A visit with my grandchildren

Whew! What a weekend! On Thursday I drove to Virginia to visit John and Jen and the boys.

On Friday morning, after the two older boys were off to school, Jen and Andrew and I visited the botanical gardens, always a favorite of mine. There is a children's area that Andrew enjoys. . . and so do I!

Saturday was a blistering hot day and what did I forget to pack??? Sunscreen and a hat and lip protection! Andrew and Jake each had a soccer game and my heart went out to all those young kids playing in 90 degree weather.

After a full weekend of activity, Saturday evening was supposed to be a quiet, relaxing time. Jen had planned a dinner cooked on the grill, I was occupied going through one of her cookbooks that caught my attention. . . I vaguely remember somebody saying, "CLOSE the door". . . The next thing I knew, their little dog had bolted out the door and down the deck steps, chasing after a rabbit into the woods.

The next few hours were frantic and honestly, kind of a blur as we all scattered in every direction trying to find the dog. This is the most loving dog. She just thrives on attention. The thought of her lost in the woods was just more than I could deal with.

Just as I had accepted the fact that she may never return, a neighbor down the street had found her and put her on a leash and called the house. Kevin and I went racing down the street to get her.

Now, if you think this soap opera is over. . . you are wrong! John and Jen found dozens of ticks on her as they bathed her. They spent over 2 hours with her in the bath tub trying to bring her back to her pre-escape condition.

The next day it was time for me to come home and after a pancake breakfast, I was on my way. I have always dreaded driving through the Washington, DC area, even on a Sunday morning, that place is a zoo. You are either in a pack of cars going 90 miles an hour, bumper to bumper, or you are poking along at 20 mph bumper to bumper. . . there is no middle ground. John and Jen gave me a new alternative to consider and I absolutely loved that route - scenic, easy to drive, no crazies on the road. . . my kind of travel!