Ten days in Pennsylvania

I returned a few days ago from a ten day trip to Pennsylvania with my friends, Jim and Renee Richeson. Our base was their time-share condo in the Poconos. Each day we saw something different. Some days it was beautiful scenery (mountain views and waterfalls), and other days it was historical sites like Philadelphia, Valley Forge, Washington Crossing, and Gettysburg. In the picture above we were taking a carriage ride around Philadelphia. We also saw the beautiful Pennsylvania Dutch area in Lancaster County filled with Amish farms and the picturesque towns of Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse. Also, not to be serious all the time, we went to Hershey World in Hershey, Pennsylvania. That was an experience!

I had a great time and took lots of pictures. All of us were 65 or older, so we had to do things slowly and with a minimum of walking. Still, it was fun to see a different part of the country and celebrate some of our American history.

Spring???

It's spring, no it's winter, no it's spring...

And so we enter what could be called "severe storm season" here in Tennessee. The yoyo weather has begun, and with it will be all the variety of winds and rain, hopefully not tornadoes and floods like last year. It is starting pretty early this year. I hope we will all be safe for the next three months. Last May's floods were devastating and too many people still have not recovered.

Snow

I love to take pictures of snow, and it is even better when I don't have to get out and try to drive in it. These first two were taken on Christmas morning. The snow was thin, but there was enough to call it a White Christmas. Noah and Eli had a good time playing in it.

Then we had snow again on January 10. This time we got more than a dusting. I measured 3 1/2 to 4 inches. More is expected for the next two days.

Screened Porch

This is a work in progress, but when finished it should be a comfortable screened porch. Eventually there will be cushions and an outdoor rug. I want to move an electric outlet inside the screened area, too. It will be so nice to be able to be outside in good weather without all the bugs.

Botanical Garden Visit

Over Labor Day weekend I went to visit Bryan's family in Birmingham. On Saturday we went to a small botanical garden. It was a nice day with much cooler temperatures than we had been having. We had a lovely time just relaxing and watching the boys have a good time. Bryan pushed me around in a wheelchair, so I didn't have to try to walk it, and that made it much more pleasant for me.

The gardens were at the end of summer, so not too much was in full bloom, but there were still some flowers. I remember cannas and black eyed Susans among others. This place should be beautiful in spring and after the leaves turn in the fall. There were some elderly men who were sailing remote control sailboats on the lake. Someone had set up a little girl's tea party, complete with tablecloths and full tea service. There were preparations being made for a wedding, too.

It was a lovely, quiet, peaceful place right in the middle of a busy city. Loved it!

Here are a few of the pictures I took:

Could we please have an early Autumn???

Here it is the end of August and I am looking back and reflecting over the last few months. It began badly with all the flooding in May - and then more flooding a few weeks ago. In addition we had one of the hottest summers ever! I am so ready for some cooler weather. We were teased with a couple of better days, but the heat is going up again. I will just say I am very grateful for air conditioning. I will date myself, but I can remember when the best we had was a fan at home and some air vents in the car. I'm also grateful to be in Tennessee. Louisiana is so much hotter and more humid!

I am looking forward to the slight chill in the air, the smell of burning leaves. and the beautiful colors of autumn.

BIG WEEK part two: new one-year-old

Our summer is full of grandchildren's birthdays. This was Alli's first birthday party held at her Smith grandparent's lovely home out in the beautiful countryside of Winchester, TN.
Alli loved the curly bow on this present.
After all the gifts were open, we all went out to the pool. The weather even cooperated. No storms bothered us and the temperature was not too hot until about the time everyone was ready to get out of the water, anyway.
This little sweetie is Alaina. She will be the next birthday (of the grandchildren), but not until December.
We all enjoyed the day. Alli was surrounded by parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. Even the babies loved the water.

Thanks, Marilyn and Chris for letting us enjoy your beautiful home and pool. I especially loved the flower garden and the butterflies.