The Eisenhower Farm

 

Last body part check-up before retirement and the loss of my vision coverage took place last Thursday when I went to the eye doctors.  All was good and only reading glasses are needed.  The inexpensive ones that you can buy at the drug store that are often called cheaters will suffice so it was a good visit.

Last Friday I took the day off work and my sister, J, and I drove to Gettysburg to visit the Eisenhower farm where our 34th President and his wife spent time during his years as President.  The farm became their home after Dwight Eisenhower finished serving his presidency until his death in death in 1969.  His wife, Mamie, continued to live there following his death until she passed in 1979.  The National Trust now maintains the farm as a museum.

What struck me most as we toured the farmhouse, barn, little guest house and adjoining farm which continues to be a working farm raising crops (soy and alfalfa this year) and the black Angus steer that Ike loved, is how simplistic our 34th President and his wife lived.  Our tour guide mentioned three things that President Eisenhower loved - golf (the National Golf Association put a putting green and sand trap in their back yard), history especially military history and poker.  Mamie loved - her family and friends, music and anything pink.  I didn't get any pictures of her bathroom which was pink, pink, pink.  The living room, which President Eisenhower considered stuffy, was only used when dignitaries visited and the funky round hassock type chair in the photo above was prominently displayed in this room.  Extra seating maybe???  The wallpaper going up the staircase had lots of different seals displayed and the telephones were all the old black rotary dial ones. It was like stepping back in history and I could remember to a lot of the things that were in use during that time period.

The tour finished back at the Gettysburg Visitors Center around lunchtime.  It was off to http://garryowenirishpub.net for lunch.  We started with a Magners Irish Cider and an appetizer of Scotch Eggs.  The entrees we split were Fish and Chips and Bangers and Mash.  Wonderful food, wonderful service and a thoroughly enjoyable lunch. Mr P and I will make a trip back to try some of the other Irish specialties that were listed on the menu.  If you get to Gettysburg and have the time, I would highly recommend stopping for a bite to eat and a sip of Irish beer.

We finished the afternoon with a stop at Gallery 30, a store that carries items made by local artists.  There were paintings, carvings, pottery, scarves, hats, gloves, candles, gourds and jewelery along with some really different greeting cards.  We had a great day out and plans are to select somewhere else for another day trip.

I'll be back later today or tomorrow with the final results of the World Series of Little League Baseball.  Not only are the games, which include international teams, held in Williamsport located less than 100 miles north of here but our hometown boys have been competing all week long.  They've won every one of the four games played so far and are the USA National Champ but today they play Japan for the International title. 

Mr P is finishing up some mowing and I've finished up washing the lunchtime dishes in preparation for settling in to watch the game at 3:30PM today.  Go Red Land Little League boys!!!!!!!!!

The Dog Days of Summer

It's hot and very humid today.  The next few days into next week are to be much of the same.  Friday night dinner was no muss, no fuss because we got take out at Forry's Drive-In and drove over to Pinchot Park to sit and eat.  The water level in the lake is high after some heavy rain overnight this week.  There were no geese in sight but there was an egret sitting out on a rock for a while.

My walking buddy, R, and I got out early this morning but it was a hot walk.  After hanging some freshly washed sheets on the line out back, there was a quick trip to the local Agway for some birdseed and then another stop on the way home for some seeds.

A row of peas, a small row of mixed greens (lettuces) and a small row of radishes were planted when we got home.  Some cucumbers and yellow squash were harvested and this evening I need to pick off  the red tomatoes.  The neck pumpkin at The Puddle Pond have done exceptionally well this year and at least one large one is earmarked to be given to the owners of TJ's Homestyle restaurant.  One of my favorite baked oatmeal combinations that they serve is pumpkin, walnut.  Yum!  It's like Thanksgiving in a bowl.

This post was started on Saturday and it's now Monday evening.  Hot and humid yesterday and again today.  Less humidity as the week progresses.

Hope you are having a good week.

August

Ah bliss!  Its 4:30PM on Friday afternoon and I've just gotten home from work.  Mr P is golfing and the house is quiet.  I have an ice cold bottle of water and I'm sitting out on the deck.  It's sunny, 82 degrees and a light breeze is blowing.  I couldn't ask for more right now.

Robin egg blue, blue moon and lots of pictures from the Cuddleback in the woods.  July is gone and August is here.  After a hot, humid start this month temperatures have cooled somewhat.

We were sitting on the deck outside the house recently one weekend and noticed something silvery undulating across the field behind the woods.  Curious Mr P went down to The Puddle and once he came out of the path leading to The Puddle he was stopped in his tracks by the sight of at least 24 large snowy egrets.  They were ringing the pond and stood staring at him.  He said they were large birds and the way they looked at him was eerie.  Just before he made the decision to head up to the house for the camera, they took flight and landed high up in the trees closer to our neighbors pond.  By the time I got there, only a few remained in the trees and all the rest had left the trees and were now settling in around the neighbors pond to have a fish feast.  Where they came from and why thy landed here is still a question but what a sight.

Grandson#1 returned from a 4 week trip overseas at the end of July and then promptly turned 15 years old this week.  How quickly those years have passed by.  I can remember the phone announcing his arrival and the trip to the hospital to see the newest member of the family.  Now he's taller than I am, handsome and a nice boy to boot.  Happy Birthday, J!

I have not done so well on knitting a pair of socks every month this year.  I finished April's and must snap a picture of them before they become gifted to someone.  I'm feverishly trying to finish May's socks which will also be gifted to a coworker when I retire.  That date is looming and only 2 1/2 months away so I better keep my nose to the grindstone.  I'm trying to make sure everything is in order for retirement.  There is a meeting toward the end of this month to discuss some items that I will be signing up for and an appointment to make next month to sign my final papers. I have an official retirement date but will leave work quietly a few weeks prior to that date, using accrued leave until that actual date.  I'm so ready for this new chapter in my life.

Mr P just rang to say he's on his way home so my peace and quiet will be shattered in less than 1/2 hour.  We are headed up to the neighbors tonight to help husk corn.  R and K usually get a large quantity of corn, husk, blanch and freeze it for consumption over the winter.  Often in the fall, they will take a day and make a big iron pot (and boy is that pot big) of chicken corn soup and give family and friends containers of soup to freeze for enjoyment over the winter.  The last time we helped them husk corn they had purchased 24 dozen ears; tonight we might only husk 15 dozen.

We are to have a lovely weekend and my wish is that you are able to enjoy nice weather too this weekend.  Be back later.