Maryland Trip

Mount Vernon

We went to see George Washington's estate, Mount Vernon.  Here's Michelle, me, Shelby, Brett, Maddie, Dad and Mom in front of his mansion.

The grounds were beautiful. Acres of farms, fruit trees, animals, and the Potomac River in the background.

Bee Not Afraid

Steve and his bees. He geared mom and I up so we could get a close up view of the hives. Funny that every inch of my body is covered, and then I'm wearing flip flops! We managed without any stings. My mom and I are holding the queen bee which we marked so she would be easy to find in the future. I don't really get it, but I know that I love the honey! 

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These are the lilly ponds where Steve keeps several bee hives.  It's amazing to walk through the ponds and ponds filled cool flowers and lilly pads.  Shelby found a turtle. Good thing it's little, it would have liked to get a chunk out of her!





We went to Ol' Mink Farm to go camping.  Talk about luxury camping! We stayed in a huge cabin that made us forget we were even in the mountains.  I'm not sure any of us will ever want to camp in a trailer or tent again! I liked getting filthy with my hiking, and smores and then going inside for a nice hot shower! We spent the days swimming, reading, hiking and eating, eating, eating.  Yum! Look at Trevor! He is such a cute kid. I posted the one good picture I got of him, the one just before this was him giving me the Collings famous crusty. He is a natural at it. I can take no credit for teaching him, it's just in the genes! 

The Potomac River is just across the street from Steve and Michelle's house. It's massively huge, slow moving, and shallow enough to walk across.  All that makes for a fun place to play! 

4th of July Weekend

This is dog beach. Quite the experience! It was fun but one of those things you only need to experience once in life. Niko, of course, was in dog heaven. When let off the leash he went charging into the water and got hit with a big wave. I think he thought that was fun, and he went running in circles on the beach as if to celebrate. His first gulp of salt water seemed a shock to him though! I was reminded of 'Marley and Me' the book. Our experiences with our dogs on the beach were identical! And yes, Niko ended it with puking right in front of a poor unsuspecting woman. He was so sick after hours of playing that he just laid on the beach with this glazed over look. Ahh... a moment of peace for me!  The other dog is a friend Niko made. His name is Bus. Very fitting!

We went to the San Diego zoo. I have always wanted to go, and it was fun. Really hot! We took the double decker bus tour and the ariel tram which allowed us to see a lot of the animals we wouldn't have had time for on foot.  The gorilla foot is the best picture I could get of my little buddies. Oh well- I have pics of the real thing in Africa!

Nothing like being in Mexico on the 4th of July to make you proud to be an American! Here we are in Tiajuana. It was fun- we survived without any permanent damage. Unless you count the fact that I let the perfect purse slip through my fingers. I thought I would shop around and make sure I got the best purse at the best price.  Naturally, it was gone when I went back. :(




One of the highlights of our trips was taking a small ferry boat to the island of Coronado. It was just so relaxing and beautiful.  We had something to eat, shopped a little, and took the ferry back!

The San Diego Temple. Gorgeous!

Hell Hole of the West

While Julia was here we also went to the Yuma Territorial Prison. I can't express in words how hot it was there! I thought if the prisoners didn't die from other causes, surley they would die of heat exhaustion. The prison was cool to see, but truly a miserable place. 

This is inside the dark cell. It is a cell used for punishment. Prisoners were put in a five foot tall cage inside a cave.  It was said to be cleaned only every 3 to 4 months. Imagine the stench! No where to pee but where you are standing. There were as many as 14 prisoners in the cell at a time.

Miserably hot, and tied down!

Julia and I.  We think the prisoners must have sat around like this all day!

One of the nicer cell blocks. Others have several beds packed in, and lack much sunlight. The downfall of this one is the ring cemented in the floor.  I guess these are the prisoners chained in their cells. 

Let it be official: I am not the only one that thinks Yuma is a Hell Hole!

(Ok, Yuma isn't THAT bad!)

This picture makes the prison look like a paradise!  This is the main watch tower.

A true ball and chain

A model replica of the Dark Cell.  Can you imagine?

Emily is almost dead from heat stroke here. After she disappeared, we found her inside fanning herself and guzzling water!  She thought she really had been to hell and back!