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Time at Home With Friends and Family
DMA Hikers
The day after they arrived here from Kenya, Evalyn and her daughter Wendy enjoyed dinner with us. When Evalyn was at Yale University from 1999 to 2002, she often took a train to Rowayton on a Monday afternoon and had dinner and stayed overnight with us. Then she attended the Tuesday 6:15 am Bible study at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien.

Connecticut, January 2024











6:15 am Bible Study
There were five Kenyan women at the NPC Women’s Retreat - Evalyn and Wendy who live in Kenya, two who live in West Haven and and a young woman who had just arrived from Kenya early Saturday morning and really wanted to see the church and all the women on retreat there.

Connecticut, January 2024














Christmas Day Family Brunch
A record number of women – 150 of them – attended the NPC Women’s Retreat on a Friday evening and all of a Saturday. They enjoyed worshipping with praise songs and listening to Rev. Brandi Drake and therapist Amanda Craig as they discussed “To be mature is to be basic” from Colossians 1:28.

Connecticut, January 2024





6:15 Bible Study
Evelyn, who is the founder and director of Nambale Magnet School, and her daughter Wendy attended the Tuesday 6:15 bible study at NPC with fifteen early risers – some of whom Evelyn has known since she arrived in 1999 to study at Yale Divinity School.

Conecticut, January 2024










DMA Hikers
On a cold, hazy day, twenty-three members of Darien Men’s Association, some guests and two dogs walked three miles around Greenwich Point. Everyone was impressed with the history of the Todd family and the remains of their mansion.

Connecticut, December 2023













6:15 am Bible Study
Twenty-one women in the 6:15 am bible study at Noroton Presbyterian Church gathered for a Christmas breakfast. They welcomed Rev Brandi, who was just back after her sabbatical – and they thanked Courtney for leading the group through the Book of Mark for the past three months.

Connecticut, December 2023












Christmas Day Family Brunch
We attended two Christmas Eve Services - and on Christmas Day, we joined John’s daughters and three of his grandkids for brunch. Then we had a fun afternoon playing word names. And we all gathered again on Boxing Day with John’s brother and his wife and nephew and some friends.

Connecticut, December 2023












DMA Hikers
One beautiful fall day, we walked five miles on the Norwalk River Valley Trail with friends from the Darien Men’s Association. Then we enjoyed lunch at Orem’s Diner, which has been serving traditional American fare in Wilton since 1921.

Connecticut, November 2023













PEP Lunch
Seniors, 55 and over, also known as PEP, which stands for People Encouraging People, gathered for a wonderful Thanksgiving Lunch. Everyone enjoyed the turkey, gravy and stuffing and the pumpkin pie. And everyone also enjoyed catching up with long-time friends - and getting to know new ones too.

Connecticut, November 2023












New Members Breakfast
Twenty-eight people, who joined Norton Presbyterian Church, enjoyed a wonderful breakfast together. Then they learned from several elders about the programs at NPC. Mission, in particular, is very active, as team members pray for and support 15 partners in the US, East Africa, Asia and Europe.

Connecticut, November 2023












Thanksgiving Dinner
Ours was an International Thanksgiving Feast with guests from Kenya, England, Canada and the US. We prepared the turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, corn casserole and pumpkin pies – and our friends brought their favorite foods traditional foods - mukimo, pilau, samosas and chapatis.

Connecticut, November 2023












Dinner with the Van Scivers
We gathered with Artie and Kittery Van Sciver at the home of one of the mission team members of Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT. Artie is with Campus Outreach in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a mission partner of NPC.

Connecticut, October 2023













Russ and Anna
Russ Brine, who is a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Kenya, visited St. John Church in Darien, CT. He spoke about the 50 students in the St. John Bosco program in Kitale, Kenya. Many parishioners support these students who are in good Catholic boarding schools after having been rescued from the streets and their homes in slum areas.

Connecticut, October 2023























Goodspeed Opera House
We saw “The 12” at Goodspeed Opera House on the Connecticut River in Haddam . It is a modern-day, musical version about how the 11 disciples and Mary Magdaline might have felt and what they may have said and done in the Upper Room - the day after Jesus died on the cross. It was a powerful performance!

Connecticut, October 2023












Walking over the Hudson
On a beautiful, Indian summer day, we walked across the Hudson River on the Poughkeepsie Walkway. This outing was one of the many hikes put together by volunteers of the Darien Men’s Association. Around 30 men and women enjoyed the views and sandwiches for lunch afterwards.

Connecticut, October 2023












John and Caroline
Caroline of Life Ministry Kenya spoke of her evangelizing work with university students – at the 9 am service in the Noroton Presbyterian Chapel and at the 10:30 service in the NPC Sanctuary. This service was livestreamed and Caroline’s family and some friends in Nairobi saw and heard her speak.

Connecticut, September 2023











Dinner in Wombarra
The evening before Caroline left Connecticut to return to her home in Nairobi she enjoyed gathering for pizza and salad with the NPC Mission Team. She got to know each of them better and they learned a lot about her ministry with university students.















Happy Birthday John
John’s daughter and a friend treated us to lunch to celebrate his 88th birthday. He was born the same year that Mickey Mouse came on the scene – and also the year that Social Security was established, which we praise God for – since we retired from our jobs in New York City over 20 years ago.

Connecticut, May 2023












Friends at the Easter Cross
The 6:15 am Bible Study that Marilyn attends had their end-of-the-season breakfast. This beautiful group of friends prayed over her, asking God to keep us healthy and to protect us, especially on the roads, during our three months in Kenya.

Connecticut, May 2023













Stony Creek
Stony Creek is one of our favorite places to stop, even for a few minutes, whenever we are driving through this beautiful area along Long Island Sound. This time we were returning from a memorial service of friend, who had been a neigbor and who had lived in Kenya 50 years ago.

Connecticut, April 2023















Friends at the Easter Cross
Christ is Risen – He has Risen indeed! On Easter Sunday, the beautiful rose-covered cross in front of Noroton Presbyterian Church is where families and friends gathered to have their photos taken.

Connecticut, April 2023

























Easter Dinner
Easter Sunday Dinner with our Kenyan friends is always very special. We have watched this family grow since the young mother arrived here by herself after winning the green card lottery. It took some time, but she prevailed by joining the US Army, where she was trained as a paramedic and got her US citizenship. After completing active duty, she got a degree in nursing and is now working in research at Yale New Haven Hospital. Her husband joined her here after she served in the army and, a few years later, her mother as well.

Connecticut, April 2023




















Rockerfeller Center
The flowers in Rockefeller Center at Easter time are always spectacular. And the buildings are too! It’s always a must to stand and gaze at the buildings since John’s father worked at the ALCOA foundry in Cleveland and was one of four men who put the finish on the panels that separate the windows between floors.

Connecticut, April 2023





















DMA Hikers
We hiked in Cranbury Park with 13 members of the Darien Men’s Association and four spouses. The park is near where John lived years ago, but he had never been there. It is the site of the Gallaher Mansion which was built in 1929-1931 for the inventor and industrialist Edward Beach Gallaher, an early pioneer in automotive design.

Connecticut, March 2023













New Member Breakfast
Eighteen new members joined Noroton Presbyterian Church. Elders of the church spoke at a breakfast about the many ministries, including Mission, which supports fifteen partners. There seven are here in the US, and eight in other countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, Jordan, and Gaza.

Connecticut, March 2023















Photo at RAC
“In the Garden” is the exhibit now at Rowayton Arts Centre. Marilyn has two photos hanging there – both of exotic flowers in Kakamega Rain Forest in Kenya. The bird of Paradise is also called the crane flower because it looks like the Crested Crown Crane, which is the national bird of Uganda.

Connecticut, March 2023















Pencils and Crayons
Wiggles and Giggles, a children’s clothing store in Darien, is encouraging customers to help children in two slums in Nairobi with school supplies and soccer balls. These will be taken there in July by 22 people, including eight youth, who are going to Kenya on a mission trip.

Connecticut, March 2023

























Valentine Dinner
We celebrated St. Valentine’s Day with friends from our former small group. We had met every second Sunday evening during the winter months for many years to discuss a spiritual book. Now we get together just a few times during the year for a special meal.

Connecticut, February 2023















John at DMA
John presented a talk on Submarines to the Darien Men’s Association. The talk covered submarine history over the past 123 years, touching on people, places and events as well as changes in design and mission. He highlighted the role of Connecticut’s two (yes, two) submarine shipyards, and provided insights into the early days of the nuclear submarine program. The talk is on youtube. If you are interested in listening click here.

Connecticut, February 2023
























Photo Show Reception
Marilyn’s “Amazing Places in Israel, Jordan, Kenya and Rowayton” opened at Brendan’s 101. There are 26 photos hanging there ‘til March 15th. They are all for sale and the proceeds will help to provide porridge for the 405 students in Rossholme Education Centre in Kiambiu, a slum in Nairobi.

Connecticut, February 2023













DMA Hike at Harbor Point
We walked 2.2 miles in the Harbor Point section of Stamford, CT with 17 members of the Darien Men’s Association and three of their wives. This new development area by the Rippowam River is a very impressive complex of apartments, offices, and restaurants.

Connecticut, February 2023














Feed My Starving Children
Five hundred and two young and old volunteers gathered at the Feed My Starving Children Mobile Packing Event in Darien. 101,088 meals were put together - enough for 272 children to have a meal every day for a year. These Manna Meals will soon be sent to countries where children are hungry and undernourished.

Connecticut, January 2023













NPC Women's Retreat
One hundred and four women gathered for a retreat at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien. Seana Turner inspired everyone with her “On the Beach” presentation as she described how sand, waves and sun relate to Christian life.

Connecticut, January 2023















On the Beach
A Kenyan friend arrived from land-locked Nairobi, and she couldn’t wait to get to the beach. It has been three years since her last visit here with friends who support Nambale Magnet School. She founded this school in Western Kenya to give back to her community after her three years here at Yale Divinity school.

Connecticut, January 2023













DMA Hike at Sherwood Island
We walked along the beach on Sherwood Island with members of Darien Men’s Association and some of their spouses and a Golden Retriever. It was a beautiful day – and a bit sad too, when we paused at the memorial and remembered people we knew who died on 9/11/01.

Connecticut, January 2023














DMA Hike
One rather cold and blustery morning, we hiked at Todd’s Point in Greenwich, CT. We joined 15 members of the Darien Men’s Association and the wives of two of them. It was an easy trail with a beautiful view of the New York City skyline – even on a rather grey day.

Connecticut, December 2022















NPC New Members
Marilyn gathered for breakfast with 15 friends from the 6:15 am bible study at Noroton Presbyterian Church. They’ve been studying the many characters of God as revealed in scripture.

Connecticut, December 2022

















DMA Hike
One crisp morning we joined the Darien Men’s Association group to tour the Montgomery-Pinetum Park in Cos Cob, CT. We hiked around the 100-acre property in a little less than two hours. It is a beautiful rural place, right in the middle of the town.

Connecticut, November 2022













NPC New Members
We had a wonderful breakfast one Sunday morning with the 21 new members who joined Noroton Presbyterian Church. It was good to be with these young people, and some of their children, who will soon be attending NPC’s Nursery School.

Connecticut, November 2022














Thanksgiving
Our Kenyan friends from West Haven joined us for Thanksgiving Dinner. We provided the turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, creamed corn, and pumpkin pie. And they brought a couple of our favorite Kenyan foods - pilau and chapatis. It was a real feast – and we thanked God for all He has given us.

Connecticut, November 2022












Train Show at Rowation Historical Society7
The Historic Rowayton-in-Miniature Train Show opened at Pinkney House after not having been there since 2019. It is the work of our neighbor Brian Kammerer, who has put many hours into creating this incredible piece of artwork. There is also a brand-new exhibit of Brian’s extraordinary handmade dioramas.

Connecticut, November 2022














Kenya Friend and Sponsor
A young friend from Kenya joined us for the PEP lunch at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT, and there she met one of her sponsors from years ago. She has now almost completed her studies for a Masters in Analytical Finance at the University of Louisville. We’ve known her since 2005 when she was in her first year at Limuru Girls Secondary School, just outside Nairobi.

Connecticut, October 2022























Russ at St. John
One weekend Russ Brine, who oversees the St. John Bosco Education program in Kitale, Kenya, attended all the masses at St. John Church in Darien. He met many parishioners who have been supporting 50 primary and secondary students who are from homes in two slums.

Connecticut, October 2022













HopeCo Gathering
Hudson Mahare and Matt Parker of HopeCo (formerly City of Hope) in Tanzania spent a weekend in Darien with supporters. They met with the Mission Team of Noroton Presbyterian Church, as well as with individual donors. HopeCo has a school and a clinic, and also provides vocational training to help women start small businesses.

Connecticut, October 2022












Brownies for Darien EMS
One Sunday was Service Day at Noroton Presbyterian Church, and many members went out to do things in the community. They baked brownies and cookies and took them to Post 53 for the young volunteers there, and they took soup and plants to some people in assisted living places. There was also a Green Team that picked up trash in parking lots and raked leaves and trimmed bushes at homes of some of the elderly church members.

Connecticut, October 2022










Afgan Children
For the past five months, members of Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT has been helping two Afghan families to settle into their new lives in the US. All the children over three years of age are in school, and they are almost fluent in English. It has been a bit more difficult for the older ones. And it has been difficult too for them to get jobs; however, three young men have jobs, including one who is in high school.

Connecticut, May 2022






















DMA Hikers
Just a couple of days before we left for Kenya, we hiked in the Audubon woods with members of the Darien Men’s Association – and a couple of their spouses. It is a wonderful place to watch, listen and learn about the things of nature.

Connecticut, May 2022











Women With Crosses
The first Saturday of April seventy-two women gathered for a half day retreat at Noroton Presbyterian Church. Three of the women, who had been wearing crosses for the past year, spoke about what God has been doing in their lives, and then they passed their crosses on to three new women. This is a tradition which started 20 years

Connecticut, April 2022






















Seder Meal
Pastor Greg Doll spoke at the PEP (People Encouraging People) gathering about the significance of the foods served at a Seder Meal during Passover. Matzah reminded us that the Jewish people fled in great haste from Egypt - they didn’t wait for the bread to raise.

Connecticut, April 2022










Flower Covered Cross
On Easter Sunday morning, crosses covered with beautiful flowers, told us of resurrection joy. Jesus has risen – He is risen indeed! And He is on the loose, doing great things, and bringing people back to churches where they enjoy being together again. It was wonderful to see people dressed in their finest attire, and enjoying refreshments outdoors, even though it was cold and windy.

Connecticut, April 2022






















Easter Dinner
We enjoyed Easter Dinner with Kenyan friends who live in West Haven. They brought pilau and chapatis to go with the ham, and sweet potatoes and creamy corn casserole that we had prepared. And for dessert, we had lemon pie that John had baked – and chocolates and jellybeans from the Easter Bunny.

Connecticut, April 2022














DMA Hikers
On Easter Monday, we went on a strenuous hike in the Mianus River Gorge with others of the Darien Men’s Association. It was a pretty good workout for us, and afterwards, we decided that we really are fit enough to travel to Kenya again this summer.

Connecticut, April 2022











Join HopeCo
We met Matt Parker, not a relative, who is the new CEO of HopeCo, formerly City of Hope. HopeCo is located in the northwest corner of Tanzania, and it helps many children in the area to go to school, as well as provides health care for many families in the community.

Connecticut, March 2022














NPC Women's Bible Breakfast
Marilyn and 14 other women gathered for an “early-risers” breakfast at Noroton Presbyterian Church. They celebrated the completion of Jeremiah which they’ve been reading and discussing since last September. They, and some others on Zoom, are now studying Colossians.

Connecticut, March 2022










NPC Reception for Afgan Family and Volunteers
Many of the 70 volunteers, who are helping the two Afghani families that NPC is supporting, met with the 15 members of the families at a reception. Layla’s Falafal in North Stamford provided delicious Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, and the young mother in one of the families baked lots of wonderful bread. The five children that are in school are doing well, and four of the men now have jobs.

Connecticut, March 2022




















DMA Hikers
We hiked again with members of Darien Men's Association and some friends – this time in Waveny Park in New Canaan, where the walking trail is 3.5 miles. The mansion, or “castle”, which was built in 1912, is surrounded by 300 acres of open fields and some ponds.

Connecticut, March 2022














Afgan Children
Members of Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT are helping two Afghani families adjust to life here in Fairfield County. Seven children have been placed in schools, and volunteer tutors from NPC are helping them to learn English.

Connecticut, February 2022












New Manse
The new NPC manse is now home for the Youth Pastor and his wife and their three little ones. It is a very modern version of the old manse, which had lead contamination, and sadly had to be torn down.


Connecticut, February 2022



















DMA Hikers
On a brisk cold day, we hiked 2.5 miles around Greenwich Point with 14 others from the Darien Men’s Association - and with two furry friends who had a lot of energy. The view of the New York City skyline was fantastic!


Connecticut, February 2022










Purity and John
Purity, a Kenyan friend who is a banquet manager at WEE BURN Country Club in Darien, CT, had lunch with us. We have found that inviting friends to our home and to sitting around the table and talking has been good therapy during grey winter days .


Connecticut, February 2022













FMSC Packing
Many families packed 94,000 nutritious MannaPack™ meals one weekend at the Feed My Starving Children packing event in Darien. These rice, soy & veggie meals will be sent around the world and will give hope to children who are at risk of being malnourished.

Connecticut, January 2022












Thanksgiving Dinner
Marilyn walked the 2.5 mile trail in Sherwood Island Park with friends from the Darien Men’s Association. The highlight was seeing the memorial for all the Connecticut people who died 9/11 in the twin towers, which on a really clear day was visible from this spot by Long Island Sound.


Connecticut, January 2022










Admiring the Lion
Winter arrived in Rowayton at the beginning of the month – just a few hours after we arrived back home from Alberta. And then it arrived again at the end of the month. It has been cold, but not nearly as cold as it was in Alberta at Christmas time.


Connecticut, January 2022










Friends at PEP
One of John’s nephews died, and John and two of his daughters attended the Celebration of Life Service for him in Atlanta.


Atlanta, January 2022














Hikers
We enjoyed singing carols at the PEP (People Encouraging People) Christmas lunch at Noroton Presbyterian Church. We were led by the Director of Music and some members of the NPC choir.

Connecticut, December 2021












Thanksgiving Dinner
We gathered with members of our former small group to say farewell to one of the long-time members. She sold her home and has moved to Indianapolis to be near my daughter and son-in-law and grandkids.


Connecticut, December 2021










Admiring the Lion
The women who have been attending the 6:15 am in-person bible study at NPC had a wonderful Christmas breakfast. We have been reading and discussing Jeremiah and referring to Eugene Peterson’s “Run with Horses” book.


Connecticut, December 2021












Friends at PEP
PEP, aka People Encouraging People, celebrated three important events - Thanksgiving, Veterans’ Day and the 401st anniversary of the signing of the Mayflower Compact. Everyone enjoyed the traditional turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy dinner - at lunch time.


Connecticut, November 2021












Hikers
One beautiful fall day, we hiked 3.8 miles in Mianus River Park, along the border of Stamford and Greenwich, with 9 members of Darien Men’s association. The leaves were still very colorful, and there were lots of huge glacial rocks.

Connecticut, November 2021












Thanksgiving Dinner
We gave thanks to God for our many blessings, and we enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner with Kenyan friends from West Haven. We had not seen them since Thanksgiving in 2019. Their family is larger now – with Beniah, who was born in August.


Connecticut, November 2021







Admiring the Lion
The Christmas/Holiday Gift Show at Rowayton Arts Center opened the day after Thanksgiving. Marilyn enjoyed volunteering there that afternoon, and seeing friends, many of whom have purchased her photos and note cards in the past.


Connecticut, November 2021

























Small Group Reunion
Our not-so-small group of a year ago gathered at a member’s home for a wonderful meal to celebrate, and to give thanks to Our God for keeping us all safe during Covid time. He is Good – and all the time He is Good, as our friends in Kenya say often.


Connecticut, October 2021









Service Day
Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien had its Service Day on a beautiful Sunday morning. Members planted bulbs, raked leaves, picked up trash, and delivered soup to some elderly folks and brownies to the Emergency Medical Service team operated by Darien High School students.

Connecticut, October 2021











Johnathan Addleton and Friends
Jonathan Addleton (third from right), the new Rector of Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan, visited Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien. He spoke of his work in “Some Far and Distant Place” – which is the name of one of his books. Forman Christian College, where only 15% of the students are Christian, is supported by NPC. .


Connecticut, October 2021







John and the Tin Man
We went to a Wednesday matinee at Goodspeed and saw “A Grand Night for Singing”. This was our first time at Goodspeed in two years. And before the show, we had lunch at Griswold Inn in Essex, which has been operating there continuously since 1776. All the lamp posts on Main Street were decorated for Halloween with characters from old movies like “The Wizard of Oz”


Connecticut, October 2021









DMA Hikers
One brisk Monday morning, we hiked four miles in Devil’s Den in Weston, CT. We had to be very careful as wet leaves covered a lot of rocks and roots. But it was good to be doing something outdoors with some new - and some old - friends from the Darien Men’s Association.


Connecticut, October 2021















NPC Fall Kickoff
Norton Presbyterian Church had a Fall Kick Off Celebration. It began with an impressive service on the lawn that included a twenty-member choir and eight musicians. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed lunch, and just being with people again. It was an especially fun time for families with little kids.


Connecticut, September 2021









Russ Brine
Russ Brine, Founder of the St. John Bosco Education Trust, visited with members of St. John Church. It had been two years since he was last here. He thanked the many donors who have helped 50 students in Kitale, Kenya to go to good boarding schools. Fund raising for school fees for 2022 will start in November. You can contact marilyn@theparkerplace.org with questions.

Connecticut, September 2021












FMSC Bake Sale
Three high school students are spearheading a Feed My Starving Children Packing Event which will take place on January 8th & 9th. Volunteers will pack 100,000 Manna Meals for hungry children in devasted countries. For ways to donate to help with the cost of the ingredients or to volunteer go to give.fmsc.org/darien. Contact jessicaschmidt967@gmail.com with any questions.


Connecticut, September 2021











Friends in Mystic
We went to Mystic, home of Mystic Pizza (remember the movie?), to join friends for lunch by the water. We have known the couple for several years but just learned that they are from Parma, the same suburb of Cleveland where John grew up.

Connecticut, September 2021









Snow Art
We celebrated John’s 86th birthday with Rowayton friends outdoors on their terrace. All of us had been vaccinated, and it was good to be together without having to wear masks and not having to keep six feet from each other.


Connecticut, May 2021











Flower Seed Heart
Our small group met at the Raymond Boathouse in Pinkney Park in Rowayton, beside the Five Mile River. We finished our study and discussion of “Galatians – Engaging God’s Word”. We had done the first five lessons on Zoom, and then we were able to meet in person for the last lesson.

Connecticut, May 2021












Snow Art
Pastor Greg’s mother spent two weeks here visiting Greg & his family at Easter time. And she joined us for lunch one Sunday. It was good to be with her for a couple of hours. We met her and her husband Frank in 2007 when they were in Kenya on a mission trip, and we were living in a house on the grounds of the Presbyterian University of East Africa.


Connecticut, April 2021






Flower Seed Heart
We joined a group arranged by the Darien Men’s Association and went to Groton. In the past, members have usually gone into New York City and wandered in historical areas. This year because of Covid, they explored several towns in Connecticut. Four in our group had worked in Groton many years ago, and they reminisced about what the town was like when they lived there.

Connecticut, April 2021












“Deer”
John has just one sibling - a brother who is three years younger than him. He and his wife and their son live in Berlin and we hadn’t seen them in over a year. So we met them for lunch at the Griswold Inn in Essex, one of our favorite places along the Connecticut River. We have often had lunch at The Griswold before going to Goodspeed for a Wednesday matinee of one of their always fabulous musicals.


Connecticut, April 2021







Cardinal
And then we celebrated John’s 86th birthday with his daughter at Scena in Darien. It was our fourth time to eat out in a restaurant after not having done that for over a year. It is good to be doing things again with friends and family now that we, and they, are fully vaccinated.

Connecticut, April 2021











Snow Art
Walking on the beach is wonderful - even in the cold, and especially when the sun is warm. We hope that our young friends will soon be vaccinated so we can walk around Rowayton and talk without our masks.


Connecticut, March 2021










Flower Seed Heart
Loving and caring about our neighbors means we need to wear masks ‘til everyone is vaccinated. And, as this banner in front of the Rowayton Methodist Church says, it’s also good to tell them about Jesus, who is there with them in their pain when they are hurting.

Connecticut, March 2021












“Deer”
Thirty five women of St. John Church in Darien gathered at the Convent of St. Birgitta in Tokenecke for a Saturday retreat. Sr. Mary Ann Foggin of the women’s religious community of The Servants of God’s Love in Ann Arbor, Michigan spoke of the need to Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 35).


Connecticut, March 2021












Cardinal
The Darien Men's Association has hikes each month in the spring, summer and fall. The first one was in March and we were able to walk and talk with friends in Waveny Park in New Canaan. Everyone in the group had been vaccinated so masks were optional.

Connecticut, March 2021











Snow Art
Winter arrived one Sunday with about a foot of snow and some pretty high winds that drove it through the screens and covered our back porch. It also created some pretty neat snow art on our garage windows. It was cold but not nearly as cold as it was in Texas a few weeks ago.


Connecticut, February 2021
























Flower Seed Heart
Roses are traditional Valentine gifts. The Rowayton Gardners however, had another very unique gift - a paper heart embedded with a collection of flower seeds, including snapdragon, petunia, daisy, poppy, foxglove, thyme, chamomile, maiden pinks, catchfly and beardtongue. We can’t wait to see what will bloom when spring arrives.

Connecticut, February 2021










“Deer”
A herd of deer have been visiting our back yard. It’s nice to watch them from our bedroom window - but it’s not quite as exciting as being on safari in Kenya and seeing giraffes and elephants up close.


Connecticut, February 2021












Cardinal
The days are longer, the air is warmer, the snow is almost gone, daffodils are coming up through the mulch, the birds are chirping - and the cardinals, our favorite birds, are back at our feeder. Spring is almost here!!

Connecticut, February 2021



















Running on the Beach
We've seen beautiful sunsets through the trees from our kitchen and bedroom windows. They are however much more impressive when seen from the beach. Red sky at night is a sailor’s delight, right? This saying is even mentioned in bible. Do you know where?


Connecticut, January 2021













Small Group
Last spring, John painted the woodwork and floors on our back porch. Now he’s painting walls, woodwork and doors inside our home. Fortunately our home is on high ground so we have a dry basement which serves as a great workshop.

Connecticut, January 2021






















“Green
Winter in Rowayton has been very mild. Our first snowfall was in December, a week before Christmas - and it had all melted before New Year's Day. Now we have more snow and it’s been cold enough to freeze the Duck Pond and lots of kids are out there skating.


Connecticut, January 2021











Autum Leaves
For the first time in 30 years, the women of Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien did not go away for a weekend retreat. Instead 63 of them met on Zoom. Most were from Darien and Rowayton - but some joined from as far away as Indiana, Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Germany and Kenya. After the two hour Zoom gathering, small groups of women met in several different locations and then enjoyed walking and talking together for a couple of hours.

Connecticut, January 2021