Tracy Bieser phoned several long-time friends to meet for lunch at C’est Tout last Friday.  All the gals had kept horses at Ginny and Herb Whalen’s beautiful ‘Locust Wood Farm’ – on Penewit  Road  - during the years the MVH Kennels were also at Locust Wood.  (Bill & Susan Whalen live at Locust Wood now.)

Ginny was the guest-of-honor.  Freddy Klefeker, Cathy Beiser Black,  and Cheri Huber Ohmer made up the gang-of-six.  Everyone had a ‘..favorite story’ to tell at the expense of a fellow guest.  Cheri ‘got it’ for her ‘…new horse trailer’ tale of woe. “And, you know – Rick’s still mad about that night!”

They forgot to tell the story about Freddy’s getting bucked-off and landing head first in a briar patch…with one boot still in the stirrup!  Honey Hammer, who was a witness, still goes into hysterics though  twenty years have elapsed.  

Ginny said daughter Kathy Kavanaugh and her daughter, Laura, are in Ireland with Kathy’s brother Mike.  Cathy Black reported on her daughter, Courtney’s (Oakwood High School grad)  progress.  “She’s now able to drive and is taking part in a ‘Therapeutic Riding’ program in Wyoming.  I’m having her two children for several weeks this summer.”  

“You know, we ought to repeat this get-together several times a year.”  There was unanimous agreement.

When Sally Fisher called from Florida several days ago – she mentioned she and John were having dinner with Anne & Eddy Zwissler, and Dotty Sherman that evening.  Certainly a great gathering of  Daytonians.  “Tell Anne ‘hello’…we grew up across the street on Grand Avenue”.

The Dayton Art Institute is agog with the advent of their latest – “Marilyn Monroe, Life as a Legend” show.  In the brochure the Interim Director, Brad Tillson, says:  “I came in at the tail end of ‘Diana, a Celebration’ – the second most popular exhibition in the museum’s history – and have been here for the entirety of ‘Rembrandt & The Golden Age of Dutch Art.  Now, it’s on to ‘Marilyn…’ and it does a splendid job of capturing the impact of this icon.”  The Jefferson Patterson Society has sent their preview invitation.  And another has arrived for the ‘Members Reception.”

“You and your family are invited to a DAFFODIL garden party…on Saturday, April 7th…at ‘The Farm’ on Ridgeway Road…”  OK, the daffodils (24,000 of ‘em) were blooming at John Gray’s super unique manse alright, and for days their ‘display’ caused every car to stop ‘n gawk at their magnificence.  But for the past few days the temperature had never gotten above freezing, and… the wind, and the snow flurries…and…
When calling to RSVP John’s secretary said:  “We’ve moved the party inside…we’re playing ‘it’ by ear.”  “You mean,” said the caller:  “You’re playing ‘it’ by thermometer!”  

Actually the ‘garden party’ was just as fabulous inside – as out.  The heavy timber beams of the atrium were decorated with hundreds of vases of daffodils.  And there were vases of yellow and white blooms placed on every flat surface of the home – and that required a lotta vases!  “Every one of you are to take a vase when you leave,” said John.  “We cut twenty five hundred daffodils a day and a half ago…thank goodness…or they’d have been dropped by the cold.”  One guest said they’d seen the gardeners cutting – and “…you can hardly notice the hill sides were decimated!”

Dr. Dick & Diane DeWall brought their daughter, Beth, who was visiting from Chicago.  Ruth Fink, Carol Pohl, the Tony Huffmans, the Irv Biesers, and the Phil Morris’s were admiring the flowers.  Fern & Al Leland explained “…what you’re seeing across Houk Stream…we’re clearing the east yard of the house…whatta job!” Maggie & Richard Mantia reported their dog was in fine fettle.  Gretchen
Bullock was met coming out of the front door carrying her vase of daffodils.  And speaking of mayors – Judy Cook reported on the state of Hawthorn Hill and the Neighborhood Association.
Jack & Nancy Campbell were there. Jack said his ‘boating accident’ was healing nicely…and showed his left hand. Harriet Leland, David Smith, and Jim & Mary Lou VanTassel, Pam McGinnis, Bill Borchers…

“Now this is …”The First Annual Daffodil Garden Party,” said John Gray – as he picked two vases of flowers from an antique garden cart in the hall and gave to two departing guests.

It wasn’t just an ordinary night for the young couple sitting next to us at the Bistro Friday night. At a glance to our left, we saw a young man on bended knee next to his companion’s seat. Suddenly we realized that this was romantically serious business.

A wink from Josef Reif, the Bistro’s  attentive owner, clued us in….Victor Wasylyna was asking Lindsay Walters to marry him. We didn’t hear a word, of course, but we were non-obtrusive sideline observers to this happy event. The young twosome is often at the Bistro, Reif said, which made a perfect place for taking such an important life step. Victor is a patent attorney with TH & F downtown, Lindsay is a general litigation attorney in Centerville. We wished them the best for always.

Lots of Oakwood/Kettering guests were also at the Bistro that night - Don Schweller was having dinner with Mary Kunesh, Bill LeBouef and Leigh Cosler were was having dinner with friends, and Mimi and Ken Kuntz were in the L’Auberge dining room enjoying one of the gourmet presentations.

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