Watching my grandchildren

 I was waiting outside when they arrived. They were late. The kids ran inside. I showed Walker ‘ Olio” grandpa Richmond’s year book form 1937 from Amherst College. The graduates were all men wearing coats and ties. Joe Richmond had a list of activities. He was president of the Christian Group. Also, he was in an Outdoor Group. We put the book on the wall so Walker would remember to take it home. When he came inside Bess gave him a hug.

I had activities ready for them to do but Tucker had all the ingredients for a chocolate cake so we got all the utinsils and other ingrdiants from the closet, viniger, baking soda, and he started working on the cake. Bess turned on Alexa. At first she got Taylor Swift but then Alexa said you had to pay.

There was discussion about the music. While it was baking we watched Shark Tank at Tucker’s suggestion. We watched two episodes, one about a bycle seat, the other about wedding planners. The first couple got money, the second couple did not get money. We put on bathing suits and went down by the jacuzzi.  I went to my car to get sun screen. When I got back Rick was on the deck and said he did not want me to get in the jacuzzi. I said I only had it on my face so he conceded it was okey.

The kids had the water guns. They ran around the house and yard chasing each other with the water guns. They also hit balls and had to find they. They made up their own game. Waze all went up stairs to eat some of the cake. We watched Judge Judy. Rick watched too. I think he was surprised at how thorough

she was. We got ready to go to the BHSC

Volunteering at the Haven

 I was the first person in the parking lot, ready to go. Bill arrived at 6am. I learned he is studying to be a deacon. He has volunteered at the Haven before. Courtney arrived and we walked one block to the Haven and went into the Kitchen. Liz another volunteer joined us. 

The kitchen is an old well used space with lots of old used pots and pans, utincils everywhere, cups and plates. We met Kary who runs the kitchen. She is a paid staff member. It would not work without her. She put Liz to work cutting up potatoes, me cutting up apples and Bill cracking open eggs. The windo to the dinning area opens at 7am. The menue was scrambled eggs with cheese, potato casserole, fried apples and boiled squash, and bread and butter. 

After cutting up apples, I filled up two large pans. Next I scrambled eggs and then I toasted bread and covered it with butter. After the closed the window I helped dry dishes. I did not wash the dishes or the pots and pans. 

We had a long talk by a young woman who told us something about the homeless problem in Cville. 

Many who come to the Haven are homeless. We had the meeting in the sanctuary of the church, a lovely space but seldom used.

Home from Church

 I will have to miss Sam’s bird walk. It is my birthday and have plans with Eliza to read to Hank at the Crozet library.

We stopped at Barnes and Noble and I bought twoMother’s day gifts, one for Hallie and one for Liz.

I am foing to get cards this week at the Dollar Store. They have more and they are cheaper. 

Right now Rick is taking a nap. I just finished a hat for Caitlin’s baby which will come in September. 

 Amanda is having a baby on my birthday.🎂. I have the television on but the sound is off. There is going to be a movie called. Franklin. This is one I want to see. 

I bought a cake and cheese it for Walker’s kids.

There are several tragic stories on which I do. To want to hear about. 

We sat in front of Jim Wicks and behind Linda Perriello this morning at church. We talked about Paige being on TV doing Covid. 

Easter Art at Church Sunday School.

 We had an excellent lesson about Art and the Resurrection. Dave Zahl was the teacher. After church We went to Loews and bought a planter for the front porch. I knitted my white hat while Rick put the flowers in the pot. He went to BHSC and I read. We went to Joseph’s soccer gams at Alliance Park. Hallie and Beth and Walker were all there. Joseph played well. He is on the defense of the game. 

We came home. I am in our library room because I am using the foot massager. Last night I could hardly sleep 💤 because my feet were so tingly.

Last night we went to a birthday party for Miller Murray and her daughter. At the last minute Imwrapped a gift for each of them. A candle for Miller and a necklace for her daughter.

The path was out doors. It was packed with people of all ages. Matt was nice and friendly. He and Rick talked a lot we met an interesting older couple who wee sat with in the living room while we had dinner.

Civil War movie

 We went to a very unsettling movie tonight. California and Texas withdraw from the US and start a Civil War. It is about the photographers who are taking pictures for a major publisher. A young girl wants to join them. They are in a van driving across the country fro Washington. They meet the troops and other photographers in Charlottesville.

I need to read more about the story to get the plot correct.

Last night we went to a fancy party at Montecello. We got to sit in his living room. The tables were for eight. I satmbesid Alice Hardy’s husband. She was the person who was in charge of the University’s investments. She made lots of money for them and then started her own companies. 

Exploring the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia

 Rick planned the trip for several weeks. He made reservations at five different Bed and Breakfast and also a reservation at the Hyatt resort where we met Walker and his. Family for a long weekend. 

We had a long day traveling to Swanendele Inn on Saint James Creek and the Chesapeake Bay. 

When we arrived the greeters could not find our reservation. I sat on a large sofa in the middle of the room and told a very nice owner: “I am not leaving.”  They found the reservation and showed us to a lovely room overlooking the water. Right beside our room was a large circular space with lots of art work I looked at over the stay. Our room was the captain John Smith room, famous as the first leader  of Virginia. He made maps of many of the creeks in Virginia and Maryland. He was part of the Virginia Company, a surveyor who was the leader of the first English settlement of Virginia.

Our travels and destinations were all in the eastern shore of Maryland.

Our days were spent driving through very flat farmland and close to the many small rivers and creeks that make up the geography of Maryland.m

We were served breakfast but not dinner at Swanendale. The owner suggested Courtney’s which was the only restaurant open in the near by town. The first day  day we explored Saint Mary’s County.  The first Capitol of Maryland was Saint Mary’s City which was small.  It has a small college and several historic buildings.  In the.  evening went to Courtney’s and shared six fried shrimp. There was one other woman there with her children. We decided she lived in a   Camp site that was right across the street. The next evening Rick went by Courtney’s alone but the road was flooded so he could not get to the restaurant. 

Our next Bed and Breakfast was Osprey Point Inn close to the town of Rock Hall.  From the window of our room we could see a wharf with many large sail boats and two large power boats. Our room was right above the restaurant. This B and B was also not crowded. 

Maryland’s eastern shore is sourrounded by water. The Chesapeake Bay separates the mainland from the lang strip of land that is the Eastern shore. There are many small rivers and creeks in this part of Maryland, filled with brackish water, a combination of salt and fresh water.  Since we do not have much seafood in Charlottesville we  wanted to eat lots of sea food and so shared crab cakes often. In the morning after breakfast we walked out on the wharf and looked at the sailboats 

Because there is so much water in Maryland many families own boats of some kind either a sail boat or a power boat and many people learn to sail at a very young age.  

Our next destination was Chesapeake City.. 

Chesapeake City and Inn were unique. The small town was right under a towering bridge. The tliving room had  a small porch where we could view the bridge and the town. We had to climb two flights of stairs to reach our bedroom. It was traditional and homey with blankets and even a quilt as decorations. I used the blankets that night to keep me warm. . The hostess at the Osprey told us the name of her favorite restaurant so we decided to have dinner there. It was very close to our hotel and we walked ther once we got settled. We visited the other shops close by but everything was very expensive so we did not stay.

The restaurants was upscale but a ball game was on so we decided to eat  at the bar and watch the game. We again share a delicious crab dinner and watched more basketball, all the games were leading to the final four championship game. 

We learned all about the camel and why it was built, beginning in 1829. It was built here so large ships  did not have to spend seven hour going the length of the island. The planning and building was all done by the United States Corps of Engineers. There were law suits and much controversy. 

The next day We visited the canal museum and watched a movie showing how the camel was build and also describing how engineers build bridges across the rivers and canals. We were not told the exact bridge the movies described but it was an exhaustive movie. 

The Chesapeake and Dleware Canel took years to build. It connects the Chesapeake Bay with the Delaware river. Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware were involved in its construction. It saved large ships hundreds of miles of travel time. The ships could reach their destination of large cities like Philadelphia and New York. 

Our final Bed and Breakfast was called “the Inn By the River” . We were in a small cottage right by the river. There was a dock and small crafts on the shore but the land had deep puddles of water so I did not go down to the edge of the river but enjoyed the peaceful scenery.

I picked out two sticks to make an Easter tree when we saw our grandchildren at the Hyatt. 

We walked about a block to a Bar restaurant and sat at the bar and ate more seafood.

Our next destination was the Hyat Regency resort in Cambridge. 

yWe were in Cambridge early so scouted out the surroundings to see what we had planned for Easter Day.