Here, There and Everywhere

There are places I remember . . . .  

Oooofy, seems I've been gone since forever! I had work to do back "home" and have spent the past two weeks gettn'er done. TCB. Checking it off the list. One day, as I always say, I'm going home and having nothing on my agenda other than visiting friends and family. Period. As usual, I had little time to see anyone.

Made a ten-hour dash to DC so I could drop off the rest of the teenager's belongings. Then it was off to Northern Jersey the next day to help with  some family stuff there. I got to see my SIL MJ and have dinner with my brother and his family in DC. By the time I made it further north, I could definitely feel some autumn in the air--just not enough to ward off my hot flashes! Awkward. See what you have to look forward to Mz. C!

While I missed my niece's Sweet 16 party, I was there for her actual birthday. I haven't been with any  of my niece's for their birthday for a very long time. Too long. And I have, soon-to-be, NINE nieces! That's not right. And thus why we are planning to move back to the NE at some point. We have been too far from family for way too long. I know, I know, it keeps changing! ha!! So, this week, it's New England! It was nice spending time with my teenage nieces and hearing about their lives. Where has the time gone? It boggles the mind.

Then it was back to DC (are you tired yet? I WAS!!!). My brother, Jim, surprised me with a glass of home-made sangria (not allergic, go figure), apples and cheese, and dinner outside waiting for me upon my arrival from NY.  We sat by the fire pit all night--ending with s'mores. I even had a little time with my girl, Jacq which was wonderful. Really missed seeing her this summer. 

Ok, moving along to the teenager's new flat. It definitely needed a mother's/woman's touch--aka a good cleaning. Sorted, cleaned and "detailed" the place as best I could. He loves it. A big ol' thank you to my brother, Jim! Hat's off to him also because he is the one who found all of these kooky and wonderful things for the place. I played with each and every piece!

Even stayed in the old hood in S. Arlington, VA. The area has turned into a rather busy little city. Such changes every time I go back. Truth is, I don't believe I could live around that many people again. ha. Little ol' Nashvul has spoiled us. I think the hustle and bustle of city life are behind the hub and I. If we were younger? In a heartbeat! But, who knows?

One afternoon, I met my brother at the Capitol  before he had a photo shoot; and we were able to walk through the U.S.  Botanical Gardens for a bit. I hadn't been in there for many, many years. I think my brothers and I practically grew up in here when we went to work with our father. He'd be shooting photographs and we would wander over to the Botanical Gardens and walk around (my brothers would sleep in there--pre-planking!). Once I wandered into the Capitol and got lost down in the bowels of the building until I finally came upon a security guard who directed me out. I was a wee little thing! I don't think my father ever missed me! lol I'm sure things have changed, just a tad, these days. No wanderers allowed!

I was able to meet up with my girlies, Kelly and Amy--on different nights. I wish we could have all gotten together at the same time. Oy. Thankful to have been able to see them, period. My only wish is to be able to see all my friends when I visit. Impossible. I have never been able to do it!  There's always stuff to do that keeps me from seeing everyone. No matter how much I try and plan. Drives me kooky.

Kell had gone to see the Dweez and got us a cd signed! Thanks, Kell! Great CD! Wow, yep, Dweezil has channeled his father, somehow.

And, before I knew it, it's time to head back. Two weeks, come and gone. And all I could think of was getting back home to my hubby and animules. Loved driving through those Blue Ridge Mountains, both coming and going.

Bye bye ol' Virginny. See ya next time! And hopefully, more friends.

Labels: Amy, Arlington, Brother Jim, DC, Family, Jacq, Kell, Maryland, Music, NJ, Virginia, Zappa

To Connecticut and Back

I don't know if y'all will ever forgive me for being so nonchalant about blogging recently. I have been photographing, I promise. Just seems like a chore to blog with them. Ugh.

There was a recent trip back North for a GGC gathering--you know, with my besties. Pam had moved to Connecticut a couple of years back, built a beautiful home and invited us up, in a nutshell. 

Among other wonderful things that we did, we went to Whiteflower Farm.  How utterly exciting!!

And even though the season was about spent, there were still plenty of beautiful blooms.

And yes, I finally bought some Iris bulbs to plant and YES! they are in the ground. Astounding, indeed.

Riverside in Bloom

I've been doing this and doing that. Truly enjoying Riverside for the first time, appreciating the beauty like never before.

I've never had enough time to plant here. I'm normally only here for a mere week or two. It's been so wonderful. Kelly and Amy had saved some seed from a vine at Panini Pete's after I left several years' back.

I finally got the tiny seed planted. They popped up within a day!

Here is a couple of days' worth of sprouting. 

And then today, I transplanted them, only after a week or so. Fingers' crossed they survive!

Darlene found this little lady burying her eggs in her back yard. We had more spots, or so I thought, next to our house. Dar dug and dug, but nothing. I wanted baby turtles too!

 Dar's ducks.

My window box in the back yard seems to be doing better. Everything was in shock after I transplanted them.

Including the hibiscus. It really went down hill quick; but I'm happy to say, she looks good now.

 And here is a planting to remind me of Seymour, the snake Amy found in this spot several years back. Ew!

 My old ladder is filling out.

So, c'mon, walk this way. 

You're always welcome.

Hope this find you all well and enjoying the summertime.

The Moon, the Stars and Some Cows

I've been battling that ol' brown cow over head. Trying to shoo him away.

It indeed it is brown--the one that hovers over us like a dark cloud sometimes. Kelly has confirmed this because her mother says so.

I got out yesterday and ran some errands. The sun was out and it felt good to be out. Today was a dentist day replacing my old crown with a new, permanent one. I had expected the worse. The removal of the old crown two weeks ago was horrific. It took that long for the temporary one to settle down. But today's was pretty easy. Thank goodness that is behind me! Regardless, it was still good to get out of the house. (Sad, when you're happy to get out to the dentist!)

We are expecting some snow beginning tomorrow night. We're all (well, most Nashvillians) are rooting for the Salchow (sow-cow) to fly over head and leave us with lots of the white stuff. (Another one of Kell's cows.) I somehow think I'll like this one much better than the ones of the brown variety.

Thank you Aim for your rallying call and Kell for the cow twalk.

I'm trying to better here in blogland. Promise.

xo
ro

Post Trip--Ellicott City, MD

So much to catch up on rewinding my trip back home to celebrate mom's wonderful life. So, here we go, back again. Here is my "tattoo." All the girls got one. Mine was just in a more conspicuous place than theirs. :-P

Before dropping the boys off at the airport to come back to Tennessee, I was craving Ledo's pizza. So that's just where we went. Oh, I miss good pizza. We can't get it down here. Probably a good thing. The kids were grabbing the camera and taking LOTS of photos. Enough!

After dropping the boys off at BWI, I headed to Amy's. Here's her back yard tree house and her twins swinging. Yep, that's my brother Jim on the side there. I had forgot to bring the Mangria, leftover from the celebration the day before. He was kind enough to bring us four bottles! Sweet. Now, that's the way to keep the celebration going. All the girls, the GGC, were staying at Amy's and I pulled in to do the same Sunday night.

Aim knew I hadn't yet celebrated my birthday and was sweet enough to have a cake made for me and Kelly (who's birthday is just after mine).

It's a lobster pot--an inside joke, sorry.

We all sang happy birthday and enjoyed the cake. It was all butter cream icing. Oh my. No wonder I've gained 10 pounds! Thank you Amy, so much.

We enjoyed ourselves, as you can see. The ol' gang was back together.

We stayed up 'til all hours. The best girls in the world here.

The next morning, we went into the old part of Ellicott City. I had never been. Being a Virginian girl, we didn't wonder over to Maryland much. Ha. Little rivalries, I suppose. Silly but true. Anyway, it is a charming town!

With wonderful shops.

And nooks and crannies.

We were late in getting out, as usual (after a long night), and we found a little place that was still open for lunch.

The Rumor Mill is an Asian Fusion tapas-type restaurant. Mmmmmm.

And tapas we did.

And desert too, of course. The pastry chef brought all the goodies out himself.

It all was fabulous, including all the homemade ice creams, including a Girl Scout Thin Mint flavor!

Then it was time for some speed shopping. It was coming up on 5 pm already! Woooosh!

Can you tell my heart was palpitating? It was.

We just made it into this shop before closing time.

Thank goodness!!! Oh my.

I loved the gas lamps on top of this building!

We stopped for some coffee before heading back home.

And Pam, Kelly and I packed up and headed to Arlington. We caravanned on the Beltway. to Kelly's house. This shot is bad, but I'm always mesmerized when you come around this bend and see the Mormon Temple. The hub calls it Oz. You just kinda come up on it, in all its glory.

We made it to Kell's where we toasted once more. (This was a very good champagne. I don't normally care for the stuff.) We stayed up later than we should have but talked and talked and missed our Amy but im'd her most of the night. Silly girls.

And then came Tuesday. Kelly went back to work, Pam had to work on her MIL's condo and get it ready to sell and I moved on to my next house, my SIL Mary Jane's.

More to come.

xo ro