Last but not least, Tobi is our best friend and companion. He is really Judi's dog but I claim him too.

Sleeping is what he does best but occasionally he will run out and defend the premises from squirrels and deer. After such forays he proudly prances back into the house and barks for a chicken treat. What a dog!

Aimee is our youngest. She is currently studying for her masters in public health while working a full time job for a government contractor. Her work is connected to terrorism and bio/chemical warfare.

Aimee lives in Fredricksburg, VA in a charming Cape Cod with her three cats and two large gaseous dogs. She also has two horses and loves to ride and show. Like her mother, she is also a very good cook.

This is Renae. She is our oldest. Like her father she elected not to go to college. She tried a number of things in the work area but nothing seemed to satisfiy her until she started her own business as a nail tech. She works at home or goes to the client's house. Her cards read: "My place our yours?" She has just finished decorating her new apartment in our basement. It is a bright daylight walkout that faces the woods offering both beauty and solitude.

Like her mother, Renae is a movie lover.

When I told Judi (my wife) that I wanted to take a picture of her for my blog she asked if I could take it by her favorite lamp. I gave it to her for her 60th birthday. It is appropriate as she certainly has brought a lot of light into my life.

Judi was been a stay-at-home mom until it was time for our oldest, Renae, to go to college. Then she went to work to help put her through college. Renae did not go so we saved for Aimee's college. She worked for the government until 2003 when she took an early retirement for medical reasons.

Judi's interests are decorating our home, old movies and cooking and baking. In the kitchen she has few equals. Our friends are always glad to get an invitation for dinner because they know that the meal will be better than all but the very finest restaurants.

There are two things that I really enjoy doing: working the stock market and fishing. I don't do either one very well. I hope I will learn to fish better than I do at investing!

This is one of the views of the finished boat. The plywood on the trailer was needed to get it on the trailer. I couldn't get it out until I launched it the first time.

As you can see I have two swivel chairs (they are called "bass seats") on the deck. For once I did not design something. I bought the plans and the templates from instantboats.com .

This is a view from the stern (nautical talk for "rear"). The original plans called for an open boat but I added compartments for flotation, two rod compartments and four storage compartments. I also provided a dog house for my best friend, Toby!

Bow view showing the simplicity of the boat

Back in the mid 90's I was in the process of designing an ultralight aircraft made of composit material. Once the design was complete I bought a BMW motorcycle engine to convert for flying. About that time my best friend killed himself in his home built aircraft. That was when I decided to turn to woodworking.

Since '03 I have been building kitchen cabinets for my wife. I never dreamed it would be such a huge task. Last summer I took a break from the cabinets and built a fishing boat. Because we live on property with steep hills I did not build a garage so the boat was built on our front porch! The following pictures show the progress from start to finish.

This is a rare group shot and one that I value very much. Mom is the closest to the camera. She is gone now. Wayne, Aimee's husband is seated at the head of the table. Judi is on his left, then Renae. Aimee is next to her and I am at the other end of the table.

This was the first family dinner in Aimee's new house. I think this picture was taken in June, 2007.

Judi and Me

This is the best picture that I could find of my wife, Judi, and me. It was taken in 2004 on our 35th aniversary. Our youngest daughter, Aimee, is telling us about a Carribean Cruise that she gave to us as a present. Judi was recovering from a broken leg at the time. Unfortunately, she broke her shoulder a week before we were to leave. Fortunately Aimee had purchased insurance for the tickets.