Drum Roll, Please

OK, Since we last met, the Chinery's have been on the road alot. So, for a short recap of the past 5 months, let's see what is in the camera. (Since I never print anything out anymore....)

In March, we took a whirlwind long weekend trip to the mid-west. We not only wanted to visit the kids, but also start clearing out our basement and delivering all their boxes. We rented a truck and set off the Chicago VERY early one morning. After 16 hours on the road, we pulled up in front of Doug's apartment to drop off his boxes. Here's Doug and his friend from college, Terrance, just before they started toting boxes up three flights of steps.



We moved northward another hour and crashed when we hit a hotel. People say they get too old for this kind of nonsense. We used to think it was all in your head, now we know exactly what they're talking about. It's not in your head. It's in your back and your neck and your legs and arms and, when you miss naptime, forget it! Bruce did all the driving (Thank you, Thank you, Thank you).

We then had a two hour trip to Madison the next morning and arrived on the first warm weekend of spring. This was our first time seeing Sandy and Matt's new house. We got to tour a little bit more of Madison, Bruce helped Sandy get her garden cleared out, and then we got to see our little princess's alter ego- Little Bo Bleep-- in a roller derby bout. A good time was had by all!

We flew back home and starting planning our next trip, which was to Swampscott, Mass to visit Bruce's sister Vicky and her husband Mark. It had been years since we had been up there so we got to see their new place (especially a to die for kitchen) and toured the area. Here they are in front of the Marblehead Light.

When we weren't on the road, Bruce spent time working on the boat and the gardens. He's pretty handy to have around and that's why he got top billing at the start of this post.


May found us in Ocracoke with our friends from Jersey, Jack and Yvonne, and Bruce's brother Gary and his wife Linda. I tell you, there's nothing better than going on vacation with your two bestest girlfriends. And we all love to cook! What a great time. It was so relaxing, Bruce swears I didn't leave the house once, but that's not true. We ate out twice and I went shopping once. Here's the view from our room. (If we had been there over July 4th, we would have been witness to that terrible fireworks explosion. Very glad we missed that.)














Two back-to-back trips to New Jersey included a huge family get together for Bruce's Aunt Claire and Uncle Dave's 50th anniverary celebration in Maplewood. Two weeks later, a July 4th party in Cape May at Jack and Yvonne's place. Here's a picture of some of Bruce's family at the party.





We're home for a few weeks before it all starts up again. This time, a surprise birthday trip for Bruce. He knows we're going away but doesn't know the destination yet. We'll post all about it when we return.

In the meantime, I've been meeting with a kitchen remodeler, talking to banks and appliance shopping. The big kitchen remodel that I was promised 13 years ago is finally starting. Pictures and updates will be coming.

Sorry it took so long to update our lives. I'll try not to let it happen again.