Kim's Trip to Greensboro, NC May 2012

Kim was asked to provide some training to a Naval Reserve Unit in Greensboro, NC about five hours southwest of where we live. So off I went to conduct five days of training!  After finishing a bit early one day, I decided to see what I could find around the area.  Having never been there before, me and my GPS left the hotel!  Fortunately, I remembered many years back a friend of mine mentioned a pottery town.  I couldn't remember the name of the town until I saw it at the hotel, Seagrove, NC.  I was on my way!

On my way down the road, I saw a little sign that said, "covered bridge".  Since I hadn't seen one in many years, I veered off from my intended destination and went to find said covered bridge! I found it!

 It was quaint, cute and HOT!  I didn't stay long, but I was glad that I stopped!

 There was a path that begged to be traveled but since I was alone, I thought best to get back in the car and head down the road!

 ROCKS!  We don't have these kinds of rocks in my yard...wish I did sometimes but they were pretty!

 I made it to Seagrove!  There were so many potters, so many studios, so much pottery to see and buy!

 One of many kilns that peppered the area.  There are at least 100 potters that live in the area. 

 While I was driving around the small town/village of Seagrove, I saw a barn, so I stopped and took a picture ...then ZOOMED in for a picture! I'm glad I did!

 This is the wood they feed into the kilns....

                                                                My purchases!! 

 While I was in Greensboro, I was looking around for a nice quiet, air conditioned restaurant that wasn't a chain.  I passed by this building the first time and I was driving, probably too fast and thought, that's a big Italian Restaurant!  I was hungry, what can I say.  Anyway, later I went by it and laughed out loud to myself!  I took a picture on the way out of town.  Sorry boys, they didn't have any factory outlets there for this store!

Arrick's Graduation from EMS

After many hours of study and practical training, Arrick graduated from Virginia Beach EMS.

 Receiving of the official EMS cup/bumper sticker and keychain, oh yeah, and certificates!

 Getting ready to take the Oath!  Listening to the Guest Speaker!

 Taking the Oath, to do the best that they can to assist someone in medical distress!

Class picture!! 

New York to Singapore and back again Fall of 2011

John is a Merchant Mariner Officer and has sailed on many different kinds of ships.  He finally had the opportunity to take some pictures of one of his trips so we can see what  he sees while he is away.

John worked a contract that ran container ships from NY City to Singapore.  This run took only 64 days so you know that they were really hauling butt and when they got into ports, they off loaded and loaded as quickly as possible!  Here are a few pictures of his trip and what he saw along the way!

This is a picture of the Atlantic Ocean meeting the Mediterranean Sea at Gibraltar.

This is the Rock of Gibraltar in the far distance!

 This is a war memorial on the Eastern Bank of the suez Canal  north of the Great Bitter Lake.  (you may need to dust off your Google for some of these locations. I did!)

 This is another picture of the Eastern Bank of the Suez Canal.  The bridge you see, goes over the Suez Canal.

 This picture was taken in the afternoon in  Karachi, Pakistan.  That haze is smog.  John says it's one of the nastiest ports he has ever been too! 

 This is one of the largest container ships in the world on the Great Bitter Lake. Maersk is the company with which John prefers to sail!

 This is a war memorial on the West Bank of the Suez Canal North of the Great Bitter Lake.

 Mosque next to a church in St. George, Egypt.

 We have signs on the side of the interstates welcoming us to the state, they have signs too!!

 Again the church next to a Mosque

 This is John's stateroom.  He is a full bed, desk, tv, vcr...couch, fridge and his own bathroom.  Quite the upgrade to the rack he had when he was in the Navy!

 Christmastime in a mall in Columbo, Sri lanka

 Christmas decorations for the Ship's Christmas party!!

It took me a bit to put these up because I needed him here to tell me what they were!  Hopefully he'll take more pictures so we can see what he sees on  his trips to the far corners of the planet!

Autumn at the Birdwell Household

Here it was September and John and I were on our own since the guys weren't with us.  Ian, away at school and Arrick at work, we headed down to the beach to see some sandcastles!

                                                      I thought this was pretty cool. 

 Kids taking in some beach activities while the weather holds out.  It was a cool day, perfect for a romp on the beach
some of the professional sculpters.

 We saw a Zombie mobile!

John and made a trip up to Northern Virginia to see Ian. He would be away on parents weekend so we went up the next weekend.  Here is his room. It's pretty organized for three boys living in it.

 Ian will be moving to another dorm at the end of the semester. They are renovating this one!  He's looking forward to the change in scenery!

 We went into DC with all of the Occupy Protestors, to hit up the Museum of Art.  Ian has an Art History paper due so we thought we'd help with research!

 We ran into this guy and cool wheels! I wanted a ride but I don't think he would have given me one!

 We saw the Stainless steel tree!!!  This was just too cool! 

 Yes, the Captial building is still there.....

 The Washington Monument was still there too.  It was still closed to the earthquake damage.

 We were in DC a few weeks before they offically dedicated the MLK Jr. memorial.  John captured some photos of the memorial.  We were disappointed with it actually.  He looks mean in the statue.. 

 John Paul Jones!! 

 The National Museum of Art!!

 Love this place!  Even when people are here taking in the art, it's so peaceful and beautiful, I just love it! 

 Love this piece!

 Tranquil!

                            A relief of the art on the Commons outside of the state  house in Boston! 

 LOL I came home from work one day and found these in the floor in the kitchen. It was evident where Arrick had dressed for work! lol Of course, I left them there for him to pick up when he came home from work! ;)

Arrick, cleaning his room.  This folks is rare so I had to take a picture!