Where Did June Go?

June has been a great month for visiting old haunts, old friends and family. However, it has not been a good month for the blog. We did a poor job taking photos and an even worse job keeping the blog current. My apologies.

There are so many people that I missed getting a photo of...Patsy (faithful reader), Claire (faithful reader), Bob, Lindsy, Eric, and tons of family in Pennsylvania. So sorry that we did not record all the fun we have had this month.

After our western excursion, we arrived in back in Connecticut. In addition to family, I got to visit with my college friend Patsy. Patsy and I shared a house one year while in college at Lyndon State. So many stories to tell, but we both have children now so we choose to selectively "forget" some of those escapades. I also spent a summer with Patsy at the Jersey Shore. We never knew anyone named Snookie.

We celebrated the Memorial Day weekend with brother Bob, Claire, Lindsy and Eric. Lots of card playing but no shots.

Then we drove out to Cape Cod. We camped at Nickerson Sate Park in Orleans. This is a great spot. Beautiful campgrounds with lots of trails and it is right on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. We had two wonderful days of biking. The first day we headed west getting in an easy 34 miles. The second day we peddled to Wellfleet and had lunch at the Bookstore and Restaurant (yes, that is the name). We had a double yum dinner at ABBA in Orleans that evening. Some dinners are just yum. Some yuck. Like my rating system!









On one of our hikes in the park, I spotted this beautiful pink lady slipper.



We had a special treat later in the week. I got to see my Aunt Betty who us 100 years old. She still lives at home! It was great to catch up with my cousin Sue and her husband Bob.

Next stop, Pennsylvania for a visit with Philip's family. In addition to the family members who live in the Quakertown region, over 60 members of Marie's family (on her mother's side) gathered for a reunion.

Biking on the Perkiomen Trail.



Some of the Trautman clan.


Hanging out.



Seth, family guitar maker.






On the 13th, we drove south overnighting at Claytor Lake State Park, Dublin, VA. the next day we returned to Asheville, NC. We have decided to make Asheville our home for at least the next winter. If all goes well, we hope to settle there. This time we camped at Mama Gerties in Swannanoa. Do try if you want a clean campsite with quick access to AVL.



Asheville has many superb restaurants. This visited we added Curate to our favorite's list (triple yum because they have magnificent desserts). Also, Standard Pizza in West AVL makes a great pie. By the slice is a great deal and they do gluten free too. Do try the Sky Bar when in season. It is an open air bar on three levels of a fire escape!

After lots of house hunting (rentals) we escaped to Tsali for some mountain biking. Sure to be one of our favorite places close to home.



We are happy to announce that we rented a furnished house, three bedroom round house, minutes from downtown. Plenty of room for guests. We will be there October-March, while we look for a place of our own.

We topped off June with a visit to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia with Philip's cousin Bob, his wife Nancy and their two boys Weston and Andrew. Great company. Beautiful weather. Boating and swimming. What more could you ask for during the summer!






Philip kneeboarding.



The joys of summer!



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Santa Fe AGAIN

Philip and I had the opportunity to visit Santa Fe again thanks to Sue and Bob. They generously offered us their beautiful condominium in the heart of downtown.

While Philip worked, I explored. I really enjoyed the new exhibit at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. The exhibit explored the impact of photography on other art mediums such as painting. Even though the collection only contains a few O'Keeffe's it was well worth the visit.



The next day (while Philip worked) I went to the Museum of International Folk Art. It was wonderful! I could have stayed much longer than the two hours I spent. Fortunately, I got there just in time to catch a docent tour. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.






If I lived in a small Hungarian village, as my grandparents, my husband might have worn this to our wedding. And perhaps between my giggling, I might have been wondering just what he had up his sleeve. Where does that expression come from?



These are typical wedding hats for the bride. Just to be sure the village remembers that you are married, you would wear this hat for months or even as long as a year. My Hungarian grandparents married in the United States in attire typical to the period.



Delightful mural, downtown Santa Fe.



Once again we sampled some of Santa Fe's finest restaurants, and once again we were happily patting our round bellies. Do try Santacafe, Cafe Pasquals and Aqua Santa.



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Max's Graduation

Max graduated from Colorado College in May. Philip and I flew to Colorado Springs from Connecticut to enjoy the special occasion.

Great dinners with many of Max's friends. The Summit at the Broadmoor.





House parties.






Okay. I never said that I was the best role model for my kids.


Just enough parties.


Sister and brother, always the best of friends.


Guess what mom, I got an AWARD!


Friends forever, housemates for a year. Kristin, Sebastian and Max.


Moms and their off-springs.


Reverse roommates: Luc, Terry and Bruce.



A fun-filled weekend with family and friends. Congratulations, Max. We are all very proud if you!

New York City

While visiting with my brother, Bob, and his wife Claire in Connecticut we all took a day trip in the city. We arrived at Grand Central Station at 9:30 a.m. And departed on a 4:00 p.m. train the same day. Just enough time to visit the Pompeii exhibit at the Discovery Museum and the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met.

Unfortunately, we were not allowed to photograph either of those exhibits, which were both fascinating. Here are a few shots from our day:

Times Square






The Metropolitan Museum of Art






Okay. Name the painting and the artist.







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Detour!

Philip and I separated (just for a week). I went to the Tahoe area to visit my step-daughter, Annie, and her 8 year old son Luca. Here's Luca performing a last minute piano practice in the morning before school.



Coffee and hot chocolate on the lake with grandma (I'll be a young great grandma some day).



Pizza night with Annie and Luca. Carbo overload.



Philip visited Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.











And some family friends in Downingtown. This is Kris and Dennis's granddaughter, Jessica and the newest member of the family Addie.





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Virginia and Maryland

Two states in FIVE days?? Sometimes you have to make tough choices. While we have spent weeks in some states, we have only spent days in others. Why? It depends. Sometimes we have passed through a state during bad weather or the wrong season. Other times we were drawn to something in particular in another state. This time we needed to keep moving north to make a flight connection later in the month.

We chose one highlight in Virginia, Monticello. However, we needed some exercise first. Bear Creek State Park in Cumberland proved to be a great launch pad for a long off-road biking day of single track, logging and gravel roads. Just beautiful and not a soul in sight. Our own private forest. What could be better!











History lessons here we come. Monticello. First lesson, Thomas Jefferson was tall and wore hot boots. Imagine, he was so debonair and yet a bachelor most of his life. Hmmm, looks like Philip was cold that day or was he looking for...well, never mind.



Jefferson owned a large estate with lots of farm land and slaves, but he always struggled with finances. At his death he was in debt. His slaves were sold, with just a few being freed. The house and land were sold. His library was already in Washington, D.C.

During it's heyday, Monticello was a hub of activity always filled with guests whenever Jefferson was home. Jefferson studied agricultural sciences. Rather than plant cash crops such as tobacco, he chose less profitable crops that preserved the quality of the soil. As most of you know, Jefferson was fascinated with architecture. He designed the house and continued to make changes and improvements for years.


Gardens.


Cabbage.


Mountain laurel.



Do visit Monticello when you have the chance. Then stop in nearby Charlottesville for good food and a little shopping.



Sorry Virginia, next time we will stay longer. Our next location was Dunkirk, MD to visit my brother Bill and his family. Bill and Lynn took us to Annapolis for a scenic boat trip on the Chesapeake Bay.














And dinner at a great seafood restaurant with their daughter Megan.



On Mother's Day, Bill prepared a feast for all of us.



Here's Megan and her husband Scott. They are expecting a daughter this August! All in all it was a fun weekend of shopping, site- seeing and FOOD!




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