Traditionally, our crocus teas are in March, when the determined little purple and yellow flowers poke up through the crusty white snow.  We bustle around the house, enjoying the warmth from cookies baking and feeling the cozy togetherness of being inside.  This year, however, due to a bunch of crazy schedule conflicts, our Crocus Tea was last Sunday!  Yep, October 1st!  I didn’t mention to the girls ahead of time that this would be the plan. I stocked up the day before, and kept the plans to myself.

We were on our way home from church and I asked them if they could agree on chicken nuggets from McDonalds, even though they each had their ‘favorite’ fast-food choices.  They did agree, and after the nuggets were safely tucked into the spare seat, I told them we were going home to have the tea.  And they were excited!  We bustled around getting ready – the lacy white tablecloth, the good China, water goblets, and fancy serving plates.  Christina decorated the pre-made sugar cookies, while Autmn cut the Colby cheese into fancy shapes. 

We had M&M’s, Vienna Sausages, Snowflake Ritz crackers, a mini pizza, the nuggets, pineapple tidbits, apple sauce, ranch dressing, chocolate donuts, and crinkle cut French fries.  I tried pushing the hot tea, but they ended up choosing Coke for the drinks.  It took us about an hour to get everything ready, including the fact that we had to salvage the pizza. 

There must not have been enough crust in the middle, because the bottom dissolved and all the cheese dripped onto the oven bottom and burned – smoking like crazy and making the pizza crust black.  Not the most appetizing!  But we trudged forward and enjoyed the tradition – our sixth annual Crocus tea! 

I’m so blessed that they are still excited to have it, and hope that none of us ever grow too old or become uninterested.  They both appreciated the event and thanked me for making it happen.  And since part of the excitement is not knowing when it will happen, I can’t even hint as to when it will be in 2018.  Even if I knew myself! 

On Wednesday the Hancher family drove up from West Alex to have a home-school field trip day.  I took time out of my work schedule and shared the adventures with them.  We started at the dealership, where several employees explained the process of purchasing a car or getting their vehicles serviced.  We walked through the accounting and title offices and talked about some of the strange and unusual PENNDOT regulations (like not parking cars on grassy areas for customer viewing).  They especially enjoyed the walk through the back shop (Thanks Derrek and Nick for the info!) 

We left there and went over to Twin Lakes Park and had a picnic lunch.  The boys were more interested in fishing that eating, but then, that would be boys!  Chase was sure if he stood on the stump he’d have a better chance of catching something.  Logan sat on the wall and was very patient – but the fish were more patient and waited it out.  Alas.  Peyton thought that if he stood on the one corner of the shore, he could cast his line close to the boardwalk where he had seen the huge carp.  None of their tactics, however, proved successful.  Peyton, Kelly and I took a walk around the upper lake, then walked down to the waterfall/spillway.  There was only a trickle of water but it was pretty, anyway.  We saw a heron sitting on a fallen log, and a little group of ducks that laughed every time someone stepped on the boardwalk. They made us laugh!  Logan settled in and said he wasn’t leaving until he caught a fish, but we were able to convince him to come home with us, after all. 

Back at the house, we painted tree stumps with purple paint (of course it was purple!) and Peyton helped me string fall lights across the back deck railing.  Friends Trent, Michelle, and Conner came for the evening and that was a total blessing, to spend that time with friends and family, sitting on the deck and watching the kids play in the yard.  I came away from the day feeling refreshed and happy, having shared the most precious gift we can give:  ourselves!

Camp Christian had their annual Women’s Retreat this past Friday and Saturday, with the theme this year being The ANTS Go Marching On!  I have been to several retreats over the years, and had been very agreeable when Kathy txt me on Friday morning to see if I would ride up with her to the Friday evening sessions.

After a yummy dinner, all the ladies gathered in the Chapel for a get acquainted session.  The idea was to break up into groups and work together to accomplish our little project.  We were instructed to dress one of our group as a black ant, using black trash bags, bunched up newspaper, construction paper, and an odd assortment of craft items.  Our little group – who were comprised mostly from the West Alexander church where my daughter formerly attended, chose young Hannah as our Ant.  We had a great time stuffing her up and giving her eyes and antenna! 

Jeania Bebech was the main speaker, and talked about anti-doubt (defeating doubt) – casting aside our reservations and leaning on God’s directions. As I looked over the program, I felt oddly bereft that I could not stay for the Saturday sessions, with workshops entitled ANTique, ANTifungal, ANTidote, ANTicipate.  Rats.  Or maybe, Ants….

The music leader was Marvin Whiteman, who has been blind almost since birth.  He stoutly claimed that he does not have a handicap – FEAR is the only handicap, and that is something you have control over!  We were SO tempted to stay for the campfire, but knew that it would be midnight when we got home if we did, so we passed on that and headed home. 

As always (with my sister and I!) we relived the evening, talking about highs and lows and blessings.  Camp has been in our hearts since a very young age, and God always refreshes us – from the minute we drive through the camp gates until we pull back out onto the highway.  And the uplifting to our souls continues long after the drive back home. 

Yesterday was a rare treat for Teresa and I.  We seldom get to go on outings together these days, where in the past we were always into something! We started our Tuesday adventure in the pouring rain, heading toward Valencia and the Wagon Wheel Antique shops. Although it was still a drizzle when we arrived, we were inside the buildings and didn’t mind.  Four buildings full of everything imaginable from the past – from comic books to clothing and dishware to doilies.  We found quite a number of things similar to what our parents or grandparents once had, and even things that we still owned.  My eye was drawn to the dark wooden cupboards and tables.  Teresa enjoyed the textiles and dishes the most.

From there we drove over to Harmony, where there were restored, quaint buildings on quiet streets.  The little German settlement was established by a self-proclaimed prophet, George Rapp, who had acquired a large following.  They actually followed him to the United States in the early 1800’s and thus began the little Butler County town of Harmony.  There is quite a history in this little group, but mostly they did not fit in well with the community.  They were, however, very prosperous, and by the time they relocated to Indiana (the state, not the PA city!), they had built a church, a school, warehouse, mills, tavern, grist mills, brewery, distiller and tannery. These days several of the buildings are often used for classes in such things as weaving.

Shortly after they relocated, ‘Father Rapp’ was able to sell their 9000 acres to Abraham Ziegler, a Mennonite from out east, and another community began.  This community was also very prosperous, and grew to great proportions.  All this – plus too much more to recount here! – we learned from Paul, our very knowledgeable and personable tour guide. His history degree from Slippery Rock gave him the qualifications, added to his obvious passion for history and the site.  We toured three separate buildings, and learned about the common (and uncommon!) lives of both groups of settlers, their buildings and business prosperity and religious practices.  We were in the wine cellar (which I really liked – thus the three pictures!), the post office, the warehouse, the settler’s cabin, and the doctor’s office – which displayed the original Zelienople  telephone switchboard.  Teresa especially liked this, as her mom was a switchboard operator in her little hometown for many years. 

After the tour, we each bought something that caught our eye (Teresa bought a glass duck planter and I got a black, wrought iron star-shaped soap dish), then went down to the Two Fraus Bakery for yummies.  I had a chocolate chip cookie make with potato chips.  And it was very yummy!  I highly recommend it!  I also recommend a trip to both the Wagon Wheel Antique center, and to the quaint little historic village of Harmony.  I hope you can ask for Paul to be your tour guide.  You won’t be disappointed! 

This has been the week of the tree at my place!  I didn’t realize when it started how much difference it would make.  I knew that the two maples in the front yard were like four times as high as the house.  In a housing plan, with the homes so close together, it’s not a great idea for them to be so high.  I also knew that the crab apple tree in the bottom yard was messy and dirty and had a tendency to have dead limbs throughout.  And the apples started raining down in the spring and only got continually worse – including a nice supply in my neighbor’s yard!  I had planted a pussy willow tree about 6 years ago on the hill, and didn’t realize how big it would grow.  And trimming it back last year only made it grown better this spring. 

So I bit the bullet this week and called Ansell Tree Service in Mt. Pleasant.  They very pleasantly and efficiently gave the maples a healthy trim, cut the apple tree even with the ground, and chopped the willow tree completely out. (NO TREE!) They cleaned up very nicely and now — perfection!  Couldn’t ask for a better job. 

Then on Saturday, Nate, Jen, Autmn and Chrissy and I drove to Albion to spend the day with Mom and John.  The original idea was to go to the lake, but cold, rainy weather chased that away.  But what we did find when we got there was that a HUGE cherry tree had come down in a strong wind and grazed the corner of the front porch.   I could not believe how huge the tree was, and what amount of cleanup there would be.  If you look closely, you can see Nate standing on the other side of the fallen branches. There was nothing we could do to help with cleanup.  They had contacted the county, who hopes to come out next week and clean up.  Several neighbors want the wood.  God was smiling on their little (???) farmhouse, as nothing at all was damaged. 

So this was indeed the week of the trees:  a lot good and a little bad.  But when it ends so well, there are nothing but blessings! 

Here it is the end of summer, and school is starting all over the place.  Kelly is home schooling the boys, and they began classes last week.  It’s hard to take first day of school photos when they don’t actually leave for school, but she used her natural creativity and captured the boys doing what they like to do best, adding inspiration in the form of scripture verses. 

Peyton likes to be outside and help with everything.  He does more than his share of mowing for Ma (his grandmother), which she truly appreciates.  Logan likes to keep moving, always looking for something to catch his attention.  Chase is an inside kid – mostly – and would watch TV or video games all day long.  Now, into the second week of classes, they are doing well with their lessons and even have MORE time to help around the house and yard. 

Autmn is at Hempfield Senior High School this year – she can’t be a freshman!  She was a little nervous about such a big move – a very important milestone! – but was ready and smiling this morning for her first day.  Christina started her first year at the Harold Middle School – 6th grade! – and she too was a little intimidated by the move to a new building. 

All five of my ‘grands’ are smart, kind, motivated and ready to take the next step in their young lives.  Love you all, kids, – have a super great year!

On Sunday, when I went back to the Civil War Event at Hanna’s Town, I had Autmn along with me.  She was my photographer and did a good job of it!  She also took a video of the skirmish in the field between the Blue and the Gray, but it wouldn’t transfer from my phone. 

She took a very good photo of the soldiers, hanging out with the cannon.  She also climbed down where the original well and spring house was, and did some exploring.  I took over taking pictures as I captured her in the stocks and hanging out with the corn in the garden. 

She loved the mock battle, and learning from the field surgeon how they used a wooden door from inside the nearest house as an operating table.  The surgeon showed her how they amputated limbs, and even let her in on some of the inside ‘tricks’ to make it look so authentic.  She loved it!  Check the previous post for pictures of the field hospital and the pile of discarded arms and legs.

It didn’t take her long to pick up the information that we all were recounting when people stepped into the tavern or over to the stockade.  Before long she had kicked off her shoes and was taking people through the building, giving tours for all the world like she’d been doing it her whole life!  Joanna (educational director) was impressed and said bring her back any time!  I think she’s hoping for a future volunteer for the site! 

I was proud of her, and she had a wonderful time.  She had a way with the little kids who came, explaining things simply and making sure they didn’t touch anything.  Here’s to the next generation of tour guides! 

This weekend at Historic Hanna’s Town was the first annual Civil War encampment.  I was so excited to be a part of all the activities! 

The day started with a parade of all the regiments and the reenactors.  There were activities for the kids, and games, and junior soldier brigades.  There was also a lot of firing of guns and cannons.  Collections and demonstrations and encampments were mostly interactive.

There were three authors with their books, including me. I was very excited that I sold four Letters to Mary books and one Fields of Blue book. Mary’s wedding dress and Lydia’s church dress got a lot of attention.  The food and bake sale tables were very welcome – especially with warm temperatures coupled with  cold water bottles! There was even a little green larva crawling up the tree – aspiring to be a moth!

One of my favorite displays was the field hospital.  For my research for Letters to Mary I read about several soldiers who had lost limbs in a battle.  There was a wheel-barrow piled with discarded arms and legs.  Although it was party repulsive, it was also very informative and compelling. 

I met several interesting and entertaining people, and enjoyed the mock battle in the open field.  The cannons were very loud, and the soldiers from both the north and south died admirably!  Of course our side won the battle.  But I ask you:  Which side is ‘our’ side??? 🙂 

Tuesday was a very fun day for me!  I was blessed to have Kelly and the boys come up and spend the day.  Jen brought the girls over a little before lunch, and the cousins could have a great time together. 

After a chilly start, the day turned warm, and we walked over to a little rock pile and picked several dozen flat (mostly!) rocks.  The kids scrubbed them and set them to dry in the sun while we had lunch.  Then the fun really began!  Each of the kids picked out several rocks.  We put newspaper on the deck and the card table, sat out a box of brushes and paints, and got to work.  There’s a game that you can play with these painted rocks – putting a name and a hash tag (#) on the rock and hiding them, then tracking them on the internet.  I don’t think that will happen with MY rocks, but I think Kelly’s family will do it – maybe even for a school project!

We all had favorite rocks once they were done. Chase liked his emoji rock.   Logan liked his shark.  Peyton, his Steeler rock.  Chris, I’m not too sure, but I think the sparkly one.  Autmn liked the green one with her name in silver sparkle.  Kelly liked her pumpkin and Christmas tree (so did I!).  My rocks were all pretty funky – not in a good way! – and I didn’t really like any of them.  Maybe the flag one, but Kelly’s was nicer!  Autmn got the idea to paint a bunch of small round rocks to look like M&M’s, with a few oval ones for peanut M&M’s!  I put them on a dish on a table outside the door.  They are very cute!  After we cleaned up the rock project, we walked down to the playground where the kids played a rousing but confusing game of softball.  We ordered Abie and Bimbo’s pizza for dinner, and Nate was able to join us.  We missed our Jen – she was at work!  (Sorry, Jen!)  I ended the day by going with Kelly and the boys over to Walmart to get them trapper-keepers.  They are home-schooling in the fall and won’t need traditional back-to-school gear like I bought for the girls on Sunday. 

It was a great day, one that doesn’t happen nearly often enough, but I was happy to have everyone here even for a little bit.  Already looking forward to the next one!  Love you guys!

This has been an adventurous 10 days for me!  According to my uncle, I have sort of gotten myself ‘stuck’ in a rut, and I have decided to climb out.  So, step one and step two, accomplished!  And even a pre-step before that! My first big step was that after 10 years of longer hair, I got my hair cut, about shoulder length.  I really like it shorter, and the style is much easier.  Whew.  On the right track!  For even longer than that, however, I have been ‘threatening’ to get a Snoopy tattoo.  Just a very small one, I said.  On the back of my left shoulder, about quarter-sized. 

Well, Nathan has been getting a few tattoos, and finally called me one afternoon and informed me that the appointment was made, the tattoo was paid for, and the two of us were both getting Snoopys!  My part in this part of the adventure was to pick out the Snoopy picture I wanted and print it out.  He’d send it – along with his picture choice, to Johnny at Unique Ink in Greensburg, and we’d be all set.  I picked a simple, Snoopy-hugging-Woodstock picture, and fifteen minutes after arriving, Snoopy – about 2 inches tall – was tattooed on the inside of my right ankle.  I figured if I was going to all that pain and trouble, I wanted to be able to see him! 

For 10 days I gave Snoopy a soft-soap bath and rubbed him gently with a clear cream.  He and Woodstock are happy and healthy – and it was not as uncomfortable as I expected.  I’d much rather get a simple tattoo than go to the dentist (Sorry, Dr. Lane!).  Too bad that’s not a life choice.  Nate got a Harry Potter Snoopy on his left bicep.  Both Snoopys are doing well….  

Tonight after work I stopped at Julie’s Hair Salon and got the purple stripe put back in my hair.  So, I’m all set.  I have a class reunion-picnic on Sunday, and I feel pretty confident about that!  My only concern is, what adventure will I find and conquer next????  🙂