Over the river and through the woods.....

Cullman, AL

Yes, we are currently in Alabama.   But last week we were still in Pennsylvania.  

Our Thanksgiving was spent at daughter Terri and her husband Steve's new house.   Their home is definitely in Amish country.

Through the woods included passing by the golf course a few miles from her home.  Don't you love the stone fence?

Then across the river.   Her house was once a grist mill built in 1832.   A steam runs under part of it.  Although it sits right an the road, the 3 foot stone wall keeps out the road sound.  Cars travel by but very slowly -  over the bridge and then a sharp turn uphill.

The stream cuts the almost 2 acre property in half.  A project will be to build a bridge over it.


Table set and ready.  Notice the 3 foot deep window sills.

A crackling fire with our glasses of wine:

Last minute preparations:

Their "English Country" room:

On Sunday we went back and attended services with Terri and Steve at the local United Methodist church.  Thinking there is LOTS of gray stone in the area.

 After church we drove to Maryland to get hugs from the granddaughters Charlotte and Abby before we left the area Monday morning.

On the way we met up with Facebook friend and blog reader Dathan Booth, a gentleman working in the PA/MD area and living in his RV.  He treated us to lunch at our favorite diner when visiting this area.  Having never met in person before, it did not stop us from enjoying the two hour lunch and acting like old friends!

Charlotte and Abby with me:

Today we are enjoying the mild weather here in Alabama.   Hoping it continues.

November in review - so far...

Ronks, PA

Our last month in the northeast for a while has been a myriad of experiences.

Early in the month was a birthday.  Not saying which one but will give a hint.  Somewhere between 70 and 72.   Cake was baked by daughter Amy, decorated by granddaughters Charlotte and Abby

Lots of time spent in the move of other the daughter from Bridgeton, NJ and Lebanon, Pa.     My grandmother had collected rocks while traveling the country in the 50's and 60's.   When my former husband and I bought a house we moved those rocks to that property.   In the 80's he sold that house, leaving the rocks behind.    One mothers day in early 90's my daughters arranged with the new owner to get those rocks.   Where Terri has moved to in Pa, it is chock full of rocks, with two streams running through the property.    She had no need for more rocks.  Amy wanted to rocks.  So we loaded them up along with a picnic table Len made and transported them to MD.

Her husband was expecting small rocks.  Surprise!  

Back in NJ, one day we were about 1 mile from the house when I saw something black run across the road.  A semi truck driver stopped, jumped out and started chasing it around a field.  Len, being Len, pulled over and joined in the chase.  

I saw what were chasing.  A PIG!   A POT BELLIED BIG with a tag in one ear.   A short time later an off-duty State Trooper joined them.

That thing was just too quick for a cop, a truck driver and a Cajun.   The trooper said there have been several spotted in this area.   Who knew!

Some years ago Len and I were involved in World Wide Marriage Encounter.   We received a call from old friends that a ME weekend was being held in Easton, MD.  They asked if we would be a prayer couple.    A prayer couple writes to a participating couple and prays for them during the weekend.  Sure, would love to.    So we drove down to Easton for their closing program.   Later we joined these dear people most of whom we have not seen for years.

Bret and Carole Burge, Diana and Mike Stinson, 

Barb and Tom Austin and Georgeanne and Clay Holland

Terri and hubby Steve were living near her new job.   We stayed in her house until Nov 15, a total of about 5 weeks.   During this time we invited for dinner:

My cousin Mae's son John, my sister Debbie, my sister-in-law Nora and my brother Norman:

My cousin Mae and John's wife Cindy:

On November 15 we hooked up the fifth wheel and drove the two hours to:

Florys is a small family run campground.  Nice people.  It is located near Lancaster, PA.

We were lucky that Charlotte and Abby were off the entire week of Thanksgiving.  They stayed with us from Saturday and Tuesday.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  We will be having dinner at Terri and Steve's new house.  Saturday there is dinner here at the campground.   Sunday we visit Amy and family.  Monday we hook up and head south.   Oh yea, south....    It is snowing here today.

Wishing all readers a Blessed Thanksgiving.

Daughter's move from NJ to PA

Ronks,   PA

Last night was our last night in NJ for several months.   Over the past few weeks we have stayed at what used to be our house and helped to clean it out for our daughter and hubby.   Terri moved to Pa. due to a new job opportunity, coming back only on weekends.

Finally the old house is empty.  Sad, but things move on.  I loved this house when we lived in it and continued to love it what she bought it in 2010.

Dining room

Living Room

A Guest Room

Family Room

The Kitchen Almost Empty

The new home.  Furniture arrives on Monday.

This house was once a grist mill.  That round well looking thing on the right, looks down on the stream that runs under this part of the house.  There is Plexiglas about two feet down and lights spotlighting the circle where the wheel once sat. 

Some of the kitchen.  Beautiful cabinets

Kitchen

Upstairs area that will be the son-in-laws music studio

Family room

One challenge in the move.   About five years before we sold Terri the house, a feral cat took residence under our deck.  We fed her and provided a warm cat house for the winter months.  We moved, she stayed.  Terri continued caring for her these past 4 years.  On occasion Miss Kitty would even allow Terri (only Terri) to pick her up for a short time.    No way could this dear critter be left there to fend for herself.

The vet told Terri to give her Benadryl for the ride.   My sister provided a kennel, Terri picked Miss Kitty up and deposited her in the kennel.  Benadryl must have worked.   She was awake but never complained or cried to get out.  Very calm all day yesterday for the ride and still calm today.

Terri read that sometimes if you keep a feral cat confined for about a month during a move, they get used to the area and will not run away.   Worth a try.

There is an area in the back of the house that is sheltered on three sides.  In this shelter is a small raised area.

No, that is not the cat.  That is grandson Justin helping to enclose the area on all sides and top.

When completed, Terri placed Miss Kitty in her new cage.

With the help of Miss Kitty's best friend, Cane the dog, we hope she adjusts to this new home.

Oh yea, we did let Justin out.

Answers

Upper Deerfield Twp,  NJ

How many did you know?

1.   The Robert E Lee memorial at Gettysburg Pa. Battleground

2.   Easy one -  Devils Tower in Wyoming

3.   Scottsbluff National Monument at Scottsbluff, Nebraska

4.   Main Street, Deadwood, SD.   My thoughts - from the first time we were in Deadwood in 2003 to our visit in 2012 there were many changes.  Looks less like an old west town, more like a modern Casino town.   For us a disappointment.

5.  Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain, New York, a 18th century fort.

6.  Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove,  TN

7.   Catwalk in Gila National Monument,  New Mexico    When we walked this walkway it was early Spring and parts were still snow covered and icy.

8.   Flight 93 Memorial in Pennsylvania.    Definitely a must see.   Very sobering.

9.    Another easy one -  The Alamo.   The first time we visited this site we were surprised.  Somehow we expected it in a more rural area, not in the middle of San Antonio.

10.   Dwight D Eisenhower's birthplace in Denison,  TX.    Many people think he was born in Abilene, KS.   Not true, his family moved there when he was about two.

So much to see, so little time......