Progressive Meal

It's been more than 35 years since I participated in a progessive meal, but that was what we did last evening. It's difficult to find a common time for being together with family and friends. When we get together there's much to see and share and discuss.
One of the things we needed to see was the ancient refrigerator that Pat and Andy gave to Joel and Susie. Joel fixed it up to working condition and Susie gave it a place of honor in their new home. Both couples appreciate useful old items and both couples lovingly place those items in their homes. So we had drinks at Joel's and Susie's, drinks chilled by the old refrigerator. We toured their nice home. It's an expression of them, filled with neat old pieces and new ideas. Joel thought they weren't "progressive" enough people to join us so the rest of us went on to a fun evening. I think they would have fit quite well. We moved on to Mom's and Dad's for a salad. Mom prepared a salad bar with fresh greens and loads of options to make our salads just right. We ate in the shade with the fine August weather surrounding us. Afterward, we scouted out some of their treasures. They have wonderful family pieces that have stories to tell. Some old pieces they find at sales and bring home to clean and display. Their home is peaceful and refreshing. I always enjoy visiting them. I have lived numerous places throughout my life and these are the people who taught me that a house is a structure and a home is where you hang your heart.

The main course was at our house - barbeque and baked macaroni. It was a meal filled with lively conversation followed by a brief demonstration of wool processing equipment. I showed off my niddy-noddy and lazy Kate. (Brad made them for me.) We spun the drum carder and had a demonstration of yarn twist. If you don't follow all that, ask me to explain, if you care or if you dare : )It was getting late and we couldn't run out of sunlight yet. We had permission to check out a new home being built in Pat's and Andy's neighborhood. Wow! What a beauty! It's big with lots of glass and covered outdoor area. We've always enjoyed looking at homes under construction. It's amazing how an initially small hole in the ground grows with each step of the building process. To those new home owners: We're happy for you. That is a lovely home you're building. We know you'll enjoy getting back to the country to live. You'll have great views from there.Then on to Pat's and Andy's for the dessert. These are two amazing people. What they have done in such a short time speaks of their like-minded dedication to each other and their home. All they've done is thoughtfully designed and executed. They have put so much of themselves into their home. Live long and prosper, you two, you are dear people. We're so glad to have you as our friends. Pat made blueberry buckle from their blueberries and the guys churned raspberry ice cream for a sweet treat and a fine way to end a fun evening.I put down the camera last night, though there would have been some great shots. Participating in the events of the evening, instead of observing through the lens, is far more fulfilling. I still think a good post needs photos so I went out this morning and took a few shots to share with you. The photos throughout this post are self-seeded "volunteers". The sunflowers took root in the garden and celosia grew around the front door from the potted plants there last year.

Frogmore Stew

Dad called us earlier this week to invite us for supper at 6:30 Saturday evening. The menu was a surprise. There would be eight of us - Mom and Dad, my brothers and their wives and Brad and me. We were not to bring anything and, if possible, we would eat outside. I love a good surprise. Brad was quite concerned about what would be on the table. As it turned out he didn't need to be, he enjoyed himself, too.
On one of Dad's hunting trips they had Frogmore Stew. Just in case you are wondering, Frogmore is a place in South Carolina, there were no frog legs in the pot. It's Southern comfort food, a seafood boil, and it works it's magic on this side of the Mason-Dixon line, too.

Dad set up the outdoor propane stove and filled the pot of boiling water with Old Bay. Then he added broken ears of sweet corn, small red potatoes, sausage links and shrimp. I saw a halved lemon and some onion in the pot, too. When it was cooked and drained, it all got dumped on the paper covered picnic table. Mom melted butter, made cocktail sauce and had all the fixin's ready when the cooking was complete.

We all filled our bellies as we emptied the table. Then there was blueberry pie and ice cream for dessert. Since it was such a pleasant evening we lingered long, catching up on the latest gossip and telling tales from the past and present.
Joel and Susie were going home to catch a quick nap and then headed out to spend the night fishing on the Meadow Grounds Lake. Now, I'd rather sleep than fish, but with the stars twinkling the way they were last evening, I'm sure they had a good night. I hope they caught some nice ones. Dave and Jane will celebrate twenty years of marriage on Tuesday.
Thanks, Mom and Dad, for all the things you do. You got us off to a good start in our lives and you still bring good things to life. That's very special and we are so fortunate to have you near.

Our July 6 Picnic at Mom's and Dad's

Mom and Dad had a great picnic for us Sunday afternoon after July 4. All the kids and their spouses, grand-kids and spouses and great-grand kids were present and accounted for. Joycee was able to join us and the Moores did, too. The weather was great but the fellowship and food were even better. I'm not going to post any of those pictures here, you can click on the "slideshow" to the right that will allow you to see them on "flickr." Here's a lovely sunset we had one evening recently.

Road Trip: Belleville and Big Valley, PA

Early on Wednesday, July 2, a carload of us left Guitner Road for Belleville. Mom, Dad, Joel, Susie, Lane and I were off for a wonderful day together. We went up Route 75 and crossed over to Route 522 at Cowan's Gap. We stopped to look at the Saint Mary's Covered Bridge.

It's been a few years, maybe five, since I've been to Belleville, but little had changed. Once again, I searched for a sign indicating whether the town's name came from the Belle family or because it's a fine little town but we didn't find that info. The market had more produce than I expected. Lots of cherries and berries and some veggies. There were the usual crafts and flea market finds. There were plenty of baked goods but since we had filled our bellies a short time earlier, I was able to leave them alone. We checked out the horses and buggies. Mom asked about the different colors of buggies (we saw white, black and yellow) and was told the white were owned by the most conservative of the Amish. The white buggy group use lanterns, not battery power, to light their buggies at night. Lane was impressed by the size of the horses' hooves. I was impressed by how many horses were there.

We left Belleville and drove north to Reedsville. We stopped at the flea market and browsed till lunchtime. There were some neat finds at both places but since my house is full, I spent only $1. (Yes, I'm a tightwad.) A book of 5500 quilt patches caught my eye and came along home with me. By lunchtime we were all wearing down. Flea marketing is HARD WORK :) We detoured off Route 655 as we headed south and saw lovely parts of Big Valley. There were a lot of horses working the fields, cutting and raking hay. Sorry I didn't get a better shot but this shows you the fields are big.
There were long clothes lines filled with clean laundry. We stopped for lunch and refilled our bellies. I was ready to nap after that and glad I wasn't driving. It was a special day telling stories and being together. What a lucky person I am, to have such a great family.

Summer's Here

We've been waiting for warmer weather. Now it's here and I'm hiding in the air conditioning. PA is having quite a heat wave after the cool, wet spring we've experienced. I wish the hay was mowed and I will fret about it until it is in the barn.

Last Friday, my niece's daughter had her first dance recital. She is a beautiful child, so animated.

On Saturday, my cousin and his wife celebrated their 25th anniversary. Congratulations, Bret and Lorie!

Dad returned from his fishing trip to Maine yesterday. He missed the recital and the anniversary party but he had a great time with his fishing friends. I think Mom was glad to have him home.

Last evening all the lambs got their second tetanus shots. We were stinky and sweaty till that job was done. Today the sheep are all hanging out in the barn with the fans running.

My hobbledehoy yarns (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=23459 ) arrived in today's mail. They are just as wonderful as the posted photos that made me want them. I'm not sure what I'll make with them but something good. Their names are Lemon Drop and Pine Trail. Their creator, Liz, dropped me a note to say I could come spin with her a day. I think I'll take her up on that. There's much she could teach me. I was looking at a spinning class next March at The Mannings. It looks like it's only offered annually.

I'm working on a lap quilt to give to my great aunt at a family reunion in a couple weeks. I need to get busy with that. It's a good reason to stay in the house and be cool. I'm so glad we have air conditioning. It's hard to imagine that it wasn't long ago we didn't have it.