Hidden Talents
The instrument that Grandpa Owl once played in an orchestral performance of the Hallelujah Chorus.
What is the tympani?
"Doc" Jensen supervised this area of the King's College, where Peter and Mary Jean worked together and fell in love.
What is the Kitchen?
While serving his active duty in the Navy, Peter sent these to his art studio colleagues in Manhattan, from Puerto Rico and Saint Thomas.
What are post cards?
Peter and MJ somehow enjoyed this kind of vacation with their children, often in the NY Adirondacks, but also throughout New England and Pennsylvania Dutch country of PA.
What is camping?
Attributed to Lynne Bennett in the OG PBC cookbook, Grandpa's recipe for this family fave may call for more cheese than beans.
What is Bean Dip?
Peter and Roger's paternal grandmother, called Nana, lived in nearby Cresskill when they were little, and taught Peter this skill. He still has at least one of the things he made with her.
What is painting?
Peter and Mary Jean helped make these for their wedding reception, squeezing them out of tubes and decorating each one with icing flowers and leaves.
What are mints?
While dating, the time it took to take the train from Peter's college in Farmingdale, Long Island, to Manhattan, and up to the Scarsdale NY station near The King's College, where Mary Jean was.
What is three hours?
The nickname given to the notorious bear who visited the Abbeys (and their daughters) at their campsite in the Adirondacks in the 1980s. Incidentally, he recently travelled to Peru.
What is Paddington?
If Grandpa Owl was a cartoon cat with a dry sense of humor, this Italian food would still be his favorite.
What is Lasagna?
Other than basketball, the sport Peter couldn't get enough of as a youngster in Briarcliff. After six or seven games, he had to play with his left hand, because he had blisters!
What is bowling?
It was a housesitting job in this couple's home that drew Peter, with his new wife, back to Tenafly just after their honeymoon.
Who were Grandma and Grandpa (Regina and Lloyd) Miller?
Grey Advertising, where Peter worked for 37 years, was located at the corner of 3rd Avenue and East 48th Street. He often described its location in relation to the United Nations, which was only this (nonstandard measure) distance away.
What is a bomb's throw?
The back yard at 26 Pine Street was often set up in the summertime to play this birdie-hitting sport.
What is badminton?
This favorite nut grows on trees in the tropics, actually the seed of a fruit that is called an apple but looks like a small bell pepper.
What is a cashew?
What is "SoundPete" (Or "SoundPete4")?
The real reason for one of their first fights, when Peter tried to drop MaryJean off at her dorm at King's and she wouldn't get out of the car.
What is a surprise party?
The famous actress Peter spoke to while standing on a street corner in NYC, holding a cake. Classic movies include The African Queen and On Golden Pond.
Who is Katherine Hepburn?
Mrs. Chorlian of Cresskill, NJ was paid by Peter and Mary Jean for many (12?) years to do this.
What is teach piano?
Once a favorite order at Charlie Brown's Steakhouse, this is sometimes referred to as a "standing" rib roast.
What is prime rib?
Grandpa sometimes refers to three words which form an acronym, directing the order of our attention if we want to live a happy and fulfilled life. They also spell out the name of a granddaughter who brings it.
What is Jesus, Others, Yourself.
Peter suffered this kind of accident a week or so before his wedding in Panama.
What is a waterski accident?
A famous cartoonist named Tom Yohe created a caricature of "Peter the Great" to celebrate Peter's 25th anniversary at Grey Advertising. Yohe was one of the creators of an educational cartoon series named Schoolhouse ____, famous for hits such as Conjunction Junction and My Hero, Zero.
What is Schoolhouse Rock?
A process Peter and MaryJean employed to get their daughters to pick up their things around the house. Upon calling "____ Service," a designated child could require payment from her sisters for items they had neglected to put away.
What is "Maid Service"?
Grandma Miller made a carrot pudding (actually a sweet bread), which was baked in this kind of metal container.
What is a coffee can?