Christmas Review and French Bread

French Bread

 (Julia's Kitchen Wisdom pg. 81)

The Day we drove home.

Not so early did we wake up in Vegas. We had breakfast at the Caesars Buffet.  And then had four new tires installed on the car.  Our car really doesn't like to have all of our possessions packed in it, so it eats tires.

The Day I discovered I have a slight fear of heights

Morning came early in New Mexico, we ate breakfast for one last time at Cracker barrel and headed out.

The day we drove to New Mexico

Wow.  I never intended to take almost a month off from this space.  I guess that's what happens when there is lots of traveling, lots of packing, and lots of bad internet.  So let me start from where we let off in the saga that is my life.  Alex and I spent a lovely day in Tulsa, OK with a high school friend of mine.  The next morning we left bright and early for Gallop, NM.

Tulsa, OK or the day Alex hung out with Boomer the Cat

We made it to...

Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Early in the morning we left New Orleans.

Just a Day in New Orleans

Here Comes the Rain... Again

We left Durham, North Carolina early in the morning.

Here we go again...

Back, back to the west coast. 

 Back to our home.  

Back to our friends and family.  

But first we must traverse this country.

Here are some packing photos, from yesterday.

Best laid plans

So, we didn't make it to D.C. last week due to hurricane weather and power outages.  Now, today, Alex is not feeling well and refusing to get out of bed.  So once again no D.C. adventures for me.  So I've been planning out our route home.

 

View Larger Map

Thursday's in D.C.

 

 Now that the count down until our departure of the East Coast has begun, I'm feeling the crunch.   The things that we have left undone... well need to be done.  So, I've instituted Thursday's in the city. Every Thursday from now until we leave I'm going to take off from studying and go explore something in D.C., here is what we did this week!

Long Island

Alex and I spent several very enjoyable days at his cousin's house on Long Island.

 

We relaxed in the shade and enjoyed the green.

 

Admired a quaint chicken coop.

 

While there we've had the best pizza we tasted on this coast and experienced our very first Italian Ice.  

On our last day I ate a whole lobster!

George Washington's Mount Vernon

On Saturday (the last day of the in-laws visit) we started out going back to D.C. to explore some more, but it was too crowed.  Then we drove to Arlington, VA to see the cemetery, but the GPS lead us to a military base.  So, we drove to Mount Vernon.

 

Gettysburg Part Two: The Auto Tour

After leaving the visitors center we climbed back into the car armed with a map and we drove around visiting key historical sights.

Gettysburg Part One: Visitor's Center

My wonderful in-laws came for my graduation.  So, we've been doing a little touristing that Alex and I haven't had the opportunity to see thus far.  Alex was pleased to find out that a key historical sight was just over an hours drive from our home in Maryland.  Here are some of the highlights from our trip to Gettysburg, PA.

Trip Planning

Fall is coming.  

I cannot wait.

I've been informed that I'm in for a treat this fall being on the East Coast.  

Apparently, there is no fall like an East Coast fall.  

Well I'm planning on taking full advantage of this, since who knows where we'll be this time next year!

These first two are recommended by National Geographic

Canaan Valley Byway, Virginia & West VirginiaBlackwater Falls State Park to Virginia state line on West Virginia 32. 99 miles; 3 hours; Spring through fall. Fall foliage peaks in mid-October. Watch for fast-moving trucks.This scenic byway will take you from beautiful Blackwater Falls to Seneca Rocks, through parts of both the Monongahela and the George Washington National Forests. Cruise past wineries and through farmlands before winding up a steep grade to a mountain crest.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia & North CarolinaRockfish Gap, Virginia, to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina. 469 miles; 2 days; Spring through fall. Fine fall foliage and spring bloom. Higher elevations occasionally close in winter. Distances designated by mileposts.Showcasing the age-old beauty of the southern Appalachians, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of America's most popular scenic drives. Connecting Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks, the two-lane drive rides the crest of the Blue Ridge and other ranges, occasionally dipping into the hollows or climbing above timberline to heights more than 6,000 feet.

The Huffington Post recommend 

 The Great Smoky Mountains are a breathtaking sight, especially in fall when the mountain foliage turns to radiant shades of crimson, orange, and purple. Nestled between North Carolina and Tennessee, the most-visited national park in the United States is home to 100 species of native trees with an awesome display of turning leaves. Peak fall foliage travel is predicted for early October through early November; the most memorable colors coming courtesy of sugar maples, scarlet oaks, sweetgums, red maples, and hickories.

 I'll take more suggestions for my Fall travels since I'm new to the East Coast.

Now to convince Alex that we need to leave the house more often in order to do all the things I want to do here in one year!

A Saturday in DC

We have a place to live lined up.  It's not one hundred percent for sure, but it's fairly close.  On Sunday evening Alex and I go for an interview with the husband and wife that are thinking of renting their basement to us for the year.

In the meantime Alex and I decided to walk to a couple of museums today.

First we visited the Smithsonian National Postal Museum

Then the Rains Came.

Am I in Tennessee yet?

Since today was our shortest drive we got to sleep in a little bit, up at 6:45 am (4:45 for my California friends!)  and Mel made us Cinnamon rolls and packed us a lunch.  I was so happy that we were able to visit with her.  I hope I get to see her again soon (in person!).

Good Morning Alex from Margo!

Oklahoma or Bust

We left New Mexico around 6:30 (local time, for you Californians that would be 5:30 am) in the morning.  The day was spectacular, but as per Alex's and I driving arrangements I always drive first so no good pictures of the glorious morning.

Breakfast in Tucumcari, NM