Not as cavernous as I thought...

So one day while visiting the fam in Maryland, the Abster and I decided to take a little trip to some caverns.  Not the famous Luray Caverns of Virginia, but some ones that were closer.  The auntlings weren't interested in going with us, so we headed out to the Crystal Grottoes near Boonsboro.

When we pulled up right at the time they opened, we were the only car in the parking lot.  Made me wonder if they were really as stupendous as advertised.  Then a lady came running out (smoking a cigarette) and put up the "OPEN" sign out on the highway.  Ok.  We walked up to the front door and there was a guy sitting on the picnic table near the front door.  He was also smoking a cigarette.  He nodded at us as we entered the door and inside we were greeted by a shriveled up older lady who was smoking a cigarette.  The room was practically bare- no postcards, no books about the caverns, no photos, no "wall of history"... nothing.  I was starting to wonder what sort of mom-and-pop cave operation I had gotten us into.  (And I only mention the smoking because where we live there are fewer and fewer smokers every year.  It's rare to see one per week, let alone three in a span of a few minutes.)

I paid the fee and we were told there there was a guided tour in a few minutes.  We waited and then two other people joined us, and then our tour guide. 

I thought the five of us were a rather small group, but when we got down into the caverns, it became clear that you really didn't want more than that at a time in the narrow passageways.

This is the "coral" formation.

This formation is called "cooked bacon"

As you can see, the formations were interesting and varied, and well worth the time and money for the tour.  The guide was interesting and entertaining and she took the time to answer all of our questions.  She even did a few seconds of "T.D." (Total Darkness) just for dramatic effect.  (I didn't take a picture of that.)

The best part?  It was 54 degrees F in the caverns.  So much nicer than the humid 93 degrees up top!

Happy Independence Day!

Here's how we celebrated last year!

We hope your festivities are safe and loud!

We're baaaaack!

Just got back from a visit to family on the east coast.  This is the last picture I took on the trip- the skyline of Washington, DC as seen from Ronald Reagan National Airport.  On the left, the Washington Monument encased in scaffolding (working on repairs from the 2011 earthquake), on the far right, the dome of the Capitol building.

We didn't actually go into the city this visit (I know that comes as a shock to those of you who know my obsession with all things DC...), but seeing it as we flew in and out was a real treat.  I love flying into Reagan for that reason (and because it has a metro stop) and this trip the visibility was great.  I wish I had pulled my camera from its bag while on the plane, but sometimes other things take precedence and the memory will have to suffice until I can get back there again.

We had a great time with my brother and his family in Maryland- did some historic stuff, some touristy stuff, and some just-plain-fun-family-bonding stuff.  I'll post some pics soon- maybe put them into scrapbook pages first...

As for now, we are having a heat wave, so kiddo and I will head to the pool and try to stay cool.

That time I turned 50... again...

I have some great family and friends.  The either didn't believe me, or they ignored me completely when I said I didn't want a big deal for my 50th.  (I didn't want gifts.  I'm trying to simplify my life- not add stuff to it. I didn't want a party- I would prefer a small gathering where it is easy to visit with people and not feel like I had to be "up" and all hostess-y the whole time.)

Anyway, we had some fun at my folks' house when a bunch of friends showed up wearing all their weirdest stuff. (Most of them are teachers.  Teachers keep strange outfits for occasions like spirit week.)

I think if you click on the pictures, you can see them in a larger format... get all the juicy details. 

I kept the scrapbook layouts colorful and simple.  I don't have any embellishments that really fit the 50th theme- or the travel theme for this color, so I just let the pictures speak for themselves.

That time I turned 50...

So last year I turned 50.  Had two separate and different celebrations- the one I wanted and the one I thought I didn't want but turned out ok in the end.

Here are the scrapbook pages I made of the planned celebration.  (Next post will be the unplanned one...)

The company that makes the tipis is the same one that provided tipis
for the movie Dances With Wolves.  How cool is that?

That pink princess birthday banner hanging in a tree?  That was put there by the neighboring campsite for a guy's 20th birthday the night before!  They had no idea I used it the next day for my photo!

Almost got a pic of me in the saddle... and then the camera battery died.

The water was warm but the breeze was a little chilly.

This was kiddo's first time to see Mt Hood up close and personal.  I don't think it impressed her as much as it always impresses me.  Maybe next time we will go up in the winter and she can go sledding.

It's NOT Charlotte!

Went to my storage unit the other day- just to say 'hi" to my things.   Huge spider was working its way up the inch-high step to go into the unit.  I had on flip flops and I couldn't step on it because it was vertical.  I wasn't about to try and squish it with the toe of my flip flop because what if my aim was off and I missed?  Then it could attack and get my toe!  So I waited until it got on the flat concrete.  Darn thing was so fast that I couldn't get it and it went under my couch and now it is living with my things and probably laying eggs somewhere.  EW.  Now I have to inspect, wash, and insecticide everything I take out of there before I put it in my new abode (I don't actually have a new abode yet.) Ewwwww.

Then, today there was a spider that dangled over my students while they were in the computer lab.  The audacity!  How dare it threaten my kids!!!  I bravely put a bunch of duct tape on the end of a yardstick (sticky side out- duh...) and launched out to do battle against the beast.  Out of nowhere, a custodial-type person came walking over and I asked him if he ever killed spiders.  He courageously took the yardstick, climbed on a chair, and whisked the nasty thing to the floor where he stepped on it.  There were some tense moments as the whisking result appeared to be too close to some of my kids, but all was saved when it was squashed in the end.

Don't tell me that spiders eat other bugs.
There are no edible bugs in the computer lab.
It wasn't Charlotte.

Frosty in May

This is Frosty.  Well, maybe it's Frosty's little brother.  He is made up of all the snowballs we saved from all the snowfalls we've had at our house in the past 12 years.  We couldn't exactly move the frozen snowballs, so we had to let them stay with the house in liquid form...

Bye, Frosty!  Bye, house!  

Things aren't looking too great for the townhome I want.  I either need to increase my offer (which I could do slightly...) or find somewhere else.  Or, the bank could find some compassion or something.  Whatever.

It's just nice going to sleep without the freeway noise in my ear.