April 2009, Maryland & Ohio

On our northward trek to Maine for the summer we stopped for a stay at my sister's home in the Maryland countryside. She and her husband and daughter live on 2 acres that Anna enjoys working......here her daughter gets a ride with Mom on the mower.

We took a side trip for a few days to visit friends in eastern Ohio where they have a cottage on a nice lake. Here the lake is looking a little muddy after the days of rain in the area but it was lovely and just right for kayaking and fishing.

Dee and I chose the chairs in the shade with Pearl and Lexie.....

While Bill and Mike worked hard cooking dinner on the grill.

Mango and Pearl had a great time with Bruno and Lexie.

There are a lot of beavers in this area and here is a dam one built near their house.

There were plenty of birds including this Downy Woodpecker and its' companion playing in the trees.

Don't you just love a fire at the end of a nice day?

On the way back to Maryland we drove through West Virginia and here are a few pictures....this farm had a sign on the barn that we had seen all over the place in VA and W.VA. "Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco, Treat Yourself to The Best". Yum.

Large Flowering Trillium were growing on a very steep hillside above a river.

And this beautiful lake was viewed from the first rest stop in Western Maryland on Rt. 68.

Tomorrow we leave for Connecticut and Massachusetts.