Lions, Cheetahs and Bears Oh My!

We are slowly winding down our DC trip. On Sunday we visited the National Zoo.  If you find yourself in the DC area, the Zoo is something you should really go see.  The zoo is laid out beautifully and in the fall the weather is just perfect.  We saw the pandas, Tien Tien and Mei Xiang, as well as many other animals.

Breakfast time!

Cheetahs purr and chatter.  You can hear them at the zoo

The proud Papa.  He currently  has seven cubs that were born earlier this year

After visiting the zoo I was able to do a little shopping at Macy's since the DC store is right at the metro stop where we changed trains.  It's great! All you have to do is get off one train and voila, there are the doors to Macy's.  DC is great.

Yesterday we went shopping in Columbia Heights and then went to Ben's Chili Bowl for lunch.  Jennifer took her cart and we  filled it up with needed items from Target and then groceries from Giant.  After a morning of shopping, we had Ben's famous half-smoked - Delicious

Jennifer (with her cart) and Paul waiting for the train.

Ben's Chili Bowl - Established in 1958



Half-smoke with chili - Yum!



Jennifer had a turkey burger that looked equally delicious

After lunch we went back to Jennifer's house and  make lasagna for a big dinner with her, Eric, neighbor Kelly and our nephew Jon.  It was a good dinner with great company.  All in all our trip to Washington DC has been great, we will definitely be back again and again.

Heading home (in first class!) this afternoon, love DD

"We are Walking, Walking..."

Thanksgiving was our only day of rest.  We spent it with Jennifer and Eric and their friend Daniel.  Jennifer cooked a great first Thanksgiving dinner.  I did help a little, but she had it all planned out and did a great job.
We spent the day eating, playing Wii and watching football.  I think this will be the start of a new tradition.

The Finishing Touches

Jennifer and Eric's Thanksgiving Table

Before dinner

After dinner "watching" football



On Friday we did the Mall.  Starting at the Vietnam Memorial and going all the way to the "TJ"  Thomas Jefferson Memorial.  Here of some pictures of our adventures.  





Paul visiting The Wall

Vietnam War Memorial

The Nurses at the Vietnam War Memorial

Jennifer, Paul and me at the Lincoln Memorial

A view of the Mall

Korean War Memorial

Roosevelt Memorial

Fala

Inspiring Roosevelt quote

Fall in DC

Waiting for the train

Had a great dinner at the Hawk 'n Dove

 On Saturday we visited Arlington Cemetery.  We were able to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers

Me, Paul Jennifer and Eric at JFK's Memorial at Arlington Cemetery

JFK's burial site and the eternal flame

So many have been lost.

Happy Thanksgiving

A Happy Thanksgiving from Washington DC.  We are sitting here, at Jennifer and Eric's, watching football, listening to Paul snore, and waiting for the turkey to cook.  Yesterday was a busy, busy day for us.  We started the day with a quick walking tour looking at the Capitol, Supreme Court and Library of Congress buildings on our way to the National Mall to see the monuments. It was cold and windy, but the sky was clear and blue, a beautiful fall day in out nation's capitol.



Us at the Capitol



 Our first stop was the Washington Monument, this an interesting perspective, looking up the monument.

Looking "up" the Washington Monument

 The next was the World War II memorial.  This is a great tribute to all who served in the war.

 

The World War II Memorial



The World War II Memorial

 We scheduled a tour of the White House and had to wait a while since it was the morning that President Obama "pardoned" a turkey.  Although we had to wait in line for about 30 minutes, it was worth the wait  It is a self guided tour that takes you through the rooms  on the bottom floor of the White House.

The White House

 Our tour of the Capitol was great, thanks Dan.  We learned a lot about the history of the building of the Capitol, as well as what is going on today.  Since he works at the Capitol, Dan was even able to get us onto the floor of the House of Representatives.  It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

Looking up at the dome in the Capitol Building



Abraham Lincoln



The Capitol dome

Toward the end of the tour, Paul wanted to visit with Nancy... but alas she was out of the office .


Paul trying to visit Nancy

 More pictures tomorrow.  Love DD

Washington DC

We have finally arrived...  The flight was uneventful with the exception that we got to the airport 1/2 hour too early and had to wait for it to open, but, that was just a small inconvenience.  Anyway, we landed at Regan Airport at about 4:10 pm and were picked up by Jennifer.  It was great to finally get to DC to see her and Eric. 

We checked into our hotel and were whisked away to dinner to the kid's favourite Mexican restaurant. I can see why it is their favorite.  La Lomida isn't much to look at, but, it makes up for it in their food.  It rivals anything you can get in So. California their food is so fresh and very good. 



The Birthday Boy at La Lomida

Today we will be starting our sightseeing tours .I will be posting more as the days go by.  Loving DC so far!

DD

Heading Home

Our trip is slowly ending. We spent three nights in Eugene Oregon at the Armitage County Park. We relaxed and had a quiet two days. The weather was always threatening rain, but it seemed to wait until the nighttime when we were in for the night. Saturday we went to the Farmer’s Market and Craft Fair in downtown Eugene and bought some fresh produce, eggs and bread. There is always a huge assortment of seasonable fruits and vegetables. It rates right up there with the Chico Farmer’s Market.



The first campsite  we could have a fire at.  Too bad that it rained the next two nights.



The view from my trailer at Armitage County Park

Ferns growing on a Sycamore Tree

That night we packed up the trailer for an early departure for California. The weather finally broke wide open and we had rain for most of Saturday night and Sunday morning. We were both happy that we got the trailer hooked up the night before, since there is nothing worse than getting soaked while hooking up and then having to drive while you‘re wet. The drive to California was OK, rain showers but light traffic.

We arrived at Durango RV Park in Red Bluff around 2:30 and were set-up and relaxing by 3:00. The park is a nice place and it is along the Sacramento River. It’s right off of I-5 and offers cement pad-pull throughs, free wi-fi, cable TV and curbside trash pick-up. We will be staying here for two nights.

Today we went to downtown Red Bluff and did a little shopping and sight seeing. Red Bluff is a nice city, they have a downtown area that has a lot of cute shops and we purchased a few things that were really

one-of-a-kind.

Anyway tomorrow we will be heading south to Harris Ranch and then home. I am looking forward to getting home to my own bed, for a while

 

Here are few more important pictures that didn't make it to my blog

Grandma Casey with Sienna during her visit

Amy with Rocko snuggled up next to her and Merlin looking a little pissed.



Sienna sitting next to Grandpa

 

Sienna with Grandma Casey

Fall comes to Fairhaven, Wa



Sienna learned to raise her eyebrows.



 

Sassy finally able to sunbathe in California



A Moving Experience

The last four days we helped David and Amy move from their little house in the woods in Conway to a townhouse in Arlington. The move was like any other move, packing and loading trucks, and then unloading and unpacking. Paul and I were glad we were here to help them. Now it is up to Amy and David to unpack and make it their home.


We spent yesterday doing a couple of chores that have been neglected and then relaxing. In the afternoon we drove to La Conner to visit the quilting museum. The museum is in an old Victorian house that has been refurbished to it’s old spender. I don’t know what I enjoyed more, exploring the three stories of the house or looking at the quilts that they had displayed. I forgot to take my camera with me, so you can visit their web site to look at what they have, http://www.laconnerquilts.com/

We are leaving on Thursday to start our trip home which should take us about a week since we are taking our time.

We will be seeing all of you soon

Rocko



Rocko at Bidwell Park, Chico, Ca


This blog is dedicated to our new pug Rocko.  We lost our Shar Pei, Spanky, to cancer in August and being a two dog family the house felt really empty.  Our other dog, Sassy was at a loss too.  She didn't like being alone and was constantly looking for Spanky.  During those weeks, I was busily looking for another pug to adopt from Pug Rescue of San Diego and two weeks later we found Rocko.  He might be a little bigger than most pugs but, the vet says he is all pug.




Chico, Ca



Ready to go - Rocko and Sassy

Rocko has fit into the family quite nicely.  He used to be an outside pug with his other sister, but, has taken quite nicely to being inside, and he has easily adapted to sleeping in bed with us.  He is such a lover, all he wants to be is nestled right next to you, with you touching him.  I have yet to hear him bark although my husband has and only once.  So far he is becoming one of the best pugs I have ever seen (besides Sassy). 




Sleeping with Daddy!

  

Busy day (Sassy on left, Rocko on right)



When we left for our trip to Washington, I was a little apprehensive about him traveling, but he loves riding in the truck and has really taken to life in the trailer.  We are all happy about that since we do travel quite a bit.

He does cry a little when we have to leave him and Sassy in the trailer, but, I think that he will get used to it and realize that we will be back soon.  Anyway, here are a few more pictures of him on his new "adventures"



Checking out the beach at Laribee State Park, Washington



Waiting for Mom to get in the truck.