The End of May

We just celebrated Memorial Day-My dad and sister came for a visit. Dad is a WW II veteran and the stories he told of his experiences with D-Day, Hurtgen Forest, Liberation of France, Battle of the Buldge made me weep (notice I said weep, not cry). I can remember when I was very small, my dad having flashbacks while he was sleeping. My mother would gently try to wake him up by calling his name. Back in those days you just stood tall as a man and stuffed the trauma somewhere deep inside. My dad used his faith in God and prayer to banish the flashbacks. One never forgets but one can pray to God for peace and forgiveness.

Here is a photo of my dad and me overlooking the Miles River in St. Michael's Maryland. We gave dad the grand tour. Went to Oxford where we took the ferry to St. Michael's. Drove down to Tilghman Island to Harrison's Inn where you can see waterman at work (well Sunday they were taking boatloads of tourists out for fishing-aka drinking all the beer they can and concocting some good fish stories) During the week these guys go out and haul crabs. We had some down home Eastern Shore crab cakes and got to see ole man Buddy Harrison who is quite the waterman legend here on the shore. We then went on a cruise of the Miles River and saw dozens of sail boats, heard some good history, and just enjoyed the river. My sister decided to just relax by the pool and got a sunburn.

We saw an ospray nest up close.

The birds mate for life and return to the same nesting area every year. This is the closest I have every been able to photograph both the male and female.

I spent three days babysitting my granddaughter ages 4 and 20 months. No photos 'cause I was too busy playing with them or taking naps.

The most lovely time was this past week when my daughter Katie, Robin (the grooms mother) and I went bridal dress buying. Kaite found a stunningly beautiful dress. Below is just a teaser shot that she gave me permission to post. I got giant goose bumps when I looked at her. She is just so beautiful (I want to say perfect but she reads my blog and I don't want her to get a swelled head).

Robin and I also found the most perfect mother of the bride and groom dresses. No pictures of those. Sorry. We had lunch at a charming pub in Smyrna. Saturday we had our first "Bridal Meeting" with both parents, bride and groom, groom's grandma and bride's grandfather and her aunt Barbie. We have a date! Wahooo.......31 May 2008. It will probablly be a late afternoon wedding with a garden party reception afterwords. We moms are so excited-Stevie and Katie are both the youngest in thier families.

P. S. Katie just called and told me to add the rest of the dress. So here she is!