Hello from Bethesda, Maryland
Finally I am going to update our blog...thanks to George for reminding me!
We left Linesville on 17 July and headed to Joan and Tom's camp about 25 miles from Karthaus on
Keating Mountain. We stopped and saw Joan's son Adam and Reese and left our car with them while we were at camp. We saw several deer and a couple elk. Joan and Tom mowed the grass for several hours while Joan's Tom hog brushed. A hog brush is a rotary mower that is pulled by a tractor and can mow dense brush. I stayed at the cabin and made sure dinner was cooking properly!! Yes, I did have the better job...but I did volunteer to do mowing. It was really a hot day too. We ate dinner and took a ride in the car as had air conditioner... When we came home, we played some games before we went to bed. We got up early the next day and went back up the mountain and picked up our car at Adam and Carrie's and got to see Alexis and Reese again before headed to State College. We did stop in Karthaus and saw Aunt Liz and Vicki and Aunt Ethel, Diane and Vonnie and Maryann's friend Janet.
Wow...was it ever nice to be at Roseanne and Jeff's and have air conditioning. The Shomo family were at the beach so we had the house. Tom had fallen while onloading the carrier on the Lexus on 2 July and had punctured the skin in 3 areas when he fell on the stepstool he was using. He went to the ER under duress after the fall and they stopped the bleeding and took xray which showed that no broken bones. The leg continued to swell but he decided HE did not need to be seen as the leg grew larger and redder. (Thank goodness Maryann does not have a medical backround to be able to tell that he needed to be seen....hmmm) Sunday afternoon, Tom decided that his leg that he had injured on 2 July was not doing as good as he thought as was swollen nearly twice the size and his foot was swollen. When they surgically opened the area, it was full of several clots of blood. They gave him IV medication and oral antibiotics to take and cut into the leg and removed several large blood clots.
The next day, Tom did spend most of the day resting. I went to lunch with 10 friends that I had graduated from highschool with in 1966. It was really nice catching up. AND of course spending time with my friend Janet is always great.
We spent time with Joan and her Tom and Roseanne's mother and father-in-law having a fun evening and afternoon playing cards and dice. We also all went out to lunch together. We always have so much fun and so many laughs when we are together. We are certainly blessed to be able to spend time with them too.
It was really difficult to leave Joan and her Tom on Friday morning. We are so blessed to be able to spend such good days with Joan and her Tom. They say "laughing is the best medicine"...so we get lots of medicine when we are all together.
We stoppped in Lancaster on our way here. We were going to stop and see our Aunt Annie but she had plans for the day. We did do some shopping at the Old Mill store in Lancaster..always find something we NEED. We were able to spent time with Peggy as Larry was at work. We gave our hugs and left Peggy. Just as we were going to get on the interstate, Larry called and said he was heading home from work and so we turnned around and went back to their home. As always it was good to visit with them both.
Tom and I arrived at the Navy Gateway Inn about 8 PM. I had not been in Besthesda since 1969 and could not believe how had grown. We are just staying down the street from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. As we stay here we remember and honor all the soldiers that are just up the street being treated for wounds for their sacrifices for our country and their families. God Bless our men and women in uniform...past, present and future...and thank you for our freedom.
Tom woke up this morning and the area on his leg had opened up and we could not get the bleeding to stop so went up the street to Walter Reed Hospital to get checked out. They checked him out and found that he was getting blood clots again so put some "wicking" material in the wound along with Mediplex with silver foam that helps kill bacteria. They also gave him more antibiotics. It seemed that they gave us anything we would need to do wound care. We saw them take care of other vets and their wives with such care and seemed that they left with what they needed to take care of their medical issues......no need to stop at CVS to pick up supplies!! Thank you Walter Reed Staff for taking care of on of this veteran!!
Today was to be a day of rest so worked out great so Tom could rest his leg. We did find a neat Cafe in Bethesda where we had a late lunch before going to Saturday Mass this day.
I did not get this finished last evening so will finish now.
We are at Ft. Bragg this evening. Found a unique BBQ place for lunch. Tomorrow we will go to Savannah for the night. Tom's leg seems to be draining nicely today.
So until our next post...we will keep you in our prayers and thank you for keeping us in your prayers for safe travels.
Love and hugs,
Tom and Maryann
~~Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not~~
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
State College to Cape May New Jersey 10 July 2015
We certainly enjoyed having Carrie and Emme spend time with us in Karthaus and State College.
Emme was able to see her Great Aunt Liz and her daughter Vicki and spent time with Kenny and Julie and family. Emme even caught her first fish at the pond with help. We spent several days with Joan and Tom at Roseanne and Jeff's home in State College. 4th of July is a special time at Jeff, Roseanne and Maddie and Camyrn's home. What fun days we all had with them! We had a great 4th with lots of food, fireworks and their family and friends. Emme was able to spend time with Joan's Adam and Carrie and Alexis and Reese and Sara and Adam and Ethan and Emma too. Emme was exhausted after spending the days and evenings trying to do everything her cousins were doing...and they were all just so good with her. The first couple days Maddie and Camyrn just took over making sure Emme was occupied. In fact we laughted that "Emme grew another pair of legs..as Maddie carried her everywhere". This is our second 4th of July with Roseanne and Family so was good seeing all their family and friends again. Their home is just the spot to watch the Penn State Fire Works show too!
Carrie and Emme left the next morning at 5 AM and had safe travels home. Emme did much better on the flight home to Tucson as she was well rested after a good night's sleep.
Sunday the 5th, Tom and Joan and us left for Dover AFB, Delaware where we spent the night. We left Dover and took the 1015 Ferry to Cape May. We always enjoy taking the car ferry...took about an hour until we docked in Cape May. We have been staying here at the Coast Guard Station in one of their cottages. We just have to walk about 1/2 mile to the beach or drive up to the gazebo and were right on the beach. AND what a nice beach and most days we are the only ones on the beach or just have a couple others join us. On the mornings we went to the beach early, we were entertained by several dalphins playing in the waters. One evening we went down to "our beach" and sat on the life guard stand and had about 20 or so dolphins entertain us.
Never did get this completed while on Cape May... So will catch up... We had relaxing days at Cape May...when not at the beach, we traveled to several small villages north of Cape May. Walked on the boardwalk at Wildwood...was not like when we visited years ago...more like a carnival atmosphere.
The guys visited the War Memorial Museum at Cape May. We spent an evening at Sunset Beach in Cape May. Each night from Memorial Day to Labor Day, they honor a fallen American soldier with a flag lowering ceremony on the beach. They read about the soldier and have his or her family members there and participate in the ceremony. There are over a 100 in attendance each evening...now this is what needs to be on the evening news. Sunset Beach has a beautiful sunset. We just enjoyed spending time together ...playing games, just talking and being together. Oh yes, forgot about all the laughing!!
We decided to drive back to State College to Roseanne's and Jeff's home to see some of the country side vs.taking the ferry back. We relaxed at the fire pit in their back yard that evening and again just enjoyed being together and talking and more laughter.
After sharing in the birthday lunch for Jeff and his Mom ( Roseanne made great homemade Stromboli) we left to come to Linesville with Joan and Tom. We were happy to also meet Jeff's brother and his son. Of course Maddie and Camyrn always make us feel welcome. Thank you Maddie for once again letting us use your bed!
Since we have been here in Linesville, we have taken a trip to Erie and visited some of our favorite places here. Each evening it is fun to look out in the fields for deer. Each evening there has been four small bucks come in the field and yard to eat the apples from the tree.
Tom enjoys doing yard work when there is grass involved...so he was happy to help Tom mow the yard. Always enjoy seeing Joan's Tom's brother Bill too.
Joan and Tom have been feeding us very good..also nights playing cards and dice and just having fun being together.
We will all be here until Friday when we leave to go back to Roseanne and Jeff's in State College.
They are going to the beach so we will house set with Joan and Tom until the following Friday when we will leave to head South to Florida.
Continue to know that we are blessed and keep you all in daily prayer...
~"We haven't been everywhere, but it's on our list"~ Susan Sontag
Love and Hugs,
God Bless,
Tom and Maryann
Emme was able to see her Great Aunt Liz and her daughter Vicki and spent time with Kenny and Julie and family. Emme even caught her first fish at the pond with help. We spent several days with Joan and Tom at Roseanne and Jeff's home in State College. 4th of July is a special time at Jeff, Roseanne and Maddie and Camyrn's home. What fun days we all had with them! We had a great 4th with lots of food, fireworks and their family and friends. Emme was able to spend time with Joan's Adam and Carrie and Alexis and Reese and Sara and Adam and Ethan and Emma too. Emme was exhausted after spending the days and evenings trying to do everything her cousins were doing...and they were all just so good with her. The first couple days Maddie and Camyrn just took over making sure Emme was occupied. In fact we laughted that "Emme grew another pair of legs..as Maddie carried her everywhere". This is our second 4th of July with Roseanne and Family so was good seeing all their family and friends again. Their home is just the spot to watch the Penn State Fire Works show too!
Carrie and Emme left the next morning at 5 AM and had safe travels home. Emme did much better on the flight home to Tucson as she was well rested after a good night's sleep.
Sunday the 5th, Tom and Joan and us left for Dover AFB, Delaware where we spent the night. We left Dover and took the 1015 Ferry to Cape May. We always enjoy taking the car ferry...took about an hour until we docked in Cape May. We have been staying here at the Coast Guard Station in one of their cottages. We just have to walk about 1/2 mile to the beach or drive up to the gazebo and were right on the beach. AND what a nice beach and most days we are the only ones on the beach or just have a couple others join us. On the mornings we went to the beach early, we were entertained by several dalphins playing in the waters. One evening we went down to "our beach" and sat on the life guard stand and had about 20 or so dolphins entertain us.
Never did get this completed while on Cape May... So will catch up... We had relaxing days at Cape May...when not at the beach, we traveled to several small villages north of Cape May. Walked on the boardwalk at Wildwood...was not like when we visited years ago...more like a carnival atmosphere.
The guys visited the War Memorial Museum at Cape May. We spent an evening at Sunset Beach in Cape May. Each night from Memorial Day to Labor Day, they honor a fallen American soldier with a flag lowering ceremony on the beach. They read about the soldier and have his or her family members there and participate in the ceremony. There are over a 100 in attendance each evening...now this is what needs to be on the evening news. Sunset Beach has a beautiful sunset. We just enjoyed spending time together ...playing games, just talking and being together. Oh yes, forgot about all the laughing!!
We decided to drive back to State College to Roseanne's and Jeff's home to see some of the country side vs.taking the ferry back. We relaxed at the fire pit in their back yard that evening and again just enjoyed being together and talking and more laughter.
After sharing in the birthday lunch for Jeff and his Mom ( Roseanne made great homemade Stromboli) we left to come to Linesville with Joan and Tom. We were happy to also meet Jeff's brother and his son. Of course Maddie and Camyrn always make us feel welcome. Thank you Maddie for once again letting us use your bed!
Since we have been here in Linesville, we have taken a trip to Erie and visited some of our favorite places here. Each evening it is fun to look out in the fields for deer. Each evening there has been four small bucks come in the field and yard to eat the apples from the tree.
Tom enjoys doing yard work when there is grass involved...so he was happy to help Tom mow the yard. Always enjoy seeing Joan's Tom's brother Bill too.
Joan and Tom have been feeding us very good..also nights playing cards and dice and just having fun being together.
We will all be here until Friday when we leave to go back to Roseanne and Jeff's in State College.
They are going to the beach so we will house set with Joan and Tom until the following Friday when we will leave to head South to Florida.
Continue to know that we are blessed and keep you all in daily prayer...
~"We haven't been everywhere, but it's on our list"~ Susan Sontag
Love and Hugs,
God Bless,
Tom and Maryann
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