Charlottetown, PEI

Charlottetown, Canada

While Prince Edward Island is Canada's smallest providence in terms of area and population, it more than makes up for this with the friendliness of its people, its natural beauty, and for being known as the birthplace of Canada.

The island's landscape is dramatic and features rolling hills, pristine forests, reddish-white sand beaches, ocean coves and the famous red soil. The capital of Charlottetown offers a small town feel and a relaxed atmosphere with a cosmopolitan flair. The town has evolved into a dynamic city without sacrificing its historic charm. One certainly cannot think about Prince Edward without mentioning the author Lucy Maud Montgomery who once lived on PEI and drew inspiration from the land during the late Victorian Era for the setting of her classic novel "Anne of Green Gables." PEI also has another claim to fame with the Confederation Bridge built in 1997. The world's longest bridge over ice-covered waters provides a connection from PEI to the mainland Canada.

Home!!

Sydney,

How strange it felt to sail into Sydney!

We arrived at 8:15 and people began to disembark right away. We had breakfast in our room and enjoyed the view from the balcony doors. There was a wind blowing and it was too cold to go outside. But the sun was shining and it was beautiful. We were anchored off of Sydport and had to be tendered in. We headed out at nine and we got a tender ride right away. The black card sure comes in handy.

When ashore we called cousin Wayne and wished him luck with his horse race this afternoon He told me about the business Wayne junior has but it is located down by the YMCA and my ankle would not have liked that so we didn’t go down to see him.

BUT we did spend time inside the cruise ship terminal. I hoped to see some of the crafters that I sold with years ago and I did meet one. Ruth filled me in on a lot of the news, especially concerning the church. I was saddened to hear that Trinity United had closed 2 years ago and the building is for sale.

Then I also ran into Laurie. She and her husband Rod used to frequent to store in Framboise and she and I had a good gabfest.

One vendor was selling exceptional Ammolite pieces and I got a very nice pendant with lovely reds and oranges in it.

It is a very special place. I can say without a doubt that it is one of the nicest if not the nicest cruise ship terminal we have visited in our 29 cruises. Sydney needs to be very proud. The quality of crafts is first rate , the exhibits are exceptional, the welcomes received were spectacular. The center has everything from food to crafts to places to eat and places to drink. There are free exhibits of the local history, free concerts, and free WiFi. I was even able to buy a Scottish Oat Cake. We took lots and lots of pictures but soon my ankle was telling me to head back on board.

We took pictures of the fiddle and I chatted with a cabbie who said he would pass a message on to Earl for me.

With that I knew I had done what I wanted to do so we got into line for a tender.

My, it was a great visit home.

Sydney, Nova Scotia/ September 28

Sydney, Nova Scotia

Cape Breton is fabled as a magical travel destination and the Port of Sydney is the gateway. Known for its beauty and unique Celtic music and culture, Sydney puts some of the Island's greatest sights and attractions at your fingertips when you disembark into the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion.

The dockside pavilion offers an array of Shopping Boutiques, a Craft Market and the World's Largest Fiddle. You will also find wireless Internet services, a Visitor Information Centre, and the Cape Breton Island Exhibition Centre featuring artifacts, images and an overview of the rich culture and heritage of this historic Island. Or you can simply sit and savour our local seafood cuisine at the Range Light Cafe, or enjoy a glass of wine on our second level balcony.

The city of Sydney has a deep history and was originally founded in 1785 by British Loyalists fleeing the perils of the American Revolution. The rich natural resources led these new settlers to establish prosperous coal and steel industries, which attracted immigrants from a myriad of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. To this day, Sydney remains a haven of multiculturalism.

The Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion is just a short drive from the community of Baddeck and the breathtaking Bras d'Or Lake where Alexander Graham Bell lived, worked and studied. On the east coast of Cape Breton lies the largest historic reconstruction in North America, the Fortress of Louisbourg. The Fortress is a Parks Canada National Historic Site and is described as a Williamsburg-style attraction that is not to be missed.

Family Visit

Halifax and Family,

Today we were in Halifax and it was an absolutely wonderful sunny day.

We began by watching the sunrise and enjoying our view of George’s Island  lighthouse which was right in front of our balcony. Soon we were entertained by Theadore tugboat and he passed in front of our balcony.

We spoke to Valerie on the phone and it was agreed that we would meet in front of the Nova Scotian Hotel at noon.

While waiting for time to pass we chatted with Elizabeth and Gwen. Both seemed really happy to hear from us.

Then we made our was ashore and shopped around in the cruise ship center for awhile. There were some crafts but a lot of it was resellers. Ken was quite excited to find a book about Maude Lewis which was written by one of his former students. It took very little convincing to have him purchase it.

We met Valerie and Barb and Barb’s husband John as we said we would and they took us to Barrington Street where we decided on a restaurant called Henry’s as a good place to have lunch. Henry’s is on the registry of haunted places in Halifax but the ghost did not make an appearance while we were there.

The food was good but the conversation was better. When we three are together time loses its meaning and we visit as if no time has passed since we were children together. (Ken was with me and so John had someone to visit with, because usually he can’t get a word in edgewise.) we grew up 3 doors apart and I was often at Aunt Et’s and Uncle Tom’s playing school in their basement or going on hikes with all of the other children from the neighborhood. So many wonderful memories.

Soon it was time to go , Valerie had to go out of town on court business  on Saturday and Barb was as busy as usual so we only had a couple of hours to visit. But on the way back to the ship they took us to a Superstore where Ken was able to buy some yellow eyed beans. We can’t get them in Abby and Ken loves to use them to make his home made beans.

My ankle was feeling pretty sore and tired by then so they drove us back to the ship and we said our good byes.

 That was a great visit and a highlight of our stop in the Maritimes.

Back at the ship we were treated to a performance by the RCMP pipe and drum band. This was great and everyone seemed to enjoy it. So many of the ladies were anxious to pose with the officer in his red serge.

Gee it is time to go to eat again…!!!:-)

Did You Know??

James Arnold, the fifth son of Benedict Arnold was educated in Nova Scotia and he masterminded the initial plans for the design of the famed Citadel Fort

Halifax is home to the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, the world’s largest Oceanographic institute.

Halifax is also a major North American Medical center and the locally based IWK Children’s Hospital has been recognized nationally for superior medical services.

Halifax is home to six universities with large enrolments.

Halifax is the half way point between the west coast of North America and Europe as the distance between Halifax and Victoria,BC on the west coast of Canada is 2785 miles and the distance between Halifax and London England is a very close 2881 miles.

Halifax Nova Scotia, September 27th

Halifax, Nova Scotia

The capital of Nova Scotia and the largest city in Canada's Atlantic Provinces, Halifax was once Great Britain's major military bastion in North America. The beautifully restored waterfront buildings of Halifax's Historic Properties recall the city's centuries-old maritime heritage. Stroll the waterfront, and you may find Nova Scotia's floating ambassador, the schooner Bluenose II, tied up to Privateer's Wharf, just as old sailing ships have done for over 200 years. Halifax is also the gateway to Nova Scotia's stunning scenery, including famous Peggy's Cove, where surf-pounded granite cliffs and a solitary lighthouse create an unsurpassed scene of rugged natural beauty.

We Visit Saint John

Saint John, New Brunswick.

This day began early. Ken was looking out the balcony doors around five trying to figure out why the Brier Island Light was not flashing. Well it turned out that the ship was not in the exact position he thought it was at that precise moment.

Our sail in and docking was beautiful and we enjoyed it. When we got all tied up I looked and there was the Seven Seas Mariner again. She has been shadowing us ever since we left New York. She is a smaller ship and someone said she is a condo ship. But whatever she is we are glad she is smaller. It makes for crazy crowds when you have several large ships in the same port at the same time.

I remembered to put our flag our on our balcony railing right away this morning. I have been forgetting it until our return on the other ports.

Because we were exploring on our own there were not time constraints so we decided to have breakfast in the dining room this morning. I must say it was not all that great this morning, an exception to be sure.

We made our way ashore and we explored the craft tent. I must say it was not as good as the one in Sydney used to be. There were more setters than crafters which was a disappointment. I sure hope the Sydney craft market has not changed.

They had volunteers to greet us and give us maps and directions to whatever we wanted to see. Some persons were in costume and it was great.

Then we walked a little way uptown and looked in one of the malls where we bought provincial pins of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

 Then made our way back to the ship. I was walking without the help of bandages and I decided not to push it too much. Ken got pictures of the Saint John harbour light and a breakwater light. We will be counting them because he was up close even though I was not.

See how hilly this city is!!

 The weather was wonderful and the sun was shining so Ken decided to get some sun from the balcony. We both spent time there enjoying having a balcony to use.

This was another wonderful day and tomorrow we are in Halifax.

Did you know???

In order to differentiate it from St.John’s  NFLD the Saint part of the name is always written out.

Saint John’s King Street is the steepest street in Canada. Over the distance of 2 city blocks the street rises 80 feet, roughly the height of an eight story building.

The American revolutionary traitor Benedict Arnold lived in Saint John from 1787 t0 1791.

Saint John native Thomas Campbell invented the combined hot and cold water faucet in 1880.

The world’s longest covered bridge was completed in 1899. It is 1282 feet long and it spans the Saint John River

Saint John, New Brunswick

Saint John, New Brunswick (for the Bay of Fundy)

Saint John, Canada's oldest settlement is the gateway to the scenic wonders of New Brunswick. One of Canada's oldest provinces, New Brunswick remains remarkably unspoiled: 85 percent of the province remains unsettled. New Brunswick boasts vast forests, purling streams, gentle hills, rich farmlands, and a spectacular coastline dotted by historic towns. Nature also blessed the area with one of her most astonishing phenomena: the reversing River Rapids. The fierce tides of the Bay of Fundy rise with such force that they actually cause the St. John River to reverse direction and its waters to flow upstream. Saint John's history dates to 1604, when the Sieur de Champlain landed nearby on the feast day of Saint John the Baptist. After the American Revolution, American Loyalists flocked to the area. Saint John became a thriving industrial port. But the catastrophic fire of 1877, declining commerce and decades of neglect gave the town a sad and careworn look for decades. That changed in recent years. Redevelopment of the waterfront and the old district has restored Saint John's charm and its sense of history.

Lighthouses 311 and 312 ???

Portland Maine,

We have been here at least twice before but we booked a lighthouse tour because it would show us 2 we had not visited.

Our tour was a  Princess bus tour and our guide was Judy and our driver was Chuck. We were underway right on time and again we were blessed with wonderful weather.

Judy showed us some of the highlights of her city and we were happy to see that there was a little fall color. We are keeping our fingers crossed that there will be even more color when we get to Cape Breton and Quebec.

First stop was the Portland Head breakwater light or what people call the bug light. It is only 27 feet high and is as cute as a bug. We had a half hour to take photos and explore.

The next stop was the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse. This one is taller but just as wonderful to view. Again we had a half hour stop

The last lighthouse was the Portland Head Light. This one we had been to before and it is a major tourist attraction of the area. They have a museum and walking trails and it was crawling with tourists. From here we could see the lights at Cape Elizabeth and the one at Ram’s Island as well as the ones we viewed this morning.

I bought a new scarf here in the gift shop. It is blue with lighthouses on it.:-)

Our ride back to the ship was comfortable and we did see a little of the fall colours.

That evening we were able to get a couple of very nice sunset pictures at sail away.

This was another grand day… Tomorrow we are in Saint John, Ken’s birth place.

Portland Maine, September 25

Portland, Maine

Portland was founded in 1632 by the British as a fishing and trading post and named Casco. In 1658 the name was changed to Falmouth and Portland was put on the map in 1786. While Portland's name has changed over the years the essence of the area has not changed. Today, Portland still remains a vibrant fishing and commercial port, Maine's largest city, and its cultural, social and economic capital.

From the renovated Old Port with its brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets to the quaint seaside village of Kennebunkport, the summer home of President George H. Bush, Portland and the surrounding area have something for everyone. Photographers are sure to delight at the photo opportunities including the Portland Head Lighthouse and the picturesque White Mountains on the Cog Railway. Shoppers will enjoy the Old Port and downtown area that feature many unique boutiques, shops, galleries and restaurants. Outdoor enthusiast will surely want to visit the world-renowned outdoor outfitter L.L. Bean® and the many other brand name outlets in nearby Freeport, Maine.

Tour Overview

Board your air-conditioned transportation for a scenic drive through Portland, voted one of America's "most livable cities" by Forbes Magazine. You'll travel along the Eastern Promenade which features panoramic views of Casco Bay and the Calendar Islands. You'll continue on past the Portland Observatory, the new Arts district, and Old Port, the city's thriving commercial and business community. Then you'll head out to some of Maine's historic lighthouses.

Standing strong on Casco Bay's coast is a trio of lighthouses that are architecturally different yet share the same purpose. Designed to help ships navigate around Portland's rocky shoreline, many have been restored and each offers a look back at Maine's past. The Portland Breakwater lighthouse is known locally as the "Bug Light" because at 27 feet in height, it's shorter than the average lighthouse. Built in 1875 and considered by many as the most elegant of all Maine's lighthouses, the design was modeled after an ancient Greek monument built in the 4th century BC. Nearby is the Liberty Ship Memorial commemorating the ships that were constructed during World War II.

The Spring Point Ledge lighthouse beckons next. Constructed in 1891 after many vessels ran aground on the area's dangerous rocky coast, it's still in use today as an active aid to navigation. The last lighthouse is Portland Head Light the oldest lighthouse in Maine. Commissioned by President Washington in 1797 and dedicated by the Marquis de Lafayette, it was the first lighthouse completed by the newly created U.S. government and is listed on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. Your visit here includes a narrated discovery of the museum housed in the former lighthouse keepers' quarters. Your tour concludes with a scenic trip back to the pier.

Boston!!

Boston,

Well in this port we decided to do the Hop On Hop Off bus. Barb and Roy and Frankie and Jack and Ken and I headed out to meet our transport. Much to our surprise and delight the bus was easy to locate and before long we were on our way. The others decided to get off at the old North Church but Ken and I decided to stay on board. Not having spent any time here there was just so much we wanted to see.

Our bus was high and the windows were wide and they afforded splendid views of the city.  The day was bright but cool so we put on our jackets and enjoyed taking in the sights of the city. Our guide was great and he told us all about the history of the area we were passing.

The tour was very good and we were impressed by the city. I knew about Boston being the center of so much history but somehow seeing it all in just a few hours was overwhelming.

We returned to the ship around one o’clock.

We enjoyed our visit to Boston.

Did you know??

On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the very first phone call in history from his Boston machine shop.

Boston baked beans are navy beans soaked in molasses, then they are baked for several hours. Bostonians developed a love of baked beans because of their trade in molasses.

Boston Cream  Pie is the official dessert of Boston.

The Boston Tea Party took place here… where else??

Paul Revere made his famous ride from here.

The first free municipal library was established here in 1848

Boston’s 24 acre Public Garden, is the oldest botanical garden in Amercia

Newport Visited

The tour of Newport was everything Princess said it would be and more.

First of all we had room service deliver our breakfast and we enjoyed the arrival from our balcony. We were surprised to see Rose Island right off of our balcony and there was the lighthouse looking bright in the morning light. It was cool and we ate inside but we certainly enjoyed the view.

This was a tender port so we were so pleased to see how beautifully calm the water was. We went to the Princess theatre and we got our tour ticket and went with the group to board the tender. On the way over we visited with a very nice couple. He said he was from Turkey. I think he is the first person from Turkey that I have ever met. Anyway as soon as we disembarked the tender we were directed to a waiting small boat, well not really small , but small by comparison. There were 29 of us on this tour and we were regaled by stories of the history of the area. 

We sailed past beautiful  yachts, one of which we were told was the Vango which is owned by Oprah. Our guide told us that these vessels cost 250,000.00 per 20 feet of length so these gems were millions of dollars.

He also pointed out the summer ‘cottages” of the rich and famous. These were more like castles or palaces than homes. One lady complained that her house was too small so she had a new dining room added. Her dining room table would seat 123 after the addition. He told of a dinner party where the center of the table and running the length was a sand box. The party favour was a silver sand pail and shovel. After dinner guests were invited to dig in the sand and they could keep whatever they found. The sand box contained diamonds and emeralds and other jewels and gemstones. This unbelievable wealth was often build on the slave trade because Newport was one leg of the triangle involving slaves and rum and sugar.

After our tour we were landed on the beach at Rose Island. Two guides awaited our arrival and they gave us a tour of the island and the light. I wondered if I would be able to do the tour with my bad ankle and I am happy to report that I managed quite well. I did not climb the tower but I saw everything else. I even got a stamp to put into my lighthouse passport. This is light number 311, I think. I did manage to get some sea glass and much to our delight Ken found one small piece of red and 3 pieces of blue.

Our boat returned in about an hour and we were given more of a tour and were returned to the dock. This was around one o’clock so we decided to explore a little since the last tender wasn’t until 3:30.

I got some salt water toffee for Kerri and Ken got batteries for his camera. Then we came upon a restaurant named The Barking Crab

. With a name like that we had to go in. Ken had a bowl of seafood chowder and I ordered Fish and Chips that we shared. These were my September Fries and boy oh boy they were good. The fries were done to perfection and they were so worth waiting for. The order was LARGE so there was a lot to share with Ken.

Then we headed for the ship. The line up was LONG and I do mean long. But we did get back to the ship on a glassy sea. This time we had 2 ladies to visit with. 

This was formal night so I gave my very tired ankle a rest before getting dressed for dinner. People with the Black Card get treats before dinner on formal night and we got 6 chocolate covered strawberries and Kim had send us a gift of 8 chocolate covered strawberries so we received two trays. We ate one and put the other one in our fridge to enjoy later

We had the same family for dinner and the other couple still has not put in an appearance. We are finding that we have a lot in common with our new table mates. They are Canadian and they are members of the United Church, they are retired but a little younger than we are and she is busy with fund raising in her church and he was a scout leader. It is a small world.

Did you know??

Rhode Island is the smallest of the United States. Texas is 185 times larger.

But it has the longest names…State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

JFK and Jacquie were married here in Newport at St. Mary’s church.

The oldest operating tavern in the United States is here

Newport contains the highest percentage of preserved colonial buildings in the US.

The oldest synagogue in North America is located here.

Here water fountains are called “bubblers”.

Pelham Street in Newport was the first street in North America to use gas illuminated by gas street lights.

Newport, Rhode Island/ Sept.23rd

Newport, Rhode Island

In the 19th century, Newport was America's Versailles. It was here that the great merchant princes and robber barons of the Gilded Age erected the elaborate summerhouses they so ingenuously dubbed "cottages." At the height of its splendor, a Newport season was a giddy whirl of grand fêtes, yacht races and elaborate beach picnics for assorted Vanderbilts, Astors and Morgans. Today, it is the privileged traveler who marvels at the splendor of great mansions like The Breakers, The Elms, or Rosecliff.

Here we are doing a Princess Tour. Can't miss the chance to see more lighthouses.







.

Tour Overview

Board your vessel conveniently located at the tender pier, and enjoy a scenic harbor cruise to the restored 1870 Rose Island Lighthouse. Along the way, enjoy panoramic views of Newport's legendary rocky coastline and commentary by your captain, who will point out important landmarks and recount the area's rich maritime history. The Rose Island Lighthouse stands proudly as you dock on the petite, 18-acre island in Narragansett Bay. Built in 1869, this lighthouse was in use for over a century, lit by civilians and then by the U.S. Coast Guard. Abandoned in 1971, the lighthouse fell victim to vandals and harsh weather. In 1993, volunteers restored it to its original condition and the beacon was joyously lit. The lighthouse is once again listed on navigational charts to aid sailors and is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Explore the lighthouse station and living museum from its windmill to its cellar cistern as your guide recounts tales of bygone lighthouse keepers and their families. Built on Rose Island during the Revolutionary War, Fort Hamilton protected Newport from attack until the end of WWII. Today it is a wildlife refuge and home to migrating birds including little blue herons, black crowned night herons, great and snowy egrets, and glossy ibises. It is the primary nesting site for Canadian geese. When you complete your exploration of this scenic area, the cruise vessel will bring you back to the tender pier.

The Big Apple

Monday September 22,

This is the last day of the second cruise and the first day of the third cruise.

We packed up our things and got everything ready for the move which will take place while we are off on our tour of the city.

We knew we would be coming into port early so I think Ken set his internal alarm because at 3:24 he was peering out the window watching the pilot boat come alongside the ship.

Soon I heard him saying that the Statue of liberty was in view. It was amazing because there she was right outside of our window.

We had ordered breakfast in our room but the card was never picked up so we had to make our way to Horizon Court. It is a zoo there most of the time and even more so on changeover day. But we sat with a very nice couple and had a lovely beginning to our morning.

The tour group met in the princess theatre and went ashore together. We had to pass through Customs and immigration so it was a long procedure. My foot was not pleased with all of the extra walking but I did manage. A letter that came to our room the night before told us that we had to come with our old key cards, our new key cards, our passports, our customs declarations and our in transit cards. Of course some people did not read the directions and they had to return to their room for missing documentation so the entire bus had to wait for them. But soon our guide was introducing himself ( ANTHONY) and his driver ( Stephen) and we were underway. The traffic was horrendous. Apparently there is a major meeting of nation heads of state because of the ISIS situation as well as the Ukraine. That meant loads of streets were blocked off and many motorcades with official looking limos were everywhere. But in spite of it all we were given a great tour. We had a photo and rest stop at Rockefeller center. There was a valiant attempt to get us to Ground Zero but it was not possible. We also had another photo stop on the Hudson. During our 5 hour adventure Anthony pointed out many landmarks including the Empire State Building, China Town, central park, Time Square, Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park,the site of 911 and the memorial from a block away.

I was impressed with how big the city is, how clean the city was and how well kept it was. Because it was so near to bankruptsy  I expected the roads and parks and buildings to be run down but they were not.

This is the most amazing place to people watch….. people, people everywhere.

We were back to the ship at two o’clock and when we disembarked we gave Canada Pins to our guide and driver along with their tips. They did such an amazing job of showing us their city in spite of the traffic  nightmare so we felt they deserved a special thank you.

We boarded the ship, activating our new cruise cards and finding our new room. A gift of champagne and a coffee card are waiting for us. We certainly are treated well by Kim and her agency. We have been given 3 coffee cards, three bottles of wine and more than $300.00 in on board credits and chocolate covered strawberries during this adventure.

 Oh my, it is nice to be back in a balcony room. It is so bright and so much larger and just plain grand. This will be great for the next ten days.

We decided to just have a burger at Neptune since the dining room was already closed. Then I unpacked my things and got settled in. I think I am getting a bit of a cold, I hope not!! I got a little rest and then we went to the dining room for dinner. Our new table mates include a family of three, Mom, Dad and son Jason. Jason is Downe Syndrome and he is 37 years old. He has very limited language but can take care of himself at the table. He even enjoyed a sip of red wine. There is supposed to be 2 more people but they were not there last evening. We ate our dinner but we left before dessert because we wanted to enjoy sail away from our balcony. 

It was beautiful and we certainly did enjoy it.

Tomorrow we go to Rhode Island and a tour of the Rose Island lighthouse.

Sunday Again!!

This is Sunday the 21^st and tomorrow we will be in New York and we begin cruise number three.

We are always so happy to be continuing on when others have to disembark.

Anyway we wanted to see some of New York but there was not a tour planned for those of us continuing on but that is no longer true so tomorrow morning we will be enjoying a 5 hour tour of the area. We are really looking forward to it.

Today we have to pack up our things and get them ready for the big move. For this last cruise we will be in C 609 which is a balcony on Deck 10. I figured we should be lower and did not need a balcony for the crossing of the Atlantic but we are hoping for lots of warm weather as we travel up the east coast. I remember how nice it could be during the last week of September. We always called it Indian summer. Here’s hoping it is warm and sunny and that the fall colors have begun.

Anyway we put some things in suitcases and everything that is on hangers stay on hangers. A team arrives and all of our cases are put on a trolley and all of our things on hangers are put on a rack and they take everything to our new digs for us. So when we get back from our tour all we have to do is empty the suitcases and we are all set for another glorious ten days.

At noon we had our final luncheon with our new friends Doug and Nickie and Garry and Linda. It was lots of fun and we took loads of photos.  We always spend more time laughing than eating when we are with them. I hope we will meet again someday.

Last evening was the final formal night for this cruise and it was very nice. We had lobster again which is unusual. The normal routine is the have just one lobster night per cruise. Gerri and Max,( our Swiss tablemates) had joined the pop choir and their performance was last night so of course we had to attend. It was fun and they did a great job. We had one of our special coffee while waiting for the performance to begin.

Yesterday was the day I had Princess celebrate my birthday so we had cake and a serenade last evening as well. 

I decided to have my hair done in honor of the occasion. It sure needed it. I was nervous about trying to stand on one foot and shampoo my hair so it certainly needed a good wash and set.

I am getting hungry so it must be time for breakfast.

Oh I thought you might like to see the glorious colors of my foot.hee hee!!

Later