South Carolina

Greetings,

On to South Carolina...

and the home of some of the best outlet malls along Interstate 85...

Campbell's Covered Bridge built in 1909, is the only remaining covered bridge in South Carolina. Off Hwy 14 near Gowensville.
 

The salamander was given the honor of official state amphibian.
 

The walls of the American fort on Sullivan Island, in Charleston Harbor, were made of spongy Palmetto logs. This was helpful in protecting the fort because the British cannonballs bounced off the logs.
 

The City of Myrtle Beach is in the center of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile crescent of beach on the South Carolina coast.
 

South Carolina entered the Union on May 23, 1788 and became the 8th state.
 

The state dance of South Carolina is the Shag!
 

The first battle of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter.
 

South Carolina is the nation's leading peach producer and shipper east of the Mississippi River.
 

Sumter has the largest Gingko farm in the world.
 

The Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel was started in 1856 by a railroad company and is bored for more than a mile into the granite heart of fabled Stumphouse Mountain.
 

Tyler Brothers Work Shoe and Boot Company in Wagener produces 8 major brands of OSHA approved safety footwear, including such famous brands as Redwing, Georgia, Northlake, and Wolverine.
 

The first boll weevil found in South Carolina is on display at the Pendleton District Agricultural Museum.

The Lake City tobacco market was established in 1898, and has grown to become one of the two largest markets in South Carolina        today.
 

Sweetgrass basket making has been a part of the Mount Pleasant community for more than 300 years. Basket making is a traditional art form that has been passed on from generation to generation.
 

Bomb Island on Lake Murray each spring and summer is the home of a very unusual event. Each year thousands of Purple Martins        return to this island to roost for the summer. The island has been declared a bird sanctuary and it is quite a sight to watch these birds return to Bomb Island each day around sunset.
 

In February 1852 William Burkhalter Dorn discovered the second richest vein of gold in SC history on the site of the present town of McCormick.
 

The introduction of tobacco in 1894 rocketed Mullins into the Tobacco Capital of South Carolina. As many as 200 tobacco barns sprang up throughout the community. Warehouses were also constructed and the first tobacco sale took place on August 28, 1895.
 

Housed in a 100-year-old freight depot, the Cowpens museum is a showplace for relics belonging to the crew of the USS Cowpens, a famous World War II aircraft carrier.
 

On Nov 2, 1954 Strom Thurmond became the first US senator elected by write-in vote. 

SOUTH CARLOINA:  ü

3 states down... 47 to go!


Blessings,

Fall clothes

Greetings,

It dawned on me as I was lugging down winter clothes from the attic...

1.  I wish Harry were here ... he does all the heavy lifting and carrying.

2.  Harry will not need fall clothes.

or winter clothes for that matter.


He's not coming back until it's warm and sunny again.

It may be a long cold winter!

Blessings,

North Carolina

Greetings,

So a few interesting facts about North Carolina.   I have highlighted my favorite or most bizarre trivia fact.

The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is the oldest State University in the United States.
 

In 1903 the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight by man at Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk. The Wright Memorial at Kitty Hawks now commemorates their achievement.
 

High Point is known as the Furniture Capital of the World.
 

Known as "Fish Town" in the early 1700's when Blackbeard frequented the coast, "Beaufort Town" was established as a seaport with the right to collect customs, in 1722.
 

The Outer Banks of NC hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
 

Whitewater Falls in Transylvania County is the highest waterfall in the eastern United States.
 

Cape Hatteras is the largest lighthouse ever to be moved due to erosion problems.
 

Havelock is home of Marine Base "Cherry Point." It is the largest air base in the Marine Corps.
 

North Carolina is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the nation.

Mount Mitchell in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. It towers 6,684 feet above sea level.
 

Krispy Kreme Doughnut was founded in Winston-Salem. 
 

The Venus Fly-Trap is native to Hampstead.
 

The Biltmore Estate in Ashville is America's largest home, and includes a 255-room chateau, an award-winning winery and extensive gardens.
 

The first English child born in America was born in Roanoke in 1587. Her name was Virginia Dare.
 

Fontana Dam is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States, at 480 feet high.
 

Pepsi was invented and first served in New Bern in 1898.
 

 Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville on March 7, 1914. 

NORTH CARLOINA:  ü

2 states down... 48 more to go.

Blessings,

Stocked Up...

Greetings,

Just so you guys do not revoke my navy spouse status...

I did send with Harry (before deployment) an entire year's worth of supplies.

My thinking:  easier and cheaper to send it all with him instead of mailing it to him along and along!

Enough toothpaste, deodorant, razor blades, and dental floss....

A small convenient store stocked with various snacks...

Enough t-shorts and boxers...

Enough contact solution, mouth wash, shaving cream...

Enough body wash, soap, and shampoo...

Enough snacks  and candy to be a mini Costco...

enough... for the entire deployment.

That should count for something... right?

Blessings,

Mail Call

Greetings,

Harry's ship had mail call for the first time.

And in his little mail bag....

was nothing.

Yes, I am a horrible Navy wife.

I have sent several letters and a small package, but nothing had arrived.

I did not know that I should have sent out packages ...  like the first week of the deployment.

I just simple did not think!


So now I feel really bad....

and have bought several boxes of pure junk... just so my husband will have packages for mail call.

I feel horrible.

Blessings,

Pizza Friday

Greetings,

The Wardroom made pizzas for the entire ship... 

Harry never cooks like that home!


Blessings,

Wedding

Greetings,

Here is a nice (except my mouth) shot of us ladies at the wedding.

It's me, my sister Kasey, my mom, and my grandmother.   Not sure why we were all dressed in black for my aunt (mom's sister's) wedding...?

Congrats Rachel and Jim... we love you.  And Harry is sorry he is deployed and cannot officiate the wedding.

Blessings,

Southeast State Mark-off

Greetings,

From Virginia to North Carolina... made it without a speeding violation this time.

From North Carolina to South Carolina.... only a few bathroom stops for Miss Peabody.

Into South Carolina we had to stop a few times... those dreaded Outlet Malls.

Then into Georgia... think we are staying the night here, dropping off the cat, and hopefully getting a much needed hair cut!


Off again tomorrow... Alabama and Florida here we come.



Blessings,

Road trip

Greetings,

We... Miss Peabody, Oliver the cat and I, are packed,  but not so ready for the 14+ hour ride to Florida.

It will Miss Peabody's first road trip and I am not sure if she is going to like it very much....?

For Oliver... the answer is an emphatic: NO.

As for me... these are the days when I miss ol' Harry.  The 6 or 7 trips to the car with all our luggage and necessities.  The wrangling of pets to situate them comfortably in the car.  And of course the numerous hours behind the wheel with only the cat and dog to talk to.

Although, I am sure I will make better timing without his never ceasing coffee/ then bathroom breaks... and I guess I really cannot complain about my own driving either.  

Not sure if i am looking forward to this road trip or not..?

We will see...
At least I can mark off a few states!

Blessings,

tv

Greetings,

Remember this television the Greek movers packed in a cardboard box instead of crating in a wood box.

Well, ever since we unpacked the television it has been making this odd humming noise.

It hums all the time... even when the t.v. is off.

Well, that annoying humming sound is no longer getting on my nerves.

Because the t.v. just died.

It does not hum.
It does not power on.

It just stares at me blankly.

Just Great.

It's our bedroom t.v. and although it is suggested that televisions in the bedroom are hazardous to relationships... I am a t.v. sleeper.  I need the constant white noise to sleep.  I need the light.  I am a fraidie cat and need the t.v. for a peaceful sleep.  Yelp, I know it's odd.

SO I am a little frustrated ....

Do you repair t.v.'s anymore... or just buy a new one?

Blessings,

Washington D.C.

Greetings,

Why not start my 50 State deployment goal off with the Capital right...?

Technically Washington DC is not a state... (I know this)

but it is the capital ... and one of my favorite places stateside.

Just some FYI:

Major Pierre Charles L’Enfant designed the city of Washington, D.C. in 1791 - the first American city to be planned. It is also known as District of Columbia. 

Virginia and Maryland donated some part of their land to Washington, D.C. Later, the Virginian portion of the land was given back to Virginia. 

The city of Washington, D.C. was named after George Washington and the District was named in memory of Christopher Columbus. 

George Washington laid the first cornerstone of the Capitol building in 1793.

The design of the national flag of US was copied from George Washington’s family coat of arms.  … I did not know they had their own flag…?

In 1800, the Government Headquarters of the USA is shifted to Washington, D.C. The Congress grants the first municipal charter of the City of Washington in 1802. 

On March 29, 1961, residents of Washington were given the right to vote in presidential elections. 

In 1992, the House of Representatives approved the statehood of Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON DC:  ü

1 State and the Capital down....

49 more to go.


Blessings,

Time Management Issues

Greetings,

I have been a little behind....

with guests and a pending road trip....

Time management and I have not seen eye-to-eye.

I will get back on track.

I promise!

While I am stressing....

Harry looks as if he is having too good of a time to be on deployment:

Blessings,

Sleeping accommodation

Greetings,

Just thought I would share Harry's new sleeping accommodations....

a little different from our last cruise...

Hope you have a good night's rest Harry.

Blessings,

They Have each Other

Greetings,

Oliver the independent cat...

that NEVER likes the dog....

was found sleeping beside her on HER sofa sleeping spot.

Seriously, they were touching.

The closet contact Oliver gives Miss Peabody is when he is smacking her with his paw (claw-less paw).

I guess these guys are missing Harry too.


Blessings,

The Good-byes

Greetings,

Here are a few pictures from Deployment day...

At this point..... it got sad!

And then there was none...

I have so much to say, but it may take a while. 

I think I am still processing the good-byes. 

If I stay busy... just enough... maybe I will not notive that my husband is gone...?


Blessings,

Deployment diet

Greetings,

Just a quick question....


What are your eating habits while your spouse is away...?

Mine consist of pop-tarts, popcorn, and cereal.


For breakfast.... with a cold glass of Diet Mountain Dew

For lunch..... followed by a cold can of Diet Mountain Dew

Then for my just before bed meal....

Seeings how, after the bowl of cereal I want to go to bed... I refrain from the Diet Mountain Dew...

I have a Diet Coke instead.

Not sure what my dietary nutritional daily intake is... or what I am lacking.

But for now.... it works!  And this diet does not require a lot of dish washing!


Blessings,