Papa’s World – Walking the tunnel in Brambleton!

October 7, 2025May 27, 2025 / Tom / Leave a comment

On one of many-

Of the fifteen miles of trails in Brambleton, Va.

In any direction from our front porch –

We could find a different trail to walk.

Here is a side trail that we would take-

Just to walk out to the viewing gazebo overlooking one of the many ponds.

Brambleton, Va., is a huge development that has been building for 25 years.

Situated on the backside of the Dulles International Airport-

Thousands of acres of former farmland –

It was turned into a community.

When we left, there were FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS!

Since we left, they completed a 250-acre park of soccer fields –

Ball diamonds –

Cricket fields –

Basketball and tennis courts.

And more walking trails.

Walking for health.

On this walk, we had to go underground –

Tunnels were completed to cross underneath major highways.

Before we left –

A CHALK ARTIST had drawn pictures in one of the many tunnels.

The tunnels are well lit for seeing –

I hope they remain –

A lot of good work is here!

The tunnels run under four-lane highways!

This is one of many tunnels located throughout the larger community!

We lived here for 14 1/2 years!

The artwork is amazing, and I often wonder if it is still there!

Today, we walk in another community-

Or the beach, or trips to NMB to walk at Barefoot Landing.

Broadway on the Beach in Myrtle Beach.

WALKING – AGING HEALTHY!

http://www.sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

On the trail in Brambleton, Va.

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

SUBSCRIBE – IT IS FREE!

Papa’s World – The day the SNOW came!

July 14, 2025February 23, 2025 / Tom / Leave a comment

It started off like many other days in NVA-

Brambleton, Va. –

We were a couple miles away from the backside of the DULLES AIRPORT –

For Washington, D.C. in Loudoun County.

Be prepared –

a winter storm watch has been announced.

This was the view from the steps of our front porch home –

of the intersection.

We were prepared –

after all, we had spent the first 50 years of our lives –

living and coping with winter snowbelt storms in WNY and NWPA!

But – all of that did not compare to what was to come.

Our patio – is enclosed by the house on three sides –

and a fence on the outer side toward the street.

Many family times spent here –

Back in WNY – I had a van – with wide tires.

I would take the van –

and ride back and forth on the driveway –

Packing down the snow instead of paying someone to plow it!

Here it was different-

only the driveway was about two car lengths long!

I had my shovel and a large pushbroom.

Then it started to snow –

light at first –

Then it started to stick to the paved sidewalks and road.

It continued all day and into the night –

We took turns trying to keep ahead of it.

Here Sherry attempts to clear a path on the front sidewalk!

You can see ahead of her where I had managed a path to the road.

Early morning of the next day –

less than 24 hours after the start.

It had turned into a major snowstorm in NVA! and the East Coast.

It continued the next morning !

They were trying to plow –

and keep the roads open the next day-

but it continued to come down.

The open door is out to the back patio next to the garage and driveway.

The garage door – over 36 inches and still snowing!

Me digging outside by the back patio.

The weather alerts kept coming –

the storm was not over!

It was piling up – soon the snow banks would be taller than me!

The entrance to the patio from the kitchen –

Over waist deep –

Not going out there-

and we had an all-nighter coming up!

That night after 24 hours of snow –

A look at the patio,

That fence I could look over on my tip toes!

If you go back to the picture of looking outside at the patio before the storm from inside this window-

This is looking from the outside into the front living room!

We had over 48 inches of snow in less than a day and a half.

In all the years of living in the snow belts up North –

We had never experienced –

this amount in such a short period.

The official measurements came from the DULLES AIRPOT just a few miles away!

We sold that home in 2020 and moved to the border area of OIB- SUNSET BEACH-

Our winters here are much different – even though in early Feb. we experienced snow-

This is a rare event here.

But we did get three to five inches with a hard crust.

Everything lasted maybe 5 to 7 days!

And then a few days later after it was gone –

We had 80-plus degrees.

There is a saying down here –

“IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE WEATHER – WAIT FIVE MINUTES AND IT WILL CHANGE”!

LOL – BUT FOR ONE DAY IT SNOWED AND SNOWED –

give me that beach chair any day-

and I will try to get up – better-

than shoveling snow!!! LOL

Thanks for reading

PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livnglifedoingitmyway.blog

SUBSCRIBE – IT’S FREE!!!!

Papa’s World – Life at Fountain Side Lane.

November 9, 2024August 9, 2024 / Tom / Leave a comment

In June of 1999 –

Sherry and I transferred within the company –

To Northern Va. – to the Alexandria section –

just outside Washington, D.C.

We had two months of company-paid living –

in a block of condos.

We used this time for our new jobs –

hers in Dulles next to the airport –

and mine in Springfield at our Alexandria SSC.

We came from the country to city life!

In our spare time, we hired a realtor –

and started our search for a home.

We wanted a place that was halfway to work for both of us.

FAIRFAX, VA.!

What we found was a townhome in the Fountain Side Lane –

Three miles to George Mason University –

two miles to the NRA – building!

STICKER SHOCK – this town home was about 1600 SF.

On three levels – three bedrooms –

and two and one-half baths.

But was centrally located to both our jobs.

It would take me one-half hour to get to work –

and she is about twenty minutes!

It was a nice neighborhood –

walkable to a large town square with stores –

shopping and restaurants.

During our time there-

we rode our bikes on trails in a forest behind the house.

This whole area would become a planned TOWN CENTER –

With dozens of stores and bars and grills-

even a Ruth’s Chris Steak House!

We watched it being built –

and eventually the first WEGMENS in the NVA. area.

It was during this time her sister Debbie –

seen here in the middle-

Relocated from Wisconsin –

and stayed with us for a short time-

until she found a place in the Manassas area.

Her other sister Bonnie remains in NWPA in Mount Jewett.

We experienced two traumatic life-changing events-

while living here.

First was 911 – this happened while we worked in the area –

The plane that hit the Pentagon –

flew right over the parking lot where I worked –

And Sherry was right next to the Dulles airport

One plane took off from there,

and all these large tanks were holding fuel right next to her store.

For days the sound of silence ensued.

No planes –

we traveled to see the Pentagon –

and have a picture of the destruction.

This went on for days –

as no planes –

but the high military jets leaving their presence known-

in the trail of white contrails in the sky!

The next event was the DC. SNIPERS!

We were exactly in the middle of all the killings!

It was all around us –

and not knowing from moment to moment who would be next!

We lived in TERROR!

Always be watchful at the beginning-

of a WHITE VAN!

Rumors – going to work at 5am.

Stopping to get gas –

and crouching down behind the car door –

in the light from the overhead lights.

Here is Maddy –

about five years old –

and just a baby when we moved to the area.

I carried her in my arms –

while walking the streets during the quiet period after 911!

Looking at the jet planes so high in the sky.

Our home here –

we lived in it for three and one-half years.

Tammy moved in with us as she came from Rochester to be near us.

Later Debby and Mike moved down from the Syracuse area with Maddy!

It was here that both sets of parents came to visit –

before they passed away.

We have many fond memories of this first home in Fairfax, Va.

Soon – more family members made their way to this area of NVA.

While here –

we watched a new development –

just behind our house going up –

We liked the new townhomes made out of brick.

S o – we decided to sell –

and buy our first new to-be-built home – a block away!

RIDGETOP COMMONS – a 2500 SF. Town Home!

We would be moving up the hill!

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Coming in another blog – RIDGETOP COMMONS!

Papa’s World – where we live

May 5, 2024December 4, 2023 / Tom / 1 Comment

We moved to NVA in 1999 – June to be exact – transferring within the company –

both of us – taking our years – pension- 401 K – vacations and knowledge –

after 32 years for me and 20 plus years for Sherry.

We bought two houses –

moved twice – in 6 1/2 years in Fairfax Va.

Then – we found our home – in Brambleton Va. almost thirteen years ago.

We moved into our home – in August – 2006 –

and have watched our little community grow and grow.

They actually built a new town called Brambleton –

and now are finishing the THIRD High School set to open in September!

Watching all of this – being a part of it – is amazing !

We are a community that sits in the middle of the country –

once you arrive home –

you do not have to go back out into the crazy traffic of NVA.

And in two years or less – the METRO – Silver line – will be 3 1/2 miles away !

The construction of SEVEN more stops is 80 % done –

and will open a brand new line here !

We can hop on – go into D.C. or right to the airports –

everything will be connected !

New four story town homes just completed –

and recently we have been walking the new trails around a huge lake – man made –

Of the new –

OVER 55 community being built just a half mile from our house.

That community is going to have it’s own retail center along with it’s own HOA !

The new four story library just opened a few months ago –

with a huge teen section where you see the windows on the second floor!

Yesterday – it was announced that what is known as HANSON FARM –

Has been turned over to the county –

and next month – development will start on a 257 ACRE preserve !

Soccer fields ( grass)10 of them – 2 pro turf fields –

4 ball diamonds – 1 cricket field – multiple tennis and basketball courts.

FIVE LAKES – pavilion’s -picnic areas and tables and grills.

A park lodge – rest rooms – and the list goes on –

all to be completed in two years.

The farm house and outbuildings will be preserved as a historic site.

This is but a glimpse of where we choose to live 13 years ago.

In the end of the development –

there will be an additional 5 to 10 miles of trails to the already 15 miles we have now.

We were very fortunate – we love our home –

(not the cold Winter )

Our roots are now here for the time being.

I hope this provides a look into the Country living in NVA!

Just another day in my life !

#homeagain #livinglifetotheplus

http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

emails fitztdf@aol.com

eamils sherrylynn49@aol.com

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – we had AIRLINE vouchers to use – flying back home to NVA – parents gone – watching grandkids

September 27, 2021September 10, 2021 / Tom / Leave a comment

Before the Pandemic hit – we were flying to Phoenix for a health conference – then it was canceled –

So we have had all this money tied up in two vouchers!

Fast forward – “Why not use part of them for flying back to NVA – instead of driving – to watch over the kids!”

Their parents had a out of state ( Vermont) family wedding – no children – adults only – and we said yes –

we would come up for the long weekend – and stay with them and the new puppy – MARLEY!

MASKS ARE REQUIRED IN THE AIRPORT AND PLANE THE ENTIRE TIME – I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT!

We had to arrive early at North Myrtle Beach International airport – and there in was a problem.

The week before we had taken our drivers test ( stressed out for two months) for N.C.

Hint for drivers test – study all the signs and know what they are for even if they are blank!

There are special shapes!

And we passed – new drivers license ( paper form) and real ID to come in the mail.

We put our VA. license away ( mistake number one) and our new paper ID in our wallets.

(mistake number two) Keep both of them until in the mail you get the hard real ID!

Even though we had TSA clearence – we had to go thru as if we were fakes and maybe

causing a problem – which meant everything had to be searched( I had no problem with this)

and mistake number three ( take your passports when flying)!

All of that could of been avoided – it was our own fault – but we made it only to worry ( STRESS)

the return from NVA through a much bigger ( DULLES) and more stringent examination due to the fact

that the agent was training a new agent! ( NO PROBLEM WITH THAT!)

And yes it was stressful but we made it!

Waiting at MYRTLE BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR OUR FLIGHT ON AMERICAN AIRLINES!

It all worked out and now I can laugh at it!

Just a senior moment – we knew better but hey – we are old and sometimes not as organized as we used to be!

But – we arrived – our daughter picked us up and we were on our way to their house – the grandkids and MARLEY!

MARLEY and CASSIDY – the new puppy and one of the twin girls – fraternal twins!

This was the beginning of a six day stay – two days with the parents – leaving and coming back –

and four days with grandkids and the puppy – a GOLDENDOODLE – who is going to be very large!

But – in our senior wisdom – we had plans to keep them busy and with these three –

it is when you get done “PAPA – when are we going to do the next thing”?

They are busy all the time except when on IPAD’S or BODE asking for my phone!

Then it is complete silence – except MARLEY who as a puppy gets into everything!

All has to be put up out of reach but she is really good – goes to the door when she wants out –

and plays run and hide and stay out of reach when you try to catch her to bring her in –

towel off her extra big feet – I found holding dog food and saying treat she would come! LOL

Taylor – who is on her way to being six feet tall – 11 years old – Bode – who never stays still except on my phone – Marley who is only six months old and is going to be huge – and Cassidy – who although shorter – is right on spot being a 11 year old!

Taylor is the quiet one of the three – always doing what told – and is the one who tkaes full care of Marley.

She is a sweetheart – sometimes you do not even know she is around!

BODE is in motion all the time – all boy and in the dead of winter – no socks and no shoes and outside!

Soccer – riding bike – golfing with his father – smart and outgoing – but can be a handful!

Cassidy – sweet – does crafts all the time – loves her MORMOR( Sherry) and calls and zooms all the time.

She takes after Sherry and is by her side all the time.

It broke my heart when it was time to leave – she came out for the third time to say goodbye –

hugs and asking when we will see her again –

then as we are pulling out to go to the airport – inside the garage standing on the step –

peeking out to us so she could see us leave – so lonely – and not wanting us to leave!

She misses us more than the other two!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World – WHERE FRIENDS MEET OUR FAMILY – FAMILY MEETS OUR FRIENDS!

MY BLOG SITE: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog my email: fitztdf@aol.com

SHERRY’S SITE: http://www.sf.juiceplus.com email: ssherrylynn49@aol.com

Next blog will be contiued on our visit and the grandkids – WHEW – keeping them busy is a fulltime job!

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: