Seeing More of Delaware

NOTE TO ALL OUR FRIENDS WE HAVE CHIDED SO FAR THIS WINTER: IT IS COLD HERE TODAY and has been most of the week.

During this past week our friends Dave and Robin came to visit for a few days. It was wonderful having them here. We spent the time conversing and seeing some of the sites. Robin is a native of Delaware and so it was good to get her perspective even though she has not visited this part of the state much.

It has been pretty cold this past week and it was overcast and crusty on Monday so we decided to drive to Rehoboth and then to Dewey Beach. Well, since we were almost there we drove on down to Bethaney Beach and then to Fenwick and Ocean City. It was pretty amazing seeing all of the building that is taking place and it was particularly interesting to see the older historic places. We made a stop at the Life Saving Station and pondered being lost at sea and also wondered about the times the likes of Black Beard visited the area.

The first picture you see below is of the Fenwick Light. Not only does it mark the eastern border of the Mason-Dixon Line it is noted for its importance in providing warnings for the shipping lanes into Delaware and to the Chesapeake Bay.

The next picture was taken on Tuesday. It was a much clearer day but colder as is evidenced by Dave's coat and hood. Here he is trying to make out some of the structures along the coast line. He was also counting the ships.

Robin was also cold but not as covered up as Dave. She is looking out to sea in this picture. Take note here that she is no longer wearing her starter earrings. She is wearing the real things. (We graduated Monday night.)

This next picture is of the sand. It looked cold. The tide was high so we did not venture too very far at all. In fact, we stayed on the boardwalk above waves and sand.

The water was pretty although choppy. I seem to take a lot of these pictures hoping to someday capture a perfect wave.

George Ann

Have you ever tried to get a picture of an elusive cat? Georgie has been part of our family for almost 14 years now and getting a good picture of her is almost impossible. She is very shy except when it is time to eat and then we must pay strict attention to her. Pictures of her eating are not good pictures. Let me show some example of my latest efforts to photograph her:

"I will just turn my head this way!"

"This is a good time to turn and walk away."

"I will not hold my head up for you."

I was hoping to get a good picture and then to go on and tell about our latest adventure with her. Instead, we will just have to get along with regular old "I will not be photographed or seen" pictures.

George came to live with us in 1993 to be company for our dog Samantha or that was the logic used by our daughter to convince us we needed another pet. Sammie was 5 at the time and she and George developed a lifelong love-hate relationship. The dog was forever chasing the cat away and the cat was forever pestering the dog. But, when one was gone the other would cry or wait at the top of the stairs or by the door for the other's return. They were each jealous of the attention the other would get. This continued for over 12 years. Sam was 17 when we lost her. She left a huge hole in our hearts and in George's too.

Georgie is pretty smart and keeping a collar on her has been next to impossible whether it is a collar or a harness. In fact, when she was very young she figured out how to undo the dog's collar until we started getting Sammie collars that did not buckle. George can open almost any cabinet door and uses a cabinet as an excellent hiding spot.

George is getting older right along with the rest of us. When we started our cross-country move she was in the carrier right between us. Fortunately for all of us, Erica arranged to have George fly from Pocatello to Washington, DC with her. That was better for us and much better for the cat. When getting the certification we needed for George to fly we learned that she probably had diabetes. But we should wait until we were settled before proceeding with any treatment.

We started insulin treatments and hopefully this little cat will put on some much needed weight. She has been very loving since we moved here and since going on insulin she has gotten back her 'tude. That, I am not sure is a good thing.

Keep Checking Out the Area

Yesterday we decided to take a drive to Milford and Slaughter Beach. For some reason they seem so far away but they are only 10 miles from here. I think we are getting out of our "Oh, it's just 100 miles down the road" mode. Anyway, we need to learn more about this state that is only 100 miles long and 30 miles wide. We live in the southern most of the three counties. This county, Sussex, and the next one up, Kent, are often referred to as "slower Delaware" as opposed to "lower Delaware." I will have more on this as we learn more of the particulars. According to the 2000 census, Milford's population was 7,201 compared to Milton's 1,791. They have both grown since as is evidenced by the large numbers of new subdivisions in the entire area. Slaughter Beach's population in 2003 was listed at 203.

So, we drove first to Slaughter Beach because it sounded so ominous but is named after some guy whose last name was Slaughter. Maybe, there is some more we can learn about other place names like Murder Kill and Broad Kill. We are also scoping out more of the local beaches. Below is a picture of Bill walking up from a point on Slaughter Beach.

He says that he didn't like this beach as well. It is "shorter" or so he says. But, it is probably because there is not much open sea here. It is part of Delaware Bay.

We just drove around Milford to see what was there. There were a couple fast food restaurants. There is a lack of them in Milton. This is not bad. There were some other stores and businesses that we now know about and will visit as our needs dictate.

The next picture is of some plant life that is abundant here. These grasses grow very high and are protected in order to slow beach erosion. These were alongside the road. There are other grasses but these amaze me because they are so tall and whenever I see them there is either a marsh or a pond not far away.

Another Boomer Reaches 60 --

Sandy Turned 60 on Friday, Oh My!!

Oh my, I let Friday pass without wishing my dear old (figuratively) friend Sandy a "Happy Birthday!" Sandy, is another of my sorority sisters who has been in my life for a long while now. She was my maid of honor when I married.

(This picture was taken a couple of months after our wedding. I know that she would not like me to share a picture of her in the "lovely" bridesmaid dress.)

Through the years we have had some wonderful times chatting, laughing and I am so fortunate to have known Sandy's parents and to share with her some excellent times with them. They were always the most incredible hosts at their home in McCall.

Sandy was the world traveller among my friends. She had lived in many stations abroad when she was growing up and her tales always entertained and enlightened those of us who had barely made it to the next town. She has continued to love travel to places far and near. I am always in awe as she describes where she has been and what happened while she was there.

Like almost all of the friends I hold dear, "Sandra Teresa" has a wonderful sense of humor. She is not a "I Love Lucy" slapstick kind of person but she has a delightful sense of fun and frivolity. She is one whose laughter I can hear when I think of her.

What makes this person so special is that once I decided who she was, she has remained just that -- a friend to end. A friend who loves the arts, travel, good food, good wine, and good friends.

I am so proud of Sandy and what she has done. She is the Executive Director of the Idaho State Board of Nursing. It suits her, just as being a nurse at the Brigham in Boston suited her; just as being sorority president suited her; just as being the head ear piercer suited her. But, mostly, I am proud to call her "dear friend." To me, that suits her just fine.

Happy Birthday Sandy. I am sorry this is late. Hope you had a marvelous one and that we all have many more happy times together.

Thank you for being a friend.

Recycle the Tree and then to the Beach

Today we took the tired old Christmas tree to the recycling facility. It is on the edge of Cape Henlopen State Park. This is a beautiful area that has beautiful beaches, nature reserves, camps, walking and bicycle trails and holds much history of the area. We have learned that the park is very busy during the summer. However, it is really special during these down months. I hope that we get to go there more often and learn more of the history soon.

As you can see by this picture, it was a beautiful day. I can't believe that I was able to catch the seagull in flight. We did not walk too far since I still have to get used to walking in the deeper sand that you have to go through to get to the water. Even so, we did stroll along the beach and enjoyed the sun and surf.

Here are some more pictures that I took today.

Along the water's edge

The dunes

Shell and Seagull Tracks

Cape Henlopen Lighthouse

Distractions for the Tasks at Hand

It is really hard to keep on task when I look up and have the moon just shining in on me. This is especially true when the moon comes out around 5:00 p.m. I went out to the back steps to take this picture. I had a hard time staying still but if you notice the jiggly on the right side of the moon you might be able to see that it is an airplane crossing just as I was opening the shutter.

The new year is starting on a quiet note but not unlike so many new years past. We have devoted the larger portion of today and some of yesterday taking down the Christmas decorations, repacking them and putting them away safely until the next time they bring smiles and warm our hearts. We will bring them up starting around the December 1.

Tomorrow we will take the tree to Cape Henlopen where there is a conservation project going on to help with shore and beach erosion. It is a good way to dispose of the tree and it will give us an excellent excuse to spend some time at the beach. With the warm temperatures we have been having it should be quite comfortable.

Every year for the past few years we have purchased several poinsettias to place on my garden cart. We have tried numerous colors and combinations, purchasing seven or eight plants each year. This year when we went on the quest for the plants, I was quite interested in a hanging plant(s) and after thinking some on it decided to purchase the arrangement. I could clip out the hangers and put the ot on the garden cart. Not only was it less expensive but it would fill the cart better. We have been so pleased with the pot which holds several plants, at least seven, that we have decided to do the same next year. The single pot and its contents filled the cart beautifully.

Here is the arrangement today. It does look a bit tired but is still quite lovely. It will stay for a while now to remind us of the good holidays. However, all the other decorations are in their place and ready for their assignments next year.

Happy New Year!

Just a simple greeting for a joyous, productive and peaceful New Year. For just today I would like to share this from St. Francis of Assissi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Happy 2007

A Quiet Christmas

It is a rather gray day today. The wind is blowing a little and it is raining. We had planned to go to the beach but have decided to stay in and stay warm by the fire. Perhaps we will read a book or two, play a game or two, watch a movie or two or simply think about all of our blessings through the glow of the candles.

We are spending this, our first Christmas in Delaware, by ourselves. Yet, we have spent time today with family and friends through the telephone and email. It is not the same as being there but it is still good anyway. Erica and Geoff will join us next weekend.

This Christmas is the first without my mother. I thought yesterday how much I miss talking with her every Sunday on the telephone. I could almost recite verbatim what she would say in those conversations but they were still so special to me. I know that she and Dad are watching over all of us this holiday and that they are happy that we have all gone on to become the good people they raised us to be. I know that we are all pretty old ourselves but I remember Mom telling me once that she thought that she worried about us as much if not more once we turned 50. She would go on about how she wished that Connie would not work so hard, that Carol would not worry so much, and that Jack would always be just Jack. Lord only knows what she would wish for me. You know, it kinda makes you feel all warm inside knowing that someone really does or really did care that much about you.

What a wonderful gift we have all been given -- family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

31 Years Today --

Today is our 31st wedding anniversary. From the picture you can see that Bill had a lot less gray hair and I had a lot less of me. It was, however, a fine wedding held at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise, Idaho. There was much fun and frivolity on that day.

The day itself was very gray and dark because Boise was shrouded in an inversion layer and had been for sometime. It was so foggy that there were some who could not find their way to a post reception party. Bill and I were fortunate enough to get out of Boise the next morning for our honeymoon as a priority case. They were seeding clouds to break the fog and very few airplanes were able to take off then. We got out and had a wonderful 10 days in California and then Reno and Lake Tahoe.

These 31 years have seen us several places and this year it is in Delaware. Instead of going out for an anniversary dinner tonight we went out instead for an anniversary lunch to a place that has become our favorite in Lewes. We'll plan for a more dramatic celebration next year.

Thirty one years sometimes seems like an eternity but mostly it seems like it was just yesterday. The only problem is that we have gotten older, older together. There is something nice about that.

Another Birthday!!

Happy 60th!! Kathleen!! Another friend has reached the milestone. I do not have a picture available. They are all stored away in boxes that we have not unpacked yet. But, I do need to wish her a happy day anyway.

I have known Kathleen since we were freshmen in college. She was from Pocatello and I was from Blackfoot -- two eastern Idaho towns. When I look back at those times I often think about what was the magic formula for life long friendships like this one. She is a sorority sister -- that is one reason and the most apparent. However, Kath is one of those special friends you meet along way.

The most distinctive physical characteristic of her is her beautiful red hair. But, it is her being that is so memorable and special to me. Kath is one of the funniest and smartest people I have every known. She has an amazing ability to say the wrong thing at the right time. She also is married to an amazing man who has stayed by her side through thick and thin and then some.

Kathleen has been one of those friends who moves in and out of your life through the years. There was a long while when we did not see each other or even hear from each other but when we did or do see each other it is as though no time has passed between us. There is always a laugh, a smile, a hug and sometimes tears.

One of my fondest memories is when she called on a Sunday morning (fairly early) just a few years ago and asked, "Do you want to go shopping?" She was in Pullman and driving up to Spokane. When she arrived we went to Nordstrom and spent the entire day there. We shopped, had lunch and a few glasses of wine, and then shopped some more. It was a grand day! So, grand that Bill said that I had to have permission to shop with Kathleen again. We did go shopping again.

She came to be with me after I had my knee replacement. I don't think she will ever know how much that meant to me. I miss being just a couple hours away and having an occasional dinner outing with Kathleen and Gary. They are great fun, great company and most of all great friends.

Have a wonderful day Kath!! You deserve it.

We Were Brave

Awe, the trip to Cape Cod!! A special one it was. For you see, it was the time that Robin and I had agreed to do something special in honor of having turned 60 or thereabout. We got our ears pierced. Yes, it was the first time for each of us. Now you might wonder why someone would wait for so long to have this done. I am not sure why Robin had not had it done but I know why I have not had it done before now.

The story is not long but it one wrapped in a memory of "Yuck!" Around 40 years ago I was one of the observers when my sorority sister Sandy pierced my other sorority sister Terry's ears. That was in the days of ice, cork and thick needles. I don't remember Terry screaming or anything like that. I just remember being totally grossed out and deciding then and there that that was not something I would choose to do. It was further exaggerated when Terry developed allergies to the alloys in many of the earrings available. Her ears looked like they were going to fall off her head. But, she stuck with the program especially after her Dad got her some stainless steel posts and she still wears earrings.

Robin and I went to our appointment on Thursday and I have to admit that I almost backed out of the deal. So, I went first and yes it did hurt probably because I imagined it so. Robin was much braver. After a few weeks we will be able to wear the earrings we have gotten as gifts for our birthdays.

Here are pictures to prove that we got the job done.

See, there on my left ear lobe!!

Robin being very calm!

Cape Cod

Last Tuesday we drove from Delaware to Cape Cod to visit our dear friends Robin and Dave. They retired to the Cape last year and this was first time we have seen them in a couple of years. Robin is recovering well from emergency surgery right before Thanksgiving and it was so good to see them.

On Thursday we spent a wonderful day visiting light houses on the Cape. It was a brisk day to say the least but was still very interesting and fun. Here are some pictures of those lights. Be sure to check the links to learn more about the houses.

Chatham Lighthouse

Coast Guard

Nauset Lighthouse

Highland Light

Three Sisters in the Woods

Race Point Light

After viewing the lighthouses we went into Provincetown and had lunch. Provincetown is a very interesting place to visit. I hope to spend more time there at another time. The next picture is a funky downtown Christmast decoration found in Provincetown. This was created using lobster traps.

Christmas Decorations are Up

Once my birthday comes and goes, it is time to put up the Christmas decorations. For the last 10-12 years we have put the tree up around the 10th and we select the tree on Thanksgiving weekend. Now that we are in Delaware we might change that a bit. Most folks around here do not, or so it seems, put their trees up until at least the 15th which is what we used to do. In northern Idaho and eastern Washington people tended to rush the season a bit and of course we followed suit.

This year we selected a Frazier fir for our tree and after some discussion decided to put in the small living room where it is the focal point of the room and the house. After getting the tree set in its stand and centered, I put on the lights as I always do. Bill then put on most of the decorations as he always does. I unwrap them and make sure they are all together and then he puts them on the tree. This is always one of his favorite things to do. He will look at an ornament and say something like "Oh, I remember this one." And, he always says at least four or five times during the day "I just love doing this." He works on this for hours.

This is a picture of Bill putting the ornaments on this year's tree. Once he finishes this, we put the skirt around the base and I put some ribbon in appropriate spaces.

Here we have the stockings on the mantel. This too has a story. The fireplace here does not have a mantel and I could not have that. So, off we went to find some hang up shelving (block style). We found two desired shelves at Pier One and they fit perfectly. Of course, this is not a permanent fix but it works for the moment and looks pretty good if I say so myself.

The stockings are ones I made 31 years ago now. The one on the left is Bill's. It was the first that he ever remembered having. The middle one is mine. The one on the far right is for George Ann, the cat. Erica and Geoff are spending Christmas in New York so their's are not hanging here this year.

This is our snowman collection. We have picked up these little creatures here and there for several years now. There have been no entries to the collection this year but there is still time.

The guy with red earmuffs was the first entry and he came in 1978. We did not really get any others until about 1996 and have added faithfully since then. Some are gifts and some are from different places we have been.

It is fun to look at these characters and to see how many are still standing each morning when we get up. For it seems that no matter whether it is a dog or a cat, they love to walk through the setting.

I'll Keep the Title for While Anyway--

Today is the day that I am no longer 59. Yes, I made to 60 with this year with the likes of Dolly Parton, Cher, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and so many more. The first year boomers have almost all turned 60 now. It is not that I don't want to be 60 but I would like the year to last a little longer so for now I will keep the title of this blog.

First thing this morning I was greeted by Bill with a lovely gift and birthday card. He usually does a great job in picking cards but I have to say that I am a bit miffed by his selection this year --

Really, I ask, is it necessary to have a numbered card on such an occasion? I think not! But, he had a good laugh at my expense.

This will be a quiet birthday. We will go out for dinner tonight. Tomorrow we will decorate our Christmas tree and then next week we will drive to Cape Cod where my friend Robin and I will have our ears pierced in honor of turning 60 this year.

Happy Birthday John -- We Made It!!

It is a special thing to be able to share a birthday. It is especially nice when that person is an old friend who was born on the same day of the same year. We were born on December 7, 1946 -- Pearl Harbor Anniversary babies.

I first met John (he's the one in the middle) shortly before Bill and I were married. He had been Bill's friend for several years by then and he served as one of the ushers in our wedding.

John has been a good friend through the years. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is always trying to pull one over on Bill. He also recently retired and is enjoying his projects and riding his motorcycles.

Over the years we have made every effort to somehow celebrate our birthdays together. Granted it has sometimes been on a totally different date but when we have been able to be together it has been a fun time for all of us -- John, Carolyn, Bill and I. This year we will not be able to celebrate together but we did spend some special time in November when Bill and I stayed with them at their new home in Boise. We look forward to them joining us sometime next year to celebrate here on the east coast.

Have a wonderful day John and we will toast your 60th tonight!

Milton and Lewes

As can be seen in the pictures that are included in this posting, Milton and Lewes are definitely older incorporated areas than we have lived in before. The pictures do not really show how old some of the buildings are and it is hard to get that perspective with the camera. The buildings are so close together and the streets are so narrow that is difficult to show. We are so new here that we have have not gotten into the history as we should. Some points to note here: 1) Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution (thus the designation, The First State) on December 7, 1787; 2) Lewes was founded in 1631 is recognized as the The First Town in the First State; 3) Milton also has a long history (founded in 1672) and is know for shipbuilding in its early days. We look forward to learning more about the pirates who visited Lewes as well as how the various wars of the Republic's early days impacted Milton.

This house is just one many that line the main streets here in Milton. As you can see they are placed very closed to the street and are also not very deep. This is possibly a townhouse by looking at the two entrances but the bay window might indicate a conversion to a single family dwelling.

I took this picture to give you some idea of how narrow the street is. I am directly across the street from the house and cannot get it all in the frame. The street, by the way, is the main street in Milton.

When I see old house like this I wonder who has lived there and what ran in the imaginations of those who lived there. I like the roof and window lines of this house.

I should probably note that we took these pictures on November 30 and it was over 70 degrees outside.

Just to get some perspective, this picture was taken looking straight up the street. It is disappointing in that it does not begin to show the uniqueness of the buildings or their historic impact. But, you can get an idea of just how narrow the street is -- only wide enough for one lane in each direction with no parking. You would definitely have to yield to a large truck.

We had lunch in Lewes on the day these pictures were taken. Lewes is so quaint and it is fun to walk around there. However, the tourist trade is a little too evident here. On winter days it is not so evident but it is hard to find a parking space and there is no doubt that the tourist or wealthy part time resident are the target market.

That said, Lewes is wonderful and we had a great lunch. We will have many more days to ponder and discover the whole area we now call home.

Arriving in Delaware

We left Arlington on the 21st and drove over the Bay Bridge from Annapolis. Bill was so excited to see the Chesapeake Bay. After crossing the bridge (a long one it is) we felt closer and closer to where we should be. However, it seemed like we would never get to where we were supposed to be. I am still having trouble with the ocean being to my east and not to my west. Besides, the road markers change here as the direction changes. For example, we were on 5-E yesterday and all of a sudden it became 5-N and we had not made any turns. This is going to take some getting use to. Eventually we made it to the house. The mover had called on Sunday and said that he would deliver on Tuesday and then on Monday he called and said that another delivery would delay him until early Wednesday. Lucky for us we were equipped with pillows and linen and there was a bed for us to sleep on once we arrived.

The day we arrived the weather was beautiful. The next day just as the mover arrived we were hit by a torrential downpour which last all day long. Needless to say it was a rather wet and somewhat unorganized unload because of the weather. The van was eventually unloaded and Bill and I were faced with a sea of boxes. So, we went out to find some lunch and got lost for the third time. It is not hard to do but is a bit ridiculous. I guess we are not used to these country roads.

Thursday was Thanksgiving and we unpacked a little before heading back to Arlington where we enjoyed the holiday with Geoff and Erica and several of their friends. It was a wonderful day.

We got a late start back on Friday. Bill, Erica and I are all still fighting the cold we brought back from Idaho. Thursday night was also a late one for all of us -- playing Trivial Pursuit until almost 1:00 am. Anyway, after a long search and and eventual capture, we rounded up George (the cat who flew back with Erica from Idaho) and headed back to Delaware. The trip was uneventful but twice as long as normal for the traffic back up on the bridge was 1:45 long.

George has settled right into to her new surroundings. She seems quite content to wander around and not be anywhere near a carrier or small room. We continue to unpack. Major progress was made today and we even made it to the beach. I will remember to take the camera with me the next time we go to the beach.

Today was a beautiful day -- in 70's. It is hard to believe that it is almost December and we should be thinking about our Christmas tree. We usually get it Thanksgiving weekend but because it is so warm we decided to wait a few more days.

Arriving in Delaware -- Pictures

View of the bay from the Bay Bridge

More of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (Delaware side)

Delaware countryside

A Delaware irrigation sprinkler

Home at last

House at sunset

Sunset in Delware -- with a longing eye to the west

Six States, One Day

We arrived in Arlington last night around 7:00. Twas a good thing because we were both fried. Going across country should either be done at a much more rapid pace or at a significantly more leisurely pace. The country is beautiful, stark and has so many things to see. But, time prevents seeing much even when going as slowly as we have gone.

Yesterday we were in six states (equivalent to one Kansas or Wyoming). Granted, the start in Indiana was at its eastern border. We entered Ohio almost immediately after leaving Richmond. For being such an industrial state, Ohio has some very beautiful open spaces and farms. Many of the farms are Amish. The road took from Ohio into Wheeling, West Virginia where we had lunch. Again, this is a beautiful area but it is evident that life can be hard or has been hard in these areas. Not soon thereafter, we entered Pennsylvania. We listened to the Steelers-Brown game all the way through the state. We once again entered West Virginia at the top of the Cumberland Gap and followed it through Maryland. By the time we time we reached Virginia it was dark and we were ready to get out of the car.

On this road trip from coast to coast we have seen a whole lot of country. It is hard to say what is the most beautiful area -- the Cascades in their magnificence, the high mountain desert, the Rockies from the rear view mirror, the plains, the rolling hills of Ohio and Pennsylvania, or the Cumberland Gap. All are splendid. The first on our agenda to revisit will be the Cumberland Gap which not only is beautiful but bears some the greatest history and lore of the nation.

Today it was rest. We were both in much need. Tomorrow we go to Milton and start the next leg of this new adventure of ours.

Indiana to Virginia -- Pictures

Ohio farm

More Ohio farmland

Ohio rest stop

"Hello" and "Good Bye, Columbus" through the rain

Heading toward West Virginia

More Ohio countryside

We could actually pass a whole truckload of Corvettes

Almost didn't catch this sign

Self explanatory

Heading to Cumberland, Maryland

The Cumberland Gap in late afternoon

The Cumberland Gap and clouds

We will come back here to visit