Three Years Today!

Giving thanks this week, must also include the tremendous gratitude and love I have for all the lovely friendships I have made by writing Ms Graysea......we are three years old today!!
This is not always the happiest place to be, especially in the last year, but it is a place where I have received such wonderful encouragement and inspiration.

May you all enjoy a very Happy Thanksgiving!! I am off to finish the preparation for a lot of baking tomorrow night!

For Kristi! Part I

Our first day driving the Skyline Drive in Virginia. One of the many dramatic overlooks where we stopped to admire the view. A little walk along the Otter River with Daddy

On our third night out we had a lovely stopover with David and Ron in Fairview, NC near Asheville and you met your funny and sweet new friend, Sophie!

We finally reached FL and on the 2nd day there you learned how to make pumpkin pie with Anne. It was delicious!

At long last we arrived at Discovery Cove on the day you waited for so long. In a few short hours we all swam with the dolphins and your dream came true! More pictures soon.

Pix from the Road....Day 1

I've been trying to post photos for days but Blogger has been most uncooperative.
We drove in the moonlight for a number of hours as we set out on the road. Beautiful!
Crossing the Hudson River at Newburgh, NY

Kristi got a kick out of all these pigeons lined up on a light pole.

Our first rest stop, just over the PA border.

LM and Kristi having a walk

Not so interesting, really, but Ms K will be reading this and I promised!

I feel like I am finally catching up with myself, and have just come home after spending a lovely evening last night and day today with LM and Ms G....she sends her regards but says she likes where she is very much, that opinion is definitely swayed by the fact that she is having constant attention and loving, not to mention all the treats she wants. I don't stand a chance!

I have so much to catch up on here and will do it as I can. Lots to do before the holiday. We will be having dinner with my brother, Sam and family and my daughter, Sara and family, and son, Jason and family will join us as well.

What will you be cooking?? You know me, I am always curious about what other people are cooking and eating.

Last butnot least....the wonderful car which took us almost 3700 miles!! VW Routan.

Home Again

Yesterday afternoon just after 3 pm......the Bourne Bridge provided us a lovely welcome back to Cape Cod. We'd spent Monday night in Ramsey, NJ with friends and got on the road at 11 am. By 4:30 pm we had the car completely unpacked, Kristi home to Centerville and we were in awe of all we experienced and ready to sit down over dinner and unwind, we both found ourselves hurrying, though, as we could not wait to get back to LM's house to reconnect with Ms. G. In the past when I have left her, she has given me the royal snub upon my return, but it was not 10 minutes after we sat in the living room last night that she appeared with a flourish of chirps and purrs and displays of profuse love.....we were both in tears. Sitting down also made me realize that I was REALLY tired and better hit the road to my house. Saying good-bye to LM after two weeks of being next to each other every minute, was pretty painful. This trip with Kristi, brought us to a new level in our love, and it made parting full of sweet sorrow. The need for sleep superceded it all and I was home in a flash and never so happy to be in the comfort of my own bed. With a heart and mind full of gratitude and beautiful images, I drifted off to sleep, missing LM's presence, but happy knowing he was home in his comfy bed cuddled with Ms G.

There are so many wonderful pictures to share and promise to get them up as soon as possible. Right now, it is so nice to have a day off to put everything away, take a walk, and get some groceries. Road food has caught up with me and I cannot wait to acquire some beautiful greens, veggies and fruit to get back on a healthier eating path.

The new header photo was taken on a dock at Chincoteague, VA on the last evening of our stay there, Nov 15. It is a beautiful magical place which was recently devastated by the tropical storm, Ida. As we toured there, we saw humanity at its best, recovering and resilient, going on with life after losing so much. We were very inspired, and happy we didn't cancel that part of our trip due to the storm.

Beauty Beauty Everywhere....Hello from Chincoteague VA

Some Chincoteague ponies who just happen to live at the Lovely Refuge Inn on Chincoteague Island, where we have been staying the past two days. Fortunately for us, these ponies live at our inn, because the main focus of our trip out here was to see ponies in the wild, but, their habitat, Assateague Island, was so devastated by "Ida" an extra-tropical storm which struck the mid-Atlantic states last week, that the refuge is closed. There has been a lot of damage here....flooding, and trees down, as well as beaches washed away. Nonetheless, we have enjoyed every minute of our two days here and had some wonderful meals of local seafood. Kristi and I had some fun time shopping today, and she found a few more gifts for family and friends. The trip out here to the island was fascinating. Crossing the Chespeake bay via the Bridge/Tunnel, as the aftereffects of the storm were kicking up huge waves and spume. There were many huge tankers and container ships in the bay and we saw fishermen braving the weather to fish off a separate bridge. This evening we were mesmerized and enchanted by this spectacular sunset. Just as beautiful as one I saw here more than 25 years ago in another life. As many of you know, the main focus of this long trip was to take Kristi to swim with the dolphins in Orlando, so when I got back to our inn this evening and downloaded the photos, I was totally amazed to see that the pier silhouetted by the sunset, was embellished with dolphins. A magic moment. I was so focued on photographing the sunset, that I never saw the leaping dolphins!

Tomorrow morning, very early, we are off to catch the car ferry (looking forward to the 80 minute ride across Delaware Bay) to Cape May, NJ, have a look round there at some world famous architecture, and then head to Woodbury, NJ to visit the Gloucester County Historical Society to discuss a painting which LM recently inherited. Should be interesting. After that, we head to Ramsey, NJ to stay with friends over night before the final leg of this magical journey.

There are so many other facets of the trip to tell you about and illustrate with photos, but that must wait until I am home. We've done so much and seen so much in two short weeks.

Thanks for all the nice comments wishing us well! Home to Ms G on Tuesday.

Observing Veterans' Day Florida Style

Our incredible vacation continues here at Anne's house in FL. Two more days before we hit the road again. Yesterday's venture to Orlando and our swim with dolphins was just amazing. Kristi's dream came true, and then some. We all swam with the largest dolphin at Discovery Cove, Capricorn. Effects from hurricane Ida were supposed to cause t-storms and rain all day, but by some wonderful happenstance, we had sunshine and perfect temperatures. The heavy rain and wind did come, but not until we were safely back at Anne's and could sleep to the sound of the rain. Heaven!

It's Veteran's Day today and surprisingly, Florida students do not have the day off, they go to school and participate in a special day-long program of education about the service all veterans have given to our country through the years. There are commemorations in local parks, all attended by students. Really a wonderful program. Given the day off, students would most likely be at the mall or playing computer games. This way, Veterans' Day is what it is all about.

Today is a day of rest and maybe visiting Anne's office to meet her co-workers, with a little shopping thrown in, and tonight we will take Anne and David out to dinner to thank them for their incredibly generosity during our visit.
Tomorrow is the day we take Kristi to Busch Gardens in Tampa. She can hardly contain her excitement. Us, too! White tigers, alligators, fun rides, etc await.

Friday we will be on the road again until Tues, Nov 17. Along the way back we will stay in North Carolina, see the Outer Banks, and spend several days in Chincoteague, VA, and see the wild ponies.

A lovely sojourn so far!

From Florida, Day 6

Hello everyone....we arrived at daughter, Anne's on Saturday evening and are really enjoying the warmth. We swim with the dolphins tomorrow, although there may be some delays due to the effects of hurricane Ida.
Here are a few teasers until I have time to write more. Everything has been perfect so far and Kristi is having the time of her life meeting new friends, 4-legged and otherwise, and we are making the most of every minute.
Theo has been entertaining us since we arrived here! More fun to come from him. Bella asking for treats...caught mid-squeak....yes, she squeaks, does not meow!

LM being mauled with pug love in North Carolina!

Krisit and I fording a stream...the Otter River. Along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC...

Lot's more to come.