Beautiful Day in Maine - Wednesday - September 12

Permaquid Beach

Pemaquid Lighthouse

Acadia National Park - that white dot is a huge cruise ship

Lester at Acadia National Park

   The weather continues to be perfect.  We left Brunswick this morning.  Zipping down the highway when what do you know - Lester spied a huge antique flea market.  I really think he has some kind of radar for these places.  This was a good one - on Highway 1 somewhere not too far north of Brunswick.  Really nice people - good prices on antique glassware and linens (for me) and all kinds of old stuff for Lester.  We spent about two hours there.

Lester at Pemaquid Beach

Brenda - the only Lobster I li

    Back to Highway 1 - I've never seen so many antique shops (we only stopped at three more) and several quilt shops which I agreed to ignore.  The car was getting so full that we went to a pack and ship place in Rockland, Maine and shipped some stuff home.  Too much fun.             


I found three pieces of blue  hobnail depression glass (I've been collecting for years) which just can't be found in NC anymore.  
     Pemaquid Lighthouse - really nice parklike area.  The Lighthouse Hostess said it must be hard for us to be impressed with lighthouses after seeing Cape Hatteras.  She had visited the North Carolina lighthouses.  An impressive art gallery with work by local artists and a fun gift shop.  There was a beautiful hedge of Rugosa Roses (I had to ask what they were).  The rose hips look a lot like persimmons!  Lester walked out on the rocks - I visited with some local people.  
    A beautiful drive up the coast to Acadia National Park.  We drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain - magnificent views.  We climbed up to the top - not too far from the parking area - to get some great pictures.  It is crowded here now - it must be crazy in the summer.
     We had to drive longer than we wanted to find a place to stay - things are getting farther apart.  We're staying in Mathias, Maine.
    My favorite thing about road trips is that we have no schedule - no reservations - so we can stop anywhere we want and stay as long as we want.  A very relaxing way to travel.  We keep finding places we add to our route - so much to see.  
    

Swamp Ape, Airboats and Frank Lloyd Wright!!!

   Yes, Key West was wonderful, colorful, loud, delicious and lots of fun.  That would have been enough to make it a great trip - but - we had more fun!  Stayed in Big Cypress Trail Campground - not realizing that it is World Headquarters of the Swamp Ape Research Center!!!  Not real sure about that swamp ape but they did have the largest snakes we've ever seen and beautiful birds and alligators.  They let Bro hold an alligator - just a baby one. Very interesting place - stop by if you're ever in that area.
   
Just happened to see a nursery with huge greenhouses full of the most beautiful orchids.  Spent some time taking pictures - wanted to bring some home but the shower in the motor home was already looking like a mini greenhouse! 
   One of our favorites was the airboat ride in the Everglades.  Yea, that's Ken in the driver's seat but they wouldn't let drive it - or is that skim it or hover it or whatever it's called.  Extreme fun - took us to a "hammock" where some Miccosukee Indians lived until 1987.  Didn't much like the water moccasins and alligators!


   Bro's iPad with 3G was great - we googled anything we saw along the highway - when we realized we were only a few miles from Florida Southern College - of course we had to stop!  Frank Lloyd Wright designed all the campus buildings - and several miles of his famous low covered walkways.  It is the largest concentration of Wright building in the world - loved it.  FSC has been named the most beautiful college campus in the country - and it really is!  What a nice surprise - and all 
because of Google and road signs!


   Just couldn't get that close to Disney World and not stop.  We only went to Downtown Disney - crowded and hot, but we managed to do a little shopping.  
We spent our last night somewhere in Georgia - really nice campground.
   Great trip - I love going and I love coming home!  
Where might I be thinking about for the next trip?  There are four states that I have not visited - I really need to take care of that.

BIFFLE - Best Friends For Like Ever

Biffle's are one of life's blessings.  Most of us have a lots of friends, even a few good friends.  A few of us have a Biffle.  I am blessed with two Biffles!  Closer than sisters - all the good parts of sisterhood with none of the bad.


These two were not childhood friends or even high school friends.  Fate brought them to me at different times in different ways.  We are biffle's because of who we are as adults - not because of who we were as children.  We're different, but we have so much in common.  


We laugh a lot - at ourselves and at each other.  We can talk or sometimes be quiet.  We've taken short trips and some very long trips together.  I went to Italy with one biffle - the trip of a lifetime - all good.  We've spent time in the mountains, at the beach, in Arizona - the Grand Canyon, Texas and even Las Vegas of all places.  I travel some with my husband, children and grandchildren - travel a lot with my brother.  He and I took a "Road Trip" last year - over 9,000 miles.  Great times - I hope for many more.  As good as they are, nothing is quite like time with my Biffles.

The three of us spent a few days in Charleston, SC last week.  Perfect weather, great hotel - Historic Embassy Suites - unbelievably good food.  If you are ever in the beautiful city of Charleston - don't miss eating at Amen and at Jestine's.  I don't have enough good words to describe the food.  Before you leave stop in Market Street Sweets - it's worth stopping to smell the candy - as if you can resist sampling some.  Our room looked out on a beautiful square decorated for Christmas - was it just for us?   Couldn't have been any better.


Distance doesn't matter, nor does time apart.  We talk a lot sometimes - or we don't for a while.  The connection stays the same.  They are family - chosen family.   I thank God for them.

Home and Family

August 27, 2010

This summer has been so very hot. Everything is scorched. Our garden is sad.

Fall is near and we're all ready for the change of seasons.

Little J spent the day with us and is now sleeping. He plays so hard, laughs so often and brings us so much joy.

Grandson One, Papa and I played hide, read books, rode the Gator, played ball, visited the donkey, played in the Little House and had all kinds of fun with him. After a long bath and a few books he was ready for bed with Puppy, Blankie, Special Pillow and Cars Quilt...he's all tucked in.

Making plans for our Road Trip...every day we add something to the list. Maybe we will drive more than 9,000 miles!

Brother One and his wife left Wednesday for a six week Road Trip in their wonderful "House on Wheels". We will probably be in the same part of the country at the same time in a few weeks.

Some people collect things - I like collecting experiences and memories, pictures and new friends. Travel makes us see that not all people live the same life we do. Whether by choice or circumstance. We are fortunate if we can choose how we spend our time - or even a small part of our time.

I love this quote, "A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving." Lao Tzu.

As wonderful as travel is; as much as I love to travel - nothing compares to Home and Family. Being away for a while brings a deeper appreciation of what we have at home.

Miles to go....

Planning a Road Trip - Again

I do love to travel - see new things, meet new people. My traveling brother and I are planning another "Great American Road Trip". Can't talk hubby into going - he's not much of a traveler - he would rather fish or hunt or such. Thank goodness I have a traveling brother. Planning and thinking about the trip is part of the fun. You should see our list! About 9,000 miles (we think)! I can hardly wait.