Time for Confession

James and I were never much about watching TV. The virus situation changed that (slightly). Two things became regulars: James is in charge to find what the Metropolitan Opera is offering (free) each evening. We knew of course lots of the famous pieces and have seen many of them in opera houses around the world but this brought operas to us which are not so often in the offering. Even 10-year-old William thought it very enjoyable when he visited. He asked for it!

Christa got a bit addicted to BritBox after her dear husband arranged a subscription.

BritBox for me started with the series of 'Death in Paradise' (I am not apologizing for liking murder mysteries). It plays on a Caribbean Island with a British inspector and is just so clever. No machine guns. One daily viewing for us. Unfortunately the series came to an end. Have to wait for series 9 now.

But then DH (dear husband) found that there was a series about Brother Cadfael, a sleuthing monk in the 1100s. Oh so clever too ... with a hint of history. That also came to an end.

Well, there is always Agatha Christy. Do you recognize Hercule Poirot? One 'dose' a day now (if we are not asked across the river, ha-ha).

Oh, and then James found this! Yes Minister. So British! But I understand at least some of it. And I find it very amusing. How I wish some of our politicians would watch this.

The series must have been so successful on BBC2 from 1980 to 1984 because it was followed by the Minister becoming Yes, Prime Minister. Something to look forward too.

Humour (English spelling) only Brits can present. So enjoyable. 

But I do need the written under titles, ha-ha.

This just in case if you are looking for a recommendation (wink). 

Back to normal

You get used to situations. It was nice to have William visit. Seems strange now but we have things to do.  We neglect things when we have grandsons with us.

Why are there so many ants everywhere. And they love my two hummingbird feeders and will not leave them alone. Can you see the (rather large) ants which try to steal what is not meant for them. If I am not fast enough to replenish the water in the well which the sun dries away fast ... grrrr!

Otherwise we have a lot of joy seeing our flowers doing well this year since we have to be home and James waters faithfully.

We discovered our front patio again. Early in the morning and late in the day there is shade and is very nice seeing neighbors walking past.

Another 'dose' of grandsons. Sarah asked whether I could accompany her to IKEA. It's one and a half hour each way. We decided on the Norfolk one hoping the traffic was better than the Woodbridge one. 

I tried to keep the boys socially distant while Sarah did her shopping. They had been promised a stuffed animal each and the choosing took (luckily) quite some time. 

The IKEA restaurant was closed so we got something from a drive-through and found a shady place for our lunch.

No, no naps on the way back. 

Friday July 17 

We decided that we actually had a bit of cabin fever. We are members at the VMFA (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts) and didn't want to miss the special exhibit. Members only, with tickets and mandatory masks it should be safe. It was so interesting, well done, awesome... Imagine two cities ending up in the Mediterranean Sea, forgotten and found in 1996. Yes, awesome! Here just a few photos of things that impressed me most. 

After a while we had brain overload. We sat a while in the shade looking at the pond. 

Sunday 

Another first. We went to the 8 am service on our church parking lot. Bring your chair. Masks mandatory (by the bishop but we would do it anyway) and no singing, sharing of the peace or communion. But it was so nice. We felt totally safe and will do it again. 

(Stole these photos from the church' facebook)

And on Monday we got hair cuts again. Thank you, Sarah! It is sooooooo hot right now that all that 'wool' on my head was uncomfortable.

Before:

After: yeah!

William's vacation, Day 14 & 15 and transfer back

Sunday morning

The boys were great roommates but they were awake early. They decided they would fully wake up cuddled under a quilt on the sofa. They told me which quilt they wanted.

Then they decided to have breakfast on the front patio, of course still in their PJs.

There was no question what to do. At 9 o'clock we were already with the bikes on the big parking lot of the Crump Ballpark at Meadow Farm. It was so perfect. Hardly anybody there. The boys rode and rode and rode. Caleb was using the small bike William had brought from Nashville. 

2020-07-05 William biking on the ballpark parking lot     (1:33)

2020-07-05 Caleb wanted a biking video too     (0:41)

Of course they had to investigate the old caboose too.

Because of the two bikes we had taken both cars. The park was only a few minutes away. The boys decided they wanted to see the animals at Meadow Farm and they would ride over to it. James walked with them and I came with the car (just in case they would not want to ride back). We parked the bikes next to the car.

There were some 4th of July decorations.

It was getting hot now and the animals were not very active. But as always the sheep were cute.

They rode back to the ballpark parking lot and did more rounds until it was really too hot.

Back at our house they found things to play with. When Wade came with Colin and Owen we all had lunch. At the twins nap time the cousins went home. Sadly this good-bye was it for this William visit. But they want to do FaceTime. 

William asked to do more bike riding. We were pleased that he wanted to do it more and more. Of course he got more confident and better at it every time. It did tire us out a lot though.

In the afternoon he asked whether I could make mango ice cream. It's one of his favorites. 

The most incredible thing was that he asked whether he could watch some opera with us. Ever since the virus started James likes to watch almost every night the free Metropolitan Opera on TV. William could hear it when I tucked him in for the nights before we went to the beach house. So today we let him sit with us for a while and he really liked it. He would have liked it every night from then on but it was not always suitable. 

Monday

William's last full day with us on this vacation. He came down into our bedroom quite early and promptly fell asleep again on my shoulder. I had to take this selfie to text it to Sarah because when she drives home after a nightshift she calls me which is usually 7:30am. I had to text her not to and I managed to do that with one hand, ha-ha. 

So sweet looking, isn't he?

He wanted to go to the same place again. Of course. I decided you saw enough videos, right?

In the afternoon James thought that he was ready to just ride the bike in our neighborhood. James really got his FitBit steps today.

When they went out for the second time I cut one of my hydrangea flowers and he brought it to Mrs Julie.

Our friend Julie knows him and has seen him at every visit. She hurried to get her camera and sent this photo to me later. Thank you!

We had sorted out some of our electronics. Helen too. James had cleaned them up. There was a perfectly good iPad which was not needed and would be good for William. Helen had given us info to set it up. He can now text or FaceTime whenever he feels the need and has WiFi. Helen set up contacts of herself, Ben, Omi, Papa and now also Auntie Sarah (Caleb). He loves it, of course.

Tuesday

We were on the road shortly before 8 am. We had arranged to meet Ben at the same place where we had met Helen to get William, Virginia Welcome Center in Bristol. Again I had packed a picnic. We arrived exactly at the same time and had a nice lunch around a picnic table together. 

Time to say good-bye. Since James and I always try to look on the bright side of things we feel that we were very blessed to have had these two weeks with William. We think he enjoyed it a lot too. 

Many happy rides on your bike, William. Hope to see you soon again. And looking forward to some FaceTime coming from the new (to you) iPad. 

William's vacation, Day 13

Saturday    4th of July

We took it easy in the morning, basically settling back in after our beach vacation. Papa and William had to take care of one thing though: William needed a bike helmet.

William had just learned to ride a bike and it came with him from Nashville. But he had outgrown it and we wanted to give him a new one, or at least new to him. Absolutely unbelievable how difficult it is right now to buy one. He needed a 24" one. Sarah and Wade had tried for a while to find one used (since he will outgrow this one quickly too) but this size seems to be a hot item on Marketplace. Sarah is always buying and selling very successful there especially since the children outgrow the toys etc so fast. But she just couldn't be fast enough with this bike.

James and I tried even to look for a new one online hoping that we could order a pick-up from one of the big department stores here in Richmond and even close to the beach house. No luck and even amazon was "out of stock". We were running out of William's vacation time but on Sarah and Wade's last day in the beach house they found a good one and it was promised to them. When they arrived home in the evening Sarah immediately made her way (tired as she was) to the seller to make sure that it really was a success.

This Saturday morning there was almost the same problem with the helmet "out of stock". Thanks to the internet you can find out which shop might have one without you having to drive around and around. Papa and William came home successful. I could not believe that the colors even matched the bike since Sarah had taken a photo for us when she had brought it home.

We made our way to "the cousins" after lunch and he could finally see his big surprise. Not necessary to say that he loved it, hopped on and did pretty well. But the twins were napping and we couldn't really go for a bike ride just then.

William and Caleb enjoyed some refreshing time. It seemed soon there was not much water left because of all the splashing.

James and Wade were too in the shade.

When the twins woke up the party started! Sarah's big find on Marketplace: the jeep for two. Caleb's tractor had always been a big favorite. The four had a lot of fun with the tractor, the jeep and the pool.

VIDEO!     (0:37)

When Sarah woke up (she is working night shifts right now) she asked William to show her how he rides the bike. Already he is better.

2020-07-04 William's first day on his new bike 1     (0:58)

2020-07-04 William's first day on his new bike 2     (0:47)

And then some 4th of July fun. Wade had bought some simple "fireworks" which were actually kind of crackers no dog would mind. But the boys had fun.

2020 07 04 Simple 4th of July cracker fun     (1:52)

Supper had to be the traditional hamburgers and hotdogs, grilled by Wade they were delicious. Soon it was past the twins bedtime. James, William and I said thank you for a nice time and took Caleb with us to spend the night.

Needless to say that it wasn't bedtime right away at our house but the boys had fun. They were really cute together ... and eventually fell asleep, ha-ha. Happy Independence Day!