Mackdogmolly Posted August 31, 2021 #851 Share Posted August 31, 2021 8 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said: Must be lovely to be able to pick fresh peaches from the tree - no chance of growing them in our climate. It's a real treat, for sure. Actually surprised they do so well in northern Vermont! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Cruising Posted September 1, 2021 Author #852 Share Posted September 1, 2021 (edited) We were doing a different sort of cruising yesterday. We’re in Norfolk for a week with our two daughters and their families. We hired a boat for a few hours on the Broads. Everyone had a go at steeering - with more or less success (I was hopeless). Saw lots of swans, cygnets & ducks Yes, we did take the dog - little Dora was nervous at first but settled down & enjoyed looking at the water. We passed some beautiful waterside properties. and saw a paddle propelled excursion boat. Edited September 1, 2021 by Grandma Cruising 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackdogmolly Posted September 1, 2021 #853 Share Posted September 1, 2021 Looks like a wonderful time, @Grandma Cruising! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nordski Posted September 1, 2021 #854 Share Posted September 1, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 9:10 AM, Mackdogmolly said: It's a real treat, for sure. Actually surprised they do so well in northern Vermont! Surprising indeed, and why I wondered about the variety. But if you can grow peaches, then grapes should be even easier and you can have a second harvest in the fall following maple syrup in the spring. 😄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackdogmolly Posted September 4, 2021 #855 Share Posted September 4, 2021 A little Vermont humor - we are always complaining about the weather! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Cruising Posted September 5, 2021 Author #856 Share Posted September 5, 2021 Love the Vermont weather cartoons, Mackdogmolly! While in Norfolk DH & I saw one of the most beautiful gardens we’ve ever seen - the gardens of The Old Vicarage at East Ruston. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNgardens Posted September 5, 2021 #857 Share Posted September 5, 2021 Which gardens are your top 3 for the UK? Is there a website that you use for finding ones new to you? I was an avid gardener and like to visit gardens and look at what really good design is versus my sad efforts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackdogmolly Posted September 5, 2021 #858 Share Posted September 5, 2021 9 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said: Love the Vermont weather cartoons, Mackdogmolly! While in Norfolk DH & I saw one of the most beautiful gardens we’ve ever seen - the gardens of The Old Vicarage at East Ruston. Lovely!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Cruising Posted September 7, 2021 Author #859 Share Posted September 7, 2021 On 9/5/2021 at 2:57 PM, MNgardens said: Which gardens are your top 3 for the UK? Is there a website that you use for finding ones new to you? I was an avid gardener and like to visit gardens and look at what really good design is versus my sad efforts. The Old Vicarage is certainly one of my top 3 and I’d also add Levens Hall in Cumbria because of its topiary, and of course, Kew Gardens in London. I don’t use a website, I just do a Google search for gardens for any area that we are visiting. We also watch a lot of gardening programmes (especially Gardeners World) and often see gardens mentioned there. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nordski Posted September 7, 2021 #860 Share Posted September 7, 2021 15 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said: The Old Vicarage is certainly one of my top 3 and I’d also add Levens Hall in Cumbria because of its topiary, and of course, Kew Gardens in London. I don’t use a website, I just do a Google search for gardens for any area that we are visiting. We also watch a lot of gardening programmes (especially Gardeners World) and often see gardens mentioned there. On its website I see that The Old Vicarage is in a microclimate. Are the plants typical of Norfolk or more exotic than those found in other areas of that county? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted September 8, 2021 #861 Share Posted September 8, 2021 The Old Vicarage is indeed a fantastic garden; I would like to see it someday. If you're ever in West Cork, here is an even more unusual garden: http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com/sky-garden.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted September 8, 2021 #862 Share Posted September 8, 2021 One or our favourites are Bodnant Gardens a National Trust property in the Conwy Valley North Wales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Cruising Posted September 9, 2021 Author #863 Share Posted September 9, 2021 On 9/7/2021 at 11:17 PM, nordski said: On its website I see that The Old Vicarage is in a microclimate. Are the plants typical of Norfolk or more exotic than those found in other areas of that county? A mixture - a lot of the usual, but some more exotic - banana palms etc. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mice Posted September 17, 2021 #864 Share Posted September 17, 2021 We had our first "on the water" experience in a long time - a short boat trip on the Hudson River to Pollepel Island with the ruins of Bannerman Castle, a former military supply warehouse, on Saturday, September 11. It was a glorious day, just as that fateful day in 2001 when the hijackers used the river as their navigation aid. Today the castle is a ruin, but the guide showed us a photo she took in 2009 prior to the collapse. I only wish we had realized there were tours back then. Still, a great day out. And a surprise garden, too. Hopefully, these photos are OK - need a new phone..... Sadly, last night I finally cancelled all our hotel ressies for that trip to Canada. C'est la vie. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Cruising Posted September 18, 2021 Author #865 Share Posted September 18, 2021 Thank you for the photos, mice. I’d never heard of Bannerman Castle and have looked it up - what an amazing building and interesting history too. Sounds as if you had a lovely day! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackdogmolly Posted September 18, 2021 #866 Share Posted September 18, 2021 @the mice, great photos! We have abandoned Canada plans right now too. In Vermont, there have been a lot of delays getting test results, so wouldn’t day risk a hotel reservation until that improves. Just hoping we won’t need a test in advance of arriving at the pier in Miami in December. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mice Posted September 18, 2021 #867 Share Posted September 18, 2021 2 hours ago, Mackdogmolly said: @the mice, great photos! We have abandoned Canada plans right now too. In Vermont, there have been a lot of delays getting test results, so wouldn’t day risk a hotel reservation until that improves. Just hoping we won’t need a test in advance of arriving at the pier in Miami in December. @Mackdogmolly. The testing was part of it, aside from DH's reluctance. We plan to get our Pfizer boosters next month. Sometimes age plays in your favor 😁 . Hopefully you have no issues for your cruise. Our first planned trip is a land one to Italy late April-May - 2 separate tours, first in Puglia with a private guide, and the 2nd in Calabria with a very small group, with 2 days in Naples in between and 2 in Rome at the end. I am ever hopeful that it all comes to pass and that travel won't be as onerous by then.🤞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackdogmolly Posted September 18, 2021 #868 Share Posted September 18, 2021 32 minutes ago, the mice said: @Mackdogmolly. The testing was part of it, aside from DH's reluctance. We plan to get our Pfizer boosters next month. Sometimes age plays in your favor 😁 . Hopefully you have no issues for your cruise. Our first planned trip is a land one to Italy late April-May - 2 separate tours, first in Puglia with a private guide, and the 2nd in Calabria with a very small group, with 2 days in Naples in between and 2 in Rome at the end. I am ever hopeful that it all comes to pass and that travel won't be as onerous by then.🤞 I will keep my fingers crossed for you! Your trip sounds lovely. We will (hopefully) also be on a Baltic cruise in June 2022. Hoping to get our boosters in November. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mice Posted September 18, 2021 #869 Share Posted September 18, 2021 2 hours ago, Mackdogmolly said: I will keep my fingers crossed for you! Your trip sounds lovely. We will (hopefully) also be on a Baltic cruise in June 2022. Hoping to get our boosters in November. We did the Baltics on Azamara Journey in August 2018 with 3 hectic, jam-packed days in St. Petersburg. Spent 3 days in Copenhagen prior and was supposed to spend 3 in Stockholm at the end, but I caught my foot on either the carpet or chair leg getting up from dinner the evening we sailed out of St. P. At least it was after St. P!!! Broke a metatarsal. Az crew/med team were FANTASTIC!! Saw Helsinki from the HOHO (after hobbling on crutches to get to it), but had to fly home directly after cruise. One day I'll get back to Stockholm. It's a fantastic trip (no pun intended and may you not follow in my footsteps 😁) - excited for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackdogmolly Posted September 18, 2021 #870 Share Posted September 18, 2021 45 minutes ago, the mice said: We did the Baltics on Azamara Journey in August 2018 with 3 hectic, jam-packed days in St. Petersburg. Spent 3 days in Copenhagen prior and was supposed to spend 3 in Stockholm at the end, but I caught my foot on either the carpet or chair leg getting up from dinner the evening we sailed out of St. P. At least it was after St. P!!! Broke a metatarsal. Az crew/med team were FANTASTIC!! Saw Helsinki from the HOHO (after hobbling on crutches to get to it), but had to fly home directly after cruise. One day I'll get back to Stockholm. It's a fantastic trip (no pun intended and may you not follow in my footsteps 😁) - excited for you. OMG, what an unfortunate end to your cruise! Our cruise doesn’t go to St P, but is Lisbon to Copenhagen and includes an overnight in Amsterdam. We are planning a couple of extra days in Lisbon and Copenhagen, so really excited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mice Posted September 18, 2021 #871 Share Posted September 18, 2021 24 minutes ago, Mackdogmolly said: OMG, what an unfortunate end to your cruise! Our cruise doesn’t go to St P, but is Lisbon to Copenhagen and includes an overnight in Amsterdam. We are planning a couple of extra days in Lisbon and Copenhagen, so really excited! Over the years I've learned to roll with the punches. It didn't turn out too badly - the last day was an overnight in Stockholm, so we stayed on the ship and got all the laundry done since our home laundry is 2 flights down in our townhouse. We were scheduled to fly home in economy (award ticket), connecting in Heathrow (nightmarish long walks) but United opened up 2 business class seats that day at saver level (happy dance!) and Guest Relations patched a call through to them and they switched me - luckily I had the extra miles. So, it worked out fine. And, thanks to the orthopedist's recommendation, I ended up with great sneakers (Hoka's). Lisbon and Copenhagen - 2 wonderful places. In Copenhagen we stayed in the Radisson SAS and had a room overlooking Tivoli. Lots of walking in both, and lots of fond memories, too. And so much to see in Amsterdam as well. This is all making me so nostalgic! Very excited for you!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mice Posted September 18, 2021 #872 Share Posted September 18, 2021 14 hours ago, Grandma Cruising said: Thank you for the photos, mice. I’d never heard of Bannerman Castle and have looked it up - what an amazing building and interesting history too. Sounds as if you had a lovely day! Yes, it was a very nice day. For those of us who lived through 9-11 and lived near the river, it was nice to experience the Hudson River in a more pleasant way. For anyone who plans a trip to NYC, they should really plan to visit the Hudson Valley. It is a wonderful area, filled with so much history. The village of Sleepy Hollow is near to us - made famous by Washington Irving (think Ichabod Crane, the Headless Horseman). Many activities celebrating Halloween - they go on for weeks. Check out Historic Hudson Valley - the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze and more. But any time of year, there are the historic properties - Sunnyside, Philipsburg Manor and Van Cortlandt Manor, the Old Dutch Church, Union Church with its Chagall windows. Plus there is Kykuit. And the Rockefeller Preserve has wonderful carriage road trails. And the new bridge across the Hudson at the Tappan Zee has a pedestrian path. And there is West Point, too. So, we might not be as old as the UK, but we've got our fair share of history (lots of it from the Revolutionary War - sorry😉) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackdogmolly Posted September 18, 2021 #873 Share Posted September 18, 2021 1 hour ago, the mice said: Lisbon and Copenhagen - 2 wonderful places. In Copenhagen we stayed in the Radisson SAS and had a room overlooking Tivoli. Lots of walking in both, and lots of fond memories, too. And so much to see in Amsterdam as well. This is all making me so nostalgic! Very excited for you!!! Glad it ended well! I will look into the Radisson hotel. Haven’t booked in either city yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mice Posted September 19, 2021 #874 Share Posted September 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Mackdogmolly said: Glad it ended well! I will look into the Radisson hotel. Haven’t booked in either city yet. Betsey, since this is off topic here, if you want, I can send you some photos from Copenhagen with the view. You can email themice <at> verizon <dot> net 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackdogmolly Posted September 19, 2021 #875 Share Posted September 19, 2021 14 hours ago, the mice said: Betsey, since this is off topic here, if you want, I can send you some photos from Copenhagen with the view. You can email themice <at> verizon <dot> net Thank you! I will! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now