Steel yourself as this blog contains too many pictures for a mere 3 months!
Christmas this year found me in New York City. Although I have visited my children there numerous times, this was my first Christmas in the Big Apple. It did not disappoint! Besides being with my three NYC kids and grandbabies, it was lovely to see the city so very festive...and...COLD!
Rockefeller Center was incredible with its 60+ft tree, ice skaters, heralding angels and festive decorations!
This fountain was running the day we were there, but an early picture depicts how cold I felt!
Autumn took a day off work and we did a "walk about" through the city. Besides Rockefeller Center we stopped in St. Patrick's Cathedral in time for the ending of a mass. Very impressive architecture!
Autumn is quite the artistic photographer. Inside Sachs and me peeking out from behind the cathedral door.
We spent the day enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season. Her Christmas surprise for me was the Philharmonic and a very talented Choral group performing the Messiah. It brought tears to my eyes- for her thoughtfulness and for the outstanding performance!
Christmas morning dawned and the little ones could hardly be contained. Oh the excitement of little children. What joy to watch their faces light up!
Dan and Sandra made an appearance a little later in the day and it was fun having them with us.
Ailene took the kids, Autumn and I to the NYC Botanical Gardens. More than 175 scaled iconic buildings and structures such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium, and the Statue of Liberty are displayed under thousands of twinkling lights. Step into a miniature city where famed New York architecture is recreated using bark, leaves, and other natural materials.
Ailene, Aden and Amaia in front of Grand Central Station
Brooklyn Bridge
There were plenty of kid friendly activities, whimsical creatures and opportunities to climb and learn.
Loved this big caterpillar!
The Wall Street train station was a work of art in and of itself!
Outside of the Manhattan temple we discovered a Giving Machine. The kids were excited to donate a piglet, chickens and some food!
Although windy and chilly we took a ferry ride down the East River enjoying the skyline while Ammon was the tour guide and explained the historical spots, ie. Brother Island in the East River where Typhoid Mary met her demise in 1938.
Remains of Riverside Hospital in the East River. Typhoid Mary died here.
Wide variety of architecture in NYC. Was a fantastic trip!
January was spent catching up and preparing for the next trip!
My friend Carol and Deanna and I decided to get out of the cold for the month of February and head to the Florida panhandle. Miramar Beach to be exact. Ahhh the land of Emerald water and white sand, hence the name Emerald Coast.
The Amalfi Coast condos offered us a deal not to be ignored with a nice two bedroom condo, a short stroll to the beach, a resident crane, koi and turtles in the pond, an evening fire pit and two swimming pools!
The grounds were beautiful and well kept and the southern hospitality is no joke!!! The Gulf of Mexico was not disappointing! We took an hour long cruise to watch the dolphins cavort in the light turquoise waters and enjoyed the warm sun.
We decided to take a little side trip to Baton Rouge to see the state capital and attend the temple. We crossed the Florida panhandle, 40 miles of Alabama, 60 miles of Mississippi and then on to Louisiana. That is 4 states in 4.5 hours!
Did an evening session at the Baton Rouge Temple. It is very similar to the Spokane Temple here in WA, but has limited hours of operation.
While in Baton Rouge we were able to tour the old Governor's Mansion, the old State Capital and the remarkable St. Joseph's Cathedral with its very impressive stained glass depicting the life of the Savior.
Front of the Governor's Mansion
The decor and the wall murals were elegant!
The Old State Capital building was more like a fortress than a place for political gatherings....although there might be something to be said for the similarities!
The spiral staircase and stained glass dome! Can you tell that I am a fan of stained glass?
The day we were there a school was having a mock-legislative session.
St Joseph's Cathedral
Before leaving Baton Rouge, we stopped at a famous beignet place! YUM!
The other reason to head to Louisiana and toward the mighty Mississippi River was to get a look at some of the historic plantations. They did not disappoint!
Oak Alley is quite famous for its Burnside Oaks (named after the plantation owner John Burnside, who owned Houmas House Plantation) Here are a few outdoor and inside pictures of both.
Resident swans in the pond.
Much of the furnishings, although not original to the plantations are nevertheless period pieces that give a feel for life in that era.
Some of the owners were very kind to their slaves and others treated them abominably. John Burnside was not only kind, but freed his slaves, gave them each a parcel of land and then offered them wages to continue working for him.
There had been unusually heavy rainfall which is reflected in this photo of the mighty muddy Mississippi!
We arrived and left right before the festivities of Mardi Gras, but there were decorations, beads, masks and costumes to be had everywhere.
So my dear friends and family, as you can see I am alive and well and fortunately still able to travel and enjoy my children, grandchildren and many of the sights and history of our amazing country. Hopefully this finds all of you in good health and enjoying your life!
Until next time!
