[singlepic id=35 w=320 h=240 float=left]It was quite nice having Mary down for the weekend.  She caught this picture of her Rottweiler enjoying the lake in her own inimitable fashion.  This is exactly how I feel when I play in the water, too![singlepic id=36 w=320 h=240 float=center]

Click for Album The VandenBosches had their usual big Fourth of July bash.  I’m sure it was a hit as always.  I’m also certain that the Pittsburgh fireworks were again the best in the nation this year.  I would love to have been at my uncle’s dad’s 100th Birthday with most of my family.  But […]

Click for Album We enjoyed another beautiful weekend on the lake. Rather than putting the ski boat in the water, I decided to try skiing behind the pontoon boat. As you can see, the only positive result from my first few attempts was the production of laughter from the crew. But we did eventually succeed. […]

Click for Album Thursday night we stayed with Sherry in Richmond (thanks, Sis). The thought was that our drive in to see Mary on Friday would be leisurely and leave us time for a stop at IKEA. VDOT thought Friday would be a nice day for construction. We had all the time in the world […]

Get the Flash Player to see this player. Spring left North Carolina sizzling. It was hot and steamy at Lake Royale this weekend. Sherry dropped in for the weekend with some great food, including a yummy pasta sauce with shredded pork in place of meat balls. Joy displayed flags and bunting for Flag Day yesterday. […]

Click for Album It took a couple of weeks, but Old Blue Pontoon has been replaced.  Thursday night we stayed with Sherry in Richmond so that we could beat the morning rush over the Wilson Bridge in Alexandria (thanks for the tip, Mary).  There is a nice little Italian place there called Vinny’s (not part […]

not before showing us that a pontoon boat was really fun for everyone from the those toddling because they were learning to walk to those toddling because they needed help from their cane.  Our new boat preserves the bow platform of Old Blue, but we got bigger pontoons, a canvas bimini, and a 4 stroke […]

Click for Album Old Town Alexandria we can’t wait to come back.  We went up to visit Mary and she gave us a very custom tour of Old Town Alexandria.  We started out from her apartment and passed many historic townhomes before reaching our first destination.  We were especially charmed by the occasional cobblestone street […]

Click for Album It was another great day on the lake.  Surrounded by a few less than thirty of our closest friends, we celebrated Memorial Day on Saturday.  The cuisine was simple:  dogs, brats, and burgers with some really tasty side dishes.  (Thanks Cheryl for running the grill.)   The kids spent the day tubing behind […]

THIS IS A WATER DOG.  It was so much fun having my daughter at the lake.  She brought her two dogs.  The Rottweiler, Madison, would run back and forth splashing the water and then biting the splashes.  She did this even as she went under the dock.  The Boxer, Faith, chased her on land.  Faith […]