Dinner for five

After our sunset train ride chris treated us to dinner at the Fireside Tavern. A lovely place and good food. What a wonderful day!

Riding the rails

What a wonderful birthday surprise. My son chris took me to Strasburg, PA for a sunset ride on an old steam train. When we first arrived we went to the railroad museum where there were a lot of old train engines and cars. It was so interesting to see what was once such a part of everyday life. As we rode the train it felt like you stepped back in time. We rode through the cornfields and Amish country. On the way back we were treated with a gorgeous sunset.

Can you say obsessed?

What does it take to amuse a Jack Russell?  Sadie stood by Scott's bird Katie staring at her and trying to figure out a way that she could get into that cage. The bird confident in the fact that there was no way just teased Sadie unmercifully. 

Do you have a bucket list?

..When I was younger I didn't really plan my life. I let circumstances dictate what I would do and when things would happen. I took advantage of opportunities to see a concert or go somewhere but didn't actively pursue activities but just rode on the wave of life. I had no idea where I was headed 

   As I aged I still didn't give life a lot of thought. College happened, then marriage and children and I went along for,the ride. Not to say I didn't have goals...getting my Master's degree, becoming president of the American Association of University Women in our town, joining Beta Sigma Phi an international sorority.  

  I didn't have a bucket list...things that I wanted to do before I kicked the bucket. But one day when I was taking a class the instructor asked us to write five things we would like to do ..things we dreamed about. One of mine was go to Paris. I knew then that it was just a whim. So it surprise me when years later I had the chance to go with my sister to visit a friend in Germany and the trip included taking a train to Paris for three days. Riding down the Seine in a boat and viewing thenEiffel Tower at night is probably one of my very favorite memories. 

   I am very satisfied with my life the way it is now but there might be a few things I'd like on my bucket list. 

I'd also,like to ....

Go on an Autumn picnic

Ride in an inner tube down a river on a warm summer day

Sit by the fire in a ski lodge

Take my family on a cruise

Go on a second honeymoon

What is on your bucket list?

Ducks on a foggy morning

Very close to my house there is a duck pond in front of the Willow Dale Cemetery. It has recently been reclaimed from an overgrown swamp and now is lovely place to sit on green metal benches and watch the gaggle of ducks swim lazily around.  This morning before Sadie and I took our walk I took a few photos and used some of my photography programs to manipulate them. I'm happy with the results. 

Sadie's favorite position

Sadie loves to sit on Don's lap and stretch out upside down when he is watching tv at night. She learned this from our cat who always did that before. Now the cat is relegated to the arm of the chair. Sadie wins again. 

Snow Creek Farm

Linda and I went to Snow Creek Farm for her open house near Fredericksburg, Virginia. 

It is a very country display of items for sale all in the fall theme.


Quite a beautiful setting. Then we were off to Jan Williams, my favorite florist gift shop.

I came home with a pretty arch from Kirkland’s which I decorated.
Now my breezeway is all ready for fall.
Here is the surprise I was talking about. Don’t these look like high end glass sculptures? Can you tell what they are made of. I have never seen anything like this before..and so simple. Look close and you will see that they are a great use for those old clear glass patterned candy dishes, platters, bowls, vases, and candlesticks. Just turn them over, use silicone to glue them together and you have created a garden sculpture.  I bought the large one and then went straight to Goodwill for more glass and made the two smaller ones. They are so beautiful with the sun shining on them.   

Sunday itinerary

Where I live there is not a lot to do, but when I go to my sisters there are so many places that we have to go that we have to make a list and go in order. There are so many stores, vintage stores, restaurants and little shops that we never lack things to see and do.  It was a Whirlwind of activity this weekend and now I am home.  It's quiet here but it's good to be back. I don't need a list here. 

Deep creek vintage

Isn't this a great old plantation home?  It is a coop and is so beautiful inside. I can wait to blog about a new thing that I saw there and of course have to buy..then try to duplicate. Back home tomorrow. I have really enjoyed this sister time. We saw an excellent movie today...Prisoner. It is a real who done it fooler and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. It's a movie you keep talking about all the way home.  Hugh jack man and Jake Gyllenhaal are Oscar worthy. You'll love this one. 

Busy day

Here Re some of Linda's pretty fall decorations.  Lots of fun today. Tomorrow the flea market.

Isn't it nice to have a sister who cooks?

Delicious dinner upon my arrival in Fredericksburg. Crust less quiche and fruit salad.  Yum!