October 16, 2013 by luckdragontravels

It’s been awhile

We are currently back in Pascagoula, Mississippi and Kelly is working again. I am staying at home, working with the puppies. I am sure I won’t have anything exciting to write about…but if I do something exciting, I will write a post…..so it will be kinda quiet for awhile.

Well, I know I haven’t posted anything in awhile. I finally downloaded some of the last photos I took. This is a combination of activities. Of course I have some photos of my beautiful grandchildren, which I got to spend a week with in August…..loved it. I don’t get to see the a lot because they live Virginia and we don’t.

My granddaughter – Madison My grandson – Zander When you get older you handle your ice cream falling much better then when you are a kid……. CJ….his ice cream fell off of the cone 😦 Here are a few photos while we were in Glouster, VA. We really enjoyed the park. Beautiful butterfly Interesting looking moth ….. Found a good Sushi restaurant……I am afraid, I don’t remember the name…but it was good food 🙂 Nice presentation of sushi…it was yummy This was a tree in our campground…..as I have said in previous post….I love interesting looking trees… I love interesting trees Changing our life by adding two beautiful dogs who are very much a part of our family…. Driving to Kentucky to get the puppies…I now understand the smoky mountains They are sooooo little….time goes by so fast… Abigail …the first time we met Sarah, when we first got home Abigail….a little older Sarah…sitting pretty When they were little…so cute Always love sleeping babies So when you have puppies/babies you, are up early and get to enjoy a beautiful sunrise… Beautiful sunrise – Eastern Shore, VA It is amazing how fast time flies by…they are now 4 months old….they are doing great…they are so smart. Abigail at 4 months old Sarah and Abigail Gottcha…having a good time Finally…a photo with them both sitting pretty…love them so much!

August 15, 2013 by luckdragontravels

English Shepherd puppies – our new family members

We made a crazy decision and now have two 10 week old English Shepherd puppies. Sarah and Abigail are beautiful little girls. Our challenge is we don’t have a backyard to put them in and let them run around because we live in our motorhome. They are very busy girls and we are so in love with them. They are smart and catch on to training really quick. We drove 550 miles each way to pick them up. It was worth the trip. Of course having the girls will change our lifestyle a little bit.

Sarah is my party girl, wants to play and have a good time. Abigail is my quiet girl who will probably be the watch dog…..they love to play together and sleep together. They move so fast it is hard to get good photos of them. Here are few photos I was able to get…

Meet Sarah….aka the “Party Girl”

Sarah 10 weeks old

Sarah enjoying the chew toy

Meet Abigail….aka the “Watch Dog”

Abigail 10 weeks old

Abigail enjoying a chew toy

Sister time playing

Sitting pretty…for just a minute.

July 21, 2013 by luckdragontravels

Jamestown – Virginia

Today we visited the Jamestown Settlement and the actual Jamestown. There was a great exhibit at the Jamestown settlement….unfortunately you were not allowed to take photos inside, so it reduces what I can share. The re-enactment had an Indian village, the Jamestown Fort and the sailing ships. There was also a great Osprey nest at the top of a brick structure…loved watching them.

We also went the to actual settlement. They were currently rebuilding the church. They also had a current archaeological dig happening. It was cool to see the remains of a horse from 300 years ago….I have run out of words to describe the history we have seen over the last few days. We are very grateful we had the chance to come and visit and enjoy how America came to be!

Indian Village at the Jamestown Settlement (renactment)

Indian Village at the Jamestown Settlement (reenactment)

Inside the hut

Indian carving

Soldier at the Jamestown Settlement

Cannon to protect the settlement

Blacksmith shop

Armory Shop…I think they called it something else…I can’t remember..oops

Preparing the days meal

The ships in port

There was a brick structure (a least 10 stories tall) and this Osprey nest was on top…so I did the best I could with the telephoto lens…love watching them.

The Osprey nest

Actual Jamestown Settlement

Monument Jamestown Settlement – 1607

Pocahontas

300 year old horse

300 year old horse – amazing

July 18, 2013 by luckdragontravels

Yorktown – Virginia

Today we drove the Colonial Parkway to Yorktown. What a beautiful road. Our first stop was Yorktown Victory Center. I love how the parks are so interactive with the visitors. Great actors everywhere. We saw what the army encampment would have look like…I am very grateful for todays nice camping gear. They also had a work farm, where they make everything as they did back in time….drying fruits and tobacco…it was a great stop.

We also visited the Yorktown Battlefield….it is truly amazing to stand there where our country was born…our freedoms. The trip included visiting the Moore house were the negotiation for the surrender terms for Cornwallis’s army took place. There is so much history, we do not have enough time to do it all. Enjoy!

Colonial Parkway

Yorktown Victory Center

One of the tents in the army encampment

Army camp

Nice cooking area

Working farm

Inside the farmhouse

Drying fruit and vegetables in the farm smokehouse

Some of the tool they use

This is a tobacco farm…drying tobacco leaves

One of the farm chickens cruising around

Visitor Center for the Battlefield

One of the cannons on the battlefield

Yorktown Battlefield

The Moore House

July 17, 2013 by luckdragontravels

Colonial Williamsburg -Virginia

Wow…today we spent the day exploring Colonial Williamsburg. There is so much history here…the actors and re-creations are excellent. We started at the Governor’s Place. The armament inside the palace was amazing…it was there to protect the palace. We then wander down the street and went through the Bruton Parish Church which is still an active church…since 1715. We toured the Capitol and the courthouse. General George Washington arrived and inspected some of his troops. The did a demonstration of firing their guns and cannons.

We enjoyed all the period actors who made it very realistic. They are very dedicated as today the temperature was 95 with humidity and they are dressed with the period clothing which looks so very hot. The Fife and Drum team was excellent….you could hear the drums coming down the street a long ways away….The people who work and volunteer here actually make everything by hand, just as it was done back in the day.

The Governor’s Palace

Governor’s Palace

This is how most of the walls in the palace look like.

More weapons to protect the palace

This is Bruton Parish Church, which is still used today…beautiful.

Burton Parish Church

Bruton Parish Church

Sign on the Church Door

Inside the church

Lovely garden

Wheelbarrow in the garden

The Courthouse

Local woman playing a game

The Capital

The Capitol

Red Coat Soldier

Sewing a tent for General George Washington

Kelly…in the stockade…don’t think that would be a place to be

Waiting for General George Washington

Soldier

Fife and Drum

Soldiers waiting for inspection

General George Washington

Troops

Drummer

Firing their guns

Firing the cannons

Troops preparing to march to Yorktown

marching to Yorktown

It was an amazing day…very enjoyable.

July 9, 2013 by luckdragontravels

Old Savannah – Georgia

We had to have some maintenance work done on our motorhome, which allowed us time to go explore old Savannah. What a beautiful old downtown. There are so many parks/squares every few blocks. We walked the waterfront and then one of the main streets. We did explore three different museums. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take photos in any of the museums, so here are a few photos from the day as we walked around town. Enjoy….

Vietnam Memorial in one of the many squares

I always love a good sign…this was a tourist store

Close fit……I don’t think so at high tide

Capt. Kelly …. he always finds the boats.

Capt. Kelly

Wow….old Mason Lodge

World War II Memorial on the waterfront

World War II Memorial

Memorial to the Sailors

Artistic photo…this was the only area in the museum where you could take a photo

Old Church – didn’t have time to visit

Owens-Thomas House which was designed by an English architect…it was amazing

June 27, 2013 by luckdragontravels

Georgia (Brunswick) – Golden Isles

I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything. We haven’t gone any place that was blog worthy. Kelly was busy working a few days a week and when he wasn’t working we were out looking at property all over College Station area. We did buy a piece of property in the town of Snook…we are excited….Kelly is done working for the year, so we are back on the road traveling and looking to get stamps in my National Parks passport.

The state of Georgia, Brunswick area, also called the Golden Isles is a beautiful area. We went to St. Simon Island to Fort Frederica National Monument. It was an amazing park…. the old building foundations that remain, a portion of the old barracks, tabby fort and a burial ground. You can see portions of the earthen walls that were built to protect the city. It was just amazing to stand there and image how hard life was back in the 1700’s. The fort was the hub of British Military operations on Georgia’s frontier.

Fort Frederica

what is left of the Fort on Frederica River

The Fort and foundation remains of a storehouse.

What is left of the barracks and surrounding foundation

Barracks

One of the house foundations that remains

Interesting tree…can’t help myself….love trees

Burial ground

After visiting the fort we stopped at the Christ Church, Frederica which was built in 1884. We weren’t able to go inside the church but there was a cemetery with a lot of very old grave sites. Here is one of the older gravesite in the cemetery. So much history here.

Christ Church, Frederica – built 1884

Revolutionary War Soldier – Major Pace, died 1827

Revolutionary Soldier marker

While on St. Simon Island we went to the lighthouse. Love lighthouses…great waterfront area. Of course I got another stamp in my Parks Passport. 🙂

St. Simons Island Lighthouse

Lighthouse

This is Sydney Lanier Bridge….it is a beautiful suspension bridge…and no toll charges…….it is free to cross. This bridge takes you to Brunswick area. The photos of the bridge were taken from a moving car….always a challenge.

Sydney Lanier Bridge

Cool bridge

Different perspective

Jekyll Island was….and I would still believe is the place for the rich to play. There are 33 historic structures on the island. In the early 1900’s it was the exclusive place for people like, J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller and William Vanderbilt to name a few. I don’t remember which of the historic houses belonged to who….I have included a few photos. The island also houses the Georgia Sea Turtle center. We did not get a chance to go inside the turtle center.

Jekyll Island

Cherokee House

Crane Cottage

Lion Statue

The Faith Chapel is also on the island. It was built in 1904. It has two beautiful stain glass windows. The volunteer in the church was very kind and allowed me to take photos…..I am very grateful he allowed me the opportunity, as there are signs posted….no photos.

Faith Chapel

Inside of church

Stain Glass – Adoration of the Christ Child

Mary and Christ Child

Church organ

Stain glass by Tiffany -“I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously.”

Tiffany stain glass, – “Holiness unto the Lord.”

It was an amazing day….we enjoyed Georgia. I also have to say, I had the best shrimp ever…fresh Georgia coast shrimp is the BEST!

April 29, 2013 by luckdragontravels

San Antonio River Walk

We took the weekend to visit Jon to celebrate his birthday while he is still doing his medic training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. I love spending time with any of my children…any excuse will do. The River Walk is a beautiful area…to stroll along the river, all the restaurants, shops, beautiful St. Joseph Church, the Alamo…all kinds of things to do. You are not allowed to take photos inside the Alamo…so only the one photo…We did have some time restrictions….so we didn’t get a chance to do everything we want…but it was a great weekend. It was their Fiesta weekend……a lot of people downtown…a lot of parades…unfortunately our timing just didn’t work and we didn’t get to see any parades…maybe next time. Enjoy the photos from the River Walk….

River Walk right outside our hotel

Walking under one of the many bridges

Beautiful flowers on the stairs.

One of the many waterfalls on the River Walk

River Walk

River Walk …didn’t have time for a boat ride…next time

One of the many sculptures…this one on a walkway

Statue of San Antonio

San Antonio

St Joseph steeple…view from River Walk

Inside St. Joseph Church

St Joseph alter

St Joseph

The Alamo (they don’t allow any photography inside)

April 12, 2013 by luckdragontravels

George W.H. Bush Presidential Library – College Station, Texas

After 15+ years of coming to College Station we never had the time to visit the Bush Library….now that we are retired we enjoyed the library. I must have forgotten or didn’t pay much attention before…President George W.H. Bush was an impressive man. The library displays the history extremely well…..I wanted to share some of the many jobs he held during his career;

Youngest World War II Navy Combat Pilot
Yale graduate in economics
U.S. RCongress – two terms
US Ambassador to the United Nations
Director of CIA
Vice President for two terms with President Ronald Reagan
41st President of the United States

We truly enjoyed the library……I wasn’t able to capture a lot of good pictures……here are a few of the better photos…enjoy.

Bush Library

Bush Library…they were cleaning the fountain today

Presidential Seal

Father and Son portrait

Presidential Quote

Kelly talking with President Bush…not sure who is giving who advice….

I think Kelly looks good sitting behind the desk…very Presidential. I would vote for him!

Kelly and June in the Oval Office

Quote from his Inaugural Address

DNA display in the library

Bronze Horses in the courtyard

Bronze Horses and the replica of the Berlin Wall

February 21, 2013 by luckdragontravels

Boot Camp Army Graduation – Fort Sill, Oklahoma

Kelly and I took a break from the shutdown work in Pascagoula and attended Jonathan’s Army Boot Camp graduation in Lawton, Oklahoma. It has been a long time since we saw Jon…it was actually the week before Thanksgiving. It was real cold in Lawton, it hailed and rained on us for a little bit, but then just stayed cold. We arrived in Lawton on Wednesday afternoon and didn’t get to see Jon until Thursday, which was family day and he was able to get off base. This was a fast weekend, as we flew back on Saturday morning to go back to work Saturday night, but it was worth it all.

We went to Geronimo’s grave, which is in an Indian cemetery located at Fort Sill Army base. We also went to the Great Plains museum and the Artillery museum. The graduation ceremony was on Friday and it was great to see so many young adults taking the oath to protect us and our country.

We thank all our troops who serve and protect our country! God Bless America and our troops past and present.