Tuesday, October 23, 2012

You Know You're in Virginia When.....


My father and I went to Northern Virginia one day to visit my son, Mark, and daughter-in-law, Carisa. On the way I saw something I'd never seen before - a horse ambulance.


This is their new gigantic house - Wow!


Mark and Carisa got married a year ago (post here) and recently went on a cruise to Bermuda to celebrate their first anniversary. I just love this picture.


I also got to meet my new grandcat. Paka (Swahili for "cat") is a Savannah, a cross between a serval, an African wild cat, and a domestic cat. He's about 16% serval. (Sorry he's so blurry - he moves fast.)


Savannah cats are a little different from domestic cats. They behave somewhat like dogs - they will walk on a leash, fetch, and do not dislike water. He can also jump up 6 feet or more from a standing position. Here he's showing off his long legs. He trusts Daddy completely.


Mark made us crab cakes for lunch, since he know's they're my favorite. He's a really good cook, and I am clueless as to how that happened...


Part of Mark's wine cellar - he's quite the connoisseur.


A short walk from their house is Lake Manassas and on the other side of the lake you can see the very exclusive Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

While we were at their house, we went through Mark's baby book. I found something I didn't remember. Here's Mark in 4th grade 26 years ago.


His teacher asked the class to ask their parents a question and write about it. Here's what Mark wrote. If you need a translation,

"I don't have a question for you because I know everything about you. Mr. Tally said ask her what she is going to do in 20 years. I told him you would be too old to do anything."

Well, I sure am glad he was wrong!

20 comments:

  1. Art Lindletter was right, of course! :)

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  2. Gotta love that wine cellar. You could honker down in there and not come out for 10 years!!!!

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  3. Beautiful family! The letter is frame-worthy! Boy, did he peg YOU wrong!! -- Dianne

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  4. So nice to go thru the family albums and that letter is sweet but glad it was wrong.

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  5. Out of the mouth of babes. Too funny. You were sooo old then. They have a beautiful home - just glad it's theirs an I have my very small fifth wheel.

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  6. I remember when I was a kid and thought everyone over 50 was "old"! You are definitely an example of someone who is doing quite a lot, sometimes I wonder when you have time to sleep in between all your adventures! Beautiful cat...those markings are stunning.

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  7. LOL thanks for my morning laugh!

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  8. Wow, what a lovely house! In our old neck of the woods, too.

    So nice that you got to visit. It warms the heart to see how well your kids are doing.

    BTW, that is some wine cellar, did he leave any wine for anybody else to buy? ;c)

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  9. "Too old to do anything" LOL!

    I love that kitty's ocelot belly!

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  10. Great post - you have a son to be proud of, for sure. AND he can cook! Beautiful wife, too. I hope they have many more anniversaries! :)

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  11. OH Maybe I can get a job driving a horse ambulance--I would like that!
    Your son seems to be doing so well...that awesome!!

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  12. I really love that letter. That reminds me of the ones my kids wrote saying what they wanted to be doing in 20 years. Mostly the answer was rich. Well, that didn't happen.

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  13. Wow, great enjoyable blog. It is gratifying to see family in your travels. Ciao

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  14. All the things you miss when you're on vacation for three weeks ... hope Mark and Carisa weathered Sandy OK here in NOVA; and that your father (and you, if you're still there) are OK in PA.

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  15. You've got my curiosity with his note... what's the rest of it? It says "turn over".

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  16. The back just says "Love, Mark."

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  17. Hi Diana,
    I was catering a party for *high net wealth individuals* for a major bank at the Montpellier Races in Central Virginia yesterday. As I was in the traffic waiting to get in, I was behind the*Horse Ambulance* and kept thinking 'where have I seen that before?' Eventually your blog jogged my memory!
    Ted

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  18. Is it just me or is Paka a little cross-eyed with trust while Daddy holds her in the air? LOL. Beautiful home and family. That letter gave me the best laugh I've had in awhile. Thanks for sharing!

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