Wednesday, December 24, 2014

The View from Mackenzie-Ridge: 2014 in Review





The View from Mackenzie-Ridge: 2014 in Review

As a Family:  We traveled to Michigan, New Hampshire, Michigan, Miami, Montreal, New York City, the Hamptons and Michigan again – 2014 was very dear in our hearts as we lost Brent's Uncle Bob.  We were lucky to see him multiple times in Michigan before he lost his fight to cancer.  We have been busy making our new home homey and getting to know neighbours in the Roslindale area within the city of Boston.  Brent and Tricia ran 5K’s in the spring for the Parkway Fund and a Turkey Trot in the fall for Franklin Park.  We all go to museums a lot to see contemporary art and always enjoy the Franklin Park Zoo to visit the animals and especially the gorillas (we’re members – if you visit we can take you too).

Brent:  He has made strides in his Art Teaching career this year starting as faculty at the New Art Center in Newton and the Minuteman Continuing Education in Lexington (both Boston area).  He has taught painting, drawing and watercolor classes including workshops in acrylic paint and gesture drawing.  He dabbled this year as a life drawing instructor this fall.  His students are adults and teens and he is actively growing his flock.  He has continued to make his brand of abstract painting and has shown in a smattering of community gallery events in Boston in 2014.  You can see more of his art on his website: brent-ridge.com.

Tricia:  She has made a successful work transition in 2014 – leaving her role in advertising at Digitas to the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College!  (Go Eagles!)  She is super happy at increasing her life balance within the equation of work / life balance.  She also continues her path in yoga as pastime. 

Ruby:  Ruby celebrated her 3rd birthday in February with an Angelina Ballerina theme.   Grandma Susie and Grandpa Larry visited on the occasion.  Ruby spent a lot of time going to libraries and community centers for toddler activities including creative dance and art and music.  She started full time preschool in the Fall of 2014.  Her favorite activities are make believe and art time.  She recently started ballet school one day a week where she has a leotard, tutu and ballet shoes as an outfit and dances her heart out.

Merry Christmas and Hanukkah and Happy New Year!

Brent, Tricia and Ruby



Monday, December 15, 2014

Ruby at Daddy's art show



Ruby with Daddy's painting at the art show at the Hallway Gallery in Jamaica Plain, Boston




LINK




Tuesday, December 9, 2014

First Skate at Frog Pond


Frog Pond in the Boston Commons

Preview of the skating scrum

Got our skates on!

And away we go - slowly, slowly

And we are doing it

Us skating for the first time

Good job Ruby






MIAMI in November


View with sunrise

Water, water, water everywhere

lets go swimming

Faux ruins at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Main house of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Piece of ruin at Vizcaya


Wistful traveler and ocean


In the gardens
Statuary everywhere
Tricia poses with the Aztec style steps

Photographers everywhere capturing people during the magic hour of light

A deity's head emerges from faux limestone rock

A mysterious herm of old bids us goodbye to Vizcaya

Old friends say hi in a fashionable restaurant in Wynwood district of Miami

Carla and Tricia - lovely ladies...
These guys can really hang. Like the college days.

Us in the John Pennycamp Park on Key Largo

Sunset after snorkeling in John Pennycamp Park

The day starts with the news at the News Café

With the Park Central, check out the port hole windows

Classic Art Deco

Ahhh...the Beach

As in the beach in South Beach

Orange with orange

Versace House
The colors of the Art Deco District.

Old school art deco hotel...wanna take a swim in that and emerge like a movie star. Tricia said we're staying here next trip...hands down.

Check those splits in the street - to the music of Beyonce - sashay-chantay (We went to Drag Queen brunch)


So fierce - right up close

Can't beat all-you-can-drink-mimosa-brunch!

We got together one last time - complete with a bouncy castle - we really haven't grown up




Tricia has a new Job




In case you missed it, Tricia has a new band's tune she sings (the Eagles) and that band plays for BOSTON COLLEGE where she has a new job – she is officially the Marketing and Communications Director at the Center for Corporate Citizenship!  Go Tricia!




Monday, December 8, 2014

FALL







Happy Halloween 2014


Here we are in an Elsa (Frozen) outfit at the neighborhood trick or treat activity

We went trick or treating at businesses in the niehborhood

Our friend Emily came out too!

Back to the gym for some music and food

And dancing!

On Halloween we debut our Belle outfit (Beauty and the Beast)

Who is in those outfits with you Ruby?  I can't tell...

On our front porch as the sun sets and the fun begins

Showing off Loot

Back home with Jack the Pumpkin, happy Halloween!