{Eastern Shore of Virginia, Cape Charles}
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
April, May, June, July
Welcoming the warm, bright summer days after the chilly, gray days of winter, the summer days now seem to be numbered, as soon they will give way to the crisp, colorful days of fall. Despite the heat and humidity of a DC summer, we have been {and continue to be} enjoying the summer days. With moving into a new apartment, busy work schedules, and long weekend trips, life has kept us occupied these last few months. And since I have fallen behind with documenting that life, this post will a little glimpse into those last four months.
Chris' parents came to visit us for a long weekend in early April. It was whirlwind weekend of touring, eat, shopping and visiting. We spent half a day at Arlington Cemetery, where the new spring was in full blossom {despite the need for jacket!}.
In late April, we took a two hour roadtrip north to visit by brother in Carlisle, PA. It's a quaint college town made up of historic buildings, locally-owned restaurants, and scenic spots. Right off of this spot by the river, which was dotted with fishermen, the Appalachian Trail zig-zags through an open {possibly corn} field leading up through large rolling hills.
In April, we also took a quick trip to Philly for a night, where we met up with my brother. We stayed in downtown and spent most of Saturday exploring the area within walking distance, including a stop at the Reading Terminal Market for cheesesteaks, a quick viewing of the Liberty Bell, and long walk up many, many steps to the Art Museum.
{above: view of downtown from the Art Museum}
{below: Chris posing with the famed Rocky statute}
Of course, we also celebrated Easter. After church, we went out to lunch with friends {thankful for friends here when we cannot be with our families}.
May went by in a blur, the highlight being Memorial Day Weekend where we went into DC to watch thousands of motorcycles ride through the Mall and the Memorial Day concert on the Capitol Lawn. We even went to Arlington Cemetery {second year in a row for us to try this, you would think that we would learn!}. This year we actually made it on the trolley to the amphitheater, but after waiting approximately half an hour to enter, we were told that it was at capacity and the crowd could gather at the back on the grassy area. Instantly, everyone herded over the grave stones in hopes of a view of the ceremony {Obama was actually there this year}. We found it very distasteful that the secret service was only allowing people to stand in contained area that was among the graves, so decided to head out of the cemetery.
In June, we moved into a new apartment. We joke that we left the Ritz Carlton for the Holiday Inn; in truth, though, we've settled in now and, although a significantly tighter fit, it isn't that bad. We also went to a U2 concert at M&T Stadium in Baltimore. Despite the warm weather and 80,000 other U-2 followers, it was a great concert!
In July, Chris took a long weekend trip to visit family in Cleveland and then drove to Michigan with his family to attend a shower for his sister and her fiance. I left the next weekend for a quick visit in Longview with my family.
And that brings us to August...
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Sage Family Visit
My family came to visit in mid-March for spring break. We spend the first week touring Mount Vernon (George Washington's family estate and final resting place); driving around Fort Belvior, walking through Old Town (with a stop for drinks at Bilbo Baggins and ice cream down the street); running (or walking for some of us) around the Mall and White House; seeing a show at the Kennedy Center; and braving the crowded streets of Georgetown to find parking and enjoy an Italian dinner. The parents, brother, and sister-in-law left on Monday for a roadtrip to Annapolis, Atlantic City, Philley, Carlisle, and Gettysburg before returning the Escape to DC the following Friday.
The following weekend we ate dinner in Old Town; walked around the East Market and Capitol Hill; and wondered around Union Station (with a stop at Crumbs). Cody and Sarah Beth flew out on Saturday night, so the parents and I treated ourselves to a movie and take-out.
The following weekend we ate dinner in Old Town; walked around the East Market and Capitol Hill; and wondered around Union Station (with a stop at Crumbs). Cody and Sarah Beth flew out on Saturday night, so the parents and I treated ourselves to a movie and take-out.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Annapolis, MD
This past Sunday, we decided to take a quick trip down the road to Annapolis, MD. We spent most of our time walking around the waterfront near the Naval Academy and the historic downtown area. It was a small, quaint area with a serene, calming effect {despite too many tourist shops displaying Navy sweatshirts and shot glass with dancing crabs} . We enjoyed just sitting by the water as we did actually exploring the town. We will definitely be going back when the weather warms up a bit and the sun is shining more.
Fredericksburg, VA
On a cold, overcast MLK holiday, Chris and I drove the 45 miles down I-95 to Fredericksburg, VA. Our expectations of the small, historic town were set a little too high {maybe part of it was that the dreary, blustery day did not lend quaintness and charm to the town} ; nevertheless, the afternoon road trip had its worthwhile moments.
While walking around downtown, we came upon a church graveyard with headstones dating back to the 1700s. Many of the stones were so weathered that the names and dates were not even decipherable.
After half an hour of walking {and a quick stop into a local wine shop which resulted in us lugging out 4 bottles of wine}, we had seen most of downtown and were too frozen to continue exploring the rest by foot. We ate lunch at a local bar & grill, ducked in a local coffee shop for mochas, and proceeded to the battleground.
The battleground was located about 1 mile outside of the historic downtown area. Over the course of several days in late 1862, Union forces {futile} assaults against a Confederate stronghold proved that the South was able to hold ground in the war. Sections of the stone wall that Confederate forces shielded themselves behind as Union soldiers attempted frontal attacks were still in place.
It was somewhat eerie to think that at one time the land that was now spotted with gas stations and doctors offices was once littered with 15,000+ bodies of dead and wounded. In the cemetery, over 15,000 Union soldiers, mostly unknown, are buried, marked by a simple row/plot number. There are other various Civil War-era structures standing, such as house that was converted into a hospital during the war; it is now the house of the President of Mary Washington University.
While walking around downtown, we came upon a church graveyard with headstones dating back to the 1700s. Many of the stones were so weathered that the names and dates were not even decipherable.
After half an hour of walking {and a quick stop into a local wine shop which resulted in us lugging out 4 bottles of wine}, we had seen most of downtown and were too frozen to continue exploring the rest by foot. We ate lunch at a local bar & grill, ducked in a local coffee shop for mochas, and proceeded to the battleground.
The battleground was located about 1 mile outside of the historic downtown area. Over the course of several days in late 1862, Union forces {futile} assaults against a Confederate stronghold proved that the South was able to hold ground in the war. Sections of the stone wall that Confederate forces shielded themselves behind as Union soldiers attempted frontal attacks were still in place.
It was somewhat eerie to think that at one time the land that was now spotted with gas stations and doctors offices was once littered with 15,000+ bodies of dead and wounded. In the cemetery, over 15,000 Union soldiers, mostly unknown, are buried, marked by a simple row/plot number. There are other various Civil War-era structures standing, such as house that was converted into a hospital during the war; it is now the house of the President of Mary Washington University.
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