Designing in Life

Las Vegas

We have been in Las Vegas for two weeks.  Much of that time was without internet, but we're now connected and up to speed.

I can't say that I would want to live here, or in this part of the country, but it's a fine place to visit, and consider it a "gateway" to a world of adventure.

The other day we drove through a Joshua Tree reserve.  I was startled at how delicately beautiful the blossoms are.  I've seen Joshua Trees before, but never in bloom.  Their out stretched branches have always eeirly appeared to be people reaching out of nowhere. Not something you would ever imagine having a blossom like this.

I couldn't get close enough to find if there was a scent, but thought they look so much like a hyacinth that maybe, they too, smell a little like our springtime garden bulb back home.

Isn't it nice to know that the desert celebrates the change of seasons too!

The End

Our trip ended with two last stops.  One (which I'm sad to say I didn't take any pictures) was to visit Nick's nieces and nephews in Old Bridge, NJ.  We hadn't seen them for a while, and even though we were only there a few hours, it was a nice visit.  I left with two bags full of strawberries from Dave.

The last stop was in Jersey City to visit Beth and Jim and our granddaughters Chloe and Phoebe, although we did go to Mendham, NJ for Easter at Jim's parent's house.

So, the last of the vacation pictures...

Hellebores in Beth's back yard.

Chloe and Pop Pop on Easter morning.

Phoebe driving her car on Easter morning.

Chloe searching for Easter Eggs.

Now I'm just trying to get back to normal day-to-day life, whatever that is!

More Trip Pix

Grand Prix racing for the day...hey, it was free.

One heckava big turtle on the go at Saw Grass Park near St. Pete

No time spent here, but I was determined to take a picture.  Border of SC/NC.

We went back to Lancaster, and listened to some great music by some great guys.

And then we went to my sister's in South Jersey – sat on her deck while she talked to the turkeys!  No kidding, she can imitate a turkey call and get the toms to gobble!

The final pictures tomorrow!

Home Again

I think I forgot to say I was going on a road trip for 16 days...well, I'm home.

 Vermont to Florida and back.  Many stops to visit relatives.

 

We heard music at Central Market in Lancaster, PA.

Played with Tilly in Lancaster.

Walked the beach on Amelia Island, FL

Found a starfish.

Visited with Nick's daughter, Jessica. 

Walked on St Pete beach, FL, with Nick's son Aaron.

And avoided too close a visit with this guy.

These are just a few pictures of our trip.  More later!

Catching Up and Belated Merry Christmas

Yup, I am a major slacker and I admit it.

First of all, I hope each and every one of you have had a wonderful holiday, and hope you have some great plans for New Year's, even if it's sitting at home and decompressing after the hustle and bustle of the past month.

Again, we traveled all over making 4 stops in New Jersey and one in Pennsylvania before heading for home.  We were happy to have been able to visit with so many relatives, and happy that we're now home.

So here is a bit of a picture round up of our Christmas


Obviously, our Christmas tree.  Cut down by you-know-who.

We drove to Jersey City on Wednesday evening.  On Christmas Eve, we drove to Mendham, NJ to celebrate with Jim's (son-in-law) family.

Phoebe and Chloe opening gifts.

Chloe with her "prized" Snow White doll.

On Christmas morning we celebrated with Jim, Beth, Chloe and Phoebe.

A happy Christmas baby!

Princess Chloe and Dad.

Just before noon we drove to Sayerville, NJ to see Nick's nieces and children.

Cousins Ali, Loren, Rachael and Emily.

Then after a two hour visit, on to South Jersey to visit my sisters and family.  And this, my friends, is when the picture taking seemed to come to an abrupt end for some reason.  But we had a great Christmas dinner with JoAnne, Michele, Jon, Adrienne and Kevin.  Not to mention the four-legged relatives Wally and Rocky.

The next day we drove to Lancaster, PA to visit Nick's brother Jerry, sister-in-law Christine and children, Stephanie, Amy and Daniel.  We were sorry to miss Eric.  There was some great music being played in the house by its members.  Just before leaving on Sunday, Jerry serenaded us with Christmas carols on his cello.

Off we drove for an 8 1/2 hour drive home.  As I said, we had a great time and were so happy to have seen so many of our relatives.

To be continued...hope all is well with each and every one of you!

Over the Weekend

After spending a few nights at my sister JoAnne's house, and having Thanksgiving at my sister Michele's house, we went to visit Nick's brother, Jerry, in Leola, PA, outside of Lancaster.  On Saturday morning, we went to the Central Market in Downtown Lancaster City.  A building full of booths full of crafts and food.

Although I didn't take a picture (I'm afraid I'd drool every time I looked at it) there was a booth full of homemade pastries and baked goods.  What caught my eye was a tray full of just made custard-filled doughnuts sprinkled with powdered sugar.  I came very close to buying one.

On to a very quick Jersey City stop on Sunday before heading home.  We dropped off Chloe's birthday presents and had a short visit.  It was Phoebe's nap time, so sadly no picture of her to show.  Believe me, she is once very sweet girl.  Nick did get a picture of Chloe and I.

And Chloe is one very sweet girl too!  Back to the real world for me.  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Catch Up

Here are a few pictures from travels with my sisters while they were here last weekend.  Sadly, no pictures of the three of us turned out.

Just above Texas Falls in Hancock.

The falls just above Queeche Gorge.

Glass blowing at Simon Pearce.

Throwing clay at Simon Pearce.Sorry, no pictures of us.  Maybe next time.  It was a wonderful day to go out and do some leaf peeping.

No special plans for the weekend, just a quiet one at home she says knowing that things can change at any minute!  Have a good one.

Union Square Farmer's Market

I traveled into NYC this past weekend with Beth and Phoebe to buy some things at the Union Square Farmer's Market.  As you'll see by the pictures, it is a spectacular sensory overload.  Anything you want, it's sold in this market.

 

It was in the mid 70's which made browsing through the market a real treat.  I hope to be able to get down there at least once more while everything is still abundant.

He's Home!

I picked up Nick last night in Rutland.  23 miles and this is why he had to stop.

Too many blisters to count.  Looks like he's got to get them healed before he can head out again.  We still have some good hiking weather ahead of us, so maybe it will be finished this year...she says with great hope!

Sunday Drive

So, today is the day that Nick went off into the wild to finish the 56 miles he has left to hike the Long Trail.

This is what it looked like at "ground zero" this morning.  All those packages are each days worth of food for 5 days. 
At 2:30 we left for Bennington, where Nick would pick up where the two of us left off a couple of years ago.  I hiked with him on the south end of the trail until we got to Rt 9 in Bennington.  It has taken him a few years to finish the 270 mile trail that runs the length of the Green Mountain State, Vermont.

Here's the happy boy as he gets ready to go.  It's 4:45 in the afternoon and he has a few hours to hike into the first shelter, hopefully.  Did I mention that I drove 2 1/2 hours down to drop him off and then turned around and drove 2 1/2 hours back home?  Oh, and that I'm on call 24/7 in case I have to go pick him up?  No different than driving in  a NASCAR race - you've got to have that crew in the wings to bail you out when you need it.