My New Pedometer

Don't know if any of you have ever heard of a pocket pedometer.I hadn't but it was something that I could really use.I haven't had much luck with the pedometers that are attached to a waistband.

I receive a periodic e-zine concerning walking.In one of the e-zines the woman recommended a pedometer that you place in your pocket to track your steps.I loved that concept since I have had a problem with attaching pedometers to my waistline.Needless to say many pedometers have fallen off and broke.

I love this pedometer.I place it in my jeans pocket in the morning and forget about it.It tallies my steps all during the day.I ordered it online.It is by far the best pedometer I have ever owned.This is the first one I have bought online.All of the others have been bought in local stores and are no where as nice as this one.

I was surprised when I googled the pedometer that there was a web page all about the pedometer.Here is the link if you would like further information:

http://www.omronpocketpedometer.com/?gclid=CK2MnL2I4ZcCFQMQswodP0w0Dw

The National D-Day Memorial

On the way to Virginia Beach on our Thanksgiving weekend getaway we stopped at the D-Day Memorial in Bedford Virginia.It is located about 150 miles East of us.We had never been there.We want to go back and spend more time there.It is so very impressive.

This is a quote from the brochure regarding the picture that I downloaded to add here:

The figurative sculpture on and around the beach alludes to actions and events associated with the amphibious landing.Often inspired by specific incidents or particular individuals the sculptures themselves are generalized personifications of the abstract characteristics this Memorial exists to celebrate.

Proportionally Bedford suffered the nation's severest D-Day losses.Nineteen soldiers from Bedford lost their lives on D-Day.In 1944 Bedford's population was only 3,200 people.

This is only a small part of the memorial.The brochure alludes to 20 Architectural Features and Historical Illusions.If you are ever in that area of Virginia I would highly recommend a visit to the D-Day Memorial.Bedford East of Lynchburg right off of Route 460.

This is a link to their website for further information:

www.dday.org

Speedway In Lights

Yesterday we drove down to Bristol TN to take in the Speedway In Lights at Bristol Motor Speedway.We went last year and really enjoyed it although it rained some.This time it was cold but thankfully no rain or snow.

I was rather disappointed that as hard as I tried,most of my pictures did not take.A few took and this is one of them.

Last year we got out at the infield and walked around.Didn't do it this time since it was way too cold.

The one thing that our 7 year old grandson looks forward to is the drive on the concrete oval that the race car drivers drive on during a race.The embankment is unbelievable.What a feeling to be riding in the car and the car tilted sideways so high up.The vehicle in front of us was having fun on the oval so our daughter who was driving decided to go up higher on the embankment.All I can say is that I know that I would never drive up there like that.Watching the Bristol races on TV does not show how steep the embankment is.You have to drive on it to realize how steep it actually is.

Sand Creation

This is the creation that our grandchildren made in the sand at Virginia Beach.Jeremy named it Mt.Everest.He has a fascination with Mt.Everest.

Before we left the beach he demolished Mt.Everest.I thought that was rather sad but he wanted to demolish their creation.I thought it was rather cute how the two of them went around on the beach looking for sticks to add to their creation.

I honestly don't remember playing in the sand when I went to the beach as a child.I remember getting in the water and enjoying it.I must have played in the sand too but have no memories of it.Glad I was able to capture these memories for our grandchildren.

Playing On The Beach

Our grandchildren love playing in the sand on the beach.I took this picture when they were playing and building in the sand.The weather was just right for them to be playing in the sand.

Our granddaughter wasn't exactly dressed to be playing in the sand but that didn't stop her.What amazes me is how at home they are on the beach.We are land locked and at least 300 miles or more from the closest beach.At least they knew this time that the weather was too cold to get in the water.They loved getting in the water when we were at Foley Beach in SC back in August.

The more I think about it the more I realize that I love going to beaches during the off season.I don't care for the water all that much.I love the sound of the ocean waves,watching the sea gulls and just enjoying the lovely scenery that God has made.I enjoyed the water when I was younger.Now is the time for me to enjoy the beauty of the beach.

Look At The View From My Back Door

Isn't this view lovely.We had a little snow overnight which didn't accumulate to much.The lovely thing is how nice the trees look covered in snow and ice.

The roads are clear which makes it so nice to enjoy this Winter Wonderland.I took some pictures since I knew that it wouldn't last very long.

Sea Gull Soaring

I love this picture.I took it from my hotel balcony at Virginia Beach.Watching a sea gull soaring is such a peaceful,calming feeling for me.I took several pictures of sea gulls soaring and this is the one that captured it the best.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Sand Angel

Since my granddaughter isn't feeling well today I thought that I would show a picture of her making a sand angel when we were at Virginia Beach over our Thanksgiving weekend getaway.

Mariah and her big brother Jeremy were having fun in the sand.They both look right at home playing in the sand.You would think that it was part of their everyday life.Neither of them were upset that it was too cold to get into the water.They were very happy to just play in the sand.I let my daughter have my camera to take some random pictures of the two grandchildren playing in the sand.I took some and she took some.I thought it was cute how Mariah was making a sand angel when she wasn't even prompted to do it.

Peaceful Beach Scenes

Since it is a snowy day here in the mountains of southern West Virginia I thought I would show two beach scenes.

These two pictures were taken at sunset from my balcony at Virginia Beach on Thanksgiving day.I love the colors of the sunset.It got darker a little earlier at Virginia Beach than here at home since Virginia Beach is further east than we are.Sunrise and daylight came earlier there but thankfully the blackout room drapes kept the room dark so the grandchildren could get plenty of sleep.Sure didn't want our 4 year old granddaughter up at the crack of dawn.

I took lots and lots of pictures on our getaway so I have plenty to share in the days to come.We also went to a naval museum and got to go on the deck of the battleship USS Wisconsin.We stopped by The National D Day Memorial on our way to Virginia Beach.The D Day Memorial is located in Bedford Virginia.On the way home we stopped at a civil war site.

Our Thanksgiving Day Adventures

I took this picture from our hotel balcony looking down the beach at Virginia Beach.I love the color of the water and sky!What a view on Thanksgiving morning.When I first looked out our balcony door I noticed a lot of people were out jogging.There aren't any in this picture since it was taken a little later.I am thinking that it must be a tradition for people to get out and jog on the boardwalk every Thanksgiving morning.

Since we were spending Thanksgiving in an area where we had never been we were in a quandary as to where to eat our Thanksgiving meal.Our daughter brought her lap top along so she got it out and did a search of restaurants in the area.Most were closed but a few were open.

She found that Shoney's was open and serving a Thanksgiving Buffet.We have a Shoney's in our area where the food is quite good.She was able to get directions on the website that was to take us directly to the restaurant.We needed the directions since none of us was familiar with the Virginia Beach area.

We decided to eat around 2 thinking that the restaurant wouldn't be crowded.We start out on our adventure not really knowing where we were going.We followed the directions and kept going down roads in a very nice lake side residential area.Low and behold we get to the street where the restaurant was located.No restaurant.....the directions took us to someones lovely home in the upscale neighborhood.We got such a laugh out of that.

Thankfully our daughter remembered the road that the other Shoney's was located on and remember seeing an exit off of one of the major roads that had a road by that name.We were able to find the other restaurant location on our own.We are wondering if someone might have hacked into the Shoney's site and

put in directions to a friend's house as a joke.We kept saying that the directions led us to Mr.Shoney's house,lol.I was also wondering how many other people have been misled by the bogus directions.

We had a nice meal then headed back to the hotel.We went out for a walk on boardwalk and some rest and time in the indoor pool.

Since we ate early in the afternoon everyone was getting hungry around 7.As we already knew there weren't many places open.We kept seeing billboards for sandwiches at WaWa which is a gas station-convenience store with an area where they make freshly prepared sandwiches.We don't have WaWa in our area but I remember seeing them when we were in Maryland back in May.The three adults each had a sandwich made which were quite good.Both grandchildren weren't very adventurous with their eating.They each got a hot dog.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving day with many laughs added in.

Our Thanksgiving Getaway to Virginia Beach

We left last Monday evening for our getaway to Virginia Beach.This picture was taken from our breach front hotel balcony.The dates for the pictures messed up on my camera so please disregard the dates.I fixed the dates after realizing that they date listed was almost a year off.

Virginia Beach puts on a holiday lights display every year during the Christmas season.You ride on the boardwalk to see the lights.This is the only time of the year that cars are allowed on the concrete boardwalk.You pay a $10 admission fee which goes to charity.The cars ride on the boardwalk single file.We picked the night before Thanksgiving to take the ride on the boardwalk to see the lights.There wasn't even a wait.Glad we went then since the wait for the cars got longer and longer as each night progressed.

I took some pictures as we drove on the boardwalk but most of them did not turn out.Glad the pictures that I took from our balcony turned out really nice.

We had a wonderful time in Virginia Beach.The weather was nice although on the cool side.Most days it was in the upper 40's to low 50's.The day after Thanksgiving it was in the 60's.Lots of people were out and about on the boardwalk and beach that day.I will post pictures and more about our trip as the days go by.Since I took lots of pictures I have plenty to share regarding our trip.Even some sea gulls posed for me!