Ed and Nancy

 Our cousin, Nancy and her husband Ed are the best.  They opened their home and hearts to us.  They met us at JFK and took us to their home in Pennsylvania.  The first morning we were there Nancy hosted a Sip-n-See for us so we could meet all of her friends. I should have taken pictures.

 Nancy's granddaughter, Ava, kept us entertained.  She practiced her spelling words for us.  I was so impressed, Ava is in the second grade, her words included, because, America,  and English.

 A sweet, little smarty pants!

 We enjoyed some great family dinners.  Lissa is in the kitchen helping Nancy prepare dinner.  Nancy's kids, Ronnie and Natasha, and Ed's Mom, Jeanette, Nancy and Lissa's brother Aaron and his girlfriend came for dinner.  Nancy made delicious dinners.

Ed and Nancy have a wonderful family and we had some great times with them.

  

Their family suffered a horrible tragedy. Two of Nancy's children died in car accidents within five months of each other.   Nancy took us to the cemetery to visit Nate and Jannette's graves.  Nancy designed Nate and Jannette's bronze markers.  They are beautiful tributes to her children.  Today, October 9th, is the anniversary of Nate's death.  For me, being able to visit the graves with Nancy was an important part of the trip.  To share her grief, give her hugs, and cry with her, it meant so much to me.  To stand with her and think about her and her family's grief,  to lose two beautiful children so tragically, it took my breath away.

For Nancy and Lissa, life is defined as before the accidents and after the accidents.  

I'm grateful to have shared Nancy's grief.

There, but for the grace of God, go I.  Nancy is living that everyday.

Pennsylvania

 We made it to New York, and promptly left for Pennsylvania.  We got to Ed and Nancy's place and went straight to bed since we'd up since midnight.  We crashed.  

On Wednesday morning we went to the Farmer's Market.  We had the best sausage sandwich ever and a whoopie pie.   We stopped in little villages that have were settled in the 1700s, we drove all over the county and saw the sights, we went antiquing.

We ran into traffic jams.  And it was laundry day on the farm.

 

  After a busy day of sightseeing we  went home and sat by the pool for a glass of wine and some scrap booking.  Smash book time and lots of laughs. 

 Nancy was a little excited about her ashtray.  She instantly knew that it was an image of our Grandpa.

 We had a delicious dinner at the Ed and Nancy's place, and then sat around and visited and laughed.

It should have just ended right there.  Everyone should have just gone to bed.

But no.  Ed and Nancy told us about their fire hall.  It isn't tax funded.  It's fun funded.  We had to go and see for ourselves.  They have a bar in their fire station.  It's called Hooky, as in hooks and ladders.  Oh yes, there is beer, gambling and a pool table and other games.  The gambling is high stakes, it's playing for cakes.  As in twinkies and hohos and ding dongs.  Ed is a member so we used his card and tried not to bring shame to his name.

 Okay, it gets better.

They sell bread!  In the bar!  It the firehouse!  So, if you are sitting at the bar and realize you don't have a thing in the house for breakfast to feed the kids or you don't have bread for the sandwiches for school lunches you can grab some bread or bagels.  No worries, you're golden, grab a loaf of bread at the bar before you head for home.  Oh, and it's a buck a loaf.  So, it's not like you have to spend your beer money on the bread, it's cheap.  And it's all for a good cause.

We had a lot of fun at the Hook.  It's a brilliant, easy way to fund the fire fighters.

Thus concludes day one.  Stay tuned for more.

Scrapping in the City

 For our New York City Sista's trip we decided to make K&Co Smash books.  They have great pages with journaling prompts and each book comes with a glue stick pen on the side.  The idea is that you just randomly smash in whatever you want.  Maps, ticket stubs, brochures get smashed into the book and then we'll add pictures in when we get home.  Jodi and I are bringing the washi tape, Sharpies and embellishments for everyone.  Karen gave me some great NYC stickers.

 I made treat bags for everyone.  I plan to give them their treats at Sea Tac.  I included some things for their Smash books, gum, mints, snacks, candy and ear plugs.  It was fun for me to put these together.

Nancy gets a bigger treat bag including a Smash book, treats from Lynden, photos of our Grandparents and an ashtray.  Uh, that's a weird hostess gift.  She doesn't smoke...  but in the lower left corner there is an image of a man plowing with his draft horses and that is our Grandpa!  The image is from a postcard.  I am always on the lookout for these ashtrays, mugs, plates and postcards at local thrift stores.  

There is also a white Lynden Plowing Match mug with this image that I love to find.

  

Off we go, flight leaves at 7:00 a.m.

This Week

I've been packing for my sista's trip to Pennsylvania and New York City.  I'm down to 5 pairs of shoes and two raincoats.  Remember I have a slight obsession with raincoats!   I know what I'm wearing to the Broadway Show .  I have a sweet new briefcase/tote on wheels for my carry on.  This means I'm taking my laptop so I'll be blogging, as time permits.  So, you're pretty much coming with me.

Hubby and I have been trimming, pruning, raking, though it may not look like it.  It seems like there is a lot of yard work to be done.  My geraniums look good because I'm not watering them anymore.  They bloom with stress and look pretty on their way out.  We've started to take the patio down for the year.

The guys are busy and well.  Danny is in his last semester at Grand Valley University.  It is ArtPrize in Grand Rapids so he is busy at Bistro Bella Vita too.  Sam has a friend visiting from Washington this weekend.  They  were going zip lining yesterday.  It will be fun to hear about that adventure.  Max had his first week at Walla Walla Community College.  He and his roommate, Thomas have a nice place and are settling in there.  Kassie drove over yesterday to visit.

The museum gift shop has lots of new inventory.  I've been busy gearing up for Christmas.  And making a lot of plans for our annual open house, the evening of October 11th.  I have many demonstrators in costume for that evening. It's the night that the museum really comes to life.

September was beautiful this year, warm, sunny days and cool evenings.  The leaves are turning and the Fall light has been gorgeous.  We have our firewood stacked, our furnace filters changed and the flannel sheets on our bed.  I've got some new soup recipes.  Fall is here and I love it.

Oh My!

We leave for NYC next Tuesday.  The sisters/cousin trip to the city!  Oh my gracious, we are a tad excited.  What to pack?  What to wear?  What will the weather do?  How much luggage?  It's tough.

I'm pretty much going with my usual black and gray wardrobe with scarves.  I wanted a gold/mustard cardigan this Fall, however; I tried one on and the color was horrible on me.  Since I still wanted the gold, I went for the "sexy Boyfriend cords"  from the Gap.  I won't be rolling them up and I doubt they'll be sexy on me, but they fit, they are comfy and so soft.  I think I'm in love.

I bought these gray metallic loafers today, they seem to be comfortable.  They are Rocket Dogs.

I bought these black flats today too.  They seem to be comfortable.  They are Naturalizers and seem a little "old lady" to me.

I started with these black flats, the Molly from Born.  I bought them in May and was so excited.  I bought them specifically for my trip to NYC and I was in love with them.  Naively, I thought they might be the only pair of shoes I'd wear in the city.  HAH!  I have tried and tried to break them in.  Impossible.  A friend has these shoes too, she showed me her scabs and scars this afternoon from wearing her pair of Molly flats.  I have put them in the stretcher, I have pads in the heels, I've worn them in the house, I've worn them to work.  They kill.  I quit.  I am feeling hate in my heart for these shoes.  The shoes from you know where.

I'm really hoping one of the pairs I purchased today can fill the void the Molly flat has left.

It's hard to know which shoes to take to NYC.  Comfortable and fashionable and they need to go with several outfits.  It's been grueling, folks.

I think I finally have it narrowed down.   I'm taking my black boots, black flats(see Naturalizers pictured above), gray flats(see metallic flats pictured above), black heels (for a Broadway Show), leopard print sneakers (for a Central Park walk), my brown Born sandals (cuz I love 'em with jeans and they're comfy), 

and flip flops for slippers.  

Seven pairs of shoes... I'm trying to pack light.

Hey, before you start judging me... Melinda is taking three pairs of boots!

Anyone want to guess how many pairs of shoes six women will take to NYC?

Anyone want to buy a pair of black Molly's?  Cheap.

No matter how many pairs of shoes we bring to NYC,

 I'm sure we'll be shopping for more while we're there...

Happy Birthday Dad!

Yesterday was my Dad's birthday.  Hubby and I invited my folks and my Dad's family over to our place for dinner.  We had been wanting to have them come over this Summer and finally it came to together on Dad's birthday.  We decided not to join them for dinner but wait on them for dinner.  These special people  all deserve some special treatment.

 Hubby and I spent the day cooking and prepping.  We had appetizers set out on the patio.  The weather this September is perfect for the evening to begin outside and then come inside for dinner as it gets cooler.

 My sister that is a Snapsister came by for a impromptu mini shoot during happy hour.

Thanks Jodi!

 From the left, my Dad, Aunt Nelda, Uncle Darryl and Uncle Ed.  Uncle John doesn't live here so he wasn't able to be at dinner.  I hope Aunt Nelda got spoiled living with all those brothers!

 Pictured below, Dad and Mom, Aunt Judy, Uncle Darryl, Aunt Nelda, Uncle Ed and Aunt Twyla.

Jodi sent me a shot of myself with Aunt Nelda, I'm not sure what was so funny but we're having a good laugh.  I'm on duty so I've got the apron on and the timer in my hand.  Oh, and I hadn't had any wine yet, definitely, on duty.  Hubby was slaving away in the kitchen while I was yukking it up on the patio... 

He's a saint.

We moved inside for dinner.

We served pumpkin roll and honeymoon bars with coffee for dessert.  Hubby and I sat down and joined them for dessert.  It was fun to give them a special night, celebrate my Dad and enjoy the beginning of Autumn.

*If you click on the picture, you'll be able to read the menu.