A Week With My Folks
I dropped my parents off at the airport this morning. *sigh* It was a nice visit and it seemed to end much too soon. I’m already thinking about when the kids and I can make it down their way.
As promised, I have pictures!! Not the good ones I mentioned in my last post, but some pretty shots nonetheless. So let’s recap the week, shall we??
WEDNESDAY
Pick Mom & Dad up at the airport.
THURSDAY
I worked in the morning and spent the rest of the day visiting with the folks.
FRIDAY
I kept Katie out of school and the four of us drove over to Strasburg for a train ride.
Does the water tower remind anyone else of “Petticoat Junction”?
It was nice to just sit and relax and watch the scenery outside the windows.
After the train ride we drove up to Intercourse (STOP LAUGHING!) to the cannery. I can’t be within a 20 mile radius of that place without stopping in for some of their super-uber-delicious seedless black raspberry preserves. And once I’m there I find all kinds of other things I absolutely, positively, without question need. I should have given Mom & Dad a head start. I got my two jars of preserves and a bag of Kahlua & Cream coffee beans, paid for them and then walked around some more while Mom & Dad found what they wanted. Not surprisingly, Katie and I found some more necessities. After paying for those I practically ran to the door with my head down and my hand over my eyes, careening through the busload of tourists who had just come in.
On our way home we passed the aforementioned horse and buggy at the car wash. I will say the horse was awfully shiny and the buggy looked pretty clean, too. It was a rainy day, though, which made me wonder if a regular car wash would give them a rain check. I’m still so very sad I didn’t get a picture. It was priceless.
SATURDAY
The whole family went to Gettysburg on Saturday. We did the auto tour and it was gorgeous, but I think I’d like to go back and spend more time there. Not just at the Civil Battlefield Park, but in the little town of Gettysburg.
I was so struck by the beauty of the area I ended up taking tons of pictures of barns (I have a weakness for barns), church spires and the scenery. I did manage to get some of the monuments, too.
This monument is the Eternal Peace Light Memorial and was dedicated by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1938 as a symbol of peace in a united nation. From what I could find out the flame (which is very hard to see) has never gone out since that time. But what I find truly interesting is that this ceremony was the Last Reunion of the Blue and the Gray – a tradition that had been going on since 1913, 50 years after the battle. Soldiers from both sides would come to these reunions and when the last reunion was held there were very few soldiers left, most of them in their 90’s.
I kept jumping out of the car to get good pictures. Todd followed me down the road just like a stalker.
We stopped in at the Appalachain Brewing Company for lunch. As usual, I forgot to take the picture of my food before I ate. The cup had been brimming with Brewer’s Cheddar Ale Soup – A wonderful blend of premium cheddar cheese and our very own Water Gap Wheat accented with baked potatoes and topped with sour cream, cheddar-jack cheese and crumbled bacon. You can see why I didn’t think about snapping a shot. The other picture is Flatbread Pomodoro – Four pieces of freshly toasted flatbread topped with a wonderful blend of Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, fresh mozzarella cheese and extra-virgin olive oil. Yes, it was as good as it sounds and looks.
Todd and Katie climbed this big tower and took the camera. Todd snapped a photo of this parachute toy stuck in a tree on their way up to the top. Then he got me and my head sticking through the sunroof of the stalker car.
Had to get a picture of the Arkansas monument, now, didn’t I?
It seems this cool little castle-looking monument was a New York memorial, but I don’t remember. I do know the stairs on the inside were S T E E P!
From left to right are the Irish Brigade Monument, the Pennsylvania Memorial and another New York monument in honor of the Native Americans that fought.
And we conclude the Gettysburg tour with this historic sign:
SUNDAY
Not much to tell that I haven’t already. Taylor’s girlfriend came over after the church picnic and we played a couple games, including Scrabble. She is a formidable opponent!
MONDAY
Laundry day. No pictures to share. Sorry.
TUESDAY
Mom and Dad and I drove up to the Daniel Boone homestead, about 30 minutes from the house. We didn’t do the tour, but drove around a bit and looked at the sights. I’m not sure if I found the black sheep or the original house more interesting.
WEDNESDAY
I made a birthday cake for Katie that resembles something you’d see in a Dr. Suess book. I put polka-dotted candles in it in an effort to make it look like I meant to do that. I’m pretty sure no one bought it. Judging by the second picture, though, I don’t think anyone cared.
It was a fun week, but I guess I have to get back to my real life now.
What a wonderful week! Great photos and … I’m glad you got a Scrabble game in! ha ha!
Awesome pictures, Jen! Thanks for sharing them. I’m so jealous.
These pictures are awesome and that birthday cake is making my mouth water….I love barn pictures too. My mom has a big red barn built in 1915 on her property and it’s just the prettiest thing, nestled in with the Iowa cornfields… I should photograph it sometime!
I love the photos Jen!!! The Strasburg ones take me back (!) and that is a lovely train ride. We even had dinner there on a caboose that moved (Evan was 2 and a train fanatic!!). I’ve been to Intercouse (of course)..what’s the joke? You have to go through Intercourse to get to Paradise (both real towns!).The Gettysburg photos are great…I remember being there so well and climbing up to take photos…it was nice to “see” you in the car!Sounds like (and looks like) you had a great time with the parents.Hopefully you really can get home to visit them soon.
Jenster, first you’re attending the “Sex Church” and now you’re taking little jaunts to Intercourse? Who needs Scotland? LOL! ;-)And of course, once on that path, I couldn’t get off and then this jumps out at me, “extra-virgin olive oil.”hahahahaha….What exactly makes it “extra-virgin”?
Sandy – I just wish Kristen would come back so we could play some more! lolDev – All you need to do is come visit and I’ll take you to all those places and more! :o)Monnik – Yes! You should absolutely take pictures of the barn!Sherry – Love the joke! The train turned around in Paradise, but we did it backwards. We went to Paradise first. hahahaShauna – I almost asked the same question!! I thought being a virgin was like being pregnant. There’s not extra involved! bwahahaha
Yummmmy cake! That looks fantastic!
heee so close I could smell ya Jenster! (My cousins daughter’s first job was at the cannery in Intercourse when she was 15- well because she could walk there of course!)
Swishy – It WAS yummy!! Not only did we have a delicious chocolate cake for Katie’s birthday last night, the kids had a nutritious breakfast this morning!
Zeek – Do you ever get their seedless black raspberry preserves? Mixed with peanut butter and it’s ambrosia!
As usual, our roving food and travel editor, Jenster, did a bang-up job in her reporting on Intercourse and the surrounding countryside. ;o) The pictures were great, the food looked delicious…especially that lucious chocolate cake…which once again makes us all want to go to these wonderful places.I especially liked the stairwell shots.Sounds like you had a great time with your folks and a wonderful birthday for Katie.
Hi, I’ve lurked here a couple times & love reading your comments on Swishys & Manics blogs. If it’s too personal I completely understand I was just wondering how you’re doing, health wise. I am stumbling over words tonight…My mom was just diagnosed with breast cancer & had her lumpectomy yesterday. I guess I was just wondering about you & how you’re doing, since you’re a survivor.Again, if it’s too much you don’t have to answer me. I was just curious.Thanks a ton Jenster – Kate
I completely forgot to comment on your post. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures. What a BEAUTIFUL part of the country you live in; so much history!It is so gorgeous!
Jen–that cake is adorable, the photos are lovely, and your relationship with your husband, kids and parents is heartwarming! Have a wonderful weekend.
That sounds like a really fun week! I found myself wishing I could have a week like that with my folks. :’) I miss them so.Now, about that cake … OK, OK, it isn’t the picture-perfect store-bought one, but that’s not the important thing. Obviously it tasted good, and my mouth is watering right now. Mmmmm!I’m glad you had such a good week!
When should I book my ticket for my personalized tour? Do I get chocolate cake, too, or is that just for 13 year olds? Love the pictures and the fact that you had such a great time with the fam.(((hugs)))gretchen
The pictures are fantastic. Looks very perfessonial! I always cut things out. Glad you had a great time. I wish the weather would have been a little bit better. I noticed some rain in some photos.The cake looks yummy. How many layers are there? A huge piece of cake and a glass of milk. Now I am hungry.Paulette
Wow! That looks so wonderful! I can’t believe I forgot to comment in my last comment on the other post that I loved how you wrote “I’ve decided I’m done with surgeries and the like” because I totally agree with you!
Seriously better then the travel channel! I love the pictures. You make me want to head off on a plane before the fall season is over. Living in CA does have that draw back. I want so bad to head out to your area =(. Did I say beautiful pictures? That’s what I meant.
I was browsing through your photos and zoomed in on the Gettysburg photos! I just got something in the mail today about Gettysburg. My husband loves history (and Gettysburg) and I’m thinking about surprising him with a few days there. There is something special going on on the 19 of Nov. Glad that you had a great trip. Best wishes!
Such wonderful photos! I’m glad to see that you all had so much fun together.
My parents made a trip cross country years ago and one of the highlights was their trip to Gettysburg. I love reading about the Civil War period and would love to visit Gettysburg. But am I raving about your beautiful pictures of Gettysburg? No! I want chocolate cake!
You are so sweet to think of me regarding the pictures. I have to say I am almost in tears looking at the foliage. I miss it so much. Thank you for sharing. I am looking forward to coming back that way in November for Thanksgiving with my folks and family. It will be kinda hard without Gret but I know it will be good too. Thanks for being my friend. :)Loved the tongue pig post….your always entertaining me. Have a great weekend.