Mount Everest . . .

Lynn leading the way

. . . that's what I feel like I did today . . . we climbed to the top of the sand dunes on the Grand Outer Banks near Kitty Hawk where you could see water on both sides of you.  It was a tough slog, especially through soft sand, but I was determined to conquer my mountain.  

I have a whole new respect for Moses now after wandering around in the desert for 40 years . . . . that's all I have to say about that!

Shaking Head . . .

Never thought we would make it to the Grand Outer Banks, but here we are, although the weather could have been nicer for us.  Thought I should at least go up the sand dunes and take some photos to record the fact that we were actually there.  Took some photos of the ocean through the tall grasses for my sister who loves those kind of vistas.  Then, as for all photographers, after you have taken your first few shots, look behind you and see what there is to see.  

They are gonna get sick . . mark my words

I couldn't believe it . . here are two insane people running around on the beach in bitterly cold and windy weather . . I mean it was snowing just a bit up the coast.  Sure they had wet suits on . .. but if you look closely, bare feet, bare hands, bare heads and WET hair.  Really, I couldn't believe it.  They must be of Viking stock or something as guess what . . they were the ONLY two on the beach and in the water.

Geography . . . and Kitty Hawk

Memorial to the Wright Brothers

A road trip certainly puts your geographic skills to the test.   Today we visited Kitty Hawk.  

Now I know all about the Wright Brothers and Kitty Hawk and all that stuff, but somehow, I must have thought Kitty Hawk was in Ohio.  Imagine my surprise when planning today's segment of the journey, that we would be going right through Kitty Hawk . .  what . . well guess what . . the boys did their test flights from the Grand Outer Banks just off the coast of North Carolina because of the prevailing winds from the Atlantic to get loft for the wings and the sand dunes provided a softer landing for the test flights.  Soooo, today we saw, yet again, with our own eyes where history took place.

Amazing what you can learn when you are on a road trip.

Out of my comfort zone . ..

. . . parasailing that is . .. until I did it.  It was magical . . ...  a beautiful sunny day with no breeze, Tammy treated us to this adventure.    Just to make sure that everyone knew it was the real deal she came along and photographed the whole thing.

Cool sunglasses and reflections

The boat driver was so skilled he could land you on a dime.  He just dipped our toes in the ocean which was so warm it was like bath water.  Truly amazing.

Yep, that's our boat down there . . I have no idea how high up we were . .  at any rate it was heavenly.  The shadow of the parachute at the bottom of the photo is us and the rope is all that is keeping us tethered to the boat.  Waaaaay up . . . felt like we were birds in the sky

Coming in to land . . 

Coming in to land on the back of the boat was as smooth as they come.  

And yes I did take my camera (little one) up with me . . this was too big an occasion not to record, and my camera does go with me everywhere.  

Soooo, Elsie and Val . ... this is just to show that we did do it!!!  Annnnnd, I would highly recommend it.

Honking Horns . . .

After our visit to Washington, DC Lynn has come up with a new theory.  People honk horns at intersections "just because".  We have never heard so much horn honking in all our life . . .and coming from where we come from, a honking horn is to alert you of impending danger.  Apparently here, it is to let you know they are now at the intersection as well as you, and in case you might be looking elsewhere than the light, to remind you to keep your eyes ahead.  He was REALLY irritated today by someone honking their horn at him the millisecond the light became green . . .I mean, really, for goodness sake, even I hadn't had a chance to tell him it wasn't going to get any greener.  Geeeez . . ..

Patriotism . ..

I have always admired the patriotism that the Americans have for their country, flag and national anthem.  Almost without exception when the national anthem is played the men click their heels even if they are not in the military, place their hand over their heart, and sing with GUSTO.  Canadians could well adopt some of this gusto.  It appalls me when people don't stand, take off their hats and continue to chew gum rather than SING.  Although, I do have to say that our national pride was kicked up a notch when we hosted the Olympic Games.


I now better understand where this comes from.  They not only teach their school children their history, they take them to it.  If you think planning a trip in October to visit historic sites takes you away from the madding crowds, WRONG.  There were buses lined up as far as the eye could see taking these kids to see and experience where history took place.  In fact, if you are walking and are not quite sure if you are headed in the right direction, just look for the buses.  

At Iwo Jima I have no idea how many bus loads of school kids were being brought to the site and they were getting history on the road.  The Old Post Office had a group from Kentucky and they were visiting Washington for a week.  Hooray for these kids . . . they will remember this part of their education for a lifetime.


It is my belief that Canadians think their history is boring and dull, however we have had some interesting figures in the past and we should know our own history. I don't think very many schools have week long trips to Ottawa or to the Plains of Abraham where our history happened.  It would be more real if they did.  Our children were certainly never offered this chance and I don't think it is a regular occurrence today.  That should change.  We know American history well, but I am not so sure we know our own as well.  I think there are a lot of people, including adults, who could not name all our Prime Ministers even dating back to the 1960's, let alone to John A. MacDonald.

Tammy & Dave's front porch

When I asked Tammy's Dave why he chose the military as his career, his immediate answer and without one second of hesitation was "Because I love my Country".  Plain and simple and from the heart.  I haven't heard that passion from many Canadians.


This is the flag that hangs outside their front door and this is not an uncommon sight.  When we first took our grandchildren to the United States for a road trip I wanted them to experience the culture of another country.  One of the first things I pointed out to them that was different from Canada, was the flag hanging outside the homes.


We Canadians should do more of that . . . I am proud to be a Canadian and we should display our pride more often.

Breaking News . . .

Lynn making the news!!!!!

. . . stopped in at the White House and I guess it became a newsworthy event!!!!   

The official meeting

Then he got fixed up a bit as he was after all meeting with the President, but guess what he forgot to remove his hat . . 

All men are created equal . . .

This journey has been about history  . . . visiting the South, visiting the Plantations, listening to the impassioned tour guides talk about the enslaved and their conditions, and most of all, what they contributed to the American Culture.  I am sure that anyone who has watched Gone With the Wind has a very romantic idea about the years just prior to the Civil War.  Reality is, that it was anything but.

Monticello . . .. estate of Thomas Jefferson

We have visited Savannah, Charleston, Richmond, and now Washington D.C.  Thomas Jefferson's Monticello home was a must see for me.   He penned the Declaration of Independence. It would appear he led a very conflicted life as he was not in agreement with slavery, however he owned many slaves, and took as his mistress an enslaved woman by the name of Sally Jennings and fathered her children. To further complicate things, upon his death and in his will, he only freed five of his slaves.


Fast forward to today, in the age of enlightenment of 2011, where on a tour bus, I still heard racial slurs.  Over the last few days I have heard comments such as the Civil War is not over, the juries are all black, etc., etc.   This seems to be ingrained and I am appalled to hear first hand that this tension is still nearly a rolling boil.  I personally do not believe in the bondage of another human being, so have a very difficult time with these situations.  I have to constantly remind myself that I am a guest in this Country and it behooves me to act in a respectful manner.

Ford Theatre . .. the site of Lincoln's Assassination

Today, whilst walking all over Washington, DC we paid a visit to Ford's Theatre.   I cannot put into words the emotions I felt and how the journey from the soil where the Civil War was fought took us to the theatre that once again changed the course of history.  Most likely, Lincoln's announcement that he planned to give the ensalved who had fought for the Union the right to vote, sealed his fate as far as John Wilkes Booth was concerned.  He is reported to have said that "That is the last speech that he will ever give".

Still pondering and reflecting on all we have seen and experienced.

Buying a camera changes one's life . . ..

forever . . .  never would have thought how buying a camera, or as Sherry calls it, the little black box . . .. can change your life.  The people who share your passion and enter your life's circle make all the difference in the world.    Aside from the ladies I met through digital scrapbooking, some of the people I have met at workshops have now become an integral part of my life.  Enter Janice from Ft. Saskatchewan . . . we have shared many wonderful moments and some of them at a great distance . . I just love embracing today's technology and making it work for me . . email, facebook . .. whatever it takes to keep in touch.  Physical distance is no longer an inhibiting factor.

Moments in Time

Most people remember precisely what they were doing and where they were when John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy as well . . .the day Lady Diana was killed and 9/11 which changed the world forever.  Annnd, yes I am a Canadian and the recall of some of these events date me!!


There is another moment that is significant in my life and that is when I decided to purchase a SLR camera and replicate a family album for my family, both of which required skills I did not possess.  I needed to learn the clean method of scrapbooking as digital seemed the only way to go and although required software, did not require a separate room full of paper, cutters, scissors, etc or produce a big mess that needed to be cleaned up.

Sherry in Colonial Williamsburg

Enter the world of digital scrapbooking which changed my life forever.   Yes in a technical sense, but more profoundly in the sense of who I met online that shared the same passion to the same degree.


Intimate and lifelong friendships have been formed and I have been lucky to meet all of these women in real life.  They are all as real as friends you made in grade school . . enter Carolyn D. from  Rhode Island, Sherry from Va., Heather from Regina, Sk.  I am so blessed.  Not only did every single one of them share their wealth of knowledge with this newcomer to the craft, and prop me up when it seemed this Photoshop thing was just waaaaay too difficult, but we shared our lives online before we ever met.  Thus when we did meet, we "knew" each other and these women have changed my life forever.