The temperature here in Virginia this morning as I write is 37 degrees, and we'll get up to a high of 49 today, which isn't too chilly, but still not as spring-like as I'd like.
My friend Dorothy, who recently moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, sent me an email this morning. Her family is going to the beach today--in Florida where temps are supposed to be in the 70's! I'm jealous, and I'm not even a beach person!
And...who knew that Mississippi was that close to Florida? She says they'll drive only two hours to enjoy a picnic lunch at a beach there. Geography was always my favorite subject in school thanks to Mr. Gore, my 9th grade geography teacher and one of my favorites. But evidently I'm not quite up on my state locations.
I decided to check out our faithful homeschool map to find out exactly where Biloxi is and exactly
where Florida is. Yep, sure enough, Biloxi is right down there on the coast and just over from the green panhandle of Florida--close to Pensacola. Who knew that? Well, now I do.
I've never been to either of those states, and I'd love to visit that area of the country one day--but not in hurricane season. In fact, I'd love to travel and visit any state--there's a lot of the country I've never seen.
Today, we're traveling in familiar territory in our own state--right up the road to Harrisonburg to a library book sale. Everyone is looking forward to it...but a stuffy old library sure doesn't compare to the beach!
~Deb
Oy, your're telling me! I'm so jealous of anyone who has good weather. *Grin* My sister (who lives in California) sent me an e-mail saying it had "finally" cooled down, and the weather was nice and "springy" (in the 70's). I'm waiting, waiting, waiting IMpatiently for spring to arrive!!!
Posted by: Tammy S. | Friday, March 09, 2007 at 04:31 PM
I LOVE library book sales! Did you find any treasures?
It's cold up here in PA too. It was 6 degrees one morning this week! I'm not sure if we've gotten into the 40s at all this week.
Posted by: Karen | Friday, March 09, 2007 at 09:47 PM
Oh, Deb, we went to our library sale last week. I keep meaning to post some of our neat finds, but I just keep forgetting. Hope you got a good haul!
Now for me -- having grown up in Florida -- (and mostly avoided the beach scene only about 5 minutes away) I'd say a trip to a book sale was mandatory before heading to the beach! I had to have something to do while I was baking myself! ;o)
Now lest you think I don't properly appreciate the beauty of the beach, I will say the I have seen many sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico! That's my favorite part of beach going (unless you have wee ones to build sand castles with -- they make beach days much more fun!).
P.S. I love your map picture! Is anyone in your family into maps? I'm not sure if we qualify as true cartophiles, but we do enjoy looking at maps at our house. :o)
Posted by: Jodi | Friday, March 09, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Your map brings back memeories of places that I have lived and visited.You can't see Ft.WaltonBeach,Florida on your map but it is near route 98-that is where Allison was born and Prattville,Alabama is on the map where Gregory was born.I havew been to Biloxi and through Georgia.
The weather here was in the 60's.
Posted by: Tammy | Friday, March 09, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Hi Tammy S. - with family in California, I'm sure you hear about nice weather all the time!
Karen - except for Jonathan finding a couple of videos, we all came out empty-handed--tons of books though but not quite our interest, and none we couldn't live without. :)
Jodi - I have probably been to the beach maybe 3 or 4 times in my entire life--it just sounded so refreshing yesterday when my friend mentioned they were going! LOL!
No, we aren't really cartophiles, but I don't think we'll ever take down our wall maps even though we finished schooling long ago. We refer to them so often!
Tammy - those must have been the years I lost touch with you...maybe? Because I don't remember a Ft. Walton address in my address book!
Posted by: Deb | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 06:27 AM
Well...that was fun for us to see your map! It was a beautiful day! What a blessing to have the time together. I was reminded, as I watch the crystal clear water lap the beachline, that God gave the water its boundaries, and they must obey Him. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Posted by: Dorothy | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 08:54 AM
I was at the sale on Thursday. Only found a few books. They didn't have near the selection of other years. But I did find some videos---National Geographic animal videos and some about trains. (: It was fun to look even if I didn't find much.
Posted by: Sarah | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Actually when we lived in Ft.Walton it was actually Eglin Air Force Base!!There were many moves in a short time though.
Our library is next to a construction site right now and it is hard to get ino-they actually are even redoing the parking lot of the library and one has to park on the road.So the library is out for me for awhile.
Posted by: Tammy | Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Good Morning Deb!
I was doing my Monday morning blog reading and was hoping you got to enjoy some of the warm weather on Sat. and Sun. I was looking for some new pictures from you! :-D
By the way, I am aching for spring like weather too! The "weather dudes" are saying that it might be near 70 for a little while this week. Enjoy it my new friend!
Leslie
Posted by: Leslie Wagner | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Dear Mrs. Girroti,
It is definitely warming up in Missouri! I am guessing it is around 60. Just perfect for gardening!
When we visited you all last summer you gave us seeds from your Indigo plant. We were wondering what is the right time of year to plant? Do they like shade vs. sun?
Hope you all had a great time at the library sale :).
Elizabeth S.
Posted by: .Elizabeth | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 04:31 PM
Leslie - I'm excited that you stopped by to comment! Sorry, no new pictures yet as our Saturday outing was postponed. Maybe soon. :)
Hi Beth - it's so fun to hear from you! Well, about the wild blue indigo...my plant was from a container purchased at a nursery, so I haven't started any from seed. But I do plan on doing so this year.
They do well in full sun. I will try planting some seed inside and transplanting after frost date. Also I will try planting the seed directly into the ground late April - early May. (Our last frost date here is May 12 - 15).
Here's a blurb I found on a gardening site that might help:
"Baptisia - Pour hot water over seeds, let soak 1-3 days until swelling noticeable. Sow at 20ºC (68ºF) for germination in more than two weeks. Sensitive to damping-off. If you've been having trouble with these, sow them immediately after gathering them from your existing plant, then give the seedlings the protection of a cool porch or garage their first winter - easy from very fresh seed."
If the seeds don't "take" I will gather the pods again this summer and try planting in the fall as the site suggests might work. I will gladly send you some for fall planting if the spring planting fails.
Posted by: Deb | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 05:26 PM
I'm surprised that your temperatures are close to ours. On Wed it's supposed to go up to 13 C. which is about 56 F. But last week we were freezing at -20C which is -4 F. That's unusually cold for March.
Posted by: Islandsparrow | Monday, March 12, 2007 at 08:11 PM