I'm back! [Pictures from our vacation]

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Hi all! Still remember me? ;)

Well, my family and I took a vacation for two weeks, so I didn't have access to a computer for that long, and surprisingly did very well. ;) But, of course I still missed all of you! I've been told by a few people that I "Missed a lot of stuff..." I guess I chose the wrong two weeks to leave, eh? :p

Anyway, my family and I flew to Washington D.C., and stayed about five days and toured around, etc. I had a WONDERFUL time there! Everyone was very nice and friendly; a tad different than L.A. ;) It must be the coffee capital of the world :p, just about every block we saw a Starbucks, which was great!

We then flew to Canada, and as some of you know, near Ottawa, my family owns an island with a cabin/cottage. We had a nice time while we were there, but it was a little beat up since hardly anyone can manage it when it's not being used. :( So, for the rest of the time, we traveled around going to different towns, and stuff like that.

All in all, we had a GREAT time, but I missed my computer! :D

Anyway.. on with the pictures! There are tons so stay tuned!

[GoldenRetrLuver]

While we were staying in DC, we of course had to visit The White House... it's stunning.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p0f9b2d9e9f2a9cbd25675939c85a3c9d/f737f380.jpg
Zoomed in.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/peca3af62f2c0b309c46d335e723392b6/f737f35a.jpg
The Washington Monument..
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p8b520e57c1ca3b353317c869bb9bba41/f737f363.jpg
The World War II Memorial (I think? I can't remember :o)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pf3596c77042f9879952ebdc2faa1ca7b/f737f390.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p66ac5d22cee68f5d6b306d448a2f9e4c/f737f043.jpg
The beautiful fountain in the center of it.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p9111867774f355a2f1bd951845757cfe/f737f08f.jpg
The Lincoln Memorial.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p9539a005e0e405e517e202868d0f156a/f737f013.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p5c3fd42a9262ca7361f55b7d9feea31e/f737f022.jpg

More coming..

[GoldenRetrLuver]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pd3a72c6f370805af8862b683d8ec1d39/f737ec70.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pe94c5559f8da4a5d5e089267d3526085/f737e9c0.jpg
The spot where Martin Luther King Jr. made his "I have a Dream" speech.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p793213bf445a8ce5b3c851cdde85e469/f737ec92.jpg
The reflecting pond.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pc779210bdbb8318b9905727ccd80c951/f737ec7d.jpg
Ford's theater..
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p1f642fe8958512c082729fd4f41997cd/f737e9a9.jpg
The tomb of The Unknown Soldier. They change guards every half an hour, and it was really interesting to watch.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p425d468d6828b4276cb06f0e07e4097c/f737e99d.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pb7fb7006fbb70e4fecc6f78de79fa10e/f737e9af.jpg
We also went to the aquarium, and I took a few pictures.
A Sea Turtle.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pe11205eee169de929872660dd37a7cb0/f737e717.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/ped65fe1f00bd0476680a375180dec5f8/f737e6f3.jpg
A Lionfish.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p838eba46045cd18d343196f6af170b1c/f737e6e1.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pc8767d16ab30831bb366e06788d7b575/f737e6d1.jpg

[GoldenRetrLuver]

One day while we were there, we sat down on a park bench that was next to a pond, and fed the ducks that were there bread.. they all came up to us. :p
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p14fe9292c4eec1e07590cca946ee0265/f737e335.jpg
The views of Washington D.C..
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/paef609e3911af957eca4644d7aaca914/f737f066.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p33432aae6377aae4f7172fc535c384ed/f737ec64.jpg

Canada trip pictures coming up next.. :D

[GoldenRetrLuver]

This is the owner of the Ferry's [the place where we keep our boat] German Shepherd. He was sooo gorgeous and friendly. He loved going out into the lake trying to catch frogs and fish.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pd34f1618e54bfb5c4a9b76477d59e66c/f737d8e3.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pa8c39f79868f7fc49b2425c5f24dc251/f737d8f6.jpg

Our Island is named "Rose Island" because we have beautiful wild roses that bloom sometime in the springtime.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pbb64c43a4e210f8cfd6f181405ce9242/f736c8e0.jpg
These are the wild roses.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pdbb17cddd2fcd2e070aced97e17c9cf6/f737d937.jpg
This is Rose Island, pictures were taken while I was in the boat.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p06c12cbe413962e272085e2e3d4735b2/f737de5e.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p096d9f7605526c31e99446a9cef3d272/f737deac.jpg
One side of the island.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p4c11c0d3f4c37415002684c1311a5d0a/f737e312.jpg
The other.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pff5596cf90dbc12cbf8169ec700ef184/f737e2ee.jpg

[GoldenRetrLuver]

The flag we raised up.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pe0ad899ce6aff32212850df284ea96d6/f737e31d.jpg
Coming up next are just a few random pictures taken on the island..
It rained one day, and if you look closely, you can see the rainbow.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pba5ef2206cf8c783f417b427ebb8978d/f737d52d.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p3e2485982a0bcccc17d99c68843aaee0/f737de98.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p0845274f30f4db8275c37feb2f5cc0ac/f737d967.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p5a542505d1b6ed2a11036ffa0f812a24/f737d517.jpg

[GoldenRetrLuver]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p6bd86ae86a10d0b0c955b2b3c7ed98ff/f737d521.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p57306c72872d13167c62ae273df5f801/f737d4f6.jpg
Windmill type wooden birds that are on the island..
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p8b62f30472ebf976a9a964b92104508d/f7379dbc.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p631ab91055d80b23c9e844905c29259d/f7379dca.jpg
Looking out onto the lake..
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pb2517776ca62bb8f61f931f08a4ce340/f7379dd9.jpg
A few sunsets.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p5740c43d0951aefcb2a5494284dcea5a/f7379de3.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p8df020b5e7a4a653336480f12951cbed/f7379ad1.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p9651b65b2417b56bb1dc756967446309/f7379ae2.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pffcc2ee0558750bbb990af30f9d91c0b/f7379aca.jpg

[GoldenRetrLuver]

This one is probably my favorite.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pab2292c52cb641a07f5cbb08112bad23/f736b60e.jpg

We also visited Niagra Falls, which was just spectacular and beautiful.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p60004bccc4d70cac443183393caee258/f7379886.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p722f3365ef1b42ffc5c5ab4730df4969/f737987c.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p211577d7cce8f85fede8c53f392da743/f7379622.jpg
You can see the “Maid of the Mist” boat in this picture.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pc90440a299ed5e9c8c9466e3da3de221/f7379611.jpg

And these are just a few flowers I found while we were in Canada, and I stopped to take a few pictures of them. :o
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p4e5e61e47dd4e4e6b1ff71985f865d79/f7379ac5.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p44c84825476b54bb16ba4648ae6d11f8/f7379ade.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/pa832a958e156d39f45126a79a45aa23b/f737989b.jpg

That’s all, finally! :p Overall, like I said, we had a wonderful time, but I’m glad to be back home! I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

[DogLover9501]

WELCOME BACK, JULIE!!!!

We have missed you! :D

The pictures are great, your island looks so nice, I can't believe you guys own an island :eek: I also love the pictures of the sea turtle and lion fish(which is strange looking :p)

Welcome back again :D

[CamCamPup33]

JULIEE! Im so glad your back -- I know i've already talked to you a bunch of times, but im so happy to have you here again.

We missed you soo much. Glad to hear you got my message -- I kept wondering if i dialed the right number and hung up once. :o :p

Great pictures! :D

You should have swung by florida ;)

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Welcome Back, Julie! I missed you!

Great pictures, they were spectacular! i especially enjoyed the Niargra Falls pics! Beautiful!:) ;)

[slleipnir]

lol, geez, where DIDN'T you go? ;) jk. Looks like A LOT of fun!! Great pics :) Glad you're back now

[popcornbird]

Wow!!! Beautiful pictures! I still can't believe you have your own island. :p Its beautiful! What is the cabin like from the inside?

Niagra Falls looks GORGEOUS!!! We went there when I was just 4 or 5, and I remember going on the Maid of Mist boat, and having to wear raincoats before we boarded the boat. It was awesome........one of the few things I remember from WAY back then. I would love to visit Niagra Falls again someday. Did you visit the Canadian side or the American side...or both?

Looks like you had a great time. Did you go boating everyday while you were at your island? Do you own the lake too? Are there more islands in the lake? I loved all the pictures, and now want an island of my own. :p He he he!

[swimma253]

great pics!!! :D

[micki76]

Do glad you have such a great vacation, Julie! Good to have you back though. :)

Great pics and what a fun experience you and your family had!

[lovemyshiba]

Beautiful pictures Julie!!
and Welcome Back!!!!!

Glad to hear you had a good time!! Your island is great!!

I love Niagra Falls too!! I used to go there every summer when I was younger, my aunt lives about 5 minutes away (on the American Side).

[Corinna]

Welcome back! Missed you ! Glad you had a good trip.

[anna_66]

Welcome back Julie! It looks like you had a really good time and the pictures are just lovely!

[KYS]

You took fantastic/beautiful pictures on
your vacation.

You must had such a wonderful time. :)

[Dogz]

Yay, Julie's back! It seemed like a longer time than two weeks, welcome back!! :D

It looks like you had a great time. I am sure that Daisy, Molly, Piper, and everyone else missed you.

Thanks for sharing the pictures! Absolutely stunning, all of them! :)

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Thank you everyone! I'm glad you guys enjoyed the pictures, and thanks for all the nice comments. :D

PCB -- Own the lake? :eek: Of course not! :p Yep, we took the boat out just about everyday. Besides, it's the only way to and from the island. :p We visted both sides of Niagra Falls ~ Canadian and American, although I can't remember which pictures belong with which side. There are other Islands, but not many of them have cottages or cabins, but there are houses too.
I actually have a few pictures I took of the inside, but hesitated to post because of the clutter and wreckage. The outside looks MUCH prettier. :o

But, if you *really* wanna see.. don't say I didn't warn you. ;) I'll just post the basic rooms, and not the bedrooms and bathroom.

This is what you see when you first step in from the front door -
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p812c433d3888d130a20b6f33751d9b78/f7358e97.jpg
This is looking straight from that first above picture - (See where the floor cracked? :()
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p408b4e3a82e1387e43e7b178c2b3f236/f7358e48.jpg

Few more coming..

[GoldenRetrLuver]

This is the "family room" -
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p969810008e410f41a06ab8d113fba4a4/f7358e59.jpg
This is the kitchen -
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid137/p9733a652103f838c011e5f2a41c29795/f7358e89.jpg

We also have an upstairs, which you can see in one picture, that has a balcony and it's converted into another bedroom with two beds. :)

Thanks again guys. It's nice to hear I was missed. :)

[popcornbird]

What a cool cabin!!! You are such a lucky girl Julie! :D Looks like you really had a fabulous time. Thanks for sharing all those pics!

[wolf_Q]

Glad to see you back! Looks like you had a wonderful time!! Great photos! :)

[Kater]

Loved the photos! My favorites were of the sea turtle and Niagara Falls. Your cabin looks so cozy!!!
Welcome back, Julie! :)

[jenfer]

Welcome back, Julie. :)

Very nice pictures, I enjoyed them very much. I am glad you had a great time at your vacation. :D