Busy weekend

This past weekend was busy!  We spent time in southern MD with the Hartsigs and watched Layne swim for her Calvert HS team.  Also had time with Will and his family which was cut short as the snowstorm approached and we skedaddled home to stay ahead of it.  Nonetheless, we had a great time watching our swimmers and celebrating MLK weekend in DC.

Layne

Will

January in DC

Tracing the letters

Waiting in line at the FDR Memorial

A sign of spring!

A day at Longwood Gardens

On the very coldest and windiest day of the winter, we travelled with the camera club to Longwood Gardens, home of the late Pierre S. duPont and his marvelous landscaped gardens and fountains.  In the Christmas season the outdoors display a beautiful light show after dark.  Unfortunately, because of the single-digit temps and icy winds, the light show did not happen, nor were the fountains turned on, and we returned home nonetheless happy for all we had seen and photographed.

Some of these pictures are mine and some are Jim's.  This one is mine.  I was taken by the beautiful color of these poinsettias.  All the flowers were taken in the Conservatory, three acres of beautiful displays of flowers.

In the orchid room

A chandelier in the ballroom….one of many.  Also in this giant room was one of the largest pipe organs 

in the world with over 10,000 pipes.

An inside fountain

One of many decorated Christmas trees.  This one is reflected in the  mirror behind it.

In the gray and white room

Amaryllis

Bird of paradise

Apple tapestry floating in a pond…..made of Granny Smith and red apples.

In the tea room set up for morning tea

More orchids…..what color!

One of the men working in the Conservatory turned us on to one of his hobbies….taking pictures of frost on the inside of the windows.  Many beautiful designs.

First snowfall of 2014

It snowed and it got cold and the beach got winter.  Beautiful and still and scenic.

4 1/2 inches

Looks like jewels

We walked to the nature center pond.

snowy playground

Best part of our snowy walk was meeting up with our neighbors and beginning a friendship.

Later, Jim took pictures of the ocean.

2013 review

2013 began with a race, Jim running and Lorie walking it.  The day was gray and chilly but the sun came out for the New Year's Day polar bear plunge….brrrr!

Breakfast at Mangos after the race is the incentive!

How can Lisbeth be turning 40???  We partied at the beach, then Bobby surprised her with a big party.

Always looking for early signs of Spring.  Found a garden full of snow drops.

Our Florida get away was to Panama City Beach where the sand really was white and the water turquoise.  We stopped in Hilton Head (cold and windy) on the way and to the Schmitts (fun time with Wayne's trains) on the way home.

Spring here at the beach means bright and beautiful blooms.

Tulip Days in Lewes.

We met with all of the Hartsig siblings in Michigan to celebrate Dave and JoAnn's 50th wedding anniversary in June.  We then went on to the Upper Peninsula with the Taylors and the Dietrichs.

The entire family camped along the Shenandoah River in late July.  The weather was perfect for swimming, kayaking, fishing and eating.

What fun we had in NYC with Eva and Keelyn!  WICKED, shopping and eating out highlighted the trip.

Good bye to summer on Labor Day weekend.

Some rough weather in October when a nor'easter stalled over us for four days, taking away some of the replenished sand.

Layne runs along a dune in Jockeys Ridge during our family week in Duck, North Carolina for Thanksgiving.

Our resident snowy owl who arrived in December from the Arctic Tundra and gives us many photo opportunities.