I spent a few days in Israel staying at this hotel but was surprisingly too busy for more photos
This whetted my appetite on my return as Larry
and Suzanne used their cell phones
to get Jane
to put her books in the car
and rouse Ben for the trip to Rye Brook
where we stopped at the Cobble Stone (Estd. 1933)
and made our way in
to admire the menu
though we were assured that Ben
Jane and David
Ben and Suzanne
and Larry would be happiest if we had burgers
which didn't help with the camera shyness
while Jane matched her manicure to her pink lemonade
and our other drinks arrived
as the lottery
suggested that we use this pencil
which became clearer
should we wish to bet. Instead, we thought about Black Jack gum
and got this sign for the collection which seemed to have lost some of its message
as Ben
and Suzanne were cheered
because the food was about to arrive with burgers (meat and not)
and chicken.
After the obligatory phone booth (and choking sign) pictures
we headed off to the hotel
where this was our room
and bath room
and as Jane opened the goodie bags
I checked the view
before we admired all of the goodies that had been left for us
and then headed to the Portchester trains tation to collect Ed and Sarah
before returning to record Suzanne getting ready
Jane's trimmed bangs
Ben's new sweater
and these pictures of the 3 kids
Suzanne
Ed
and Andy Barth as we waited for the bus to load.
Once we arrived, we paused to look at the sculpture
and made our way
to the pool area
where Larry showed off his (or was it my?) margaritta
and posed with Uncle Bob
before I explored the territory a bit
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meeting Michelle
Francine
and watching Mackenzie along the way
as Francine
and Jason posed
before I started taking pictures of the beautiful things in life -- flowers
children
more flowers
and Suzanne
and returned to the pool
and the crowd there
after passing this sculpture
and captured Jane and Ben
and Sarah and Ed
before my picture was taken
and Bonnie agreed to do this commercial for root beer
which amused Larry and Dick
and the crowd who gathered around the bride to enjoy.
After capturing Adam
we headed up the path
and past more beautiful flowers and sculpture
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to the statues of the inverted rotten piece of candy corn
where Ben posed
and Mackenzie
Suzanne and Francine approached
and as we entered the tent, Ben and Jane linked
and we met the proud parents of the bride
before gathering our food
and another beer
and taking this picture of Mackenzie
as the camera lens smeared what might have been beautiful family photos
but thankfully some pictures of Ben cleared the lens
so that we could record the bride and groom on the day before.
and return to our room where Jane was nice enough to gather the television remote.
Sunday, THE day, began with a meeting with the bride and groom
as we headed to breakfast
and I filled my plate
as well as my cups
while we all admired Mackenzie
as her grandfather
ate bacon
and her mother
observed the other table
while Larry
and I
wondered if the pancake syrup would rescue the waffles
and wondered what Jason was photographing,
perhaps, this crowd?
We went outside where Larry and I talked to Mackenzie
before she headed off
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and then returned
to go off on an adventure with us
and then back from the golf course to the gazebo where photos were taken of everyone
and then specialized on Mackenzie
Fran
Ed
Michelle and Mackenzie
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Fran
Jason
Sarah
Ed
Ben
Dick and Larry
and me
before Suzanne appeared
and we headed off on the path
learning the rules
as we explored
and then Sarah tried to remove the sword from the stone (without success)
and Jason and Mackenzie had the same problem
before returning tot eh path (which made the golfers nervous)
and on to the basketball court
from which it became clear we should be heading to the pool
where Suzanne and Jane relaxed
while Dick and Larry conversed
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perhaps about what the beach people
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were thinking but almost certainly not about the recharging of the camera battery which happened in the privacy of our room.
Of course, we were assembled to go to a wedding and so prepare to go to a wedding we did as Jane
and Ed got dressed,
and I put on my outfit
as did Ben
and Ed, Sarah and Ben posed
before I tried my hand at bridal photographs (as in hold that pose ) of Suzanne
and we headed down to the bus where we were greeted by Mackenzie
as our group assembled
for photos of Dick, Fran and Mackenzie
of Michelle and Mackenzie
and of Michelle, Jason and Mackenzie
before Larry and Penny
decided to head off on the early bus that lost its way
and ever increasing family members starting with Suzanne and Sarah
then Jane, Suzanne and Sarah
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then Ben, Jane, Suzanne and Sarah
then the 5 of us
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and then the 6 of us
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assembled for a photo marathon before we got on the bus and Ben displayed his wound.
This was the arrangement at the wedding
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this was the program
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these were the chandeliers
and these were the chupah bearers
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before the groom appeared with his parents
and the bride entered with hers
and so the ceremony could begin for the bride and groom
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as the parents looked on
and the ceremony continued
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until at the end, I admired Jane's shoe
and we walked through chickens -- rubber
and real
to claim our place cards from among the chickens
and on passing this appetizer
I received a wonderful drink -- pomegranate juice with vodka and triple sec -- from this friendly bar tender
and went off to have Mackenzie show me how the chicken laid its egg
and admired Ben's flamingo tie
as the band played on
and we met Dan's mother
and their friend who had been at the New Hampshire hippie festival
before finding the bride
bride and groom with friends
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and finally the bride and groom
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for pictures before returning to our table
where Ed admired the tablecloth which had been his family's curtains while growing up.
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After a few pictures of Suzanne and Michelle
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and others of Jason and Mackenzie
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we said good bye to our last tidbit of food
and went to the dancing area where we saw Larry and Michelle
and a group of people in a hurry
including Ed
as Mackenzie perched on Jason's shoulders
and Jane, Sarah and Ed
as Larry and Francine
watched the dancers
and all cheered
as Mackenzie and Michelle
and Suzanne danced
and then Sarah and Ed
Ben, Sarah and Ed
Jane, Ben, Sarah and Ed
Jason, Larry, Jane, Ben, Sarah and Ed
Jason, Larry, Jane, Ben, Sarah, Ed and Suzanne
and Ben and Jane posed
while Dan and Rachel were raised in chairs
to the applause of our group
as Eric and Barbara were next lifted in chairs
though Mackenzie and her new friends were dancing and oblivious to this
even as Dan's parents were elevated in their chairs
the small ones kept dancing
as Penny, Isabel, Bonnie and Bob
watched their last dance
and after a short stop at the Men's room
and admiration of the plantings
Ben and I progressed with our hats
through the crowd
to the soup course
and this picture of me
was taken by my neighbor
as we recorded the menu
and the first pictures from the photo booth
but not before getting some more food
menu pictures
and food
and then going off to admire the cake
and taking yet more pictures
even as these pictures of Ben, Jane, me and Larry
were taken by the camera shy photographer
and these additional pictures were taken by the photo booth
as the Funk Brothers began to perform
and I was unable to record the information from chacha on Ed's phone
that told me the story of the Funk Brothers
but a few more photos
led Ben to dance with Suzanne
and Jane
as I photographed the progression of desserts that I felt compelled to eat
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with coffee
to wash down the last dessert
so that I could record the centerpieces
and watch the family dance
before Eric came to join Sarah and Ed
and certify their dancing
which amused Jane
Suzanne, Sarah and Ed
as I headed back to my table
to partake of the wedding cake.
On Monday, Memorial Day, I began with food
and drink
as Ben
Larry
Sarah and Ed joined me
and Suzanne took these pictures of Isabel, Penny and Bob with backlighting (and too much of it)
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before Sarah, Ed and Ben
Andy, me and Francine
Francine, me, Michelle and part of Dick
the rest of Dick, Jane and Sarah
Jane, Sarah and Ed
Francine, me, Michelle and Dick
Jane, Sarah and Ed
Ben
Francine and Michelle
and Suzanne posed to declare that the brunch was over.
But before we could depart, we needed to say farewell to the bride
as she said final good byes
and then return Sarah and Ed to Portchester
and begin our journey home with a stop at Stewart's root beer
where this was the menu
and this was the money
that brought this food
and drink
which Suzanne
admired
and then bit into.
Congratulations, Rachel and Dan and have a happy life together.
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