My "Pennsylvania Sister" weekend

Wow, it doesn't take long for almost a week to go by!  And do I have SO many pictures! 

On Thursday morning I drove to Hershey Gardens, about a two-hour drive, to meet my "Pennsylvania sisters" - Mary Ellen and Doris.   The weather was PERFECT for strolling that beautiful place!

Beautiful roses!

Beautiful landscapes!

Lots of sister photos and lots of laughs!

Afterward Doris rode with me to go to Mary Ellen's house in East Petersburg near Lancaster.  Along our way we passed Gretna Springs, the community where our dad and Mary had lived, so we turned in and drove by the house.  We knew something looked different - probably the shutters.  But we couldn't remember what color theirs had been.  So I looked up an old photo, the one on the bottom.  That house holds so many fond memories for us.  

We arrived at Mary Ellen's beautiful town home, and the relaxing and the talking and eating around the table commenced!  Lots and lots of it!  First we snacked on veggies and dip, chips and salsa, crackers and hummus.  Then we were full and had to wait till 7:30 to eat the scrumptious tacos Mary Ellen had prepared for dinner.  And that yummy strawberry dessert!!!

It was very late when we finally decided to get some sleep.  Unfortunately I had forgotten to pull the curtain shut in her guest room, so the bright morning sun and the garbage collector woke me up way too early!  

We made "Grandpa's Breakfast" - a concoction of bacon, fried potatoes and onions, bread, milk, and eggs.  We felt very pleased with the way it turned out and we ate all of it!  It was a beautiful morning to eat on her patio.   We sat out there for a long, long time - talking of course!

Eventually we got ourselves showered and dressed and set out for our next adventure - Lancaster City.   Here are some familiar sites.  The parking garage is one my children always loved because they liked when we drove down the spiral driveway.  They always wanted me to park on the top level!

We spent most of our time on "Gallery Row" - art galleries all on one block.  My favorite gallery was Liz Hess's.  She was a good fried of our daughter Miki - actually her team leader when she went to Sweden on a missions trip in 90-91.  Liz was not there on Friday, but Angie was.  Angie is another American girl who married a Swedish guy.  They have lived in the US and actually were in our home in 2008 when Miki and the kids were visiting for a few weeks.  

We stopped in at the little cafe that Liz also owns - Pop and Perk.  We got cold drinks and some popcorn.  Then we walked to the Lancaster Square, going through Lancaster Market on our way.  It was closing time, so no crowds as usual.  

We were on our way to the Griest Building on the square.  Mary Ellen's former house mate works on the 12th floor.  So we went up to her office and got to look out in several directions!  How about that patio on someone's roof!

And one more special building in Lancaster City - Jeremy's first house!  One of those typical three-story city homes.  Unfortunately the leaves obscure the beautiful bay windows.  He was just 22 when he bought it for $50,000! We and his friends helped to paint and do flooring and other things, then two years later he sold it to move to Florida.  He made good money on it!

Now for a very unexpected part of my weekend!!  On Thursday evening I got a text message from Miki, "I HAVE JUST BECOME A GRANDMA!!"   And believe it or not, it was Jess's birthday!!  

On Friday when we were at the art galleries I got a call from Bjorn.  I told him that I was in Lancaster!  Talk about timing!!  So after we left downtown Lancaster we went to Women and Babies Hospital a few miles away and I got to see this darling baby boy!!  His name is Bjorn Charles and they will call him Charlie!!  I love it!!!  That family picture is the sweetest thing ever!!

That evening we took our sister-in-law Nancy with us to Greenfield Park.  We ate on the lovely patio at Issacs.  Scrumptious food and such a good time together!  It was the first I have been with Nancy since my brother passed away in October.  

Then we strolled around the beautiful park.  It was quite overcast, so the pictures are not as beautiful as they might have been in sunny weather.  

We got one picture of all four of us when Nancy set a timer on her camera.  

That evening when we were sharing our pictures with each other we were CRACKING UP when I zoomed in on pictures of myself!!  From a random shot of us girls like this - 

You would NOT want to meet me alone in a park, hahahahaha!!

On our way to take Nancy home we started having the most incredible sunset!!  When we got to her house we stood there and took so many pictures!!  I narrowed mine down to three, but it was really hard to pick.  I really don't think I have ever seen anything like it.  

I think we all slept good that night!

On Saturday morning we ate our breakfast (baked oatmeal) at the kitchen table because it was starting to rain outside.  Again we talked and talked and reminisced and looked at lots of old photos that Mary Ellen brought up from her basement.  

Eventually we got ourselves showered and ready to go.  Our destination was an Amish farm nearby where they make barbecued chicken meals each Saturday.  They also have three greenhouses of gorgeous flowers and vegetable plants.   They had a LOT of business!!  We each got flowers and of course a chicken meal. 

Once again back at Mary Ellen's table to eat that scrumptious chicken, baked potato, cole slaw, and buttered dinner roll.  Mary Ellen had some her delicious homemade applesauce as well. I had taken a pan of my peanut butter rice krispy treats, and we all ate WAY too many of them!!  

After lunch we sang around the piano for a while.  Here's a short video of one of our songs. 

Mary Ellen had changed into her shirt that is like mine.  We had to get a picture of ourselves "twinning."   And then one final picture of all three of us.  These two sisters and my other three sisters are my very best friends!  We six have texting conversations all the time, from sad to hilarious. 

I made the two-and-a-half hour trip home before it got dark.  I LOVE summer!!  In fact, when I got home we took the flowers I had gotten for Destiny's front flower bed over to their place and Dick planted them  I think they are Verbena.   I also got a new hanging plant for myself.  

I had fun with Elizer during the short time we were there.  

I just love his "Oh no!"  

I have so many more pictures from the past few days, but I'm going to stop here till next time! 

Quick post before a sister "retreat"

A quick post before I go to bed!  I'll be leaving in the morning for my sister Mary Ellen's house.  We three "Pennsylvania sisters" (Doris, Mary Ellen, and I), get together for a weekend annually.  It has always been at my house, but this year it will be at Mary Ellen's house.   We're doing Thursday, Friday, and Saturday because I want to get back for church on Sunday.  I took too many Sundays off in May, due to our trip and then COVID. I'm REALLY looking forward to being together.  

A few pictures from this week.  I decided to get a fern for the first time.  It is shaded most of the day until late afternoon.  I hope it does ok.

Destiny and Alex have a pet chameleon.  On Monday they made a trip to Lancaster and asked if we could mist the aquarium at 6 pm.  I figured Austin would enjoy helping with that, so when I took food to Anthony and Lori's, Austin came home with me and we three went to take care of Pixie.  Austin would rather have held her than do the misting, but I told him he'll have to wait till Destiny is there to do that.  The last thing I wanted was to have a frightened chameleon on the lose, haha!  

Last evening we were at their place and Elizer was asking for ice cream.  Destiny had made popsicles out of her flavored water and he loved it!

He also likes to say "cheese" for his pictures now, haha!

Today was our son Frank's birthday.  43!  He was 15 when he came to our family in 1994.  Frank is Destiny's dad, in case you aren't familiar with our family.  

Today Frank shared this photo taken by a Lancaster Newspaper photographer at last week's all-star game.  I LOVE it!!  J'von is right in front catching a pass, and all the family is up in the top rows of the bleachers!! 

That's all for this time.  Gotta get a few hours of sleep!

Yard Sale weekend

As I mentioned in my last post, we were getting ready for our community yard sale.  Dick took the day off work on Friday, and we were up at 5 am to set up.  It was a beautiful day.

This was my view - not a cloud in the sky.

We did not have the crowds like we did in years past.  But we got rid of a nice amount of stuff.  Destiny was happy with the money we made on some of her things. 

I took this picture at 9:10 pm.  I just LOVE June and how long the daylight lasts in the evening.  That's a crescent moon up there. 

Friday was my sister Barb's wedding anniversary, so we sisters were reminiscing that evening.  1978.  Lisa was her flower girl.  

I played piano.  Even we Mennonites liked Farrah Fawcett hair, hahaha!  

Saturday morning we were out there again and we sold more things, but as usual, lots of stuff left over.  Ugh!!

In the evening I went to a park with Destiny and Elizer after she got off work.

Dick met us there after he got finished mowing at Anthony's.  That's him in the back of Elizer's fire truck.

Lots of fun, of course. 

I snapped this picture of my purple salvia before church this morning.  

My knockout rose bush is full of blooms and buds.  

We haven't mulched around it yet, but we'll get that done this week.

The little hot paprika rose bush that Sam and the kids gave me last June has its first bloom and many, many buds.

Today was National Cancer Survivors Day.  I took this picture of Dick.  He is a 26-year survivor!  He was diagnosed with Lymphoma soon after his 46th birthday and had recurrences four or five times since.  But 2014 was the last.  Eight years!!  Hallelujah!!

I have some good things to look forward to this week, but I'll hopefully blog in a few days to let you know about that.

Summer is really here!

The rhododendrons are at their peak!  I'm glad I went over to Anthony and Lori's place yesterday afternoon and got this picture when the sun was shining!

Now back to Saturday.  We got some things done around here, then in the evening went over to Destiny and Alex's place after she got off work to take some pasta salad I had made.  

Whenever I get there Elizer wants to go outside.  So the three of us went for a long walk.  When I posted these pictures on Facebook my sister Barb wondered if it was hot or cold - Dick in shorts, me in a coat.  Hahahaha!!  Right there is a good picture of how we respond to the weather SO differently!!

Sunday was a HOT day!  There's no AC at our church, so it's good our service is over by 10 AM in the summer time.  When we got home from church we decided go shopping for flowers.  Sometimes I get tired of the way our perennials multiply and take over and crowd every place we ever planted them.  But after paying the prices we did for annuals I told Dick we'd better be thankful for all those perennials.  Good grief!  Someday they will be all we can afford to have. 

We came home and planted in the hot sun.  Definitely not a Sabbath rest!  But we knew we'd be spending Monday (Memorial Day) resting and playing.  We got hanging plants for the porch, a new pot for a planter, one new rose bush to replace the pink one that died, begonias and coleus for the only shaded area behind the side porch, and marigolds across the front in front of the lilies.  Now we need mulch.

When we were finished I sat on the front porch and said, "It is good."  

We had gotten a few impatiens for Destiny's little flower bed by their front door, so after she was off work we went over there to plant them.  Of course I had to take Elizer for a walk and we played at the playground for a long time.  He has endless energy!!  I think he went up those steps a hundred times!

Destiny had worked five long days and was exhausted.  We decided to try something - having Elizer for a sleepover.  First night without Mommy and Daddy!   He did pretty well, some whimpering occasionally, but no crying.  In the morning he was Great Grandpa's buddy.  They played and ate breakfast together.

When I was showering I heard the John Deere mower starting up and I knew what was happening.  Elizer's dream come true!   I could hear the mower for a while, then I couldn't hear it anymore.  I decided to go outside and check what was going on.  I laughed when I looked down the street - they were going on a tour of the neighborhood, hahaha!!  

After a long while they came back home.  Elizer was SO mad about getting off the mower!

It was another HOT day!!  It was hard to think of anything but going to the pool.  So that 's what we did!  When we got over to Destiny's place I took pictures of the new curtains in her kitchen - one at a window and one in front of her stacked washer and dryer.  I think they look so nice.  All her kitchen decor is black and white and gray.

We had the greatest time at the pool!  Normally Elizer doesn't like to get his face wet, but he was getting quite brave.  One time he was accidentally standing under a bucket that dumped on him, and he didn't freak out.

From there we went over to Anthony's for some of his amazingly delicious, juicy burgers.  He is becoming quite an excellent meat chef!  It was a small crew for our cookout.  Lori had gone to Pittsburgh with the boys to pick up her sister from the airport. They went to Ikea afterward.  And Alex hates sweating, so he opted to stay home.  Actually, we were pretty comfortable because Anthony put up a big umbrella for shade as we ate. 

Dick gave Elizer a ride in the hammock and we almost thought he was going to fall asleep.  But he soon revived and was on the go again.

Of course, there is never a shortage of beauty at Stauffer Acres!

Tuesday was another big day!  The all-star football game that had been rescheduled from Friday was that evening.  In Manheim!!  Our home town where our boys (Frank and Ray) had played football and also our grandson Bjorn.  And now J'von.  You can see him on the Columbia High School poster below. 

Dick got off work early and we went over to pick up Destiny and Elizer.  Alex would have gone too, but they now have a pet baby chameleon and it needs to be sprayed with water at 6 pm.  Their neighbor/friend was not at home to do it for them.  Ugh.  That's one reason we don't have any pets, haha!  

We thought Elizer would nap on the two-and-a-half hour drive, but alas he had taken a very short nap in Destiny's car earlier and that was enough to keep him going the whole way to Manheim.  Is he not the cutest??

Our first stop was Pleasant View Communities, just a mile or so from Manheim Central, to see Grandma Arlene.  I told Dick that at the price of gas we're going to make sure we see her whenever we make a trip down there.   We stayed about half an hour and that was just the right amount of time.  Elizer was delighted to be in a place with cupboards, etc that had no child locks on them.  

We found parking near the football stadium because we were rather early.  I took this video on our way in.  Look at Elizer swinging his arm, hahaha!

We sat with Frank and Lauren and the girls, also J'von's mother Danielle and her younger son Marty.  Frank was so proud to have his son playing football at his alma mater where he had played football.  

It was really, really, really hot!  Thankfully we had seats on the side with some shade.  Elizer was really into the game during the first half.  He was so cute sitting on Dick's lap yelling and clapping when everyone else did.  

The game itself was not super exciting.  At least not to me.  J'von was on the red team, #7.  Unfortunately the blue team was ahead the entire game and won.  I spent some of the time walking Elizer around.  

Of course there had to be pictures afterward!  J'von's last high school football game.  Top left: J'von with his mom and younger brother.  Top right: Destiny and J'von.  Bottom left:  Destiny and Elizer with J'von and Frank.  (Lauren had left with the girls before the game was over, so I didn't get any pictures of them.)  Bottom right:  Dick and I with J'von.  

Last evening we met Destiny at the storage unit after work to sort through some things that are still there.  Our community is having a yard sale this weekend and we'll try to sell some things.  We gotta get it emptied out.

Did you watch the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's 70 years on the throne this morning?  I did for a while.  It was fun and grand.  

Have a great weekend!