TOASTING WITH TEA AND MERLOT

Val and I enjoyed every minute of the Royal Wedding yesterday. We moved from screen to screen celebrating with the same tea that the Queen has for breakfast every morning - Darvilles of Windsor. In the evening we donned our hats and sapphires for Happy Hour and a perfect ending in the hot tub.

BLUE FAIRY

BELVOIR BEACH

We had heard that Tom's brick had been placed on the walk in the park in Beach Haven. It has been a year of missing T.C. so we took the trip on this foggy morning to the park to see the little tribute. Afterwards, we sat on the beach at Belvoir and listened to the ocean and the memories.

SPRING POND

LUNCH AND GENEALOGY

Liz and I had a wonderful visit to Manasquan. Luckily, the thrift store was open and we came away with several unexpected bargains. Liz bought some very cute Spring ornaments and I found a 2 cup teapot to replace the one that had broken. Then on to Surf Taco for lunch, genealogy talk, and what to look for on our visit to the Atlantic View Cemetery. It is always good to have a map of the cemetery that you are visiting. It is never good to rely on memory, but after much scouting, we did find what we were looking for!

SHERRILL

SHERRILL

HAPPY EASTER 2011!

GETTING READY FOR EASTER -INDOORS/OUTDOORS

We are busy inside working on the finishing touches for Easter Dinner. Fred is outside doing the gardening and transplanting. Even the bunny showed up, I suspect he is enjoying some fresh, young bamboo shoots.

WALK THROUGH THE PARK

We visited Monmouth Battlefield Park and took the walk down the long slope, past the skunk cabbage and across the bridge towards the orchards today. The apple and peach trees are coming into bloom and velvety lambs' ear is popping up throughout the meadow.

VISIT TO THE SADDLE SHOP

Rick's Saddle Shop is in the historic town of Englishtown, NJ. It goes back to Revolutionary War Days and the oldest house in town is Dr. English's home where George Washington stayed during the Battle of Monmouth. We were visiting the Saddle Shop to purchase Chris's first riding gloves and helmet, he chose the adjustable model with a fashionable visor, and black gloves to match. After shopping we settled in to eating ice cream at Four Boys on the corner.

NEW BEGINNINGS

Ah, the promise of Spring and New Beginnings. We discovered Fred's purple thistle in the garden today, it starts out as a beautiful circular plant and by August has risen into a tall flowering super giant! The same with the Concord grapes, the vines are beginning to leaf and from these tiny buds emerge the tastiest fruit.

GARDEN WREATH

BARBARA'S BIRTHDAY BRUNCH

We helped Barbara celebrate her special day, and had a great time seeing friends from work, getting caught up on new business, and brunching! Hanna orchestrated the entire event and did a spectacular job.

WEEK GONE BY

What a busy week last week! It was wonderful meeting daughters Annie and Marie and their friends in NYC. Tuesday was spent in Princeton getting Chris's audiological done, a visit to the Art Museum to see the recent portrait acquisitions, and of course lunch. Getting Alice off to her new career, several meetings on Thursday and Friday and watching Chris take Finn out into the rain at his lesson -followed with a game of checkers on a stormy night with my little guy. Today, I am off on my own to Barbara's birthday brunch and some catching up with friends.