Fall (my favorite) has been a real treat out here. The trees put on quite the show, painting themselves in bright reds, oranges and yellows. Even the sky got in on the gig, lighting up every night with dreamy sunsets. Local farmers and the Amish bring out their show stopping fall bounties full of gourds, squash, and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Every year our home overflows with friends and family from near and far for Thanksgiving feasts that were beyond successful!
Winter brought delicate white blankets of snow that stayed long enough to enjoy, yet never overstayed their welcome. We quickly learned how to shovel a driveway and the meaning of winterizing your home. Many (spontaneous) game nights were held with our amazing neighbors and friends to pass the time indoors. Local artists (including myself) displayed handmade works of art at holiday boutiques, filling churches and school gyms with the smell of pine and spiced cider.
Before we knew it, daffodil bulbs poked their little heads through the frost, letting us know warmer days were ahead. Soon it was time to start filling our garden beds with a variety of crops, trying out new ones every year. Something in the fresh springtime air always brought inspiration for new projects. We became chefs experimenting in the kitchen, woodworkers building in the garage, crafters fabricating in the basement, and scientists brewing beer on the driveway.
Finally, the heat wave of summer brought all the blue crab you can eat! It didn't take long until stuffing ourselves full of crab cakes, crab dip, and crab pretzels (with a side of fresh corn) became a summertime tradition. BBQs led to nights around the fire, full of laughs and long talks. We enjoyed camping trips with friends, picnicking at the local wineries, and road tripping along this East Coast.
The one thing that never changed from season to season was the beauty of water. Surrounded by the Patuxent and the Potomac Rivers on either side, anywhere you go is bound to have a beautiful view. Toby quickly became a fan when we discovered a quiet beach where we could teach him how to swim. What we have learned to appreciate most of all were the friendships we built in these last 4 years. We are forever grateful for the relationships we built here in Maryland. They will be cherished for years to come. We hope that we are brought back together in the future.
Over the last few months we have prepared for our 17 day journey across America through 15 states. We bought (and refurbished) an old Coleman pop-up camper. We spent most of our weekends (and weekdays) tackling this project with the help of wonderful neighbors, friends and family. We tore out the moldy shower and rusty stove, built a brand new dining table and kitchen countertop, repaired water damaged subfloor and walls, laid brand new vinyl wood flooring, and even tried our hand at faux shiplap! With a new coat of paint, handmade curtains, and a fancy new water heater, we are all set for this big adventure!
We will start our journey in West Virginia, visiting Harpers Ferry National Park, then make our way North to New York where we will get soaked at Niagara Falls. We will also be making a quick day trip to Canada, visiting the city of Toronto. Then, exploring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a bucket list item we will be checking off in Cleveland, Ohio. Next we will enjoy the views of Lake Michigan from Indiana Dunes State Park and then again from the Chicago skyline while eating deep dish pizza. Our journey will take us through Nebraska, where we will check out Omaha with a close friend. Afterward, we will venture through Colorado, stopping off at the Rocky Mountain National Park and then tour Denver with friends from home. Things will really start to heat up as we venture into Utah, visiting Arches National Park in Moab, then again in Nevada for a quick stopover in Las Vegas before finally entering California!
It has taken an immense amount of planning and preparation for this move. We couldn’t have done it without all the help and support from those close to us and appreciate you all! We will be sad to leave Maryland, but are excited for the adventures that lay ahead!
Feel free to follow along with our journey here on The Parker Travels blog!
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