Summer is ending – and it’s finally nice weather!

It’s hard to believe that the whole summer has slipped by so quickly.  It’s been the 3rd wettest summer on record.  The “late blight” ruined mostly everyone’s tomato crop – the same blight that caused Ireland’s Potato Famine.  But… our flowers did well. 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve spent most weekends going to Garage Sales and selling some “finds” on E-bay and Craigslist. 

The Family and the Grandchildren were a wonderful part of the summer.  Kayla Burns turned 7 and had a “Water Party” with a grass water slide, water balloons, etc.  Here’s all her friends in the latest swim wear – they were so cute!

Grandson Luke Gibson graduated from High School and we had a big, family party to celebrate! Luke is on the right in the photo.  Mark(15) is on the left with his 3 biggest fans – Kayla 7, Sage 5 and Darby almost 7.  Next is Molly 16, Nicole 11, Trevor 13 and Luke 18.  Sorry that Jack 19, was working at the AAA that day.

 

 

I took care of Sage and Darby, during the day, for a week this summer.  It was such a joy to get to know them better and as you can see they enjoyed it too!  They are my son Dan’s girls. Pictured below are Mark and “his girls” – he often baby-sits for them – and they vie for his attention. 

  We met up with Lorraine and Alain from Montreal at Lake George.  They ride their Gold Wing to the  Americade Festival each June and we have a tradition of getting together for lunch.  Always a pleasure

This is a photo of me and my three sisters, taken at Lois’ house in Fort Edward, NY.  My sister Jeanne, the nun, got hit by a car and broke her arm.  Left to right: Eileen, Lois, Jeanne, Alice (the eldest).

That about wraps it up for the summer.  It’s now Labor Day weekend – and the first time that we haven’t spent it camping in many, many years.  I’m preparing for our 25th Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale, which I co-ordinate each year. 

Salisbury Beach – 2009

We have a beautiful campsite, again this year, #A-46.  We can watch the ships on the Merrimack River as they head to/ or come back from the open Atlantic Ocean.  Three of the “Tall Ships” are docked here this week and this photo was taken out the front window of our motor home.  That’s Don watching the ship as she turns around to dock.

We had to have breakfast at “Pat’s Diner” and she if Pat was still running the old place.  She’s 79, still going strong –and doing a brisk business.   The diner itself is one of only 2,000 original “silver diners” left in the USA and is registered in Washington, .DC. For entertainment, it has a Juke Box with 45rpm records!

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Photos  are from: Stormy Day at Salisbury Beach!

Busy at Home

One of my bigger tasks this spring was taking our old 35 mm slides – from the 1970’s – and scanning them and saving them to the computer and to CD’s. It was fun to see “the way we were” and make copies for my children. The girls even used them for their photos on Facebook!

Yes, that’s me, Alice, with Dan, Maureen, Tom & Erin, circa 1970! How time flies.

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We had our annual luncheon with our friends from Montreal during the Americade Bike weekend in Lake George, NY. We always enjoy getting together with Alain & Lorraine Gemme.

Dixie and Frank Proulx were here to visit and “camped” in our driveway in their 40’ motorhome. We kept Dixie company while Frank flew back home to California for a graduation. We had fun going to garage sales and showing them the area. Eating lunch at Slick’s Tavern was a “huge” experience.

Mother’s Day – Niskayuna, NY

My daughter, Erin, had a beautiful Mother’s day Brunch at her house for all our Family.  She had a “sit down” with beautifully decorated tables – candles & flowers – Mimosa drinks – marvelous food. 

Here she is with her daughter, Kayla, before we ate. 

 

 

 

Never enough photos of my beautiful grand daughter, Molly!

    

  Don remembered his Mom by placing flowers on her grave in Albany Rural Cemetery.  This cemetery is one of my favorite places and where my brother and I used to play when we were children – growing up in Menands.

This is the Cemetery “Gate Keeper’s House” with the spring flowers in bloom.

Celebrating Easter at Home!

It always takes a while to get settled back into a house after living in the RV for the winter.  We got home just in time to celebrate Easter with my family.  Here’s the Bunny cake that Erin made and the Easter egg hunt at Tom and Patti’s house.  Great Fun!

Of course, seeing my grandchildren after a long winter away, was the greatest joy.

Here’s Sage 4, Kayla  6 (in Brides dress) and Darby 6.   They are my youngest grand daughters

Here’s cousins, Molly 15 and Nicole 11.  Now that’s the five girls.

Jack Cody Gibson – he just turned 19 and is completing his first year at Schenectady Community College.

Brothers, Mark 15 and  Luke Gibson 17– these are Maureen 3 boys. Tom & Patti’s son, Trevor, 13 – completes the pictures.  That’s my 9 grandchildren and they all came to the Easter Party and to welcome us back home.  What a happy day!

Coming Home

We only stayed over night in Wilmington, NC and then headed north – for Home.  One of the most amazing sights was the Bridge over the James River in Virginia.

We didn’t stop in Washington, DC but took I-395 right through the center and were very close to the Jefferson Memorial and other famous sights.

We arrived home, safe and sound, on Saturday, the day before Easter.  Don drove 4,760 miles on this trip.            

We were home in time to spend Easter Sunday with ALL my family – a wonderful  Easter party was hosted by son Tom and his wife Patti.  What is better than being with all your family?   

Here’s a collage of my 9 beautiful grandchildren taken on Easter Sunday – it’s good to be home!!!

MYRTLE BEACH, SC

There are several ocean front campgrounds in Myrtle Beach, but I wonder for how long – The big hotels and condos are buying up all the ocean front property, especially here in North Myrtle Beach.  This is a photo taken at the beach in front of our park and you can see how the high rises are creeping towards us.

Below are photos of Myrtle Beach Travel Park, which has a marvelous, and VERY close proximity to the ocean/beach. 

As we walk from our campsite to the ocean, this is the view at high tide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a picnic table and a shade shelter at every site.  My plants are happy on the table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can never resist taking another photo of the beach AND it is a beautiful, sandy beach.  Smell that fresh, salt air!

 

 

 

 

 

We went to Hamrick’s Clothing for Men, Women & children and Tuesdays are “senior” day. They were bringing them in by the busload! The store is huge and the selection staggering – I was in clothes heaven. I bought 4 tops that I really like. Don took this photo of the checkout lines.

That’s it for Myrtle beach.  We’ll be heading into North Carolina next.  Happy Easter!