Tuesday - September 30

My oh my....last day of September!    LOVE this time of year - a little cooler and the leaves are turning!     Bring on October...

 

Luke and Annette left around 11:15 this morning to drive back to visit her parents.    We sure enjoyed their stay and look forward to 7 weeks when we'll be together in Florida.

 

Mark has painted our back garage past 2 days - looks real spiffy!

 

Dotty, our realtor came this afternoon - we have the house on the market thru October, so....she is having another Open House in a few weeks - sure can't say she hasn't tried!

 

Cuddling with Mommy

Luke is strapped in and ready for trip to see his Nana and Grandpa Dave

Love when he waves bye bye and blows kisses

 

 

 

Monday - September 29

Fun day with Luke and Annette.    Mark and I exercised and then we all went to McDonalds and met the neighbors (small group this morning) for breakfast.    Luke took a 3 hour nap and Patrick brought Liam and Connor over after school to play with Luke.

 

Cousins having cookies and ice cream after school

Playing in the leaves with Grandma  

Happy boy with Mommy

 

Annette, Luke and I went to Marsha's with the Monday Night Friends - delicious chili dinner and gondola sandwiches AND....real fresh pumpkin pie with praline topping

(Marsha's pies are soooo good)!

 

Saturday-Sunday, September 27-28

Traveled to Indianapolis this weekend for Ruth and Rusty's wedding yesterday.    Beautiful wedding on a perfect day and so fun to be with their family and friends AND, it was Mike and Claire's 39th wedding anniversary  We stayed at the Embassy Suites, the wedding was at Christ the King Church and the reception was held at the Broadmoor Country Club.  

 

We had some time before the wedding, so enjoyed browsing at Keystone Crossing, a favorite mall which I hadn't been to in probably 12 years or more.  It has really changed and grown!   

 

We said our good byes to Paul and Kathy who are moving to Texas.....sooo going to miss them!

February on Fort Myers Beach, we'll be back together!

 

Kathy and Paul

 

 

Our very close-knit little group is breaking up....

Kathy, Claire (Mother of the Bride) Pat

 

Rusty and Ruth

 

Sunday morning, we left Indianapolis around 9:15 and drove to Danville for 10:30 Mass at St. Paul.    then stopped in for a quick visit with Mark's brother, Tom and Beth.    Onto Ogden for a "Celebration of Life" for a very dear boating friend of ours, John.    What a great tribute with standing room only in church.   What a wonderful man and we so enjoyed all the memories that others shared.

 

 Stopped in Champaign for a quick "lunch" of caramel/cashew sundaes at Culver's, then home to change clothes and off to Liam and Connor's last ballgames.    And who should be there but Annette and Luke who arrived this afternoon and staying a few days.....yeah!   

Connor struck out the side in one inning and hit a GRAND SLAM HOME RUN!!!!

Eating popcorn with Grandma and Grandpa 

 

 

Luke hanging out with Auntie Anne, Mommy and Grandma

Cousin fun

We all went to Monical's after the game and pigged out on pizza, salad and spaghetti.

Luke is enjoying an apple cider donut from Tanner's Apple Orchard and glass of milk

before bath time.

 

 

Friday - September 26

Glorious day in central IL......I exercised and ran a few errands.   I did some laundry, packed for our   weekend coming up and then we rode bikes ending up at Holy Trinity for the boys Track-a-thon which is their school's one and only fund raiser for the year.    Such a delightful day and Patrick and Anne were there helping out with many other parents and teachers.    Patrick was sitting under a tent doing MC and DJ duties and playing some good, peppy music to motivate these kids to
 run, run, run!!!

2 dedicated, proud volunteers

and

2 tired little guys after running 18 laps (Liam) and 15 (Connor).

Way to go..................

 

Mark grilled out brats for lunch and then I was off to get a manicure/pedicure.   Ran a few other errands, including picking up Mark's suit at the cleaners.    Been awhile since we've had anything dry cleaned, so what a shock to hear that it was $12.55!   Ouch!   But then the nice girl opened my back door and hung it up for me - how's that for service at the drive-thru!

Went to our favorite Chinese spot "Mandarin Garden" for another awesome meal and then to Meijer's for some piddlies.

It's just a nice comfort to be home and back in familiar territory like visiting with Lisa, my long-time gal who does my nails and toes, and just driving around town and seeing what things have changed since we've been gone!

  

Tomorrow we are off to Indianapolis for the wedding of Ruth and Rusty.    Ruth is the daughter of good friends, Mike and Claire.   

 

 

 

 

Thursday - September 25

Very cloudy all morning....Mark exercised and then had some maintenance done on the truck.   Sun came out around noon and another very pretty day.    Got a bunch more clothes put away and all the bins are empty!    Yeah!!!   After lunch, we rode bikes, Mark got a haircut and

I shopped at the dollar store.

 

I picked the boys up from school and then Patrick came to get them.    A nice leisurely afternoon/evening on the porch reading and then supper!   

 

Luke is having a great time in the country with his other grandparents.   

 We can't wait to see him and Mommy on Sunday!

Wednesday - September 24

Another winner in the weather department - could get "high" with all these gorgeous autumn days!     Up and going this morning - Mark was off to visit his Mom (along with 2 sisters, Theresa and Doris).    I exercised, and then got to work in the kitchen making treats for tonight's   farewell party for Paul and Kathy.   

 

Did some laundry, Brenda stopped by for a much-needed catch-up with hugs, tears and all!    I ran some errands and then had lunch with Exchange Club.

 

Mark got home at 4:00, visited with Marty next door and then packed up our food/drinks and off to party..... with Paul, Kathy, Mike and Claire.    Great evening with great friends.    Paul and Kathy are moving to Texas next week.....sure going to miss them.

 

Saturday is Mike and Claire's daughter, Ruth's wedding in Indianapolis, so we'll all be together one more time.

 

 

Tuesday - September 23

Happy First Day of Autumn......and it's a beauty!     Love the little ditty on Google showing the leaves changing colors and then......falling!

 

We left Metropolis around 7 AM for the last stretch to home.  Nothing like fall in the country and Mark took some rural roads.....not much farming done yet.

Arrived home around 12:30 and got the truck unloaded and a bunch of stuff unpacked.   Mainly bins of clothes left and no big rush cause this is not really summery weather.    Sometime will get them ready to take to Florida.

Even got out some fall décor - it is truly a spectacular day and so happy to be home!

Patrick and the boys stopped in after school - so good to see them.   Mark and I went for a grocery run and then met the guys at Firehouse Pizza - Anne had to work late (bummer).

Our Catrina travels this summer covered 1, 078 miles!    That's seeing a lot of Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River and good eating!

Ryan texted tonight that he has arrived in Hawaii for the Blue Angel shows this weekend!
 

Monday - September 22

Beautiful day for traveling and after seeing the boys off to school and feeding Blair her breakfast, we left around 8:30.    I drove 2 hours after Knoxville (mountains are not for me)!      Tonight we are in Metropolis, IL and on a whim, Mark thought we should try something different, so we are at Harrah's Casino Hotel. overlooking the Ohio River     It's really nice and inexpensive!    We walked 3 blocks to Fat Edd's Roadhouse for great dinner (a very good burger for me with homemade slaw and Swiss cheese - Mark had the tenderloin).     We checked out the casino (not our thing), but did spend some $ and try our luck, and.....in a flash, gone!   

 

Happy Luke is coming to IL in just a few days!!!   Yay...

Sunday - September 21

40 years ago today (9/21/74), Mark, Michael, Anne and I moved into our home.......38 years ago today (9/21/76), we had a brand new baby boy, Philip John!     So many happy memories of 9/21...

Happy Birthday, Philip!

 

Beautiful day for the last hurrah of summer (fall rolls in tomorrow).   We all went to 9:00 Mass at

St. Joseph's. Back home for everyone to scatter in all directions.    Mark and Brady went mini golfing; Brooke and Davis went on some errands for school and groceries; Drew is working on his project;, Blair is napping and Michael and I held down the fort!

After Mass....

Sweet Miss in pretty yellow and white outfit from Grandma

 

Grandma and Sweat Pea

 

Drew and his World History project

a Spartan shield dating back to 650 BC

 

Davis and his latest Star Wars creation

717 pieces assembled in a little over an hour this afternoon!

 

Had a last-day-of-summer supper on the porch with brats and all the trimmings!    FUN weekend in North Carolina.

 

Tomorrow.....homeward bound!!!!!!!!!

Saturday - September 20

We left Emporia at 7:10 - beautiful day for traveling to see the boys and Little Miss who turned 14 months yesterday.

 

Mark and I were thinking back to 25 years ago (1989) when we were in VA Beach with Michael, Anne and Philip (Ryan was only 4 and stayed with Grandma and Grandpa D).   The beach is just so clean and with the boardwalk makes for a really neat vacation spot!  

 

  So glad the Blue Angels choose Oceana (the Naval Air Station) for one of their yearly visits.    It's so neat to see them fly over the water (Annapolis, Chicago, Baltimore), but being up close yesterday and seeing the precision of all the maintenance workers, the jets take off and land and the narrator right in front of us was really special!

 

There are 7 more weeks of Blue Angel shows this year all around the country.   We saw them in Lakeland, St. Louis, Annapolis, Chicago, Baltimore and Virginia Beach (8 total shows).    Hopefully and God willing, we'll see many more next year when our boy is up there doing his magic!

9/19/14 - NAS Oceana

 

State highway 58 is a 4-lane road that we've taken a few times this year from Suffolk, VA all across the lower part of the state - one of the more pleasant roads with not much traffic.    Sure beats the heavy interstate.

Gosh, North Carolina does such a beautiful job with their flowers in the median on I-40    We always enjoy the poppies in the spring and some sort of yellow flower?   Today, it was all about zinnias (one of my favorite summertime flowers) in every color - gorgeous. 
  Wish I could've gotten some photos as we were whizzing by....

Arrived in Newton around 11:15 and sorry we missed a great soccer game this morning....

Brady, our little "Star" scored 5 goals in a 6-1 win!

 

And the Princess....

Love my little denim skirt

Feels like summer, so time to change to a sunsuit and bare tootsies

 

Chowing down my dinner - I love to eat!!!

 

And here they are.....16 years and 1 day after their wedding! 

The anniversary folks went out for dinner to celebrate while Grandpa and I held down the fort.

 

Miss Blair Bliss is all ready for nighty night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday - September 19

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Michael and Brooke ...

 

September 19, 1998

 

It's a gorgeous day on Virginia Beach.....I got a haircut at Salon 31, we met Ryan briefly, and then Mark and I walked the boardwalk and had a late breakfast at Belvidere Hotel - an old timey place that has a very teeny, tiny diner (our friend, Joan recommended and it was VERY good!!!)

 

Neptune - King of the Sea (very close to our hotel)

 

Enjoyed sitting on our 19th floor balcony reading while the ocean waves came crashing into shore.

 

 Great day at the air show - met friends, Don, Joan and Martha (Don and Joan used to live back home but now in VA Beach - Martha is out here visiting).    The Blues were awesome and a great day for us to watch them one final time in '14.    They did a few new maneuvers and even though we've seen them several times, the thrills and chills continue!!!    Next year will be extra special when Ryan is up there entertaining us!

Don, Joan, Martha

  

Joan and Pat after the show...

 

 Traffic was crazy leaving Norfolk and we didn't get as far as we would've liked, but we are in Emporia, VA tonight.    Walked to Applebees which was close to hotel and with the long day, too much sun and not wanting to drive in the dark....we are now settled!

Tomorrow.......onto Drew, Davis, Brady and Blair (all the result of what happened 16 years ago today)!!!

Thursday - September 18

Love the Ruffled Duck and this go-round we were in the Cape Cod Room - so pretty with seafoam green and light blue nautical décor!    Dennis and Joyce are just the neatest folks and breakfast this morning was soooo good and beautifully presented.   I should've taken pictures of our fresh fruit plate so artfully displayed, followed by a German pancake or "baby cake" baked in a cast iron skillet with applies, along with 2 slices bacon and 1/2 English muffin.   THEN.....for dessert (Joyce always has a little treat to top off her great breakfasts)....a teeny tiny baby cone with a a tiny scoop of Highlands Creamery ice cream (Oxford favorite).    WOW....!!!!   

 

Another couple from Edgewater, MD (near Annapolis) had spent the night - Gene and Rebecca.    Very nice and so fun to visit.   They also have 4 children (3 boys and 1 girl) and 5 grandchildren.

 

So, on the road now traveling to Oceana, VA.....3.5 hours.   It's a very pretty day and can't believe how many roadside stands we've seen out here selling mums, pumpkins, etc.   They are everywhere just like the produce stands this summer.   Boy, I would love to take home some pretty mums, but we are packed to the gills!

We arrived in Virginia Beach around 2:30 and settled in at the Hilton Oceanfront - very pretty and on this clear day as we were walking on the Boardwalk, the Blue Angels were flying overhead - awesome!!!  

We met our friend, Katherine (Paul and Kathy's daughter) and friend, Dana for dinner at Tautogs for dinner - neat place in an old home with really good food.    So fun to catch up with the girls.    Back to our hotel and met Ryan and the flight surgeon, Mark for a drink.   

Katherine and Dana

A Selfie on the boardwalk

Wednesday - September 17

We are tired nomads tonight, but Catrina has been cleaned out and all systems shut down for another season.   Mark has so many things to deal with, but enjoys all this!    I helped with a few projects, packed up all our clothes, defrosted the fridge/freezer, and did 2 loads of laundry.    

 

I was supposed to have a 10:00 haircut with Lisa, but she was not there?    So.bummed as I really like how she cut my hair 2 other times this summer.

 

We checked into the Ruffled Duck B an B, and

after cleaning up walked to the Robert Morris Inn for a delicious dinner outdoors - what a gorgeous evening.     An extra treat was seeing one of the tall ships that was in Baltimore docked here in Oxford.   This wasn't as big as the one we followed last week, but much more wood - they are all so different and unique!

 

Beautiful tall ship

 

Tomorrow we'll be on our way to Oceana, VA for the Blue Angels and visit friends.

 

Taking back lots of good memories from this summer of '14 on the Chesapeake.  

  Some highlights include:

 

Having Ryan and 4 of the Blue Angel pilots come aboard Catrina in Annapolis

Visiting charming little towns and enjoying peaceful, calm anchorages

Cruising up the Potomac and touring Mount Vernon and enjoying Washington, DC and

Alexandria.

Seeing our nephew, Tom, 2x  - DC and then Baltimore

Cruising with Philip from Baltimore back to Oxford

Sooo much good eating all summer long....taking home those extra lbs.

 

More stats tomorrow night from our travels.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday - September 16

Beautiful day.....exercised and after breakfast, tackled all our stuff.    I did 2 loads of laundry and just worked away packing it all up!

 

I drove to Easton this afternoon and got a manicure.   We loaded up more bins in the truck

 (hope all this is going to fit)???

 

We had a delightful evening with friends Ann and Don - first at their lovely home in the country for drinks and then to the Tidewater Grill in Easton for a wonderful dinner and great visit.    Don and Mark worked together many years ago.

 

Don and Ann

 

Driving thru the country this evening we saw lots of corn being combined.    This area of Maryland (Talbot County) is mainly agricultural.   Lots of corn and soybeans just like the Midwest.

 

 

Luke is hiding from a diaper change! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday - September 15

Sure feels like fall.....cool nights and sunny, 70ish degree days!    Love it!    We were up early this morning,  pulled up the anchor and on our way by 6:40 AM.   

 

Pretty sunrise leaving Annapolis

 

Good trip back to Oxford and nice having Philip along - love when the kids visit us while traveling and always enjoy the one-on-one visits!

 

We 3 got Catrina all tied up, jumped in the truck and were on our way back to Dundalk

(1 hr. 20-minute trip by car).   Had lunch at..................The Hard Yacht Café and the manager who is ALWAYS there doing everything (seating folks, waiting tables, serving food, bartending, and so efficient),  gave me a big hug when we said good-bye!    Philip then drove on to Herndon, VA for his meetings till Wednesday night and we came back to Oxford.    Dug right in with the start of clearing out Catrina and ending our 2014 summer on the Chesapeake.    Mark has several jobs to take care of, so glad we have till Wednesday afternoon to get it all done.    Catrina was to be lifted out Wednesday morning, BUT......having some engine issues, so she'll stay in the water till mechanics can look at her and then Mark will fly back and see what's what!!!   Never a dull moment with boating!

 

BOAT.....Break Out Another Thousand

 

Best memory (besides watching the Blues and seeing Ryan and Philip) from this weekend is that from here on, whenever I sing our national anthem, I will think back to this special weekend in Baltimore where it all started 200 years ago.  

  So neat that we were there for the Star Spangled Spectacular!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday - September 14

200 years ago today Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner and today the celebration continued in Baltimore.    The Blue Angels performed at 3:00 - probably over 1000 boats watching from the Middle Branch of the Patapsco Rivers.    Never saw anything like it!

Nice having an extra crew member along today

Waiting for the Blues

 

Whew....54 degrees when we got up this morning.   Put on several layers and rode our bikes to 8:30 Mass at Our Lady of Hope.   We had breakfast at (you guessed it.....the Hard Yacht Café) and Philip joined us when he arrived at the marina.    Great to see him onboard.    Left Dundalk around 11 and arrived at a spot to anchor and settled in at noon.    Few boats were there before us, but they kept coming and coming.     Unbelievable.    Everyone out there bobbing around this pretty day

(low 70's and a few wispy clouds.)  

 

Show was awesome, could hear Ryan a little bit.    After the show, everyone picked up their anchors and the mad exit began.....CRAZY and water was very rough and choppy!    

 

Tonight we are anchored out in Back Creek in Annapolis 25 miles)   Had dinner and just chillin.'    Philip is riding back with us to Oxford tomorrow and we'll take him to Dundalk to get rental car.   He has meetings till Wednesday in DC.

 

 

 

 

Saturday - September 13

Woke up to this pretty sunrise, but didn't last long as the clouds and cool weather came in and then the rain.    Major bummer to have a rainy day when there is sooo much going on in Baltimore today - 23 tall ships, several Navy vessels, pet parade, Blue Angels, 2 big concerts tonight and then fireworks beginning at 9:30 which they are describing as "the best in 200 years"!    Hope we can see from Catrina here in Dundalk?

 

We had breakfast at The Hard Yacht Café, washed the sheets from Tom and remade the bed for Philip coming tomorrow.    Just an inside kind of day with our computers and good books.

 

Here are some pics taken yesterday - Mark clicked away taking 497 shots and then condensed to 36.

 

#2 pilot, John (Ryan's roommate) and son of Dan and Chris who were with us yesterday flying directly over the marina where we stayed July 4th in the Inner Harbor  (this was not a Mark exclusive....some pro took this and appeared on Facebook)

Break-away

Flying over "Charm City"

 

This was taken Labor Day weekend in Cleveland

 

Late this afternoon it was still drizzling, but we put on the raincoats and went for a walk.    Not sure if the Blues were going to perform with all the rain and heavy cloud cover.    They were to start at 3....while we were out walking around 3:35, we heard the roar of those beautiful blue and gold jets and tah dah.....let the fun begin.    We walked back to Catrina and enjoyed some of the show (we were 3 miles away).   Nothing like yesterday with those clear skies, but we'll take it and I'm sure all those folks who came out enjoyed the thrills!

 

So, not paying any slip fees here at Anchor Bay East Marina, but giving them some good business at the Hard Yacht Café - not a hardship as we love their food and tonight another packed place with great dinner!

 

We were hoping to catch a glimpse of the fireworks, but....didn't happen - just too far away.    Maybe see them on You Tube in the next day or so?

 

 

 

 

Friday - September 12

What a day!    Beautiful blue skies and 75 degrees......Tom worked from Catrina and Mark and I got off the boat to give him peace and quiet!    Returned the rental car and picked up some deli sandwiches.    Dan and Chris (parents of #2 pilot, John and Ryan's roommate) flew in from Cincinnati and joined us.    Left Bear Creek in Dundalk and anchored out on the Patapsco River near Fort McHenry.    Ryan was narrating from the Fort and occasionally, we could hear him.   We had lunch and then enjoyed the practice..... what a thrill to be there with all the boats, the Baltimore skyline in the distance and celebrating this great moment in history....

The buoy that marks the spot where Francis Scott Key wrote our national anthem 200 years ago!

 

Tom enjoying his first Blue Angel show

 

Proud Mamas - Chris and Pat

 

Dads of #2 and #7

 

Chris, Dan, Tom 

 

Cruised back to our slip in Dundalk and Tom left for Reagan airport in DC to pick up his girlfriend who flew in from Wisconsin for the weekend 

 

Chris, Dan, Mark and I went to the Hard Yacht Café for a drink and lots of chatter.    We so enjoyed them - they are coming down the home stretch as Blue Angel Mom and Dad.    This is John's last year as #2 pilot!

 

Beautiful sky over Dundalk

 

Mark and I had dinner at the Hard Yacht Café - they have thee best pub-type food (grilled cheese/seafood sandwich for Mark and crab/shrimp egg rolls for me)!   It was packed again tonight!

 

Great ending to a perfect day!