Maine and Boston

We drove up the coast of Maine today.  We were just astonished at the beauty of the coast.  The little villages were very quaint and very interesting to see.  Did you know there was a Kennebunkport and a Kennebunk?  Very unique villages................ritzy.  We have never seen this type of coastline.  We love it.  We are probably going to be in Maine for a couple of days and hope to get some beautiful pictures. 

For dinner tonight I had a lobster roll.............................I am going to work my way through the lobster menu.  What fun.  We are in Ellsworth tonight and are going to Bar Harbor tomorrow.           

                                      
                                  Our first look at the coast of Maine.

We walked down this beach.

We love Maine.  When we arrived at Kennebunkport, we expected an invitation from the Bush's, but alas, nothing was forthcoming.  They may have been out of town.  More fun in Maine on Friday and Saturday.

Boston was a challenge.  We enjoyed exploring, but the traffic was difficult to navigate.  When we asked directions at different places, the response was always, "In a car? ? ? ?"  We soon found out why.  We finally made to all the places we wanted to see, but the streets are very narrow and crowded and tricky needless to say.  Boston Harbor is beautiful.................the city too.  I looked for Matt Damon or Ben Afflack, but was disappointed.

We visited the JFK museum and spent a lot of time in Harvard Yard.  We ate at a famous burger place across the street from Harvard, "Bartleys".  We even walked into a couple of buildings where lectures were in progress.  We saw old Boston, the Old North Church, Bunker Hill and finally the Navy shipyard where Old Ironsides is docked.  We toured the ship and of course found it fascinating.

                                 Rich with Old Ironsides.

I didn't get many Boston pics.  Rich took lots of good ones so I will steal some of his later.  I was busy trying to see which street to turn on..................................................................................................

We are loving our trip and feel so lucky to be able to just take off.  We have learned so much about New England that we didn't know.                                                                                                              

Newport, Rhode Island

We spent the day yesterday in Newport, Rhode Island.  We were very tired at the end of the day as we walked a lot, but the area is beyond interesting.  The summer homes (mansions) from the late 19th century were enthralling to say the least and generally those homes are now historic homes, but the hundreds and hundreds of mansions being occupied were breathtaking.  People really live like that. 

We toured the Breakers -- just incredible.  This was the Vanderbilt Mansion.  We toured the first and second floors.

                                         This is on the walk behind the Breakers

On the walk.

                                We loved seeing all the ships and boats in the water.

Then as we were walking in the town a woman told us to go find the Newport Shipyard.  We did and wandered around.  There was a guard at the gate, but they allow peasants to wander in and look around.

We couldn't believe how big these boats were.

We had tons of fun in Newport.  Tonight we are staying in Boston and will tackle Boston tomorrow.  It's amazing how close everything is here.

Fabulous Trip

Rich and I are just so lucky.  We've always wanted to see New England in the fall and especially Maine.  We decided now was the time.  We've been out two days and wow -- fabulous.  We skirted New York City by going up by Gettysburg and cutting up to Scranton.  The mountains of Pennsylvania are magnificent.

The picture above is not mine.  The leaves are turning already. This elevated freeway is the highest I have ever seen.  It was near our hotel in Scranton.  Look how small the car is driving under

You can see the colors a little in the mountain in the back.  Scranton is pretty much in the mountains.  The city along with Wilkes Barre is about the size of SLC.

Rich is packing the car in Scranton.  Good job Rich.

This is the beautiful Hudson Valley.  Amazing.

The town of Mystic is well worth the trip.  Yes, we bought a pizza at Mystic Pizza.

 The picture below is also not mine.  This is what we will see tomorrow.  The beautiful mansions of Newport, RI

So, yes, we feel so lucky to be having this adventure.

Happy Birthday to Me

Don't you just love birthdays?  I'm into my week long celebration.  It has been fun already.  My birthday is today, but we started the celebration yesterday.  Since it was Labor Day, everyone was off work so we headed out to the Inn at Kelly's Ford for lunch.  It was a beautiful day and the setting was incredible.  Kelly's Ford was the first place to have a bridge built across the Rappahanock River and was the thriving town of Kellysville until the Civil War.  This link has info on many of the famous Civil War Battles near Kelly's Ford and near Culpeper.   http://www.innatkellysford.com/battle.html

Anyway, the Inn is located in Remington about 15 minutes from Culpeper.  As I said, the setting is so beautiful.
Here we are at the front of the Inn.  Rich is taking our picture.  Audrey is sound asleep.  Matt's family is in the West.  Matthew, Andrew with Audrey, Melanie with Jocelyn and the birthday girl.

The grounds of the Inn are several hundred acres with the Inn, cottages, an equestrian center, a reception center, pool, etc.  It backs to the Rappahanock River and is in Culpeper County.  A divine place for lunch.

We had lunch on the back patio.

Looking out at this

Brothers torturing their own and each other's children

Mahda and two of her granddaughters.  Audrey has given me a new name.  Mahda!  I like it.

Rich really was with us taking our pictures.  Thanks Rich for a great lunch and day.

Help

Does anyone know how to get rid of the photo square showing up on my blog?

Fun and Crazy July and August

24th of July Parade attenders at the Nauvoo Cafe

It's been a wild and wacky summer of traveling and visiting.  I flew to Salt Lake City on July 23rd and started my vacation off with a bang the next morning.  It was Saturday and the 24th of July.  In SLC that is a state holiday.  I had never attend the huge parade in SLC and was very excited to be there.  We attended the sunrise service at the tabernacle on Temple Square prior to the parade. (Mom, Mike, Rosy, Cassidy, Whitley, Brook and Grandma Darlene.)  We had a wonderful day.  Try as  I might -- I couldn't get many good pictures of Mom.

                                             Watching the parade

A view of the Salt Lake Temple out the window of the Joseph Smith Building.

Mom and I then went to the mountains the next Monday and Tuesday with Mike and Rosy's family.  What a great family they are!  The girls were making quilts (the younger girls in the photo above) and it was here that I got to see Anne of Green Gables for the first time.  That's right I had never seen it before.  Remember --

 I raised all boys.  I am now on a mission to get my own set of the DVDs.                                                        

On Thursday we picked up Lauren in Lehi to head to the family reunion in Idaho.  This is where we stopped to eat                                                                                                                                     

                                                    

That's right Maddox.  My Neider grandparents started taking us to Maddox when we were kids and we love the chance to have a fun meal here in Brigham City.                                                                        

Lauren and Grandma Neider under the Maddox sign.

In Idaho we stayed with both Mark and Renee and Kenny and Margo.  We were treated royally and Lauren had such a good time getting to know the Idaho Neiders.  We watched more of Anne of Green Gables and Lauren was hooked too.

                             Girl cousins and Mom at the reunion.  Ann, Doreen, Mom, LaRae, Andrea

Everyone should be so lucky to have such a great family.  Many were missing (Cousin Joy is on a mission in LA currently)  Boy do I love these girls and boy did we have fun as kids.                                                    

                                         Lauren and Grandma by the Rexburg Temple

                                                Mom and I at Dad's grave.

Then back to Utah..............................Lauren had cheer practice so we had to take her back.  Boo Hoo!  We were sad.  We had so much fun together.  That girl is so much fun.                                                     

Next that smooth talking Darryl talked us into driving to Fresno for his newest Five Guys store opening.  He said,  "Can we go through Yosemite National Park on the way.  I have always wanted to go there."     I was scheduled to fly home, but changed my ticket to go to Fresno.  Gee, I wonder why?  Could it be that Tanner, Carsen and Emery live in Fresno?   Yes!     

We drove through western Utah, cut down through Nevada to California.  The drive was fun and getting to Yosemite was very exciting.                                                                                                                                   

So we had such a wonderful day in such a majestic setting.  Yosemite is unbelieveable and very hard to         describe.  My pictures to not do the beauty of the mountains justice.  It was breath-taking to say the least.    

These solid granite mountains are so exciting to see.  Mom and Darryl at our first stop

These skinny falls were so beautiful.  There are many.

We saw so much beauty.  I loved El Capitan and Half Dome.  Fantastic!

Then on to Fresno...................................well, coming down out of the mountains, baby Andrea got very car sick.  It might have been altitude sickness.  Not fun.  Darryl said I was freezing him out of the car.  I survived and we made it into Fresno about 8:30 to three very excited children with there noses pressed up against the window watching for us.

                   Dinner at Sweet Tomatoes -- Jeremy and Tanner

                         Tanner, Grandma Donna and Nephew Curtis

Carsen, Shelly, Emery, Andrea and Darryl

We are at Sweet Tomatoes having dinner.

Darryl and Curtis at the opening of Five Guys in Fresno

                                        Darryl talking to the food editor of the Fresno Bee Newpaper

My boy Tanner showing his muscles

                                                         Carsen trying to hide from the camera

Emmy checking out the toys in Target in her Cindrella shoes.  She won't take them off.

Tanner and Carsen trying to pick out just the right toy.

So I have covered many miles and had some great visits.  I really couldn't live without my family -- from the oldest to the youngest.  They are my life ...........................I had so much fun seeing my brothers and their wives.  They are my strength.  Just like those majestic granite mountains in Yosemite, they are solid and strong and always there to support me.                                                                   

They take care of me in so many ways.  Love you, Kenny, Mike, Mark and Darryl.  You are a joy to be with. 

Mom and I spent a total of two months together this summer.  That is a record for us.  We had some good times.  And I felt so lucky to be with Lauren again in Idaho and have so much fun.  The icing on the cake was to end up in Fresno with the CA Crowleys.  What a blast we had.  I love being with Jeremy and Shelly and their gang.  They are such a cute family.  So now back to reality in Culpeper.

The basement dwellers moved out this week to their new home......................................breaking our hearts by taking those two adorable daughters away.  I'm sure we will have to think of some reasons to visit Bristow, VA --it's about 40 minutes away.