Bill had an install on a Leisure Van shortly after we returned. He was supposed to have another one the following week, but the client had canceled so there was a free week – which worked out well because Jo & Ben came to visit! They are spending time in Charlottesville VA where Ben has a travel nurse contract. This was their first trip since having their home built in Flagler Beach FL. You may recall that our friends Ellen & Mario live in a community there – well Jo & Ben are now homeowners in the same community! They plan to still travel in the summers, as it gets very HOT in FL, but it’s a great place to spend the winter.
The highlight of their visit was a day trip to Pittsburgh. Jo found this great river cruise and we agreed it sounded like a fun day. We were up and out by 8 am, which is early for me. We dropped their doggos, Peyton and Sammy, off at PetSmart Doggie Day Care before stopping at Burgatory for lunch. The Rivers of Steel Riverboat was close-by enough to walk to from the North Shore Drive location. It had been threatening rain, but it turned out to be a gorgeous weather day with lots of cloud drama – you all know how much I LOVE cloud drama!
In our way back to Hickory Hollow, we took a short drive through Billy’s neighborhood and stopped to say hello. Peyton and Sammy were happy to see us when we picked them up from doggie day care. Our timing was perfect – just in front of rush hour.
Jo and Ben headed back to VA, and I started my week of babysitting the girls. My daughter was attending a writers conference and I was on Nani duty at their house. Derek’s work hours begin very early so it made more sense for me to sleep at the house. Bill, having an install that week, stayed home, with Billy joining him to help with the install.
Needless to say with a 3 year old and 21 month old, I was BUSY! Derek would get home between 2:30 – 3pm and we would decide what to do about dinner. When I went home on Friday – I was TIRED! I did sleep well, as I usually do at this house, but with the monitor in the room with me, I always had one ear listening, in case there was a problem with one of the girls.
My daughter returned home to lots of hugs and loves – Freya and Arwen clearly missed their Mommy! We had taken full advantage of technology in the form of FaceTime each day, but it just isn’t the same.
Once Michelle was settled and I headed home, it was time to start packing! Bill and I had ordered a couple of new pieces of luggage for our upcoming trip to Ireland and Scotland, and it was time to start filling them with everything we would need!
Deb and Tim came to Hickory Hollow for a few days, and since I had started packing early, we had some time to spend with them. We enjoyed dinner together, Deb and I spent an afternoon in Ohiopyle, and the guys talked solar and batteries. It was a great visit!
By the time you read this we will be about 18 days into our Ireland/Scotland trip – so stay tuned!
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The opening rainbow and clouds pics are great! Always fun to see friends on the travels, especially as Jo looks to be a great cook!
Looking forward to your reports from Ireland and Scotland, both are places I’d like to visit.
Thanks Jeff! As you know – I always LOVE cloud drama pics! I’ve been busy taking notes here in Ireland – so hopefully I can start working on the posts soon!
Those appetizers look VERY yummy…I think Jo is holding out on me! LOL…so glad you guys got to hang out…looking forward to catching up with you this winter in Florida.
Looking forward to seeing you too!
Such a small world at times. Here in Branson Missouri I have meet two travelers who are originally from areas north of Somerset. I explained we had a trip there planned there until Karen’s mom got sick. So at least I call talk about knowing where it is and how to get there 🙂
Looking forward to reading about your trip to Europe.
Hope Karen’s Mom is feeling better! It sure can be a very small world sometimes – we’ve had a few of them ourselves.
I’m taking daily notes on our trip because there is so much I’d surely forget some of it.
The girls are getting bigger. Love Arwen’s long hair!
Have a great trip!
They grow so fast – as you know! I’m thinking you mean Freya’s long hair – she’s the older one!