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Once again it's been awhile...not too much is happening, but enough to make me feel busy ALL THE TIME.

We took our yearly vacation up to Presque Isle in Erie.  It is usually a pretty relaxing time - we hang out, play games, go to the beach, ride our bikes, etc.  What I DON'T do is cook!  This time we took in the new "Superman" movie on a super hot day (and discount day at the theater...gotta like that!) We also took a sunset cruise on the lake, which ended up being really enjoyable and beautiful.

We decided ahead of time that we would try to find some bulk peaches while we were up there to bring home and can, since I haven't been able to find any for the past 5 years.  We came home with 2 bushels full.

I worked for 3 evenings to can 40 quarts and freeze 3 gallons of sliced peaches.

While we were gone, the pullets and cockerels continued to grow.  I'm disappointed because we ended up with EIGHT young roosters and we only need ONE.

These young ones are proving to be a bit problematic.  I made them a small run so that they could scratch outside, but they didn't seem to like it, and only went as far as the "stoop" directly outside of their door.  While we were away on vacation, they started getting in with the old hens.  They also seemed to forget how to get back inside, and started perching for the night on top of a door on the hens' side.  I have pulled them off for several nights in a row and set them in front of their door to make them go in.  I finally took down the dividing fence to allow the young and old chickens to integrate, and they have done fine, although the young ones still can't manage to get back inside in the evening, although they go in and out all day long.  Sigh...bird brains!

I had some appointments north of us on the 1st Monday that we were home from vacation, and J suggested that I check out a coffee shop at the outlets not far away.  I was pleased to see this display of some of her work for sale! 

We have been working on the purchase of this used pop-up camper for about 6 weeks (the sellers ran into some problems with the paperwork.)  They pulled it down from Pittsburgh and we were able to finalize the sale last week.  I spent most of the day Saturday cleaning it from top to bottom, airing out the cushions, and laundering all of the cushion covers and curtains.  We are looking forward to some camping trips in the near future!

Last night L and I laid out on a blanket to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower.  We saw 7 or 8 in the 40 minutes or so that we were out!  We also witnessed this UFO that no one can explain.  It was too close and quiet and slow moving to be an airplane or helicopter.  Is it a drone?  Any ideas?

JP has worked 4 out of the last 5 days, including our 34th wedding anniversary on Sunday, and he is exhausted.  I have been busy taking the dog and both of my parents to their various appointments lately.  Stella is having a procedure tomorrow to remove a large skin tag from her eyelid, so the running around hasn't ended yet.  One of these days, we need to go shopping for a new car to replace my poor Subaru.  I think the 2 of us should go out for dinner as well, don't you?

In the meantime, the summer has sped by.  Kids are heading back to school soon, and it is amazing to think that this is the first Fall in 12 years that I don't have anyone going back to school!

ABC

It's getting close to back-to-school time.  J leaves for Toledo for her Junior year on Saturday AM bright and early.  I'm sad that our family time is coming to an end.  We have had a good summer though!

In honor of school, we're going through the alphabet today:

A is for apple.  We have half of our apple harvest in, and it was delicious!

B is for beach, boat and bulletin board:

We went for our annual week in Erie the end of July - beginning of August.  The weather was perfect in the mid 70's and mostly sunny.  The water was warm and nice.  We spent a couple of days on the beach, and took a tour on a paddle boat, the Victorian Princess, on the lake.

I have a couple more posts on my refrigerator bulletin board as well.

This is the "Nostalgic Children's Book" edition

This is "Our Favorite Movies" edition

C is for chickens, cycling and cuisine:

We spent a couple of days cycling in Erie - we like to take the 13-mile path around Presque Isle.  We also took a ride close to home on the Greene River Trail.

Once home from vacation, I cleaned out the chicken house and switched the pullets to the larger side, and the old hens and stupid rooster to the smaller side.

We also took a day trip to Wheeling, WV.  We visited our favorite Crepe restaurant, checked out some local antique shops, and came home with take-out from our favorite Italian diner - they make the pasta and sauce from scratch.

This is the kitchen at The Roosevelt - the pots
of pasta and sauce are bubbling on the stove

D is for dangerous:

A couple of weeks ago, we visited Meadowcroft for the day.  The girls tried out their hands at axe throwing and we climbed the 60-some stairs to watch the archeologists digging in the rock shelter.

E is for eggs:

The pullets are finally laying some tiny eggs.  So far, we are averaging about 3 a day.  Hopefully this improves with time!  The problem comes with the fact that 2 of them are still not managing to go outside or return to the chicken house.  I have to go out every morning and evening and shove them through the chicken door!

I could probably go on, but there is laundry and mending to do.  Packing and rearranging to accomplish for J.  And last-minute doctor appointments for J and I.

Enjoy the remainder of your summer!

Back From the Beach

Yesterday we returned from a week's vacation at Lake Erie.  We have been enjoying spending time there for the past several summers, and this time was wonderful as well.

The girls roller skated and scooter-ed on the walks at Presque Isle.

We spent time at the beach.

We did our yearly circuit of Presque Isle by bicycle (13.5 miles.)

J and I discovered a bunch of cute shops within walking distance of our Air BNB.  At a coffee shop there, I tried a Mayan Mocha Coffee and was hooked.  I tried making some this morning at home and got a fair representation:

Put 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tablespoon cocoa, and 1/8 tsp of cayenne into a coffee cup.  Add 1-2 tablespoons of hot water and stir until smooth, like chocolate syrup.  Add hot coffee and 1T brown sugar.  Mmmmmm!  (You may need to adjust the amounts of sugar and/or cayenne to your liking - I liked it just a bit sweet with enough hot to hit the back of my throat on the way down - it's memorable!)

I have done 5 loads of laundry in the past day and a half.  Luckily friends stepped in and harvested from our garden while we were gone so that I didn't have a lot of too-far-gone produce to deal with this weekend.  Tomorrow is catch up with housecleaning day, but the girls are heading back to work.

Sigh.

Vacationing During a Pandemic

 Up until the day we left, I wasn't sure we were going to be able to take a family vacation this summer, and I expected JP to not come with us.  He had been self isolating here at home, due to the fact that he is seeing a couple COVID positive or presumptive COVID patients every shift that he works.  The schedule happened to work in our favor, however, as he had 2 weeks scheduled off (asked off MONTHS ago) and had several days off prior to the vacation days.  It ends up that he was EXTREMELY close to the 2 weeks of quarantine recommended after known exposure, and NOT having symptoms the day we left, so he came along!  It was the first time we've done anything as a family in close to 5 months - haven't been in a car together, haven't eaten meals together, haven't hung out within 6 feet of each other for MONTHS.  It was wonderful!

We took our yearly trek up to Lake Erie - I figured this was relatively safe as we weren't going out of state, so no quarantines on return.  We wiped down all the surfaces in the (very clean) house that we stayed in before moving our things in.  We got all of our meals (that we didn't make ourselves) as take out and ate at the house.  We went to beaches that were not crowded so that we could maintain social distancing.

We rode around Presque Isle again on our bikes - it's a 13.5 mile loop.  This year I wasn't sure that I was going to make it!

We picnicked by the lake, and rescued these 2 dehydrated raccoons from a dumpster.

We visited one of the lighthouses (none of them were open to the public this year.)

This year we tried out the Aqua Cycles on a pond - pretty fun!

The owners of the Air BNB house that we rented had this gorgeous 1946 Jaguar in the garage and promised us a ride in it, but sadly it never worked out.

Unfortunately, JP was back to work this weekend, and back to self isolating downstairs.  J goes back to work tomorrow, and I head back on Tues.  L is finished with her job, but is planning to see a friend tomorrow that she hasn't seen since March.

It was lovely while it lasted -  Pandemic Vacation 2020.

Vacation 2019 by the Numbers

Our wonderful family vacation has come and gone, and we are back to the routine of summer...EXCEPT L has started back with soccer practice this week (2 nights/week.)

We spent another week up in Erie the end of July.  After 2 summers of going up in June and being unable to go in the water due to it being excessively cold, we decided to go a month later, which was a good choice.  We also decided to take our dog, Stella, along this year.  She has been notorious for being extremely carsick, so we have been taking her on short car trips all year long to help prepare her.  We also dosed her liberally with Dramamine.  She travelled well, but was so anxious the entire time we were there, that I don't think we'll be doing that again.

The weather was lovely for most of the week.  There were 2 mornings of clouds and rain, during which we visited The Tom Ridge Environmental Center/Museum and watched a big screen movie about volcanoes one day, and chilled at the house watching movies on the other day.

The girls and I also took a couple of long bike rides - one day we rode over 7 miles and met JP at one of the beaches, where we hung out for awhile.  Another day, we rode around the entire peninsula of Presque Isle (over 13 miles) and met JP at a diner for lunch.

Even Stella got to go to Presque Isle, we walked with her on the trail there too.  We declined to take her on the beach, though, as we were concerned that her Velcro like poodle hair would collect too much sand.

We walked up 78 narrow stairs to the top of Presque Isle Light House on one day, and up 132 steps in the Tom Ridge Environmental Center look out on another.

We played some games, watched some movies, ate a lot of good take out, and enjoyed just relaxing.

Unfortunately, I managed to fall down the stairs at our house on the first day, and to fall off my bike on the 3rd day, so I am still healing from 2 giant bruises on my left thigh.  Luckily all my bones are still intact.

As enjoyable as our vacation was, it is good to be home.  We harvested all of the hens, with my parents help, on the day before we left on vacation, so there have been fewer chores and more quiet on our hill since we've been home.

Now it is time to gear up towards the start of school, although it is still a couple of weeks off.  We have bought school supplies, and I think we are good on school clothes until it starts getting cold.  L's soccer cleats still fit (thank goodness), so we are good on sports equipment as well.

Enjoy the last few sunny days of summer!

Vacation and the Rest of June

Some how most of June passed me by without me posting regularly.  We have stayed incredibly busy, which is part of the issue.  There are many days that I don't manage to get anything done between getting the girls where they need to go and life in general.

We did manage to take a long weekend mid-month to visit Lost River State Park in WV.  It is a beautiful mountainous and wooded park, that JP selected especially so the girls could go horseback riding.

J on "Fred"

L rides "Skipper"

The first day we rode for about 45 min to the top of a mountain.  Beyond the little building, you can see about 270 degrees!  The second day, we rode through the woods, up and down mountains for 2 hours.  It was gorgeous, but a little scary at times - I forgot how high up one is when seated on a horse!

We stayed at a B&B nearby that was pretty nice.  Unfortunately the caretakers both smoke, so we had to wash and febreeze EVERYTHING when we got home.  The B&B had a nice game room, and we spent a lot of time playing Foosball and darts.

We saw a little building out back, which looked like a hobbit hole, so we checked it out.  It was not populated by hobbits at the moment, but perhaps they'll be back soon?

We were actually staying very close to our college town, so we stopped in before coming home.  The first thing we did was get ice cream at Kline's.

L had her second basketball camp of the summer the week after we returned, and continued the league games at the Rec Center every Monday night.  Her last 2 games were this week.

J started her summer job at the Library on Monday as well.  She often has fun stories to tell about patrons that she meets, or brings home movies to watch.  Her job runs for 6 weeks, and she finishes up the end of July.

Meanwhile, the strawberries finished in the garden, and the peas and blueberries have started.  I picked 5 gallons of blueberries this week, and spent about 4 hours weeding around all of the bushes.  I finally finished taking care of all of them this weekend, and it is time to pick again, so I have recruited a couple of friends to help out tomorrow.

On Friday morning, L and I drove North to the surgery center, where she  had her adenoids removed.  This occurred after a year and a half of snoring accompanied by apneic episodes, and a thorough evaluation by her family doctor, the allergist, the ENT, a sleep study, and finally the ENT again.  She is doing very well, but fairly uncomfortable because of the swelling and soreness in the back of her mouth.

In July, we are having a family reunion.  My brother from TX and I have been calling each other about once a week in preparation, as we are in charge of the planning.  My youngest brother won't be at the reunion, but his family will come here for a few days before hand to visit with everyone.  I will have 8 extra people sleeping at my house, and 10 extra people for meals for a couple of days!

I'm sure the blueberries will need to be picked several times yet before they arrive!