Jacksonville, Florida "Margie's Visit"

Margie my BFF who lives in West Palm Beach, Florida drove up to spend a few days with us. She got me a cake and we had another birthday celebration.

Thanks Margie!Jacksonville Naval Air Station was beautiful. Water all around us. Here I am with Margie's new rescue dog, "Cleo". Thanks for the kiss Cleo.

Cleo and Schotzi wanted a picture with Margie too.


DOGWOOD PARK

JACKSONVILLE'S DOGGIE DESTINATION FOR FUN!
Day two with Margie and Cleo, we decided to find a dog park. Cleo and Schotzi needed to run off a little steam. Click on this link and check out this dog park. They sure know how to treat their animals in Florida. http://www.jaxdogs.com/

Schotzi wasn't really happy about getting into the water but she went after the stick I threw in.

She is so good to me. She knew I just wanted to take her picture.

Not happy mom!!!!! This is going to cost you!

Yep! Off to the groomers we went. What a little prissy girl she is.

PONTOON BOAT DAY

Larry and Margie put their heads together and decided to continue the birthday surprises. After Larry took an online Florida boat licensing test, with Margie's help. (Don't tell our Pastor Rod, but Margie Googled many of the answers on her computer while Larry was taking the test on his. I guess they missed Rod's sermon..... thou shall not cheat:):)Larry got a 94%. So off to the Naval Marina and awaiting us was an amazing pontoon boat, wouldn't you know a Naval Base has water and boats!

Now Larry is making us call him Captain Smith. (We really don't know what we are doing!)

Captain Smith ............. You would think he had been driving boats for ever (this was his first time)

This was so much fun. The water was smooth, the air temp was 75 degrees and nobody had sea sickness.

Yes of course our mascots went with us. Can life get much better? What a fun birthday I have been having.
I have no words except, cute, cute, cute Cleo.

Margie has to go home tomorrow. Thanks Margie! It was so great seeing and spending time with you again. I'll miss you so so so much! You are for sure my BFF.

I can't believe I am saying this but....

WE ARE HEADING WEST TOMORROW

The South Continues in Savannah, Georgia

We stayed at Fort Stewart Army Base about 20 miles south of Savannah. It was a beautiful camp ground. Very rustic with lots of trees, a beautiful lake, squirrels lots of birds and even vultures. I tried to get a picture of the vultures but my hand was to shakie. This base even had doggy day care so we could go into Savannah everyday without worrying about Schotzi.

Today is our anniversary. 15 years and we are looking forward to the next 15 years!

We spent our first day in Savannah on a tour bus. This is the best way to see things because the drivers give you all the history and take you to the sites. Did you know that General Sherman gave President Lincoln Savannah for his birthday. Sherman actually spared both Charleston and Savannah from being burned down. However Charleston had a terrible fire in the early 1800 and many homes were lost but Savannah has homes dating as far back as 1700. Now remember these two cites were built on the backs of slavery. General Sherman and Lincoln put a stop to that inhuman practice.

Savannah is built around 24 squares. Each square is a park with beautiful trees and monuments. Then the homes were built around the squares.

Beautiful area, click on it to make it bigger.

Remember when Forrest Gump sat on a bench and told the lady that his mama said 'life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you get until you bite into it'. That was filmed in Savannah. Larry wanted to sit on the bench but they put it into the museum.

This monument was in honor of all the African American husband's and son's who fought and died in the Revolutionary War.

This is the first Black Church built in Savannah. The African American men could only work on their church at night. Also many escaped black men hid out at this church.

Did you know that the founder of the girl scouts Juliette Low lived in Savannah?

This is her house. Many girls scout troops visit this house daily.

Voodoo was brought to Savannah by the Caribbean black slaves. Above is a home being protected with glass spikes. This was thought to keep evil spirits away.

We couldn't leave Savannah without seeing the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. It was so beautiful. It was built in the 1800.

This was a organ. It is said to be the biggest organ in the United States.

The Stations of the Cross were breathtaking.

Leaving Georgia and heading to Florida..............stay tuned.

April 23,2009 "So Much History in the South"

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

I am by no means a historian but the history back here amazed me! I now know the difference between the blue and the gray. Did you know this is the exact place where the Civil War or the War between the States started. The grays aka the Confederacy were from the south and wanted slavery to continue but the blues aka the union or the Yankees from the north wanted slavery abolished.

Charleston was the home of the grays. We started our tour on a horse drawn buggy.

The homes here look alot like the homes in New Orleans which were also built on the back of the slaves.

A monument dedicated to the Confederates who lost the war. This statue is in Battery Park.

A Civil War Gatling gun in Battery Park. The very first machine gun.

Over the beautiful bridge to Magnolia Plantation.

Magnolia Plantation was a very wealthy rice producer again due to slavery. Most people think that cotton was the big producer but rice was king of the south due to plentiful water.

Schotzi got to tour the plantation with us.

Yes lots of alligators in the swamps on this plantation. The turtles are actually gator food but the gators don't eat in the day time and the turtles seem to know it.

More alligators

Many birds and animals still inhabit this plantation.

This is were the slaves lived and raised their children to work the land as slaves.

Took a tour boat out the Fort Sumter Island.

Beautiful Bridge.

The very first shot that started the Civil War was fired here at Fort Sumter.

Fort Sumter

There flags are the exact replicas that were flown over the fort at different times in history.

Larry is saying: Lindy can I take this home? Will it fit in the RV?

Next stop Savannah...............................

April 15th "Picture Catch-up"

When I last posted I told you my granddaughters were turning 3. They went to Disneyland. Here they are with Tinkerbell.

If you click on any picture they become bigger. We have landed in Charleston, South Carolina. Those pictures will be posted in a few days.

We spent a week with Don & Barb and during that time the four of us went to "THE OUTER BANKS". We stayed at Cherry Point Marine Corp Air Station.

Here is a map of The Outer Banks. We took a 2 1/2 hour ferry ride to get to our first point which was Ocracoke Island where we saw our first light house. Notice how far we are out in the Atlantic Ocean. Anyone seen the movie "The Perfect Storm"? But we enjoyed calm seas.

But the ferry ride was a little disconcerting.

Brotherly love! Don and Larry were having alot of fun teasing Barb and I about the possibility of the ferry sinking.

To get to the second light house we took a 45 minute ferry ride. These light houses are amazing and sad and the same time. Many movies have been filmed here along The Outer Banks. The homes along the drive reminded me of the homes in New Port Beach, California.

Time to head back to Fayetteville, North Carolina and Barb wanted to drive the RV. Just sitting in the seat scared her. So much for a rest for Larry.

Barb and Don said they could really get use to this. Larry is an amazing driver we all feel safe.

Back at Don & Barbs. Schotsi is finally a happy dog again. She just loves playing tug a war with Daniel, Don & Barbs (dachshund) (sp) wiener dog.

The Smith Family Picture

We sure do miss you guys! Let us know when we can pick you up at LAX.

Our Trip to DC included a side trip to The United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

This is a picture on our navigator, showing the academy surrounded by water.

Margie's son Tom graduated from here and lived at Bancroft Hall.

These are the quarters for the various instructors.

The Chapel and all the grounds are surrounded with beautiful buildings and statues.


Probably by now you are wondering how Schotsi is getting along. We have a diagnosis. She has separation anxiety.

This is a perfect example of what Shotsi is experiencing when we leave her. And since we have to leave her at times..................

Her new expensive jail!

And her new inexpensive chewing prevention device. (Did we tell you she has chewed up 3 seat belts?) But this won't dampen our fun. OK she isn't just in jail and muzzled. We found a wonderful doggy day care that she stayed in everyday we went into Washington DC.

We took the train each day which dropped us off at Union Station.

Yes this is the inside of Union Station. Everything is done on a grand scale in DC.

Front of Union Station

This is the Jefferson Monument, Larry's favorite. And it was surrounded with Cherry Blossoms. Did you know that Japan gave over 3,000 trees to be planted in DC? And they were all in bloom while we were their.....what luck.

President Jefferson was probably the most educated president we have every had. He wrote The Declaration of Independence. Did you know he also wrote his own version of the bible, which continues to be presented to each legislator in Congress when they are sworn in. He did not change the wording of the bible he just extracted the words of Jesus which spoke to morality.
Do you think our Congress persons are reading it?????

This is Thomas Jefferson. See how big the statue is?

This is the Lincoln Monument. Lincoln is inside.

And here he is. Yep, that is me standing in the front.

Larry looking out, Lincoln behind him and the reflecting pool and the Washington Monument in front.

Remember the move Forrest Gump? He was standing on the steps of the Lincoln Monument and his girlfriend came running to him in the reflecting pool.

Here I am again with the Capital Building behind me.

This is the Korean War Veteran's Memorial. These statues where life size and made of stainless steel.

This is Arlington Cemetery with Arlington house in the back ground and Cherry tree next to President Kennedy's eternal flame.

More pictures of the Cemetery.

We had such a great time in DC and an even greater time in North Carolina with Don an Barb.