Bonfire

The day was so beautiful.
It drew Warren's Mom, Georgia,
outside to get some Spring clean-up done.

I would have happily been doing the
same thing, but the schedule was already
filled with school responsibilities.

However, during her clean-up Georgia
had made a massive pile of sticks,
twigs, leaves and other burnables.

After we had eaten Warren made an announcement.
He was going out to light off the pile.

I said perhaps I would join him.
He smiled and said that was why he
had made the announcement.



He went on ahead.
A bit later I grabbed the camera
and left the house.



Lo and behold there is nothing like
a large fire to draw in the neighborhood.

It became quite the social moment.
Friends from four houses clustered
around the warm fire chattering about
our relief to say good bye and good riddance
to the Winter of 2010.

Finally it was time for our young neighbor
children to head inside. They went very
reluctantly. However, just a few minutes
later a very small boy was spotted in the
bushes just beyond the light of the fire.

I watched him work his way closer until he
was behind Georgia. He startled her
when he made his presence known...and sweetly
offered her some of his snack, Vanilla Wafers.
No one else...just Georgia.
So very cute!


Before long, Ty's big brother was looking
for him and took him home once more.

That fire was like a magnet.

A place for fun and fellowship.



It was so good to be enjoying the
out of doors once again.

The evening was serene.
The fire warm as the evenings
remain crisp.



Have a wonderful weekend.

A Teacher's Reward

Little faces...open wide.
Learning, laughing and sharing.

I love my co-op students!

Boys, sweaty and dirty
from a gym class...
waiting in a hallway
for a change
of class call out,
"Mrs. K, High Five!"

I oblige.
Then notice a Mom watching.
A smile on her face.
I nod, slightly embarrassed.

Forty Five minutes later one of
these students
sees me carrying a large
cd player to our class.
He offers
to carry it for me.
What did I say?
Of course, he could be a gentleman
and "Thanks so much for asking!"

Our class time came and
they eagerly sought to be
the first to identify
instruments in the orchestra.
First the woodwinds,
then the brass.
We ended with
percussion today.
A Marimba...
of all things.

They learned.
They cared.
They made my day!

Just one more week and this
co-op year is done.
Some of these young ones will
move up to the junior/senior high
classes. Some will take classes I
teach, many will not.
But, there is always the hope that
somewhere down the road of life a
song will play and they will think
back fondly to these days of learning
to appreciate music for the gift it is.

An amazing gift that connects our
soul and our emotions.

Thus I remind them...
"Oh be careful little ears..."

What does music mean to you?
Is it uplifting?
Encouraging?

Do you take time to really
enjoy it or is it just more
background to your day?

Just asking.

Living Room Project #7

This post is about reality.

What I have loved so far about
this project is that I have managed
to keep the living room in pretty
good shape. Things picked up,
the dog toys put away, etc.

However, this week we got out of our
routine after going
away for a couple
of days. I came home to
some sizable
candle orders.

I have let things go
in the living room.

It also happened that yesterday I was
asked to help a young lady from church
with some music and that took about two hours.
It was so much fun for me, I hope
she would say the same, but nonetheless
that cut into my candle making schedule
significantly. They will get done in time.
It is just more of a push now.




Actually, some of this mess is that I need
the tabletop to store the completed
candles before they go into their bags
for delivery.


A laundry basket of clean clothes
awaits sorting and delivery.



As I type this at 11:45 pm on Wednesday
evening there are candles in the oven
finishing up. No, I don't make all of
the candles in the oven, but this batch
has been a real pain. The kind that make
me wonder if I am crazy to continue this
business. Thankfully, years of experience
show that most of the time
it is not like this!

So, all I have to show you this week is
the new $5 lampshade.

The kids and I went out this
afternoon and I thought I would
find something more interesting...
but nope.

Nothing.

So instead you get the lampshade
and the laundry basket.

Oh, want to see the floor?



Bandit is fine...
she was playing with
something down there.
I do think this picture made
her look flat.
Funny!

I took her out to see the neighbor
kids at the bus stop this morning and
they gave her a stick to play with.

This is what she does with sticks.
You can see just a few pieces.
There are many more.
All over the floor.

I didn't get around to picking up the
big pieces so I can vacuum the smaller
ones yet.

Sigh...

So, this is what it is like sometimes.

Often, really.

It is real.

It is raw.

But, you know, I wouldn't take back
this afternoon with Chelsea and Jonathan.
(Mikey was working so he couldn't join us.)
I would go spend time with them again.
Even if it means the Living Room Project
takes longer and things aren't just perfect
here....

So, while I know we all want to be inspirational
and always show the best of ourselves and our homes,
sometimes it is important to remember that no
one who enjoys life lives in a spotless, perfectly
appointed home one hundred percent of the time.
Things happen.
People happen.
Cooking and baking messes happen.

But in the end it is still home.
That place that you cannot wait to
get back to when you have been away.

The place to kick your shoes off and
cuddle in that spot on the sofa that
has come to fit your body just right.

Messes or not!

Thanks for stopping by to see the
progress...or lack thereof.

I truly hope
that your home
is your Haven.

Thank You, Vee,
for that verbal image.

A Haven, indeed.

Memories...

I drove past the Lancaster County Park
today. The weather was so very pretty.
The sky blue and the sun was warming
things so nicely.

I was tempted to stop.

To stop and remember...



Remembering Mikey's 13th birthday at the
Skate Park here. The day that he was
determined to drop into the "big" bowl.
A long drop to ride on four tiny little
wheels and a wooden board.

It took 45 minutes or more of coaxing,
encouraging, threatening, and pleading
for him to work up the courage. By the
time he did it most of the party guests
had gone home. But he did it!

He never looked back.
Since that day he has "dropped in"
hundreds of times.



Jonathan has hiked the trails of this
park. He loves to explore. Nature
and woods hold a special charm for him.
It is not unusual for Jonathan to take
a walk when he needs to think things
through or just spend some alone time.

Over the years this
park has provided
acres to explore.

When we drove by today
I thought fondly of these
days gone by.

I was so tempted to just ignore
the plans we had for the afternoon
and pull in to enjoy the onset of
Spring just calling out to us.

But alas...
it was not to be.

Not today.

Today there were things to be
accomplished and friends to spend
time with. It was good.
More memories made.

The ones God had for us.

Now, I have a favor to ask of you...
my Grandmother is in the hospital
with Pneumonia and failing kidneys.
Would you kindly keep this 86 year old
child of God in your prayers?

At the same time my Mom is struggling
with some health issues of her own.
These ladies are so precious to me and
it breaks my heart to have them less than
one hundred percent.
I would dearly appreciate your prayers
for both Mom and Grandma.

Thank You!

My Day as a Tourist

Thanks for all of the sweet
congratulations on our
anniversary. It is amazing
to us that 21 years have gone
by since that March 11, 1989.

Warren surprised me this week
when he asked if I would like to go
to The Fulton Steamboat Inn.

Before we moved here in June of 2000
we had never vacationed in Lancaster
County so we have not experienced
a lot of the things that my readers
love to remember from their own
times here.

Of course, I said it sounded great
to me to step out of the routine
and spend time just focusing on
each other and to have some quiet time.



The weather did not cooperate
so much...but we have it a lot
better than our friends in other
parts of the Country
so I shall not complain.



The story behind such an interesting
themed hotel is that Robert Fulton was born
not far from our home in Southern Lancaster
County. He is credited as one of the
inventors of steamboat technology.

One summer Bev and I sold candles at the Robert
Fulton Birthplace. Loving history as I
do I enjoyed a tour of the property.
If you like history and low key museums
you would probably enjoy this historical site.

I thought it was a gem.
It is a beautiful stone house.
I do not have a photo of it.
That would be another post.

Check for hours.
It is run by volunteers and is
usually only open on the weekends
over the summer.




Anyway, back to the hotel...
It is designed to feel as
if you have stepped onto
a steamboat...down to the ragtime
piano that plays in all of the public
areas. We were thinking that might get
old after a while. But we were impressed
with this hotel. It was pretty, clean
and the staff was efficient.



One of the most common images
that identifies Lancaster County
is this building.

I had never been inside.

You know...it is for the
tourists. Not the locals.



Now I have been inside.
I still feel that way.



However, if you have an
extra $700 you could come and
buy this mantle set.



Out the back door sits:

They play the most non-Amish music
to get your attention.
It is so funny to us.
We did not eat here...
but maybe one day.
It is probably good.

Just feet away you will find
The Outhouse Store...


They try not to take themselves
too seriously.


We enjoyed many laughs here.



If you are looking for a job
they are hiring for a part time
sales position.



I think it said
"Part sales/Part entertainment".





Next door to The Outhouse is King's Kountry Impressions and
King's Victorian. Oh my, I do love these stores.
This was not my first time here. There is a huge
difference in quality from the places mentioned
before. Locals would shop here.

The prices may be generally higher than our usual stomping
ground but the merchandise is worth it.

I wish I had taken photos
of the furniture and wall art
available in the main store.

You would drool.

Really.

I love this store!






















Now, here is a recommendation
that you'll enjoy if you take me
up on it.

Dienner's Restaurant.

It sits right between Dutch
Haven and The Outhouse.

Very unassuming.

This is where the locals go.

It isn't splashy enough for many
tourists. Not huge but plenty of
authentic Pennsylvania Dutch Food.
The prices are good.
The lunch buffet is something like
$8.95. One thing guaranteed...
you will not leave hungry.



I did not plan to take a picture
of this plate...so I put rice on top
of the beef tips in gravy.

But, this is one great place.
We visit it a couple of times
a year. That is when I go to
King's Kountry too.

Next Stop:

The Cackleberry Antique Mall is something
that I have heard about over the years we
have lived here. Some have recommended that
I rent a booth here with our Antique Teacup Candles.
So I was curious.
I found it a fun place to spend time.
Even Warren was fascinated.
But, I would not want a booth here.
I found things to be overpriced and I don't
think that new items would do well.

Would I go back just to look and enjoy?
Yes, I think I would.
It was fun.






This was the first thing
that inspired me to take
a picture. And I love the
print behind it too.


Such a pretty cupboard.


Truly an eclectic mix of
items....


Rolling Pins galore!


When I showed Chelsea this picture
she thought it would be fun to dig into...


Necklaces anyone?


Warren and I enjoyed a good afternoon together.
We were in several little towns and
then at Rockvale Outlets where
I found the lampshade I was looking for.
You'll see it on Thursday on the Living Room
post.

Hope you are having a wonderful day.
Thanks again for your sweet words
about our anniversary.