Hi all. We are in Washington, DC and loving it. What a beautiful city and we are enjoying our family as they tour us around. Tonight we are doing NOTHING and going to enjoy every minute. We have seen the downtown and admired the many monuments and are in awe of the many people who have given their lives for freedom. Today we were at the American History museum and loved it (it was also air conditioned!!) a definite plus. Tonight it has clouded over and we hit the train tomorrow morning. Hard to believe we have been away for two weeks. We are ready for our creek and life without school and the pressure of New York.

Talk to you all soon.

We survived NYC!!! Wow, too many people, taxis, scaffolding, and the bus drivers deserve an award. It was 91 degrees yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 89 at 9:30 at night!!

We hailed a cab and lived.

We rode the subway at rush hour and lived.

We walked the streets and walked and walked and were glad we didn't live here.

There is a different food every other shop and they are about 10 feet wide. One Thai restuarant we ate at only sat 14 people!!

I have never heard so many languages spoken in one place.

I never knew there were that many books available on earth as at BEA.

We were told 2 million people drive to Manhatten everyday for work and 4 million more commute! Oh give me land, lots of land under BC skies of blue....................

We loved the experience, met many wonderful people, had some miracle moments...

One pic of our evening sail cruise, a great choice that we both loved.

On to DC on Sat. to meet up with our tour guides, Ngila and Bea!!!

New York City

Wow, that is about all I can say. SUCH a huge city and history. We haven't been too far other than the conference but did eat at a little Thai rest. with 14 seats and a sweetie for a waiter. We are off on a clipper cruise of the harbor tonight and hope to walk to Times Square. We are close to the garment district but H. doesn't seem to want to go fabric shopping!!! The inner Manhatten is construction and then some!! Howard's highlight of the trip is last night on our walk home, we passed the "garage" where all the equipment is kept for the horse drawn cabs for central park. Lots of tack on the walls and a horse out front, on the main streets of Manhatten!!! It is definitely a city you need to have time in and I know we won't see half of what we would like to. Another time, I guess.

My book looks wonderful and I am delighted with it. I met Debbie Macomber this morning and listened to Barbra Streisand last night with a very interesting presentation. Tied right in with my last year of schooling.

Love to all.

Wow, after a wonderful bus ride on a gorgeous sunny day, NYC is around 85 degrees!! It is glorious, noisier than any place I have ever seen and cramped but so interesting. People are friendly, our room is tiny but a super comfy bed, and tonight we see Barbara Streisand. The Javits convention center is bigger than I can describe!! It covers 5 blocks!!! I have a wheelchair but my "pusher" is already complaining :) He is actually a brick and keeps running me into brick walls :( He says it is easier to drive a semi than a chair. Hope we don't bruise too many ankles. Can't get into my email today but that is OK. Love to all.

Whew, after a relaxing morning, we decided to take on the transit system of NJ and head out to a mall. We were very successful except we wore me out walking more than we should have. It was a muggy, lovely day with whipping winds by the end of it. It did buy a new funky sweater that will make me look less hickish when I get to NYC tomorrow. We are going early in hopes of getting tickets to Barbara's Streisand's keynote address. I don't want to miss it. We have no room for clothes as I have 200 bookbags that I have brought!! What was I thinking??????

Atlantic City, NJ

What a wonderful, restful spot. We are at the end and around the corner from Casino row so we only watch the Sunday fishermen in the ocean and listen to the seagulls. Awesome. Our suite is lovely. We are looking forward to taking on New York City (I think). Glad we get to come back here for a day and a half. Then on to Liam and Janelle's - can hardly wait to see the family!! Am attaching H's pride and joy. George's "cabin" completed in 2 1/2 days!!

Actually I mustn't have downloaded it off the camera yet so here is an example of what Dolores and I were doing while the boys were working :) Two towns, two shops - what could be better?????

Hello friends, Today was a beautiful drive to Oakville to visit some family and view the GORGEOUS homes along the lake. It is really beautiful here. We leave at 5am by taxi for the Amtrak trip to NJ. H. has finished the shed in record time and G is please to have a new "cabin". D and I found yet another quilt shop. no more shopping which is why I think H. was so happy to take the train!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See you later this week

Hey friends,

The shed is almost complete and would be if there wasn't a shortage of tin for the roof. That hubby of mine is a machine.

D and I had a lovely day in a quilt shop, Niagara Falls, and Niagara on the Lake. Out for supper with the boys and off to bed as we were all pooped.

Today we are off to Oakville to meet my new stepsisters :) I am really looking forward to it as I love their dad to bits. He is very funny and loves our mom so what can be bad about that. D loves her new family and always loves us so we feel quite blessed.

Julie had some good news yesterday so Australia, here she comes!!! Kurt and Kendra get their new acreage tomorrow. Life is very exciting in our children's lives. We leave for New Jersey very, very early tomorrow morning.

Love to you all

Ontario is beautiful. Howard is half done the shed and Dolores and I are having a great time running around. Today we are hitting Niagra Falls and the shops of Niagra on the Lake. Of course, a stop at a fav. quilt shop is in our plans while the boys are busy. Hope to have some pics tomorrow.

I am no longer a student!!! Today I switch roles into family tourist, then American tourist, then very nervous author. I know this is the Lord's book and I am excited about that. Last night was rather sad to say goodbye to fellow students and my dear teacher but I know we will keep in touch. I am NOT sad to leave all the homework behind. It was a valuable course and I am not sorry for a minute that I took it. Grad is in June and I look forward to that.

New York, here we come

Wow, it has been a long time since our last blog entry. That is because we have been going like crazy people trying to get ready for New York where my book is being showcased at Book Exposition America. I am really excited. We start off with three days in Ontario visiting my birth mom, followed by some R & R in Atlantic City, NJ. Then off to New York where I have never been before. Back to NJ and then down to DC to see our nephew, neice, and little great nieces. All of this is travelling Amtrak, so we hope to arrive rested with no driving. yay

Keep posted for our adventures.