There have been thousands of pieces of artwork submitted and hers was chosen from entries from around the country. You can vote every twenty four hours if you want.

There are prizes for the student who receives the most votes in December.

Click the link below to view all the contestants art and to vote for your favorite.

https://www.artstamps.com/collectibles.php?page=2

Merry Christmas!!

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On Sunday we attended the first  “Beattie Mini-Reunion” in Manhasset, NY at the home of Patricia Celmency, my third cousin.  Myself, my wife Colleen, Philip Jr, Kevin, my brother Jerry and mother Jeanne all headed down to Pat’s house which is just 50 minutes away from mothers house in Katonah, NY.  We arrived at 1 PM and were warmly greeted at the door by Patricia and the rest of her side of the family. In attendance from the John Beattie side of the family were my Moms second cousins Regina Haffey and Angela Dolores Hughes; my third cousins Patricia Clemency, Anne Haffey and Regina O’Connell;  as well as Philip and Kevin’s fourth cousin Kevin Clemency.

It was the most incredible experience.  Although we had never met before, we all started in conversation as if we had known each other since we were born.  It it a very hard experience to describe in writing, but all who were there, agreed that the bloodline must have something to do with it.

We spent more that six hours sharing stories, pictures and other family memorabilia with each other.  I only wish we could have stayed longer.  There was so much more to talk about.

But a very special moment of the serendipity came during a photo sharing opportunity.  Angela Haffey passed around a photo that she she believed was the photo of John Beattie and his father Jonathan J. Beattie (also my great, great grandfather).  I asked her if she ever had taken the photo out of its frame and looked at the back for any notes.  She welcomed me to take a look…  so I did.  Look what I found!

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Yes, this picture is of Jonathan J. Beattie and his son John.  What a treasure for all of us to see!

Before we left, we were able to get a few photo’s in..

Second Cousins Angela Dolores Hughes, Regina Haffey and Jeanne Hayes:

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Third Cousins J. Jerald Hayes, Philip Hayes, Regina O’Connell, Ann Haffey and Patricia Clemency

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Third Cousins Philip Hayes, Kevin Clemency and Kevin Hayes

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And lets not forget the “Outlaws”; Joe Haffey, Colleen Hayes and Bill Clemency.

Thanks to all for an absolutely wonderful afternoon.  I hope w can do it again soon!

View The Photo’s From The Party

We arrived at Kendal at Longwood where my Aunt Eliza now lives at around 5:30 PM.  My Uncle Lloyd Lewis, Eliza’s husband who died in 2000, was the former CEO of The Kendal Corporation which owns several Kendal complexes across the East Coast.  He was largely responsible for the success of this particular Kendal.

After a short visit and tour of Aunt Eliza’s apartment we headed out for dinner at a local Italian eatery.  It was a perfect place for Aunt Eliza to get to know Kevin and Philip.  Since it wasn’t too crowded, we were also able to relax and get caught up on things.  Later that evening we brought Mom and Eliza back to Kendal.  Mom stayed with Aunt Eliza in a “guest room” at her apartment while we headed off to a local Hampton Inn where Aunt Eliza had set us up with a wonderful studio hotel room.

After breakfast and a short swim at the hotel, we headed back to Aunt Eliza’s apartment where Cousin Laurie and husband Chuck had already arrived.  We were all heading off to Longwood Gardens for an afternoon tour of the grounds.

“In 1906, Pierre S. du Pont purchased the Peirce Arboretum to save its trees from being cut for lumber. Over the next nearly half century, Mr. du Pont developed Longwood Gardens into what it is today, a magnificent horticultural showplace.

Longwood Gardens now encompasses 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows. Enjoy over 11,000 types of plants, more fountains than any other garden in the US, educational and visitor programming, and over 400 performances a year.”

We had a great time, eating fresh “Kettle” popcorn, watching the water fountains dance, visiting the Indoor Children’s Gardens and the outdoor Garden Railway.  Chuck and Philip really bonded at the Garden Railway.  Chuck is a long time train enthusiast and jumped at the opportunity to give Philip a personal guided tour, pointing out the toilet in one of the model trains.  Philip thought that was so funny!

After spending several hours at Longwood Gardens, we headed back to Eliza’s apartment where we recuperated from our long walk at Longwood Gardens.  Once we were rejuvenated, Eliza took Mom and myself for a tour of Kendal while Colleen stayed back with the kids.  I had not been at Kendal since I was a very little boy and didn’t recognize much of it.  Many things had changed or been added over time.  I was VERY impressed by the facility and marveled at it’s very successful implementation of a quality retirement community

“KENDAL, a system of communities and services for older adults integrating Quaker values in its work by fostering continued learning, outreach programs in the field of aging, and a culture of giving.”

http://www.kendal.org/default.aspx

We soon headed over to Cousin Paul’s house for a reunion with the rest of the Lewis family in nearby West Chester.  It was so great to see everybody again.  Paul, Karen and their family looked wonderful.  Wynne and Max are two very impressive young adults (more on this soon).  We had one of the best family get-togthers that I can remember.    Good job Max, Wynne and Paul on the leg of lamb dinner! The food was awesome!

The whole weekend was a model family reunion weekend which we really should work harder at making a more regular event.  To everybody there… THANK YOU!

- Kevin Ryan Hayes