Photos

Some pictures from our days at Solomans and the good time we had with friends. I think the bridge is longer and higher than the Coronado Bridge!! I spelled Potomac wrong on most of the pictures and the party was overlooking the Potomac River - not the Bay!! But once I got the text on the pics - I wasn't able to get it off!!!

Here are some of the Day 1 pictures of our drive down to Williamsburg - the farms and some scenery. The Inn where we had lunch was very unique and it was in Tappahonnock on the Rappahonnock River. They will be celebrating 400 years this month and the town was all decked out for it.

Many of the buildings in Colonial Williamsburg are actually closed this weekend to get ready for Queen Elizabeth's arrival on Thursday. She has already sent over her carriage, bed, and many of her linens for her 2 or 3 day stay here in Williamsburg and the drive down Duke of Glouchester Street. She will be here to commorate the 400th Anniversary of the founding. Thankfully, we are here this weekend!! It has been a great weekend - but next weekend will be a crush - and very limited due to high security. The news said she was here for the 350th Anniversary also. Now that's a real piece of trivia :)

Solomans, MD

We had a pretty good 2 days at Solomans in Maryland. Keith had to attend meetings - so the first day I dropped him off and went out on my own. I hit every little shop in the historical fishing village while he worked. I also went out looking for the power cord for my laptop - as I forgot to bring mine from home :(. This quest took me to the next town - 40 miles away and I found several other shops and an Amish market to browse thru. Complete with the corral for the horses and the buggies pulled up behind each bazaar table. There were absolutely beautiful quilts, hand crocheted afgans, blankets, bonnets - everything you could imagine - but absolutely nothing that I couldn't live without!! It was definately worth the trip out there to see what wonderful work they do.

After my trip out there and checking into the Inn in Soloman, Keith and work crew showed up to take me to a retirement party that just happened to be happening. It was held on the base at PAX and had the river and bay as a backdrop. We had a very nice time. The Retiree (Malik) was suprised and very happy to have his book filled with people that he had worked with from all over the country!!

From there we went to the famous Tiki Bar and enjoyed friendship and halarity for a bit longer before we called it a night.

The next day was a bit cooler and rained off and on so I didn't get to do much more sightseeing - but did make it down to the harbor between squalls to watch the boats (beautiful boats too) come up the river from fishing out on the bay. The picture above is a bird's eye view of Solomans from the top of the bridge over the Patuxant River.

We saw friends and Keith's coworkers from all over for the two days before they all headed back to thier respective homes and we headed out to Williamsburg. We continue to enjoy ourselves on thru the trip. We can't hardly wait to see what Williamsburg will bring. The weather hasn't been really nice but is supposed to be nicer for the weekend. We will see....

Lexington Park, MD

When Keith asked me if I wanted to go to Baltimore with him - I jumped at the chance. I had visions of looking up old "times and places" and pretty much re-visiting my own history - on my own - while he was in the meetings that brought us here to begin with. Imagine my suprise when I found out that we are actually in Lexington Park, right down the street from California, MD and not to terribly far from Myrtle Point, MD. If I can find those signs again - I am going to take pictures of them. I don't think I will make it on my historical sabbatical as we are about 3 hours south of the Baltimore Washington International Airport (it was Friendship International last time I was there hehe). We drove down thru several small towns, I saw some beautiful homes, and even tho' Keith let me steer - he did most of the driving.... too fast, slow down, wrong lane, light is red, car is stopping, turn here . . He just loves to be in control!!!

I didn't find out until after we landed and were in the car where ~ when I asked for a map and was told he knows where we are going~ did I realize that I would be visiting to far from anything to see anything. If you look at the northern shore of the Patuxant River (near the state line off of the Chesapeake Bay,) clear at the end point, you will see a little dot called Soloman's. This is where I will be entertaining myself while the meetings are on. The meetings are at the Patuxtant Naval something or another. . Keith used to do a lot of partying here (at Soloman's)~back in the day~ we drove by all his old "favorites" (didn't stop anywhere) found the motel we are booked at and he is napping as I write this.

I'm sure I will find something to entertain myself with - I did bring two books - so I can read and watch TV if nothing else....

So much for the best laid plans . . . and the daydreams:( And I still have Williamburg to look forward to - I hope - :)

Friday Night

We took the boys and went to a Southern Gospel Concert at our Church last night. "Hearts of Harmony" were great. I dearly love Southern Gospel Music. I always have - so call me a dork - but it definately is one thing that I've enjoyed all my life. There was one change - the blond in the picture was replaced by one of the other members' daughter for last nights event. It was great. They had some wonderful music - the boys were behaved - a friend and her Mom joined us and we just had a nice evening. And, of course, we ate. I ate my coconut cream pie and then had some of the extensive salad bar that was set up. Ever since Pastor had his heart attack - we've all been treated to healthier foods at the Church events. I messed it all up by taking a huge crockpot full of S'te's Chuckwagon Beans. It must've been enjoyed - it was empty when I took it off of the table!!

Still trying to get all the details together for the boys to go on Monday and get ready of our trip to Williamsburg!! I am going to have sooooo much fun!! And then to go see S'te on this unexpected short trip with Keith. The Lord is blessing me at every turn!!! I am truly lucky.

Excited!!

Ok, I know it's still 110 days until the Cruise but there is so much to do!!! Since I coordinated it and it is booked under my name - I have to gather the necessary info from everyone - which means that everyone needs to get their info together. . . It is going to be sooooo great!! The test cruise that Keith and I took was wonderful - and this is going to be even better!!!

Not only that - we have the Williamsburg visit coming up so I am researching the history and trying to decide what I want to see while I am there. I'm sure that I can totally pack the 4 days we will be there. Doing the research is almost as exciting as the trip. I am so blessed!! To be able to spend this time with my wonderful husband, then do the "homeless thing" and hop from family to family all summer, and come back and then out to see Mom B!! It is all so mind-boggling!! And now I find out that we may be able to drip in on family mid May also!! This not having kids is getting pretty amazing!! Not that I don't enjoy them immensly and there are many months that we don't have packed like this - but still. . . . I'm excited.

Maybe I'll go shopping. . . .

Just an Word or Two

It was warm here yesterday!! Warm enough that we took the boys and went to the pool at the Rec Center. The oldest really enjoyed himself and I managed to keep enough sunscreen on him that he doesn't show any signs of being out swimming in the sun - except for a little more color in his face than he had before. One of the problems with living here is that it gets to hot to go outside at all - so we look like Pillsbury doughboys all summer long!!! The little one didn't like the water AT ALL!!! he screamed so long and so loud that you'd have thought someone was drowning him in hot oil instead of sitting in the 0' part of the pool that had water over his ankles only!!! I finally (after about 10 minutes) took him over to the umbrella, sat him on a mat, gave him a toy and called it good. Of course, I got burned. I sat in the sun so he could have the shade. He finally laid down and took a nap. We spent the day there - it was 91 when we left at 3:30.

Today it is raining (thank you God!) and the wind is blowing. Kinda gloomy - but we can't have sunshine and water at the same time - so right now - I'll take the water.

The small amount of time I've spent helping a friend understand and use her email has richly paid off. I've (we've) just finished a wonderful loaf of homemade whole wheat bread. In the past weeks we've had home baked cookies, bread, candies, all sorts of STUFF. It has been great but I'm not losing any inches!! We loaned another Villager some baby equipment - for use by a Grandchild that is visiting - and got a box of really good German candies. Another diet hazard :) and my love of any kind of bread is almost overcome by my sweet tooth.. . . Aren't I blessed!! My volunteer duties to the Village have been terminated so I have lots of time to devote to my "suppliers" :)

116 days until the "mini" family cruise, something like 90 days until the new grandbaby, about 60 until our visit to Oregon, 7 until our trip to Virginia. Lots coming up. . but other than eating - not much happening.

Hope more is happening in your world. . . . . .

Happy Easter

As with Thanksgiving, we have so many Blessings. Too many to count. Here is our Blessing Wall. We add to it and change it around regularly. Especially when we get new pics to hang. We are happy to be sharing our Easter Blessings with new visitors. We had a wonderful Sunday School and Church Service this morning, went to a really nice Brunch afterwards and then our littlest kids took a nice long nap. The Easter Bunny has dropped his loot and is waiting for the "nappers" to wake~~

We are busily trying to put together our Summer plans, trying to fit everything in that we want to do and also what others want us to do. So many things, so little time!!

We so far have Oregon, California, Mexico, Oregon, home, and then a short run up north.

We had planned a Williamsburg trip but now that we again have visitors ~~ who know's!!

SO, God Bless and Happy Easter to ALL .

Anniversary

Well, it's our 3rd Wedding Anniversary and I am home alone :( Keith is in St. Louis, doing a meeting and staying with April but due back home tomorrow. He has been "invited" to a meeting in Maryland towards the end of the month so we will celebrate a belated Anniversary then - as I will get to accompany him. After the meeting days, we have planned to drive down to Williamsburg and spend a couple of days there. It is something that I've always wanted to do. I spent many years of my life right in Maryland and missed many of the Historical Sites that were very close by. Of course, when you are a 2 working parent family with 4 children, vacations were spent seeing grandparents - not touring the "tourist traps" hehe. Now that I'm grandma - I get to tour. I'm sure it will be lots of fun and we are both looking very much forward to the trip.

Not much else is going on - cleaning and re-arranging and waiting to see if they come up with any real short term babies that want to come share our home for a time. We will see what God has in store for us now.

It is so funny to have an "empty nest" again. Much to quiet. I love the sound of baby sighs and the little giggles.

As I sign off for now - I'm HOME ALONE!!!!!!