Last week of September - a good one

 Time for my weekly update here.  

Last Monday evening our women's group at church had a mountain pie party!  It was raining off and on throughout the day, and we were forewarned that we may have to take our party indoors.  BUT the rain stopped sometime in the afternoon, and it was an absolutely lovely, warm evening.  

Lori was in Harrisburg, and Anthony had a meeting to attend that evening, so they asked if Hunter could stay with me that evening.  I said he could if he didn't mind going with me to a women's party.  He did not mind at all, and they enjoyed having him there. We all had a lot of fun.

I had a lot of music to work on last week, practicing the piano accompaniment for our Christmas musical, getting arrangements made for the band for Sunday morning, etc.  We had band practice on Wednesday evening and choir practice on Thursday evening. 

And of course I made dinner for Anthony and Lori's family on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as usual, picking up the boys from their after-school things on those days.  

On Thursday, before we went to choir practice I made a dinner for Dick and me that we LOVE!  Fried eggplant sandwiches.  For some reason I make them just once a year - probably because I grew up eating things like that only when they were in season.  

On Saturday I got caught up on paperwork at the desk.  I also planned the music for the first Sunday in October.  AND I cleaned the whole house.  Dick had finished all the mowing here and at Anthony's, then he watched the Penn State football game (SAD ending!!)  

I felt all caught up when I went to bed that night.  AND there was a gorgeous sunset!  We have not seen one of those in a while.

We've been having summer weather, and I have loved it so much.  So have my flowers!

Sunday morning was really special.  I love the one Sunday per month that the band is there.  Here's a video of the prelude, "O Lord, Hear My Prayer."  Melanie and I sang, and Brenna accompanied with her flute. 

Dick (bass), Ross (guitar), and Phil (drums) played with all the other songs. And of course Brenna on flute.  Melanie sang this time instead of playing cello because she had hand surgery last week.

After church I told Dick that I wanted to go somewhere and see people!  So we went to Manheim, picking Sammy and Bianca up along the way.  They had just finished up Sammy's birthday party at his other grandma's house.  His 14th birthday had been on Friday.  

We went to Pleasant View Communities to see Grandma Arlene.  We had such a wonderful time with her.

She hadn't seen the kids in over a year and couldn't believe how big they're getting.  

Then we went to Bjorn and Jess's place for a while.  Those darling boys!!!! 

We had a great time playing with them and catching up with Bjorn and Jess.

Louie (1) and Charlie (3).

On the way back to Duncannon we stopped at a Hardees to get some food.  I forgot to take any pictures there.  When I realized it afterward I said to the kids, "How will I remember we ate there?? Pictures are the only way I remember things!"  So they began to list the things we can remember about it.  1. Bianca had the sloppiest, most falling apart burger EVER!   2. I had my first Frisco, recommended by Sammy.  It was YUM!  3. An elderly man who had been eating with loved ones and having a good time, fell when he got up from his seat.  It caused quite a scare.  He did not appear to have gotten hurt, but they insisted he not try to get up too quickly.  We heard someone ask him how old he is, and he said, "97."  He was absolutely serious.  We were amazed!!

As we headed toward Duncannon we watched the beautiful sunset over the Susquehanna River.

I think we were home by 9 pm.  It had been a good day.

This afternoon as I was making Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup, the aroma was being combined with the smell of hot oil.  Our driveway was being resealed.  

We'll need to park in the grass till Wednesday, but it's nice to have it done.  It had been three years. 

 

The summer weather has continued!  I just love it.  I am kind of eager to start decorating with pumpkins and mums, but ....

There are two anniversaries this week.  On Wednesday it will be 54 years since our wedding! 

 

And on Sunday it will be 20 years since my first blog post!  I've been here on Blogger the entire time, and the title of my blog has been "What's Up at the Stauffers?" the whole time too.   It has been a diary of my life and of our family.  I'm trying to figure out how to celebrate, haha!