Millennium Theatre, Lancaster Pennsylvania

The day after Thanksgiving, we took off on a nice day trip to

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Lancaster is one of my favorite places to go~ it is the Amish farms and houses that make one yearn for yesteryear.
Large simple white square houses are a pretty site. The old fashion farm houses have tall windows which continue around the house.

At dark, a candle is seen in each and every window.

So simple, so sweet.

From tours of their homes, we know they are furnished with hand made furniture and home sewn quilts, etc.

They mostly cling to their modest traditions.

The purpose of the trip was to attend the "Miracle of Christmas" at the stately Millennium Theatre there~

We attended with friends and neighbors.

We had an early dinner at the "Good and Plenty" Amish Farmhouse restaurant. We feasted on simple home cooked food, served family style.

Was a perfect Thanksgiving weekend~We LOVE our family friends who are our neighbors. They are as glamorous as any celebrities, right?

.

Thanksgiving Day

Our gift from Heaven for which we are so THANKFUL this year.

Preparing appetizers ~

Table set for a feast~

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

John Marshall Chapter of American Wine Society

Port 101 presentation was a nice event.
Six Ports were coupled with ripe cheeses on bread and chocolates made for a very nice evening.

This photos is taken in the barrel room of nearby LaGrange Winery where our group meets once a month.

Photos of trip to Northern Portugal were the back-drop behind the Presenter.

If you have yet to visit Northern Portugal and tour the Quintas along the River Duro~ and travel into the Duro Valley, make sure it's on your "Places to See Before You Die" list. We found that area to be a fabulous experience. I would love to rent a Villa and live a few months of my life there.

Southern Portugal~which reminded me of Northern California~just didn't stir this emotion for me.

What is a Quinta? Quinta in Portuguese means "farm." The grapes are grown on picturesque mountain slopes, harvested and processed on "Quintas."

Fall Photos ~ Beautiful Virginia

These photos taken late October from our deck.

The trellis at the bottom of photo is the arbor built over the patio below.

The pathway you see is the Cart Path as it hugs the fairway along the golf course below ~fun ~ until the balls come flying this way~

One day I picked up 9 beautiful balls in the backyard. Usually there are only 2 or 3 each day.

I used to play golf, but found I prefer to walk the course and nearby woods to look for lost balls. It is like looking for Easter eggs. One day~ found 53.

This is one view from a kitchen window~

Here we are standing on the upper deck to survey the glorious Fall colors which are intensified against the backdrop of green fairways.

Life Faster Than Blog

Zip~ events crowd the weeks. We tread to keep up. Throw in an emergencyand my calendar goes on hold. We handle them in stride and with thankfulness we can do for others and are wanted to be "there."

Returning home the night before Thanksgiving was so, so sweet. A warm, beautiful day with family was over the top. The next morning, we were off to Pennsylvania with friends to
attend
the Miracle of Christmas, a sound and light show in Lancaster.

Now, to catch up...
My favorite TV shows all waiting patiently to be seen...
I do want to know which Desperate Housewives is written off~
I do want to know who is taking "Griff's" place on CSI Las Vegas
and Survivor is really getting down to the nitty gritty~
Can't leave out
Judge Judy. She is my alter ego...she straightens out the world.

AHHHHHHHHH, today
cold rain is coming down ~
maybe I can catch up ~
Don't you love a day like this?
June

Home Sweet Home for the Holidays

Home Sweet Home~WHEW~

Just home from driving 700 miles in 12 hours TODAY with only the XM Radio for company. Actually, have to say the only thing better is a good book on CD. Both are much better company than some people. Today, I sang and no one complained... Changed stations without incident. Sped without being ticketed.
State Troopers through Alabama and Tennessee apparently took the day off but Virginia Troopers were raking in the speeders.
I escaped under the radar...

The mountains and all winter scenes were beautiful~no snow on the return trip...
Driving down, came into a blizzard and followed a snow plough for about 10 miles...totally unexpected in the 22 degree temperature at the time.

While away seeing about an elderly aunt, saw some beloved friends, which was very uplifting, as otherwise, the long trip was not too easy to fit in at this busy time of year ....AM SO HAPPY TO BE HOME.
My little Aunt is alive and in good hands now ~ therefore, my plans are to be home for the Holidays. So, all in all, an OK trip.
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to all.
June

Safty Belt For Your Purse ~Already Built In

This idea was born out of total necessity.

One day while shopping with my grandchildren, naturally, my purse was sitting where the little ones used to sit...right in the shopping cart child seat.
A man came down the aisle where we were making a critical decision about which toy to buy.
The toy store was too large for him to maneuver so close to us I thought.
First I thought of the children and gathered them between me and the shopping cart when THEN it occurred to me, he could be after my purse, which was sitting available to be snatched.

That was when my idea was born.
Works GREAT.

Just put the child safety belt through the handles of your purse or bag and snapped them close.
Now...should anyone try to grab my or your purse, they would have to take the entire cart.

Safety rules tell us to always be aware of our surroundings...and I do believe this saved my purse that day.
The man looked at me and immediately left. Since then, this is an action
I do everywhere I use a cart...grocery store might be the most vulnerable for women but other stores, WalMart, Target, Toys R Us, etc are also places where thieves could have us in their scope.