exit 212, Hwy 36) www.tuscola.org

AmeriHost Inn Tuscola/
1006 Southline Drive
Tuscola, IL 61953
Phone/ 217-253-3500
Fax/ 217-253-2773

Holiday Inn Express
TUSCOLA
1201 TUSCOLA BLVD
TUSCOLA, IL 61953
UNITED STATES
Tel: 1-217-2536363
Fax: 1-217-2536655
Email: tuscolagm@jankohotels.com
Check-In Time: 4:00 PM
Check-Out Time: 11:00 AM
Quality Performer: Commendable
Local Time: 4:11 PM CDT

Super 8I-57 & Rt. 36 next to McDonalds, Tuscola, IL 61953
George Harper, Mgr., 217-253-5488

Simple Pleasures B&B (about 10 mi.)
Bob & Berniece Newkirk
600 N. State Route 130
Tuscola, Illinois 61953
An 1870 Victorian Mansion, in a secluded wooded area, has been made into a welcoming 5 bedroom bed and breakfast. It is a place to enjoy and relax. 1-217-253-3319
www.simplepleasuresbnb.com

Basic Information

As stated, the wedding will take place on June 3rd, 2006. People who are much more organized than I, keep asking questions. I do not know, at this time, the answers.

I do know that the goal is to have fun, enjoy yourselves and each other.

A fair question is: Where is Oakland? Not in California. See map above.

Airports: Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis are about equal distance. (St. Louis is just a bit closer). There is an airport in Champaign. If you fly your own plane you can get closer; call me.

The main road is I 57. Coming from Nebraska, one would take 80 to just east of Davenport & then take I 74 to I 57 south(around Champaign/Urbana). From St. Louis one would take I 70 to I 57 north.

Here are the directions from I 57:

1. TAKE I-57 TO EXIT 203 (ARCOLA) HIGHWAY 133

2. TURN LEFT (EAST) FOR 12 ½ MILES

3. TURN RIGHT ON 2175 EAST. THIS IS JUST BEFORE THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE
EMBARRASS RIVER. IF YOU CROSS THE BRIDGE, TURN AROUND AND COME BACK!

4. FOLLOW THE ROAD (ABOUT ½ MI) TO THE FIRST AND ONLY HOUSE (381 NORTH).

TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY. PHONE # 217-346-3129

Well this is a start. More to come.