Autmn and I woke up this morning to the news that Punxsutawney Phil had predicted an early spring.  We looked at each other and shook our heads.  That was the first time in a long time he hadn’t see his shadow!    These little guys are the ones my Aunt Joan gave me years ago.  They don’t have shadows.

We putsied about our day; she made French Toast for our breakfast and I finished up laundry.  There was nothing exciting on TV except rerun Hallmark movies and Sponge Bob, so I dug in my DVD collection for something to watch.    Of course, it had to be GROUNDHOG DAY!  I haven’t watched that in several years, and although Autmn knew the premise of the movie she had never seen it.  She was mildly interested at first, but then got really into it, and we both laughed frequently.  We liked the part where Phil ordered lunch from the cop; and the guy in the middle wanted pancakes! At the end, we talked about the character arc, although she didn’t realize that was what we were discussing.  We agreed that it took Phil way too long to figure out what he acknowledged at the end:  Whatever happens tomorrow, or for the rest of my life, I’m happy now.  That, we decided, is basically the secret of contentment.  

So we chatted about the movie, and Autmn said she wouldn’t even know if she was reliving a day until she got to school and realized she was in the same class as the last time.  THEN we discovered how cool it would be if we really COULD have a Groundhog Day experience.  We could eat anything we wanted.  We could get up in the morning, fly to Paris, spend the day, and wake up in the morning in our own bed.  We could drive anywhere, and we’d never use up the gas.  Never run out of food.  Go to a different place or do something different every day – and wake up in the morning in our own bed.  And Autmn warned me that we couldn’t sleep in; we’d have to get up early!  So 6am it is! 

She wanted to go to Florida and stick her feet in the water and lounge on the beach in her bathing suit; then go to Disney World as many times as she wanted.  I picked going to Switzerland  and just about anywhere new and interesting.  So if you happen to wake up some morning, and you can’t find either Autmn or me, don’t be alarmed.  We’re just living our Groundhog Day dream, jetting around and living the fun life!  We’ll send you a post card.  Tomorrow….

On January 21, 2003, a tiny precious little girl came into the world – the ‘baby doll’ of her daddy’s heart,her mom’s firstborn (how YOUNG they were!!!), and my first delightful grandchild!  We had no idea what the journey would be like, and was certainly not even beginning to think of her turning 16. 

But today we all got together and celebrated the first 16 years of her life.  What a delightful, beautiful young lady she is!  It was a tricky progress to put this party together;  the weather forecasters were predicting snow and ice – anything from 1 inch to 12 inches – and we weren’t sure to even try to have it. 

But in the end, all systems were go, and the party planners – headed by the event director Jen! – pooled their talents to transform the church welcome center into a Sweet Sixteen wonderland. Pastels of pink and yellow and blue, as well as some black, hung from the doorways, on the tables, wrapped the banisters, and made for a super photo opp backdrop inside the balloon arch.  I loved the balloon arch!

Autmn had chosen a playlist and the music played all afternoon.  There was a lovely cake, pizza, chips, drinks, and a pinata filled with candy.  And of course presents.  Everyone took a swipe at the pinata, hanging from the basketball hoop in the activity center.  A few of the kids whacked a hole in it, but it wasn’t until Zach took the pole, stretched his arms, and smacked the entire thing that it flew off the rope.  Candy and confetti went flying, to everyone’s delight.  It was amazing to see! 

After lots of picture taking and cutting the cake, Autmn opened her gifts.  Her mom bought her a car, which little sister Josie promptly claimed as her own.  That was entirely ok, as they were Matchbox cars, anyway:  a blue one and a yellow one.  Maybe there will be a driver’s license and a real car in her future, but not yet.  I for one am not ready for that yet!  Everyone worked together to put the room back to rights and pack up all the food and decorations.  By then it was pouring rain, but no snow, thankfully. 

Autmn had a great time at her party, as did the rest of us, and I felt blessed to look at this young lady and think about what has brought her to this point.  Sixteen!  Happy birthday my sweet granddaughter.  And remember, for the last 4 years, you have been promising me that you’d take me shopping when you got your license and your own car.  I’ll hold you to it!  Love you!  

Last November I was privileged to attend my first-ever Beach Boys concert at Kovolchick Center at IUP.  It was amazing, and I walked on air for days afterwards.  They are my all-time favorite group!  So many great songs and many more great memories!  Ahhhhh the 60’s! 

But this summer I was checking my work emails and saw the ‘coming soon’ ads for the Palace Theatre in Greensburg – The Beach Boys Christmas concert, right in my own front yard!  Couldn’t get much better than that!  So I emailed my friend Kelli at the Theatre and she ‘hooked me up’ with the box office manager to get the best seat available!  Front row, balcony! 

The Beach Boys were hype all by themselves but to add the Christmas music in was wildly exciting for me!  The very first LP (record) I purchased when I got my first job was the Beach Boys Christmas!  I still have it, along with the newer-purchased CD by the same name.  So my long-awaited concert was last Tuesday night, and it certainly didn’t disappoint!  The set was so fun, with trees of different sizes as a backdrop.  They changed colors to suit the mood!  The first half of the concert was the traditional sun and surf songs with a Christmas song from Mike Love’s new CD thrown in. 

After the intermission they played an entire set of their Christmas hits, plus a few new ones.  And even though I LOVE the Christmas ones, when they played ‘Wouldn’t it be Nice’ I was totally engaged!  I LOVE that song. I recorded it on my phone but somehow can’t get it to transfer to my website.  You’ll just have to close your eyes and imagine it.  Sing along, now:   Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older, then we wouldn’t have to wait so long.  And wouldn’t it be nice to live together, in the kind of world where we belong….    Oh, ya!  The concert was the first holiday event of the season for me, and what a terrific way to start out.  And when we had ‘audience participation’ with our flashlight app on our cell phones, it was like a bunch of stars shining in the balcony. 

Going to concerts has never been a thing for me, but the Beach Boys pull me out of my well-constructed box.  So I’m thinking if these guys come back our way again, I just might be tempted to go again.  Can’t get much better than that!

Last Wednesday night I attended a fundraiser at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center to support the local arts program in the form of the theater company that performs there.  My dear friend Bear (Barry Shirey) is on the board of directors and I promised to attend. 

The light Hors d’Oeuvres served were delicious!  Several kinds of chicken, BBQ meatballs, shrimp, cheese sticks, fruit and veggie trays, meat and cracker trays, and mini-donuts and cookies.  They had originally expected 75 to attend but there were far more than that!  I connected up with Bear’s friend Connie, his niece Brandi and her new husband and we enjoyed catching up and chatting about the holidays and the general navigation of life! 

The entertainment began at 8pm and I was totally impressed.  The talent was all local and the voices were flawless!  There were whimsical pieces and carols and jolly holiday songs.  My favorite were two girls who did the ‘Sisters’ song from White Christmas.  When the show was over, Bear and I posed for our traditional together photo in the lobby.  It was a great evening full of fun and song, and the fundraiser as a whole was a great success!  I wouldn’t be surprised to see more like it in the future. 

And I encourage you to check out the 2019 seasons schedule either through the Garden Center website or the Palace Theatre website. The schedule will be posted soon. The first production will be ‘Run for your Wife’ February 7-9, 2019.  The shows are very much worth attending!

This has been a very busy season!  It’s been forever since I’ve posted anything.  Lots has been happening but I have been neglecting my posts – mostly because I’m not really good with documenting with photos!  I am going to start with Chrissy’s performance in the Christmas concert for Harrold Middle School last Thursday. 

All the kids did I great job!  Some of my favorites were Old St. Nick (Beach Boys), Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Springsteen), and the guitar club performance.  Chrissy was in the 7th grade chorus and the Honors Chorus.  Her very good friend (and unofficial cousin) Lexi was in both of those choruses with her and they hung together all evening. 

It always amazes me that the kids dress in such varied styles.  There was everything from sparkly glittery dresses  and dress shirts/ties, Christmas sweaters, and ripped jeans with headbands.  Guess which one Chrissy fell into?  Yep.  Ripped jeans with headbands. Even though she’s hard to see, she is in the second row down to the right of the girl in the purple dress (who is Lexi!) The choir director did a great job and the stage was beautifully arrayed for the Holiday.  It was totally fun to be pulled into the spirit of the season through the sweet voices of the middle schoolers!  Can’t wait until the next event!

If you follow my posts at all you know that we have a very select group of cousins from Home PA that are the Skunk Hollow Girls.  We have outings and get-togethers and Christmas parties and are a very close group of eleven.  Well, Skunk Hollow Girls, we’re branching out!  Those are the HOME cousins, but the Greensburg cousins – the Steiner side- have decided to do some outings of our own.  And as our Grandmother Steiner’s name was Violet, we are now the VIOLETS!  There are only four of us, and one is permanently in Arizona, so the remaining three will be a VERY select group! 

After a little deliberation we decided our first outing would be to Smicksburg for the Christmas Open House at the downtown craft shops.  Kath could not join us – last minute- because of several issues, but Deb and I braved the wind and rain and cold temperatures and had a great time!  The Drying Shed is my favorite shop, but all the stores had great displays of Christmas trees, lanterns, snacks, jewelry, and of course crafts.  Deb and I both bought some Christmas presents and then had lunch at the Country Junction.  Food was great and prices even better.  It poured down rain while we were eating, but was clear and sunny by the time we headed home.  We stopped a few places on the back roads (aren’t they ALL back roads in Home PA???) and took pictures of the fall trees and the beautiful skies. 

It was doubly fun to be in a place that holds so many fond memories and then to make new ones with a Violet!  This was just the beginning of what we hope to be much fun and adventures as the Violets grow and blossom – no matter what the season!  I’ll keep you posted!!

It seems like over the last few weeks there has been a lot going on – lots of ordinary but spectacular things.  I think it started back at Ligonier Days – when I was asked to join Ellen Smail and Alice Ann Templeton in the judges booth at the parade.  That was a first for me, and I loved it!  Not only did I get an up-front seat out of the cold and drizzle, but got to hear a play by play of the entries.  The theme was Ligonier’s Heritage: Then and Now.  I enjoyed the huge inclusion of history in the floats.  I felt a little tug of nostalgia when the Hempfield Spartan Marching Band went past;  not only is that my Alma mater but my kids graduated from Hempfield and my two granddaughters are in 7th and 10th grades.  Punxsutawney Phil made an appearance, even though he didn’t see his shadow.  There was everything from Monster trucks to good old Santa Clause.  It appeared that one unfortunate witch ended up ‘wrong side up’ in a planter.  Can’t explain that.  We enjoyed the morning, complete with corn dogs and French Fries with cheese.  The damp drizzle did not actually dampen anyone’s spirits and the crowds enjoyed the craft and entertainment booths as well.  A huge thanks to Ellen for lunch and the invitation!

The next weekend I kept Chrissy and Autmn overnight to give Nate and Jen a chance to attend the Metallica concern for his birthday.  Autmn looked so cute and grown up – almost 16.  Can’t believe it. 

After I dropped the girls off at their respective schools, I picked up Kath and we went north to see Mom and John.  We were able to take mom to her medical checkup, get some errands handled, and do some chores.  The rain held off enough so we could take a walk Saturday morning, and the leaves were starting to turn.  Rolling right into Sunday, the church had their Trunk or Treat, and Mary/Joni/I did our area as a matchbox city.  We had a plastic road and a village built with Little People and Fisher Price buildings.  The kids loved the matchboxes and we had a good time handing out the candy. 

The following Friday Kathy, Paul, and their grandson Isaac and I went to Lancaster to the Sight and Sound Theater to see the production of JESUS. Before the play we stopped at Cracker Barrel and Isaac challenged his grandma to a rousing game of checkers.  I hung out for a few minutes at the fireplace, which was hugely blazing and warm!  We stopped at a few shops to pass the time until 3pm, and got a photo in a horse and buggy (not real but very fun!).  The play followed the life of Jesus from when he called his disciples until the day of Pentecost.  My favorite parts where where Jesus calmed the storm (It really rained on stage!) and the scene with Mary and Martha.  I am so blessed to be included in these trips.  They are amazing productions! 

Finally we got to Halloween – we were allowed to dress in costume at work.  I decided to throw a costume together from odds and ends that I had at home, and ended up as a sort of island hippie! It was a fun couple of weeks, and now I’ll wait and see what’s waiting around the corner!

This morning, in the gray hours before dawn, – October 13th – my sister took her first solo walk in probably ten years.  There was no prancing tan dog to sniff along the yards’ edges, and no leashes to worry about, and nothing to take her mind off of the chilling wind.

And this afternoon, when Paul gets home from work, there will be no Chester to bark his deep welcome as his hero and champion walks in the door.  Because yesterday, Chester the dog crossed over the rainbow bridge. 

Sarah said in her facebook post: Rip sweet Chester. The sweetest, most loving dog. We were blessed to have so many years with you xox we will miss you. Even though he was not my dog, he lived right down the street and I saw him often.  In fact, he was my therapy dog, completely certified and licensed. He was very free and accurate with his advise and consolation. Often just a few minutes with Chester was better than any other treatment I could be offered.

But now, he is running free through the meadows, chasing Oscar the cat (who had gone on before…) and lapping water from fresh, cool streams, and not having to worry about skunks or marauding deer in the neighborhood.

Something you may not realize, however, is that when he came to live at Seneca Drive as a puppy, the family decided that he looked exactly like Chester A Arthur, our 21st US President.  And he was well named.  Just like Chester A Arthur, our Chester offered professional services (Chester A was a lawyer).  Chester A struggled to overcome a negative reputation (our Chester ate piano benches, door frames, howled mercilessly at fire sirens and thunderstorms, and broke through metal cages).  Unlike Chester A, though, who was described as ‘the most forgotten US President’, our Chester will not soon be forgotten. 

So in the days ahead, while the heart heals and the house feels empty and lonely; when there is no dog food to buy or no little piles to clean up in the front yard; when no one howls a greeting at the door or curls up at the foot of the bed — just remember that the love of a pet assures that he never really dies.  He lives forever in the hearts and minds of those he touched. 

RIP, Chester

It’s been a long time coming, but here we are at the end of the Philly trip.  It was very hard to say goodbye, and I’d have loved having another couple of days to tramp around through history.  But all good things must move to the NEXT good thing so there you go!  Kathy and I got up early while the house was still sleeping and walked through the quiet neighborhood. We did a happy review of our trip and all the adventures, and arrived back to find breakfast in the making. 

We left in a flurry of packing and hugging and grateful, unending thanks.  This time, as we headed up 896 North, we did NOT take a wrong turn and drove into Lancaster smoothly and in good time.  We pulled into a gas station and parked beside an Amish horse and buggy.  Didn’t realize the horse needed that type of fuel!  But we did, and we also needed a rest stop. 

We had decided – on Anita’s recommendation – to check out the Turkey Hill Experience, and we were well pleased with that decision!  I LOVED the giant cow out front, and it even stood still while I tried my hand(s) at milking.  Not very successful there, though.  We were early so we walked a block down the street to a huge antique shop and browsed around in there for about 45 minutes.  It’s always fun to find things that we knew grama had, or Mom STILL had, or even that WE have and even use! 

Turkey Hill is not only a series of small stores, but also a line of drinks (starting with the original milk products) and ice creams.  The whole experience was basically centered around interaction with the processes and procedures of creating the products, including the ice cream.  There were lots of areas for kids to play and create their own flavors and products.  Kath and I picked our own product label, our own ice cream flavor, and even took a hand at driving the delivery truck.  The multi-colored farm cow was really cool, too!  My favorite parts were the local history room, which explained how the family business started in 1887 and was still family-owned to the present day, adding new products along the way.  The second favorite was the ice-cream tasting at the end.  We could even choose two different types to taste.  I remember Kath choosing the coffee flavor (which was NOT a choice for me!) but I had the double dutch chocolate fudge.  Heaven!  I was determined to buy some when I got home (which I DID!).  The gift shop had so many cute cow-related and ice-cream focused items that I could have spent a week’s pay in there.  I contented myself with a little refrigerator magnet (double dutch chocolate of course!) and a mini sized milk bottle (since I have a small collection of those already). 

It was definitely a great diversion from the agony of leaving Philadelphia behind, and by the end of the tour we were ready to head down the turnpike to home.  It was a vacation full of delicious, sweet, precious memories, sweeter family and hearts that share and care and offer their homes and themselves.  And of course, I have the best traveling companion in the world.  Home looked really great about 6pm – home to ones who love us and greet and welcome us.  We have memories to enrich us and delight and sustain us.  We are filled with more thanks than we can express; humble gratitude for what no one can take away:  a wonderful trip tucked in our hearts and minds, living a shared faith, family centered, fun-filled awesome adventure.  Philly or Bust!  PERFECT!!

After a late night at Longwood Gardens (definitely worth it!), it was a slow start on Friday morning.  But we did it, and were on our way in good time.  My friend Ron insisted that no trip to Philly would be complete without seeing all 3 stadiums (football, hockey, baseball) so as we flew down the expressway I snapped pictures of all of them.  There.  Mission accomplished! That’s actually as close as I needed to be, and we had a full day.  Flyers, Phillies, Eagles-  complete. 

And speaking of Ravens, our first adventure was the Philadelphia residence (although only for a very short time) of Edger Allen Poe’s home.  It was very unique in that there was no furniture at all.  There were murals on the walls depicting his life and writings – including Catterina his cat and the black cat in the basement, complete with authentic cobwebs!  The crowning glory was the statue of the Raven in the yard. 

Throughout the day we attended ‘Once upon a Nation:  There were 13  benches scattered through the historic area, and at each bench a storyteller shared a little known yet interesting (and often humorous!) tale.  Some of the topics were the origination of Hoagies, superheroes, the over-worked washer woman, slaves, the battle of the itch, Dolly Madison, sisters for freedom, a barrel battle, and the Oneida Indians.  At each bench we received a star for our booklet. 

Once we got all 13 stars we could ride on the carousel in Franklin Square. The park was decked out for the Chinese festival  so we walked around looking at the dragons and pandas and lanterns – and decorations. Kathy took pictures for her IUP student who loves pandas! 

We went back to Betsy Ross’s house, and this time we were able to go inside.  Although there is evidence that she lived there, and could be buried there, and sewed the first flag, none of that is documented facts.  We loved walking through the house and seeing the parlor set up as a sewing room, seeing her ‘work in progress!’  I’m willing to invest my belief in the fact that she lived there, sewed there, and is buried there. 

We had lunch at Sonny’s again – still yum! – then went on to the Christ Church cemetery.   The tour guide there was wonderful and we learned about the signers of the Declaration of Independence and many of the brave men who fought for our freedom.  We also saw a pattern of the flag that we had never seen before.  There’s a lot of stars on that thing!  We saw Ben Franklin’s grave, and the pennies thrown on it in honor of his ‘a penny saved is a penny earned.’  They have collected a lot of coins for worthy causes. 

We went next to the state house, the county court house, and sat where history was made and made alive.  We stopped at the Independence gift shop – of course! – and then took one more walk through the city – one more glimpse at history, and one more sweet visit to Elfreths Alley. I could live there! 

On the way out of town Perry drove us to the Philadelphia Museum of Art – the Rocky statue!   And the steps!  I didn’t run up them, but we climbed them to the top, and the skyline was amazing. 

We pitched in for expenses with money from our purple bag, went back to Cann Road with Perry and Anita cooking for us – better cooks and chauffeurs and hosts we could not have asked for – including strawberry shortcake.  We were spoiled and pampered – an embarrassment of riches.  Family that are friends; friends that are family.  Our Philly trip will live long and happily in our hearts and memories.  As we slipped into bed that last night we were both content and sad – that it had to come to an end!  Maybe, just maybe, we can do it again someday!