Breathtaking landscapes and an amazing Milestone!

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Discussion, Photos, Writing

I’ve been on a break and during that time, my husband and I visited our son in VA . He was able to dust off his ‘tour guide’ and ‘host’ hats again, and of course, he did a fabulous job. Just spending time with him in his apartment, catching up about life and enjoying wine and good food, is something special we’ll never take for granted. But he did have fun playing tour guide, so a few places we visited were Arlington National Cemetery, Harper’s Ferry, Shenandoah National Park, and the Teddy Roosevelt Island. Some sights were simply breathtaking while others such as the Cemetery were somber. We couldn’t help but get teary-eyed. It was relaxing driving around the area too, reveling in the sights of acres and acres of lush green grass. Just gorgeous!
Here are a few photos that I hope you enjoy;

Arlington National Cemetery – The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Iwo Jima
Harper’s Ferry, W.V. – Potomac River
The Appalachian Trail runs through Harper’s Ferry, and I am proud to say we walked a few miles on this iconic trail! It was fun and inspiring to talk to some hikers who were just beginning their 1000-mile trek up to Maine!
Harper’s Ferry, W.V. – Potomac River
Shenandoah National Park
Tunnel on Skyline Drive (105 miles long) in Shenandoah National Park
Another vista in Shenandoah National Park
Walking from our son’s apt. to our hotel – a 5-minute walk.
Teddy Roosevelt Island Memorial – an 88.5-acre island and national memorial located in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. The land is generally maintained as a natural park, with various trails and a memorial plaza featuring a statue of Roosevelt. No cars or bicycles are permitted on the island, which is reached by a footbridge from Arlington, VA on the western bank of the Potomac.
Teddy Roosevelt Island

And to top off this post, today is my father-in-law’s 100th BIRTHDAY!! He suffers with pain but walks with a walker, and his mind is as sharp as ever. It’s beyond amazing! He didn’t want a big party, so we had a small gathering with family and friends, and he was very appreciative. When the celebration was over, we took him home so he could take a nap!!! 🎉🎉

He doesn’t eat cake often, but he indulged in this delicious cake for his 100th!!

Thank you for stopping by! Work continues on my upcoming book, and the release month is now June for ‘summer reading.’ I’m also working on reviews for some wonderful books I’ve read this year. I hope you are doing well, and I wish you a bright start to this new month of May.

~ Lauren ❤️🌸

77 thoughts on “Breathtaking landscapes and an amazing Milestone!”

  1. Amazing milestone indeed! Happy 100th to your FIL!!!! [cake looks delicious!]
    What a beautiful trip, Lauren and I love your photos. I hope to see more of that trip in the future!
    Sending many hugs and …Welcome back! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the birthday wishes for Wil, Marina. He’s amazing! I can’t even imagine 100! And I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. It was hard saying good-bye to our son, as always, but we text and talk all the time, so it’s all good. 🙂 Hugs to you and it’s good to be back! ❤️🎉✈️🎂🥰🤗

      Reply

      1. I can imagine how hard it was, especially after such a sentimental family gathering, with Wil’s birthday and being all together.
        Many many more hugs back!
        ❤️🌷🌺🎶💐

    1. Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Joanna. I know Wil would appreciate your birthday wishes, and I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. Such beautiful scenery and so much history. And thank you about my book too. ❤️

      Reply

  3. Wow, what a wonderful trip you had! Thank you for sharing your beautiful trip with us. It sounds like you had a great time with your son and saw some amazing places. The photos are gorgeous and breathtaking, and I love the variety of scenery and history. You visited some very interesting and meaningful sites. And what a milestone for your father-in-law, 100 years old! That’s awesome! He has lived a century of love, wisdom, and grace. May he be blessed with happiness and health on this special day and always. Happy 100th birthday to him! 😊

    Reply

    1. Hi Pankaj, thank you for your wonderful comment! I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. The greenery was beautiful, along with the parks we visited. And you’re right, there is so much history on the east coast. I appreciate your birthday wishes for my FIL too. I know he would also. He’s amazing, and it’s hard to even imagine turning 100! Thanks again! 🙏🏻

      Reply

  4. How lovely Lauren!
    So happy you had such a wonderful time, visiting nice places and being with your son. These moments are precious indeed.
    100 years old: this is kind of a record and I am so glad you had a special time with your father is law to celebrate. The cake looks yummy.
    My grand-mother will have 100 beginning of october and it reminds me how much it counts to have our loved ones with us, as long as they can enjoy it too.
    Welcome back and looking forward discovering all about your new book ❤️❤️

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Marie! You’re right, our time with our children is so precious, especially when many miles come in between us. Happy early 100th to your grandmother too! 100 is so amazing! And the cake was delicious! 🙂 We’re so grateful that Wil’s mind is still sharp. His body is getting tired and shows it painfully, but he never complains. He just rolls with the punches. My parents have both passed, and so has my MIL (young at 59), so we’re thankful that Wil is still with us. Thank you for your welcome back and for your good wishes about my book. Sending love and hugs, dear friend. 💖

      Reply

  5. what a wonderful trip to visit your son and celebrate your FIL 100th birthday Lauren. What beautiful pics and walks. thanks for sharing it with us,. Glad you got some time for respite! ❣️

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Cindy! We had a wonderful time, but leaving is always hard when so many miles lie in between us. So the time together is very special. I’m happy you enjoyed the hikes and photos, and the celebration for my FIL. Amazing to turn 100! Hope all is well with you! 💖

      Reply

      1. You’re so welcome. Oh I can imagine how difficult that must be! I’m glad you got some special time. I did love it. what an amazing time! Whooo hooo to 100!!!
        All good, thanks so much! ❣️

    1. Thanks, Joy! And Happy early 100th to your MIL! It’s truly an incredible milestone. She sounds like she’s doing great. My FIL has survived two wives, caring for both through cancer and Alzheimers. He was married to my MIL for 30 years, then remarried for another 25, both happy marriages. He’s a very caring man. Best wishes to your MIL! 💞

      Reply

  16. So wonderful you got to have such a lovely visit with your Son Lauren. and visit the many sites… WOW to that 1000 mile hiking trail… I watched a documentary some years ago now on the trail…. and it is no easy walk in some stretches either.

    Congratulations upon your Father-in-laws wonderful mile-stone of 100 years Young… That is fabulous… Happy Birthday Wil….. your cake looked delicious…

    Loved pouring over your photos Lauren… And so pleased you got to have such a wonderful visit with your Son…
    Much love my friend ❤ ❤ ❤

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your lovely comment, Sue! We had a great time with our son, and the scenery was just stunning! A good time to visit back east. I’m sure that trail isn’t easy. I know the Pacific Crest on our coast is tough through the Sierra Mountains, so I can’t imagine. But in a way, I wish I had known about the trails when I was younger. I just wasn’t in a hiking family and hadn’t met my hubby yet. And then we met, married, started a family, and that was that. 🙂 We were happy to hear their stories though. And thanks for the wishes for my FIL. We’re glad he could celebrate this amazing milestone, and he’s had a good day with more celebrating. And the cake was yummy! I’m so happy you enjoyed the photos too! Thanks again, and much love flowing back to you! 💖💖💖

      Reply

  18. What a beautiful trip, Lauren. Congratulations to your father in law. That is a real milestone. My grandfather is buried in Arlington, and I always am struck by how sacred the ground is when I go there.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, John. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos, and thanks for the bday wishes too. 100 is amazing! I appreciate you sharing about your grandfather. We felt the same way when we walked the grounds at Arlington, which is why we took very few photos. The experience was more about focusing on the moment, the history, the loss. It was a poignant experience.

      Reply

  20. Thank you for sharing the Virginia views with us, Lauren! They reminded me of all the trips my husband and I took when he was stationed in Virginia. There was always a new sight to see. It must have been so wonderful to spend time with your son! We last saw our daughter in 2021. Kudos on your book progress, and happy birthday to Wil!

    Reply

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos, Liz, and could relate to the east coast landscape. Such beauty at this time of year and no humidity. 🙂 I know we’ve talked, so yes, it was wonderful to spend time with him and see the sights. We’re just so proud. And I hope you get to see your daughter soon. I know it’s hard with the distance. Thanks about my book too. And Grief Songs is one book I read and loved that I’ll post a review about sometime this month. Thanks for the bday wishes too!

      Reply

      1. The most memorable sight was driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. The views were indescribably beautiful. I think the next visit with Sonia will be her coming to the East Coast. My husband won’t trust our elderly diabetic dog to a kennel. I’m so glad you loved Grief Songs. Thank you for letting me know.

      2. I hope you have a wonderful time with Sonia when she visits, Liz. We have to hold those special times in our hearts to sustain us until the next visit. The Blue Ridge Parkway sounds gorgeous, and you’re welcome about your book. 🙂

  22. So fascinating post and the photos full of beautiful nature and tunnel beauty of view and read 🌹🙏👍🏻
    Breathtaking national park views are gorgeous and so happy that you stayed with husband and son 💕🥰
    Grace wishes dear friend 🌹🙏♥️🌹

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Thattamma, for your lovely comment! I’m so glad you enjoyed the scenery! We had a special time with our son and look forward to the next. 🙂 Wishing you a wonderful day, my friend.
      ❤️🌸🙏🏻💐

      Reply

  23. I love Virginia – a gorgeous state. I went to college for one year in Fredericksburg and vowed I’d live in that state, but it never happened. Your photos are glorious. And congrats to your FIL. What a milestone. ❤

    Reply

    1. Our son has enjoyed living there, Pam, and we visited at the right time. The trees were leafed out so we saw forests after forests. So beautiful! And then the acres of green grass, just gorgeous. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos, and thanks for the birthday wishes for my FIL. Truly amazing to live 100 years. 💞💞

      Reply

  25. What a wonderful break, Lauren. It looks like your tour guide took good care of you and knew just where to go. And Happy B-day to your FIL. That’s great that you could help him celebrate and that he enjoyed some cake to honor his day. ❤ ❤

    Reply

    1. Thanks for stopping by, Diana, and for your birthday wishes for my FIL. He’s suffering in some ways, but he was happy to celebrate his 100th and so were we. The cake was delicious, something to enjoy on these special occasions. And yes, our son did the best job. It was so wonderful just being with him. When we don’t see the kids often because of distance, these times are more special. We were sorry the trip had to end. 🙂 Have a good weekend! 💞🎉

      Reply

  27. Love those fabulous photos of your trip and especially that shot of the mountains in the Shenandoah National Park. I am so excited to be going home to Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains; I am ready for the green.

    Happy birthday to your father-in-law! What an amazing life he must be living. ❤

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your lovely comment, Layla! We really visited at the right time with the trees leafed out and acres of green grass. The scenery was truly spectacular! That was our first visit to Shenandoah, and Wow, doesn’t begin to cover how we felt at each gorgeous vista. Of course, spending time with our son was the best time spent. 🙂
      I hope you have a wonderful trip home, and thank you for the birthday wishes for my FIL. He’s had a very good and interesting life, not without loss, but he moves forward with optimism. Pretty amazing. Thanks again! ❤️❤️

      Reply

  28. It is good to take a break every now and again. I find it replenishes the creative flow. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos, Lauren. It looks like a beautiful time.
    Many Blessings
    Lisa xoxo

    Reply

  30. Gorgeous photos. Your son is a great tour guide and you captured the moments beautifully. 100! Wow! Now that’s a milestone! 🎉🥳 Thanks for sharing your wonderful family time with us.
    🩶🙏🩶

    Reply

I appreciate your thoughts!

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s