Islands, Mountains and Our Own Backyard

Blogging is a new hobby that I started this week (January 26, 2009). I have a lot of interest to share with you like travelling and taking pictures. My husband C. and I retired from our jobs February 2007. We have taken a few trips and plan more. Here are some pictures to share with you.
Grace

Truly, there is no place like home and your own backyard!

This cardinal loves the tree next to our deck and he frequently pecks on our back door. This is him during icy weather. The picture at the upper right is a lovely sunset view from our deck.

Blowing Rock, North Carolina
C. and I took our Fall wedding trip to Blowing Rock, NC some years ago. At the time, it was very rainy, cold and cloudy. We left Blowing Rock and headed for Gatlinburg, TN
During the Summer of 2008, we returned to Blowing Rock and really enjoyed the people, the weather and the ambiance of the mountain.



Jan Karon, my favorite author, lives at Blowing Rock. The Eiscopal priest at this church may have been her inspiration for her delightful character, Father Tim in her "Mitford Series".









Annapolis, Maryland - Home of the U.S. Naval Academy (no picture available)
Picture here is the Harbor at Annapolis. The town is very quaint and still has a colonial type atmosphere.




Mounty Vernon - Home of the first United States President - George Washington (located outside of Washington D.C.)
The Potomic River runs behind the home and the moonlight shining on the river at night is beautiful and quite romantic, I might add.



While in the area, we found Elk Run, VA just outside of Washington D.C. This is were my ancestors on my father's side lived when they first came to this country. They were French Hugenots that were being persecuted in France for their religious beliefs. They first went to the Island of Martinique, then came on to the Virginia area where they helped start the first Anglican Church in this country. They also participated in the American Revolutionary War. Later they migrated to Mississippi and Alabama where they were farmers.
This road trip was especially meaningful for me and my husband since we have become enthusiastic about our family history and tracing our genealogy.



Monticello - Home of Thomas Jefferson. The grounds are as lovely as the home.









Durango, Colorado
The Aspen trees were beginning to turn a golden color. It started sleeting at 12,000 feet as we drove from Durango to Silverton, CO. The road over the mountain was icy and did not have guard rails.
The Catholic Priest in Durango often hikes in the mountains and asks his parishners to go along with him.
The town of Ouray, CO (Switzerland of America) was not far from Silverton, but there was a mud and rock slide that closed the road and prevented us from traveling on to Ouray.
Pictured here is the Steam Train that goes on a very narrow track up and over the mountains from Durango to Silverton, CO.




Silverton, Colorado
We had lunch at a small cafe. C. had a Moose burger or was Elk?
We were told there are only about 150 people that stay in the town during the winter months. A physician visits once a week.
They do have an emergency squad.

Bocca Grande, FL (south of Venice, Florida)

Beautiful Island! Our friends L. and E. took us there when we visited them. We saw people driving golf carts to church. We also saw huge Banyon trees. Right is a residential home at Bocca Grande. Above is the Bocca Grande Lighthouse.

Cape May, New Jersey
We took the ferry over from Deleware to Cape May and stayed there a few days. Enjoyed the Atlantic Ocean, the park around the lighthouse and all of the Victorian homes. Cape May is reported to be the first Sea Shore town in the United States. There are many great restaurants. If you like excitement, Atlantic City and the Boardwalk are about 60-80 miles north of Cape May.

We watched the activities of Pope Benedict on the TV at our hotel. He was visiting New York and

Washington DC while we were in Washington and Cape May. Would loved to have had tickets to see the Pope. Our friend SJ did have tickets. We happened to see her at breakfast in Washington one morning.

Cape May Home

Victorian Architecture, Bed and Breakfast capital of the country located at the Southern most point of N.J.

The first surgeon in the United States lived at Cape May, N.J.

St. Simon Island, Georgia
We love St. Simon Island as well as Jekyll Island. If it is an Island, and it is in Georgia, WE LOVE IT! other examples: Tybee Island close to Savannah

Safe and Happy Travel to You,

My Best,

Grace