Happy New Year

MaryAnne and I wish you-all a happy and prosperous 2008. We consider ourselves to be blessed to have such a great extended family. We hope to see all of you during the coming year.

Hoping it does...

I am hoping this lets me post and comment ont he fishercatch blog.. So far my computer ignorance has kept me from it , except by complete accident... have a great holliday all ... John

Christmas Goodies

There was a flurry of Christmas food preparation at the Fisher household this last weekend. Counterclockwise from top left, the Christmas pig-out items are the fabled cinnamon leaves, sausage bread, a newly found recipe for spinach artichoke feta bread and how the spinach feta bread filling bread is rolled in. It's a pity there aren't going to be some family members around to help us eat these goodies.

The Mini Pie Revolution!

I have another just-for-fun food blog going in partnership with a friend... and it'a dedicated to tiny little pies of all sorts. We've sent out a call for mini pie submissions and will be posting a round-up of all the cute little pies we receive on New Year's Day. In the meantime, have a look at the Mini Pie Revolution Headquarters!

Mini pies seems to be taking off, even inspiring an old guy in Oregon to write me a letter.

Memories of MaryAnne's Constant Kitchen

A little piece about Mom in Redacted Recipes...

Amazing photos!

Check Mike and Misty's latest post about thier engagement photo shoot and follow the link to more pictures!

Oldest Fishers

Hi All. The composite photo above is of the oldest living generation fo Fishers (by birth). The individual snapshots are in an album that I borrowed from Wendi. I think the album was one Roses and Tucker carried with them when they were full-time RVing. I'll leave it to the reader to figure out who's who.

A flurry of food-related writing...

Jack and I have been inspired recently to add to Redated Recipes, after a bit of a hiatus. Those of you interested in food and wine might want to check out Jack's latest post about our 2006 trip to Califormia (I'm pestering him to write up last summer's trip, too, which included some amazing meals at The French Laundry and Gary Danko's), and my own recent musings on what makes a truly memorable dining out experience.

Mom, we still want your contributions!

Back to the Blog

Ann kindly added me back to the blog as I forgot my password and could no longer sign in. I wanted to comment on Grandma's tacky pictures - very funny! Andi and I went to Florida this weekend to spend some time with Mom as she wrapped up a beautiful job.
Here is a pretty picture of sunrise. We walked on the beach morning and night and enjoyed the time together. It sounds like everyone is very busy and I hope to hear from you soon. xox

Please note:

I have added the Mike and Leigh blog to the Other Items of Interest sidebar.

Updated Fisher Trip Photos

Hi All. I just updated the Fisher Trip Photo Album with some photos from our California road trip. I hope you all enjoy them.

Tacky or What?

Hi All – MaryAnne’s Red Hat Group did a “Tacky Luncheon.” The rules were 1) dress in a tacky manner, 2) bring a tacky gift that cost a dollar or less and bring a tacky food for lunch. MaryAnne found a recipe for kitty litter cake but chose to cook-up Rose’s “beanie-weenie.” Her gift was an unused 2005 appointment book. The photos illustrate her tacky dress. In addition to the scarf, ratty hair and no make-up, note the anklet stockings with the capris and sandals and Rhine-stone earrings and bracelet (from high-school). 50 years of marriage precluded me from seeing the tacky, but----.

Ah Hah!

Pebble Beach from the Point Lobos state Park Headlands.

Fisher Family Reunion

Hello All. Here it is, the summer of 2007. The last activity concerning the “Fisher Reunion” was last fall when all agreed that the summer of 2008 was better than 2007. To recap where we left off, MaryAnne and I proposed the Carmel/Monterey area for the reunion location and asked for responses concerning location and dates. All of the respondents (Ann, Kate, Mary, Lisa, Misty, John, Meigs and Wendi) concurred that Carmel/Monterey would be great. Date preferences/restrictions ranged from the last two weeks in August but can be flexible from June through August, late June through July, and any time but the last week in August and the first week in July. So, it looks like mid-July is open?

Lodging preference seemed to lean toward a big house or a villa. Ann and (I think) Lisa did some internet research on suitable large houses. If I remember correctly nothing showed that would accommodate all of us, assuming all of us showed up. Incidently, MaryAnne and I estimated that there could be as many as 26 persons needing 14 rooms. John and Jan volunteered to go over there and investigate once they have a better idea of how many and what the lodging requirements really are. I’ve just emailed the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, telling them what we want to do and asking for information.

At the risk of sounding like the old curmudgeon that I am, I have to offer some caveats concerning renting a large domicile and sharing lodging. Not all of us will be intending to stay for same length of time. Sleeping/bathing accommodations will not be equal. Equitable sharing of cost will have to be worked out.

I think that it would be a good idea if we could lock down the dates, decide on the specific location and make our reservations no later than October. So, if I could get your comments in the next month, maybe we can get this under way. I’ll email the text of this blog entry to Kate and Meigs since they still don’t appear to be blog contributors. Love to all.

FisherCatch Photo Album!

I was looking through old email this morning and came across this very lovely idea of Kate's:

"I wonder if we might put together some photo albums for our reunion. We could have a solid collection of the "original" Fishers along with Roses' people, and include pictures from the three Fisher kids' childhoods along with their families and their families' families. We could solicit 10 pix or so from each family to include in the album."

I'm not sure when the reunion will actually happen, but the idea of an album seems like a great project. I will volunteer to assemble an online version first-- to be linked here at FisherCatch. Then, once we have a good collection, I will investigate ways of printing out a version for each family.

Please send me photos with names, dates and any other information you think would be interesting. I'll start putting the online album together once I get back from my vacation (mid-July).

California, here I come!

Jack and I are off to California again on Friday. Here's a photo from our trip last year--we drove over the Altamont after a lovely brunch in Pleasanton with John and Jan.

This year we're going straight up to Napa for a few days and then to Sonoma. I'll try to remember to post photos when we get back!

Newer, easier way to post photos

A lot has changed about Blogger since I last wrote out instructions for everyone. Now you can add photos directly into the post you are writing without having to use any other programs.

1) Make sure you have identified and saved the photos you want to publish in a folder (always easiest to rename them so you can grab them easily)

2) Log into FisherCatch at https://www.blogger.com/start
a) Blogger was bought by Google and will ask you to use your Google account. If you do not have a google account you'll need to create one. If you have gmail, you're all set.

3) You will see the Dashboard page and FisherCatch listed. Click the "New Post" link.

4) You will see the blog post template:
a) Fill in your title

5) Add your photos one at a time by:
a) Clicking the pictogram on the little tool bar that looks like a picture. A new window will open with the image upload form.
b) Click the "Browse" button and locate the photo you want
c) Select the layout (none, left, center, right). I usually use center.
d) Select the image size (I use large)
e) Click on "Upload Image"

6) You will be returned to the blog post template and your photo will be inserted. To caption it, click beneath the photo and type whatever you like.

7) To add another photo, click your "Enter" key twice to position your mouse and then repeat steps 5 and 6. Do this as many times as you like.

8) When you are all done, click on "Publish Post". Once the post has been uploaded you'll see a new window asking you to click "Done". You'll get a confirmation message and the option to "View Blog" (easiest to click on "in a new window") and see how it looks. If you need to change anything, just go back to the confirmation page and click on "Edit Post".

Another glamour shot

Love the beautiful young urban vibe!

Nora's Graduation and Prom

We're all so proud of you, Nora.

Mom and Dad's 50th

Many thanks to all of you who helped to celebrate Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary. Ann and I were thrilled to spend time with you all......

Thank You, So Much

Hi All - -

We want to express our appreciation to our wonderful daughters who worked so hard to give us a fantastic 50th Anniversary Party and to thank you-all for coming to honor us. It was a great party and our long term friends (not old friends) who attended could not get over what an attractive family we have. Again, Thank You So Much. Mary Anne and Paul Reed, AKA Mom and Dan, Granmpa and Grandpa, etc. PS, we would have included a photo but no one has sent us any.

Christmas and Paul R's 75th

Ann, Misty and Andi and I flew down to DC to surprise Dad for his 75th birthday. We had a wonderful time. He looks great doesn't he? The following photos are of that night and a couple from Christmas in NH.

Here's hoping all of the Fisher's are well and happy and enjoying the New Year.