Technical difficulties

Sorry for the inactivity. We've been a little out of commission. It started on Sunday, May 6, when we went to the 33rd Annual Sheep and Wool Festival (but who's counting?) in Howard County. We went to see the ewes, rams and lambs and festival-type stuff and I wound up losing our digital camera, which put me in a major predicament as far as this blog is concerned.

Jacob was a little underwhelmed with the bleating sheep, much to my disappointment. What's not to love about a cute little lamb?

Flashback to two years ago: a hot sunny day in May. Eric and I decide to hop in the convertible and head out to the Sheep and Wool festival with our baby (Jack Russell Charlotte). When we found out that dogs could not enter the fairgrounds, Eric stayed back with Charlotte so she wouldn't have to wait alone in the hot car. I ran in and did a quick sweep of the fairgrounds, saw the cute sheep and the overwhelming amounts of wool in various stages of becoming a sweater--just shorn sheep's hair, organic dyed wool, brightly colored skeins of yarn, etc. Eric hanging back with Charlotte noticed a ton of people leaving the fair with...brooms. An odd thing to buy at a Sheep and Wool fest. But we were intrigued. Not enough to go back in and find out what the deal was.

So this year, when we saw the broom stall where they were making brooms before our eyes (fascinating!) and a woman in the stall said she's had her handmade broom purchased here for over 8 years and it's still going strong--we were sold. And we even bought Jacob a child's broom. For all that cleaning he does. Actually, perfect for a toddler to swat Charlotte with, as we've since found out.

Now we are members of the cult of the broom. I guess it was worth it.

Oh, and at about 3 am the next morning, we heard Jacob's ocean aquarium music soother thing that hangs on his crib going off repeatedly until 6:30. Was it broken? No, Jacob had caught that nasty stomach bug and apparently couldn't get comfortable all night but never cried out. Poor little guy. Friday, he finally felt more like himself.

Eric got it on Monday night. I'm still waiting.

Big Weekend Part II

sunday, the adventure continued with a trip to the Inner Harbor to see the Volvo Ocean Race boats. We lucked out and got to go on board the Pride of Baltimore II, a replica of an 1812 Chesapeake Bay clipper ship.

Guest Blogger Jayjoe's Dad:

Jacob was mighty impressed with the Pride II! He was taken with the many lines running the length and height of the ship. As we walked from stern to bow, Jacob grabbed everything in his reach. He learned new words like 'anchor' and 'halyard' and 'sail' and 'mast'. We talked to one of the crew members about the new mast, built for the Pride II this past year in France after the ship lost its original one while in Europe. Jay took a turn at steering at the ship's helm - it's like he has salt in his veins. It's fun to watch him discover life's wonders and to see him so curious about everything. It just goes to show that there is plenty to do in Baltimore, hon, the number one tourist destination in the world for 2006, as per Fodors (Or some magazine like that - I can't remember anymore). It's also America's fittest city (per Men's Health, I think.)

Big Weekend Part I

jacob had a big, big weekend! Saturday, we met Jacob's Grandmom W. Great Aunt Barbara and Great Aunt Patty--who were in town visiting big sister Bev--at a cute little restaurant in sleepy Stevensville -- first exit off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Kent Island. It's about an hour's drive for us and an hour and a half for Gmom and Gpop W. Poor Grandpop W. was home sick with that nasty 24 to 72-hour stomach flu, which circluated around here at Christmas but is just making its way through the Eastern Shore now -- where we hope it will stay!

There was a lot to see in tiny Stevensville...
an old B&O caboose...



Jacob taking a shining to Great Aunt Patty and giving her lessons in blankie holding..."now can you give me lessons on how to ride a Harley?" ...

Gussie, an honored guest...


and the free-range hens and roosters.

It was great to see Barbara again -- twice in less than six months is quite rare, since she lives on the West Coast. Jacob could get used to hanging out in dining establishments with his great aunt from California!