Summer is Gone

It has been a few weeks since I last posted. I have been going through one of the phases when I allow boredom to seep into my pores. I really have no reason for this except that it almost always happen during summer. I have always liked the fall and being here in Delaware has not changed that. Gone are the stifling hot last days of summer and first days of autumn. The first really cooling storms have come and after the storms the days have been extraordinarily clear. The season's change was special for us this year as we were fortunate that our friends Terry and Ray ventured to Delaware from Oregon for a visit. Then a week after their visit, our friends Robin and Dave came from Cape Cod. What a boost to my physic those visits were.

Autumn has come to Delaware. We are not into peak color but that will be in a few short days. I love to load Bentley and the camera into the car and travel around the back roads. I take picture after picture of stuff, mostly trees and come home and look at the pictures and say to myself, "Not too bad."

Here are some photos of the first of such outings. These were taken earlier this week. I hope to be out on Sunday when the changes will be more obvious. I also have to force myself to be more inclined to go out in the morning light, much nicer water scenes then.

The Broadkill River at Milton Memorial Park

Different angle of the same area

Wagamons Pond – sun too bright to show depth of color

There will be more later as I travel around Sussex Country and more.

Old Friends

"Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."

These words from what was for me an old Brownie Scout round ( I am almost certain I have referred to it before in this blog) always come to mind when something special like contact with a special friend happens. This week the refrain has been going through my head almost constantly. First we receive the annual Valentine from our friends Terry and Ray. These valentines are among the most eagerly awaited greetings we receive during the year. This year was no exception. The special cards, always crafted by Terry, are beautiful but I like receiving the news of the family . Yes, I am one who enjoys most of the holiday letters because it is the one time during the year that our circle catches up with each other.

Just a couple of days later we received a "Winter Greetings" letter from old friends Ed and Sharon. The day before my old friend Shelia (that's the correct spelling) called and said she would be driving up our way on Wednesday and wondered if she could see us. She arrived Wednesday afternoon shortly after her arrival I got a phone call from my dear friend Robin. She called to let us know her third grandchild, a girl, was born early in the day. How wonderful is that?

Shelia stayed until this morning. She and her husband Ron are dear college friends from Idaho State. She is a sorority sister. They have lived in North Carolina a long while now and they always seemed so far away. Now we are under a day's drive from each other. Shelia and I headed out yesterday morning for a look/see of the area. But first I needed to make a stop at a wonderful soup kitchen. I will write about this another time. Then we drove through the town of Rehoboth Beach for her to get a flavor of our most famous beach town, then on down the coast to Assateague Island. Yes, I had to go there again. That was OK because Shelia loves the beach and she loves horses. It was so peaceful down there yesterday. Most of the ponies were on a point inaccessible by car and quite possibly by foot. We did see a few ponies and managed to get some great close up pictures of two who were quietly munching away in separate access points.

I think I will keep my "golden friends."

Good Day Despite the News

We were fortunate to have our good friends Robin and Dave to visit for a couple of days. Yesterday we drove down to Assateague Island to see the wild ponies and the seashore. This trip we first drove to Chincoteague which is on the Virginia side of the island. We saw this lone pony in a marsh alongside the road. There were other ponies but they were mostly in the trees and very hard to see. This pony seems to be enjoying some down time now that the summer population has gone home and there are just a few campers and visitors.

In this picture you can see the Atlantic from the Visitors' Center. The sky looks a little ominous here but that is how it has been for a few days now. Perhaps a reflections of the grim news in the financial world.

It was then onto a brief visit of the Assateague Island Light House. It was commission by Congress in 1855. It is going through some much needed renovation. When I near one of these old sentinels my mind sets to wondering about the days when these beacons were manned. There had to be some amazing stories. We went from here back into the town of Chincoteague and had a late lunch at a place call Bill's. We all thought that appropriate.

Then it was time to go and see if we could find some ponies on the Maryland side of the island. That trip is over 20 miles because there is no through access on the island. When we were last here there were lots of folks taking in the nature trails and just walking the beach. This time there were few in trails area, more on bicycles and lots of campers in the designated areas along the beach. It was getting on in the afternoon and we had still not clearly seen a group of ponies. We drove clear around the National Park Area and missed the trail area we spied ponies in during our last visit. Mind you, we saw lots of evidence ponies had left behind but still not seen a group of real live horses. We drove through the park and back around and with the gracious assistance of the ranger at the entry station we got to trail the we had sought. We parked the car and started out on the trail down to the marsh. We dodged evidence all the way but it was worth it because some of the ponies were right next to the wooden walk.

I had the longer lens on the camera by this time so the horse in this picture looks closer than it was. The three guys on the opposite side of the water were trying to net something.

You can see in this picture how close these ponies were to the boardwalk. I think there were three more horses in the group that are not in this picture.

While on our last trip to Assateague, Bill's grand-niece Rebecca adopted a pony named Rosie. It is a pinto and looks much like this one. I need to research this a little and see if this might be Rosie. The next couple of pictures are some close-ups that could not have been taken if I had not been so close to the ponies. We were close enough to touch them which is illegal to do. It was awesome to be that close.

It was very enjoyable making this trip down the coast and sharing it with such good friends.

The marsh as the sun is taking its position in the late afternoon sky.

Another Delaware Experience

Saturday Bill and I went with friends to the 53rd Annual Blue-Gold All-Star Game in Newark at Delaware Stadium. We left at 3:00 p.m. and returned home about 1:00 a.m. (These old bones are not often awake at that hour these days.) My friend Robin was born and raised in Delaware but has never attended the game. She said that we are truly fitting in because the game has always been a big activity in the State. The game itself is the culmination of months of activities involving high school all-stars and "Delawareans with intellectual disabilities." The all-stars are matched with "buddies" several months in advance of the game and they then spend that time getting to know one another.

To tell you just how big this activity is you can see with the above photo the Governor of Delaware, Ruth Ann Minner being introduced. She is followed by Lt. Governor John Carney, U.S. Senator Tom Carper and U.S. Representative Mike Castle. I am sure that U.S. Senator Joe Biden would have been there if he had not been appearing Sunday morning on Meet the Press. There were other dignitaries but with all of the introductions and festivities it was hard to keep track.

All-Star Band

Delaware Shining Stars and All-Stars, Special Needs Cheerleaders

All-Stars and "Buddies" Meeting at Center Field

In addition to the All-Star football players, there were All-Star cheerleaders, an All-Star band, Blue-Gold Ambassadors and, of course, the buddies and their All-Star groups. All of the All-Star seniors were recognized. The most inspiring moments came following all of the introductions and presentations. That was when all of the buddies came onto to field and joined their "All-Star."

The game was excellent. The half-time was good. The weather was almost perfect. It was all topped off with fireworks.

Happy Birthday Dave!!

Our great old friend Dave is having a special birthday today! Dave is a retired member of the US Forest Service. He loves puttering around outside and is a devoted spouse to Robin and father to Nathan and Rachel and their spouses. He newest loves are his grandson Luke and new granddaughter Lily. Dave is a wonderful friend and we a blessed to have him in our lives. Today is his Medicare birthday. Congratulations, you made it old man.

Just Some This and That

Not much happening here on the streets of Milton. Oh, there was an auction for the Historical Society on Saturday. That was a good event with a party tent set up on a lot on Union Street. That was a fun time. The first couple of hours were devoted to snacks and drinks and the silent auction items. GREAT SILENT AUCTION items. Lots of historical books, pictures, antiques, items from local merchants, other gift bags. The live auction was also good with an antique tractor as the featured item. I took some pictures but with dwindling daylight they are not the best to offer up to you today.

It has cooled down enough to be comfortable outside. Today is windy and overcast but it is still pretty nice. The leaves are slowly starting to change with new trees dropping their follage already. The focus of the farm stands has moved from the delicious sweet corn that is here all summer to squash and winter vegetables and mums. Everywhere there are mums. I will be forced to come up with some this week.

Our friends Dave and Robin will be visiting later this week. It is always a good time when they come -- not raucus laughter but good, comfortable friends. We are looking forward to the visit and their tour of the local brewery (more to come in a couple of weeks).

Once again this past week I was reminded of how fragile life is when I learned of the death of a high school friend. He was lost his life in a motorcycle accident. We are not that old but there are fewer and fewer of us.

Then, on a happier note, one of my childhood friends is with her husband, her two dogs and her two cats on their first extended trip in their new RV. The wonder of the internet keeps her touch with the rest of the world. We have heard from them from Northern Idaho, the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia and now Lake Chelan in the Northern Cascades. They plan to be out for about six more weeks. Today I received an email asking to keep her up on the news since television and radio reception has been so intermittant. How fun is that? Note: She has internet but wants me to send the news. Must be the same as me. It is hard to read on the computer screen.

A Few Days Away

Mother's Day weekend was a busy one. We drove over to Washington, D. C. on Saturday and went with Geoff and Erica and Geoff's family on what was to be a tour of a couple of the EU Embassies. The event was so popular that we could not get into the Danish Embassy until later than we could stay. We then went to the French Embassy where we had an excellent lunch. It was a very warm day but it was enjoyable seeing parts of Washington we had not seen before. It really is a beautiful city. Sure there are real trouble spots and falling down areas but it seems to be improving in those areas also. Still, it is a wonderful place to visit.

Saturday night we went to a concert by the band that Erica plays in. This was the second concert we have attended of DCDD's Capitol Pride Symphonic Band. It is a great band and was an enjoyable evening. When Erica first started playing with this band we asked her why? She told us because she didn't have to audition and they played awesome music.

Erica and Geoff took us to brunch on Mother's Day. We went to the Mansion on O. What an eclectic place!! What excellent food!! This is the place where E & G got married three years ago now. It is such and adventure going to the O. All in all, a great day.

We headed home Sunday afternoon and Monday we took the Cape May -- Lewes Ferry to Cape May, New Jersey. We spent the next two days in Avalon, New Jersey with our dear friends Dave and Robin and Dave's brother Dan and his wife Pam. We stayed in a house right at the beach and enjoyed the down time immensely. You caught that I said beach somewhere in this paragraph? Yes, Bill was in 7th Heaven. He went on several walks and collected shells we didn't need.

We took the ferry back home yesterday and now are settling in for our next period of "not much going on."

Here are some pictures we took of the trip to New Jersey. I did not get any embassy or other DC shots (just a couple of Bill and Hillary's house).

Delaware Breakwater Light from Harbor Side

Ferry Coming In from New Jersey

A View of the Beach from the Deck

Sunrise at the Beach

She Leads the Way

One year ago today my friend, old friend and sorority sister, Terry published in her blog that she turned 60 that day. She told us about many of those famous/infamous folks who also turned 60 in 2006. She went onto say that as the first of the "boomers" we have seen some rather incredible things in our lifetimes. I viewed that post as "This is Our Year" with April 5 being the start of the year because Terry was the first of my "boomer" friends to turn 60. There will be more on the others later in this post but for now I think I will share a few thoughts on Terry. This intro picture is not the best picture in the world but it shows the joy of the day and the year on Terry's face. I love the smile.

Terry entered my life in 1965. She was a year ahead of me in school. Like some of those in other posts I have written of this past year, Terry is a sorority sister. So, the first life long bond. One of the most fun memories of Terry was when she and Sandy invited Patty and me to their dorm room for a party in honor of "Monday 'K'night." I cannot do the events of the evening justice here but suffice it say that other folks on the floor thought we were particularly weird. Terry has been blessed with a tremendous sense of humor and deep contagious laugh. She enjoys life. And, as such, she has blessed us all.

I have never been an artist. I can do some pretty crafty things but a designer I am not. That is not true for Terry. She is a gifted artist and has become quite well known for textile art. I love seeing her projects develop and come to completion. Yes, and there is a little envy from these quarters when I see a finished project of hers. You know, I take a little pride in saying I know that artist when I see she has an entry in a juried show or there is a photo of her work somewhere.

Through the years Terry and I have stayed in touch the usual ways but we also have had some periods where we lived fairly close to each other. Her calm and quiet husband Ray has always been a favorite. Her children are just older than Erica and when they were younger we spent some family holidays together. It has been one of those friendships that is always there whether there is a physical presence or not.

"The devil made me do it," but I just had to put in this picture from 31 years ago. Terry was expecting her daughter Emily. Well, two weeks ago Emily and her husband Cayo became parents of a beautiful baby girl. So, in this 60th year, Terry became a grandmother. What a wonderful birthday present and a wonderful way to end a momentous year!!

Thanks Terry for leading the way for the rest of us souls who turned 60 in the last 365 days. All of our lives have changed in this year. Besides getting grayer, rounder and slower there have been lots of reasons to celebrate and some more serious times. Many of us have retired or will be retiring by the end of the current school year. Several have moved to retire. We celebrate the future.

So, cheers to all of us -- TERRY, Ron, Carolyn, John, Carolyn (2), Mary Ann, Kathleen, Susan, Bob, Vickie, Betty, Sandy, Robin, Krause, Nancy, Joan, Mary and Mary (2). There are a lot of us, childhood, college, family and work friends who are now 60. So many, in fact, I cannot remember all who are but this I know, WE ROCK!! or at least we like to think we do.

From upper right and clockwise: Robin, Susan, Sandy, Carolyn, Betty, Mary Ann, John and Carolyn (with apologies to Susan, Mary Ann & Betty if I rushed the day).

Happy Birthday Old Friend!!!!

Today is my best friend Robin's 60th birthday. Good for you, you made it!!

Robin and I have been friends for 23 years now. So, you can see that we were not childhood or college friends. We first got acquainted when our children, her son Nathan and my daughter Erica, were in the first grade in Crescent City, California. Our children, including Robin's older daughter Rachel, became fast friends and we discovered that we were truly "kindred spirits."

That "kindred spirit" thing manifested itself very clearly one Saturday afternoon when we played Trivial Pursuit with other friends. I cannot remember the question but at precisely the same time both Robin and I started singing the same song. The song, mind you, was from an obscure operetta that each of us had participated in junior high or high school. The scary thing about this was that Robin went to school in Delaware and I went to school in Idaho.

Our families participated in many activities together and our friendships grew. Bill, Erica and I left Crescent City when Nate and Erica had just completed the fifth grade. A lot of time and a tremendous amount of changes have passed since then but remain we all remain very close. In fact, Robin and I still speak to each other on the every Sunday. Pretty good for a couple of old broads now separated by a continent.

This picture is one taken in February 2005 at the rehearsal dinner for Nathan and his bride Michelle. We journeyed from Washington State to the Napa Valley for the festivities. Erica flew in from Washington, DC and Rachel and her husband Joel came from Massachusettes. It was a happy time for all and was the first time we had all been together since the year before when Robin, Dave and Rachel joined us in Washington, DC for Erica's wedding to Geoff.

So, you can see by this that we have gotten pretty tight over the years. Our children all headed off to the east coast for college -- Rachel to Smith, Nate to West Point, and Erica to Johns Hopkins. We have wonderful memories of those children calling us on the first Thanksgiving dinner they prepared together. We (Robin & Dave and Bill &I) might as well have been there for we all received at least hourly phone calls on what had to be done next.

I could write volumes on what has been a wonderful friendship but I just want to let Robin know how special she is and to let her know that I am looking forward to a point in the next couple of months when I meet her Orleans, Mass. so that we can get our ears pierced (Yes, the first time for both of us) in honor of our 60th year.