I took a little break....and now I'm back...

This past week, DH and I took a little trip down to the Chesapeake area of Virginia. Jim had an appointment in Virginia Beach, and I went along. Our grandson Randy is stationed in the Navy in Norfolk, so it didn't take much convincing to get me to visit.

While there, we spent a lot of time with Randy and got to see his new apartment.
His new bride Beth had to work most of the time we were visiting, but she enjoyed the Bride's Box that I painted for her as a wedding gift. I was worried about her reaction. I shouldn't have been.

Besides just hanging out together, we spent time sightseeing. I am reading Chesapeake, by James Michener, and since we were in the vicinity, I wanted to go see Jamestown. We also visited the Cape Henry lighthouse at Fort Story. When we checked out the lighthouse, we had no idea it was on an Army base. The security we had to go through in order to get onto the army base to see the lighthouse was an experience in itself.

Here are some pictures - not in any particular order... of our visit...starting with the Bay Bridge tunnel.

Sand Dunes at Virginia beach..

Jim, my DH, walking up the steps to get to the entrance to the Cape Henry lighthouse. There were over 64 steps.....

The exterior of the ancient lighthouse. I can't imagine having to lug all these stones up to the top of the hill where the lighthouse stands.

On the way home we stopped in Cape Charles, Virginia. It's a sleepy little town that is full of charm, a place for summertime visitors..yet it was not at all crowded. Here is something I learned about the Chesapeake Bay.... If you click on the picture, you can read the words...

And an Osprey couple at Cape Charles I couldn't resist....

Another picture of a lighthouse at Cape Henry....

Do you think the Navy has made Randy a bit of a neatnik? I couldn't resist taking this photo of their shoes all lined up inside by their front door.

The beach at Virginia Beach....very 'duney' and natural. So pretty and peaceful. The beaches were wide and deserted of bathers.

The sign at the entrance to the Old Cape Henry lighthouse, the nation's first.

And last but not least....our sailor...Randy, and yours truly...known to Randy as "Mimi". We're so proud of him..so very young, and he has already done one tour of duty in the Persian Gulf.



So long till next time Sailor! Job well done!

Eight or Sixteen (or more) Random Facts Meme

I've been tagged twice today to do a "meme" ..... by Nina of Nature Remains as well as by Mary C. from Mary's Corner of the World.

I haven't done this before, so I hope I do this right. Here are the rules for Eight Random Facts Meme:

Players start with 8 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their blog about 8 things, then post these rules. At the end of the blog they must choose 8 people to get tagged and list their names, then leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged, and to read your blog. Because I've been tagged "twice" today, I'll bend the rules a bit and leave 16 little-known facts about me. I hope this isn't too boring folks!

OK....after much thought... "drum roll"............here are the exciting (not) facts about little old me.

I am the youngest in a family of 4, two boys and two girls.
I am the only one who never smoked, thanks to my older sister giving me a puff when I was about 7. Never again, thankyou! ;-)

I always wanted to be a nurse when I grew up. But instead I married my
high school sweetheart and gave up that dream. I do regret not having gone to college.

I can roll my tongue. It's a genetic trait.

I've lived 5 miles from the ocean on each coastline of the USA 2 separate times in my adult life...starting in New Jersey and ending up in California.

When my children were small, I used to make my own jams and grow my own vegetables. I rarely cook now.

In my family tree, I am related to President James Monroe on my mother's side.

My maternal ancestors arrived in this country when the Dutch settled here in 1634.

I love to paint and wish I had more leisure time to do it. I started out as a decorative painter and am now moving towards painting on canvas....oils, acrylics, beginning watercolors.

I am math-challenged when it comes to algebra, probably one reason why I do not have a college degree - since it is a prerequisite for getting into school. I am sure I would love most all the college courses *except* math.

I had to wear orthodontic braces twice in my life -- once as a young teen and again as an adult.

I have a 20-year old grandson in the US Navy, stationed in Norfolk, VA.

My daughter turns 40 on Monday. GASP!!!!!

I used to sew my own clothes.

I taught myself to read when I was about 4 years old, thanks to my older siblings showing me how to make words with alphabet blocks.

I can knit and crochet and I love to hand-quilt, but I haven't quilted in awhile.

I can still take shorthand. Does that ever date me?!!!!

I can make my own bar soap from scratch... not the kind from a kit.

I never learned how to swim. I can do the doggie paddle, that's all.