Uncle Brett's New Diggs

Hi Grandson,

Grandma woke up very stiff and sore this morning. I helped your Uncle Brett move in to his new place yesterday. It's beautiful!

He is renting from the CEO of a drink called "Neuro Fuel." The CEO's name is Joe and he's only 25 years old. While he was a student at the University of Tennessee, he created the drink. What is funny is that before Uncle Brett even talked to this guy about renting from him, Uncle Brett was drinking Neuro Fuel and had told us how great it was.

Uncle Brett lives in Knoxville, which is about 40 minutes from Grandma's house. Knoxville and the surrounding area is a really nice area. There are lakes all over and beautiful mountain views. Grandma and Grandpa have a boat on Watts Bar Lake, which isn't too far from where Uncle Brett lives, at a place called Euchee Marina. You would love it there! There is a beach with a shoot slide, a playground, pavilions, house boats, a nice big restaurant and another smaller restaurant. It would be great to take you there someday!

Grandma Loves You!

Ramps & Wild Onions

Hi Grandson,

In April in this part of Tennessee, Ramps (also known as Wild Leeks) grow in certain areas of our property. Ramps are native to the Appalachian mountain region in eastern North America. Ramps can be found growing in patches in rich, moist, deciduous forests as far north as Canada, west to Missouri and Minnesota, and south to North Carolina and Tennessee. As one of the first plants to emerge in the spring, ramps were traditionally consumed as the seasons first “greens.” They were considered a tonic because they provided necessary vitamins and minerals following long winter months without access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Ramps are pleasant to eat and taste like spring onions with a strong garlic-like aroma. They are often prepared by frying in butter or animal fat with sliced potatoes or scrambled eggs. They are also used as an ingredient in other dishes such as soup, pancakes, and hamburgers.

Grandpa and I went out yesterday morning and picked several ramps and a few wild onions (the first picture above) and then Grandma cooked them up with scrambled eggs. They taste really good!

Ramps are so popular here, that there is a big "Ramp Festival" in Cosby every April. People get together, listen to blue-grass music, visit the vendors who set up and sell things, and eat ramps.

Grandma Loves You!

Navy Ships in Norfolk, Virginia

Hi Grandson,

Today is Monday, April 13th. We got home from vacation last night. On our way home, we drove through the Naval Base at Norfolk, Virginia. The Naval Base at Norfolk is the biggest Naval Base in the country. My first visit there was in 1971 - when I was 9 years old. Grandpa Wheelan took us there because my brother, your Uncle Ralph, Jr., was in the Navy back then. I will try and find a picture of my visit back in 1971 and add it to this post. I just remember not believing how huge the ships were!

Grandpa Ernest was in the Navy for 20 years. He retired from the Navy 2 years ago tomorrow. A few years ago, we all went on vacation to Virginia and we went on a tour of one of the big ships. Grandma took a picture of two ships for you. The first one is a cruiser and the second one is a destroyer:

Yesterday was Easter and I'll bet you went on an Easter Egg Hunt. Well, I have to get ready and go up to my office now. I hope that someday I can take you on vacation with us!

Love,

Grandma

Staying a Couple More Nights in Virginia Beach

Hi My Beautiful Grandson,

We decided to stay a couple more nights in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The weather is really nice here and we moved to a better hotel. We have a view of the Atlantic Ocean and I have the sliding glass doors open and can hear the waves and Grandma is loving it. It's just now starting to get dark. So relaxing and peaceful.

Grandpa and Uncle E.J. went out to find something to do. Grandma is a home-body type person. I am happy to be here in the room, listening to the waves and watching FOX news on TV and writing to you. I'm also IM'ing with Aunt Stacey. I love my kids and I love spending time with them - even when it's on the computer. My kids and my husband and my dogs are my world. I am happy when my family is happy. I started working really hard in my life when I was young to be able to take care of my parents and to make sure all people I love can be taken care of. That is what drives Grandma. I work hard because I never want to say "I can't help" when someone I love needs help.

Set your goals high because there isn't anything you cannot accomplish, if that is what you want for yourself. My dad used to tell me all the time that I was "smarter than a show dog".. lol. I didn't really know what a "show dog" was... but he made me believe I was very intelligent. Your Great-Grandpa Wheelan was an amazing man. I will tell you more about him someday. Your Great-Grandma Wheelan was also amazing.

I took a video for you today of the beach we are staying on. Here it is:

I Love You,

Grandma

Jumbo Crabs at Crab Alley

Hi Grandson,

Yesterday, before we left Ocean City, Maryland, we looked for a good place for blue crabs and found Crab Alley. The crabs there were amazing! Uncle E.J. and I ordered the "jumbo crabs" which are about 8 inches in diameter. These are hard to find this time of year!

It took us a couple of hours to eat our 7 crabs each, but it was well worth the time! After we finished, we drove to Virginia Beach, Virginia and that is where we woke up this morning. We are staying on the Atlantic Ocean again and I'm sitting here at the desk in the hotel room writing to you and looking out at the water. Grandpa and Uncle E.J. are still sleeping. It's supposed to be warm here today so we will probably find something fun to do for awhile and then start heading towards home. We will probably break up the trip home and spend the night around Greensboro, North Carolina. Here is a map of the route we will take home:

I hope someday we will be able to take you on trips with us! I love you and miss you!

Love,
Grandma

Waking Up in Ocean City, Maryland

Hi Grandson! This morning we woke up in Ocean City, Maryland. The photo is the view from our condo that we saw when we got up. The water you see is the Atlantic Ocean. This being early April, the water is really cold! When the weather gets warmer, swimming in the Atlantic here is awesome. The water temperature in the summer is perfect. It's salt water, of course, so the only drawback is the feeling of salt all over you - but it's not that bad.

This morning, Grandpa Ernest dared Uncle E.J. to go down to the beach and run and jump into the ocean. Uncle E.J. did jump in - but when he didn't dive in and get his head wet, Grandpa went down to the beach and ran and jumped into the ocean. Grandpa said it was cold! Here is a video I took:

We are leaving now to go eat Maryland Blue Crabs at a place called Crab Alley here in Ocean City. We are going to Virginia Beach, Virginia tonight.

Grandma Loves You!

Ryan is 4 Years Old Today!

Happy Birthday Grandson! I can't believe you are 4 years old already! That is amazing. It seems like only yesterday that Grandma held you in her arms as a newborn baby!

Your Aunt Stacey sent Grandma the video above. Your dad took you someplace in Fort Wayne, Indiana and when he asked you where you were, you said, "I'm right here." Ha Ha. Grandma loves this video! This was taken sometime in March 2009 I believe so this is you near your 4th birthday. I can't believe how much you look like your dad when he was 4 years old!

I hope you have a great time on your birthday. I love you and miss you!

Love,

Grandma