I'm It

I've been tagged by Victoria. This isn't that bad...much better than some of the others that go around.

Players- you must list one fact, word or tidbit that is somehow relevant to you life for each letter of your first or middle name.

When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your name facts etc. At the end of your blog-post you need to choose one person for each number of letters in your name. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they have been tagged and to read your blog.


for November. November 22nd is our wedding anniversary.


for Annette. My sister's name.


for Tome School. The Tome School is where I went to school from 1-12 grades.


for Art. I was an art minor in college. I am crafty and I love art history


for Liberal Arts. I have a liberal arts education. Thanks to Washington College.


for ice cream. My weakness...my favorite flavor is chocolate/peanut butter.


for Emerald Isle. My favorite beach.

I'm tagging...which is hard because I don't have a lot of blogging buddies:

The man I love more than the Ice Cream Store, Jeffrey

TLC - she loves these things

Kathleen at Kathleen's Wacky Life

Ginger at Deep Fried Kudzu...like she doesn't have enough to do...sorry.

Zabrina at Pixie Blossoms

Paula - If she ever posts anything on her blog again....

P.S. To create your own name,like the one above. Click here.

A Lesson in Gardening & Racehorses

I have grown up around flowers and racehorses all my life. My dad is a farrier and my mom was a part-time florist. You don't know how many times when people would ask me what my father did, I would say "he's a farrier" and they would say, "furrier"? I would shake my head, no he is like a blacksmith. Now, I work for a restaurant with a rich history in horse racing and is surrounded by beautiful flowers, many of which I planted this year. Above is a garden on the side of the restaurant. We planted those sweet potato vines and they have just taken off. The idea was to have them go up the lattice and around the columns. They have done a nice job this summer, I'll be sorry to see them go.

The columns are replicas from the grave setting of the race horse, Kelso. Kelso is buried a few miles from the restaurant on a farm where he lived. The surrounding area around Chesapeake City is known as "Horse Country." However, the decline in horse racing over the years has led to the closing of many farms. In the 1980's, the area was booming with big farms associated with famous race horses and equestrian riders and trainers. The largest was the United States farm of E.P. Taylor, Windfields Farm. Windfields is famous for the legendary, Northern Dancer. My father used to take me with him to Windfields when I was young to swap the flies around the horses legs while he was working on them. This helped them to stay still and not stomp around. I would use this stick that had the fibers of a horse's tail on it...so it felt like their own. I could go on all day about the farms and the times I had out there...but it is late and I'll stop. I hope you enjoyed the lesson. For more info, click on the links...they have some very interesting information in them.

Fall is Here...

Tonight I walked home from work and the weather was so crisp. There was a chill in the air and it felt so good. Although, I hate to see summer end, I do love a good fall day. Pull on a pair of jeans, sweater and enjoy the day. Here's Landen ready for the season with his football sweater on...he says "Go BIG ORANGE."

No Words...

This is a photo from the early 90's I took from the observation deck at The World Trade Center.

What's in your refrigerator?

I was watching MTV Cribs the other day and I love the part where they ask the "star" to open their refrigerator for all to see. Ours was pretty packed all last week, as you can see. Here's some of things you'll find:
Zucchini Lasagna
Cantaloupe
Chock full of Nuts Coffee
Deer Park Water & lemon Propel
Milk, creamer
1 lb. Maryland Crab meat
Yoplait yogurt
eggs
salsa
bagels
meatballs
lots of different kinds of cheese
vegetables
sweet corn
ribs
sausages & hot dogs
lots of condiments
wine
juice
chocolate sauce
wings
and plenty more.

What's interesting in yours?

It's a Nice Day for a White Wedding

It was a beautiful day...a perfect day for a wedding at the restaurant. Big blue skies and a cool breeze off the canal. This would be our "white" wedding. Everything was very simple and elegant with white and silver accents. The Hiram Brown Band performed, Blueberry Moon made the beautiful cake and Jacki Taylor did the photography...all people Jeffrey and I used at our wedding.

The parasols in the picture were in a galvanized tub for guests to use in the sun during the ceremony...and the beautiful flowers by Wildflowers by Alicia were filled with fragrant stock and lilies. The ceremony was held on the side of the restaurant under a grape arbor behind The Old Wharf Cottage. It was the first time we have ever held a ceremony in that location and it was just perfect.

If you don't know this song, check it out. Very beautiful and appropriate for this day.

Summer, Where did you go?

It's Labor Day Weekend. I can't believe it. Did I accomplish my list? Not yet...I don't think of Labor Day as the last day of Summer...I don't stop wearing white, and I will try to go to the beach again. To me, it just means school starts. Since I am not in school...let the summer roll on until the leaves really start to change.

This is a photo of me and my cousin in the pool. I love my Speedo bathing suit and my pink swim cap. I used to hate it when my mom would make me put that tight thing on my head!

Here's a little Jimmy Buffet to go along with the holiday.


Happy Labor Day!

Rehoboth Beach

I just can't get enough of going to the beach. While vising Cape Henlopen yesterday we went to Rehoboth Beach for dinner and strolling the boardwalk. I have been going to Rehoboth Beach with my family since I was very young. I remember waking up very early and driving with my mom and dad, before my sister was born. We would drive down and enjoy the ocean, then we would have dinner and ride the amusement rides at Funland. I also stopped off at Dolle'sPopcorn and Candy store, a Rehoboth landmark, to buy some caramel popcorn for a special mother-in-law.

Before we left for the day we caught a glimpse of the moon rising over the ocean...it was beautiful.

CHECK!

I was a able to check something off of my Summer Wish List. Today, I went to Cape Henlopen with my cousin, Lynn and her son, Jacob. It was a beautiful day. Blue skies, warm with a cool ocean breeze. We swam, basked in the sun and went to Rehoboth Beach for dinner and to walk the Boardwalk. We even saw some dolphins jumping high out of the water, but I wasn't able to grab a photo of them. It was a great day.
The photo at the top is of the Harbor of Refuge Light Station on the Delaware Bay. You can see it from the beach at Cape Henlopen and you go by it on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, which Jeffrey and I took from Cape May, NJ last October.

School Days, School Days

Tomorrow is the first day of school for most of the schools near us. We live next to an Elementary School...it is always fun to see the children go into school on their first day and see all of the anxious parents dropping them off. Tomorrow will be the beginning of the roar of the school buses outside of our house, children playing in the playground and parents blocking our driveway. This is the official reminder that SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER.

GO ORANGE!

We have two butterfly bushes in our yard. All summer I have been watching Monarch Butterflies flying around the yard. Last week I saw two of them on the butterfly bush. They would not stay still long enough to get a good picture. This is the best one...they really match the house.

Rainy Days

It has been raining here for a few days...and I haven't felt like doing anything. Besides, I am still tired from our big catering event on Saturday. It was a beautiful party and everyone had a great time...but it was so much work. The last 3 days have been spent...kind of like the above.

Catering Overload

This summer we have catered many off-site events. This weekend alone we have 4...300 guests across the street watching a couple renew their vows after 30 years of marriage, a birthday party for a very lovely local lady, 85 boaters on the Sassafras River, a couple hosting luncheons on their boat while cruising the Bohemia River, Elk River and C&D Canal. The events are a great deal of work, but usually a lot fun. By the end of the day we can laugh about it...but I still think many of the staff think I am trying to torture them...especially after the 300. These are some photos of an event we catered in June. It was beautiful..."An Evening Under the Stars" was the theme. The tablecloths were outrageous...they looked like red/orange coral. There were organza with Chenille as the coral. There were shells everywhere and beautiful turquoise accents. The house is exquisite and everyone had a fabulous time...even us. With such beautiful surroundings, who wouldn't.

Evening Sweetness

Lately, the Night Blooming Jasmine on our front porch has the most fragrant blooms. I can't help but sneak off a bloom and carry it around before I go to bed, then I put it on my nightstand so I can smell it before I drift off to sleep. The variety we have is Madagascan Jasmine, a member of the Stephanotis family. They remind me of a bridal bouquet. I hope I can keep this one growing all year long in the house.
At the restaurant, we have several Night Blooming Jasmine, of the Queen of the Night variety. I have known several people over the years who have taken clippings from our plants and they have their own shrub now. I think I'll snip a piece for myself soon. The doorways out of the restaurant smell so sweet and delicious guests always ask what smells so good.

Go Charley!

My friend, Elizabeth shared this video with me. It is a sincere and heartfelt story of a beautiful cat.