We arrived back at Keith and Janet's on Friday afternoon. We left the southern area of Boston at 8 a.m. and didn't get here until 6. We only hit two areas that were stop and go for many miles; otherwise it was a pretty easy trip.

Last Tuesday we drove to L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine. We remember L.L. Bean from the early 70's when it was a single two story building with creaking wood floors. Now it is a huge new two story building in the middle of town. The rest of Freeport is one big outlet mall. Older buildings such as a Carnegie library building have been taken over by the likes of J.Jill and Abercrombie and Fitch and Nautica. Ken bought some shoes, Helen bought nothing.

After shopping we continued north to the little New England town of Wiscasset to partake of a lobster roll at Red's. He guarantees there is a whole lobster in each sandwich. On a corner of main street in this little town sits a little tiny building with a walk-up window. One can purchase hamburgers and such, but the main player is the lobster roll at $11.00 each. It is nothing but lobster meat in a roll served with a little container of melted butter that is poured out of a tea kettle. This little establishment has been featured in the likes of Gourmet magazine and on the Food Network. It was a great lunch.

On Wednesday we visited one of Ken's Navy friends, Bill Kozain. He and Ken met on the plane that was taking them to Pensacola, Florida for pre-flight training in 1964. Bill and Nina live in New London, New Hampshire on 20 acres in a 100 year old New England farm house. Nina was out of town, but Bill treated us to a steak dinner which we enjoyed with him and his brother and wife who were visiting from Florida.

We like new New England, and especially liked New Hampshire, which we had never visited before. Bill took us down the road, around the bend, by the lake, and up the hill to a working maple farm. Just a farmhouse-type building with a little space in the basement dedicated to candy-making and office space. They have ten MILES of plastic tubing that is used to gather the sap in the spring. Their sugar shack where the sap is boiled down was the house where this man was born. Of course we purchased some maple syrup and had a delightful visit with the owners.

We spent our last evening in Boston having dinner and visiting with Ed and Madeline Gromada whom we know from Navy days in Hawaii. Ed was a brand new ensign and they had just gotten married. Ed has worked for several companies and as a consultant, and his career has taken them to Florida, Holland, and France. We have not seen them for over 30 years, but we took up right where we had left off. It was a delight to see them again.

Ed shared that he considered himself to have been a friend of Julia Childs. Of course, up until a short while before she passed away, she lived in Cambridge, and Ed's company was involved with Julia and a cookware promotion. He said she was a delightful lady. He said she was a great supporter of PBS, and while they were enroute to a dinner and fundraiser, she inquired of her promoters as to what they were charging for her cookbook at this event. Whatever the price, she informed them that they were to increase the price of her cookbook by $5 to better fund PBS.

Remember those who have served and those who have given their lives for this country.

Ciao

New England

We drove about 10 hours today, and here we are in Kittery, Maine with the wind blowing and the rain hitting sideways. Welcome to New England. We even managed New York City with no problems. We spent about 1 1/2 hours driving 30 miles as we circled the greater Boston area at 5 p.m.

We stopped just before crossing into NYC at Liberty Park which affords a view, albeit a rear view but a view, of the statue of Liberty as well as a spectacular view of the New York skyline. One can board a ferry from this park and go out to the statue of Liberty as well as Ellis Island which we plan to do on another trip. Ken's grandparents and my great grandparents all entered this country via Ellis Island.

Tomorrow we plan to drive north to Freeport, Maine, the home of L.L. Bean, visit Brunswick Naval Base, and visit Wiscassat, Maine where there is a little food stand called Red's, that earned the notice of the Food Network for its lobster rolls. We will be taste testing.

Ciao

AND WE FLEW

We were in luck in getting a flight out of McChord last Wednesday on an empty C-17 with about 20 passengers. We were able to make reservations at the Dover guest lodge so after about a 15 minute hike schlepping our luggage we got to bed about 2 am. Keith picked us up on Thursday about 1:30 to take us to Columbia.

I still love this mode of travel, even though ground transpiration is non-existent in the middle of the night. Since 9/11 most bases do not allow commercial cabs on base. But that’s okay, the walk did us good. And the $3 box lunches with their lunchmeat sandwiches on white bread leave a little to be desired, but that is just part of the adventure.

Janet has a garage sale going today, otherwise it is quiet. The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and it is about 70 degrees outside. Perfect. Unlike yesterday………..

when it was about 50 outside, with rain and the wind sometimes driving it sideways. It did quiet down a bit toward evening, but stayed cool. But we ignored the weather as we were invited to a an outdoor wine tasting function on the front lawn of Mount Vernon. Keith and Janet’s friends had tickets for one of the VIP tables, so we were able to sit at a table and listen to some music while nibbling on meats and cheeses and sipping wine. Plus we toured the house.

There was a tent with about 12 Virginia wineries represented, but we are convinced that our fair state of Washington has nothing to worry about. Ken and Keith decided the only wine to even gamble on would be a blend. The climate doesn’t not lend itself to being able to produce a single reliable varietal.

Of course it is always fun to see the grandchildren. I can’t believe our Sarah will graduate from high school in 10 days. She will probably start her ‘college’ job in August. Keith and Janet’s neighbor is the golf pro at the University of Maryland and he has her scheduled to work in the pro shop. Once she turns 18 on August 23 she will be able to drive the beer cart where the tips happen!

Ken and I will probably rent a car tomorrow and take off for a few days next week, either north or south, we’re not sure. We have friends throughout Virginia, but I am rather taken with driving to New England. We’ll let you know.

Ciao

We are planning on trying for a flight tomorrow from McChord to Dover, DE. Of course we won't know if we have seats until just a few hours prior to take off. But that is just part of the adventure. If we don't get on, we'll come home and wait for something else that is going to the east coast. It is a great way to travel.

There really is no other news from here. The weather continues to be cloudy and rainy with a few sun breaks. Perhaps Maryland will have more sunshine.

Ciao

The duck dinner was a great success.

I filled in the menu with baked rice, Mediterranean-style sauteed green beans, crusty bread, and a first course of avocado, shrimp, and cherry tomatoes. All of it washed down with some good wine and a good time was had by all.

Then Colleen put the Barefoot Contessa to the test again yesterday with a menu for grilled lamb in pita bread with various condiments such as cucumber, tomato and onion. VERY GOOD. She purchased everything at Costco and the tzatziki, cucumbers, tomatoes, hummus and pita bread were all excellent. All washed down with some very good wine. Craig brought a 2002 Shafer cabernet that was superb. A couple who live down the street, friends of Craig's, were here to share.

We have had one or two tiny sun breaks, but the rest of the time has been cloudy and/or showering. Ken has been able to spend some time working outside in the yard.

Colleen and I prepared for the summer sandal season and got pedicures yesterday. A luxury yes, but fun anyway.

We have no plans for the weekend. I see that Sideways is on pay-per-view this weekend so that will probably be tonight's entertainment.

Ciao

And the clouds and showers

continue to come. I think that is pretty much the weather outlook for the rest of this week. There are a few sun breaks, but they are few and far between.

I either heard from or saw all four of our children on Mother's Day. Actually, Brian called on Saturday, but what with a 17 hour time difference and its either being today or tomorrow, the Saturday call made sense. He said all is going well. He and his Ops Officer are sharing a house, the rest of the guys are 4 to a house. Now the big project is for someone to get up and running with the internet so everybody else can jump on too.

Keith and Janet and the girls sent lovely flowers and called yesterday. They are feeling a bit more optimistic about the Army. If the exemption fails, apparently one can request to fill a position one is qualified for stateside. In fact Keith is aware of one at Ft. Meade that would fill the bill. So that is a glimmer of hope as well. They are busy getting ready for all the 'relations' to arrive later this month for Sarah's graduation. In addition to Ken and me, Janet's parents, her sister and husband and 2 kids will also be arriving toward the end of the month. But they have a huge house with 5 bdrms and 3 full baths. I guess Ken and I will be downstairs in the bedroom/bath that Keith built when finishing off the basement and family room.

Craig spent Sunday afternoon here along with Ken, Colleen and me. he arrived with an awesome bottle of cabernet that probably should have been left to repose in his wine cellar for a few years. It was a superb bottle of wine. My usual request for Mother's Day is that I do nothing, and someone makes a run to KFC for our dinner - which Craig did.

I went to the commissary today which is about a half day endeavor by the time I get home and get the groceries put away. While there, I saw our friends and neighbors, Jerry and Mary Ellen McKain, so invited them for dinner tomorrow night. I recently watched the Barefoot Contessa prepare a menu that included roast ducklings, and I've been dying to try it, so Jerry and Mary Ellen are the guinea pigs. I haven't figured out the rest of the meal yet, but I they are easy to please - just as long as we have the bourbon and whiskey at hand before dinner.

Mary Ellen's brother, Dick Quinn, lives in Spokane and was a mountain of support during Pat's illness. His wife, Patty, is a sweet as she can be, and Dick's family call her St. Patty. When Dick and Patty first met at a party, he was planning to become a priest and she a nun. Instead they married, had several children and adopted three.

I need to get back to the kitchen and take care of all the sacks that are waiting for me in the pantry. Keep on bloggin'.

Ciao

Back home

after the Liberty lake fishing trip. Bob and Ken did OK, but not as well as in previous years. They fished Waitts Lake, Liberty Lake, and the Lake Roosevelt. The last outing, Lake Roosevelt, ended up being an unfortunate experience in that they hit a rock that was just under the surface and put two huge gashes in the hull of Bob's boat. All 3 guys (Daryl Ziemer was with them) agreed that had it been any other kind of a boat with a lesser hull, it would have sunk. As it turned out, the boat stayed sound with no leakage and they were able to get it back to the launch area. We are waiting to hear what it is going to take to repair it. The situation was serious enough that all three were checking their life jackets and moving the boat closer to shore.

The water has been so low, and now is in the process of rising. This rock was probably visible a few days prior, and it will be far enough below the surface in a few more days that it will not be a threat to other boaters.

I spent most of Saturday with Lois. I took her out to lunch to celebrate her birthday which was on the 26th. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch, some wine, and a chance to just sit and visit. Sharon invited Daryl and Jan Ziemer for dinner on Sunday evening, and then Sharon and I did some shopping and lunching on Monday. The drive home on Tuesday was uneventful. I think the Jetta could just about make its way home by itself considering all the trips it has made across I-90 in the past few months.

Keith has submitted his paperwork to request an exemption from the Army, but we have no idea how long it takes to get a response. Simply submitting the request provides an additional 30 days for a reporting date which would put it out to the 22nd of June.

We are going to start looking at flights out of McChord about the 15th of this month to give us plenty of time to get to the east coast by May 31 for Sarah's graduation. There appear to be several flights headed that direction so I have confidence we will be okay.

Brian and other crews from his squadron are all settled in for their deployment. Sheila said it sounds like they are doing well and enjoying themselves along with working. Good combination.

We are having some spring showers which are actually quite refreshing, and we are surrounded by blooming trees and shrubs. I think this is the prettiest time of year for this area.

Ciao