la Fête Nationale!

la liberté, l'égalité et la fraternité le quatorze juillet... Happy Bastile Day fellow Francofiles!!!

There is no other day that gives a better excuse to engage in French traditions than today. It is a time for those of you that have never been to France or have no French ancestry to pretend 'je suis Francaise' (a sort of French version of St Paddy's Day where EVERYONE is suddenly Irish?). And for those of us that have traveled to France and/or have French ancestry to reflect on the history, the culture and rejoice for their wonderful life-enhancing exports; art, fashion, music, films and of course...FOOD & WINE!

The French typically celebrate this day by dressing in their finest red white and blue attire, waving flags while attending a morning parade (the one that sashays down the Champs Elysees is by far the most popular), then drinking lots of champagne, eating bistro/cafe/picnic food while dancing in the streets and watching fireworks after sunset.

Yes, that IS a lot like our Independence Day celebrations, huh?

Amusez vous bien !

North Central Railroad Trail...Where Have You Been All My Life?

I, like many Baltimore/Harford Countians, have driven by the cute little Chakra Bikes /Hunt Valley Village sign on Paper Mill Road that marks the spot where the NCR Trail begins and meanders for FORTY MILES to York, PA. I to have said numerous times that I wanted to try biking that route one day...soon.

Well, that day never came...until today.

We, nine family members & friends, started at about 945am at the Paper Mill/Ashland entrance to the trail and off we went. The weather was gorgeous - like mostly sunny & 82...BUT the bikes, which were borrowed - they were another story: mine was waaaayy too short, my daughter's wouldn't get out of first gear so she was peddling her heart out and going nowhere, my middle son's bike was way too tall, my youngest son's tires were dry-rot, our summer vet-med students seat was a little too uncomfortable, and my best friend's daughter's chain kept popping...crazy!

Despite the problems, we made it to the Monkton store around the 8 mile mark and had a little one-hour picnic. (btw that store is fantastic - all organic, including the incredible ice cream! ) We then had to venture back the 8 miles we came from...which actually went a wee bit faster, even after a huge double-digit-point-buck (in velvet!) casually strolled across the path less than three feet in front of my best friend and I - who were so engaged in a conversation that we almost ran smack into the deer.

This was such an inspiring day that we vowed to get our own bikes and made a goal to travel the entire length of the trail. No commitment date set - I will keep you posted...

A Ferrying We Will Go...

Wanted to do something a little different with the kids on this last day at the beach and decided to take the ferry from Lewes, Delaware to Cape May, New Jersey.

After we loaded our vehicle onto the ferry we then proceeded to wander about, enjoying all the little nuances on the ship. These boats are awesome - cafes, bathrooms, video arcades, gift shops, flat screen televisions, full bar! My family chose to sit on the outside deck - reading, relaxing, taking in the scenery.

After arriving on Cape May we were thankful we didn't leave the vehicle in Lewes and take only the bikes...the route is not very child friendly for sure. We continued to the beach area and decide to tour the historic district before eating lunch at an outdoor cafe on

Washington Square, the pedestrian mall.

After which we ventured to Sunset Beach, which is famous for a WWI shipwreck (The SS Atlantus), as well as rose quartz sand (we looked very hard but never did find those little 'Cape May Diamonds' ?)

We then had only about an hour before the last ferry back to Delaware, which wouldn't allow enough time to visit the lighthouse, so we decided to do a wine tasting at Turdo Vineyards, a small family owned Italian style vineyard just minutes from the ferry dock. The hostess was very gracious and accommodating even though we arrived 15 minutes before closing. She never rushed us, let us taste the entire available vintages and even offered my under-aged children a treat.

Once back in Lewes, we decided to stick around for a light dinner and some more wine before strolling the quaint streets and then heading back to the Maryland coast.

It was really a great day...the ferry ride, the historic towns, the lighthouses, the wine, the school of dolphins that the captain killed the engines for and pointed out to the passengers - what more could one want. We will definitely be back again someday...hopefully an overnight trip next time.

It's Just Bawlmer, Hon

I wanted desperatley to show Baltimore to our Vet-Med student that's living with us for the summer. The 'real' Baltimore, a world away from Harbor Place - in the truest of all neighborhoods...Hampden.


Being born & raised in Baltimore city – there is no other festivity that highlights this great town more than HONFEST! I've traveled to many cities in over a dozen countries and have been to my fair share of festivals - this truly is a one-of-a-kind affair.

There really is no need for words here...

The Music Mill?

With out-of-town guests in for the weekend, we were looking for the perfect ending to their very first visit to the area. After spending all of Saturday touring the historic neighborhoods surrounding Baltimore’s Harbor, I thought what better way to spend a warm Sunday evening than @ an outdoor concert - in the country!
So the 10 of us packed a huge picnic cooler full of wine, cheese, olives, fruit, etc., loaded lawn chairs in the back of our trucks and headed south…

After driving approximately 30 minutes, we crossed the Jericho Bridge (circa 1865 and the only remaining covered bridge in the tri-county area) and within a few hundred feet, we were at the quaint historic village of Jerusalem Mill. This tiny village sits alongside the Little Gunpowder Falls River banks and consists of several private historic homes as well as a grist mill/museum, blacksmith shop, and gun/copper shop. The Mill, built in 1772, was once known world wide for it’s prized ‘white silk ‘ flour and now serves as the Gunpowder State Park Headquarters.

This particular evening, Smooth Kentucky ( http://www.smoothkentucky.com/) was the musical entertainment; a little folksy, a little country and loads of talent. Playing everything from Bob Dylan and Grateful Dead to authentic bluegrass classics.

I must add that the crowd here was the most laid back (in a good way) of ANY festival/concert scene I had ever experienced; moms swaying with their papoose’d babies, dogs playing fetch, couples stretched out on blankets, children skipping stones along the river bank, and friendly conversations in sync with not-too-loud music made for a very enjoyable evening. And since these concerts take place the first Sunday evening of every summer month, I know I will return – sooner than later I hope!


The Jerusalem Mill and it’s historic village shops are open every Saturday and Sunday from 1-4, staying open later on the Summer Concert Series evenings. For more info http://jerusalemmill.org/