Our Family

More Wedding Photos from Elaine

2007-06-29T22:49:00.000-07:00

Lynn and Jo Russell's Wedding

2007-06-26T21:40:00.001-07:00

Lynn and Joseph Russell wed on Friday, May 18th, 2007 at the Crystal Lake Golf Club in Harrisville, Rhode Island. Many friends and family were in attendence.

You can find many more photos at Luke Tracy's web site here.

The photographer also has some sample photos on her web page.

(Right photo) Elaine and Bert Choiniere

(Left photo)
Alia, Makenna, Niki, Luke, and Shaina

(Right photo)
Martin and Karen

Lynn's Bridal Shower

2007-06-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos Elaine sent us from Lynn's Bridal shower.

Karen Loses Her Hair

2007-03-08T17:51:00.001-08:00

Karen started losing her hair today, a sure sign that her chemotherapy is working. She decided to make a party of it.

Wet November Weather

2006-11-28T17:50:00.000-08:00

We've had record-breaking rain this November. Several of the roads that service us are under water.

Family Vacation on Orcas Island

2006-10-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

Orcas island in October is off the beaten tourist track. We took advantage of its rain shadow and a week of fine weather to rent a cabin usually reserved two years ahead. We had the three bedroom, full loft, full kitchen, wood stove cabin and fire pit to ourselves -- the neighboring cabins were unoccupied.

The ferry from Anacordes threaded its way between the San Juan islands and stopped at several of the larger ones. The terminal at Shaw Island used to be staffed by nuns, but the order was closed a few years ago. Instead, we were greeted by a bagpiper hidden in the woods.

Someone had painted a target on the landing, and passengers pitched their pennies for no reason other than the challenge of it. No doubt the money went to a good cause.

Ocean water this far north is too cold for swimming, even in the summer, but it's just right for rowing. The local boathouse had already transformed back into a pottery studio, but they let us rent a rowboat for two days, charging us for only one of them. Karen, Lisa and I rowed to nearby Picnic island and rested by the tide pool before rowing back.

The boys brought their fishing rods and improvised a crab trap from a soda can and some salami. They caught a crab that had tangled itself in the fishing line, which they freed and threw back. Low tide lowered the shoreline dramatically by about thirty feet, and we got up to go exploring by flashlight at 2 AM, but even the tide pools on the reef had little to offer except for an occasional neon blue starfish.

Our four days and three nights was spent productively, sleeping late, making fires, roasting marshmellows, drinking wine, and watching the sun set. We played board games, read books, took turns cooking, and played tourist in the nearby almost deserted town.

A Eulogy for Lisa's Dad

2006-07-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

Lisa's dad Richard was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1924.

He graduated from high school in 1942, entered the U.S. Navy where he became a hospital corpsman and a medical field technician in the F Marine Force. After combat in the South Pacific he was honorably discharged at Seattle, Washington in 1945.

He attended the University of Washington taking night and day courses in 1949-1950.

He met and married Lorene in 1948 - then moved to Spokane, Washington to take over a cement contracting business and work for Central Pre-Mix Concrete Company for 20 years until retiring in 1986.

His daughter Lisa was born in 1959.

In 1964 married Betty and raised her two children Martha and Kenneth as his own.

Dick had a very full family life and his daughter Lisa spent most summers with him and his family in Spokane. Every August they would spend three weeks camping on the Washington coast.

Betty was a wonderful cook and canned Salmon right in the camping trailer. Dick would bring in all varieties of fish, crab, shrimp, clams, and basically anything that he could get his hands on as she prepared all the delicacies from the sea. The children always has a joyous time during these vacations.

As time passed and Lisa had children of her own, Dick would frequently come by and visit in Seattle to see his grandchildren. He helped her and her husband built their house and taught his grandchildren to fish.

For well over fifty 60 years he has been learning and experiencing the fishing process from which eh has gained a wealth of knowledge that (since 1965) he shares with the general public, non profit organizations such as sport fishing clubs, boy /scouts, YWCA kids, handicapped kids, grade school kids, Rotary Clubs, conservation groups and many sport shows.

He has held fishing seminars before thousands upon thousands of people on steelhead, salmon, walleye, bass, crappies, perch, bluegill, trout, whitefish, kokanee, and ice fishing.

Dick is survived by 3 children, and and 5 grandchildren. His birth daughter Lisa, his step daughter Martha (Marty), his step son Kenneth. Grandchildren: James, Joshua, Camron, Kyle, and Katelyn.

Taking Care of Sharingwood Day

2006-06-05T17:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Taking Care of Sharingwood Day in the cohousing community where we live. We cleared paths, painted trash cans, repaired the playground, pressure cleaned the common house, repainted the "Welcome Home" sign on the road, brightened the speed bumps, and went looking for lost toys.

Some of us made breakfast (home-made rolls), lunch (sandwiches), and snacks (including crispy-creme donuts).

I wandered around taking photos which we watched together in the evening during an all-dessert potluck. Karen battled the everpresent invasive blackberries, and Lisa worked in the kitchen.

Lisa thought it might be fun to teach the kids how to make ice cream. Our friends Warren and Cate had just donated their hand-cranked ice cream maker to the community. Nine quarts of heavy cream later, we had twelve quarts of heavenly vanilla ice cream.

Karen's Landscaping Project

2006-05-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

We hired a landscaping team to carve out the backyard to Karen's exacting eye. They built some retaining walls, patios, and paths. We'll take some more photos when it stops raining.

Lynn Tracy to Wed Joe Russell

2006-04-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Uncle Marty!

Been a while since we chatted, and I had some news to share, so I thought I'd drop you a line. I've just become engaged! His name is Joe Russell, we've been dating for almost a year, he's amazing (of course). We're thinking of getting married sometime next year, nothing big, just a small ceremony & reception. But we don't have any actual plans yet, plenty of time for that.

And, oddly enough, we're looking into buying granddad's land in Glocestor and building a house on it. I had been working on getting an appraisal done on the land so we could start moving on selling it, but the appraisal came back fairly reasonably, so Joe and I took a drive out to look at it and loved it.. So, I'm not sure what I have to do at this point, it's all happening pretty quickly, but I have emailed Elaine and I'm waiting to hear back from her.

I think Granddad would be glad to know the land is being passed down, haha. There is even a horse farm on that road now, very appropriate. Joe has 2 kids from a previous marriage, and they live fairly close to Glocestor, so that will be convenient as well.

That's all the news I have for now. I hope everything is going well for you! Take care!

Love, Lynn

James' and Josh's Birthday

2006-04-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

James and Josh celebrate their 23rd and 16th birthday with Lisa's strawberry shortcake.

Lorene's Birthday

2006-03-28T12:31:00.000-08:00

Martin took Lorene out dancing for her 80th birthday. Lisa threw her a party.

Adult Gourmet Dinner

2006-03-24T14:32:00.000-08:00

We cooked an dinner at our house and invited the community. Adults only, gourmet food.

Day of the Accordion

2006-02-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

Martin and Lisa play in Cooksie Kramer's band at the Day of the Accordion in Seattle Center.

Snapshots Accordion 2006

2006-01-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

Martin and Lisa.
Martin plays.

Martin and Tony Lovello.
Rick, Martin and Lisa.

Snapshots 2006

2006-01-01T14:24:00.000-08:00

Anna and Justin visit.
Mark and Cara visit.
Merlin on wood stove.

Merlin opens his present.
Karen and Merlin relax.
Tiko on wood stove.