On the Road Again! :) (Beltsville, Maryland Post)

Karen and I are on our April break, and so it is time for a bit more RVing!  For this trip to DC, we packed the entire family into the RV (even our cat, still a little sour that we left her in Connecticut for all of July.)  Today was relatively unexciting as all we did was drive, and the city isn't as much fun to ride through (all the traffic) where as Kansas or Montana has the corn, wind-fields and the beautiful stretching sky.  (And to think I complained about the corn before, when today all I wanted was to see a corn-field...)

But, Dad was up to his usual road-trip antics. (Yes, those are chocolate bunny feet sticking out his mouth.)

And Timber still likes to pester the Dad and his co-pilot (at this particular time, me)  But there is no place to go and run when stuck in four lanes of traffic.

The George Washington Bridge stretching out in front of us.

The big, tall lone pine tree...

Really a cell tower, but life is nothing without imagination.

It's been to long since we have last been in Harvey.  I have lost my touch at actions that became commonplace during the summer, I used to be able to stand up and walk around, but today it was a challenge.  I have bumped my head getting up to my bunk every time now, (really no head clearance) and talking over the noise of the RV was an issue (I guess we just yelled to each other all summer.)  And I missed my routine of blogging every night before bed.  It has been too long.  I am glad to be back!

Welcome Back!

Amy

The Beach House News (Matunuck, Rhode Island Post)

As you knew, I was in Rhode Island a few weeks ago, and I left you hanging after I started my summer reading books.  We returned for Labor Day Weekend, and I combined the earlier post into this one.  The title pays homage to the fake newspaper telling about the happenings at my favorite place, the Beach House, that I created when I was six or seven and going through a phase of wanting to be a reporter.  

Last time we were at the beach, the water was strangely calm, almost lake like, filled with seaweed, and  deserted looking.  

The South Kingstown Town Beach.  

The cliché fence and beach rose with a picnic table.  

Next, I would love to show you one of my favorite places in Matunuck.  The Vanilla Bean!  The Vanilla Bean sells ice cream and sorbet, sherbet, a few baked goods, soda, coffee, iced tea,  and has over 30 different flavors of ice cream.  I am partial to the cake batter and red velvet cake, however, graham central station is another popular flavor.  (It's too sweet for me.)  My cousins, Aleigh and Mike, work here, and I hope to work here next summer!  Often, you can find Karen and I "visiting" The Vanilla Bean when Aleigh or Mike are working.  The ice cream is delicious and has been declared "the best ice cream in the universe!" by a little boy's artwork.  Yum!

The bunnies are always hopping around!

The stately Admiral Dewey Inn, opened in 1898.  

Ah! Next on my little tour would be the Seaview Market.  Karen and I are frequent visitors, often returning two or three times in one day.  It is where we go to buy bread for breakfast, or grinders for lunch. The apple raisin bread makes excellent toast!

 Next on the tour, is a location we more recently began visiting.  La Strada sells thin crust pizza made from all local ingredients, and cooked in wood ovens.  The owner, Jenny, seems to be partial to Blondie and David Bowie, and these music choices play off vinyl records.  Grandma, Karen, and I always get a pepperoni pizza. We sit outside, watching the sun set behind various buildings.  The meal is best finished off with Vanilla Bean ice cream!

Karen recently purchased a waffle iron and likes to make waffles at every chance she gets.  

 Next, I am going to (probably) bore you with many pictures of Seagulls, which were hanging around in the seaweed.  I have always liked seagulls, because when I was little, Grandpa would dry bread, and in the beach's off season, we would come feed the seagulls.

Boats on the horizon.  

I would love to fly and soar like a bird!

The landmass behind the sailboat is Block Island.  However, it is more easily seen on a clearer, less humid day.  

I was taking pictures of the many seagulls and these two little birds were chirping as if to say, "Amy, don't forget about us! Take our picture!"

The seagull convention on the roof!

Too Soon, Karen and My week at the beach came to an end!  Luckily, we came back soon, for Labor Day Weekend, for which the post for is right below.

Good-Bye Beach House!

This Weekend!

Our happy cat looking natural on her window perch!

Hmm...

Let's go fly Karen's kite!  

Happy dog thanks Dad!

Amy

Summer Reading

I have been a little preoccupied with my summer reading, and unable to create a proper post.  I have finished the Odyssey and I am currently working on my essay for A Separate Peace.  I have one book left, but once I am done, I plan to promptly finish my tour of Matunuck post.  It is almost back to school for me though.  I start high school on the 30th, with orientation the 29th.  With a little bit of luck, I can try to cajole my parents to take Harvey somewhere for Labor Day Weekend!  (I doubt it will be too hard.) Future posts are coming soon.  The waiting game begins.


Until I finish my summer reading.

Amy  

Searching For Sea-glass (Matunuck, Rhode Island

Today, after sleeping in, (staying up to watch the entire Olympic Closing Ceremonies after a busy day takes a lot out of a person!) I began my summer reading.  I wanted to enjoy my vacation and put all of my focus into my summer reading which is why I started so late.  The book I chose to read first is the Odyssey.  Although it is a poem and not like the prose I usually read, I began to love the lyrical writing style of the poetry, and quickly was able to understand the story.  

In the early afternoon, Auntie Pam came over and we all (Grandma, Karen, Auntie Pam, and myself) went to the beach to walk. This is one of my favorite activities here at the Beach House, as every time I visit the beach, the powerful ocean causes it to look different through erosion.  I enjoy looking for pretty rocks and/or if I'm lucky - sea-glass.  Today, the beach was mostly rocky, and the shores were filled with sea-glass.  I found four pieces of sea-glass, but brought home two, as I dropped one and the ocean took one back to sea before I could pick it up.  

(Since my Dad is probably wondering why I still don't have any pictures of the ocean, I will offer this explanation: I was planning to go swimming if the waves weren't too big, so I didn't want to worry about my camera.  I didn't go swimming because the ocean was filled with seaweed.) 

My sea-glass.  

Tomorrow, I will continue my tour with the Seaview Market and the Vanilla Bean.

Good Night!

Amy

The First of the Weekend RV Getaways (Matunuck, Rhode Island Post)

As we were all going in RV time deficit, we decided to bring the RV to my Grandma's Beach House for some weekend fun.  We all came this time, even the cat!

Harvey looks right at home in Grandma's driveway.  

My friend the Cardinal!  He really is a handsome bird, standing out in front of all the others.  

Today was Timber's 5th birthday (along with her twelve siblings.  Imagine that! Karen is really enough for me, but I guess Timber doesn't see her siblings...)!  She really likes the beach, with the fat bunnies to stare at and chase. She was to busy hunting to turn and smile at the camera.

Happy Birthday Timber!

Although Mom and Dad had to go home, Karen and I get to spend the week, so look for more posts this week with my favorite things to do around the Beach House!

Amy

If I Don't Write It, It Isn't True. (Home in Connecticut Post)

Sorry in procrastinating in writing this post.  It is by far my least favorite to write, as it meant that my trip was done, and I stopped being a national traveller.   Like what I wrote for the title, I think I convinced myself subconsciously that if I didn't write it, it wouldn't be true.

Our first welcome to our home state in a month!

Timber, we're going to get your kitty!

Here she is! My cat, home from her vacation with my Auntie T and Uncle Jim.  She says,"Thank You, and that she misses your home with its fun hiding spots."

We arrived home on Saturday, August 4, 2012 around 11 PM.

Home Sweet Home. 

To make up for my procrastination.  

Here are some figures about our trip.  

1. We drove a total of 9,222 miles on the trip.  
2. We visited 13 National Parks and many State Parks and National Monuments.
3. I took more than 3,000 pictures in total.  
4. My blog had 3,358 page views by my readers!
5. 148 comments were left!
6. I wrote 44 posts (including this one)

Thank you so much for all the views and comments of my blog!  It made me feel really good to read your comments and know you were enjoying and following along on our adventure.   It really was the trip of a lifetime, and I enjoyed sharing it with all of my readers.   

As I contemplate on the trip, I realize how much I learned and grew as a person by getting this opportunity.  I learned the history of various places, a bit about the people who shaped the West, and about geological features. This trip is unforgettable, I will remember it forever.  I think this has been one of my favorite summers.  

Now, if you are distraught like my Auntie Pam and wondering what you will do for entertainment now that my trip is finished, do NOT despair.  I will continue to post to my blog from time to time when we take Harvey on weekend trips, because I will miss writing my blog just as much as you miss reading it daily.  

Until Then, 

The Blog Writer, 

Amy Squirrel

Meet me in St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri Post)

This was a rather uneventful day.  It rained for a while in the morning,

 and Timber decided to take a nap.  

We stopped at Cracker Barrel because Karen wanted to buy an accordion.  At least Dad didn't let her get one in the beginning of the trip.  (Actually, she is getting better at the songs on the song sheet.)

For some reason, I was really tired and decided to take a nap.  I don't think I heard much of Karen's early accordion practicing.  Unfortunately, when I woke up I discovered the first song she taught herself was "On Top of Spaghetti."  For some reason that song just irks me.  
On the up side, we were just outside of St. Louis.   We got dinner at Pappy's Barbecue.  The ribs were just as good as those we had at Dinosaur Barbecue at the beginning of the trip.

The iconic Gateway Arch.  

A different view,  with a bridge and a bit of the city.  

We did quite a bit more driving (Mom got to drive, too!), and when we stopped to get gas, Karen and I tried to get Frosty's at Wendy's next to the gas station.  Apparently we had changed a few time zones, because according to my watch it was close to nine o'clock, and the restaurant part should have been still open.  After trying the door (it was locked) we decided we would just walk though the drive-through.  However, I think I really misjudged the time, since in hindsight, it seems like the drive-through might have been closed, too.  (Karen and I thought we just didn't know how to work the drive-through.  I am still upset; I (still) really (want)wanted a Frosty.  "hint hint: Mom and Dad"

Amy