Sat 16 Jun 2018
Posted by Bob under Family and Friends, Travel
No Comments
We flew down to Mobile in June to see Leona (about two months old) for the first time and to have a wonderful repeat visit with Nic, Alison, and Felix (now two years old)
One day we went to Dragon Boat Races alongside the USS Alabama Battleship.
We stayed at a friend’s house in Mobile and particularly enjoyed the live oaks along the streets.
And playgrounds and breweries…
And a beautiful botanical garden.
Thu 31 May 2018
Posted by Bob under Our New Home
[2] Comments
Sun 22 Apr 2018
Posted by Bob under Family and Friends
[2] Comments
Wed 18 Apr 2018
Posted by Bob under Our New Home
No Comments
Early spring was unseasonably cold this year, but fortunately that did not prevent the explosion of color in early April. Our vegetable garden is well underway, with a large variety of lettuces and other greens coming along nicely. New flowers appear almost daily; the pictures above show our flowering Crabapple, Weeping Cherry, red bud, and dogwood .
Thu 12 Apr 2018
Posted by Bob under Family and Friends, Travel
No Comments
Apart from celebrating my sister’s birthday with her son Justin, his wife Katherine, and their sweet son Harvey, we spent a day at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), where Holly had been alerted to a fascinating exhibit about the early 20th century Brazilian artist, Tarsila do Amaral. A few pictures Holly took of her work are included below:
We also explored artifacts from ancient Egypt at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where we also enjoyed music, wine and snacks on the balcony, and where Holly checked out some old friends.
Mon 19 Feb 2018
Posted by Bob under Hiking/Sauntering, Nature, Travel
No Comments
 
We stayed at this lovely place a few miles outside of Castries, the capital city. The location was stunningly beautiful and the personnel extremely able and helpful. One can check out its website at http://villabeachcottages.com/. The staff were extremely helpful in arranging private tours anywhere we wanted to visit on the island. The long beach was a friendly place.
Instead of a two-hour drive to the Pitons, our hotel staff helped us hire a boat and a crew to take us there in about 45 minutes. The crew stayed while Holly enjoyed the beach and I hiked up Gros Piton, seen from the boat in the last picture above. In the previous pictures, Petit Piton appears higher than Gros Piton, but it is not. It is, however, considerably more difficult to climb.
In many ways the hike down was much more difficult than the hike up: a wet, rocky trail inviting slips and slides. The boat ride back to our hotel was mostly in pouring rain with the roof tarp blown off, and we were quite chilled by the time we got there. In contrast, two days later we returned to the Soufriere area and had lunch at the elegant Ladera Resort, with spectacular vistas, food, and wine. Quite a contrast!
 
One wall of this ancient volcano in Saint Lucia collapsed years ago, making possible the world’s only “Drive-In Volcano. We tried out the hot mud bath and had a blast.
The British and the French fought over possession of St. Lucia for 140 years between 1674 and 1814, with each exercising dominance for seven times. Pigeon Island was a critical surveillance and control point, with extensive military fortifications on its two peaks. We hiked in the morning and then settled down on the lovely beach.
Castries is Saint Lucia’s capital city, and we spent time at the food and craft market, as well as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, with its lovely murals reflecting both African and Caribbean influences.
Wed 24 Jan 2018
Posted by Bob under Our New Home
No Comments
Sat 30 Dec 2017
Posted by Bob under Family and Friends
No Comments
We had a brief taste of winter in early December, but the rest of the month was chilly but mostly snowless, except in the mountains. Longtime friends from Delaware arrived on December 19th, followed in the days ahead by Lyara, John, and Lonni (and a menagerie of dogs). Much good eating and wine drinking ensued, along with a trip to the Blackfriers Playhouse in Staunton and a birthday luncheon for Holly at the Boar’s Head Inn. (Note: as usual, click on the pictures to get a larger version.)
Mon 18 Dec 2017
Posted by Bob under Family and Friends
1 Comment
Sat 25 Nov 2017
Posted by Bob under Family and Friends, Travel, Vegetable Garden
No Comments
 
We had a colorful fall, although a quite dry one. I planted seeds for a fall vegetable garden at the end of August, and within a month or so was rewarded with plenty of lettuce varieties, arugula, chard, collards, and kale. Kale and collard quiches became a standard part of our diet for the next two months.
With two local friends, Holly and I spent a weekend in the old railroad town, Clifton Forge, in the Allegheny Highlands, enjoying the C&O railway museum and the German-style Christmas market as well.
Back home, we celebrated Thanksgiving with Holly’s son John, sister Constance, sister-in-law Lonni, and Tim and Megan. And assorted dogs… And we skyped with Felix and his parents in Mobile!
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
