Walking Between the Grapevines: holidays

Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

Monday, December 23, 2024

The Holiday Train

Joyful memories this Christmas as we were able to enjoy another event that we had wanted to go to - he Holiday Train!

We first heard about this train that travels around during the holiday season last year but by the time we heard about it the train was long gone.

This year we strategically planned how we would see it

with three people at work and one in college.

The train would be stopping near our home but that would be too early.

My oldest did see it as he passed the train's stop.

What we decided would work best was to miss a couple closer stops

and head up Saratoga Springs.

The traffic was slow around the train station

but it was totally worth it!

Even stuck in slow-moving traffic we were still on time

considering the train was delayed.

As we were approaching the parking lot

we could hear the horn of the approaching train.

They had a car that opened to a stage

(for my hometown people think the ShowWagon but mechanical).

The band was festive and very good but we weren't there for the band.

We're thinking that maybe next year we might ride the train.

Of course with three of us fascinated with how things work we had to do a closer inspection of the mechanics of the lights on the cars.

Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!

Ingrid

Monday, December 16, 2024

The Schenectady Holiday Parade

One thing my family loves it's traditions.

Last year my children and I went to the Monet Experience for my birthday. (I am just now realizing that I never posted about it.)

When we were heading into the Arsenal we saw the parade beginning and joked how the city had scheduled a parade in honour of my birthday.

Of course that meant that we had to come back for the parade this year to actually watch the parade.

We knew it was going to be long because it was still going when we left the Arsenal so we planned on bundling up.

We were in front of Proctor's and they had hot cocoa for sale inside to help warm us, and a T.A.R.D.I.S.

We'll bring travel mugs next year.

We were in the perfect location to watch the tree lighting

before the parade began.

There was a technical glitch with a group of performers early on but they carried on like real troopers despite the lack of audio. We were very impressed with the young people but embarrassed for the crew. It will be better next time.

One of my daughters wasn't dressed warmly because it wasn't THAT cold

when she went to work in the morning, so I gave up my gloves

despite taking dozens of photos.

The parade lasted over two hours and there was so much to see

with all of the floats and participants.

We ended up leaving early but finished watching the live stream from the comfort of our living room. Next year we plan on arriving a little late so we can see Santa.

Happy Holidays!!!

Ingrid

Monday, June 29, 2015

Vietnam Remembered

We spent Father's Day not far from our hometown. I have been telling Ken about the Craft Fair and Car Show at the historic home of the first owners of the area, where our hometown now stands. I've been going there for years with my kids. Ken was really interested in checking it out.

But first we HAD to stop by Boonville. I had seen on the Lewis County Facebook page where the Traveling Vietnam War memorial was coming to town. This was an opportunity that none of us wanted to miss.

When my friend posted this video on the Facebook group I was awestruck. The original request was for "some" bikes to escort The Wall from Lowville's VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) to Boonville's VFW, 27 miles south. The amazing turnout of 253 motorcycles had to be relocated to the hospital parking lot next door to the VFW in Lowville. Various photos posted look like they completely emptied the hospital parking lot of cars, to accommodate the bikes. Lowville's fire department had raised their ladders, and draped flags from them, so that the procession passed underneath them as they came through town. I have to admit that I became choked up when I saw the trailer containing The Wall pass through. I had the same feeling that I get when I see a hearse. Sadness.

This is a video of the 253 motorcycles that escorted the Vietnam War Living Wall Memorial through Lowville, New York.
It was posted by Eric Townsend on Wednesday, June 17, 2015

When we arrived at the VFW in Boonville, we were greeted by members of the local VFW who had served in Vietnam. These men were directing the traffic into the parking area at the end of the dead-end street, where the memorial was set up. Walking up to the memorial changed all of our moods into silent reverence. I would ask Amanda to take certain shots, but otherwise we rarely spoke.

Despite this being a miniature version, the number of names on this wall was heart-wrenching. I don't know anyone personally who died in this war, but I knew of a local dentist's son, who lost his life there.

Such emotions. This memorial was placed by a man who lost his brother. The photo of the two men was the last taken of his brother before his death.

Beautiful words...

These statistics are staggering.

After this solemn stop, we headed off to Constable Hall. I'll be posting that in my next blog in a couple of days.

I will end this blog with photos of the timeline of the Vietnam War. You may need to download them to read them properly, but I wanted to share the information with you all.