Catch Up!! Part II....

It's been so doggone long and I've been so many places and taken so many pictures that I've given up trying put anything in order....so, here's the deal!! I'm gonna put out the pictures and make some appropriate and witty comments...they'll be in no particular order so don't look for continuity or any sort of sense....there they are...

So, let's get started and you can get an idea of what kind of a Summer I've had!! It's been crazy, long, surprising and fun!! I put over 8,000 miles on the mini and had a flat. Stayed in some of the worse Motel 6's I've ever seen. Visited with family and loved it all. I've found things that I thought were lost and relearned things I had forgotten!! It was a solid kick in the pants!!

OK? OK!! Let's go!!

There she is!! My Little Domino Player!! From the looks of it, I taught her well and I know my Dad taught Michelle....You can get an idea of who is winning by the tote board!! Way to go, Michelle!! Doesn't happen often but on occasions she bests the Old Man!! You hang in there, Alexis!! And stay away from my Cream Sodas!!!

Awww, who wouldn't let her have anything she wanted!?! I mean, What a smile!!!

Yeah, she has everyone wrapped around her finger!!

I made Ice Box Pickles and I'm going to do it again!! Actually Chris and I made them. Wasn't too difficult....It was fun working with Chris!!

Chris and I took off for a swap meet to buy him a knife. We brought along our cameras and stopped by a small lake along the road. Now this was fun, to be out with Chris....

We did make it to the Market...plenty of fresh produce 

And, other things. I almost bought a couple of these....Christmas gifts, eh?

And found some abandoned barns....Chris is now shooting pictures for the Annual...shooting the Girl's Field Hockey Team....Hooah!!

We went to a LOT of baseball games!! A lot!! Still, is there a better way to spend a Summer afternoon? Watching Chris playing ball!!

    

These girls have actually adjusted easily to the baseball routine....get there and then look for something to get into!! Easy enough!!

And then there are these two!! Wbo is cuter? OK, Delaney, just by a bit....

   

Awww, isn't that nice!?!

Awww, isn't this typical!!

Jerk!!

I had a great visit with the Ray's but I bet when they saw my taillights heading off into the distance they all breathed a collective sigh of relief!! Whew, now we don't have to get beat at dominoes anymore and listen to that old man cackle. (Yes, I do cackle!!)

I headed down South....First stop to visit my niece, Jennifer, in Georgia. She was gracious enough to let me drop in and spend a couple nights with her. I got a good night's sleep and the next morning headed out to MCRD, Perris Island.

I've read so much about this place and heard so many stories that I wanted to make a special trip there just to see it. I've already been to MCRD, San Diego and know, very well, what that place is like.

It was fascinating...The Corps of today is far different, far better than the Corps I knew back in the Sixties. More pride and it shows!! I was in the Marines when I think it was at its lowest point in the whole history of the Corps. It is good to see it has rebounded and gotten better than it has ever been.

Bur, before anyone takes a tour of Perris Island, you need a hearty breakfast!! Where better to get one than at any of the hundreds of Waffle Houses around the area! No trouble in finding one and me and Bucky went in for some chow!! Waffle style!!

After a delicious and filling breakfast, we headed out to the Island. 

Here's some Marines, Boots, field marching to the rifle range.

Tradition is everywhere here.

Evidently they do....and they're doing a pretty good job. I got to park and watch two platoons march by. They looked good. 

Perris Island was an island but now has a causeway to connect them to the mainland. What a place. I can understand the pride that Marines who were made here have in their accomplishments.

I couldn't pass up a chance to be Beaufort, SC. It's history is wrapped up into the history of Perris Island.

Beautiful downtown houses.There were so many picture opportunities...a beautiful city.

Back to Fort Stewart and Jennifer. We got to go out to dinner and she took me to a German restaurant. Very authentic atmosphere...

Here she is, my pretty Niece, Jennifer!! She was having a good time, honest.

We were upstairs, very nicely done...and the schnitzel vas wunderbar!!

Then we took a walk to let the food settle.....downtown.

After Jen's, I headed South again....Destination The Blomberg's!

Hooah!!

Parris Island and Jennifer!!

After my visit with the Ray's, it was off to Florida to visit more family. But, along the way, I had to go over a couple of bridges. Lately, I've been a little leery of going over bridges. Especially high, tall, way-up-in-the-air bridges. Sure enough, right away I have to deal with a.....bridge.

Those guard rails don't look all that secure!! I mean, I'd prefer if they were about 4 or 5 feet tall. Don't worry about the view I just don't want to slew off over the side.

And when's the last time it was inspected? I mean, there are a lot of things that could go wrong here. 

Like the good soldier I am, I gritted my teeth and, carefully, drove on. 

So if you're driving with me and you see me start to get a little edgy look for a bridge.

I was taken with all the clouds on the East Coast. I mean, honestly, Seattle skies don't hold a candle to these babies. And I saw them everyday. I really restrained myself from putting a lot of them on this blog. Yeah, thank me later. 

Finally, after numerous bridges, I made it to Jen's place. Nice house, eh?

Seagrove's celebrate by eating out and soooooo, off we went to the local authentic German Restaurant!! Hey!! Jen!! Wait up for me!!

I had a great meal, which I forgot to get a picture of (I know, go figure). But it was an authentic German Salad. I ate it all including the green beans!! Woo, woo!!

OK, I restrained myself taking pictures inside. Don't want to embarrass Jennifer. I thought the decor was decidedly authentic German, right?

I've been to MCRD, San Diego, in fact I had an extended vacation there way back in '66. Anyway, I've always wanted to see how the other half lives so I decided to tour around MCRD, Parris Island.

Where they make Marines. It was a bit more modern and, man, what a PX they have there. Still some of the buildings here are timeless.

Ha, ha....this scene hasn't changed in years. Boots marching. These Boots were at the rifle range. They have their range right on post and shoot out towards the ocean.

  

By the grinder, I found this....Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. 

Semper Fidelis

I had a good tour around the Depot and went into a museum to learn a little more about the history of Parris Island. used to only be able to get to the Island by boat. I imagine recruits felt a little more than isolated back then.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to drive through old Beaufort, too. I walked along the river.

And through some of the old neighborhoods.

All in all an interesting day. 

Catch-Up

I've had such a great vacation and it doesn't seem to stop!! I had a great visit in Maryland with the Ray's. I got plenty of shots but here's a couple more. It's funny, but all the time I had there I was thinking just now, "why didn't I get that shot? Where's all the kids together?" Argh!!

My stay in Maryland was great. 

Who wouldn't want to wake up and start the day with this girl?? Ain't she a cutie!?!

It was always fun around the Ray Table. Someone is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed early in the morning. Well, OK, one out of three isn't that bad.

And she was a good eater!! Not very neat but a very good eater!!

Chris and Lexi were heading off to Youth Conference....early in the morning. Yeah, I was thinking bright-eyed, too!!

The previous day before they left, I got a shot of Chris in the front yard. Good-looking, eh?

And I got a shot of this pixie, too!! Again, good-looking!! See a trend here!?!

Oh, and my homemade Ice Box Pickles. Chris and I made two jars and the Ray's kept one. They were tasty but you really have to love them to make that many.....not a lot of uses for them afterwards.

It was time for me to move on and these happy campers came out to see me on my way.

On the road, again. I was back on the road again....

Got a lot of pictures of clouds while in the south. Don't quite see'em like this in the Great American Pacific Northwest.

Heading down to see Jennifer, Darcie & Steve and Dave & Fran.

Hooah!!

Lexi's Photo Shoot

My Little Baby Girl is growing up.

She's a Senior now and thinking about what's next. Yesterday she took placement tests for College English and passed through to the highest level. That means she can skip all the remedial and refresher courses in English and start with the highest required level. Woo, woo!!

Also looking ahead, she had her Senior Pictures taken. I don't pretend to understand what kids in high school do these days but she also wanted some more informal, personal Senior pictures and she asked me to take them for her.

I tried to warn her but she insisted and so yesterday she and I went out to get her some Senior pictures. I don't know which ones she'll select, but these are a couple of the ones I like.

First off, I was playing with the pics and came up with these. Michelle liked the sepia one. I was partial to the B&W and I put the color original up just for comparison.

Which one do you like?

                              

Took this one on the steps of the Courthouse.

Pretty, ain't she!?!

In front of the Old Jail Museum.

Near the Town Square.

Hard to get a bad shot with this model...

Sweetness and light....

In a small alley between some law offices.

Then we moved to the Leonardtown Wharf.

Thunderstorms over the bay.

Finally we went to her high school and a last chance of clothes.

I suggested we take one with her jumping in the air and she liked it and wanted to jump from one of the brick benches in front of the school. 

Soooo, we did. Note the flats she is wearing.

We didn't really think this out.

Ready for lift-off!!

She's committed now...

Into the air....

What goes up.....must come down....hard.

Oh, OUCH!!

So we ended our shoot on a sad, and limping, note.

I had a lot of fun with Alexis. Just sorry it had to end on a painful note.

Man, retirement is really getting to be a lot of fun. I'm really loving all the things I'm getting to do.