December 4

We went to Kat and Jason's on Saturday to fix a "Farm Market Challenge" dinner for them and to play with Daniel. Jason challenged Rich to go to the farm market and select items for dinner, then fix them without a recipe. The result was fabulous! We had Cornish hen with a tangerine sauce and leeks, roasted sweet potatoes and carrots, salad, bread and a purchased chocolate mousse cake for dessert. We ate very well!

Playing with Mommy...



Fireman Dan


Getting "Stuck" with Pop-pop

Thanksgiving Blessings

We were blessed to be able to spend time with Sharon, Mark and Carmella in Georgia for Thanksgiving. Sharon made a fabulous meal for us and they showed us around Atlanta - the World of Coca Cola and the Atlanta Zoo, in particular. We can check off eating at the Varsity - it was an interesting experience. The best part of the trip was just being together - and playing with Ella.

Three generations at the World of Coca Cola.


With Ella at the Atlanta zoo.


Pop-pop watching Ella play at the park in the water from the foot bridge above the stream.

Ella throwing sand into the water - everything was exciting and so much fun to see through her eyes.

We had a "Christgiving" gift exchange the day after Thanksgiving. Ella received an apron and a tea service. We all drank tea the rest of the weekend.

Ella and Pop-pop playing the alphabet game on the computer. What a smart little girl!

There's just something about the way little girls run that's so adorable!

Grandchildren are such fun!!!

We get to see Daniel at least once a month. Every time we see him he has changed - both physically and verbally! He always has a big smile for us and it's obvious he enjoys the attention of the grandparents. His favorite game with Pop-pop is one-two-three upside down.

Gettysburg Tour

Rich and I toured Gettysburg on Saturday with our Fellowship Group from church. To see more about the trip, please check out our class blog: www.cornerstone915.blogspot.com.

Saturday....At the Park

We met Kat and Daniel and Roxy at Cabelas today to pick up Roxy for a week at Big Daddy Dog Camp. We thought Daniel would enjoy seeing the animals and fish in the store. Unfortunately, he was a little frightened by the bigness of the animals. As we left, however, he started doing all the animal sounds of the animals he had seen - so he wasn't all that scared!


We grabbed lunch and took it to a nearby park to eat and play. What fun! Here are some pics from the afternoon.



It was a gorgeous fall day and Daniel was dressed for fall.

Daniel loves horses - and he enjoyed riding this one, with Mommy beside him.

The enclosed slide immediately became a hit. Roxy tried to run up the wrong way to get to Kat who was at the top putting Daniel in the right position to go down. Where is he?

There he is!


Are you up there, Mommy?

And one more ride on the way back to the car!

Labor Day with Daniel

On Monday we drove out to Kat and Jason's to spend the day with them. We decided to visit a nearby lake. We walked along the edge of the lake and Daniel and Roxy played in the water. Daniel was fascinated by the rocks - tasted them and threw them into the lake. He managed to get pretty well soaked. It was a gorgeous day and we really enjoyed spending time together.

Young Fox

This seems to be a nature blog these days! When Laurel was here in June she espied the neighborhood fox with three little kits. Sunday afternoon, after the farmer cut down the grasses in the field behind the house I saw one of the kits looking for mice. He seemed to pose for me, so I took a few photos. He must be about 3 months old now. I have enjoyed watching these playful animals learn to hunt near the water drainage area behind our house. It's like watching the nature channel on tv - only live action!

They've launched!

This morning I thought I saw an enemy bird in the birdhouse and was sure that all was lost...but then I discovered that it was just a baby bird emerging and flying away! They are practicing flying at the big rock in the back yard and landing on another birdhouse we have there.

Polo Match

Our first ever polo match - at Hempt Farms to benefit the MS Society. Daniel got to see horses and enjoyed listening to them snort as they left the field. One of his favorite horse sounds to make is "Neigh!" He said that a lot on Saturday!

After the match he brought books to Grandpop to read. What precious moments...

Baby Bluebirds

I tried to get a picture of the babies, but all I got was a blur of blue feathers. They are about to leave the nest. It's been fun to watch them from nest building to egg laying to hatching to fledging.



Later I was able to catch them popping out for a bite to eat - Feed me!!!!
(Double click on the photo for a close up view)

Summertime with Daniel

Kat's babysitter has been on vacation, so Grandma took her turn at watching Daniel. What a fun little person he is!

High Five, Grandma!

Trip to Niagara Falls

This past weekend, Thursday through Monday, we enjoyed a brief vacation trip to Niagara Falls.

We started our long weekend vacation on Thursday with a short visit with my Aunt Vaughn in a nursing home in Brookville, PA, and then met my brother and his wife at the Clarion River. We enjoyed a ride in Chuck’s boat as we went up and down the river for about three hours of beautiful scenery and relaxation. We had a super nice visit and a summer cookout meal for supper at their camper. (Anita took the photos...)

[Our Captain, brother Chuck]

Niagara Falls
On Friday morning we headed up north. Rich had never seen the falls and I was 10 or so when I last saw them. We stayed on the Canadian side in a B & B in walking distance of the falls. We rode the Maid of the Mist into the spray from the horseshoe falls and ate dinner at the Fallsview Restaurant on top of the Sheraton Hotel. After dinner we sat in a park until the lights were turned on the falls. There was a rock concert in the park followed by fireworks over the falls. It was a very pleasant and relaxing evening. Then we walked back to the B & B.

Above is the view from the restaurant!

Niagara on the Lake
This was a touristy little town with quaint shops and lots of visitors. We stopped at Fort George and learned a bit about the Revolutionary War from the British/Canadian point of view. Stopped to see one of the largest floral clocks. Had lunch in an Irish Pub and bought some cheese, bread, chocolate and wine for our supper back at the B & B.

Heading Home

Stopping at Lockport, NY, on our way back to PA, we took a cruise on the Erie Canal. I grew up near Canal Fulton, OH, and Rich and I lived near there for a year before moving to PA. I even taught at the high school there for a year, so we were well aware of the Erie Canal. It was fascinating to travel through the locks and hear some of the history of the canal. Rather than use draw bridges, the canal uses “lift bridges.” They lift straight up to let the cruise ship pass, then lower again for the automobile traffic.

Inside the locks waiting for the water to fill the lock and lift the boat.

A lift bridge - straight up and down to let boats through on the canal.

Here we are on the Erie Canal for a two-hour cruise on the canal and through two locks.

Wellsboro, PA. is a very pretty town near the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. We stayed overnight in town and took a drive Monday morning to the Canyon. Below is a picture of the Canyon. I guess we were there a little too early! We did take a mile-long hike and enjoyed the forest and what views we could get.

Grizzly and tools

Our final stop was at Grizzly’s – a huge showroom of woodworking tools in Muncy, PA. Rich wanted to add a 6” jointer to his workroom tools and they had one on sale. I have never been in a store like this one. It was fascinating! I really liked the sample woodworking projects on display and the instructions and parts for making guitars.

Now my mind is reeling with all the possibilities of things Rich can make for us…