A Bug Pete Would Have Loved!

After mowing my acre and half lawn, half of the day today, I took a break outside of the wood shop and observed an interesting creature in my yard. It is commonly known as a cicada killer. Killian and I watched for about a half an hour while a female was stinging and paralyzing cicadas then returning to her burrow to lay and eggs on the paralyzed carcass inside of her nest to Winter over until next Spring. I have seen these things all my life and because of their size always worried about getting stung by them but as far as I can tell they do not sting humans? Her hole in the yard was hidden so well she took several minutes to drag her prey back to the burrow. They must have some sort of pheromone they use to remember their entrance. Anywho, If you are interested in a description and breakdown of this insect, we probably have all seen, here is a link about them...

http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/cicadakillerhome.html

The Lindt Museum in Cologne

Today was the day... Considering my devotion to chocolate it should become a pilgrimmage... LOL So here are some pictures to give you an idea of HOW GOOD this can be... The gift shop is pure heaven. They sell all kinds of chocolate, not only Lindt actually. Some is not chocolate either but it was too cool to pass. There is a mini indoors tropical garden where I took the pic of the flower.
Luv,
Vickie.

Chuckie's Last Walk

Monday night Kate and Michael, W&S's good friends and neighbors in Hampton, had a gathering and sprinkling of ashes of their best old friend, Chuckie. This was Chuckie's route he had taken daily for years. What a sweet memorial.

MERCHANTS MILL POND...

We need to set a date for our Fall trip. Hudson & Jeni said the first 2 weekends in November are good for them. The first weekend is Halloween and I know a bunch of you attend Halloween parties. What do you folks say about booking Nov. 7-9? 2 group sites are available. I tentatively reserved both. We can have Galaxy Diner take one and really spread out with the young folks. Let me know! Carolyn

Solomon's Island, Maryland

I discovered a very beautiful place last weekend called Solomon's Island, Maryland. Linda, Gary and I went there to visit a friend of ours who lives there and had an absolutely awesome time! It is actually a peninsula that juts out into the Chesapeake Bay with the Patuxent River on the other side and several back creeks that jut up into the middle, so there is a ton of waterfront property there. It's a beautiful combination of quaint little beach cottages, modern condos, Victorian Bed and Breakfast homes, fun shops and delicious waterfront dining. Stoney Creek Restaurant is actually out on the water with an outdoor deck out in the Patuxent River. We had a great time out on the Chesapeake Bay Beach where our friend lives, and found a carafe full of shark's teeth, shells and driftwood. We took a tour of the island on a golf cart and had a crazy fun time at the Tiki Bar, drinking way too many margaritas. We also took a boat cruise around the island, which is how I got the great shots from the water. I can't wait to go back and take my kayak and check out all the back creek areas. It's a jewel of a place that is only about 2 hours from Richmond. Just had to share it with you!

swimmingholes.org

Thanks Billy! I spent a Summer two years ago checking out all of the swimming holes and waterfalls from this wonderful site that I found too. It gives directions, details, maps and even if skinny dipping is acceptable! I found the directions to be VERY specific and found some really "hole in the wall" swimming holes that were beautiful! Here is the link...

http://www.swimmingholes.org/va.html

Watering holes

From the Sunday RTD

Va. offers many places to get your feet wet.
In college, on the hottest days, my friends and I would pile into a car and drive out of the valley that Lexington sat in and into the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our destination always was the same - Panther Falls on the Pedlar River.....


http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-20-0091.html

Article includes a list of hiking/water destinations.

Les Moulins du Duc

Today, we went to have lunch to this beautiful place we love called Les Moulins du Duc. This is where we celebrate our big events. Wayne and Susan remember it I'm sure, that's where Chantal got married. The second picture is the view from our table. Then pics of some of the foods we ate, all EXCELLENT!!! We sat next to Senator Louis Le Pinsec... Go figure! I had no idea I would end up talking to a Senator and shaking hands out in the middle of nowhere but this place is probably the best in Bretagne... proves we have good tate right? LOL Then we got back home and Arlette and husband Jose arrived to wish mom a happy b-day. Arlette was in the hospital with mom, they spent quite a few weeks hanging out in the same room so they became good friends. That's it for now!
Hope everyone is ok!
~ Vickie ~

Finally some beach time today!!!

Hello everyone!
So here's some more pictures from home... My dear friend Myriam posing with her son Mickael, her daughter Marion posing with her little friend Thomas, Mom posing this afternoon without her cane cause it doesn't look good on pics you know, and some unknown kayakers, who were enjoying the nice weather. I finally got to put my feet in the sand and enjoy a little beach time!
No dolphins here though...
That's it for now!
Bubye,
Vickie.

Where Am I?

Wayne and Susan may recognize this place... One clue: it is also called "La Cité des Peintres"...

Love,

Vickie.

Back Home :)

So I arrived last night after a 9 1/2 hour trip in trains... I won't tell you how pleasant this was... But I got to study a bit in the train! So things have changed here quite a bit since my last visit. Downtown especially but I didn't have my camera with me. I'll have opportunities to take pics this week but in the meantime, a couple of shots from the yard here!!! You'll see my 18 y.o. kitty in the middle of the flowers...
Hope everyone is ok!
Luv,
Vickie.

Cologne - July 11th

So those are today's pics from Cologne! I'll write more later, it's late now and time for bed...
I'll be in a train pretty much all day tomorrow so no pics to expect.

Hudson, no dove chocolate here for sure... Here's a pic for you though... the Lindt Chocolate Museum, which I plan to visit on the 29th... I'll let you know how good the chocolate is, I promise...

Bubyeeeeeeeeeeeeee,

~ Vickie ~