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!!!!!!!!!