Day 2...

found Grandson's #1 and #2 and myself on a visit to the capital of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.  I work there within an area commonly referred to as the Capitol Complex.  We stopped in at my place of employment so that coworkers could gasp over how tall the boys had gotten since they had last seen them. We were planning on visiting the Capitol itself and after a coworker mentioned that she had recently taken one of their guided tours, the boys and I decided to take one ourselves.
We entered the building from the back where the fountain in located.

We arrived in the rotunda about five minutes before the next tour was scheduled to begin.  There was a very large group gathered and when a woman wearing a polo shirt with a logo on her pocket beckoned every one to follow her, we joined the group.  Out the front door, down the steps, past the Occupy Harrisburg squatters and up along Third Street we walked until we reached the State Museum and a bigggg tour bus.  That's when I asked her if this was the Capitol tour and she said "No, this is a private bus tour!"  The boys and I hustled back over to the Capitol and were joined up by walkie talkie with the tour group that was in the Senate chambers.  We took the rest of the tour and then walked around the rotunda for a while afterward.  Below are some pictures that we took of various parts of the Capitol.  

 

This is the only stained glass dome in the building and is the only dome not visible as part of the "roof line" outside.  It was gorgeous as was the rest of the building.  As the tour guide mentioned when she pointed out the marble walls from France in the House chambers, the building is priceless since a lot of it could never be replaced because a lot of the building materials are no longer available. The boys were wowed by the scale and of things and all the gold.

Grandson #2 was especially fascinated with Violet Oakley's original sketch book encased in a glass enclosure so this picture is for him.  Violet Oakley was 28 years old when she was commissioned to paint a number of murals in the Capitol and she did this at a time when women couldn't vote.

Grandsons #1 and #2 beside the clock in the Supreme Court chambers.  The state seal is shown in the center of the clock face and the glass window below is in the shape of a keystone for PA, the Keystone state.

We left the Capitol and headed over to Strawberry Square and a look at the clock with the visible working parts. The boys enjoyed and Auntie Ann's pretzel and drink before we headed back to the car and the return trip back to our house. 

 

Grandson #2 brushed up on his rowing skills when he took his brother for a ride around The Puddle in late afternoon.  The younger one had a good time pulling the flowers off the lily pads (can we say long, long stems) and they took short stops to just sit and look around while drifting.  I didn't take the camera with me because we were only going down to take a look around but plans changed and I wasn't leaving to come back up to the house to get the camera.
The young boy who lives across the street from us came down to play later in the evening and the boys took turns riding the Big Wheels and some skateboards down our driveway.
Today was another busy day and I managed to forget the camera again so when I post there may not be pictures of everything we did today.
Have a good day!

They're here!

We left about 10AM this morning and drove about halfway to meet OnlyDaughter and Only Son-in-Law to make the transfer of Grandsons #1 and #2 to our car for the trip to our house.  The boys are here until Wednesday for a visit.
I purchased some fabric months ago with the intention of making pillow cases for the boys.  I decided to get busy and make the cases for this visit and used a tutorial I found online.  The pillow case was called the Magic Pillowcase and has a burrito style opening and french seams.  They were easy to make and were done in an evening.  I used a cowboy print mixed with a plaid in a contrasting fabric and stitched a piece of synthetic leather trim at the seam line and I made them each opposite of the other.  
They are on the pillows on the army cots covered by sleeping bags the boys will be sleeping on/in.  I told them they are welcome to take the pillow cases home with them when they head home.


After meeting halfway along the route to pick up the boys, we all had a bite of lunch and then headed back toward our home. The theater that I mentioned in an earlier post was showing Madagascar 3 as a matinee today and OnlyDaughter said the boys had not yet seen the flick and would certainly enjoy it.  We arrived home in time to take a bathroom break and hop in the car again for the ride to the theater.  The boys thought the movie was really funny and while I enjoyed it, I think I might have understood the storyline more if I had seen the first two movies. 

Once home from the movie, I started dinner preparations while Mr. P gave instruction on the use of the golf cart which up until now neither boy has ever driven by himself and Grandson #2 couldn't even reach the pedals last time they were here.  Both took turns taking the cart for a spin, up and down the driveway and down the path to the Puddle Pond and around the perimeter.  I believe they both think they are now ready for their license to drive a car based on the excursions today.  Let's just say, I think they both could easily  have a career on the Formula 1 circuit or with NASCAR.  Remember, W, slow down when you are making a turn!

We enjoyed Southwest Spagetti Bake with fresh cucumbers, tomato slices and applesauce or dinner.  There was watermelon right before showers.
I'm off work for the next two days.  Plans tomorrow are to visit the capital city of PA, Harrisburg, which is where I work.  We will visit my coworkers and take a tour of the Capitol and Strawberry Square where there is a really neat clock that the boys will get a kick out of.
Hope you have had a good weekend wherever you are.  

Time Flies

Gosh!  The past two weeks have flown by quickly.  The movie "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" was showing two weeks ago at a small local theater nearby.  I love Judi Dench and Maggie Smith who had roles in the movies so when I saw it was playing at the West Shore Theater, Mr P and I went to see the movie.  If you are older (as Mr P and I are) you will find you can relate to the situations faced by the characters in the movie.  In short, it was a funny, moving movie with beautiful scenery of India.


The West Shore Theater opened on January 20, 1940 showing "The Secret Life of Dr. Kildare" and the cost to see the movie was 25 cents.  When I was young (much later than 1940!), I would stay for a week or two during summers in New Cumberland with an aunt and uncle, the town where the theater is located.  My two cousins, their sons, and I often walked from their home to the theater to see the latest flick.  I distinctly remember going to see "Brides of Frankenstein" and my cousins and their friends had a grand time sneaking ahead of me on the walk home and laying in wait to scare me in the shrubbery along the route home.

It's a lovely little theater with a lot of old vintage character and appearance and while the cost is more than 25 cents, Tuesdays it's only $2.50 to see a movie and only $3.00 other days of the week.  Matinees are cheaper too.
The town clock across the street from the theater situated in front of the Post Office.  I think it's neat.

Three years ago, Only Son-In-Law graciously invited Mr. P to golf in a scramble for a charity, Muscular DistrophyAssociation (MDA) where he sponsors a team.  The invitation was extended even though Mr. P had only golfed on a miniature golf course up to that point.  Only Son-In-Law was even more generous in outfitting Mr P with a set of clubs, shoes, in short the "whole nine yards" to get him going.  Mr. P signed up for a series of lessons prior to that tournament, has been hooked on golf since.  Weather permitting Mr P tries to get out a least once a week to do 18 holes.

I missed the tournament trip last year because our Labrador, Buckley was having problems getting around but this year I made the trip.  Only Daughter and Only Son-In-Law celebrated their wedding anniversary last month so I made a cake (strawberry per Only Daughter's request) and used a Petal Cake decoration. It was a first time for this type of decoration but not hard to do.   

In one of my previous posts, I shared that I was making something for Only Daughter and Only Son-In-Law and took a pic of the back of the item which was a pillow.  It has since been delivered and so the front can now be revealed.  The pattern was purchased from Helen whose blog is  http://bustleandsew.com/blog/ 
Helen created the pattern for Queen Elizabeth's 60th Anniversary celebration because Queen Elizabeth keeps corgis (Pembroke's which have no tail).  Only Daughter has two corgis (Cardigan's which have tails) so I improvised in making the pillow leaving out the lettering she had included, adding tails and making sure there was a brown and a black corgi, the two colors of corgis that Only Daughter owns.  The dogs do resemble Kirby and Betty and the pillow was given a place on honor in the living room rather than the family room since "the dogs won't be as likely to sit their behinds on the pillow in the living room."
On Friday, Only Daughter, Grandson #1, Grandson #2 and myself went on a field trip to the Aviary.  Grandsons #1 and #2 are pictured below in front of statuary located throughout the Aviary. 
The remainder of the pictures are various birds photographed during our visit but my favorite area was what was referred to as the "blue room" and housed all sorts of songbirds.  The birds flew around the room as we meandered the path, singing, settling into the little wicker baskets and wooden bird houses that are provided as housing.  Their variety was fabulous and the colorings just gorgeous.

 

 

My walking buddy and I got our early morning walks in early both yesterday and today.  Both days, the skies were overcast so there was no beating sun; however, yesterday we walked in a heavy mist which was actually refreshing and high humidity today which made for a sweaty walk. 
I have been getting things together for a short visit that Grandsons #1 and #2 will be making to stay with us early next week.  The bedroom where they will be sleeping is ready for the lodgers and there were some items purchased at the grocery store today that are not usual purchases for Mr P and myself. 
Hope everyone has a nice weekend and good week wherever you are!

Remembering Buckley

November 1, 1997 - July 9, 2011

Companion, best friend, all around good guy who is missed every day.

 

 

 

 

We're broiling in this heat!

Mr P hung the hammock out for me on the 4th of July.  The nylon roping on the two trees where the hammock has been hung has been exposed to the elements for a number of years so I asked him to climb in the hammock to make sure the ropes would hold. (I'm not dumb.)  The hammock almost touched the ground when he got in (less distance to fall if the ropes gave way I guess).   While the ropes held, he decided to change out the ropes for new nylon ropes and adjusted the height so the hammmock is higher off the ground.  It's rolled up each evening and propped on the front porch just in case there's rain overnight.



A doe and her two fawns have been visiting the garden daily for a snack.  We've dusted the veggies with a substance that they don't like the smell and taste of and for the most part they have been walking through the garden but not eating the plants.  Because we hadn't had any rain recently, Mr P hadn't dusted for a few days.  That changed quickly on Friday. As I was dressing for work and looked out the window I saw the doe eating the potato plants (again) so the plants were quickly dusted.

That evening we took a quick trip to The Puddle and saw a number of deer across the stream in the corn field behind our house.

This one was brave enough to come around the trees and sneak up to try and get a closer look at us.

The heat and humidity this week has been unbelievable.   The weather forecast was for record breaking temperatures on Saturday with temps topping 100 degrees F.  My Mom, the jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, has air conditioning at her apartment so is able to stay cool in this heat.  The rest of this month will be a busy one both during the workweek and on the weekends so the decision was made to bring her down for puzzle time and dinner.
I picked her up by 3PM and as soon as we were in the house, she started in on the puzzle that we had begun a few weeks ago.  We stopped long enough to have enjoy a cold cut submarine sandwich from our local soft ice cream stand and topped the evening off with some blueberry soft serve ice cream.  Yum!

The finished puzzle is a busy scene of times long ago and was fun to do.  Our quit time was one of our earlier times, 9:30PM, and by the time I took her to her home and returned to mine, the neighbors three houses over were setting off fireworks.  They have a big, big pond and have a 4th of July fireworks party/display every year.  This year instead of having it on the 4th they waited to have it on the weekend and we got to enjoy the show from our deck out back.  

One of our nephews enlisted in the Army last year. When he went out West for his basic training he asked if we would "garage" his car until he knew where he would be stationed.  With space available, we agreed and Mr P has been working with this nephew, P, to get the license, inspection, etc done in order for the car to be transported to Texas.  Hopefully, the final pieces will fall into place this week so that the tags and inspection will be done and all will be ready to go.
To this end, Mr P charged the battery (which he had removed when the car was brought to our house), and replaced it in the engine compartment.  The car had been sitting under a pine tree here and acquired a yellowish pollen hue and lots of pine needles.  A washing greatly improved its appearance.  

Guess who is using the new "bowl" atop her new cat perch?  The princess, Chance.  Doesn't she look comfy?

I hope everyone had a good weekend wherever you are.  Stay cool!

This is my....

once a year day when I travel to a nearby wheat field and steal a handful of wheat.
When I was in high school, a friend's family had a ritual (not sure if it originated just with her family or if this is a "historical" ritual - I will have to check this out on the internet) that involved traveling to a wheat field and making off with a handful of wheat to hang over the front door.  This was done to ensure a prosperous year for the next year.
I have continued this ritual since that time.  While I'm nowhere near as prosperous $$-wise as Bill and Melinda Gates, I live a comfortable life and am prosperous in many other ways (good health, family, a job, etc).
I live in rural area, but the challenge these past few years has become actually finding a wheat field.  Lots of fields where farmers used to grow wheat and other crops are being sold and built into housing developments.  Luck was on my side when last week as I was lamenting the lack of wheat fields, Mr P and I happened upon one on a drive which was not to far away.
After breakfast this morning, we hopped into the car and headed out.  I had my kitchen shears in hand for the cutting.  Almost upon reaching the field, a police car passed us going in the opposite direction but once it rounded a bend in the road behind us, I jumped from the car, snipped two nice handfuls of wheat and jumped back in the car for the getaway.  
Once home, I trimmed the ends and tied the bunch with raffia.  It is now secured on the star ornament on the garage which holds the little American flags.  While it's actually supposed to be hung over the door used to enter and leave the house, previous attempts to do this resulted in scaring the birds that would peck at the sheaf leaving bits and pieces on the porch which were carried in the house on our shoes.  


My walking buddy, R, and I went out at 6AM this morning on our usual route.  On the way back, a flock of wild turkeys crossed the road headed from the corn field behind my home to the woods across the way.  The humidity is high again today and both of us were drenched when we got back.  After the trip to cut the wheat, Mr. P suggested a ride to The Puddle Pond since he too had heard the turkeys while we were out walking.
We didn't see anymore turkeys but did spy two red-tail hawks sitting on opposite electric towers.  I snapped a picture of the one closest and he was a long way off across the field.  We watched him for a while as he fluffed his feathers and settled down in search of prey.  

Because temperatures are to go up to around 95 degrees today and the humidity is to be high, we will do what is needed outside early in the day and spend the afternoon inside where it's cooler.
On Monday evening, I told Mr P I would bake either a white cake with white frosting or homemade Tandycakes.  Those in the northeast part of the states are probably familiar with Tastykake Bakery www.tastykake.com which is located in Philadelphia.  They make packaged cakes, one of which is the Tandycake.  The Tandycake consists of a spongelike yellow cake layer, topped with a peanut butter layer and then coated in chocolate.  They are in the shape of a hockey puck, come two to a packet and eight to a box.
The picture below is a homemade Tandycake and the recipe follows this picture.  Mr P had coffee in his grumpy mug and I had some green tea in my mug.  

Tandycake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream together:
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups sugar
Add:
2 tsps oil
2 cups flour
2 tsps baking powder
dash of salt
1 cup milk
Grease and flour a 10 X 13-inch baking pan.  Pour batter into pan.  Bake @ 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, spread1 cup peanut butter on top.  Cool and refrigerate until hard.
Melt 11 1/2 ounces milk chocolate morsels with t tsp oil and spread over peanut butter.  Refrigerate until hard. 

The latest shot of the garden which is doing well.  The potatoes that the deer feasted on have rebounded, I am still picking peas (although with this heat they won't last much longer), small squash and cucumbers are started and the plants are loaded with flowers.

Since the 4th of July holiday falls midweek this year, I'm back to work tomorrow.  No big celebration plans today, just a quiet day at home.  Dinner will be grilled barbeque chicken, baked potatoes, corn salsa for me and corn on the cob for Mr. P and some grilled zucchini strips.  Of course, Tandycakes for dessert.

Hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July.

July 1st

Mr P and I took the golf cart down to The Puddle Pond this morning to snap the first of the month photo. The john boat, tied to the dock,  made a trip out on the water on Thursday so Mr P could spray to kill some of the lily pads.   He wasn't going to mention it but when I got home from work he told me that he got in the boat without an oar onboard and suddenly found himself adrift on the water.  The wind eventually carried him close enough to the edge where he could grab some high grass (thank goodness he hadn't gotten to trimming the edges until yesterday) and pull himself along to the dock where he picked up an oar.  The spraying was done and the trimming done on Saturday.




The zebra grass in the picture below is at the far side of The Puddle in the shadows on the left in the photo above.  The two original grass plants became three at some point over the years and are quite impressive.  

We took a trip around The Puddle and managed to snap this picture of a dragonfily on a cat-o-nine tail along the water's edge.

It's been extremely hot and humid here for the last five days and there's more in store for this week.  We are more fortunate than some areas that experienced intense thunderstorms and damaging winds last week.  I talked to my sister-in-law, Miss V, earlier today and she told me that the area of WVA where she lives isn't expected to have power restored until Friday of this week.   No power and hotter than you know what, so not even the relief a fan might bring.

Mr P and I attended a photography class on Thursday conducted by photographer from a local newspaper.  The classes are aimed at helping folks get more comfortable with their cell phone or camera when picture taking.  The local library where Mr P and I both volunteer weekly is offerring the classes and there are two more scheduled.  We each took a different "point and shoot" camera since we use these more than our cell phones for picture taking.  I don't know about Mr P but I certainly came away with some newfound knowledge.  I don't know if the quality of the pictures in the blog will be noticeably better as we progress but I do feel better informed on some of the buttons and settings.

 Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
Thinking of you today Miss V. Glad you had a safe trip.