An Indiana Sunset on the Beach

It was a beautiful day as we drove into Connecticut...

...and it's always a good day for doughnuts...and danishes...and eclairs....

We went for a run on the Niantic Bay Boardwalk before settling down for the evening to watch the sun disappear behind the ocean.

Nothing better than water-side music on a beautiful night!

As we were laughing and taking pictures, a little boy and his parents wandered up the beach side. 

The little boy kept staring at us, and then hiding behind his parents...

...staring at us...and then hiding behind his parents...

So we waved hello.

"He's been working up the courage all the way over here to talk to you", his parents said.

The parents tried to get him to wave back, but he would have no part of it.

The courage was gone...we'd scared him off...

Even though we were facing the water from the east, it was us Indiana Girls version of a sunset on the beach.

Thank the Lord for another beautiful day in the USA.

Love,

The Crew

A New Love

Our morning started with our Rhode Island Family: 

church and coffee (two of the most important things in life!)

"Because the Lord lets me!"

"I get up early---I wake up about 4 a.m. but try not to get up for a while. I love New England!"

"I get up because God woke me...Able to get out of bed...To find my purpose of the day."

It was a wintry day on December 28th, 1941 when Rear Admiral Ben Moreell, then Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, requested permission to commission a very special organization.

This unique group would support the Navy and Marines that were in remote locations.

Then, they were known as the Battallions.

Today, we remember them as the Seabees.

In 1942, Frank Iafrate created the infamous caricature that would soon make military history.

Because the Seabees were mainly there for support, but also were able to defend themselves if provoked, Iafrate knew that the best emblem would be...a bee.

"...doesn't bother you, unless you bother him. But provoked, the bee stings. (Seabeesmuseum.com)"

We were fortunate to not be too far away from the Seabees' original base in Davisville.

The Seabees' Motto:

Construmus Batumius

Translated:

We Build, We Fight

Del's famous lemonade stand was a tart and sweet, slushily refreshing drink between the base and our next stop:

 The Newport Cliff Walk!

"I get up every morning for the people that I love and care for."

"I get up in the morning because I have to for school/jazz/band/church/practice."

The Cliffwalk was a long walk that twisted and turned around every edge of the ocean-side.

Dear People who Did Something so that it was Necessary to have a Sign to Remind you not to Fall,

You are on a cliff, in case you haven't noticed.

That is all.

Along the cliff-side were the infamous Newport mansions.

There were so many great historical buildings of enormous size and magnificence.

*Draws Straws*

"Who goes first through the dark, long (...and dark...) tunnel?"

"Not I." says The Little Red Hen (otherwise known as Jennifer).

Such grandeur and beautiful yard space overlooking the ocean.

Ah, to just listen to the waves crash against the rocks...nothing like it.

You know your house is huge when...

You have elaborate gates with signs for 

[Entrance]

[Exit]

[Service Entrance]

 and

 [Service Exit].

Outside of the mansion where The Great Gatsby was filmed...

...at one of the rare occasions when Gatsby himself isn't throwing a party...

"I get up in the morning because I love and follow the words of the Psalms: 'This is the day that the Lord has made let's rejoice in and be glad in it!' I love my wife and the blessed life we have serving the Lord!"

"I'd like to be very spiritual about this... but the truth is... I get up in the morning because I wake up! Once I am up, it's exciting to see what the Lord has planned for my day!"

Thank you so much to our Rhode Island family for their kindness and generosity!

....and of course for the amazing coffee syrup!

In the iconic words of F. Scott Fitzgerald,

There are all kinds of love in this world, but never the same love twice.

With every state we discover a new beauty and a new love for our wonderful country.

Looking forward to what tomorrow holds.

Love,

The Crew

Meanwhile in Purgatory...

Care for a dash of milk with your coffee?

Or how bout a dash of coffee with your milk?

The official drink of Rhode Island is just that. A tall glass of milk with a few swirls of coffee syrup mixed in.

You can find it in practically every grocery store. You mix it like you would chocolate milk, and we decided that it tastes a bit like those creamy hard candies...but melted into cold milk. It's surprisingly delicious. And thanks to our Rhode Island family, we now have a bottle of our very own!

The syrup is believed to have originated with Italian immigrants before it got swept up by diners and drugstores and marketed into the popular drink that Rhode Islanders (and now at least 3 Indiana natives!) know it to be now.

"I get up to 'git r' done."

"I get up in the morning to go to work."

Just a hop, skip, and a car ride away into Jamestown, Rhode Island we discovered the Beavertail Lighthouse and their historical museum.

The museum had an amazing variety of antique items, interactive stations, and displays of lighthouse paraphernalia.

"I get up in the morning because I can."

The view from the rocks by the lighthouse was remarkable. 

It was the perfect setting to find a niche in the stones and read for a few hours while you watch the sky change colors.

Just off the coast of Middletown, RI you may find yourself curious to follow signs to the Purgatory Chasm, a stiff drop between the cliffs with a rocky story behind it.

Legend has it that there was once a beautiful and wealthy maiden who was admired by one man in particular.

One day, to test his love for her, she promised her hand in marriage to him, if only he would do one minor thing.

"I'd marry you my dear," she spoke, "If only you would leap to the other side of this abyss."

With a tip of his hat, 

...and a compliment to her beauty... 

...told her what he thought of her character...

...jumped...

...and she saw him no more...

The young miss, at the loss of her love by her own foolish doings, went into mourning.

Her grief forever left her in a state of purgatory.

While our own stay in Purgatory was short, we decided it would still be a nice end to our evening by going to mass.

"I get up every morning because God gives me a new day."

"I get up because God needs me for something and I need to find out what it is."

It's not everyday you get to go to Purgatory and come out alive.

Love,

The Crew