Let's go to the Library!!

Alright!! A trip to the library!!

Love this retirement thing. Gives me opportunities to do fun things like go to the library with four of my favorite people.

The girls read a lot. Every night they read a couple of stories just before bedtime. These girls know where the Leonardtown Library is.

This was Bucky's first trip to a Library and Addie made sure he had a good time. Unloading the car. These girls don't travel light....never.

Making the trek into the Library. Addie's leading the way along with Bucky and she's hauling the Library suitcase....so they can carry all the books to and fro.

Here we go into the spacious and utilitarian L-Town Library. The Kid's Section and....

The Adult Section.

The first thing was to check in with the Summer Reading Program and turn in the list of books read.

Proud girls got their stickers!!

Then to the Librarian to turn in paperwork for the 500 books the girls have read. Not an easy feat for girls or for Mom.

The girl's (and their Mommy's) accomplishment was recognized by the Library.

The Proud Princesses of the Printed Word....with Pictures.

Their picture is going to be displayed on this for having read more than 500 books before the age of five.

This one was more interested in playing than in getting award.

After the festivities there was a flag scavengers hunt and then time for getting new books and playing with the games in the library.

"Yeah, this is how I roll."

Finally we check out with our stack of books.

And then, when we got to the car, we found that Mommy had "accidently" snagged the book basket on her rather large purse and brought it along with her. Hmmmmm.....she said accident. What do you think?

Love the architecture in Maryland. This beauty is right across the street from the Library.

The Bookcase is full so we head back home. Can you see the blue book basket hanging off Michelle's purse? 

Loved going to the Library with the Grandkids.

This retirement thing is great. 

Wonder why I didn't do it earlier?

Photo Safari with Shelly

I've been pestering Michelle for a while now to go with me on a photo safari and today she finally found (made) the time. 

Hooah!! We hit the road after 1700 so as to catch the evening light. We did, mostly. Stormy weather dulled the light a bit. Still, we were out and it was a lot of fun. We talked cameras, photography, family and life. 

It's fun to share a hobby with my kids. And on this little safari, I had a lot of fun.

We started out with a small barn in a large field. Love the barns in Maryland and there seems to be no end to them.

We got ourselves a couple of pictures and then it was off to the Maryland shore.

Our next stop was out by St. Clements Island. It sets a half mile off the coast line. It was an important piece of the Union effort to stop Southern smugglers along the Potomac River during the Recent Unpleasantness Between the States.

They also had a lighthouse there which Michelle has been to. It was on the far side of this island.

Some of the beautiful homes along the shoreline.

I'd rather have this beach house than the one in North Carolina, right!?!

Seagulls. Gotta get pictures of Gulls. Can't help self. Been that way for years and years.

Then we drove over to Wicomico and finally to Bushport.

The setting sun off the water gave us some great photo ops. Love the evening sun. Course, it ain't as good as the California setting sun.

A long view of the shoreline along the River.

Some of the mudflats along the shore.

There were thunderstorm warning all afternoon and the weather gave us some dramatic clouds.

More shots along the water with the setting sun.

We saw an interesting house and walked up to it. Gave me an opportunity to get some shots of flowers.

Love the flowers.

Old wood railing fences. They took some down and rested them against this tree.

Then there was this beauty. I mean, it's right there for the taking....for the enjoyment. Love finding shots like this. I like it.

Michelle had the super-wide lense on her camera. Told her she'd need to get closer. Haven't yet seen the picture she got.

These out buildings were behind the house we had walked back to.

Again, just an interesting composition waiting for me to come along. OK, I like it.

We saw this store and thought we'd stop in. Michelle wanted to see if it would be a fun place to bring her Sweetie to on a date night. It was. 

It's a family operation and everyone was working there from Grandma down to the Grandson. Fairly busy too, given its remote location. 

The neatest thing was the floor. It's a long building and the supports on the ends are hold up well. The floor supports in the middle? Not so good. You really feel and see the floor sink down towards the middle of the building. It takes a bit of getting used to in order to navigate yourself around this floor.

They had a pretty extensive menu, too. Judging by the number of people there it must be edible. Michelle is planning on bringing Mateo back for a dinner and a walk along the coast.

Gotta love the sun reflecting off the water.

And, finally, we bid a fond adieu to the beautiful Maryland Coast. Adieu until we return with our cameras to capture the beauty of this American Dreamscape.

Ha, ha!! What a load....

Hey it was fun. 

Fun to shoot and fun to spend time with Michelle. 

Man, this retirement thing is a kick in the pants. 

I like it. I really do.

Hooah!!

The Old Soldier's Home

I first heard of the Old Soldier's Home when I was a young Marine. Back in those days, they paid us in cash. On Payday, we got dolled up in our Class A's and then reported to the Pay Officer who would, somewhat reluctantly it seemed, dole out our money.

They always had someone, usually an NCO, waiting just a bit further down and as you left, you had to contribute to....whatever. One of the things we had to contribute to was....The Old Soldier's Home (OSH).

Never once, as a young Marine, did I even think I'd ever consider moving there.

Never once.

Oh, Karma, you're a son-of-a-gun. A real son-of-a-gun.

I'm visiting in Maryland and thought I'd take the opportunity to visit the OSH since I was so close. It could be something I'd be interested in in a couple of years.

But to get there, I had to drive through Washington, D.C. It was a bit congested and a bit more hairy than I thought it needed to be!!

At first I was driving towards the Capitol Building then I saw it in my rear view and got this grab shot.

But Garmin got me through all the congestion and to The Home.

This is the Old Home that was damaged in the earthquake a couple years ago. It's in the process of being restored. It was the primary residents home until the earthquake. They've got another building and just built a new residents dorm.
                           

During the Civil War, they would post soldiers up in this tower to look over the countryside for enemy troop movements. Yeah, the city was that close to the war.
  

The grounds are neat and well-kept. This was taken from in front of the new residence. To the right of center is the building shown above and there a bit more to the left of center is The Lincoln Cottage.

Here's a view of the dorms. The one directly in front is for those folks who can still get about and the new one, on the right is for those who are bed-ridden or have trouble getting around.

This is the Hall of Heroes as you come into the new building. It has the history of the Home shown and then has displays for the different services.

Part of the display depicting the history of the Home.

In the new building they have this display honoring those who have recently passed.

There is a rest area in the new building where you can get a snack or something to drink 24 hours a day. They have milk, juice and coffee here was well as cereals in case you're hungry and the Mess Hall is closed.

Here's a view of the library. Books, audio books, DVDs and VCR tapes can be checked out.

In the new building they also have a new dining facility...hereafter known as the mess hall. I couldn't believe my luck that on the one night I was eating there, the only evening meal I would have, they served spaghetti. Karma!! What did I do to make you so mad!?!

This view is looking back from where I was sitting and looks toward the serving line, salad bar and drinks table.

Hee's a long view of the mess. See the men sitting at the table to the left of center? As I was leaving they called me over and we talked for a while. They were talking about when they reported to Ft. Lewis back in the early 50s.

 Oh, yeah, I felt like a kid.

I sat along the windows and this was my view. This looks towards D.C. and if it were Autumn and the trees bare I'm told you could see a lot of the National Mall buildings.

This is the PX. Doggonest thing is that they don't have much there. The first aisle, to the left, is mostly chips, snacks and cookies. The second aisle is soda and tea and things to drink. The third aisle is medicine and toothpaste, etc. Finally the fourth is cleaning supplies, pens, paper and things like that.

No clothes, games or knick-knacks for sale. Very odd.

I went up to the top floor of the Sherman Building and found this cache of books. They have bookcases spotted throughout all the floors in this building.

Here's the lounge area on the 7th floor. They had a ping-pong table on the 3rd floor.

One of the hallways in the Sherman. All neat and all uniform. 

But you get to, evidently, decorate your door. I saw some with plants, some with pictures, some with religious tracts...a real mix.

I'd put my lighthouse I got from TomBon on a small table by my door. Light it up and it's a beacon in the darkness to The No-Pout Zone!! 

Like all good rest homes, they have a calendar of things to do. Here's the Calendar for July. 

An then there is the food. It met my needs for a meal....I didn't have to cook it or clean up afterwards. Hooah!! But, in the taste department, it was OK but nothing to write home about.

The thing was, I was only gonna have one chance to eat the evening meal there....and what did they serve? Spaghetti!! Can you believe it? Spaghetti!!

Argh!!

The home has the Lincoln Cottage on it. 

During his Presidency, Lincoln and his family would often move up to the Cottage during the Summer months. Set on the highest point in D.C., they sought it's comfort for the relief its breezes would give during the sweltering heat of the Summer months. He spent over a quarter of his term here with his family and would commute from here to the White House, usually on horseback.

I saw this notice and was impressed by this General's gesture. He was coming to the OSH to thank all the Korean War Veterans for their service to his country. 

So, I had a good time and learned a lot. It's a real rest home. Sometimes the brochures show a younger group than I met. Not something I'm exactly ready for right now but maybe, some day, in the future.

Bottom line is this a a wonderful service provided for veterans. Too bad they don't have more like it.