At Blueberry Brooke...

My pictures don't compare to the pictures on the website of Blueberry Brooke, but I took lots of them anyway...I always do.

We got in a bit late, and after calling Virginia to let her know we had arrived we proceeded to experience that which is Blueberry Brooke.  I really want to say a lifetime of memories were made in a very short time.

We entered into her kitchen, where she had sweets set out for us and where she lovingly displays one of the several magazines that their house has appeared in.

The parlor is quite expressive...

And Virginia graciously donned her birthday hat for a fun photo...

After a few moments of introductions and getting to know the house, we went to our rooms for the night.  Here you see my room...

Peri's room had a little something special to watch over her as she slept...

I am sorry that our traveling gear seems to show up in all the photos, but it is after all part of the experience.  Blessedly we had Marc to help us with all our gear.

After sleeping, we awakened to a chilly morning (31 degrees) and had a lovely breakfast of fresh grapefruit, followed by bacon, scrambled eggs and toast.  Since it was our birthday week, Virginia  thoughtfully had made a sweet cake.  Cake at breakfast, you may ask...yes, yes indeed.

 Well, it's time to load up the car and start out for the next adventure.  Here is a shot of the 100 year old school house that is also on their land.  Sorry that we didn't take time to go in, it does look interesting.

We had a bit of time to kill before we went to our friend's house, which was much closer than we realized. After taking a quick photo of our host and hostess (sorry Bob, I have a talent for catching my subjects right as they blink)...

Virginia suggested that we visit a bookstore nearby that is housed in a structure that was once an actual barn.  Armed with a container of cake as (a bribe) thanks for opening on the day off, Virginia, having called ahead, led the way and we got to meet some more interesting folks.

Virginia had very graciously given us a copy of a gardening book (now out of print) that the mother of the bookstore owner had written some years back.  After climbing the quite steep (ladder) stairs in the barn, where we did find some treasures to take home, we came back out, spoke to the chickens...

and got to meet the author of the above mentioned book.  Marc had opportunity to speak with the owner of the bookstore and learned of his previous life as a musician and of his life on the road.  This bookstore owner/musician called his mother and we met her, chatted a bit and she signed the gardening book.

As you know from my previous short post, our main reason for visiting upstate NY was to meet our blogger friend in person for the first time.  We had a wonderful adventure in New York and really did make a lifetime of memories.  What a fun trip we had.

I'll have more pictures in future posts, but I know there is no way they will adequately describe the experience that was "Peri, Peg, Susan and Marc on the Birthday Trip". 

Home again, home again

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am back from vacation and had a wonderful time.  I do have approx 300 photos to sort through, but I'll be sharing them soon.  One of the stops was to visit our bloggy friend Karin at Countryfolk Keepsakes.  She has better pictures and you can read all about it on her page.  Thanks, Peanut for a lovely visit and a fabulous meal. 

In the meantime, here is a shot taken with my camera.  Boy you can tell we (Peri and I) should have done the photo shoot B-4 that great meal.

Thanks to all for the support and kind words you have offered me this year.  I'm really finding my way quickly and I know it is because of the prayers and encouragement given me by my friends and family. You guys and gals rock.

That's it for now, hopefully vacation pictures will be forth coming of things like Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestowne and a new B & B in upstate NY.  As they used to say in our home-town newspaper, "and a good time was had by all".

Thanks again and we'll talk soon.

Taking a break...

Just wanted everyone to know that my sister is on her way to Virginia to visit me!  We have lots of crazy sister trips planned.  I am going to "unplug"  on this trip and wont be blogging. I will have access to e-mails and such, but I'm definitely taking a break. 

So in memory of last April's trip here is a reminder of how cute she is...

No waiting in train stations this trip, she is riding in style...setting her own timetable. Her wife, Peg, on the other hand is flying in due to previous appointments, but we will all meet up at my house this week.

I'll take lots of pictures and hopefully have lots of fun stories when we return...whenever that might be.

Ta, Ta.

Let's get artsy...

Close up of today's (April 4th) weather...

This took me totally by surprise.  I hadn't checked the weather.  Went to the gym and then to the mall. Came out when done shopping and it was snowing like crazy and is accumulating as we speak.  Spring, don't be afraid to make your presence known...we miss you.

A few pictures to pass the time...

In between sprucing up the guest room for my favorite visitors, and crocheting a sweater, I am finding time to do a bit of flower arranging and decorating.

That antique lamp and dresser that belonged to your Grandmother will never go out of style...

and you can dress up any corner with some faux greenery...

as long as it's got red in it somewhere, I'm happy.

I gathered together some supplies...after a trip to Michael's, that is...

and not only put them to good use with the flowers that I dried from the funeral...

but even had enough left over to plant into some living houseplants for that touch of color...

 and another little arrangement with a fake money plant...

As I mentioned, I'm currently working on a sweater for next winter and in an effort to remain productive (and get the thing finished) while I talk to Peri on the phone, I bought a headset...

and now not only I can crochet while we talk, I can make coffee and do my make up and whatever other multitasking thing I want to do.  Seriously though, my cordless phone is so small that I cannot hold it between my ear and shoulder like I used to in the olden days, so that leaves me only one hand.  Don't we always need both hands free while we are on the phone?  I've seen people make dinner, bake a cake and set the table while on the telephone.  Of course, back in those days, if you had a super long telephone cord, you were living in the lap of luxury.

Speaking of telephones, my grandmother, Ethel, was a talker.  She and her cronies would tongue wag all day long, while the rest of us were at work.  Calling home and getting a busy signal was a common occurrence back in those days.  How often do you get a busy signal these days?  Anyway, you know those GEICO commercials that show "happier than Paul Revere with a cell phone"  and "happier than a witch in a broom factory"...well, sister Peri and I have our own..."happier than Ethel with a headset". She would have been in gossip heaven.

Well, that's it for today.  I'm combining my acquisition of the headset with the April self portrait, so I hope you like it.

Take care and keep on keepin' on.