Asiatic White Lillies in Bloom

Asiatic White Lillies in Bloom

Enjoy!

We Have Some Baby Birds!

We Have Some Baby Birds!

Take a look.

Moving Part II

Jack and I followed that red hot sun all the way east

to Jeanine's apartment

that is in a wooded setting in Alexandria. This used to be U.S. government housing built during the World War II buildup of military housing close to the Pentagon. I have always loved this area of Alexandria that is right on the border with Arlington County. It reminds me of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where I went to college because all the buildings are Georgian style red brick and in 65 years the trees have grown really big and beautiful. But alas the insides of these former army housing units are falling apart if they haven't been recently renovated. Jeanine's unit is one of those units that has never been updated except for paint on the walls.

We admired the pretty flower garden of Jeanine's downstairs neighbor
as we hurried to the backside of the building (away from the street) where all the neighbors in the four "upstairs" apartment units in the building have created a lovely outdoor living area

under the big old trees. (The building in the background is where Jeanine had to haul each load of laundry to be washed and dried. She is really going to love that second floor laundry room right off the master bedroom in her brand new condo.)

***

From 6:00 A.M. to 5:15 P.M. we helped Jeanine pack and clean and clean and pack until we were sweating like pigs on this 100 degree day with high humidity. And we felt very sorry for the four man moving team that had to cart all those boxes to the moving truck. All day I enjoyed talking to the moving foreman who used to be a major in the Isreali Army before moving to the United States to live and work.

At 5:30 P.M. we got into our car and followed all the cars heading south on #95 in the evening rush hour traffic passing by Crystal City and various parts of Fairfax County and Prince William County to Jeanine's new home.
It was slow going and we felt like taking a break at this rest stop exit but we refrained. After all we had only been on the road for over one hour in rush hour traffic to go less than fifteen miles.
Finally we could see part of the sign for Potomac Mills----the largest shopping center in the state of Virginia and it is only two miles from Jeanine's new condo. (More tourists go here than to George Washington's Mount Vernon so that is why it is the number 1 tourist attraction in the whole state of Virginia. A place where you can shop till you drop!)
Jeanine's condo was looking really good and the various rooms were just waiting for all that stuff that Jeanine was having brought thru the both the front and back doors. Jack and I left at 8:45 P.M. after a mad meal of Wegman's pizza amidst the moving boxes and headed via the Prince William Parkway and #66 to our home across the county in Haymarket, VA.
Look at the photo above and see the time----8:59 P.M.! That boiling hot sun was finally getting ready to set on one of the longest days of the year. Wow! What a hot and humid day for a move!
Yes, by the time we arrived home the sun had set and we were ready for a good long night's sleep.

5:45 A.M Commute on #66 and #95 Part I

5:45 A.M. Commute on Interstate #66 and Interstate #95

Part I

***

Heading east and chasing the rising sun which will set a record for June 24, 2010.

100 degrees was recorded at Ronald Reagan National Airport.

There were lots of cars and vans and trucks all heading east with us. These drivers were mainly commuters heading off on their daily commute to work. Jack was driving in the far left lane which is reserved for cars with at least two passengers and for motorcyclists. No, we were not riding a motorcycle on interstate #66

Jack and I pass on the left the above ground subway lines for the Vienna metro station.

Then later on our right we drive by a section of Arlington National Cemetery which currently is stewed in controvesy over poor records management.

Almost immediately after passing Arlington Cemetery Jack exits to the right and we see that enormous beige building coming into view.

This is the world famous Pentagon and now we are heading south on the beltway around D.C. and then on to interstate #95.

As soon as you pass the Pentagon building on the left you can look off to your right and begin to see the three gleaming spires of the Air Force Memorial. This is a nice place to tour. I wish my brother Carl who was in the U.S. Air Force in the '50s could see this.

Come back tomorrow for Part II of our big day yesterday.

Jack Aidan's Baby Binoculars For Bird Watching

Jack Aidan's Baby Binoculars For Bird Watchig

Another 95 Degree Day Means.....

Another 95 Degree Day Means.......

Run The Underground Sprinklers Every Morning.
I Love Watching The Sprinklers Run While Sipping Coffee.

Some Sprinklers Water The Lawn

Some Sprinklers Water The Flower Beds.

Random Musings

Random Musings for June 23, 2010

#1 Wouldn't you just love to be a fly on the wall in the White House today when the Runaway

General arrives.

*******

#2 Yes, we are having a heat wave----a desert heat wave. I was moaning about our Arizona

style temperatures with no rain when I read about the poor folks in Iraq going thru summer

temps up in the 120's and enduring it with only a half day of electrical power which means

no air conditioning for half the day if they even have it all in their homes. And then thinking

of our young troops in boots and camouflage and helmets enduring those high temps.

******

#3 We have been doing our maintenance mowing, trimming and gardening very early in the

day just like we used to do years ago in Arizona. There our motto was if it isn't done by

10:00 A.M. , it isn't getting done today.

******

#4 Looks like South America is dominating the World Cup. The U.S. plays today.

******

#5 The big National League debate is whether Steven Strasburg should be chosen as one of the

just 13 pitchers chosen for the All Star Game after just three times on the mound. Money

always talks so he might get chosen because he would do two things: bring in lots of money

and give the National League a chance to win the game.

******

#6 It is now officially summertime. We need to enjoy each and every day as much as possible.

I don't know about you but this is what I dream of in late January.

******

#7 Our baby Jeanine moves tomorrow. It will be a hot day for the movers. We better have

lots of cold water for them.

*****

#8 I line up these daily posts one way and blogger publishes them in a slightly different fashion.

I don't like how today's layout looks but bear with me. It is just too hot today to waste time fiddling with this blogpost. It is 8:20 and I'm already thinking siesta in the darken family room. LOL!

I do feel sorry for anyone working outside today in this heat. I think today will be a code orange day.

Another 90 Degree Day Today

Another 90 Degree Day Today

I Know That Fairfax County School Children

Will Be Glad That Summer Vacation Starts This Thursday At Noon.
I Think Fairfax County Has

One Of The Longest School Years In The Nation.

Haymarket Saturday Night Concert

Haymarket Saturday Night Concert

June 19, 2010

6:30-8:30 P.M.

Haymarket Police Station

The Band: Karl Stoll and the Danger Zone

Harmonica Player Played A Lot of Mean Rhythm and Blues

Refreshments: The Colonial Kettle Corn Man and the Good Humor Ice Cream Man

Next Haymarket Concert: July 17, 2009

Band: Back N Time Band Will Play Classic Rock

Happy Father's Day to Terry Wayne Karras II

Happy Father's Day to Terry Wayne Karras II,

Our Little Jack Aidan's Daddy!

All These Photos Taken at DisneyWorld in Orlando, Florida, Which is Daddy Karras's Favorite Vacation Destination

in the Whole Wide World.

Wow! Aren't You Lucky Little Jack!

Army Audit Bachelor Became A Hubby and Father

Army Audit Bachelor Became A Hubby and Father
***
Check Out The Second Gentleman From The Left Wearing Glasses and A Grin.
That's Jack As A Bachelor With Army Audit's Western District.
Little Did He Know Then That Today The Three Women In His Life would Be
Joann
Jennifer
and Jeanine!
And That His Big Buddy Would Be Little Jack Aidan.
Happy Father's Day, Jack!
Happy Father's Day For Jack From His Big Buddy Little Jack!

Something To Cool You Off

Something To Cool You Off

Army Audit photos in Alaska in January

This is a shot of the Anchorage, Alaska airport around 1967.

Army Audit Headquarters in Alaska Circa 1968-1970

See the pile of snow by that car that must be 5 feet deep. Now see the little black speck in the snow that looks like a dash. That is what Jack and all the other Army Auditors would use with a cord to plug into their cars to keep the engines from freezing. Funny thing. No one had their car stolen doing this maneuver.

This is where Jack lived while doing army audits in Alaska----the Bachelor Officers Quarters. Look at the four foot pile of snow on the roof of the entrance of the building.

********

Now do you feel cooler? Have a great Saturday. I'm going to stay cool in our nice air conditioned house. Good time to just relax and read a book.

Astilbe Blooms on June 5

Astilbe Blooms on June 5

These are pink.
These are red.

These are white.

They all have special names and I have lots and lots of each.

Wish I had taken more pics but I've been busy with Jeanine's upcoming move.

Skywatch Friday = Blue Skies and Blue Hydrangeas

Skywatch Friday = Blue Skies and Blue Hydrangeas

Our "Secret Garden Spot"


Hydrangeas = Summertime


Ok, Go Ahead and Stick Your Nose in a Big Blue Blossom.
Now go visit more Skywatch memes by just clicking here: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Thank You, Dickie and Scott!

Thank You, Dickie and Scott!

This past Sunday our neighbors Dickie and Scott treated us to brunch at Bazens in Vienna,VA. A very good time was had by all four of us.

Jack and I each had something different. So did Dickie and Scott.

In this picture you can see my quiche and salad and Scott's filet eggs benedict. In the white napkin was the best rye and raisin toast! And did I mention that Jack had a Bloody Mary while I had a Kir Royal?