Livin' the Dream

ANTICIPATION

2012-02-12T15:42:00.008-05:00

A view of Antigua

A NC Beach view.

12 February 2012

There are two events coming later this year that I find myself thinking about nearly every day. Can't stop myself.

The first is - in a few weeks Bob and I are taking our first ever CRUISE! I can hardly wait. We're sailing to the Caribbean and will have stops in St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Maarten. Woohoo!!! I've been collecting bottles of sun screen whenever I see it at a good price - since we'll need LOTS. I've gotten a couple of cute beach cover-ups at the local Good Will. And, I've made multiple lists and started gathering misc. items I don't want to forget. Can't wait.

The other is our Crenshaw Family Reunion near the end of the summer. We're trying to work it out to gather all of our children and their spouses and all the grandchildren and rent a place at the beach in NC so we can spend a week together under one roof. I think about this almost every day and have been considering a variety of little ideas that could make each day special - or - that might provide an occasional distraction for a small child (or, sometimes, an older one). Not too much by way of organizing, etc, since everyone wants to have lots of unstructured time relaxing at the beach. But, at the same time make it an EVENT. Really, really looking forward to it!!

Chinese Heritage Night

2012-01-26T23:19:00.007-05:00

14 January 2012

We went to a combo Chinese Heritage Night / Chinese New Year celebration (a little more than a week early) at our community center. The food, provided by a local Chinese restaurant, was delicious! (Of course!!) And the entertainment was wonderful. There were a number of cultural dances from different parts of China, plus a beautiful songbird and a poetess. I liked hearing the poem in Chinese first, then, interpreted into English. Really lovely!

Some of the costumes not only represented different regions of China, but also different classes and time periods. We had a capacity crowd and enjoyed a delightful evening!

(Note: The photos were all taken with my phone, so the clarity is not what it could be, and some are blurry because of the movements associated with the dance.)

Christmas in Ohio

2011-12-30T11:56:00.007-05:00

Sophia wanted to be sure Santa didn't have any trouble finding the tree!

Everyone watched a movie and enjoyed a scrumptious buffet on Christmas Eve.

The girls each got to open one present on Christmas eve — and, everyone got new pjs.

Even Rocky had a special Christmas sweater to wear.

Opening Stockings on Christmas morning. Lucy was more interested in the candy than the presents and at one point, with candy in one hand and a gift in the other, she handed her mom the gift, and said, "You open this." Then she proceeded to focus on getting the candy wrapping off.

Lucy in her Princess sleeping bag and tent.

Bob in his "Dr. Who" Bow tie. (All the men in the family got one this year.)

Alice and Penny on Christmas morning.

30 December 2011

On Friday, 23 Dec, we drove to Ohio to spend the weekend with Laura and Travis and their five girls. I know from experience that Christmas just isn't the same if you're not around family — and, its especially nice to be around the little ones at Christmas time!

We had pizza-and-a-movie night the day we arrived - which the girls look forward to every week. Then, on Christmas eve everyone enjoyed a fabulous Christmas Eve buffet - filled with lots of what have become "traditional" Crenshaw family favorites. We skyped with some of the family in NC and watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

On Christmas Day everyone opened their stockings and a few gifts before getting ready for Church. We had a nice, low-key Christmas service with lots of carols included. After church, we snacked and finished opening gifts. That evening Laura prepared a fabulous roast beast and we all ate very well, indeed! (I thought we were going to skype with Bob's family on Christmas, but somehow that didn't happen.)

We drove home on Monday, and were soon back to our usual routines.

Upon reflection I find that I'm looking forward, one day, to having a home where I can once again welcome family on the holidays - instead of being the one doing the traveling. (Bob has already said he doesn't want to go anywhere next Christmas. I'm not so sure about that. We'll see. . .)

Christmas Party Decorating

2011-12-12T11:53:00.004-05:00

10 Dec 2011

I was asked to be in charge of decorations for the Christmas party at Church this year and had lots of fun with that (plus, I had lots of good help.)

I found a greeting card that inspired me to cut out lots of different sizes and shapes of trees from wrapping paper to decorate some large gray panels on the walls of the cultural hall. A bunch of women from church, thankfully, showed up one day and assisted with cutting out all those trees. Not sure I'd have ever finished if I'd had to do them all myself.

Then, I made a large felt banner to hang at the back of the stage where we had a place for Santa to stop by and visit with the children. It was fun to make the large reindeer, and, since the whole thing is made from felt, it can be rolled up and used for several years.

The day of the party, several people helped hang the trees and lights on the wall panels and decorate the seating tables. Bob helped me put everything up on the stage and some of the brethren helped set up all the tables and chairs.

The ladies in charge of the food did a fantastic job and we had a great party! All the food was delicious and served at the right temperature — and in abundance!! We had some great entertainment, sang a few familiar carols and had a delightful evening!

White House Christmas Tour

2011-12-12T09:46:00.025-05:00

UNION STATION

The Capitol is right next to the Botanic Gardens

BOTANIC GARDENS

Opossum Opartment
Fairy Flat
Critter Condo

(I didn't know that cacao pods grow on the trunks rather than the branches.)

9 Dec 2011

Today we went with a small group of people from our community to see the White House — plus, a couple of other sites in D.C. The weather was beautiful. Nippy in the morning, but warming to a very pleasant day later on.

I hadn't been in the White House since I was 17 years old, and it was interesting that the rooms seemed smaller than I remembered. :-) Of course, my experience with houses was very limited the first time I was there, so I'm sure everything seemed enormous compared to what I knew then.

The security is significantly different as well, and, there aren't as many rooms open for viewing. (I remember getting to see the kitchen pantry and, at 17, was awed by how big it was! At that point in my life, I'd never seen anything like it.)

Of course, every room we saw today was beautiful!! Lots of the decorations were made from paper or felt, and most of the trees were decorated in just one color - usually gold or silver, with clear, crystal-like ornaments as well. Most of the rooms also had some representation of the family dog, Bo, among the decorations. Mostly, those were made from paper, but the one I liked best was made with buttons.

We enjoyed hearing a high school chorus from Orlando, FL singing Christmas Carols near the back foyer. (I guess they have several different groups perform each day.)

When we finished our tour of the White House, we went to Union Station and ate at the food court and did a tiny bit of shopping. We also got to see an electric train exhibit that was temporarily on display.

After that we had a wonderful time at the U.S. Botanic Gardens. The holiday displays were gorgeous! And, they also had trains. Lots of Thomas the engine as well as some adorable little "bug" trains. There was a delightfully playful exhibit of fantasy houses (made for fairies or for various animals) — all made from natural materials. They also had larger displays of famous D.C. landmarks, made-to-scale, from natural materials. They were amazing! We didn't have a lot of time there, but enjoyed every minute of it.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-07T12:50:00.013-05:00

All these cutie pies!!

Our thanks giving tree

Three generations, Abby, Amanda and Sherril

Me and the twins (just a few days before their first birthday)

26 Nov 2011

We had a great time visiting family over the Thanksgiving holiday! We drove to NC on Wednesday, the 23rd - in time to wish Susy a "Happy Birthday!" And, we also got to see Laura and Travis and their family that day.

We spent most of Thanksgiving Day at John and Amanda's and enjoyed a wonderfully delicious meal that John cooked up for us. Amanda's parents were also there and we had a nice visit with them. That evening, a few of us joined Susy and Todd at Todd's parents' house for a plethora of pie! Oh my!! Chocolate, pecan, pumpkin, apple, cherry, etc. etc. Yum. Yum. It was great to see everyone there.

Friday morning I met up with Heather at her place. We planned to go browsing in some of the vintage clothing stores in Raleigh, but, discovered that they've all closed. :-( So, instead, we spent time in some of the shops in downtown Cary and enjoyed lunch at Serendipity. That afternoon, Heather, Mark and I met up with Bob, Sophia, Holly, Lucy and Lily and went to see The Muppet Movie. Then, we all went back to Heather and Mark's place and ate popcorn and pizza. What fun!

Saturday was our Crenshaw family celebration - since most of our kids had dinner with in-laws on Thanksgiving Day. And, we got to skype with Bob and Maria and Isabelle and Bobby. Unfortunately, we missed out on talking to Ryann.

I made a large Thanksgiving "Tree" that we hung on Susy and Todd's entertainment unit and everyone wrote something they were thankful for on a leaf and we let the grandkids tape the leaves to the tree. Included among the many things our family expressed gratitude for was:
God
Jesus
home
family
little girls
seasons
Benadryl
computers
gravy
health
the earth
babies
nursery,
and whales.

We and the Chabo's attended church in the Fuquay Ward Sunday morning and then drove to our respective homes. Already looking forward to the next visit! (Though, its likely to be a few months before we get back to NC since Bob and I are going to Ohio for Christmas.)

The Battle of Ball's Bluff

2011-12-07T12:32:00.018-05:00

22 October 2011

We enjoyed a beautiful fall day in Leesburg, VA (the next town over from us) watching a reenactment of the Civil War Battle of Ball's Bluff. This is the only Civil War battlefield site where the reenactment can take place on the actual site of the battle.

The Battle of Ball's Bluff, also known as the Battle of Harrison’s Island or the Battle of Leesburg, was fought on October 21, 1861, in Loudoun County, Virginia, as part of (Union) Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's operations in Northern Virginia.

While a minor engagement in comparison with the battles that would take place in years to follow, it was the second largest battle of the Eastern Theater in 1861, and in its aftermath had repercussions in the Union Army's chain of command structure and raised separation of powers issues under the United States Constitution during the war.

This was the only Civil War battle in which a sitting U.S. Senator was killed. Senator Edward Baker, a close friend of Abraham Lincoln, was a lawyer, a politician and a military leader who, like Lincoln, had served as a U.S. Representative from the state of Illinois. Baker was also a colonel in the U.S. Army and had served as such in the Mexican-American War. In 1851, Baker moved from Illinois to California to seek his fortune, and, later, landed in Oregon. In 1860, he returned to Washington D.C. as a U.S. Senator from Oregon. At the time of his death he had been in the process of resigning his position in the Senate so that he could serve full time in the Army. And, though Baker didn't live to know of it, Lincoln had already signed orders for him to be commissioned as a U.S. Army general. His death shocked official Washington and led to the formation of the Congressional Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.

Among other notables who fought in this battle were: two grandsons of Paul Revere, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. who later (in 1902) became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Hooray for Fitness!!

2011-10-10T14:58:00.005-04:00

10 October 2011

Since Labor Day (so, about five weeks) Bob and I have been making better and healthier choices about what and how much we eat. I've also increased my exercise and activity level. Its amazing how quickly your energy improves once you start exercising regularly! (again) I'm participating in a one-hour yoga class twice a week and use an aerobic workout video at home other days. Plus, we're spending a couple of hours square dancing, twice a month, with a few other couples in our neighborhood.

I slowed down so much after my cancer treatments (Apr - Jul 2008), my accident (Nov 2008), and during all those months of physical therapy (following my March 2009 surgery), that it really took a long time until I was ready to push myself. Feels good to be this physically active again!! (Of course, the fact that we moved four times between Aug 2008 and Oct 2010 may have factored into that, too!)

Even though Bob hasn't quite started on an exercise program (except for the square dancing) he's dropped a few pounds and made significant improvements in his blood sugar levels. And, I've lost a few pounds as well.

So, here's to good eating, exercise and good health!!!

Although its not what it once was, I'm grateful we still have the strength and stamina we have and I hope I never take it for granted again.

LABOR DAY FUN WITH THE FAM!

2011-09-07T10:36:00.007-04:00

Claire Bear - such a cutie!

Lovely Lily is getting so big. She started pre-school the day after this pic was taken.

Claire likes to climb up her mom and then get flipped over. (Lily likes to help.)

Susy's girls helping her make a smoothie. (Lily doesn't like the noise of the blender.)

Sweet Abby likes her new sliding board.

John, Amanda and Abby posing for the camera.

Abby loves her Aunt Heather!

Bob and Mark in matching shirts. (Mike and John have t-shirts like this also, but they didn't wear them that day.)

6 September 2011

Over Labor Day weekend we had a great time visiting our four children and three grandchildren who live in North Carolina! (And, thus, we completed our summer bucket list.) We arrived at Susy's around midnight on Thursday but didn't have much visit time on Friday since we spent a fair amount of that day taking care of business we had in the area.

Friday evening we finally got to meet Mark's parents! Heather and Mark have been married almost six years and we had yet to meet them. So, knowing we'd be in the area, they invited both us and the McKeon's to dinner at their place. Heather made a delicious meal plus a dessert to die for, and we ate and talked and got to know each other a little bit. It was a very pleasant evening.

Saturday morning I went to the Farmer's Market in Raleigh with John and Mike. I love that place!! And, all places like them! (Wish I'd taken some pics.) Such a grand display of all the abundance of the earth! I bought a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and zinnias for only $5. Also, picked up some produce and a few items from the German bakery.

Bob and I spent some time at John and Amanda's in the afternoon and enjoyed visiting with Mike there also. Abby was napping during most of that time, so we didn't have time with her until we joined up with the rest of the family at Heather and Mark's neighborhood pool in the late afternoon. The pool wasn't crowded at all and we had a great time splashing around. Afterward, we ordered pizza and chowed down at the McKeon's. Fun day!

Went to church in the Fuquay-Varina Ward Sunday morning and it was fun to see how many people we know there. Everyone gathered at Susy and Todd's that evening for a pot-luck cook out and a rousing game of Apples-to-Apples. (Which, I'm happy to report, I won!! Woohoo!) Then, sometime during the evening, someone discovered the drumsticks (ice cream, not poultry) in Susy's freezer, and several of us enjoyed those as well. :-)

Got to spend a bit of time at Susy's and a bit at John's before we left on Monday. Susy gave Bob a nice long massage while I had some one-on-one time with her kiddos. John initiated his new grill and cooked up a great meal for us as a late lunch before we got on the road. And, we had fun with Abby, as well as with her Uncle Mike and Aunt Heather and Uncle Mark.

Looking forward to our trip back at Thanksgiving!!

FUN WITH LAURA AND HER FAMILY

2011-08-22T05:01:00.018-04:00

22 August 2011

Great week last week!! Laura came for a visit with her five girls. They arrived Sunday evening and were all here until Wednesday afternoon. Then, Laura took the three youngest and joined her husband in Hershey, PA (where he was in a class). Holly and Sophia stayed with us the rest of the week. Yay!!

We had a great time at the beginning of the week with everyone here, and, Laura was able to do some back-to-school clothes shopping for Sophia and Holly. Then, on Thursday and Friday we had "Camp Grammy" with just Sophia and Holly. What fun!! We designed fashions, made necklaces, went swimming, planned menus, made cookies, ate lots of fun treats, went shopping, visited the library, finger painted, learned to weave, read books, and, watched way too many Scooby Doo episodes. Good times!

Saturday morning, Aug 20, we drove the girls to Hershey, PA (a 2 hr. drive) to join the rest of their family and enjoy the day at Hershey Park. We played "Going on a picnic with Grandma" on the way there and they did a pretty good job of remembering all the alphabetic things we were taking on our picnic. They did, however, take issue with Papaw's "P" word being psychologist! :-)

At the park in Hershey, we went from ride to ride to ride — and Sophia, Holly and Lucy could hardly get enough of all the twirling and whirling. Alice and Penny were their usual adorable selves, and managed to catch a nap or two in the midst of all the hub bub. We finished our day together with a meal at Friendly's — then our drive home.

After our trip to North Carolina over Labor Day weekend, we will have visited with all of our children and grandchildren within the past couple of months. And, our summer bucket list will be fulfilled. We'll then be looking forward to the fall and winter holidays — and more opportunities to visit.

DAY TRIP TO DELAWARE

2011-08-06T21:47:00.015-04:00

Finally ate my first soft-shelled crab!

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Tiki Castle

Hide and Squeak

Dragon in the sand

Camelot

This was the most detailed castle we saw

Breakfast on the Beach - bacon, egg, fruit, and a short stack

Loved watching all the kites flying

6 Aug 2011

One of the final things on our summer Bucket List was a trip to Delaware (since its not that far from us and we'd never been there.) We read about the annual sandcastle competition on Rehoboth Beach, and decided that would be a fun thing to see. Its always held on the first weekend in August, so we set off this morning, heading east through Maryland.

We stopped at a seafood restaurant called Fisherman's Inn, just across the Chesapeake Bay from Annanpolis, for a great lunch of soft-shelled crab and cole slaw. I've been wanting to try soft-shelled crab for years, and finally had one! I had to make a few mental adjustments, trying not to think about the fact that I was eating the whole crab. And, parts of it seemed a little like chewing paper, but overall it was tasty. Also, Bob ordered a cream of crab soup to start the meal and it was amazing!

Then, we were off again, to the beach. We enjoyed a beautiful day with lovely breezes, kites flying, and interesting castles and such built in the sand — all to the sound of waves lapping on the shore. Couldn't have been better.

Side note - When we stopped at a WaWa station on the way out of town, we were surprised to see several Amish men walk in. I had read about Amish settlements in northern Delaware, and didn't expect to see them here. Their clothing, their hats, and the style of their beards was very much like the Amish we've seen in Ohio. The colors of their shirts were different, though. (Laura told us that the local leader determines what colors they wear.)

This summer has flown by!! But, we've done lots of fun things. The only item now left on our Summer 2011 Bucket List — end the summer with a trip to see family in NC over Labor Day weekend!

OTHER SITES VISITED IN DC

2011-08-05T15:32:00.020-04:00

Statue of soldiers at the Vietnam Memorial

Vietnam Memorial - I found the name of one of my High School friends, John Claggett. I wish we could live in a world without war. So many lives are lost in every war - and so many other lives are terribly damaged.

Lincoln Memorial

Us and Abe

Abby was happy to have some time out of the stroller

View from the verandah of the Lincoln Memorial

View from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Sadly, because of some renovations in progress, the reflecting pool was empty and the grass on the Mall was mostly brown.

The Washington Monument, street view

A LITTLE NATURAL, A LITTLE AMERICAN

2011-08-05T07:39:00.023-04:00

Our Day at the Museums. . .

Abby rides the Metro!

Entrance hall of the National Museum of Natural History

Bob and a Brown Bear

Beautiful Petrified Wood

The Hope Diamond

At the National Museum of American History:

Flag made in 1813 that hung over Ft. McHenry, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write The Star Spangled Banner

A peek into Julia's Kitchen

Cool Old Pop-Up Book (Paper Engineering)

John at the Scout Monument (Monument represents the past, the present and the future)

AND THEN, A LITTLE CHINESE

2011-08-05T06:47:00.011-04:00

Chinatown Gate

Great place for dinner!

3 August 2011

We took the Metro into DC today and spent time in two of the Smithsonian Museums — The Museum of Natural History and the Museum of American History.

Loved seeing the dinosaur exhibits and the many animals in Mammals Hall at the Natural History Museum, as well as some of the gems and minerals, including the beautiful Hope Diamond. (Their Egyptian Mummies exhibit was tiny and disappointing.) Funny thing at the Mammals Store was that you can purchase small books/journals that have covers made with paper created from elephant or panda poo. They have an interesting natural-fiber look and you wouldn't guess what they're made from just by holding one. See — you can recycle nearly anything! :-)

At the Museum of American History, the first exhibit we viewed was "The Star Spangled Banner." We saw what remains of the flag that was flying over Fort McHenry in 1814 which inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words to our national anthem. Then, as we exited into Flag Hall, we encountered a large group of people holding a replica of that flag and they all began to sing The Star Spangled Banner. It was a very moving experience. Afterward, those around the flag were instructed in how to fold it. (Its a HUGE flag and can't be folded in the same manner that's typically used.)

We also saw the exhibit of the first ladies' inaugural gowns, including Michelle Obama's. This fall they're closing this exhibit and opening a new one about First Ladies, so I'm glad we got to see this one. Then, we went downstairs and saw Julia Child's kitchen; some cool robotic vehicles (that actually steer themselves) at the Science in American Life exhibit; and, some fabulous pop-up books at the Dibner Library. (I've always been fascinated with pop-up books! Every time I see one, I want to look closer to see how its engineered and then, make one myself.)

The National Boy Scout Memorial is just around the corner from the Museum of American History, so we walked over and took some pictures there. Its very near The White House and, while we were there, a helicopter flew in, landed on The White House lawn and, a little while later, flew out again. (We could only speculate about who might have been coming or going. Today is President Obama's 50th birthday.)

Afterward, we hopped on the nearest Metro and rode to Chinatown for a delicious meal at Tony Cheng's Mongolian Barbeque. Yum!! Then, we browsed in a little gift shop and headed back to the Metro for our ride back to Dunn-Loring Station to pick up our car. Tired, but happy, after a long day in our nation's capitol, we sang songs and played with Abby on the way home!

STROLLED THROUGH THE GARDENS

2011-08-02T09:56:00.005-04:00

Hershey, PA
They were having a birdhouse contest. These were two of our favorites.

LOVED THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE

2011-08-02T09:53:00.009-04:00

Hershey, PA

CANDYLAND

2011-08-02T09:05:00.008-04:00

Saw this on the way into Chocolate World (My maiden name is Wade)

We were serenaded by cows.

On tour in Chocolate World

1 August 2011

John, Amanda and Abby arrived last Friday evening and today we traveled two hours North to spend some time in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
We strolled through parts of the 23 acre Rose Garden, and also enjoyed seeing the Children's Garden and the Butterfly House. Then we drove to another part of town and ate lunch at the Hershey Pantry - a cute little restaurant that serves delicious food and has great service.
After lunch, we went to see Hershey's Chocolate World and indulged in a few sweets after our tour.
Abby was pretty much done in, so we headed home about 3 p.m. John tried out our new grill, cooking us steak for dinner. Yum!

I'VE STARTED ANOTHER BLOG

2011-07-22T11:06:00.013-04:00

I painted this on the wall of my office in one of our recent homes. Saddest part of getting that house ready to sell was painting over this.

22 July 2011

I've finally decided to stop denying the artistic side of myself and devote time and energy to creativity on a regular and consistent basis.
To prepare for this I've:
- Been organizing and cleaning out my upstairs/studio space;
- Signed up for an on-line art class that promises I'll be learning new techniques, etc;
- Bought some supplies for the class;
- Made on-line connections with other women who'll be taking the same class, and;
- Created a new blog just for my art. Check it out at http://thetimidtiger.blogspot.com/

I chose the name because I've been timid about creating and sharing the artistic side of myself for too long - and, a tiger is a powerful animal that, though it may sometimes appear docile, can do just about anything it wants.
I know the power to create is within me — I just need to unleash it, and train it!
My new blog only has one post so far and I don't know when the next one will be, but, now its out there for everyone to see.
(I'm being brave) :-)

WICKED!!

2011-07-17T07:47:00.009-04:00

Bust of Kennedy in the Grand Foyer of the Kennedy Center.

Dessert at the Kennedy Center Roof Top Restaurant, offered especially during the run of "Wicked"

View of the Potomac River from the Terrace of the Kennedy Center

A display of some of the costumes

16 July 2011

We finally got to see Wicked! Our neighbors, Al and Mary Dilascio, went with us to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown DC. Because we wanted to simplify eating out beforehand, we made reservations at the Roof Terrace Restaurant inside the Kennedy Center. The meal was fabulous! And, just for the run of the play, they offered a special dessert – a pistachio mousse cake topped with a chocolate witch's hat. Yum! (Our granddaughter, Holly, saw a photo of this dessert and said, "That looks like witch pie!") :-)

And, the performance didn't disappoint in the least. It was excellent! The script had interesting plot twists with some funny and clever references to the original Wizard of Oz. And, the Music was wonderful – and wonderfully performed. Plus the sets and the costuming were amazing. Can't imagine the hours it took to create all those costumes. The detail and the beadwork were incredible.
All in all, a great evening out!

I'm now trying to convince Bob that we should go back in August to see a Chekov play starring Cate Blanchett!

SUMMER TRAVELS

2011-07-12T12:50:00.017-04:00

At Bobby's baptism.

Isabelle helped her cousins with hair and makeup for a "fashion" show.

Then, Lucy tried her hand at applying her own makeup!

TWO SETS OF TWINS — Me and my twin brother, Bill, holding my twin granddaughters, Penny and Alice. Both sets born in November – 62 years apart. (My hair looks awful because the power went out in our hotel room right after I got out of the shower that morning and I couldn't blow dry my hair.)

Three generations of Robert Crenshaws

Headquarters of the Longeberger Basket Company, Newark, OH

12 July 2011

Just got back from a road trip to visit our daughter, Laura, and her family in Ohio, then on to Illinois to see son, Bob, and his family — and to attend our grandson's baptism. Fun times!

While in Ohio, Laura drove us to a couple of cemeteries where some ancestors were buried back in the 1800s. On the way, we went past the headquarters for the Longaberger Basket Company in Newark, Ohio. Kinda neat that their office building is shaped like a basket.

We and all the Chabo family headed out on Friday to travel to Gurnee, IL for our grandson, Bobby's, baptism. Travis had to work Friday so they didn't know if they'd be able to leave before about 3 pm. We knew the drive would be a long one, so, in an attempt to get all the girls there in time to be tucked in bed at a reasonable hour, Laura and I set out in the van that morning and Bob stayed behind so he and Travis could drive together once Travis got home from work.

It was eye opening to discover how much we've come to rely on having a GPS!! Armed with some Mapquest print outs and an atlas, Laura and I ventured forth with her five little ones, ages 6, 4, and 2, plus two 7-month olds. What we thought would be an 8 hour trip — after running errands in town before we got on the road, stopping twice for meals (fueling the car at one of those stops) and another stop for a potty break, plus having to double back a few times when we missed a turn or took a wrong turn — and our journey ended up taking closer to 11.5 hours! After we got to Gurnee and began to rejoice, thinking we were within minutes of our destination, we realized we were driving in the wrong direction and the two of us broke into hysterical laughter! (We decided if there was a wrong turn to be made, we'd take it!) We finally got there, about two hours after we had planned to have the girls in bed. (Thankfully, her girls were great travelers!!)

Bob and Travis left four hours after we did and arrived in Gurnee about 20 minutes behind us!! (We suggested that next time, we'd trade places with them. They can transport all the children, and Laura and I will take the sporty car with the EZpass and the GPS) :-)

Our older grandchildren are all growing up too fast!! Ryann is 16 and learning to drive, Isabelle is a precocious 10-yr old and Bobby turned eight last week. It was wonderful to be able to participate in his baptism! Wish we could visit with them a lot more often than once a year — but that seems to be all we've been able to manage.

OUR SUMMER BUCKET LIST

2011-07-05T10:03:00.020-04:00

Several weeks ago, we created a SUMMER 2011 BUCKET LIST. I printed a picture of a bucket (see above) and we wrote a list of all the things we want to do this summer on the back. Then we posted it on the refrigerator so we can check them off as we do them. Here's the list, in no particular order:
- See the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Wolf Trap (check)
- Visit the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum (check)
- See "Wicked" on stage at the Kennedy Center in DC (check)
- Visit Delaware (check)
- Visit family in Ohio (check)
- Visit family in Illinois (check)
- Have fun visiting Hershey, PA when John, Amanda and Abby visit us in August (check)
- See the sites in downtown DC when John, Amanda and Abby visit us in August (check)
- End the summer with a trip to see family in NC over Labor Day weekend (check)

Of course, we're thinking of other things for the fall, but this should make for a nice, full summer! Lots of new adventures ahead. (insert happy face here)

NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

2011-06-25T17:32:00.018-04:00

Sculture outside the museum, "flight"

25 June 2011

Today we finally visited the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia! We've lived in Ashburn for a year-and-a-half, now, and have been saying ever since we moved here that since its only about 20 minutes from our house, we really need to go. And, now, we have — and thoroughly enjoyed it!! Its a great museum!

American, German, French, British, Japanese, all kinds of planes from the Wright Brothers first plane for military use to the space shuttle Enterprise. There were planes so small its hard to imagine an adult fitting in them, to an SST. And there was even one display of what they called Trench Art — works that were created from a flight stick from a downed aircraft, empty shell casings, etc. Very interesting.

Next time we need to remember to take the good camera, though.

MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR — LIVE!

2011-06-25T16:47:00.008-04:00

A view of the outdoor theatre at Wolf Trap in Northern Virginia.

LIVE. IN CONCERT. THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR AND THE ORCHESTRA AT TEMPLE SQUARE.

They allowed U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Virginia, to be the guest "conductor" (he really just waved his arms around) for their final encore number.

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

We had never seen a live performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir before and it was FABULOUS!! Years and years ago, on a visit to SLC we got to see part of a rehearsal (when they were still in the original tabernacle) but it was nothing compared to this.

Laura and Travis gave us the tickets for Christmas and we've been eagerly awaiting this night. I can't begin to describe how wonderful it was. Plus, we hadn't been to the famous Wolf Trap outdoor theatre in the only National Park for the Performing Arts until now — and it was great, too.

Truly a memorable evening!

OUR NEW LANDSCAPING

2011-06-25T16:41:00.004-04:00

12 June 2011

We are really enjoying the new landscaping in our back yard! We have plans to do more next spring, but its so nice to have these new plantings in. And we also have a new Weber grill that we "broke in" at a pot-luck style barbeque with about a dozen neighbors here in Potomac Green. Great fun!

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

2011-05-28T02:35:00.018-04:00

My little patio garden. (You can see in the background that they're starting to build a house behind us.)

The three photos above were taken on the temple grounds, after Church, Easter Sunday (Laura, Travis and their girls went to Church with his mom in the Garner building so couldn't be part of our photo shoot this time. Mike wasn't with us this time, either.)

The Easter Egg Hunt at Susy and Todd's house

Our efforts at a group photo didn't quite work out.

Holly, Lucy and Sophia waiting for the Easter Egg Hunt to begin

Abby

Lily and Claire

28 May 2011

Here it is nearly the end of May!! The days are flying by. I'm posting some family pics we took when we visited North Carolina at Easter. (And one of my little patio garden.) It was great fun to see everyone who was able to be there!

This month has been about planting — in our yard and in small planters on our back patio. (Some annuals - flowers, coleus, etc - and a few veggies) I love seeing the added color of all the plants and watching them grow.

Next week (or, possibly the following, depending on how things go) we're getting some landscaping done in the back yard. Right now we only have grass and a 10' x 12' concrete patio. I can hardly wait to have a few trees and some flowering shrubs. Will post some "before and after" pics when its all done.

And, as a follow up to an earlier post — I've added over 600 names to my family tree on ancestry.com in the past three months!! (See. I told you I was addicted!) Most of the names I've added are not actually in my direct line, but when I find info on a family, I like to add it (so the family can all be together. I don't want to leave out any siblings, spouses, children, cousins, etc.) :-)

CHERRY BLOSSOMS ALONG THE POTOMAC

2011-04-12T08:17:00.005-04:00

9 April 2011

Almost two months ago, we booked a river tour of the cherry blossom festival in DC - offering a unique view of the many blossoming cherry trees and significant historic sites in our nation's capital. Then, the trees bloomed early - so, by the time we took our tour, the peak had past. Oh, well. We enjoyed it, nonetheless, and learned a few interesting tidbits about some of the historic buildings situated along the Potomac River.
In spite of the gray, overcast day, the beauties of spring along the Potomac were delightful and we even stopped for a bite to eat at the marina when we finished the tour. Crab cake and clam chowder by the waterfront! Not the best ambiance one could hope for, but very fresh seafood.
Also, I never knew how many different types and colors of cherry blossoms there are. I only knew of the pink ones and the pink-centered white blooms. But, there are red ones, deep pink ones, completely white ones — all types and varieties of blooms. They, no doubt, would have been lovelier had we been able to get there two weeks earlier, but, I'm glad we went anyway.

OWL PATROL FLAG

2011-04-01T07:30:00.009-04:00

1 April 2011

For three days this weekend, Bob is at a camp out with some other scouters earning his Wood Badge. He did his first three-day camp out about a month ago. At that one they were divided into patrols and they each had specific assignments to do for this weekend. Bob volunteered to make the patrol flag. Naturally, (Tom Sawyer that he is) he expected that he wouldn't actually be the one making it — but would cajol me into doing it. . . which he did. It turned out pretty well, but its been a while since I worked with fabric paint so some places are kind of smeared.

And, on another note - For several weeks, now, I haven't been able to think of doing anything but work on my genealogy. (Except, of course, make the patrol flag.) :-) Some days I've been at it from sun up to sun down. Its like an addiction! I've hardly done any family history for more than 20 years and now I can't stop. I LOVE being able to do so much research on-line and from my own home!! I keep finding people and connecting families. Its awesome! Plus, I reconnected with a cousin who has shared some great documents (probate record, marriage bonds, etc) with me. It may not sound exciting to some, but its been very exciting to me!!! Hooray! Hooray!

Levin Henry and Mary A (Lofland) Rickard. Photo taken by J.B.Carver, Vandalia, Missouri - sometime in the 1880s.

MORE PICS FROM BLESSING WEEKEND

2011-03-02T04:25:00.011-05:00

Lucy

Ryann and Lily

Maria with her birthday cake

Heather with Holly and Sophia

Just hanging out

Isabelle had fun with Claire

Bob and Maria and family

BLESSING DAY IN OHIO

2011-03-02T03:17:00.016-05:00

Alice in her blessing gown

Penny in her blessing gown

Travis, Laura and their girls

Me and Bob with 10 of our 11 grandkids

6 February 2011

What a great time we had with so many of our family in one place together! Wish Mike, John, Amanda, and Abby could have been there, too. They were the only ones missing.
Saturday night (the night before the blessings) we had a ladies night out as a kind of celebration for Laura. Six of us — Maria, Heather, Laura, Susy, Ryann and I went out to eat and had a great time.
The twins, Alice and Penny, were blessed in sacrament meeting on Sunday, February 6, 2011. Their father, Travis Chabo, gave them each a blessing and among those standing in the circle with him were Papaw Crenshaw, Uncle Bob Crenshaw, Uncle Mark McKeon and Uncle Todd Estes. It was very sweet and we all gathered back at Laura's afterward. That evening, after dinner, we had cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to Maria since her birthday was the next day. (Feb 7)
Loved, loved, loved holding those little babies whenever I could during the weekend. So glad we could spend that time together — and get some good photos as well.

INDIA HERITAGE NIGHT

2011-01-16T17:22:00.002-05:00

16 January 2011

Last night we had fun at the first India Heritage Night held at our neighborhood community center. I would guess that at least 60 - 70% of the people there were non-Indian, like us. Since we haven't been in the community long, and this was the first social we attended, it was fun to meet people. One couple we met were Chad and Summade (sp?) who were both born in India. (Wish I knew their last name.) It was very interesting to talk to them - as well as getting acquainted with others at our table.

The food was catered by Banjara, a local Indian cuisine restaurant. (Delicious!) They showed an interesting video program produced by PBS about India's recent 60 yr. anniversary. (They gained independence Aug 15, 1947) After dinner we enjoyed a demonstration, with some participation, of a couple of traditional dances, and a small exhibit of various artworks. (bead work, wood craft, painting, etc.) I got to be dressed in a traditional sari (gorgeous, vibrant colors). Someone took my picture but I forgot to ask how I can get a copy of it. (Perhaps they'll post it on the community website.)

A LITTLE SILLINESS TO START THE YEAR!

2011-01-04T11:42:00.011-05:00

4 January 2011

I just gave myself a gift of silliness. I signed up for an on-line class that should be fun and, hopefully, will also help to jump start some of the creative projects I have pending. Class starts tomorrow. Can't wait!! (http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com)

A NEW YEAR!

2011-01-02T10:51:00.010-05:00

The girls added their hair ribbons to the tree to beautify it.
Alice and Penny
All the girls on Christmas morning.

2 JANUARY 2011

Though this is mostly a post about the new year, I'm including some Christmas photos I like.

I spent some time yesterday (1-1-11) reflecting upon resolutions, goals, and objectives. I've finally realized that what works best for me is to figure out my objectives for the year. I can then set individual goals based on those objectives. (Forget resolutions.) Looking at the following areas: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and Social/Emotional, I determined that my objectives for 2011 are: more exercise; more art; more reading; more learning; more friends; more love; more kindness; more prayer; and, more gratitude.

I've been at Laura & Travis's for a month now. I'm going home tomorrow and will miss everyone here. So, I've decided to create a book about some of the things we did during the time I spent with their family in 2010 - 14 weeks altogether. (10 weeks this summer and four now) It will be mostly illustrations with a bit of text. I doubt there will ever be another opportunity for me to be so present in the everyday lives of any of our grandchildren, again. It would be nice, but doesn't seem likely. Its been a blessing to spend time with them every day. (We did live with Susy & Todd for about six weeks in the fall of 2009, just before we moved to Virginia. It was great spending time with them and especially with Lily as a toddler, but I wasn't needed / involved in the same way.)

Travis was called to be the branch president of the Coshocton Branch of the Church just before the twins were born. Bob and I drove to Ohio on Dec 3 and on Sunday, Dec 5, Travis was sustained in sacrament meeting and, afterward, set apart for his new calling. Bob ordained Travis a high priest just before he was set apart. I stayed home with the twins so Laura could be there. (The twins are too small to take out in public, yet, so we've been taking turns going to church. It will be at least another month before its okay to have them close to so many other people.) Bob went back to Virginia that same day (Dec 5), then returned to Ohio to join us for Christmas and New Year's.

All three of the older girls got hula hoops for Christmas. Lucy calls hers a "hoopie hoopie." :-)

THE TWINS ARE HERE!!

2010-11-30T21:59:00.006-05:00

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Today at 12:22 and 12:23 p.m. EST, the two newest members of our family were born! Laura's water broke during the night - and since one baby was breech, the doctor had her meet him at the hospital to do a
c-section.
Baby A - Alice Robin Chabo arrived first, weighing 4 lbs 15 oz.
Baby B - Penelope Anne (Penny) Chabo weighed 5 lbs 3 oz.
Alice has really dark hair and, Penny, light brown hair.
Everyone is doing well! Can't wait to hold these two new little ones!!

Bob and I will drive to Ohio this Friday and I will stay to help out until after the first of the year. Bob will return to Ohio for Christmas.

'TIS THE SEASON!

2010-11-22T06:50:00.008-05:00

22 November 2010

I had to smile when I read my last post and saw that I hoped to have all my unpacking done by the end of the first week of November. Ha! (Not realistic, indeed.) The main floor of the house is nearly complete — and certainly livable — and I'm making progress on the two rooms upstairs. i.e. I painted my studio a few days ago and started assembling a work table and bookshelf I bought at Ikea. There are still lots of boxes upstairs though, and not only have I slowed the pace at which I'm getting things done — but, now, its nearly Thanksgiving!

I've decided its better to pace myself, though, and enjoy the holiday rather than try to push frantically through getting "everything" done. It will all get done eventually. . .

Our daughters, Heather and Susy, plus Susy's two little ones came for a visit during my birthday weekend. (Nov 12-14) We had a great time and really enjoyed their visit!! We even went to a neighborhood holiday craft fair while they were here and Susy and I both won door prizes! Did I remember to pull the camera out, even once, during their visit? Of course not. So I have no cute photos of Lily and Claire (Susy's girls) to share. :-(

We're looking forward to having our youngest son, John, his wife, Amanda, and their daughter, Abby, visit us for a few days over Thanksgiving. Abby turns two in March, so I will look around at what items may need to be placed out of the reach of tiny hands. This week will involve extensive grocery shopping (I've already compiled the lengthy list); some cleaning and laundry; a little more unpacking; baking; prepping for the big Turkey Dinner; and, then, just relaxing and enjoying some family time for a few days. (Perhaps we'll watch some "Punkin Chunkin" on TV) LOL!

AND THEN THERE'S CHRISTMAS. Yikes! Last week I mailed our combo address change / btw "Merry Christmas" postcard — and I've wrapped and begun packaging the gifts, (meager as they are) but, still have one more thing to add to each package. A couple of months ago I started making a little something for each of our kids and am not even half done with those. Its not much, but I want to include it in each Christmas package. So, I'm thinking I'll have enough time during the week after Thanksgiving to get them done, and then, I can put everything in the mail that first week in December.

Because, after that, I'll be in Ohio for a while! Our daughter, Laura's, twins are due any time and I will head to Ohio as soon as I'm needed. It will be fun to be around some of our grandchildren (Sophia, Holly and Lucy, plus the new twins) during the Christmas season! Really looking forward to that!! And, of course, I hope to be as much help to Laura as I can. We are very grateful for the news that Baby A finally turned and is no longer breech. It was looking like Laura might have to have a c-section. (Baby B has been quietly behaving herself, causing no such concern.) Now, Laura will, hopefully, not need one, and will have a quicker recovery from the delivery. Adjusting to caring for twins will take a bit longer, I expect. Exciting times, though!!!

SETTLING IN - PLANTING FOR SPRING

2010-10-30T08:21:00.004-04:00

30 October 2010

We turned over the keys to the rental property yesterday — after a very tiring week of going back and forth between cleaning up at the rental (they gave us three pages of instructions for how they expected everything to be cleaned!) and unpacking and organizing things in our new home. (I'm getting too old for this!)

We have a few rooms in order, but still have plenty of boxes to unpack and furniture to assemble. (Bookshelf for the office and a couple of work tables for my studio.) Would like to have everything finished in another week, but, that may not be realistic. . .

I did start planting some spring bulbs yesterday. Will finish up today. I'm planting hyacinths, daffodils and tulips in the bed just at the front of the house - and, hope that at least some of them survive to bloom next spring. Its been years since I planted any bulbs, and the soil in that bed is not very good. I've added some better soil, so we'll see how it goes. Nice to look forward to that come spring.

PRE-SETTLEMENT WALK-THROUGH

2010-10-16T08:07:00.014-04:00

Living Room
Kitchen

15 October 2010

Today we had our walk-through of the new house. A few dings on the wall, etc will be fixed before the closing next week. The only big item is they forgot to pour the back patio when they poured the front sidewalk. That is scheduled to be done Monday.

Forgot to take a picture of the front now that landscaping is in - so will have to post that later.

PROGRESS ON THE NEW HOUSE

2010-09-15T18:21:00.015-04:00

House on Sep 1, 2010

Making progress

Clearing the lot, April 2010

15 Sep 2010

We're getting excited about being able to move into our own place in about six weeks. Renting is just not the same - I haven't felt really "settled" here, though we moved in nearly a year ago.
We first saw the Potomac Green neighborhood in February. (Remember all that snow? Yup. We were tromping around in it getting ready to make a deposit on this home.)
The house is a nice compact 1-1/2 story, 3-bedroom, 3 bath home in a 55+ community (for active senior living.) We've met the couple who live just to the left of us (as you face the house) and they seem really nice. Turns out they also have six kids - three boys and three girls just like us! The large community center is an easy walk (two blocks) from the house and has an indoor and outdoor pool, an indoor walking track, and lots of fun social and fitness activities to participate in.
Our lot was cleared in mid-April, and construction began about July 5. We had a pre-drywall walk through in late August (so we could see where all the wiring and ductwork is.) They were putting up the insulation before we even finished the walk-through and now the drywall is up; the cabinets and bathtubs are all in place; the counter top is installed in the kitchen (but I didn't see it in the baths, yet.) I can't post any current pics because, right now, everything is completely covered in plastic. They're doing all the interior painting this week.
Not sure if the flooring goes in next week or the following. . .
Will post more pics later.

ITS OFFICIAL!

2010-09-15T18:14:00.002-04:00

15 September 2010

We are no longer North Carolinians. The closing on our townhome there went off without a hitch today. And, the money is in the bank to help us buy the house we're building here in Virginia.
Its a good thing most of our kids still live in NC, though, so we can go back and visit one of our favorite places as often as possible!

WE CAME, WE STAGED, WE SOLD!

2010-08-23T17:13:00.007-04:00

23 August 2010

We have much to be thankful for! And, we have certainly felt the hand of the Lord in the process of preparing our home in North Carolina for sale. It was an exhausting and, sometimes, discouraging task, but we did everything we could to make the home look as good as we could make it look. Then we listed it with our realtor friend, Grace Naylor, and the Lord took care of the rest.(The slideshow above doesn't show the office/4th bedroom, but all the other rooms are shown.)

Only one week after we listed it, we had a contract. What a blessing!!! Plans are to close on the home on September 15. Then, we can move toward closing on a home we are trying to buy here in Virginia.

God has been very good to us, indeed!!

BUSY WEEKS AHEAD

2010-07-21T05:34:00.005-04:00

21 July 2010

Have been in Ohio for nine weeks, now - helping Laura and her family. Thankfully, she has made some improvement since I've been here. She's throwing up a lot less and she hasn't needed IV fluids for over three weeks. (When I first got here she needed extra fluids about every six days.) And, she seems stronger - though not yet ready to take on all the demands of a mother with three pre-schoolers.
I've had the opportunity to take Sophia and Holly to swim lessons this summer and to see them become more comfortable in the water and begin swimming. And, yesterday, Laura and I went through some boxes of fall/winter clothes to determine what the girls need for the cooler seasons approaching.
This part of Ohio is so much cooler (and generally more overcast) than either North Carolina or Virginia. We haven't seen too many really summery days since I've been here.
Sophia is very excited (and a little nervous) about starting kindergarten in a few weeks. She and Holly are looking forward to continuing in their dance classes this fall and Lucy seems so much bigger than just a few weeks ago. Its amazing how fast they're all growing - even though I've been with them every day.
In one week I head back to Virginia. (Susy is planning to be here to help Laura part of the month of August - then we'll see whether I need to return or not.) I'll only be home a few days then Bob and I will leave for North Carolina to get our house there ready to sell. I'll be packing up lots of things to take so we can stage the house for showing. Bob has already checked on renting a U-Haul and I've been making lists of what we need to pack. We hope to have everything in place so the house is ready to show by August 7. We've arranged for the walls to be painted and the carpets to be replaced then we'll do the staging. Bob will head back to VA on the 8th and I'm staying a week after that to oversee some things. We feel optimistic that the townhome will sell quickly.
We've also learned that we have to vacate the townhome we're renting in VA at the end of our lease (Oct 30) so we have another move coming up as well. When I get back to Virginia in mid-August, I'll go ahead and start packing up stuff to prepare for that.
Lots of transitions ahead. . .
For nearly two years now I've felt a bit displaced - and have spent a good part of that time living out of a suitcase. I hope when we get settled into a new place at the end of October, we can stay there for a while.

ITS TWINS!!

2010-06-14T06:45:00.004-04:00

14 June 2010
Found out recently that our daughter, Laura, is having twins! The due date is Christmas Day, but we expect they'll arrive earlier than that. Should know gender(s) in a few weeks.
Since I'm a twin, I think this is exciting, but Laura has been too sick to feel any real excitement, yet. She can't keep anything down and is on an injection pump with nausea meds - but still spends most of her time either sleeping or sick. She's been placed on modified bed rest. SO, I have been in Ohio with her and her family since May 24th, helping out with all the things Laura isn't able to do. Will be here until the end of July - then will be back another time or two before she has the twins. (The doctor has already told her to plan to be on complete bedrest during the last part of her pregnancy. We're hoping she'll be able to function on her own in Sep and Oct, though.)
Its been a long time since I had the responsibility of caring for three preschoolers, plus doing the cooking, clean up and laundry for this many. I'm feeling my age - though I'm sure its good for me. :-)
We found out recently that my mother has been praying for Laura to have twins since Lucy was born! And, before Laura and Travis were even married, his mother had a dream that they had twins! So, it was just a matter of time. . .

HAPPY CAKES AND STRAWBABIES

2010-05-07T07:54:00.012-04:00

At the temple on Saturday.

Back yard in NC - just before we finished planting.

Cutest girls in North Carolina!

We took lots of family photos after Claire's blessing on Sunday:

Heather and Mark

Laura, Travis, Sophia, Holly and Lucy

Susy, Todd, Lily and Claire

Mike

John, Amanda and Abby

Friday, 7 May 2010

What a wonderful week this has been! Last Saturday we were in the temple with four of our children and their spouses doing some family file sealings - a very sweet experience. Then, on Sunday, we were all together for the blessing of our newest grandchild, Claire Elizabeth Estes. Got some great family pictures on the temple grounds after church, then we all gathered at Susy's house and had dinner. Susy made some cupcakes for dessert and we discovered that her daughter, Lily (22 months) calls them happy cakes (as in a Happy Birthday cake.) Adorable!

On Monday and Tuesday our wonderful son-in-law, Travis, helped us with all the digging, shoveling and manual labor needed for fixing up our back yard. We'd have never been able to do it without him - and we're VERY pleased with the results.

Susy's husband, Todd, is growing lots of strawberries (a.k.a. straw"babies" - per Lily) in their garden this year. Laura's three girls and Lily had a good time picking and eating them and I wish I had taken pictures of them in the strawberry patch.

We've accomplished nearly everything we planned to do at the townhouse this week and got to spend precious time with children and grandchildren. Delightful!

AND, we got to visit a bit with good friends in the area. Loved seeing them and catching up with things in their lives.

EASTER 2010

2010-04-13T14:27:00.004-04:00

Loved getting to spend Easter with five of our six kids (plus their spouses) and six of our nine grandkids! Though we got to skype with most of the others (missed our oldest granddaughter) wish we could have spent some time with everyone.

CLAIRE AND HER BIG SISTER, LILY

2010-03-29T08:37:00.006-04:00

29 Mar 2010
Couldn't resist posting these photos of Claire with her big sister, Lily.

A GOAL COMPLETED

2010-03-26T08:17:00.009-04:00

Mary Ellen Wade with great-granddaughter, Lucy Ellen Chabo
23 MARCH 2010
The same day that we welcomed our newest granddaughter I finished painting a portrait I've been working on since the beginning of the year. I set a goal for myself to paint a portrait of my mother with one of my granddaughters (from a photo taken last summer.)
I took an oil painting class about 10 years ago and hadn't had a brush in my hand since.
So, in January, I took a four-week portrait painting class - and though it built my confidence - four classes does not a painter make!
It was definitely a journey to do this painting, and I'm not sure what ever possessed me to begin it. But I am happy with the results. Granted, it will never be mistaken for fine art, but its a good first effort.
As soon as the paint is dry enough, I'm mailing it to my mother as a gift. (It was supposed to be for her birthday [Jan 31] but I didn't quite make that deadline. . .)

BABY CLAIRE HAS ARRIVED!

2010-03-26T08:15:00.006-04:00

23 Mar 2010
We have another granddaughter! Claire Elizabeth Estes arrived at 8:43 pm on Tuesday, Mar 23. She weighed 6 lbs, 13 oz and was 18" long. Can't wait to meet her. I'm flying to North Carolina on Easter Sunday to spend a week with Susy and the family.
[ Note: The orginal pics I posted here disappeared (I think that I didn't save them to my hard drive but they were linked to Susy's fb page, and when she took them down, they were no longer available for this page.) So, I posted these. All but one of these was taken when Claire was about two weeks old.)

A BIRTHDAY and . . . SUNSHINE!

2010-03-09T11:21:00.017-05:00

I love cake!
My own little cake plus a big one to share (not shown)
There are lightning bugs under those stars.
Opening presents.
Abby and Bob.

8 March 2010
A little over a week ago we drove to NC to celebrate Abby's first birthday. (Her birthday is March 3, but we celebrated it the weekend before.) Enjoyed the warmer NC weather as well as a special visit with our kids and grandkids residing there. Here are some pics of Abby at her party. Her Grandmother Watts made an adorable felt book "Buggy for Abby" that was the big hit of the day. As you can see, Abby loved her cake!

And a week later, here in VA, almost all of the snow has melted and the sun is shining. Makes me feel happy to see that sun!!

LUCKY US - EVEN MORE SNOW!

2010-02-06T20:38:00.004-05:00

6 Feb 2010

The snow started falling about 10 am yesterday and didn't stop until around 6 pm today - sometimes falling at a rate of 2" per hour. We ended up with 29"!! No church tomorrow and we're taking our time - digging out gradually from all of this. We lost power from just before 8 am until almost 3 pm but the fireplace kept us warm and since we have a gas stove we could prepare meals. We were pretty comfy.

AND MORE SNOW!

2009-12-20T08:33:00.005-05:00

20 December 2009
Tomorrow is officially the first day of winter and we've already had two snow storms. This one was serious, though. I think we got 16 - 20 inches! I'm grateful to have a warm, comfortable home to snuggle into and my husband to keep me company.

FIRST SNOW IN ALMOST TWO YEARS!

2009-12-06T09:33:00.010-05:00

Top photo: nandina berries in the back yard. Bottom photo: looking out our front door.
6 December 2009
Because of the timing of our sojourn in Brisbane, Australia, and because their seasons are opposite to ours - we experienced spring and summer 2008 in the U.S., then spring and summer (08-09) in Australia, then spring and summer back in the U.S. (09). So, we've had a bit of an adjustment to the cold fall and winter weather. The snow is beautiful, though . . . from the comfort of our living room. :-)

OUR NEW HOME

2009-11-09T11:13:00.007-05:00

9 November 2009
We are slowly settling into our new place in Ashburn, Virginia. We're renting a three-level townhome. Normally I don't like 3-level homes, but this one has a great floor plan. Since it has a detached garage you enter on the main floor (LR, DR, K). The second floor has the master bedroom and bath plus the laundry and a small office/study area. Then, the top floor has two bedrooms and a bath. We still have room for company, but can mostly just live on the first two floors. Love it!

Ashburn VA (population about 75,000) is located 30 miles west (and a little north) of Washington, DC in Loudoun County, Virginia and there are a number of horse farms in the area. According to some on-line info I found, Loudoun's population is the fastest growing of all counties in the United States. Nonetheless, it has a lovely, manicured, small town sort of feel.

Trivia about Ashburn: It is home to the Washington Redskins football team, the National Crash Analysis Center and the Old Dominion Brewing Company.

We've met some great people already - especially at church. The chapel is only about a mile-and-a-half from us. Plus Bob is only five miles from work (easy commute.)

We're also just a short drive from Dulles Airport in one direction and a large premium outlet mall in another. There's plenty of traffic - but less so in Ashburn itself than in other parts of the area.

LOVELY ABBY

2009-08-06T16:58:00.007-04:00

9-16 July 2009
I loved finally getting to meet our newest granddaughter, Abby. She's wonderful!!

I WENT OUT WEST - WHERE I ENCOUNTERED BEARS - AND MORE!!

2009-08-06T16:32:00.011-04:00

SUMMER FUN WITH THE FAMILY

2009-08-05T09:04:00.006-04:00

Had lots of fun with family and extended family this summer. Need to download some more photos from the camera - but here's a slide show of several we liked. Some are from our gathering in Chicago for Isabelle's baptism and some are from the family reunion in Missouri over the 4th of July weekend. It was great to see four generations together!

WRITING IT DOWN

2009-06-30T16:33:00.008-04:00

30 June 2009

I've been thinking lately about the need to record my life history. Over the years I've kept only a few rather skimpy and sporadic journals, and I'm now feeling a sense of urgency to leave behind some kind of first-person record of my life and my experiences.
I'm sure this desire was prompted by the fact that two of my friends died suddenly and unexpectedly within a day of each other at the end of May. Caryn was four years younger than me and had a brain embolism and Beth was four years older and had a heart attack. Though I'd known them both for more than 20 years, I learned some wonderful and delightful things about each of them at their funerals --- things I would have enjoyed knowing before they were gone. . .
Their sudden passing has renewed my sense of how tenuous life is and has inspired me to write about myself so that, perhaps, my children or grandchildren may know more about me.
I've written the first few pages and have made a list of photos I want to scan and include once we are more permanently settled (and can unpack all of our boxes).
Wish me luck - and perseverance - in this endeavor!

FUN WITH LILY

2009-06-24T07:38:00.006-04:00

24 June 2009

For three days this week we're watching our granddaughter, Lily. She'll be one year old next month and is a real sweety! Lovin' getting to spend this time with her. Wishin' we could have this much time with all our other grandkids, too.

THAT WAS FAST!

2009-06-10T16:53:00.003-04:00

10 June 2009

Even though I just officially went to one crutch yesterday, today I am finally completely off of them. The PT said if I'm going to do a lot of walking or have a long day and need a little help at the end of the day, I can use a cane - until I'm stronger. Otherwise, at long last, I am done with the crutches!!! I'm so happy. I haven't walked anywhere without crutches or a cane since my accident last November 14. Today's a really great day!!!

WOO HOO!! ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO!

2009-06-09T17:29:00.004-04:00

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

I'm officially down to only one crutch and will soon be transitioning to none!! Hooray! Hooray! (I say "officially" because I've been cheating some, anyway, for the past week or so - using only one crutch about half the time. Now the doc says its okay.) :-)
I'm excited to know I'll soon be without these clumsy accessories I've had for so many months.

POOR MAN'S CHOCOLATE CROISSANT

2009-05-31T11:52:00.003-04:00

Sunday, 31 May 2009

This morning I had some leftover flaky biscuits (from a can) that I had baked yesterday morning. I split each in half, sprinkled some chocolate chips on top and baked them in a 300 degree oven for a couple of minutes to melt the chips. Then I removed them from the oven and spread the melted chocolate with a knife. Yum. Warm and tasty.
I don't think this would be any good with the standard canned biscuits. You need the flaky kind.

DARN! DARN! DARN! DARN!

2009-05-12T17:20:00.006-04:00

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

I thought I'd be rid of these crutches today. Instead,the doc said I have to take it slowly and have my physical therapist work with me to begin partial-weight bearing and gradually move toward full-weight bearing over the next month. I really don't want to be going this slowly!!

(postscript - June 25) I forgot to say in my earlier post that the AU doc was wrong when he took away the crutches in early February and said I'd be fine. There's really no way to be "fine" while trying to walk around on a broken leg! After a couple of weeks of constant pain, etc. I sought a second opinion. The second doc offered what assistance he could - but by then, we already were preparing for our return to the U. S. so he couldn't do alot except give me some strong meds and refer me to a phsical therapist who put me back on crutches until I could get the leg repaired properly.
As soon as we got back to the U.S., I contacted docs at Duke Medical Center and went in for surgery on March 16 to repair the broken femur in my right leg. All went well and after a good deal of physical therapy, am finally at this stage. . .

Funny story -- on the day of my surgery, the doc was late arriving for my operation. Turns out it was because he was in another part of the state that morning assisting with surgery on a polar bear!!

2009-03-07T16:47:00.005-05:00

HOPE IS A GIFT

7 Mar 2009

"Hope is one leg of a three-legged stool, together with faith and charity. These three stabilize our lives regardless of the rough or uneven surfaces we might encounter at the time. . . ."Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness. Its absence—when this desire of our heart is delayed—can make 'the heart sick' (Proverbs 13:12)."Hope is a gift of the Spirit. It is a hope that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection, we shall be raised unto life eternal and this because of our faith in the Savior. This kind of hope is both a principle of promise as well as a commandment, and, as with all commandments, we have the responsibility to make it an active part of our lives and overcome the temptation to lose hope. Hope in our Heavenly Father's merciful plan of happiness leads to peace, mercy, rejoicing, and gladness. The hope of salvation is like a protective helmet; it is the foundation of our faith and an anchor to our souls."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 21–22

ANOTHER GRANDDAUGHTER!!

2009-03-05T05:35:00.006-05:00

3 March 2009

Our son, John, and his wife, Amanda, were due to have their first baby on or about May 8 but she decided to arrive 10 weeks early and was born today at 6:58am (MST) She only weighs 3lbs 5 oz but seems to be holding her own. They've named her Abigail Marie Crenshaw and will call her Abby. Currently, she's in the NICU at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Idaho. and will need extra care for a while. We're all praying for the three of them and feel comforted that everything will be OK. Wish I could be there with them. . .

BLOG CHANGE

2009-03-01T05:24:00.002-05:00

1 March 2009

Now that I'm no longer Down Under, I thought it best to change my blog so I can keep it current. We loved Brisbane, Australia and especially the wonderful people we met there - and now it's time to keep on living our dream! :-)

We're very much in transition right now, but hope to be settled somewhere before too long. . .

SINCE I'M BACK IN THE U.S. MY BLOG NAME IS CHANGED. IT'S NO LONGER "WHAT'S UP DOWN UNDER"

2009-03-01T05:23:00.002-05:00

BEAUTIFUL SYDNEY

2009-02-22T22:56:00.006-05:00

Our final post in Australia
19-21 Feb 2009

We took a flight early Thursday morning and enjoyed two and a half sunny days in Sydney. Our hotel (The Menzies) was beautiful and also conveniently located - making it easy to get to Circular Quay and from there to Manly Beach (where we hung out with Nemo and gang -promoting tourism in North Queensland - and dipped our toes in the cool water of the Tasman Sea.) The fabulous and famous Darling Harbour was not to be missed and we enjoyed a wonderful alfresco meal at the Passello Italian restaurant on the waterfront. Glad to see this beautiful city before we leave to return to the U.S.!!

FABULOUS TRIP TO GREAT BARRIER REEF!

2009-02-14T15:55:00.011-05:00

11-14 February 2009

We flew to Cairns then took a transit bus to Port Douglas in North Queensland. (One of the main highways is called Captain Cook Highway.) Took a Great Barrier Reef tour on the Quicksilver and got to do an ocean walk as well as view lots of coral and sea life through the windows of a semi-submersible craft. Awesome!

We also visited the Daintree Tropical Rain Forest and saw the most magnificent birds and butterflies - amazingly bright colors!!

Loved this whole area and wish we could have stayed longer and seen more. Highly recommend it to everyone as a great place to vacation. We also had fabulous food this entire trip - which has not generally been the case when eating out here in AU.

HEADING HOME SOON

2009-02-02T21:11:00.003-05:00

3 February 2009

Sadly, I'll soon have to end this blog (though, maybe I'll start another.) Bob's job was made redundant here and we'll be heading back to the good ol' USA at the end of February. Don't know where we'll end up permanently, but it doesn't seem likely to be NC. Will keep you posted.

We're looking forward to seeing family and friends when we get back, but are sad to leave the wonderful people we've met here. Its been a precious time because of them.

We're going to see the Great Barrier Reef and also take a short trip to Sydney in the next couple of weeks, so maybe I'll have a few more images and notes to post before we go.

Re: my health -- the doctor has taken away my crutches and my back brace - assuring me that all my bones have healed - and I'm limping along on my own now. Exercise will be the best aid for my continued recovery so I need to be diligent with that. Am enjoying hydrotherapy twice a week and feeling its benefits as well.

ONE MORE

2009-02-02T21:08:00.002-05:00

I forgot to say that I like what the Aussies call those strands of tiny white lights that are frequently used at Christmas. Here they're called Fairy Lights. Isn't that cute?

MORE AUSSIE TERMS

2009-01-22T05:43:00.007-05:00

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

By popular demand - I'm giving you a few more Aussie terms.
You may have heard some of these before - especially if you watch any British TV - but in Australia, you don't check the boxes on a form, you tick them. And, you don't say, "good for you" when someone has done well or had good fortune. You say, "good on you."

If you decide to eat out here it's good to know that at Wendy's you won't find any hamburger. Instead, it's a chain of ice cream stores. And, if you go to a food court and order a kabob you won't get meat on a skewer. Instead you'll get shaved meat served with a flat Turkish bread (kind of like naan or pita). You may also want to know that if you want an ice cream soda (like a root beer float, except they don't have root beer here) you ask for a spider.

And, last but not least there are several Lowe's stores here - but they are neither hardware nor grocery stores. They sell discount children's clothing.

DAY TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS

2009-01-22T05:27:00.005-05:00

(photos from our trip to Tambourine. Center photo is our friend Joan in a Christmas shop. Bottom photo is Dirk, Kerry and Bryn enjoying a break and some ice cream.)

Friday, 2 January 2009

Today we drove up into the mountains about an hour-and-a-half south of us to the lovely little town of Tambourine. It has a lot of art galleries and craft shops along the main street and it was fun to stroll along and to step inside a few. There's even an authentic German cuckoo clock store. We went with our friends Bryn and Joan Bricknell and Dirk and Kerry Smibert. (Actually, I still wasn't yet walking well enough to stroll with everyone else, so they pushed me in the wheel chair.)

On the way there we stopped in the town of Yatala to try the famous Yatala Meat Pies. It was the best meat pie I've had since we've been here. Yummy.

We stopped and had some ice cream before leaving - and then, since we were in two cars went our separate ways. Bob and I stopped at Ikea on the way home to look at a dining room table we like.

CHANGE IS GOOD

2008-12-15T01:04:00.003-05:00

15 December 2008
While I've been in hospital, there've been a few good changes. 1. We got a car! That will make a dramatic difference in a variety of ways. (We found that we weren't eating anything "heavy" - like watermelon - when we had to hand carry everything.) 2. Bob has been called to serve on the stake high council. (The car will also be helpful for getting him to meetings.) And, 3. I am getting stronger every day and have been told I'll be able to go home Christmas Eve. Hooray!

MY SCOOTER PHASE HAS COME TO AN ABRUPT HALT

2008-11-28T14:48:00.010-05:00

14 November 2008
With only one hour left to complete my motor scooter certification, I skidded off the road and into a guard rail. Time and care will heal all the wounds - and I'm getting excellent care at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. I just need to be patient during the process.

(postscript - June 2009) When I first posted this, I didn't feel inclined to include details. However, I now want to record that I broke seven bones (1 vertebra [the T10]; 3 ribs [7, 8 & 9]; my left hip socket; a pelvic bone; and my right femur) and I had a large laceration at the joint of my right hip and thigh.
Only the femur had any displacement so all of fractures healed well on their own except that one - which broke at the very bottom, just behind my knee. Of course, as long as I was confined to bed or in a wheelchair, it wasn't a problem. Once I started walking, though, the piece of my femur that was broken dug into my meniscus and was excessively painful. (more on that with the May 12 post)
The laceration on my right hip was quite large and required several trips back to "theatre" (which is what the Aussies call the surgical area) before they finally did a skin graft to close it up. One small artery in that area was severed in the accident and I lost a fair amount of blood at the accident site. I also lost some muscle in that area.
I'm grateful for all the tender mercies of the Lord in my healing process and happy to have made the progress I have since the accident.

OUR NEW GRANDDAUGHTER LUCY

2008-11-12T06:07:00.011-05:00

Friday, 7 November 2008
Lucy Ellen Chabo was born at home at 3:15 am - weighing in at 7 lbs 14 oz and 20" in length - and surprising her parents by not waiting until they could make the trip to the hospital. Travis performed his mid-wife role with his usual aplomb and Laura was a true pioneer. All went well and the EMS got there shortly after Lucy's arrival to take Mom and baby to the hospital. A friend from Church drove out to their place to stay with Sophia and Holly (who slept through the whole thing.)

We are blessed to now have one grandson and six granddaughters. (The Lord needs strong women in the days ahead.)

LOCAL PHRASES

2008-10-20T17:07:00.007-04:00

I suppose anywhere you go there are phrases and idioms to learn, but I'm finding some of the ones here especially interesting. For instance, after greeting someone, they'll ask "How're ya going?" (not "How're ya doin'? or How's it going?). And, a woman doesn't "get" pregnant - she falls pregnant (i.e. She decided to fall pregnant. -or- She fell pregnant.) Also, if someone invites you to supper, don't expect a meal. Supper here means dessert. An announcement was made that we'd have a pot luck supper after a Church meeting the other day - and it was all cookies (actually - here, cookies are called biscuits) And, yesterday I went swimming with a friend and when I changed into my suit, she said, "I like your costume." They call it a "swimming costume" here.
Below is an interesting recipe from the "supper" the other night:
Mars Bar Slice
4 Mars Bars
4 oz. butter (at least this measurement isn't in grams, like usual)
4 cups rice bubbles (a.k.a. Crispy Rice Cereal)
Choco bits to melt for the top

Melt Mars bars and butter together. Combine with rice bubbles. Press into slice tin. Drizzle melted chocolate over top. Refrigerate, slice and serve.

BETTY THE BIKER

2008-10-20T17:01:00.003-04:00

Friday 10 October 2008

Took the train north to Michelton and had my first six hours of motorcycle training. (Two in the classroom, four on the pavement) I have to admit there were times when I found myself thinking, "What in the world am I doing?!!" - but on the whole it was fun and I'm looking forward to my next class on the 24th. At the end of class I was exhausted, but exhilerated at the same time.

DOWNRIVER ADVENTURE

2008-10-08T04:27:00.007-04:00

Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Today I rode on the riverboat, Miribel, down the Brisbane River to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. At the sanctuary I held a koala, got up close and personal with kangaroos, emus, Australian brush turkeys and more. I also got to see lorikeets, kookaburras, a dingo, lots of "flying foxes" (bats) and many other indigenous aussie animals. Fun!

Then, on the way back to Brisbane, I got to take the helm of the Miribel for part of the trip! Bonus!! I never thought I'd get to man the wheel of a riverboat. Loved it!

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS

2008-10-05T01:32:00.010-04:00

Sunday, 5 October 2008
The jacauranda trees are all in bloom.
We both have callings at Church, now. I'm the Relief Society Enrichment Leader and Bob is going to be working with the 10 and 11 year-old boys, helping them meet their "Faith in God" requirements. Should be fun for both of us!

Yesterday (Sat.) I went to a Yoga-in-the-Park activity from 7 - 8 a.m. and the woman who taught the class invited me to go to the gym with her tomorrow to see whether I'd be interested in one of their classes or not. I'm wanting to take either yoga or pilates classes - and try to get myself back into better shape. I'm looking forward to getting more fit.

VOLUNTEERING

2008-10-03T07:34:00.003-04:00

Wednesday, 1 October 2008
At Church Sunday, they announced the opportunity to help at a local charity that provides services to young people (ages 12 - 24) who have cancer. They are preparing for their big fundraising drive - selling colorful bandanas, pens and such. Since our apartment is empty and I have no other commitments right now, I took the bus to the Brisbane headquarters for CanTeen in Fortitude Valley and spent a couple of hours helping box up orders. Met some very nice people there and told them I'd be back later in the week.

The biggest scooter dealer in Brisbane just happens to be located a few blocks from CanTeen, so I stopped by to check out the Vespas and other scooters. Because of my height, I've found there are few bikes I'm very comfortable on. The one that seems to fit me well is a Sym Mio - but I'm still considering. I did learn of a good training class I enrolled in and am looking forward to taking that on Oct 10.

INITIAL SETTLING IN

2008-10-03T07:28:00.003-04:00

Photo of the entrance to the Thornton Street Ferry stop - just down the hill from us.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Today I got the official Australian visa sticker in my passport and also got my Queensland driver's license. Am getting more familiar with Brisbane's central business district as well as the suburb of New Farm to learn about local shopping, etc.

CHANGING HEMISPHERES

2008-10-03T07:15:00.001-04:00

23 September 2008
It's Bob's birthday and I arrived in Brisbane about 6:30 a.m. One of my bags didn't arrive with me, so it took a while to leave the airport. (Customs was pretty quick, though.) The huge time difference took it's toll, though, and I slept a lot the first couple of days in country.

Our apartment, on the 20th floor of the Goodwin Apartments in Kangaroo Point, is small but nice and in a good location. We're only about a mile from Church and the temple. And, Bob walks down the hill each day to catch a five-minute ferry ride across the Brisbane River to go to work.

We have an air mattress to sleep on plus a table and folding chairs that we'll move out on the balcony once our things arrive. The ship carrying our belongings is scheduled to land in port here on Oct. 7. We hope they won't keep our things in quarantine too long, but have been told it could be up to a month. I know I shouldn't complain, but it's difficult to be comfortable with such minimal creature comforts. I'm managing to prepare meals with one small pot and one skillet - and we have two plates, two cups, two bowls, etc. . . It's a bit like camping out - on the 20th floor.