Outer Banks Day 1

We arrived in Kill Devil Hills around noon yesterday, had lunch, checked in to the OBBC, unloaded Mr. Toad, and went to the beach. Hot air and cold water -- lower nineties and only 66 degrees respectively. Then we filled Mr. Toad up again with groceries at Food Lion, lugged them upstairs, and went out for dinner at the Collington Inn. Note Mr. Toad in the lower left.

Day Three: Bumpass, VA

We actually got to Bumpass on Saturday, in time for a late dinner.

Bumpass, by the way, is pronounced bumpus, not bump ASS or bum PASS.

In any case, today is John's birthday, which we celebrated with gifts

and a delicious dinner of racks of lamb.

Tomorrow we head for the beach, at Kill Devil Hills, NC. Internet access is spotty there, so updates may be small, late, or non-existent.

Day Two: Lexington, VA

Lexington Valley Vineyards

and a final look at CJ's house.

First Day of Vacation: Springfield to Lexington, VA

We got up early Friday morning and made it to Klines in Harrisonburg, VA in time for desert (after lunch). I had peach; CL had chocolate; MrToad had nothing.

Next stop: Rockbridge Vineyards, where we picked up a bit of wine for the beach and to take home to age.

Then CL's brother, George.

Final stop: friend Carolyn Jean has just finished restoring an old farmhouse (her grandmother's), and we were the first to spend the night in it. She did a wonderful job with it.

And, finally, a couple sunset pictures from the house.

Hi, from Maggie

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Last night we were at the Iron Horse Music Hall again. This time for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. They're a New Orleans brass band that's been around for years, and they put on a great, high energy concert. Last night we got an additional treat: Charles Neville (2nd oldest of the Neville brothers) was sitting in. He's second from the right in this picture.

CL's Garden

Lillies

and Astilbes

Maggie Dancing

A brief addendum to yesterday's entry:

A Damp Day in Cambridge

We're in Cambridge with Maggie again. This a.m. while it was raining, we played indoors. Here she is on her I Spy quilt.

As usual, as soon as it dried out, we headed for BerryLine and more frozen yogurt.

Then we walked back through the Harvard campus.

When we got home, Maggie walked to the corner and back on her own (almost),

until she reached her goal.

Another Cambridge flower.

Marcia Ball at The Iron Horse

Tuesday night Marcia Ball was at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton. Last time she was there, she performed solo; this time her band was with her. The concert was excellent, and she sang for almost 2 1/4 hours, with no intermission.

Beef Draft Follow-up

Tonight we had strip steaks from the beef draft at Jesse's house in April. Here one is with a grilled Vidalia onion slice, grilled asparagus, and a grilled potato. The steak was prepared spiced as described in Corduroy Orange, and, according to the comments to the entry, our dinner was very similar to one we prepared 13 months ago.

And here's what the inside looked like.