More Pictures of Our 2nd Trip East

Just pictures (mostly). No time to write and/or think. Be forewarned. My last post was so long I thought I would quit before an epic novel was written. Not that any of it was made up--more like a coffee table book--oversized. Jered at the sing. His sister Bethany behind him.

Before the sing began. (I think Will is tying his shoe--or something)

Jennie H. and Joann B. at the conference Jan B, Phil and Pam B.

Abby and JoAnne

(Another three year old) Hannah

Willy and Wally

Some of the young people

More Cottage Pictures:

The path to the girls' dockMore of the path to the girls' dock. (It was a long way from the cottage.)

The girls' dock (to the right of the cottage)

The back porch--where we spent our time on rainy days at the cottage.

Three of Gordon and Pearl's guests of the past:

More beautiful colors of the Eastern Fall

Outside the rest home where Jan's father lives

2nd trip east in five weeks

Flying use to be fun. In the past I looked forward to getting on the airplane and enjoying the experience. Not anymore. The seats are too small and your neighbors are too close: front, back and sideways. If you want something to eat you either have to bring your own food or buy it from the airlines. For eight dollars. For a just warmed up sandwich. Non-alcoholic beverages are free. If you take advantage of that you end up using the washroom three times in a 5 hour flight. (Ask me.) Now all you want is for the flight to be over. Especially if you travel with someone who has never liked flying...even in the glory days...and just endures the five hour torture chamber and who chalks up the experience as another test in the pathway and knows he will be a better man for it in the end. I guess I could go first class. Hummm. Novel thought. Too bad even economy class costs so much.

Enough of my complaining.

They said we missed the real show. I say the show we saw was spectacular.

We passed by so many lakes while we were in Ontario. I could have spent all my time by any one of them. They were so peaceful. They skies were clear, the water smooth and the weather was just perfect.

We're just not use to all this color with our evergreen trees predominating here in the west.

We stayed with Rob and Jan who also had their grandson with them that week. I called him my "little alarm clock". His room was right next to ours and every morning before his feet hit the floor I heard, "Granny, Granny, Granny, I need you!" And then pitter, patter down the hall to Granny's room. It's a great way to wake up. I highly recommend it. It makes getting use to the three hour time change a little easier. (Notice, I said a little easier. I don't think I really got use to the change until it was time to go home. Even then, I slept in til eight the day after we got home. That would be noon in the east!)

Rob offer to take us to Gordon and Pearl's summer cottage the day after we arrived. Needless to say he did not have to ask twice. Both Bruce and I spent many happy times there when we were young. Too bad we were never there at the same time! That would have been the best!

We spent a good while contemplating the times we spent with G and P and the happy fellowship we had with so many other young people back in the 70's.

A view of the lake from the right side of the cottage. You can see the remnants of the ping pong table at the bottom right. This is where we and 39 other young people spent many hours breaking the ice and trying to get to know one another.

In the early mornings you could hear the loons calling across the lake. I had never heard them before coming to the cottage.


This is what use to be the girls' outhouse. No, there were no facilities in the house, that I know of. And there was no electricity. Imagine doing without a hair dryer, electric curlers and a curling iron for one whole week. Perhaps the most important week of your life since your future spouse may have been at the cottage with you!

Gordon's old car that they used to go "touring" throughout Canada and the US.

Beyond the car is the (now) overgrown field where we spent hours playing softball.

That little bit of land in front of the mass of trees is the Girls' Island. Only the brave dared to swim there and then only with a rowboat escort (of girls and by rule).
Reminiscing at the main dock.

On the next to the last day we had canoe races here. This was one of the only times the girls and boys were in the water together. The other was when a young man wanted to take a girl for a canoe ride.

One year some of us girls gave Robin an early morning dip off this dock for her birthday.

The meeting room where we went while visiting Gordon and Pearl. This is also where the conference was held just recently.

We were able to visit with many friends at this conference. Some we hadn't seen for years and some were new acquaintances.

Jim H. and Carol S.

Mark and Marion S.

After the Conference--Jamming at the Dock

Just another peaceful, tranquil scene on one of Ontario's thousand lakes.

Rob and Jan have this view off their back porch every day of the year. I suppose that sometimes there is snow and ice.

madaline's coffee

When SAJ blogged about madelines a while back I had to google it to see what she was talking about. I still don't know what it was that she was referring to but I came across this. Now this is some kind of espresso stand! I could use one of these. Maybe I can get one of my four kids to convert their VW's into something like this.

Do Not Leave Home Without It

By that I mean "knowing how to connect to the internet while in a Starbucks while you are away from home"! Bruce just asked me if I'm on yet. Yes, but it took me an hour and I JUST GOT ON. Whew. Now that our trip is just about over I can go to any Starbucks and get on-line and use their connection for two hours for free. (I wonder if my first hour trying to log on counts? They kept saying I was logged on to AT&T but I just couldn't get on-line.)Well, I guess it will be a short work day today.

We came from Scranton/Montrose Conference this AM. It was great! Not as small as I thought it would be and I knew a lot more people than I knew in St. John. It was good to see so many familiar faces and make connections with new ones.

We're going back to Vestal tonight for dinner at Mark and Marion's and then meeting Then we leave from there to go home on Tuesday. I'll have pics by then. You'll see a lot that you know.

Massachusetts

I think I'm in Massachusetts. At least that's what all the signs seem to say. It was so late last night when we got in to the motel that we just didn't really know. We are on our way to New York and are on the 90 going west. That's another story--when you travel in the east bring a bag full of change for the turnpikes and then once you get on don't expect to get off in a mile or two--try 30. We got off the turn-pike to check out a (too expensive) hotel and got back on the pike to check out the next exit. Wrong move. We were already beyond tired and couldn't get off the turnpike even if we wanted to. Thirty miles later we drove up to this dive where I now sit (at least they have Internet connection!). All we wanted to do was sleep. Good thing. It's not a place you want to write home about. Why am I?

Just to let you know where we are. And where we are going. We should be in Scranton/Montrose by Friday. But today we plan on getting a real cup of coffee in Albany, NY. We're hoping for a Starbucks there but I don't know if Starbucks is as serious about these Easterners as they are about us there in the West. We'll see. I'll keep you informed. Definitely.

Pearls and Pearls

Hmm. I'm a month behind on my posting for birthstone projects. I've down at the warehouse where we have had only one computer until recently. Yes, I managed to convince the boss that we needed another computer for the office. I don't want to make it a habit of using it for personal use, though. That is until it pays for itself! So the first five and a half hours of today I've slaving away at the website. (You would think that I would be done with that by now...there's always something to fix.)

I hesitated to start a new project just because June's birthstone is a pearl. But I did. In fact I started at least three new projects!

The first is a wallaby for a new baby. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it before the month is over. Caelen was born earlier this month. I actually got to meet him when he was two days old. We were attending a shower for Cate and her mom when-surprise, surprise - in walks Chris and her THREE boys!

NO PICTURE TODAY!!!

The second is a neck-down Aran sweater. I 've had this yarn for some time and have had many different ideas for it. Since I've been itching to do an Aran I thought this would be a good time as any.

And the third is really a "maybe" and will probably not get done. The magic raglan has been intriguing for a long time but I think I'll put it off for another month.

The Unfinished Wallaby for Kate (Now finished and delivered). The color is really off on this one. It really is a very pretty heathery purple. I wouldn't mind a sweater for myself out of it!

Born Free and Christian the Lion

Does anyone remember the film from the sixties called "Born Free"? Basically, it's the story of George and Joy Adamson who tamed some lions and then set them free in Africa. Well, some Britons did the same thing only in the heart of London! Actually, they set him free in Africa as well, but did raise him for one year in London. This is one incredible story! It brought chills to my spine! Perhaps this is what the Millennium will be like. Enjoy.

Christian the Lion

Coffee Slide Show for Chuggy

Let's have coffee.

For the Feet--But Not Socks

Forgive me for not posting this sooner. I wanted these slippers to get to the recipient before I posted. Even so, they probably will not, because of the Memorial Day holiday. Then again, if she made it to "the Sticks" this week-end she probably already has them!

Below is a finished pair of socks I told Heidi would be good for the barn. She replied that they would be good around the house, too! Who am I to complain? I'm just glad she's thrilled with 100% wool socks--even though summer is on the way.

Because our basement is so much cooler - (you can go from the top floor to the basement and feel the air cooling as you go) than the rest of the house I walked outside from the basement and got in the car wearing my 100% wool sweater and my
boots. I thought it was a little warm and then checked

the thermometer we have in the car.

See that little 'c' after the 27? That means it's not cold enough for 100% wool sweater or boots!

I would say this is California weather--beautiful warm and sunny.
Even Mo complained in his own way. Imagine a coat like this in the heat. And, no we don't shave him because his fur would grow in funny. Thankfully, we only have a few days a year that are this hot. Besides, if he was smart enough he would stay in the basement.If only it had stayed that way. Bruce and I took off on Sunday afternoon for the Oregon Coast. As we got closer to the shore the wind picked up, the sky darken and finally dropped wetness. Actually, the first day there we had no rain. It was cool but not too bad. By the evening of the second day it had started to rain. Have you ever walked in the rain on the beach at night? On your 25th wedding anniversary?
Our view from the resort (thanks J and H!) where we stayed.

I don't really care what the weather is like on the Oregon Coast. As I said before I really like going there. If the weather is warm and sunny, it's a bonus. If not, that's okay. One hearty singer who didn't mind the wind and the rain.

"Spicy" Quesadillas

Long ago I use to babysit Bren. She would stay for dinner and I would give her my favorite treat to eat.

I thought I was giving her mild taco sauce, but from her reation you would have thought I was giving her habanero!

This, from a California girl who should have been enjoying the hottest of hot chili peppers by then.

Perhaps her heritage (pot roast and potatoes) and the fact that her dad had ulcers prevented her from enjoying or even tasting such delicacies!

Then again, she was only six.

Burgundy and Emeralds

There are other things to do with yarn besides knit.

Kedge made me a Bible case a number of years ago that held up really well. Except for the handles, it's in very good shape. I had contemplated having her make me another until I remembered my burgundy yarn and the "blanket stitch". Worked well. You have my recommendation for repairing handles on a Bible Case.


You knew this was coming, didn't you? As you know the birthstone for May is emerald. There will be two of these and so far one is done. Guess. And they're not socks.