The Quinn's Awesome Journey: 8/18 to 8/22/08 This Week We.....

....had doctor appointments, lunches to attend, dinners to go to and shopping to get done.

First and foremost we want to wish Dianne a very Happy Birthday!

After 8 a.m. appointments with our doctor I had to go get the dreaded blood work done. I won't even go into that, it wasn't pretty.

We visited with Bob's brother, Gene and our sister-in-law, Linda, during this week. Here's Bob with them out in front of their place. They aren't aware I took this picture so I'm sure I'll be getting a nasty phone call or email from Linda, she hates to have her picture taken!

We had lunch with two of our friends, Vernon and Norman, along with Dad this week. They are friends from our National Guard days. I worked with Norman many years ago and to this day I can say he was the best boss I ever had. Did I think to take the camera with me? Nope, I don't know what I was thinking, actually, I guess I wasn't thinking!

We were invited to Judy and Lindsay's for dinner and as usual we were treated to a delicious dinner! Judy made this potato dish that was to die for! Bob is STILL talking about it. Once again, I was kicking myself for not taking the camera because this couple have turned their backyard into a beautiful oasis.

I hit the stores for the end of season sales to get summer clothes deeply discounted. Remember, we have no need for winter clothes!

One day Bob met up with friends from his National Guard days for lunch and I went on a picture taking trek with my friend Cindy.

First stop for us was Rockford Park. This is the place where mom and dad took me sledding in the winter time when I was a kid, but the attraction here is Rockford Tower.

In 1895, Theodore Leisen, engineer for the Wilmington Board of Park Commissioners, recommended that “a large pavilion and observatory” be built in Rockford Park on what was called Mt. Salem Hill, the highest point in the city at a whopping 330 feet above sea level. His proposal coincided with the Board of Water Commissioners’ conclusion that Wilmington was in need of a new water tower in that neighborhood. The two boards merged their projects in Rockford Tower. Built between 1899 and 1902, the half-million-gallon water storage tank and observatory is constructed of natural field stone and is an example of the Italian Renaissance Revival style. Rockford Tower is 57 feet in diameter at the base, 75 feet high to the floor of the observatory, and reaches a total height of 115 feet.

For several years the tower was closed to the public but once again the tower can be climbed for a panoramic view of Wilmington. We weren't up to it because I ~~am just getting over pneumonia, Cindy hurt her foot,~~ we are too lazy to climb the steps. A lot of runners lean up against it after their run as the water inside keeps the outside stones cool on even the hottest of days.

Next stop was a run through downtown Wilmington to snap a picture of Rodney Square and the statue of Cesar Rodney. I really don't know why we even put this in our day's adventure other than we had to pass it on the way to I-95. That is the historic Hotel DuPont in the background.

After 25 years of waiting, Delaware finally got its own stainless steel Mary. Back in 1982, Charles Park, the sculptor, made one of these for a Catholic church in Santa Clara, California. It was put on display in Rodney Square before being shipped and I have pictures of that one....somewhere.

When Bob and I were returning home from the weekend at Dianne's, in New Jersey a few weeks back, I saw the statue from the highway and knew then I had to get a picture of this one.

This Mary is two feet taller than the other one measuring in at 34 feet and she is made of over four tons of stainless steel.

Though I haven't seen it at night, there are several lights set up and I bet she's just beautiful!

We decided to take a break from our picture taking adventure and get some shopping in. My favorite store....Boscov's.

On the way we passed a medical offices building and took note of this on their lawn. No mistaking what goes on in this building!

A little further down the road we passed this street sign on I-95. No Delawarean would look twice at this sign now but there was a time a few years ago that signs like this had Delawareans in an uproar. See where it says.....BEACHES ? Several years ago new signs were put up and they said Shore Points. Uh-uh, not in Delaware. WE go to the BEACH, people who go to the water/sand/boardwalk area in New Jersey go to the shore. There was enough of an uproar that new signs were put up directing motorists to the BEACH one again. Some things are just sacred in Delaware, our beaches being one of them.

Next stop was one of my favorite places in Delaware,,,,Old New Castle.

New Castle was once the capital of Delaware way back in the day and is now on the Historic Landmark Area list. Here we go, I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Driving in on Delaware Avenue....if you made a left at this intersection you would come to the house where my Mom lived with her parents.

Pictured below is the Court House, built in 1732, the Court House served as the meeting place for Delaware's colonial assembly from 1732 to 1777 when New Castle was Delaware's capital. Look at that blue sky, did we have the perfect day or what?

A look down the street where the shops are. The old brick walkways are still in place.

This statue of William Penn sits on what is known as the New Castle Commons. This land is part of a tract of one thousand acres set apart by William Penn in 1701 for the people of the town of New Castle. Trustees were appointed and incorporated by Penn's heirs in 1764, whose successors still hold and manage the land.

Next to this tract of land, a park like setting, is a cobblestone street that is still used by some. Its a bumpy ride to be sure! Your teeth will rattle on this road!

Next stop was The Immanuel Episcopol Church on the Green.

Built in 1703, this was the parish of the Church of England in Delaware. It burned in 1980 and was rebuilt using the original walls and foundation.

There is no sound system in this church. Take notice of the round thing above the pulpit. It has a name, but I forget what it is now. That "thing" aids in getting the voice of the minister to the whole congregation, just like it was back in 1703 when the church was built.

The tombstones in adjoining graveyard date from 1707.

Scenes from the streets of Old New Castle....

Our next stop was the George Read House.

This house was built in 1801 in Federal style by the son of George Read I, a signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. The formal garden designed in 1847 is open to the public. During Old New Castle Days twelve rooms are open to the public, three decorated in the Colonial Revival style.

You can see the Delaware River from the gardens.

We walked down to the street called the Strand. This street has the largest homes and their backyards face the river for the view.

Alleyways like this are a common sight between every few houses.

Our walk finally took us down to the river front. This area is known as Battery Park. Its a good sized park with playground equipment, outdoor concerts in the summertime and paved walking path along the river.

From this park you can see the twin bridges.

Located in the park is the train ticket office of years gone by. The railroad was pulled by a steam locomotive named "Delaware", and operated in the pre-Civil War period. The ticket office was constructed in 1832 and occupied several locations before being placed here in the 1950s.