We are travelling up in Virginia. Stopped at Loves gas station

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Fun + Sun = PARTY ON THE LAKE

1. Jay and I have realized the house isn't going to get any bigger.
2. The area is still to expensive to purchase a larger house, even in this market.
3. We don't own anything that gets us out of the house besides the hot tub, like a four wheeler, or RV, or hell, even bikes! We barely just got ourselves tennis rackets!
4. We don't go on lavish vacations without knowing someone we can bunk with ;)
5. We want to entertain friends and family but #1 - #4 holds true!!!!
So... we bought a boat. HA! Yep, we did!!!!

She's a beautiful Aqua Patio party boat that can fit anywhere from 10 to 14 people!!! Including the coolers and towels!!! She is also equipped with a folding changing room and portapotty!!!! So beware that if visiting us this summer and early fall, be sure to bring your sunglasses, sunscreen, and need for relaxation!!!

Aaron & Jackie's Newest Adventure

As most of you know reading this, Jackie and Aaron have moved to Alaksa! I KNOW!!!
You have to check out their blog for the latest animal that's visited their backyard, or even out their front door.
http://www.themisadventuresofaaronandjackie.blogspot.com/

Memorial Day Fast Facts

Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country. Even though having a 3day weekend to kick-off the summer is nice, I think it more appropriate to ensure that we do what the day is meant for... to remember those we have lost and express our gratitude through prayer and our love to others who are still with us. So please take time to say your own personal "thank you" to someone that's with us today, or watching us from afar.

Please God Bless Everyone!!!!

Happy Birthday Chasidi!!!!

Courage Campaign

Now I am normally not one to promote anything that is socially or politically motivated, but this one strikes a chord with me. I just don't agree that anyone should have to deny who they are from anyone at anytime. Its no different from being at home, at your workplace, at your church, at your school. Now I am not on the battlefield and have asked some of my friends their thoughts and we can have healthy discussions on their reasons vs. what we see back here. But again, its another one of those topics where everyone has an opinion. Please check out the attached link to sign an online petition for the Courage Campaign. You can find out more on their goals and mission to help people like Lt Dan.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/dontfiredan

Dr. Feelgood

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ..... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. AND.....For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like. Speaking "English" is apparently what kills you.

AND REMEMBER:
'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'.

CHEERS!

Happy Mothers Day!

And remember that behind every successful woman......is a basket of dirty laundry.

Animal Rescue - One Click at a Time

This is pretty simple. The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (about 15 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals for free'. This doesn't cost you a thing.
Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site! Please pass it along to people you know.
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Lobster hunting

Visiting Rhode Island...getting some lobsters

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New Plantings

First and foremost, the last 3 days have been fantastic. Temps in the mid 70's and sunshine is bringing out all the green. The trees are in full bloom mode.

Jay also decided to put plantings where our new fence was put last fall. 3 trees and 2 bushes look great. Nice job Jay!

And last but not least, we don't like to forget the rose garden. This year, they are accompanied by our planted Hibiscus, nicely fenced in for their protection, along with 2 Tiki torches.

Strike a Pose

While outside on Wed, Makita wasn't acting like herself. She would stand still for minutes, not making a move. Almost like she was posing.
So I took a few shots.