Hello followers of our blogs,
I mentioned on the last blog that I did not want to bore you with a long blog, so here is another to tell you about the rest of our week in Ca.
Tuesday was a fun day for me also, I started the day with Dave & I having a nice hot breakfast, I was off to the Winchester Mystery House today. I waited until around 1pm ish, to go to the House. I learned a lot on this trip. I'm sure that all 4 of my brothers would appreciate this house. (or the history behind it)
This house started out as an unfinished 8 room home, when Mrs. Winchester bought it in 1884. The "story" goes that she moved to San Jose, because a Psychic told her that if she moved west (from CT) and continued to build a home there (never stopping), she might escape the "troubled" souls of the men that had been killed by her husbands Winchester rifles. Also that she might live a long life. ( She lived to be 82, when in those days people passed on in their 40's at best. )
The tour started out in a room that the carriage she rode in, would come into the home through beautiful large sliding doors. We walked up stairs that were only an inch in height, as Ms Sarah W. had developed arthritis in her knees and could only lift her legs one inch high. she had some of the regular stairs removed and replaced with ones she could walk up.
As for all of the floors in this home of 160 rooms, (106 of which I saw) there was one carpenter that for 33 years did nothing but floors, replacing them if needed, putting down new ones when it was required. (Beautiful in lay) They were made of Mahogany, rosewood, teak, maple, oak & white ash.
So to give you an idea of how large this is..
The sprawling mansion contained 160 rooms, 2,000 doors, 10,000 windows (all From Tiffany's)
47 stairways, 47 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms, 6 Kitchens, 1 grand ballroom, an aviary with exotic birds, 3 Mirrors, an absolutely gorgeous Organ (still there).
This was a magnificent place to visit. (161 acres of farmland also)
This was my 2nd day exploring a piece of CA. next blog in a few days to tell you of my other adventure.
til then. Enjoy!
~Nancie~
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
California trip
So after our wedding & myself spending a week with my daughters (Shannon & Deanna) my grandson, (Braeden) and with various relatives (Angela, John, Clare, Jean, & Jan) and of course with my best friend Stacy and her family (Oscar, Seth & Hannah) Dave and I were off to Sunnyvale, CA. Him for work and me well for fun.
We arrived safely in San Jose airport. We, of course, collected our luggage and went to pick up the car rental. Dave had asked for a "mid size" car, as there was 3 of us traveling in it. (Jim, Dave's co-worker was the other) No one could have ever guessed what vehicle we were given. It was the 2011 Burnt orange Challenger!! (For those of you that don't know Dave & I, we own a 2010 SRT 8 B-5 Blue Challenger) So to us this was quite funny, Dave thought his boss, Derrick, had called the car rental and asked them to give us this one, we found out later that he did not, so it was just luck.
Off we went to the hotel, we had enough time to unpack the bags before we drove over to Derrick & Heathers house. (we had Pizza) I personally had more fun visiting and talking with Heather, showing her the wedding pics & so on. Later on as we had pizza, Dave's Bosses Boss Blain also joined in the pizza party. It was nice to meet Dave's co-workers. Heather & I made plans to "hang out" on the following Wed. and we went back to the hotel.
Monday, Dave & I had breakfast and then I sent him off to walk to work, (5 min walk from the hotel)Then I gathered my "Nancie bag" (all the things I would need for the day, Maps, camera, purse, addresses, water) and off I went to see the Pacific Ocean. The Boardwalk in Santa Cruz here I come. The boardwalk, itself, was closed, but I did not mind at all. My whole reason to go there was to walk in the Pacific water, and with luck on my side, the beach was 98% deserted, I was totally ok with that. I sat on the boardwalk, taking pictures, breathing in the air, as I took off my shoes & socks, put them in my little bag to carry them, and down to the water I walked, slowly and taking in the beauty that lay before me. I wanted to call Dave just to tell him how beautiful it was, but I knew he was at work in meetings at the time, so I could not. I tried to call my youngest daughter Dee, but no answer, so I called Shannon, my oldest, just to tell her how beautiful it was. After an hour of walking in the water and taking pictures of the boardwalk, I slowly walked back to where I could sit to put on my socks & shoes.
I walked back to the car, and was talking to Shannon, when a couple of workers drove by and parked by my window, I rolled down the window and they began to say what a nice car I had and were impressed with it, they had no idea it was a rental, and I didn't let on. I asked them for directions to get to the Pacific coast highway, (they were easy directions) I thanked them and told them to have a wonderful day as they did to me, and we were both off.
This next road I took is I believe called the Pacific coast highway, Getting to this road is tricky with a wide car like the challenger, the roads are narrow in CA, so driving was indeed an experience. I set the nav to go to Half Moon bay, and just took my time. It was 48 miles to my destination, I want to go on record to say I usually can do a drive like this in less than an 50 min, so I thought no big deal. I have no words to describe what I saw on along that highway, (I will try) but I can tell you that it took me 6 hours to drive that 48 miles.
I saw the ocean from a cliff of at least 2000 feet straight down. (Awesome) I rove a little further down the road, only to pull off again and again, walking down some pathways just to find myself enveloped in yet another picturesque setting. As I walk in the ocean once more, I find myself running away from the water as a swell comes too quickly toward me, my pant legs were rolled up but I still got them wet. It was wonderful, Cold, but wonderful.
I found a shell at one of my many many stops along this road, It was one where there were large rocks in the middle of the beach, I could sit on the rocks to take my shoes & socks off once again to walk in the water, this shell was quite unique, It reminded me of a horse hoof, how they angle and curve just perfectly, and they almost look like they have layers to them, however this shell had a dark greyish layer, then on top of that a beautiful, gorgeous, deep Blue, then like a pearlized White, another light blue then white again, It is quite pretty, the whole inside looks and feels like a pearl. I brought it home with me. (awesome)
I sat on another set of rocks for over an hour, taking pictures and again just watching the ocean, the swells I saw were at least 10 feet high at this point, I would watch them beginning to grow far out in the water then build and build and come crashing down, as I sat on these rocks you could tell the water would eventually cover them as they had pools of water all through them and were encrusted with small sea shells. The water would come within a few feet of me only to reseed back into the enormous ocean in front of me. Foam, from the waves, the only reminiscence that it was even there.
A little girl and her grandfather also were exploring among the rocks, I asked her how old she was and she said she was 4, a year younger than our grandson, she asked me if I wanted to see a sea anemone, I said sure, and she showed me on in a pool of water, she proceeded to ask me if I wanted to touch it, I decided against that, and just said no it was fine, of course I had to take a picture of it. She was adorable, telling me as much as she could about the rocks, and water. It was so adorable, it made me want Dave & our grandson with me (my daughters too)
I stopped at a light house along this route also, It was beautiful, I watched at the waves just crashing into the rock, and again was in awe of the raw power of the ocean as it smashed into those rocks.
I called my daughter at least 10 times as I sat by the ocean watching the swells, and pikes, surfers, and dolphins ( I saw dolphins) I had her listen to the water, it was so loud, with the crashing of the waves. I was in Awe of that scene before my eyes. Some of you may think I'm nuts, but the Pacific ocean and the Atlantic ocean seem like 2 totally separate entities to me, meaning, they are just so different, we don't get the swells here by the Hamptons, of NH.
As I drove back to the hotel, I talked to my cousin, and apparently I was so excited, that I was talking very fast and forgot to breath... HA.. imagine..
I arrived back to the hotel in time for Dave to get back a few min after me and we went out to dinner, to the macaroni grill, I talked the whole time about the ocean. If any of you reading this can ever go to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and drive down to half moon bay, for goodness sake, do so, I truly believe it is the only way you can appreciate all that I saw in those 6 hours.
I do not want to make this too long, I would like to share the rest of my week with all of you, but I will await until the next blog to tell you of my other adventures in CA.
*hugs* to you all. Until my next blog.
~N~
We arrived safely in San Jose airport. We, of course, collected our luggage and went to pick up the car rental. Dave had asked for a "mid size" car, as there was 3 of us traveling in it. (Jim, Dave's co-worker was the other) No one could have ever guessed what vehicle we were given. It was the 2011 Burnt orange Challenger!! (For those of you that don't know Dave & I, we own a 2010 SRT 8 B-5 Blue Challenger) So to us this was quite funny, Dave thought his boss, Derrick, had called the car rental and asked them to give us this one, we found out later that he did not, so it was just luck.
Off we went to the hotel, we had enough time to unpack the bags before we drove over to Derrick & Heathers house. (we had Pizza) I personally had more fun visiting and talking with Heather, showing her the wedding pics & so on. Later on as we had pizza, Dave's Bosses Boss Blain also joined in the pizza party. It was nice to meet Dave's co-workers. Heather & I made plans to "hang out" on the following Wed. and we went back to the hotel.
Monday, Dave & I had breakfast and then I sent him off to walk to work, (5 min walk from the hotel)Then I gathered my "Nancie bag" (all the things I would need for the day, Maps, camera, purse, addresses, water) and off I went to see the Pacific Ocean. The Boardwalk in Santa Cruz here I come. The boardwalk, itself, was closed, but I did not mind at all. My whole reason to go there was to walk in the Pacific water, and with luck on my side, the beach was 98% deserted, I was totally ok with that. I sat on the boardwalk, taking pictures, breathing in the air, as I took off my shoes & socks, put them in my little bag to carry them, and down to the water I walked, slowly and taking in the beauty that lay before me. I wanted to call Dave just to tell him how beautiful it was, but I knew he was at work in meetings at the time, so I could not. I tried to call my youngest daughter Dee, but no answer, so I called Shannon, my oldest, just to tell her how beautiful it was. After an hour of walking in the water and taking pictures of the boardwalk, I slowly walked back to where I could sit to put on my socks & shoes.
I walked back to the car, and was talking to Shannon, when a couple of workers drove by and parked by my window, I rolled down the window and they began to say what a nice car I had and were impressed with it, they had no idea it was a rental, and I didn't let on. I asked them for directions to get to the Pacific coast highway, (they were easy directions) I thanked them and told them to have a wonderful day as they did to me, and we were both off.
This next road I took is I believe called the Pacific coast highway, Getting to this road is tricky with a wide car like the challenger, the roads are narrow in CA, so driving was indeed an experience. I set the nav to go to Half Moon bay, and just took my time. It was 48 miles to my destination, I want to go on record to say I usually can do a drive like this in less than an 50 min, so I thought no big deal. I have no words to describe what I saw on along that highway, (I will try) but I can tell you that it took me 6 hours to drive that 48 miles.
I saw the ocean from a cliff of at least 2000 feet straight down. (Awesome) I rove a little further down the road, only to pull off again and again, walking down some pathways just to find myself enveloped in yet another picturesque setting. As I walk in the ocean once more, I find myself running away from the water as a swell comes too quickly toward me, my pant legs were rolled up but I still got them wet. It was wonderful, Cold, but wonderful.
I found a shell at one of my many many stops along this road, It was one where there were large rocks in the middle of the beach, I could sit on the rocks to take my shoes & socks off once again to walk in the water, this shell was quite unique, It reminded me of a horse hoof, how they angle and curve just perfectly, and they almost look like they have layers to them, however this shell had a dark greyish layer, then on top of that a beautiful, gorgeous, deep Blue, then like a pearlized White, another light blue then white again, It is quite pretty, the whole inside looks and feels like a pearl. I brought it home with me. (awesome)
I sat on another set of rocks for over an hour, taking pictures and again just watching the ocean, the swells I saw were at least 10 feet high at this point, I would watch them beginning to grow far out in the water then build and build and come crashing down, as I sat on these rocks you could tell the water would eventually cover them as they had pools of water all through them and were encrusted with small sea shells. The water would come within a few feet of me only to reseed back into the enormous ocean in front of me. Foam, from the waves, the only reminiscence that it was even there.
A little girl and her grandfather also were exploring among the rocks, I asked her how old she was and she said she was 4, a year younger than our grandson, she asked me if I wanted to see a sea anemone, I said sure, and she showed me on in a pool of water, she proceeded to ask me if I wanted to touch it, I decided against that, and just said no it was fine, of course I had to take a picture of it. She was adorable, telling me as much as she could about the rocks, and water. It was so adorable, it made me want Dave & our grandson with me (my daughters too)
I stopped at a light house along this route also, It was beautiful, I watched at the waves just crashing into the rock, and again was in awe of the raw power of the ocean as it smashed into those rocks.
I called my daughter at least 10 times as I sat by the ocean watching the swells, and pikes, surfers, and dolphins ( I saw dolphins) I had her listen to the water, it was so loud, with the crashing of the waves. I was in Awe of that scene before my eyes. Some of you may think I'm nuts, but the Pacific ocean and the Atlantic ocean seem like 2 totally separate entities to me, meaning, they are just so different, we don't get the swells here by the Hamptons, of NH.
As I drove back to the hotel, I talked to my cousin, and apparently I was so excited, that I was talking very fast and forgot to breath... HA.. imagine..
I arrived back to the hotel in time for Dave to get back a few min after me and we went out to dinner, to the macaroni grill, I talked the whole time about the ocean. If any of you reading this can ever go to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and drive down to half moon bay, for goodness sake, do so, I truly believe it is the only way you can appreciate all that I saw in those 6 hours.
I do not want to make this too long, I would like to share the rest of my week with all of you, but I will await until the next blog to tell you of my other adventures in CA.
*hugs* to you all. Until my next blog.
~N~
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Wedding
So I guess I will have to do 2 posts, I have been a little busy. So here goes.
Back in Nov of 2011, Dave & I finally tied the knot. here is a quick account of our wedding week..
One week before our wedding, they couldn't find my dress that I had shipped out before hand, mind you that the matron of honor's dress was also in here. However problem solved they found it.. WHEW!!
next, On the 10th of Nov. I drove to Scranton, PA (5 hours 1 way) to pick up the matron of honor (Stacy), then drove back, we arrived here around 6 or 7pm, I finished packing, (what i could pack for our weekend) This was Stacy's first time flying so I helped her pack a little bit, but she did well on her own.
I stayed up way to late, fell asleep and was back up at 4am ish..on the 11th so about 4 hours of sleep, got the car packed and off we began around 5am ish to drive into Boston (Logan airport) Car parked, now we are off on the race to get us & Stacy through security. Stacy had many questions, we just told her that the less you say the better, if they have a question, they will ask. We went through just fine. We got to the gate & sat down to wait.
Flew straight through to Vegas, now begins the very very long day. Off the plane, to the hotel, zip, zip, Dave checks in, while I go to get my dress, and have it sent out for an express De-wrinkling, along with Stacy's to be steamed, they told us they would be back by 7pm.. ok that was fine. I think we went then to find some lunch.
Next, off Dave & I went to get our marriage license, this was the most grotesque cab I have ever been in, dirty, dirty, dirty. The meter would not work in the cab, and he tried to charge us $40 for a $20 cab ride, we gave him $20 (we knew it would only cost $21.50, at most)
Moving forward, We were told the line would be very long, as this was 11-11-11, so we prepared for the worst. We were in and out in, honestly 3 minutes, awesome. We got another cab, very nice one this time, it was so nice we were going to go back to the hotel, I would jump out, Dan, the best man, would jump in and him and Dave could go pick up their tuxes.
Well next problem, Neither Stacy or Dan could hear or feel their phones ringing, which led us to setting both their phones up to vibrate and the loudest ring their phones would make. Off Dan & Dave went. Stacy & I went to our hotel rooms, I just wanted to stop and sit down for 5 min, alone.
About this time we were going to eat, as Stacy and I had a hair appointment at 4pm. We ate quickly and left. Got our hair done, I honestly do not remember what we did from this point on, until it was time to get our dresses, and they were not back yet. it was past 8pm when they finally got there, I had an hour to get ready. (I was not happy) however the hotel paid the whole bill for the dresses because they were so late.
Now dressed and back in Dave's & My hotel room, by 10pm awaiting the Limo driver to call us, to let us know to come downstairs.
Call came in, down we go.. into the Limo, off we go, only to realize we forgot the paperwork...AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH... Driving around a block in Vegas in a stretch Limo is like almost impossible, but we did, Dave ran in grabbed paperwork, & we were off to the chapel.
We arrive and are rushed through all the "talks" papers signed & ready, the music starts. I see the doors open and Stacy walking down the isle. What is wrong with me, my legs and whole body begin to just shake.. No idea why. It was crazy, I've been with Dave for over 5 years, why am I shaking. I walk down the isle, Ferlayna, our wedding coordinator, hands me a tissue. I walk with shaking legs. I can see my flowers shaking, thank goodness Stacy took them shortly after I was in front of the minister.
We began our vows, Dave never faltered, me, well I began to cry, I was so very happy, & the emotional roller coaster I had been on finally hit me. I was finally going to marry my true love, all those fairy tales I watched as a child, all those happily ever afters, mine was finally here. I could not even comprehend, how much love my heart felt at that moment, how proud I was to be marrying Dave.
I believe I said one sentence and began to cry. Dave made me laugh to help me compose myself, I got through several more words and the tears came again, he again made me laugh, believe me this was a good thing, I made through the rest of our vows.
From that point forward, all was great.
The photographer was very very nice, and did a great job.
We had a great Sat. evening. Dan had gotten tickets to
With LOVE, Cirque du Soleil celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles.
It was, well to use a west coast phrase, TOTALLY AWESOME. If you find yourself in Vegas GO!!..
We walked the strip, the Mirage with her volcano,to Caesars Palace with the moving statues, to the Bellagio Fountains, all were beautiful, and the fountains ended the night with Celine Dion singing, Your heart will go on..
We all went our separate ways and went to sleep.
Next morning, was breakfast and then off to the airport and back to NH. we arrived home around 10ish, went to sleep, got up again and left at 10am to take Stacy back to the middle of nowhere PA. (9 hour drive) stayed there til Friday to visit with my daughters and grandson, also with other family (cousins) and came home on Friday and I believe passed out for a couple of days.
whew & now I will close, and in a couple days tell you about our awesome trip to California.
Back in Nov of 2011, Dave & I finally tied the knot. here is a quick account of our wedding week..
One week before our wedding, they couldn't find my dress that I had shipped out before hand, mind you that the matron of honor's dress was also in here. However problem solved they found it.. WHEW!!
next, On the 10th of Nov. I drove to Scranton, PA (5 hours 1 way) to pick up the matron of honor (Stacy), then drove back, we arrived here around 6 or 7pm, I finished packing, (what i could pack for our weekend) This was Stacy's first time flying so I helped her pack a little bit, but she did well on her own.
I stayed up way to late, fell asleep and was back up at 4am ish..on the 11th so about 4 hours of sleep, got the car packed and off we began around 5am ish to drive into Boston (Logan airport) Car parked, now we are off on the race to get us & Stacy through security. Stacy had many questions, we just told her that the less you say the better, if they have a question, they will ask. We went through just fine. We got to the gate & sat down to wait.
Flew straight through to Vegas, now begins the very very long day. Off the plane, to the hotel, zip, zip, Dave checks in, while I go to get my dress, and have it sent out for an express De-wrinkling, along with Stacy's to be steamed, they told us they would be back by 7pm.. ok that was fine. I think we went then to find some lunch.
Next, off Dave & I went to get our marriage license, this was the most grotesque cab I have ever been in, dirty, dirty, dirty. The meter would not work in the cab, and he tried to charge us $40 for a $20 cab ride, we gave him $20 (we knew it would only cost $21.50, at most)
Moving forward, We were told the line would be very long, as this was 11-11-11, so we prepared for the worst. We were in and out in, honestly 3 minutes, awesome. We got another cab, very nice one this time, it was so nice we were going to go back to the hotel, I would jump out, Dan, the best man, would jump in and him and Dave could go pick up their tuxes.
Well next problem, Neither Stacy or Dan could hear or feel their phones ringing, which led us to setting both their phones up to vibrate and the loudest ring their phones would make. Off Dan & Dave went. Stacy & I went to our hotel rooms, I just wanted to stop and sit down for 5 min, alone.
About this time we were going to eat, as Stacy and I had a hair appointment at 4pm. We ate quickly and left. Got our hair done, I honestly do not remember what we did from this point on, until it was time to get our dresses, and they were not back yet. it was past 8pm when they finally got there, I had an hour to get ready. (I was not happy) however the hotel paid the whole bill for the dresses because they were so late.
Now dressed and back in Dave's & My hotel room, by 10pm awaiting the Limo driver to call us, to let us know to come downstairs.
Call came in, down we go.. into the Limo, off we go, only to realize we forgot the paperwork...AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH... Driving around a block in Vegas in a stretch Limo is like almost impossible, but we did, Dave ran in grabbed paperwork, & we were off to the chapel.
We arrive and are rushed through all the "talks" papers signed & ready, the music starts. I see the doors open and Stacy walking down the isle. What is wrong with me, my legs and whole body begin to just shake.. No idea why. It was crazy, I've been with Dave for over 5 years, why am I shaking. I walk down the isle, Ferlayna, our wedding coordinator, hands me a tissue. I walk with shaking legs. I can see my flowers shaking, thank goodness Stacy took them shortly after I was in front of the minister.
We began our vows, Dave never faltered, me, well I began to cry, I was so very happy, & the emotional roller coaster I had been on finally hit me. I was finally going to marry my true love, all those fairy tales I watched as a child, all those happily ever afters, mine was finally here. I could not even comprehend, how much love my heart felt at that moment, how proud I was to be marrying Dave.
I believe I said one sentence and began to cry. Dave made me laugh to help me compose myself, I got through several more words and the tears came again, he again made me laugh, believe me this was a good thing, I made through the rest of our vows.
From that point forward, all was great.
The photographer was very very nice, and did a great job.
We had a great Sat. evening. Dan had gotten tickets to
With LOVE, Cirque du Soleil celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles.
It was, well to use a west coast phrase, TOTALLY AWESOME. If you find yourself in Vegas GO!!..
We walked the strip, the Mirage with her volcano,to Caesars Palace with the moving statues, to the Bellagio Fountains, all were beautiful, and the fountains ended the night with Celine Dion singing, Your heart will go on..
We all went our separate ways and went to sleep.
Next morning, was breakfast and then off to the airport and back to NH. we arrived home around 10ish, went to sleep, got up again and left at 10am to take Stacy back to the middle of nowhere PA. (9 hour drive) stayed there til Friday to visit with my daughters and grandson, also with other family (cousins) and came home on Friday and I believe passed out for a couple of days.
whew & now I will close, and in a couple days tell you about our awesome trip to California.
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