To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 7

We're here!

Winchester, VA to Grandmama's

We made it! Sorry it's taken me a while to post but we were busy, busy getting my room all set up today.

First things first, Winchester.

Mommy graduated from Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music which is in Winchester so we went and visited the school. There is a lot of new stuff but the old buildings are still there. The dorm Mommy lived in for a few years was still there so we had to take a picture in front of the sign. Luckily there was a new girl moving in so she offered to take it for us.

I took some pictures of the ponds they have that used to be really dirty and filled with grossness but now have pretty fountains. Although they still have some grossness in them...

Including crabs. We know this because we found a "nice" little dried up crab claw on the walkway.

The conservatory

Mommy next to the "SU" because the school is now Shenandoah University instead of college.

The schools chapel. It is a Methodist school after all.

After the school we started the four hour drive to Grandmama's. It was a very nice drive and we enjoyed it. We stopped in Gum Springs where Mommy went to high school.

This is the church my Granddaddy was a preacher at for a long time.

And this is the parish, so it was the house my mom and the family lived in.

Behind the house, as with most parishes of Methodist churches in Virginia, was a cemetery. Which my grandfather liked because it kept the boys away! Mommy has some good stories about that too.

While we were driving on the 64 freeway we saw a sign for University of Richmond so we decided to get off and check it out. Neither of us had been so we had some trouble finding it but we did and it was awesome. The buildings are gorgeous old brick buildings and there are trees all around. There is a lake with a building standing on stilts above the water. We went in that building and it is the commons. The place students go to eat lunch or study. So soon I'll be sitting in a lush over-stuffed chair sipping my latte while reading a book.



Ahhh... the college life!

I am so excited about starting and completely freaked out all at the same time. I'm not worried about my classes or anything, those should be fine, it's the paying for them that makes me queasy... Keep me in your prayers please and keep readin'! There will be many more blogs where this came from!

(And don' cha forget to read these in a Virginia southern accent ya'll! I think I'm already picking one up and I've only been here for a day and a half! Hahahaha...)

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 6

Kentucky to Virginia

You would think we'd be at Grandmama's by now but tis not the case. We stopped in Winchester, Virginia today to go and see Mommy's college, Shenandoah College (now Shenandoah University). Winchester is a beautiful little town and the university is pretty massive. We only made it to the theatre today, where we watched "Tuesday's with Morrie" performed by one of Mommy's old professors who was teaching at the school for twenty years before Mommy even got there, thirty years ago. He, and the play, were excellent. I cried.

Okay, Kentucky is a very... interesting state. They have a town called Salt Lick. That's all I have to say.

And then we were in West Virginia. Some day, if you even get a chance to meet with my mom, ask her about her EMT days and her experiences in West Virginia. They are both scary and amusing.

It is a beautiful state with rolling hills and thick forests.

We ended up in Maryland because there is a little section that is on the west side of West Virginia, etc. Anyway, it came up so fast there wasn't a picture of the sign but here's a picture of Maryland, at least the ten miles we drove through.

And then we were in Virginia! We took the 50 highway to Winchester which is a windy road that goes through a lot of small towns. A nice scenic drive.

Tomorrow we will be at Grandmama's! I can't wait!

Tune in tomorrow for our last episode (of this series, the beginning for another). Same bat time, same bat channel!

I do love those Virginia sunsets. Looking forward to seeing a whooooole lot more.

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 5

Kansas to Kentucky

We got off to another good start for another amazingly fun day of driving. We went through a few more states today but had less luck getting pictures of the signs. The first one was pretty understandable... I was driving and we were going through St. Louis trying to stay on the correct freeway. Which was freakishly difficult because there were about five freeways merging together in four lanes and at first I had to be in the left hand lane and then the right and then the middle and then the left again and then I had a choice, the middle or the left and then it was the right again until the freeways split off and I was on the 64. Man that was insane. Of course, it was during all this fun confusion that they had the "Welcome to Missouri" sign. Oh well... Such is life.

I did get a picture of the sign for Hannibal, Missouri. Mommy and I said hi to Colonel Potter as we passed by.

Also while going through St. Louis we saw the Arch of the America's (or something like that). It was pretty cool.


Right next to the arches from our view was a very interesting old building that
ended up being a Sheraton.

And another building behind that that looked like it belonged in a Batman movie.

And the Mississippi River!

And then there was Illinois. Remember, when you're in Illinois, the alcohol limit is .08...

And not to long after that there was Indiana!

And this was what I got out of Kentucky...

Hey, give me a break! It was dark and we didn't know when the sign was coming up...

Now Mommy and I are sitting in a hotel in Lexington, Kentucky. Tomorrow we're off to Winchester, Virginia and then to Grandmama's! Right now it's 12:10am in Kentucky so I think it's time for bed.

Tune in tomorrow. Same bat time, same bat channel!

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 4

New Mexico to Kansas

Wow. There was a lot of driving going on today, and I didn't do any of it. Good times. We went through a few states today so I got some nice pictures.
And first there was Texas!

And let me tell you, Texas has A LOT of cows... We estimated about one million at least. Yeah, and I'm not exaggerating.

Next there was Oklahoma. (Where the wind comes whipping down the planes!)
The sign.

Us in front of the sign.

Ya, its hard to take a picture in front of a sign when you're taking it yourself.

And don't forget, the Texahoma FFA Welcomes You.

Finally we arrived in Kansas!

Then there was a lot more driving and that leads to getting gas. Where we saw this wonderful warning.

And this wonderful, yet disturbing highway sign. I do hope Williamsburg and Pomona are never in the same place, ever...

Tune in tomorrow for the trek to Kentucky. Same Bat time, same bat channel!

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 3

Grand Canyon to New Mexico

Another good day of driving. We had a little more differentiated scenery which was a plus. First we were in red rocky terrain and then flat green and then red rocks again and then green hills. It was nice.


Of course we had to stop in Winslow, AZ and take a picture with the sign. If you don't know why, it's because of the Eagles song Take it Easy. We are such nerds...

After we checked into our hotel in Tucumcari, New Mexico Mommy and I drove around town. This town looks like Radiator Springs from Cars. It's a little longer but still the little town on Route 66. We eventually found a restaruant called K-Bob's. They had some good soup and a salad bar and awesome cherry cobbler. Yum.

Now I am completely exhausted and ready for bed. Last night I didn't sleep well at the hostel due to the train blaring its horn every hour, the humidity and the jack hammer at about 5am right outside the window. But tonight it's my own squishy queen sized bed! Woohoo!

Tune in tomorrow. Same bat time, same bat channel!

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 2

Arizona to the Grand Canyon (which is in Arizona but that is so not the point)

Another nice, short drive but this time from Aunt DiDi's house to the Grand Canyon and then on down to Flagstaff, AZ. There was a lot of desert, and I mean a lot of flat desert on the way to the Grand Canyon. I mean, come on, this is Arizona for heaven's sake.

Hooray Beer! (Disclaimer: I do not drink beer or any other form of alcohol. I just thought the billboard was pretty freakin' hilarious.)

We did get a little rained on for about 10 minutes along the way.

And we made it to the Grand Canyon! There are no words to describe it and pictures do not do it any justice but I'm going to put some up because I can. Go to the Grand Canyon!




After the Grand Canyon we headed to Flagstaff. We had an interesting time finding the Grand Canyon International Hostel but we did and its been pretty nice. We went and had dinner at the Beaver Street Bar and Grill where we had anexcellent pesto and cream cheese appetizer. Yum. Then onto Macy's European Tea and Coffee for some hot cocoa and live music.

Another good traveling day.

Tune in tomorrow. Same bat time, same bat channel!

To Grandmother's House We Go: Part 1

California to Arizona

So here's the first part of Mommy's and my journey to Grandmama's house in Virginia. We had a good trip today. It went by pretty quickly. I guess after being on an airplane for eleven hours at a shot six times you get used to it...

First things first, new hair! I had my hair re-straightened this morning so we have to do a before and after picture. I had the product the hair stylist gave me in Japan and it worked just as well as the first time.
Before

After

Yeah! I love my new hairdo! It took about two and a half hours but it went by quickly. Yolanda and I go way back so we just talked and talked until she was done.

Okay, back to the trip!

Mommy drove for the first part of the trip and we just talked and listened to music. I almost fell asleep a few times. I drove from Yuma to Sun Lakes. And that was how exciting the trip was. At least is was uneventful meaning nothing bad happened...

We did see some cool clouds.

And we had some fun trying to catch the "Welcome to Arizona" sign. But we got it! The state line sign I didn't see coming but when Mommy was like, "Take it!" I pushed the button and BAM! I got the picture! It was good times.


And of course there is the row of billboards that anyone playing the Alphabet game loves.

We arrived at Aunt DiDi and Uncle Earl's house about 4:30pm and had dinner, sat around and played a little guitar and now we're sitting in the kitchen talking away. Ah, good times.

Aunt DiDi is my daddy's oldest sister who we have been visiting every Thanksgiving since I was born. I missed last year with being in Japan and will miss this coming year so its really nice to see them.

Mommy and I with Uncle Earl

Mommy and I with Aunt DiDi

Cupcakes!


And tomorrow we'll be off to the Grand Canyon!

Tune in next time. Same bat time, same bat channel!