Sunshine

We've had a rainy April and May so even a little sunshine is nice to have. But I really love the way the sun shines through the buffet window sheers and mom's Frankie and Uno stained glass gift.

Spring garden

Love seeing the garden change in the Spring.

lilacs

seedlings and pepper plants

azalea

Visit with Mom part 3

After Luray Caverns, Mom and I drove back to Warrenton to meet up with my brother and sister-in-law. My brother and I had not set a place to meet. We were going to decide once Mom and I were close. I decided to go to my brother's father-in-law's furniture store. I mentioned this to mom as we approached town. Mom thought that was a really good idea. I nearly fell out of the car laughing because she agreed with something I said. We had been joking all week about our differing opinions.

We met Spade and Bev and Bev's dad, Mr. Rankin, at the furniture. Mr. Rankin is being celebrated for fifty years as a business man in Warrenton. He showed me the accounting general ledger book that he used back in 1966.

On Thursday Mom and I dropped her old tube tv off at the county refuse and recycling center. Then headed to the National Zoo in Washington, DC. I used to live near the zoo and was a frequent visitor. We were mostly wanting to see the pandas.

It turned out to be colder than we had planned. We were dressed for the rain but not the cold so we grabbed a hotdog across from the zoo to try to warm up.

The landscaping at the zoo has grown so much. I guess after 30 years that is what happens. It was surprising and nice to see the trees so tall. The two adult pandas were out in their enclosures so we had no difficulty seeing them. We could not find the entrance to the inside and didn't see the baby panda, Bei Bei.

Thursday evening I did a thorough cleaning of mom's bathroom. Mom didn't seem to happy with me but I think it resulted in a more inviting environment.

Mom and I had a great time traveling around Virginia. It was a great trip.

I've often mentioned how lovely mom's apartment building is. The photo below shows the building as you approach up the drive.

A run in the park

Sunday hill sprints this week was a solo run. The sprints are in Theodore Wirth Park, part of the Minneapolis Park System. It was a beautiful day and so much nature... Canadian geese parents with goslings, a buck and doe, countless birds and frogs.

Visit with Mom Part 2

Wednesday we met great niece Annika and her father, Jason at Luray Caverns in the Shenandoah Valley. We stopped at Washington, Virginal, a tiny town with a world famous inn and restaurant. The restaurant was closed on the day we drove through.

Luray Caverns is a privately owned natural wonder. I remember touring the caverns when I was little. Mom really wanted to see it again. I was concerned that there would be a lot of walking. I did convince her to bring her cane which we referred to as her 'get up stick'.

The photos do not do the cavern justice. There are a number of chambers some of which are enormous. There are all types of stalagmites and stalactites in many different colors.

water reflection

The famous fried eggs that now look more like oysters from years of people touching them.

My great-niece, Annika, in the garden maze. We got really lost.

Visit with Mom Part 1

Old PanAm terminal

I arrived late Monday after a big storm passed through northern Virginia. I am very familiar with National airport so made it quickly to the car rental and out to I395.

Tuesday we drove to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park. We stopped in Warrenton, Virginia where I went to all 12 years of school.

Just off Main St. The mural behind us is interesting

We placed flowers at Forrest and Ella Heflin's graves and their son Bernard. The Heflin's were our neighbors and owned a farm.

It was raining by the time we got to Shenandoah National Park. We got a $10 senior annual national park pass and drove Skyline Drive to Skyland Resort. I had reserved a cabin for us for Tuesday night.

Cloudy, foggy, rainy Skyline Drive

The weather was changing by the minute... cloudy, sunny, foggy, windy. The dining hall was positioned for sunset viewing. It looked like we were going to get a good one until the last minute when clouds rolled up from the valley and fog rolled down from the top of the mountain. It was classic.

Water feature cleaned and bubbling

The birds were so excited to have the water bubbling again. They would fly in and splash around While I was still working on the rocks.