Beach Day

Here are some shots from our day at the beach yesterday!

The William Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens

Yesterday, I went to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens on Catalina. It honors William Wrigley, who did so much for Catalina Island. You can read more about it here. The memorial and garden was built in the early 1930's. It was the idea of Ada Wrigley (William's wife). It was beautiful! I am not a "dessert" style gardener, but the cactus and unusual trees were great. There are six endemic plants, which grow only on Catalina. It was a peaceful and picturesque visit!

It shook us...

Today we were enjoying a nice afternoon at the beach, when we felt the earth shake. Miriam said "we just had an earthquake!" I felt it move back and forth. Sure enough it was an earthquake. Such a strange feeling, but leave it up to us to have an earthquake during our visit. Earlier in the day we went on a submarine and saw all kinds of fish and kelp beds. It was really neat and everyone had a nice time.

THE CATALINA WINE MIXER

Sorry it has been SOOOOOO long, but I have been so busy with my life...blogging has become so hard for me to do!

Right now, I am on vacation in California with my friends, Kathy and Miriam and their familes. Lisa is also here enjoying the ride on the west coast. We'll do some daily posts to show you what we have been up to.

We arrived on Saturday in Los Angeles and stayed with my friend Kathy and her husband, Chris and daughter, Naomi....but since they had such a full house we stayed at their friends, Steph and Dave's apartment around the corner.
Here is Steph and Dave's apartment building. I have met Steph once, I think...they were in Las Vegas so we stayed there and enjoyed it...thanks guys!

Here is Kathy & Chris' new home. It is a beautiful mission style home across the street from the Farmer's Market.

On our first day we had lunch at my favorite, the Fairfax Farmer's Market. Then, Lisa and I boarded a double decker bus and toured LA. We stopped on Hollywood Blvd. and saw the walk of stars and some odd characters along the way. Chinese Theatre, Rodeo Dr., and all the other "Hollywood" are sights. It was nice to hang out in the sun and get a tan on the bus.
Paramount Studios

Walk of Stars

Rodeo Drive

We had lunch at The Grove next to the fountain at the Farm at Beverly Hills

Sunday morning we were off to Santa Catalina Island. It was a like a scene from Home Alone where they overslept (which we didn't) but we ran around trying to get everyone and all the luggage in the cars to the ferry. There are 18 of us staying in two different homes.

Miriam and her family along with Lisa and I are stying in the "Dog House." We call it this, because it is the house where Miriam's 3 dogs are allowed to stay. We don't mind staying in the house, but it is a little quirky and it, well, MOVES.

Sorry...I've been busy

Pardon me...sorry I have been a bad blogger.


This is what I have been up to...since September.
In early September, Tom and Sierra were married and now Sierra's having a baby....Sydney Olive will arrive in May.


In October, Brandon, Lisa, Jeffrey and I went to Tilghman Island Day.


Later in the month, we took most of the Gentry Clan and did a day hike to Bake Oven Knob on the Appalachian Trail...to hide beer for Jeffrey's "Man's Weekend" on the trail.


In early November, I actually met MARTHA STEWART at a book signing at Williams-Sonoma in Philadelphia. It was the icing on the cake to finally meet her in person.


Then the Chesapeake City Pet Parade in November....always a fun time.


On November 22nd, I celebrated 5 years of marriage with Jeffrey.


We watched the Eagles get crushed by the Ravens in Baltimore.


Thanksgiving arrived...my family came up from Chattanooga and we decorated The Bayard House for Christmas. I wrote letters to Santa with Landen & Aislyn.


Then we mailed the letters to Santa


I traveled to Chattanooga, TN to see the Christmas Program at Landen & Aislyn's school.


Christmas came to Chesapeake City at our home.


Now it is 2009...and I promise to update more frequently.

Best Wishes

In August, my friend Rebekah married her beau, Luis.
(I know..it's October and I am finally getting around to blogging again)

Martha or BUST

That's right...we are going to the Martha Stewart show tomorrow in NYC. My friend, Paula got the tickets and she invited her mom, Elizabeth and I to go along! I am trying to post from my iphone, but the pictures aren't working too well. Hopefully, we can get it working by tomorrow.

Sea Turtles

Today, my friend Paula and I went to Rehoboth Beach for the day. We had a great time! I'll post some photos later, but I got to thinking about Sea Turtles when I saw a sign on the road outside of Dewey. I haven't seen any at a Delaware Beach...but I know they have them at Emerald Isle, NC. They take it very seriously in Emerald Isle. There is a Sea Turtle Protection Program. They monitor the nests, mark them and make sure the eggs are safe. Tonight I found this neat video..it is a little long, but so amazing!

Summer Lovin'

Here's a picture of Landen and Aislyn with their cousin, Madison. They had a nice visit a few weeks ago...playing and swimming together. And YES...I will print and send photos to all of the parents and grandparents!

Here's to you, Sierra!

My friend, Sierra is getting married in September at the restaurant. Here is a photo of Kate, Sierra and Ruth at her shower last month. This weekend all of the girls are in NYC celebrating Sierra's last days as a single lady! Wish I was there...hope everyone had fun!

It's Summer!

I know I have been a BAD blogger. Summer is soo busy for me. It is the high season at the restaurant, which means lots of weddings and business! We had two back to back today! Since my last post we renovated our bar, celebrated with a grand opening, Canal Day, then my family visited from TN...and the list goes on...here are some photos of what I have been up to:
The bar during demolition:

Back in business

Lots of things going on between these two photos...Going to the beach, weddings, gardening...and lots more...One thing I wish I had a photo of..and some people may not think this is funny...or that you had to be there to appreciate it. A few weeks ago, my mom was at the restaurant late and my friend, Lisa took us back down the street to our house. As we were backing out of the alley, we saw lot of fire trucks driving through our town. We live in a small town and when you see that many fire trucks driving somewhere...we follow to check it out. We drove out of town a mile or so and found that there was a fire at a home. Lisa drove us back into town and when we made this sharp turn on our street, Lisa said, "WHAT IS THAT???" I looked and wrapped around the corner on the road was a hose from a fire truck. We weren't sure what to do...so Lisa and I jumped out of her truck (I am in a skirt and Lisa had a littler surgery and had stiches on her shoulder). We pulled 200ft of hose into her truck, laughing hysterically. After contemplating what to do with it, we decided to drive back out to the fire. I called the fire chief and left a message that we had this hose. As we drove out of town we passed a fire truck...they were helping an ambulance. Then one of the fireman started running after us..."Hey, you have our hose!"...well we finally gave them the hose back. They must have been flying through town when they made that turn. I guess you really did have to be there...but it was a good deed and it was fun too!
I have lots of great photos to share but I am so tired...I'll post again. Here's a photo of Landen and Aislyn after a day of swimming...
Worn out

Aislyn and Mackenzie

My niece, Aislyn is a girly girl, but she can also be rough and tough. Here she is posing with a barrette by Tobi at Ivey Handcrafted. We met Tobi at WhoFest in Chattanooga in May. Her work is beautiful! She wouldn't smile for Tobi at the festival, so this one is for you, Tobi. She is also carrying her baby, whose name is Mackenzie (along with 4 other babies named Mackenzie in the stroller by her). She loves dolls, purses, SHOES, dresses, but also likes to run around like a wild animal!

I just wanna play

I would give anything to go run through a fountain, float in a pool or lay in a hammock, BUT I have a lot going on right now. We are expanding the bar at the restaurant, planning for a grand opening, gearing up for Canal Day, and planning a party this weekend for 100 guests. Lots to do!
I'll just have to pace myself and remember to breathe, but I would rather be playing in a fountain like Landen.

Tree Peony

Two weekends ago our town had a Garden Tour and Antique Car Show. It was a busy weekend with a wedding at the restaurant and prepping to go to Chattanooga, I didn't have time to enjoy much of it. Our yard was featured on the tour so I tried to get everything in the ground and looking good. One new member to the garden was a Tree Peony that I purchased at Groff's this year. I hoped it would still be blooming during the tour, but some bad winds blew off the big, beautiful petals. They are just so gorgeous!

Check out Jeffrey's post about the tour here.

Spoiled Rotten in Chattanooga

Last week I went to Chattanooga to surprise my mom. We had a very nice time visiting all of our favorite spots and gardening. The visit would not be complete without spoiling my nephew, Landen and niece, Aislyn.

Shopping Cart Race from Bug on Vimeo.
I'm sure my mom and Annette will be cursing me the next time they have to go to the grocery store with the children.