New Hampshire Mountains not conducive to working on internet . . .

We are in Littleton, New Hampshire, very near the White Mountains.  I have the latest blog text ready (Acadia and New Hampshire), but we are so remote that I can’t get my photos to download.  In fact, I’m just hoping this particular blog text will actually go when I try to send it.  We are traveling tomorrow morning (Friday) to White River Junction, Vermont (former home of Nancy Harris Smith and her family).  I’ll be trying again (as we ride) to insert the photos and send the blog.  Here’s hoping.  But, please don’t give up on me . . . updates are truly on their way!

Much love to all,

Frances

A truly laid back day . . .

We arrived at Mt. Desert Narrows RV Park around 3 pm on Friday afternoon . . .

And, Kennedy, this one’s for you . . . you were right . . . there are WalMarts all over the world!!

We used today to catch up on laundry and rest, but John made reservations for us this evening at the Bar Harbor Inn, which he remembered fondly from his hiking trip in 2006.  We had a marvelous window seat, with some absolutely gorgeous scenery . . .

Lots of folks began boarding this sail boat around 6:00 pm for a late afternoon sail . . . looked like there were about 60-70 people . . . it pulled out a little after 6:30, and began hoisting sails just after leaving the immediate harbor area . . . it was really pretty to watch . . .

Our window seat overlooked the Bar Harbor Patio Restaurant . . .

As well as more of the harbor area . . .

And, how ’bout this cute little old couple . . . aren’t they adorable???

Anyway, we really did have a wonderful evening, and the meal was delicious.  We plan to go to Acadia National Park tomorrow.  John wants to drive us to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the view from which he says is just breathtaking.  Also, he can show me the areas of trails where he and his hiking buddies were in 2006.  Should be another banner day in Maine!!

Much love to all,

Frances

On the Road Again . . . to see some more of Maine!

Today we’re heading to Bar Harbor, Maine.  We had torrential rain during the night, which waked us around midnight . . . and we discovered a leak at the front windshield of the RV.  So, out came a pan to catch the water that was dripping!  I’ll be getting some caulk today and sealing up some suspicious-looking areas after we get set up in Bar Harbor.  It’s overcast as we travel right now, but the sun looks like it’s trying to peak through every now and then.  Predictions, however, are for rain to continue for the next couple of days in the area where we’ll be.  High for today probably around 75 degrees.  Not too bad, right?

One thing I failed to accentuate in my last two posts was the beauty of the many, many homes we saw along the coast.  For those of you who know about as much as I did about the map of this part of the country, we have been, and continue to be, on the southern coast of Maine.  I had envisioned that we would be at the northern tip, but I was oh, so wrong.  In fact, the nickname for this area is “Downeast”.  So, with that in mind, all of our traveling for the past 2 days has been either East or West of Portland, which is the nearest big city to where the RV was parked.  Anyway, we were consistently exclaiming things like, “Oh, my gosh!”, or “Wow!”, or “Would you just look at that!”, or “Good grief!”.   We traveled a good deal of the coast on Highway 1, or on local shore roads.  Many of the homes we were seeing were 2 and 3 million dollar homes, and the waterfront views simply had to be spectacular from those homes!  You saw the Bush Summer home photo I sent yesterday . . . but trust me, there were homes that were much more amazing than that one, all along the Maine shoreline.  Even the “normal-looking” homes (or normal in my eyes anyway) were spectacular because of where they were located . . . either right on the shoreline, or across the street from there.  It was a very slow, winding drive . . . but well worth the queasy feelings it caused for my stomach!

And, you shoppers would think you were in ‘shoppers’ heaven’ up here . . . it seems like there are more outlet stores up here than I’ve ever seen!!

We’re about 70 miles now from Bangor, Maine, where we get off I-295 to head south to Bar Harbor.  I don’t know exactly what all we’ll be doing in Bar Harbor.  I do know that we will be visiting parts of Acadia National Park, as John wants to show me some of the areas they hiked there a few years ago.  We’ll also check in to taking a drive over the bridge to Nova Scotia.  If any of you know of any sites we just shouldn’t miss in the Bar Harbor area, please let me know in your comments.

We still are scheduled to be in Niagara on August 12 to meet Jennifer Jones and Don Archer, who will be camping in the KOA Park with us for about a week.  So, we have about a couple of weeks to see the sites between here and Niagara!

Will post again in a day or so . . .

Much love to all . . . please be kind to one another . . .

Frances

On the Lighthouse trail . . . day two . . .

Well, we traveled far fewer miles today . . . 175 . . . and had a much less productive day as well, as far as lighthouses go.  Our first stop was in Cape Porpoise, Maine, where we were hoping to get a good photo of Goat Island Light . . . but it was much too far away to do much better than this . . .

Oh well . . . we continued on to Kennebunkport, Maine, the home of the Summer Home of former President George H. W. Bush.  We found the following plaque in the viewing area . . .

There was an anchor attached to and laying next to the plaque (less the old broad posing, of course) . . .

The estate is situated on the strip of land called Walker’s Point which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The large central house, built in the New England shingle style, has nine bedrooms, four sitting rooms, an office, a den, a library, a dining room, a kitchen, and various patios and decks. Next to the main house are a four-car garage, a pool, tennis court, dock, boathouse, and guesthouse. There are spacious lawns on either side of the house, on which there is a small sports field.  The entrance is gated and guarded by Secret Service officers, though visitors can see the driveway leading up to the main house and a circular driveway, in the middle of which is a large flagpole flying the American flag.

Not too shabby, huh?  And here’s a little closer shot of the main house . . .

And then there are the other guest houses down from the main house  . . .

OK, back to the lighthouse trail . . . our next stop was south of Kennebunkport at Cape Neddick on York Beach, where we got our winning photo of the day . . . Nubble Light.  It was so, so pretty there.  We were standing on rocks extending from a parking/viewing lot . . . we looked across a small channel of water from Nubble Light to get our photo.  The 41-foot cast iron tower was authorized by President Rutherford B. Hayes and first illuminated in 1879, and automated in 1987.  Among the stories about Nubble Light is the story of a keeper with a 19-pound cat who was an attraction in himself, especially when he reputedly swam across the channel to visit mainland friends.  Then, he would return to the lighthouse to perform his greatest claim to fame as a champion mouser!

Then, we moved on down a little more south to the town of Kittery, where we were looking for Whaleback Light.  We drove way too many miles hunting for this one, as we passed the location early on.  When we finally backtracked and found it, we realized it was far too distant to get a good photo, as you can see . . .

There was a second lighthouse to the right of Whaleback, which was much closer but still too far away to get a really good shot . . .

So . . . not nearly as good a day as yesterday, but John and I enjoyed the search together, nonetheless.  That has been the real height of this whole journey . . . making it together . . . can’t say enough about how much of a blessing that is, really.

As I close, I want to share blessed news of a healing miracle . . . Leslie Denney Etheredge.  The pathology report came back today . . . all lymph nodes are negative . . . no chemotherapy is required.  As her son, Shane, put it . . . BIG WIN!!  Again, thanks for all your prayers . . . please continue to pray for Leslie as she looks now to a long period of physical therapy to build up and strengthen her arms and her entire body.  God is good, all the time!!

Much love and respect to all,

Frances

On the Lighthouse trail . . . day one . . .

We started out around 8 am this morning for our “day on the lighthouse trail”.  Our first stop was Portland Head Light 1791, located in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  It is called the patriarch of Maine’s lighthouses, and marks the state’s busiest harbor, Portland Harbor.  President George Washington appointed its first keeper.  Portland Head Light is now owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth . . .

Our second stop was Spring Point Ledge Light 1897, marking the dangerous ledge on the west side of the main shipping channel into Portland Harbor.  It is designed in the typical “sparkplug” style of the period, but the tower is constructed of brick rather than cast iron.  It has 4 levels, including a keeper’s office, watchroom and 2 levels for living quarters.  Spring Point Ledge Light is now owned by Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse Trust.  There were about 100 children either playing kickball outside, or doing crafts inside a building by the Spring Point Ledge Light, which we learned was a Summer camp for these children.  The camp has been existence about 35 years now, doing 2-week sessions for about 100 children in each session.  What a gorgeous place for these children to have memories of being their Summer camp!!

Our third stop was Portland Breakwater (Bug) Light 1875, locally known as Bug Light (no, NOT Bud Light).  The word ‘breakwater’ means the structure that is built to join a lighthouse to the mainland.  In this case, it is made of large stones.  With Spring Point Ledge Light (above), it is HUGE boulders that connect it to the mainland.  As shipyards expanded into Portland Harbor to accommodate World War II shipbuilding, the breakwater at Bug Light (below) progressively was shortened until the lighthouse stood only 100 feet from shore, making it obsolete.  The light was extinguished in 1942 . . . ultimately it was donated to the City of Portland, with major repairs and restoration being done in 1989 . . .

The fourth lighthouse we saw was Ram Island Ledge Light 1905, which sits on jagged rocks at the north side of the entrance to Portland Harbor. It is not connected to the shore.  You can actually see it shadowing behind the Portland Head Light way out in the water.  Gray, granite blocks were used to construct the tower, which give the lighthouse the appearance of being much older than it is . . .

See it out to the right of Portland Head Light? . . .

Our fifth stop was to see Two Lights, also located in Cape Elizabeth.  It’s called Two Lights, as there are actually 2 lighthouses in very close proximity to one another.  Both are currently on two separate pieces of private property, so we could not walk up to either of them to take photos.  The first picture below is the remaining active lighthouse of the two, which was automated in 1963 . . . and is the most powerful lighthouse on the New England coast at 4 million candle power . . .

The second light is barely visible through this residential area . . . we could just see the very top of the tower in the distance . . .

We took a lunch break and ate at The Lobster Shack at Two Lights, located just a photo shot away from Two Lights . . . and right on the water!  In fact, we took both pictures of the above 2 lighthouses from The Lobster Shack at Two Lights out by their picnic tables.  After we got our photos taken, we got in line around 11:30 to eat, with only 6 people in front of us (you order at their inside counter, and either eat inside or take outside to picnic tables to eat).  By the time we sat down (inside) to eat, there were about 30 people in line!  Apparently, The Lobster Shack at Two Lights is really popular, and people come with their priority being to eat there . . . and then if there’s enough time, they might photo Two Lights on the way home . . . NOT the other way around like we did it.  Oh, by the way, John and I both had fried shrimp,, which was delicious . . . no lobster for us today, or probably any other day . . .

After lunch, we drove to Bath, Maine, and stopped in at their Visitor Center.   The attendant suggested we stop by and see Doubling Point Light 1898, which we did . . . we drove, and drove, and drove, on little narrow dirt roads to get to it.  When we finally did reach it, we had to walk down what looked like the side of someone’s private residence to actually walk the foot bridge to the lighthouse.  This particular lighthouse was located where it is to mark a sharp double bend in the Kennebec River . . . and it is the closest lighthouse to the shipbuilding harbor of Bath, Maine.   The lighthouse is now maintained by the Friends of Doubling Point Light . . .

Our last stop of the day was at the Pemaquid Point Light in Bristol, Maine . . . absolutely our favorite stop of the day.  It has some of the most majestic and striking scenery on the entire Maine coast.  The light, visible on a clear day for 14 miles, was the first in Maine to be automated in 1934.  The keeper’s house now houses the Fishermen’s Museum, displaying artifacts of Maine lighthouses and the fishing/lobster industry.  The tower is now under the care of the American Lighthouse Foundation . . .

We could actually go up into the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse . . . so, we climbed these stairs . . .

. . . and then climbed these stairs . . .

. . . to get to the top of this beautiful lighthouse . . .

. . . and saw this amazing lens that  houses the automated light (sorry, but you’ll need to turn photo to side and view as a portrait-type picture) . . .

After coming down from the interior of the lighthouse, we strolled some of that majestic and striking shoreline scenery . . .

What an amazing day this was!  We drove a total of 255 miles today . . . got back to the RV around 6:30 this evening.  It was all to the east and to the north of Portland . . . and it took all day to drive, view and enjoy the experience of our “day on the lighthouse trail” . . . and it was well worth it!  Tomorrow (Thursday), we plan to see some lighthouses to the south of Portland, e.g. Wood Island Light at Biddeford . . . Goat Island Light at Cape Porpoise . . . Nubble Light at Cape Neddick . . . . we also want to throw in the Bush home at Kennebunkport,  just for good measure!  So, look for the post after we do our run tomorrow . . . should have some good photos for you.  John’s doing a great job of perpetuating our entire trip with some terrific pics!

So . . . until next time . . .

Much love and respect to all . . .

Frances

L L Bean today . . . Lighthouses tomorrow . . .

Today’s post is mostly signs just to prove we made it out of Massachusetts!  We had such a great time there that it wouldn’t have taken much to stay on another few days.

But we made our way through New Hampshire . . .

. . . to get to Maine . . .

We’re camping in Scarborough, Maine, at a very pretty campground built around a lovely lake with sandy beaches all around the perimeter that serves the park.

Of course, we kinda look the same, no matter where we park . . .

This campground is near both Freeport, Maine . . . and Portland, Maine.  There are several lighthouses in the areas of both Freeport and Portland that we would like to see and photograph.  Today was to be the day for Freeport, and the outlying sights we wanted to see that are driveable from Freeport . . .

Freeport is the home of the headquarters of L L Bean.  There’s a complex of their 4 stores in Freeport . . . (1) their Flagship retail clothing store . . . (2) their hunting, fishing & camping store . . . (3) their home furnishings store . . . and (4) their Biking and Boating Store. Those who know me know that I’m not a shopper, but even I enjoyed going through the L L Bean stores.

Due to unexpected rain, we decided to do only the L L Bean Stores today, and then do lighthouses tomorrow (Wednesday) that are driveable from Freeport.  So, if that plan comes to fruition, I’ll share some photos on the next post of some gorgeous lighthouses, and hopefully a little background info on each.

Before I close, I’d like to thank all who’ve been praying for our dear friend, Leslie Denny Etheredge.  She came through double mastectomy surgery today really well . . . the lymph nodes appeared negative . . . reconstructive surgery also went well.  Her son, Shane, has been texting me with updates.  Please continue to pray that all cancer is gone with no additional invasion, and that Leslie will be blessed with complete healing.

Much love to all . . .

Frances

Boston #3 Entry . . . Downtown Boston

On Saturday, July 21st, we drove to Ron and Jo’s house in Bedford, MA, to get with them to drive us in to Boston . . .

Faneuil Hall has served as a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742. Funding was provided by a wealthy merchant, Peter Faneuil, for the construction and local artisan to create the grasshopper weather vane that still perches on the building’s cupola. Inspirational speeches by Samuel Adams and other patriots were given at Faneuil Hall. These oratories became the footstool for America’s desire to obtain independence from the British. Faneuil Hall was expanded in 1806 by Charles Bulfinch. When Boston became a city the use of Faneuil Hall as a government meeting place came to an end, but it is still regularly used. Today, the first floor is still used as a Visitors’ Center, and the second floor is a meeting hall where many Boston City debates are held. The fourth floor is maintained by the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. It was in Fanueil Hall that John F. Kennedy announced he was running for President of the United States.

The Old State House is a historic government building built in 1713.  It is the oldest surviving public building in Boston, and the seat of the state’s legislature until 1798. It is now a history museum. It is one of many historic landmarks that can be visited along the Freedom Trail, which we walked throughout the day.

This is the Omni Parker House Hotel . . . where John F. Kennedy, in its dining room, proposed to Jacqueline Lee Bouvier.

. . . Also, it is the home of the original Parker House Rolls and Boston Cream Pie . . .

The Capital pf Boston . . .

Paul Revere’s house . . .

Statue of Paul Revere . . .

Christ Church in Boston, a/k/a The Old North Church, is where signal lanterns were illuminated in the very top part of the steeple for Paul Revere so he could warn the countryside that the British were coming . . .

The steeple of The Old North Church where the lanterns were hung to signal Paul Revere . . .

The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. It was first launched in 1797. The Constitution is one of six ships ordered for construction by George Washington to protect America’s growing maritime interests. The ship’s greatest glory came during the War of 1812, when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships, which earned her the nickname “Old Ironsides,” because cannon balls glanced off her thick hull. She never knew defeat.

“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” This legendary order has come to symbolize the conviction and determination of the ill-equipped American colonists facing powerful British forces during the famous battle fought on this site on June 17, 1775. The battle is popularly known as “The Battle of Bunker Hill,” although most of the fighting actually took place on Breed’s Hill, the site of the existing monument. Even though the Colonists were defeated by the British in this battle, this 221-foot granite obelisk in Downtown Boston marks the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution.

Boston, the home of Cheers . . . the exterior facade of which was filmed for the long-running TV series, Cheers . . .

Boston, also the home of Harvard University . . . these are for you, Charlie!

Statue of John Harvard, the founder . . .

A well-known Harvard spot . . .

And, to finish the day in fine style, we enjoyed dinner at The First Printer Restaurant . . . a wonderful meal, and just FANTASTIC company!!

Unfortunately, it was during dinner that John bit down on something that broke a tooth off his top, front partial.  As a result, we are staying in the Boston area a couple of additional days to get him into the dental office that Jo and Ron use.  So, since we have a busy day tomorrow to get John some dental attention, I’ll close so we can get a good night of rest before arising VERY early on Monday.

Much love to all . . . remember . . . get outside yourself long enough to see and recognize someone’s else’s concerns . . . then, say or do something meaningful for them . . . hope you have a stellar week!

Frances

Boston #2 Entry . . . Lexington and Concord . . .

On Friday, July 20th, we visited the 2 Revolutionary towns of Lexington and Concord.  Depending on who you ask, Lexington was the location of the first shot of the Revolutionary War (the shot heard ’round the world), and Concord was the location where the first formal order was given to the American Colonists (the Minutemen) to fire upon the British . . .

. . . part of the battleground as it looks today . . .

The Minuteman Statue in Lexington . . . they were called ‘Minutemen” because they were known for being ready to go into battle at a moment’s notice . . .

By the time of the Revolution, Rev. Jonas Clarke, a relative by marriage of John Hancock’s family, occupied this house, which had been built as a parsonage by Rev. John Hancock. Clarke encouraged Revolutionaries to use his home as a meetingplace and refuge. On the evening of April 18, 1775, patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams were visiting there. Around midnight, after everyone had gone to bed, Paul Revere, and later William Dawes, warning the countryside of the approach of British troops, galloped up and informed this household.

Then, we visited Concord, MA . . .

This is North Bridge, where, with British soldiers firing directly at his men, Major John Buttrick gave the order, “Fire, fellow soldiers, for God’s sake, fire!”  It was the first time that Colonists (The Minutemen) were ordered to fire on the King’s troops, an act of treason.

In Concord, the following is inscribed on the monument at North Bridge . . . “HERE On the 19 of April, 1775, was made the first forcible resistance to British aggression. On the opposite Bank stood the American Militia. Here stood the Invading Army and on this spot the first of the Enemy fell in the War of that Revolution which gave Independence to these United States. In gratitude to GOD and In the love of Freedom this Monument was erected AD 1836.”

In the same area, we came upon the home of Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women . . .

And, just down the road was the home of Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlett Letter . . .

Again, another day of learning a little more about the beginnings of our great nation.  I find myself feeling so little and insignificant . . . these men and women sacrificed so much to assure my liberty . . .

Much love to all,

Frances

Boston . . . visiting with old friends . . . seeing new sites . . .

We came in to Massachusetts on Tuesday, July 17th . . .

. . . and arrived at our new “temporary home” at the Boston Minuteman Campground in Littleton, Massachusetts . . .

That evening, we enjoyed being in the home of Ron and Mary Jo Murphy . . . Jo  was in our very first youth choir group, The Emmanuel Singers, at Trinity United Methodist Church in 1971.  She was then Mary Jo Sulzby.  Jo and Ron have lived in the Boston area for 12 years, in Bedford, MA, and they were our very best tour guides yet!

The next morning, Wednesday, July 18, Ron and Jo picked us up and took us on a magnificent drive north of Littleton, to the coast, for the day.  We started out around Newburyport, and saw other coastal towns like Plum Island, Ipswich, Essex, Rockport, and Cape Ann.

One of the little towns we visited was Gloucester . . . home of Gorton’s Fish Company.

This is a monument in Gloucester dedicated to all the fishermen known to have lost their lives at sea . . .

The day started out a bit cloudy, with some rain . . .

Eventually,  however, it cleared up and we drove to the home of ‘Motif Number 1’ . . . located on Bradley Wharf in the harbor town of Rockport, Massachusetts . . . a fishing shack well known to students of art and art history as “the most often-painted building in America.”   So, we gave it the respect it is obviously due, via photos . . .

While in Rockport, we ate late-lunch/early dinner at The Lobster Pool Restaurant, which is a very widely-known, extremely popular location for fresh New England lobster.  I want everyone to know that John and I gave lobster an honest try . . . we decided, however, that we’re not among the lobster fans, as of yet anyway.

However . . . the gorgeous view, and the outstanding company, made up for any lack-luster from us for lobster.  There were picnic tables outside the back of the restaurant, and we lucked in to one right on the water . . .

This was an incredible shot of the sun’s rays shining through the clouds onto the shoreline where we were seated . . .

What a wonderful day Ron and Jo gave us!  This is truly a beautiful part of our great country.  And, we still have a couple of days yet to enjoy the Boston area . . . more to come in the next post regarding the visit John and I made to Lexington and Concord on our own (more Revolutionary War history) . . .

Much love to all,

Frances

A wonderfully warm visit with HCB-New England . . .

OK, we’re in Connecticut on Sunday, July 15 . . .

Since we couldn’t find an RV park in the area close to Mike’s office, we found a Hampton Inn in Farmington . . . brand new, beautiful property opened about 8 or 9 months ago . . .

And, our little Winnebago had to stay “out back” all by itself for a couple of nights . . .

On Monday, July 16, John and I arrived at the HCB-New England Office around 11 am to meet and have lunch with everyone . . .

Lynn Fleming was up front to greet me with her friendly smile and personality.  Cheryl Barker then came up to meet us and show us around the office.  Their office is just lovely . . . done in kind of a square pattern, with perimeter offices, as well as interior offices.  Cheryl describes it more like a ‘P’ formation . . . doesn’t go quite all the way around.  Regardless . . . very, very lovely.

Then, we all gathered around their Boardroom table to share lunch together. Mike asked me to share with his staff, from my perspective, what it was like in the HCHC days . . . and the changes I’ve experienced and seen through the years with HCB.  Seated from the left are (in alphabetical order, because my aged mind can’t put all the names with faces) . . . Laura Birge, Justin DeSorbo, Lisa Dimock, Jan Fonseca, Kelly Gwillim, Sean Leary, Jennifer Mastronunzio, Linda Roberge, and the back of Mike’s head) . . .

I could remember these . . . the back of Laura Birge’s head, Mike, Ken Savino, Nicholas Savino, Alex Pariano, Maurice Sturm, and Jan Fonseca.  Not shown are Cheryl Barker and Nancy Simm . . .

And here are Jen Larwood (on the left) and Janice Wertman . . .

A very special part of the morning was getting to see a dear friend for the first time in many years, Ken Savino.  Ken was with one of the 5 original retail firms that HCHC owned back in 1998 (Savino, Sturrock & Sullivan).  Ken and I remained friends through the years, and I was overjoyed to get to be with him again for a little while, and to get to meet his 3-yr-old son, Nicholas . . .

And, then there’s my dear, dear friend, Mike Pariano . . . what a special guy!

Several of the folks in Mike’s office recommended that we take in Mark Twain’s house, which we did . . .

The physical design of the house was supposed to emulate a steam ship.  We toured the interior, which was delightful.  I’ve always been a fan of the writings of Mark Twain. I actually got to experience Hal Holbrook’s interpretation of Mark Twain when I was a student at the University of Montevallo back in 1965.  John got this great pic of the exterior of the Twain House . . .

Unfortunately, we didn’t get any photos of an absolutely delightful evening meal with Mike and his wife, Alexis.  We ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant in the Farmington area, and enjoyed some great conversation and stories with Mike and Alexis.  Thanks, Mike and Alexis, for a very memorable evening!

And, finally . . . for Kennedy . . . another ever-present WalMart in Connecticut!

All of our stops have been amazing . . . we are so grateful for the opportunities . . . and for the good health and safety we’ve enjoyed throughout the entire journey.

So, until the next post (Boston, first day) . . . please take a little time to do something for someone else today, with no expectations of receiving anything in return . . .

Much love to all,

Frances