07/14/10

Let's move on to Ocean Drive where there are a number of large homes in Newport, Rhode Island. It was a beautiful ride and we stopped a few times so I could photograph the views. Here are a couple:

We drove past this area that had people flying kites. The pictures can't do it justice.... it was really neat. I wish we could have stopped there and I could have photographed them better but we had to move on so we could eat and get to Boston. I photographed all of these from the van window as we were driving past. lol

We ate at a seafood restaurant right by the water. It wasn't "fancy" but it was some good food. The clams were the best.

Steve and Wesley were watching a boat go out into the Atlantic.

Mikayla tried to photograph it. I love her serious photography face. lol

07/13/10

First of all before we begin vacation pics....

I read this book in no time on the trip. I remembered seeing it on Angie Smith's blog (the wife of Todd Smith of the group Selah) months ago. I didn't know too much about it so I just skimmed the information. Then, my friend Gretchen recommended it on her blog and that got me wanting to read it.

It is precious, powerful, heartwarming and emotional all in one. Steve read it on the trip after I did because I kept telling him (lol) and he felt the same way. If you haven't already, you must read this book. Really.
Today we are in Newport, Rhode Island at the mansions. These houses were built when serious money ruled the day there. (Not to say serious money isn't still there but... well, you get the point.)

We got to Rhode Island mid afternoon so we didn't get to view all of them. There are a lot of these large estate homes there. This was the biggest and glad we went in this one if we could only choose one.

The Breakers Mansion
- built by the Vanderbilts - the brother of George Vanderbilt who built The Biltmore.

Here is the front gate. Large.

This was the summer home.
S.U.M.M.E.R.

I couldn't get over the outside lamps of the place!

The entryway showed the beautiful architecture of the building. It was detailed and amazing.

Of course we couldn't take pictures in the house. That house was beyond words.... there was gold and platinum on the walls. Seriously. Would have loved to photograph the insides but didn't want to get my camera confiscated.

There was also a full marble tub in the master bath.
MARBLE.
Why on earth you would want a marble tub is beyond me. We were told they had to fill it up 3 times with hot water just to heat the marble enough to fill it up again for a bath! That would not fly so well today with our need for water conservation!

The sheets were changed twice a day. (Why on earth?)

They apparently changed clothes as much as 5 times in a day.

The servants were busy, can you tell?

Here is the view from the back balcony. Wouldn't you love to have that view every morning?

Tourists in action.... we all had our headsets on getting the audio tour.

Loved the archways of the "back porch".... veranda. Just beautiful.

Front again.

Wesley and Mikayla are in the picture. Can you find them? Gives you a perspective on the size of this SUMMER house!

Side area.

Side area looking straight on to it.

Mom, Daddy and the kids by the HUGE bird bath. I think an ostrich could get a bath in that!

Terrace

Back of the mansion

Me and Steve at the back of the mansion looking quite small comparatively.

Another view closer to the end of the back yard.

Other side view.

The PLAYHOUSE. Yes, that is right. It isn't the little cottage for guests, this would be where the children played. This house was as big as some people's houses today (although a small one, still....)

One of the other gates. Wesley is in front of it to show how large it is!

Mikayla taking a picture of the gate. Girlfriend had to have her purse with her.

More tomorrow!!

07/12/10

Have you missed me?

Oh, you didn't realize I was gone?

Good. That was my plan. :)

I wanted you to still have something to come to even if I was not physically here.

We have been in New England for the past 10 days. We stopped in Newport, Rhode Island for a day then went on to Boston, Massachusetts for July the fourth (and a few days) and then up to Bar Harbor, Maine for the rest of the trip.

My first official picture of the trip.... the George Washington Bridge in New York City.

It was a great trip and one from which I learned many things.

Would you like to see my list?

Thought so.

Here goes:

1. There are A LOT of toll roads on I-95... A LOT. You can sit in line in toll road sections for a while. You better have your cash handy... and lots of it.


2. Houses are very close together in the cities up north. They seem more close together than ours down here. CLOSE.

3. It is not normally hot as blue blazes up in New England, but this year when we went, it was. We heard comments like "It hasn't been THIS hot in a long time!" "We just can't stand this 80 and 90 degree weather!" and others of the same type. Yeah, it was hot. We brought it with us. NICE.
BUT... they haven't felt heat till they have been in the hot with 100% humidity like we have in NC. Then we'll talk about complaining.

4. I do not like the Jersey Turnpike. At all.

5. It is a state law that you cannot pump your own gas in New Jersey. I haven't seen a "Full Service" gas station in forever!! It was kind of nice getting our window washed. (That was probably the ONLY thing I liked about the Jersey Turnpike!)

6. Streets in major cities can confuse a GPS. You wouldn't believe how many times we heard "Re-calculating" and "make a Hu-Turn" (U-turn with a strange accent....) while heading in the direction it took us.

7. It is very difficult to capture city skylines when you are speeding down the road at 75 mph. This is what I got of the New York City skyline. Not so good, but it was the closest I was able to get!


8. People drive crazy in New York City.

9. I am thankful I do not live in New York City.

10. I am not a city girl.

11. While in Boston we noticed there is literally a Dunkin' Donuts on EVERY corner. We ate there a couple of days. Wasn't hard to find.

12. The Subway in Boston was actually quite nice.... easier to understand than when we went to DC five years ago. Or, maybe it was that experience in DC that helped me grasp Boston. Who knows.

13. Boston at the Fourth of July is awesome. The fireworks... oh, the fireworks.

14. Street and Road signs are not clearly marked in many areas in Massachusetts.... and other areas up north. That can lead to getting lost. As we did. A few times.

15. McDonald's large Frappe's became a hit while on our road treks. I was also probably the only person who wrapped up in a blanket and wore a hoodie sweatshirt while the outside temp of the vehicle was in the 90's.

16. Maine is beyond words beautiful.

17. I got to actually READ and finished 2 1/2 books!!! I usually fall asleep quickly while reading. Maybe it was those Frappes!!

18. I got to experience lobster the MAINE way.

19. It is a LONG DRIVE from Maine to North Carolina.

20. I love visiting other places and learning more... and taking over 1,000 pictures.

21. There is no place like home!

07/11/10

Isaiah 43:10
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

07/10/10

"We tend to run to God for temporary relief. God is looking for people who will walk with Him in steadfast belief." - Beth Moore

07/09/10

"You can have the peace of Christ no matter what your circumstances; but you must believe, bend the knee, and learn how to receive." - Beth Moore

07/08/10

Peace.

The world years for it.

People try to find it.

It is right before us.

"Peace comes in situations completely surrendered to the sovereign authority of Christ. Sometimes when we finally give up trying to discover all the answers to the 'why's' in our lives and decide to trust a sovereign God, unexpected peace washes over us like a summer rain. We sometimes lack peace in far less strenuous circumstances because we are not as desperate or likely to turn them over to God." - Beth Moore