After meeting at 6:45am at Walmart Plaza, boarding a bus and driving across town, we climbed the stairs to track #2 for our trip to Altoona.  The view waiting on the platform gave a great  view of Greensburg.  It was exciting to hear the whistle and then see the engine snaking around the corner and slow to a stop.  There were about 50 of us on the tour, and although the day started out a little overcast, the sun popped out from time to time.

This painting greeted us when we stepped from the train in Altoona, after a gently swaying ride along the tracks for a little less than two hours.  The countryside looks very different from that side of the tracks, and I really enjoyed peeking out the window.  We climbed onto the bus at the station and were off to our first stop of the tour:  Boyer’s Candy Outlet.   We all crowded into the small space and shuffled around, choosing treats and sweets at amazingly low prices.  I got a bag of triple twist chocolate/peanut butter covered pretzels – oh, yum!

Everyone was munching on something tasty as we rode the 2 blocks or so to the Train Museum.  That was my favorite place!  Three floors of displays and exhibits, some set as they would have looked in the mid-1800’s. 

INCLUDING a kitchen, a street sidewalk, and electric poles with insulators.  Fun!  We walked into the ‘bar’ to watch a wall-sized video of a conversation reenactment, and took a seat at the bar to listen.  I sort of broke the rules, though…. 🙂

NO LADIES ALLOWED AT THE BAR!

The bus took us back around Horseshoe Curve, where we ate lunch, watched a freight train go past, looked out over the lakes, and saw the cars go up and down the incline. 

The next stop was the pretzel outlet, which had the coolest door handles.  Another stop

at the winery and we headed back to Altoona for a very nice dinner downtown.  We had just enough time after we ate to take a photo of the huge wall mural on the outside of the building, and some really unique road signs.

It was a very fun day, and I totally enjoyed the sights and experiences I had.  It was my first ‘bus’ tour, and I would certainly do it again.  Thanks to everyone who made it such a special day!

The day started out with a 6:15am phone call to tell me it was raining in Smicksburg.  Hmmmmm. Thanks, Roger!  That was ok – we were prepared for the weather!   Joni, Teresa, Kath and I were heading to the Fall Festival in Smicksburg PA, braving the elements as the rain kept up a steady pounding on the entire hour and a half drive.  We were almost there, a little before 10am, when Teresa exclaimed that there was a bald eagle and two huge crows in the tree we had just passed.

Being the adventurers that we were (are!) we turned around almost in the middle of the road and made our way back, then turned around again.  I crept slowly, watching the trees to the left.  And sure enough, there they were.  When we stopped the car the put down the windows, the crows took off, but the eagle sat still.  It turned its head from left to right several times, but ultimately sat there for the photo shoot.  It was dark and rainy but we took several pictures.  We had just quit snapping when the bird lifted from the branches and sailed into the air, its wingspan wide and its white tail spread for flight.  What a sight.  I don’t think I’ll ever see anything like that again.  Kudos to Teresa’s good vision and Kathy’s steady hand to get the picture.  Needless to say, even though the day was fun in lots of ways, the early morning eagle sighting was the highlight of our day!

The four of us spent three hours tramping over town, looking in stores, buying chocolate and treats, trying on hats, and purhasing those special items that caught our eye.  Such different shoppers we all are!  We grabbed a semi-healthy (???) lunch at a festival tent outside of The Village Sampler, and sat under an awning eating and listening to a local band play Johnny Cash.  I didn’t know there were that many prison songs even written….   Then we walked down to the Heritage museum and looked at a collection of local history treasures – many of them donated by my Aunt Joan and Uncle Clifford Griffith.  What a neat place to visit – they did such a good job with that little building. The front side of the main room was the original town’s post office, still quaint and authentic-looking.

Once we were done checking out all the local wares, we headed the Mazda back down Route 210 to Aunt Joan’s, who had ‘put up’ corn for us in August.  We stopped for the corn, hugs all around, and a drink from the fresh water spring coming out of the side of their driveway.  It’s tradition!

The rain had totally let up right around noon, so the afternoon and the trip home was comfortable and relaxing.  I venture to say we walked close to 3 or 4 miles around that town, and had a great time sharing the day with each other.  It’s great to have such a family-type place to go (my family are from Home/Smicksburg!) with great friends to share it with.  Now, what can we come up with for our next adventure???  Ideas, anyone???

  (First let me explain that we call ourselves the Skunk Hollow Girls – simply because the area where we all ‘grew up’ was nicknamed Skunk Hollow (because of the skunk cabbage, not because of skunks!) and it consists of all the female cousins of my grandparents, Erma and Jess Crooks.) 

SO I’m guessing that most people – when thinking of an ideal weekend – do NOT immediately think of Skunks or Dillweed.

Ah, but how wrong they would be!  For the past dozen or more years, 10 cousins from Home, PA, get together several times a year to just…. get together!  We have had bonfires in the driveway, Christmas parties at Carbone’s restaurant, toured a castle, spent a day at Linn Run …. just to name a few.

But one of the most fun events is our yearly trip to Dilltown, PA – and a quaint, charming Bed and Breakfast called the Dillweed.  The rooms are named after herbs:  Parsley, Thyme, Rosemary, Sage, and the Garden Suite.  The gift shop has a wealth of treasures, and the breakfasts (especially the Scottish eggs) are fabulous!  But the most fun is hanging out in the parlor, eating ourselves into another pants size, and talking until we can’t keep our eyes open.

We have been going to the Dillweed as a group since 2008.  It’s one of the highlights of our year and one of the first things on the calendar. This photo is of that first year – 8 of us went.

Last year, shortly after our weekend, the founder and owner of the Dillweed passed away from cancer – how we miss her!  This year, we were directed to the back herb and flower gardens to find a memorial plaque, and bricks placed about the gardens with the fruits of the Spirit from the Bible.   I snapped the picture of ‘joy’ which seemed so appropriate – but I was admonished that I SHOULD have taken the photo of self-control.  Whatever are they trying to SAY???? 🙂 

I can’t even begin to describe how precious these girls are to me (including Holly who was absent this year) and what a special bond we have created – and no better place to enjoy our time together than the Dillweed Bed and Breakfast.  Check them out on the web – they have a huge Christmas Open House in November (14th and 15th) – and the theme is ‘angels’ in honor of Cynthia. 

Love you girls!!! 

Last Saturday we had the delightful honor of attending my cousin Holly’s daughter Olivia’s wedding.  It was elegant and wistful and fun, all wrapped into one evening.  The bride, her mom, and her sister Amanda could not have looked lovelier!  Amanda and the groom’s brother sang a duet – THE PRAYER – that was partly in Italian, and I was mesmerized by its beauty and their talent.

I was surprised to find out that Josiah is a ‘car guy’ – works as a business manager for a car dealership.  A friend of mine that used to work with me actually trained him and was at the reception.  Such a surprise and treat to visit a little with Eric and catch up with his family news.

The cookie table was laden with treats.  The photo booth brought lots of laughs, and the bridal party made a grand entrance of dance and celebration. It was an extra treat to spend some time with an old friend (well, we are both old!!!! :).  Roger and I go back to my high school crush on him, and I enjoyed spending a little time with him and Denny – his brother and father of the bride.  Best wishes to Olivia and Josiah, and to their families as they have these happy and precious memories to last a lifetime!!!  God Bless!!!

On our last visit to see my parents, Kathy and I offered to jump in with any chore that needed done.  We didn’t know what we were getting into!

Mom mentioned that the Martin House that they got for their wedding (29 years ago!) had been stored in the corn crib for almost as many years.  She was afraid the weather would cause it to deteriorate and had kept it out of the elements.  It was time – she decided – that she stopped hiding it away and got it into the front yard where they could enjoy it.

First step was for John to get the John Deere tractor out and back it up next to the door of the corn crib.  It was about a 4 foot drop from the floor of the crib to the bed of the cart.  Hmmm.  Kath and I climbed the step ladder up into the building, and started hefting in to the door.  That thing was HEAVY!

We managed to slide the thing over to the edge and with everyone’s help got it lowered into the cart.  Kath and I jumped down and closed up the shed while John gave the bird house a little scenic tour around the farm yard.  By the time we got to the front flower bed, he had it backed into place.  Mom got a few bricks so it wouldn’t be sitting directly on the ground, and we lugged the thing off the cart and onto the bricks.

After several tries, we had the Martin House perched on the bricks, facing the house, tucked into the flower bed by the bird feeder.  

Mom walked around it and pronounced it satisfactory but missing something.  We went tramping around and found a little wooden Dutch boy and girl out by the Magnolia tree.We stood back and admired our hard work.  Perfect.  The little Martins will be exceedingly happy, having a snug, dry little place to lay their feathered heads, guarded by a couple to cute kids.  And a distinct pleasure to the eye, as well!  We love projects!  What a fun time…..

Well, we’re a little late this year.  The girls and I traditionally have our annual Crocus Tea when the crocuses pop up through the snow in the early spring or late winter.  This year, time got away from us, and before I knew it August was finished and we had not had our tea.

When Nate told me yesterday I would have both girls for the day, I knew it was now or never.  So without a word to anyone I buzzed over to Walmart last night and picked up all the goodies that are traditional to the event.  Then this afternoon, after I finished mowing the grass, we all three got a shower.  While they were in their rooms getting dressed, I slipped invitations under the doors – – Come to the kitchen and prepare for the 5th annual Crocus tea!

They love it, and when it’s unexpected, they love it even more!  We pulled out the lace tablecloth, all the good dishes from the China cupboard, the fancy silverware, and antique serving dishes. 

One of the favorites is the pre-shaped sugar cookies, and this year (since it’s NOT spring!) we settled for ghosts and pumpkins.  They added colored sugar to dress them up, and while they baked we cut cheese into small pieces, sliced leftover pizza into inch sized squares, filled the cut glass dishes with Kix cereal, Vienna Sausage bites, M&M’s, Ritz crackers, pineapple chunks, and Flip Pretzels.

There were soft drinks in the stemware and iced water in the tea cups.  Then, it was time to change, and they knew the drill.  We had to dress up!  Included in the trappings were earrings, headbands, necklaces, bracelets, and even makeup.

The only way to get Chrissy in a dress was to let her keep her shorts on underneath.

Chrissy had the prayer, and invited Jesus to join us because it was so special, and then we had a very prim and proper meal together.  They are polite and happy and thoughtful toward each other, and even help clean up the table when we’re finished.

And I hope that as long as I am able and the girls are willing, that we can have our Crocus tea every year, even if the Crocuses aren’t blooming, that we have Halloween cookies, and listen to Christmas music on CD’s!  I love you, girls!!!!

All hail to Hempfield High!  Sunday, August 23, 2015, the class of 1968 had a huge birthday party to celebrate our collective 65th birthdays!  What a great time we had!  There were guests from other grad years, as well, and it was great to catch up with people we haven’t seen in a very long time, and to connect with some old (??? Old??? Did I say Old???  Sorry….) and dear friends.

Chatted with Ernie Hertzog, our class president and a long-time church youth group friend, and his wife Patty.  Also, spent time with Debbie Yanosko Gretz, Carol Metrik, Diane Meyers (Crazy Aunt Diane!!!), Mark Vallozzi, and several others. Several special people were missing, but hopefully they will be there for our next event.

Realized that the guy I see walking every morning in my neighborhood – with his golden retriever – is a fellow grad, and lives just up the hill.  Small world!  They call me the purple lady, because I always wear purple and I live in a purple house. (Well, purple shutters.)

One of the highlights for me was connecting up to a guy who came searching me out, wanting to tell me about knowing my dad.  Dad’s been gone over 30 years, and to have someone pay tribute to him with such kind words of praise and fond remembrances and respect – especially on his ‘birthday’!! – was very touching to me.  Thanks, Jan, for sharing with me.  So glad my dad – Cliff Steiner – made such a lasting impressing on your life.

I went back and looked for a few other photos, and found two.  One is with my best friend, Gen Cerk Morris, and the photo is from 1998.  The other one is from the 45th reunion in 2013. Again with Gen, and with Diane Meyers. We didn’t change much, did we??!!!

I’ve never been one for big social events and don’t normally mix well in crowds, but Sunday’s event was just what we needed, and I want to take a second to thank the hard-working committee for putting this together, and for already making us look forward to the reunion!  Let’s go Spartans!!!!

Once again last weekend I had the extreme pleasure of helping to usher at the Ligonier Theatre – this time for the presentation of OKLAHOMA.  Of all the plays that I’ve attended and ushered for, this one was in the top several of my favorites.

I had – of course – seen OKLAHOMA when I was young – very MUCH younger! – and remembered the details vividly. And as I expected, the talent of the actors and singers was excellent!  They did a fabulous job – every single one! – and I truly enjoyed the evening.

As is also the norm, after the show I had Bear sign my program and pose with me for a photo.  I have quite a collection by now, and treasure every single one.  Bear and I have been friends for a VERY long time – although neither of us are a day of 25!  Ha!

The play continues this weekend – August 14, 15, 16… so if you’re local, I highly recommend it!

I never get tired of watching him act, seeing the plays, being in the audience….  He’s a special guy, a great friend, and lots of fun.  Here’s to many, many more performances, Bear!  God Bless!!!!

THE TOMATO HARVEST

In all the 40-plus years that I have been visiting the 40 acre farm in Albion, PA, one thing has remained constant.  That is, the garden.  Our first visit back in the 1980’s found my young children hiding in the rows of corn and learning about carrots growing beneath the soil. 

 It was a lot of work, creating that garden patch.  The trickiest part was the timing; to know when the last frost had threatened and when the rains would not wash away seeds or young sprouting plants.  Most years, the gardener won; other times, nature tipped the scales. We monitored the progress on our frequent trips, seeing the corn ripen and the cucumbers vine around and sneak past the garden’s boundaries.  We picked green and yellow beans, dug potatoes in the fall, and watched to see how huge the pumpkins would grow before they broke free from the stems.

Although the kids preferred the corn and the carrots, my favorite always was, and still is, the tomato.  The tiny plants would be nursed in mini containers inside under a heat lamp, started in late winter, and be cautiously transplanted when the spring sun would be sure to warm them sufficiently.

 I still travel to Albion to visit my mom and step dad as frequently as schedules and weather allows, and taking the garden walk is still part of the experience.  Since my mom’s touch had been added, along with the ‘truck patch’, flower beds blossom in profusion where once flat, even fields lay silent and green.  So many times, my ride home included diggings or cuttings or bounty from their gardens, and many plants are growing happily in the Greensburg sun.

But after a while, since those mid-1980’s, Father Time has taken its toll on the energy and exuberance of step-father John.  The once-enormous vegetable garden has diminished considerably, with only a few meager offering now springing from the narrow furrows.  The last trip north, I walked with them to the garden to view the one tangled cucumber vine, a few thinned bean sprouts, and some marigolds to keep the rabbits away.

 Ah, but there were still tomatoes!  In a huge garden ‘box’, purchased and constructed for that exact purpose (including a watering tube and a reservoir underneath), thrived a number of beautiful, tall, healthy tomato plants.  Jetstar, I was informed, as I gazed on the lovely sight.  Even the fragrance of the dark green leaves, yellow bell-like blossoms, and marble-sized green nubs drew me in. They couldn’t ripen fast enough for me!

 This past weekend, I was again on the farm, and spent three days with my parents. As we were packing the car to come home, John asked me if I would eat the first ripe tomato from his box garden if he picked it.

“I’d love that! I love tomatoes! But are you sure you want to sacrifice your first crop?”

 “Sure. It’s ripe enough to pick, but let it sit on the window sill for a day or two in the sun before you slice it. I’ll walk out and get it for you.”

 John took his cane, and his 94 years, and went to the garden for my tomato. I carefully padded and packed that tomato into my bag for the long trip back to Greensburg. It would be tomorrow night’s dinner.

 Now, there are undoubtedly lots of ways to grow a garden. Tilling the soil, planting, watering, weeding, harvesting. Setting out scarecrows or aluminum pie pans to ward off nibblers. All of these things are very important.

But the most important way to grow and harvest a garden is with love. And that tomato – perfect color and taste! – was the best gift of love that I’ve had in a very long time. And let me tell you that nothing could taste better.

Well, another Dan Rice Days has come and gone.  It’s the first weekend of August, every year, and it’s in Girard PA, where LETTERS TO MARY takes place (partially). 

It was a beautiful weekend – the weather and the setting were perfect.  We were under trees, with our shade canopy to protect us from falling ‘issues’, and sandwiched between Gary (the bottlecap necklace seller) and Patty (the garden club ticket-pusher!).  Lovely people, and were supportive with help and patience.

Autmn and I got there about 1pm on Friday, and together struggled to put the canopy together and get the table set up.  She was a big help and very creative with helping arrange everything to look attractive and draw people’s attention.

The first thing that happened was that Autmn went to get her face painted.  She had an ‘allowance’ of spending money, and that was priority.  I loved the design she chose and was sorry the next morning when it was smeared to the point that she had to wash it off.  So glad for photos!

Saturday’s day pretty much got into the swing of things with the parade.  Dan Rice himself lead the way down main street with lots of fun (and candy-throwing

floats!) to follow.

I was fortunate enough to sell a number of books, and had people come up to me to say how much they had enjoyed reading LETTERS TO MARY that they purchased last year. 

My favorite sale was to a very young couple.  She was captivated by the Civil War and the project of the actual letters, and asked the price of the book.  She looked up at him and said she really wanted to purchase the book.  He stood tall and said, “I’ll get it for you!”

“Oh, are you SURE you want to do that?” “Of course.”  He pulled out his wallet and handed me $20, and I gave him change.  I autographed the book to ERICA (with a ‘c’!) and she rewarded him with a big KISS.  They were both beaming when they walked away!  Ahhhh, young love!  I wish them lots of years of happiness and kisses – and reading good books!

Before the afternoon was much underway, Autmn took a little more of her money and got another face painting.  I’m not sure which I liked best – they both looked so cute on her pretty young face!

Many thanks to Autmn for her help, and for her patience, and her great gift of salesmanship!  She was really drawing them in!  And another big thanks to my parents who offered hospitality and the sacrifice of letting us spent the days playing in Girard! 

So until next year, Happy Reading!