I have been playing hooky from the blog for the past week, but I'm back now! My husband's sister and her husband came to visit from Phoenix and stayed 4 days with us, it was great to see them! The kids absolutely love having someone new to torment, lol! Just kidding, but it was great having someone else entertain the kids for a few days and give me a much-needed break - thanks, guys!!! We were able to go fishing one day, although our night fishing by a full moon plans were shot down by 25 knot winds and blowing sand. My husband caught an interesting creature that is definitely worthy of clicking to enlarge:
Blowfish caught in the Atlantic Ocean. His mug was so ugly he was cute!!!!
The next day we decided to be tourists in our own hometown! We headed down to the Boardwalk to show them the sights and grab an obligatory ice cream. Super blustery wind and skies but no rain! I had the bright idea to park at the Virginia Aquarium near our house and ride "The Beach Trolley" down to the boardwalk to avoid any parking issues, but that idea had issues of its own... first the trolley didn't even slow down to notice there were people waiting to get on at the stop, then after my husband ran out to flag her down, she was incredibly rude! We ended up waiting for the next one, and then were promptly accused of being "New Yorkers", lol! I guess the fact we called out the previous driver on her people skills and probably talk too fast for the native southerners made her think that. Of course I told her that "no, I'm from HERE"! This driver just talked in circles without being able to make her route intelligible. I had asked a simple question: "Do you go to the Oceanfront?" (this is only 1/2 mile from where we were standing, by the way). Anyways, 15 minutes later we were able to enjoy our walk! I told my husband that the City/Resort Tourism employees should wear t-shirts that say "Welcome to Virginia Beach, now get lost!" I would write a letter except that they would probably just blacklist me and raise my property taxes, lol!
Finnegan & Daddy having some male ice cream bonding time on the boardwalk!
The day ended on a high note though, the weather cleared a bit and we were able to enjoy our last night together with L & M by steaming a pot of local seafood and enjoying some cold brews. We put together a dinner of steamed shrimp, oysters, clams, sausage & potatoes, lamb kebabs, and some jalapeno corn bread.
Everyone except me, of course!
On the garden front: fall is coming fast! The past several days has been in the lower 70's so I am LOVING the weather. The tomatoes appear to have stopped production so we will probably be ripping them out tomorrow and cleaning up the raised beds so I can start putting in some more fall things. I sent my sister-in-law out to harvest jalapenos and she took a big bag home to Phoenix, but there are still over 100 more to be picked and show no signs of stopping!
I picked up my Master Gardener Training Manual today and am soooo excited to start classes next week! My husband's schedule was changed yet again and now he is leaving next week so if I can't line up a sitter for my youngest, I will have to quit the program, so keep your fingers crossed for me. I am hoping everything will work out...I am really looking forward to being in class with adults and studying again!
Here's the manual, yay!!
You are so busy, I don't know where to start. Maybe by saying I wish I were related, so I could visit and eat all that wonderful food! I wouldn't even complain about the bunk beds or the funny looking fish ;-)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it upsetting when people can't do their jobs properly? We went to Outback Steak House for dinner the other night, and the hostess said we would have to sit in the bar, because they didn't have any servers in the dining room. We left and went somewhere else. No servers in a restaurant, give me a break!
Your relatives were probably FREEZING to death at your temps. I'm heading to Phoenix/Mesa Sunday.....and it's been 105 degrees. OMG!
ReplyDeleteGood luck finding a sitter-that course should be so interesting. You don't want to miss that!! Heck, tie the kids to the water heater-LOL. I'm kidding . Really.
;)
I just attended my first Master Gardener class yesterday. What an exciting group of people! Out of the 18 of us, here in Indiana near the shore of Lake Michigan, 3 of us were beekeepers, 8 have almost pure sand to grow in, 6 insisted on organics, and several of us concentrated heavily on herbs. It was a wonderful time meeting all those folks who love growing things. I think I'm going to love this class. I sure hope you can find a sitter to enjoy your class. I'm thinking that I may need to bring the wheelbarrow to cart along that heavy book though-it's a heavy one.
ReplyDeleteI hope, hope, hope you can find a sitter, you need to do something for you sometimes too!
ReplyDeleteMy tomatoes have stopped too, eggplants and peppers also- night temps in the 50's.
That seafood looks divine!!! That's one thing I miss about living in the Midwest.
ReplyDeleteI'll be ripping out tomatoes tonight- we got blight! The temps have been down into the 40s here at night already! BRRR!
I do hope you can find a sitter, the class would be so good for you.
Judy
We had such a wonderful time!! The fishing was soooo much fun (even if the only catch was a creepy looking blowfish). The food was delicious (the highlight of course being the home cooked seafood boil). And the bunkbeds were actually very comfortable (my back actually hurt after sleeping in my own bed when we got home). And last but not least my nephews are the most wonderful, adorable, smart children in the world!! I wished so much that we lived closer.... I would babysit for you if we did!! You sure you can't get the Navy to transfer you guys to Phoenix...?? ;)
ReplyDeleteSis-in- Law, hey- you are the hydrogeologist! YOU figure out a way to get an ocean in the Phoenix area and we will put in for a transfer as soon as the new Naval Base is built there, lol!
ReplyDeleteprayers for an excellent babysitter for sure, this is an awesome lifelong blessing for you - your dinner looked so yummy i haven't seen seafood for years, what a great bunch of comments you have made a nice little community for yourself here, glad to be part of it - peace for all
ReplyDeleteI hope you can arrange a sitter because the MG class is fantastic. I took it here in Chesterfield in 2000 and it was one of the best things I've ever done for myself. Plus, I've met so many great gardeners and been able to help lots of people with their gardening problems and questions. It's been a win/win experience.
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