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Showing posts from August, 2011

After the storm

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A perfectly lovely day; very few clouds in the sky and the sun was out like it was summer or something.. ha!  Still a lot of businesses without power and neighborhoods however, we are fine and glad the storm is over.  Took ride into Worcester county today and the tree companies are certainly busy with all the cleanup and some places still closed down but for the most part it was pretty clean and orderly.  Think this place knows how to button down the hatches for weather such as this?  Another night at Walmart but hope to get back to Wompatuck tomorrow.

Hurricane Irene, Plymouth, MA

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As you can see by the pictures Earl is standing out in the wind monitoring the gusts with is meter!  Some up to 60 mph so pretty strong.  We did have some rain but didn't stay and wind continued thru most of night.  Being an ex boater Earl turned the coach into the wind a few times. ha!  We did just fine.  Walmart lost power as did many areas in the state and went on generator so covered up their refrig isles... very strange.  Most of the businesses around were all closed.   We did fine but both of us hope this is our first and last hurricane.  Not fun ...

The "Calm" before the storm

After checking around this morning we packed it all up and headed for Super Walmart in Plymouth.  Only about 26 miles from campground and Earl called to be sure it was ok.  There are about 10 others here so guess we'll be ok.  Took little trip over to library and all weather we have seen so far is a very light sprinkling and NO wind yet!  Still expecting Irene tomorrow night but worse part of it is due to hit western Massachusetts so think we'll be ok.  We are not near water or trees... will keep all posted.

Hurricane Irene - warning

A bit of a glitch... Hurricane Irene is headed in our direction and we have just been informed by state parks we have to leave here at Wompatuck tomorrow by noon and earliest we may return is Monday... that is unclear until the damage has been assessed.. now question is - where do we go?  Hummm - no idea at this point soooooo guess we'll get busy to find a spot and be back at ya all later...

Fairbanks Family Reunion

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More on family reunion in August.... Craftsmen were on hand to show how things were done in the old days.  Also on hand was a lady portraying "Grace" who was very good.  She not only dressed the part and spoke it but was very informative on how things were in those days.  Like why they built the fireplace in the center of the home. How when they decided to come to "New England" they planned for a few years and had specific tools and things they brought with them for the long voyage and to live and build a home.  A good time was had by all and it was very informative to boot... It is all such a great time for me since I have been researching my family roots for years and to see the actual towns and in some cases homes of some of these ancestors is so rewarding.  I feel blessed and although I do miss our loved ones on the west coast, I am thoroughly enjoying this trip out east too this summer.

Annual Fairbanks Family Reunion, Dedham, MA

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The "Fairbanks House" was built in 1633 in Dedham, MA and is the oldest reported frame house still standing in America today.  My 9th Great-Grandparents Jonathan and Grace Fairbanks traveled from England back then with their 6 children and built this house after staying a short time in the town of Watertown.  Have known about this house a few years and visited a few times in the past but this year we purposely planned to be in Dedham for their Annual family reunion.  It was interesting meeting other "cousins" from all over the country and attending the annual meeting.   

Fun in Boston

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Took a ride through southern Boston area and found this pear on a street corner!  Not sure what it signifies but looked like a kodak moment to me so here it is... won't say what Earl thought it was initially! ha!  Later on found this wonderful cheerful looking clock.  This area has clocks everywhere and there have been wonderful moments when we have been around to hear them chime the hour!  I just love them all and miss my mother's clock that did the same...  Guess I'll have to see if there is something like that for the RV? ha!  Have found some good news for us older folks though and that is Dunkin Donuts gives a 10% discount to seniors!  Yeah... didn't know until we ordered a sr coffee as we do at their competitor and received not only a discount on coffee but on whole order so that is definetly a plus!  They are everywhere up here.  We do see an occasional Starbucks but Dunkin started here in 1950's and they still reign supreme!  What a hoot... They were on west

Boston, MA

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Ah... one of my favorite cities to visit!!! I love visiting Boston and have tried to figure out why because we are not city type people but this is one city I love to visit... I love the idea the "common" otherwise known as a park to the westerners of this country is flat in the middle of the city and all the buildings and homes and condos and piers etc etc are built around it.. it is lovely with ballfields, tennis courts, a pond and just lovely grounds to enjoy for all... at one end is the Capital building of the state and all around are every sort of buildings... We began there and went by the Granary Burial grounds where some of our most famous patriots are buried like Paul Revere and John Hancock; then over to Kings Chapel where we have old ancestors from the Mayflower period.  We passed Starbucks here noting they display a "tea" pot - appropriate I guess for the place.. and pass the building where the "Boston Massacre" took place at the start of the R

John F Kennedy Library, Boston, MA

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It has become the "thing" for our recent Presidents (FDR to now) to build a Library in their name after their term in office has ended... since we are in Boston area thought we would visit the JFK Library.  This president is one we could relate to since we both remember where we were furing the election; the cuban missle crisis and of course his death.  This library is built on the campus of the college overlooking the bay so the setting is lovely and apparently Jackie said she wanted it there since he loved the water so much.  The library is set up in such a way as to work your way thru his election leading up to Presidency and then of course ending with the terribly sad ending of it... Very tastefully done and interesting.  As his brother Bobby was the Attorney General at the time of his presidency there is a spot of his office as well with his desk and a few momentos as well.  very sad in a way but so well done.  Thought we would be in and out of there in a short amount

Provincetown, MA

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Took a ride out thru the cape to the end of "the Hook"!  Provincetown... wow.. what a view and although we had fog to begin the day it burned off just as we arrived so had a picture perfect day.  Ate fish and chips on the beach and just throughly enjoyed the day.  A hopping place... loved the other parts of the cape too.  Towns like Barnstable, Yarmouth Port and Dennis... Loved those towns too ... very pretty and touristy too..  

Plymouth, MA

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Plymouth is located on a very pretty part of Cape Cod Bay and from the view at Burial Hill where many of the "Pilgrims" were interred the view is really something.  We had to wait for the fog to burn off a bit but had a view of the marina with the sun sparkling on the water and oh my gosh!  Talk about pretty.  No wonder they chose this hill with the lovely view! It was fun seeing the town because homes are built very close to each other with postage stamp size yards but each immaculate with lovely landscaping.  Very pretty and worth the trip! 

The Adams Family, Qunicy, MA

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Earl is working so hard; ha!  However, found time to take off and do a little exploring of the area and a bit of shopping too.  Went to Quincy where Presidents John Adams (#2 and his son #6) John Quincy Adams were born and lived.  They're homes are now a National Historic site run by National Parks system. Went to visitor center and watched a film telling their story and walked around the town to get a bit of flavor for the place.  Could be a lovely little town but like most towns there are bad sections and the streets are not good.  They do try to make the most of their celebrity though and have this statue of Abigail and young John Quincy near the church they are entombed in.  John is down the street away on another side street.. fun.  There are banners and posters pointing to the hightlights of places to see.  Right across the street from this church is the Hancock Cemetery with yes, John Hancock entombed.  It could be a nice place too but obvious there are visitors who do not r

Our new home for now!!

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Left pretty Rhode Island today and crossed the border into Massachusetts!  Drive could have been better but then this is the time of year when most road work (what there is being done) is going on so hit a bit of a glitch but finally arrived at Wompatuck State Park where we will be for this month work camping.  Nice site with elec and water close by and sewer close by too so no need to break down for those things. ha!  Hot today (muggy) but heard there is a flood warning west of here in Worcester county.  We stayed at this park back in '05 for a few days and I was thrilled to see the old homes again on our way in.. Not all are historic but a lot are and so well maintained.  We'll go out and about and get our bearings within next few days.  So far we do have 1 1/2 bar on phone and internet so we are happy. ha!