Downeast

Books I've Read

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:57:00 +0000

The Time Traveler's Wife

I've been able to do quite a bit of reading lately. I wasn't sure about reading this book at first; but after reading the first couple of chapters, I was totally hooked. It's a wonderful love story between Henry DeTamble, the time traveler, and his wife, Clare Abshire. You find out what causes Henry to time travel and how it affects his life and Clare's. Don't try to figure out the why or how of how the time travel works. Just let yourself be carried away. I promise, you won't be sorry. The only caveat I have is that if you plan to see the movie, see it before you read the book. I don't think the movie does justice to the intricacy of the characters as time evolves, but then again, how could it?

The Lovely Bones was another great book. It's heartrending but beautiful at the same time. A young girl is murdered, and her family is left to pick up the pieces of their lives as they each deal with the loss in their own way, in their own time. The book is the dead girl's view as she watches over her family from heaven or the "In Between." When she is able, her family experiences very brief glimpses of her, never sure if her image is their imagination or reality.

The Shack is a very thought provoking book. Although it does deal with the spiritual, I found it refreshing in the way it defined religion. I've never considered myself a religious person, but I do consider myself as a spiritual being, tied to our Creator in many ways. It's an echo of how we should treat each other, with love, respect, and acceptance. ". . . and the greatest of these is love."

Happy Birthday

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:20:00 +0000

Happy, happy birthday to my oldest grandson. I can't believe you're eight years old! Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday that I was holding you in my arms in the hospital the day you were born. I miss our weekends together, cuddling with our hot water bottles, having our special tea in the evening, watching movies, filling up the birdfeeders and cleaning the bird baths. I miss our breakfasts at IHOP. Before I know it, you'll be taller than me and giving me dating advice. Hahaha. Until then, know that I love you and that you'll always be special to me.

You Can't Go Home Again

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:06:00 +0000

Looking forward to the new year and thinking back on the year that's passed has me contemplating some of the experiences gone by. I've decided that "you can't go home again." What I thought was a possibility by reaching out, I realize now, looking back, was a huge mistake. I've evolved and changed in ways that some will never be able to understand. Respect and consideration will always be important, respect and acceptance of differing opinions. You can't go back. Embracing the future and looking ahead, not back, is the only way to grow and welcome what may lie ahead. Old ghosts are finally laid to rest, and dreams of new possibilities are on the horizon like following the light in a darkened room.

First Snow of the Season

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:50:00 +0000

My son and his wife decided to come and visit this weekend, and I was so looking forward to it. They arrived late on Friday, and we stayed up talking until after midnight before we all decided to call it a night. Yesterday, we woke to a snowstorm outside. We were all SO EXCITED! I LOVE SNOW! It was a winter wonderland. It snowed all afternoon and into the evening -- big, fat, beautiful snowflakes! We spent the day watching it snow, playing games on the Wii and watching Christmas movies. We had a warm breakfast of biscuits and gravy and eggs. Then a terrific dinner of home made chicken, mushroom, and wild rice soup. I had the perfect company for what I consider a perfect winter day.

Snow Watch

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:49:00 +0000

They're predicting snow for northern Virginia tomorrow afternoon -- 2 to 4 inches!! I know, Nat, that's nothing compared to your bounty of the white stuff. But for here, it hardly ever snows; so I'm VERY excited. It's supposed to start tomorrow morning sometime. I can't wait! Come on, snow! Show us your stuff. Get us ready for Christmas, a white Christmas.

Thanksgiving

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:03:00 +0000

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I am thankful for my wonderful family and extended family. We're blessed to be able to spend this holiday together every year at Jamey's mountain home. This year the guys fixed the turkey, and it turned out perfectly. It was a bountiful feast for everyone there, where we enjoyed each other's company, the crisp mountain air, the beautiful scenery, and the incredible wildlife that was everywhere you looked. I love the mountains.

Church near Boone, NC

Turkey vultures perched nearby

Three little elves waiting for Santa

View of mountains from back of cabin

This little buck walked right up to the car to have his photo taken. If you look closely, you can just see the nubs of his horns coming through.

Watch geese, calling out their alarm

Cows from a nearby farm

Weekend Breakfast

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:49:00 +0000

I normally don't eat breakfast during the week, partly because who has time when you have to get up at 4 a.m.? I'm not even *awake* then. I stumble to the bathroom to get freshened up, get dressed, put on my makeup so I don't scare the folks at work, and then hop in the car for my 40 minute commute to Arlington. Once I get there, I have to trek up the half mile hill to get to the front door. I'm usually the first one in, so I get the coffee started and sometimes, if I remember, I'll eat the slice of toast I packed for myself before I left.

But weekends -- oh, weekends are a whole other story. There's nothing I enjoy more than having a nice breakfast/brunch on the weekend when the morning's not rushed and I can laze around in my PJ's. One of my favorite things to have is biscuits and gravy. I didn't even realize that there were people who didn't know what biscuits and gravy were until a friend of mine from New Zealand thought I was having cookies with some kind of gravy on them. So I thought I post a picture and a recipe for one of my favorite things.

This recipe calls for hot sausage, but I like mine with just plain sausage. You can add hot sauce if you like it a little more spicy. I like lots of pepper in mine. Just cook it up and pour it over hot biscuits that have been split open.

Recipe from Bobby Flay

Ingredients

* 12 ounces hot bulk sausage
* 12 ounces mild bulk sausage
* 4 tablespoons flour
* 1/2 gallon milk
* Salt
* Pepper
* Biscuits, store bought or homemade

Directions

In a large pot, add sausage and cook until browned and cooked through. Drain grease and add flour to sausage. Cook over medium-high heat until the sausage is well-coated with the flour. Add milk and stir until desired thickness and add salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with biscuits.

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:02:00 +0000

Look at the fun I had creating my elf cards "You've been elfed." You can send your own by clicking on the link at the bottom.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Homegrown Traditions, ETC.

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:09:00 +0000

FROM THE OLDEST

As the oldest, I just want to say
Get your Christmas lists out on display

No Mom, it must be said
I do not want a snow sled.

Everyone knows but you
New York, New York equals the flu

Kelly, your list was not first, but don't be sad
We all know this year you were bad bad bad

Be careful not to tell David too much
Because he can't keep secrets n'such

Joe and Allison have nothing to fret
being married to Kelly and David pays off bad Karma debt

Good luck shopping for each other this year
I hope this poem brings JOY GOOD CHEER!

Love Always

Tracy

See how this got started here!

Wine Weekend 2009

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:38:00 +0000

A wonderful time was had by all, as evidenced by the photos below. We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather. It was warm, sunny, just a perfect day to tour the wineries and have lunch outside at beautiful Veritas.

Mirror over tasting room bar

Vineyard at Veritas

View from the back of Veritas

The party actually began Friday night at enoteca in Charlottesville. The wine was wonderful, the food was great, but the company was best of all. Two families joined together to celebrate a marriage of 10 years between my beautiful daughter and her wonderful husband.

Here they are getting ready to taste the anniversary cake

They opened their gifts and we toasted them again, toasted each other, and toasted to our wonderful grandchildren.

A wonderful time was had by all.

Wine Weekend

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:47:00 +0000

Every year around the beginning of November, we have a tradition of heading to Charlottesville, VA, to commemorate my daughter's anniversary with "Wine Weekend." We all arrive at different times over the weekend, but the festivities normally begin on Friday afternoon with lunch somewhere, maybe a small wine tasting at a local vineyard, and then a fun dinner together before we head back for a good night's sleep so we can start another day of exploring on Saturday. We may go to some old favorites or maybe try a new winery. What matters most is the company, the laughter, and the heady feeling you get from sipping each brand of a vineyard specialty. The dessert wines are my favorite. The weather is usually crisp and wonderfully cool, and the mountains oblige by putting on a spectacular show of color. I can't really put down everything I feel about this special time. I just love it. I love the mountains. I love the people I go with.

My daughter and her sister-in-law (WW 2008)

The pond at Oakencroft
(photo by Kathryn)

Wine Weekend, the celebration of your love,

Reflects a time of happiness,

Bright and shining

As the sun on the mountains

And the gilded leaves of fall.

The twining vines,

No longer burdened by their fruit

Caper and dance in the wind.

The bounty has long been harvested and

Given up its spirit to honey-colored nectar

And crimson ambrosia.

We trek the mountain tops

Tasting and searching

for our treasures to take home.

Vintners speak of aroma, notes, and finish.

But we take in the beauty around us,

Delight in shared laughter

And somewhat irreverently swill

The wine in happy draughts.

This is our tradition,

Each year’s memories,

Our anniversary celebration of

Each passing year

At wine weekend.

GMB

MOSAIC MONDAY

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:09:00 +0000

I found the idea for this wonderful photo collage on A New England Life. Then followed her link to Little Red House where you can learn to make a picture mosaic to post on your blog! I love the way this turned out. Thank you, Little Red House!

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Homegrown Traditions

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:29:00 +0000

One of the yearly traditions I've created with my kids is the annual poem requesting their Christmas lists. I always ask for them in the regular way by phone or e-mail; but somehow, the fact that they're all married with families of their own and full time jobs seems to waylay the requested lists. I usually follow up with a silly short poem I compose and send to them, hoping to jump start the process:

Here is this year's poetic request:

The days are getting shorter,
The leaves have turned to gold
And the wind's begun to bluster
As the temps grow ever cold

Just around the corner,
Christmas lies in wait
And spirits start to wonder
If lists have e'r been made

It's only weeks away, you know
Till Santa Claus arrives
And Christmas trees are all aglow
In little children's eyes.

So send your lists to me, my dears
I don't want to get tough
And have to box your dainty ears
With mother's soft kid gloves.

And last year's:

The weather is weird.
They say we’ll get snow,
And the cold north winds have started to blow.
It’s been howling all day here in VA,
And it’s almost too cold to go out and play.

I went to the store to look for some fixins to
Go along with my turkey and trimmins.
And all the stores along the roads here
Already have Christmas lights hung everywhere.

I couldn’t believe it when I saw wreaths and trees
For sale at the store just bold as you please.
By the time Santa comes near the end of December,
Good Lord, they all be as dry as dead weeds.

And then when I thought of the shopping days left
I thought to myself, hey, where are the lists?
My kids haven’t sent any wishes or wants
Do they think I’m a psychic who can guess their response?

Please send me a list to shop from, I pray
I need your gift list without any delay.
If you can’t help me out
I don’t know what I’ll do.
Don’t make me get tough and use the thumbscrew.

Corny, I know; but hey, I have fun doing it; and sometimes they even respond in prose!

Bennington Battle Monument

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:58:00 +0000

The Bennington Battle Monument, dedicated to the famous Battle of Bennington that took place during the Revolutionary war in 1777, is a 306' stone obelisk opened to the public in 1891. It is located north of VT Rte 9, about 4 miles east of the New York border. A guided elevator takes visitors to the observation floor for spectacular views of Historic Bennington and three states. There is a diorama and several interpretive exhibits on the ground floor along with General Burgoyne's cook kettle. Statues of John Stark, Seth Warner and other notable monuments adorn the grounds. Tickets can be purchased for a small fee in the gift shop that specializes in historical items relating to the Battle of Bennington and Vermont.

It's quite tall and reminded me of a shorter Washington monument.

General John Stark Statue from the Battle of Bennington

Here is a plaque about the Battle that took place here.

From the vantage point of the knoll, you could see the entire village of Bennington with it's gorgeous fall colors. It was such a quaint and beuatiful little town. I loved it.

Moose standing near monument

Gorgeous fall tree

Grandma Moses

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:54:00 +0000

Anna Mary Robertson Moses started painting at the tender age of 76! I guess there's hope for me after all. She painted nearly every day and turned out more than 3600 paintings during the time she painted. Bennington has a museum that features some of her beautiful paintings. I couldn't wait to see them, and they're all amazing when you consider that she didn't use a paintbrush at first and used whatever paint she could find, including regular old housepaint. They have the old wooden kitchen table on display that she used to create her paintings. The museum has a store connected to it where you can purchase prints and cards with her paintings in them and also those of her grandson, Will Moses.

The museum also had beautiful quilts from Haiti, vintage and perfectly preserved antique grandfather clocks that were made in Vermont, an antique car, civil war era weapons, and a replica of an old schoolroom. I loved it. The outside of the museum is guarded by two identical Dalmations, one on each side of the doorway.

And just at the entrance, to the left of the gated pathway, there is a wonderful sculpture named the "American Spirit: Faith, Hope, and Charity."

Bennington Covered Bridges

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:30:00 +0000

Bennington, Vermont, is known for its covered bridges. They actually have a covered bridge museum where you can learn all about them and how they're made. I didn't actually tour the museum, but we took the time to drive through three of the five bridges. The bridges were covered to protect them from the harsh elements, keeping the wood dry and preventing it from rotting.

The Silk Bridge

Inside structure of the Silk Bridge

The Silk Bridge crosses the Walloomsac River and was built about 184. The inside structure is called Town Lattice, and all of the covered bridges in Bennington are the same type.

Paper Mill Village Bridge

Wallomsac River by the Paper Mill Village Bridge

The Paper Mill Village Bridge was originally named for a 1790 paper mill in Vermont. It was built by the son of Benjamin Sears, the man who built the Silk Bridge.

Henry Bridge

The Henry Bridge was named for Elnathan Henry who bought the land from James Breckenridge and constructed the Henry House in 1769. The Henry House operates today as a Bed & Breakfast Inn and is located directly across from the bridge. The Henry Bridge spans the Wallomsac River. The original bridge was constructed in 1840. In 1989 a complete restructuring was done by Blow and Cote, Inc.

Wallomsac River view upriver from Henry Bridge

Small dam and water fall Henry Bridge

Sunflower field next to Henry Bridge

Robert Frost

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Vermont was a beautiful state. We stayed in Bennington, a city known for its covered bridges and Robert Frost's burial place. He lived in Shaftsbury, VT, after moving from Derry, New Hampshire. You can see a picture of his little stone house in Shaftsbury and read about his dream of planting a Garden of Eden with a thousand apple trees. I personally love his poetry. We visited the Old First Church in Bennington where he's buried in the graveyard behind the
church.

Old church of Bennington

Entrance to graveyard

Robert Frost's gravestone

"And were an epitaph to be my story I'd have a short one ready for my own. I would have written of me on my stone: I had a lover's quarrel with the world. "

On the drive down to Massachusetts, I wanted to stop at his farmhouse in Derry, New Hampshire. Unfortunately, the house was closed to tours for the season, but I managed to snap these few photos. Just thinking about the fact that he walked where I walked was amazing to me.

Front of farmhouse in Derry

Side of house and children's garden

There was a maple that had to be removed at the right side of the house. When people heard about it, many of them requested pieces of the wood from the tree as mementos. You can actually purchase a keepsake piece of the wood from the maple.

New England

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:28:00 +0000

I've always wanted to take a trip through New England in the fall, and this October I did just that. The foliage was so beautiful! We drove up through PA and through the Catskills to Vermont, down through New Hampshire, ending up in Massachusetts. It was very cold, and it snowed several times! I loved it though because it hardly snows here in northern Virginia (it's true).

Cedar, here is the photo I took of the snow on the mountain from Burlington, VT, and thought of you!

I took some wonderful photos of the drive through Pennsylvania, where the fall color was amazing! The trees had not even started to turn yet here in VA.

Road trip!! There's nothing I enjoy more than taking a road trip to see new things and being able to take gorgeous photos along the way.

Swan

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:30:00 +0000

My first finished palette knife painting.

DEEP WOODS

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:52:00 +0000

My latest painting. I did it during a Bob Ross painting class. I'm not crazy about the color of the trees and may overpaint them once the paint dries. The class was fun, but next time I'm going to use my own color scheme. I'm signed up for a palette knife painting class in two weeks. It should be fun!

HOLIDAY WEEKEND

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:35:00 +0000

I spent the holiday weekend at my daughter's house, playing with my grandsons who have grown so much since the last time I saw them. On Saturday, we went to lunch at the Dockhouse on the Beaufort waterfront. The food was fantastic, and it was a gorgeous day. These photos were taken from the top floor of the restaurant where we could watch boats come in and out of the channel between Beaufort and Carrot Island.

After lunch, we got to watch Tyler play a football game, and it was impressive. I can't believe how tall and strong he is.

On Sunday, we took the boat out on the river and had a lazy ride under an overcast sky that was perfect. The sun wasn't beating down on us, and there was a nice breeze that skimmed over the water. I managed to snap a few shots and even one of a celebrity's house.

Nicholas Sparks' house

We had a wonderful time. We even saw a bald eagle fly over our heads. I was hoping to see a heron or egret but no such luck. I did, however, manage to find these nests.

Osprey Nest

Eagle's Nest

AFter a wonderful day, we went home where my daughter, who's a great cook, made us a feast of boiled shrip with a remoulade sauce and fresh corn on the cob. Our bellies were full. The kids were tired and we decided to call it a night. But not before I went out and took this beautiful shot of a full moon before bed.

Sweet Dreams

ALOHA AND MAHALO

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:32:00 +0000

I spent the last week in beautiful Hawaii on the island of Oahu. It was work-related, but I can think of many worse places to have to work. LOL!! My coworker and I had the chance to do some sightseeing, go to a luau, and meet some really friendly people. The scenery and the color of the ocean is indescribably beautiful. I've posted some of my photos for your enjoyment. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and loved Hawaii, like Dorothy said, there's no place like home.

FALL PAINTING

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:53:00 +0000

Before

After

After many years, I'm starting to do some of the things I love and didn't have time to do when I was raising my kids. This is the first time I've put a brush to canvas in a loooooong time. It's not too bad for an amateur, but I'm seriously hoping I'll improve with practice. It's from a photo I took at a winery in Charlottesville, VA, "wine weekend".

HINT, HINT

bestbee1420@suddenlink.net (Genny) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:34:00 +0000