Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne's Lace lined the roadways the day I arrived at our PA address. That was a year ago on the 25th of this month. The roadways are again graced with these "weeds"; bobbling in the breezes and the occasional rush of air from passing vehicles, reminding me of a year gone by.

The marking of my birthday had yet another moment when Wendy and John treated me to a lovely, filling repast at a nearby Italian Trattoria on Saturday. It also celebrated Aidan's concert at the end of a week of string music camp.

Cello Man

His week's work was held at a large Mennonite complex; the concert in their sanctuary. The Mennonite presence lends to the diversity in the region, as do the Buddhist temples close by.

Several places I have encountered a sign on a curve that was a little startling at first.

Definitely good to know right from left.

The roadways, odd intersections and creative parking lots after Western America sprawl, have all been interesting to negotiate. I find I like riding while someone else drives so I can better note the innovations and businesses that are sprinkled throughout the region.

Wendy has her hay supplies nearly in for the coming winter. One of the local farmer's markets is bringing another load to the barn soon. There are no particular hay markets. People find their sources and to some extent covet them. Finding other necessary businesses is a treasure hunt; not a strip mall or even necessarily town accessed entities. Sort of fun, except when you don't yet know where to get a needed item in a hurry. Well, then there is Amazon Prime. Still, it keeps me interested.

Weather Report: Afternoon Nap Recommended

Now that it is stinking hot, the better way of bearing up through the peak heat is to stretch out for a nice afternoon nap.

While waking from this respite Sunday afternoon, it came to me that there was an unused corner with a full length window where I could do some art work or projects. Earlier explorations of the barn didn't reveal a very useful spot; plenty of floor space, but lots of hay dust. Also, it gets pretty cold in winter. Though a little dank, the basement of the house has a spot! With Wendy's sanction I ordered a drafting table, went shopping for a set of shelves and after the delivery of the table I put it together this afternoon...

This morning...shelves up, waiting for the table delivery.

Voila! The table is up...

 ...and the first project begun...glueing back together one of Wendy's ceramic roosters that had an accident.

My birthday has nicely continued its celebration today with a card in the mail from Keoni who's reached the mid-point of his stay at Meadowmount; then, Nathan came over late afternoon to play some soccer with Aidan and handed me a card he'd made for me. Nathan and Aidan are playing a board game in the dining room since a thunderstorm sent them into the house.

Nathan will be starting his Freshman year at Pennsylvania University in 30 days.  Aidan is doing string instrument camp this week during the day. Tuesday, and again tomorrow, he is practicing soccer with his team. Next week is the first game. I miss Keoni, yet I'm very happy he is taking part in his summer of music. The days are passing swiftly as these youngsters grow into men. They amaze me.

It is a very good feeling finding my little project/art niche, and sort of funny finding it under my nose (well, actually under the kitchen). It stays reasonably warm in the basement during the winter from the pipes sending the furnace heat around the house. I'll have to figure out some electric source since the space only has the bare bulb. Drop-cord from the music room, anyone?

July 19th, I Celebrate Time

On the 19th one year ago I spent the last day in my condo packing the goods that fit in my pony Subaru, left my key on the countertop, and made a call to the new owner that all was clear for him to take up new residency. I waved goodbye to my dearest friend Gloria who'd seen me through my last condo days and we started our engines and left Barcelona Manor.

My first night on this journey to Pennsylvania was at Phil's guest house in Tucson. He was serving the hors d'oeuvres for a dinner party in the main house, and welcomed me to join in. Delightful guests and friends of his didn't mind a bit including me in their enjoyment of Phil's generous meal, conversation and laughter. The dessert was a cake Phil had quickly whipped up to celebrate my birthday. How welcome that all was! I slept on ironed sheets while Toby slept on the towel shelves in the bathroom.

Phil, you rock! Totally.

The 19th day of July, 2014, on Saturday I got my wish to start my day with Aidan at our Tai Chi lesson, and to have an evening picnic at Green Lane Park. Wendy, John and Aidan sat with me at the outdoor amphitheater listening to a Zydeco band. Altogether, a simple, relaxed celebration of a year. Cards and greetings came as did texts and emails enriching awareness of time and abundance of friends and family.

Aidan added the lettering.

It is Friday. This afternoon the boys' cousin is returning to the Southwest. We did another jaunt in the region yesterday to take in some more history. Pennypacker Mills this time...

Pennypacker Mills Mansion

It spans more than two centuries. Yes, George Washington did sleep here after the battle at Germantown; troops were bivouacked on the grounds.

I liked the rural setting and that all, house and grounds, was kept in excellent condition. Loved seeing the way household life was conducted a century or so ago. Hope to go back another time.

Aidan made the female household contingent a pancake breakfast on Friday morning.

Pancake Meister.

Aidan's nerf gun arsenal has tripled with Amazon's recent delivery...

Nerf Meister.

The boys' Great Aunties, Susan and Jeanenne, have lately shared their adventures...

Jeanenne zip-lining in Branson, MO.

Susie and Kathy cycling in Michigan.

Susie catching the big one.

And we all have knee-replacements(!), except Kathy, whose smile makes her knees happy.

I love it when our rain clears up and we get a sunset like this. Even your skin glows.

Carol sent Southwest Monsoon video made on their front porch...

Desert Rain

It makes me smell the desert. Wish I could send that out to you.

Yesterday evening we converged at a nearby soccer field for Aidan's first team practice.

Warm-ups...

Stretch.

Run around the perimeter.

Get the moves on...

Side-liners.

As I write Aidan and his cousin are taking turns riding Austin again. They each had a turn Sunday evening, too.

Prep time under Toby surveillance. Patches is surveilling Toby.

Iliana mounting up. Toby is sure he can do this horse thing, too.

Toby rounding in the round pen.

Don't tread on me, Austin!

Aidan's turn.

Monday, while John was working, the rest of us got on the train to Center City and history.

Waiting for Independence Hall tour.

The courtroom wing of the hall.

The hall where they all deliberated the Declaration and later the Constitution.

And, where Washington presided in the "Rising Sun" chair.

Lunch at Reading Terminal Market...

Talking to the piano lady.

Waiting for the train to head home.

The raspberries are ripe. Aidan knows where they all are. He and Ili got some every day this week.

Aidan asked me if I can burp the A-B-C song. I said no, so he started burping the song.

So far, there is no boredom these hot and sometimes rainy days. Well, except for all the battles and strife on Harry Potter. Number seven, first part, was viewed today (I napped) after we spent the morning and early afternoon at the John James Audubon Center. Aidan, Ili and I canoed in two canoes with a young woman guide who was great. Just below the Audubon mansion the Perkiomen Creek flows. We spent an hour and a half paddling up; then, down the creek finding out as we went along lots of interesting information on whatever was happening at the moment: A muskrat, herons, water bugs, dragon flies, damsel flies, birds of all sorts and bird calls, plants, trees, and creatures under rocks in a shallow tributary where we stopped a little while.

Audubon's paintings and many other wildlife artists' work are on the walls throughout the mansion. The more intimate setting was an interesting contrast with the Philadelphia Museum of Art where we went just days ago.

We left our iPhones in the car avoiding risking them to a possible dunk in the water. So, no pictures, but here is the web site for the center. http://johnjames.audubon.org There is a picture of some canoeing.

We were lucky yesterday's rains didn't cause a problem today. The water was high, but not too swift. I was so happy to learn to paddle a canoe. It felt like being a kid again.

A picnic lunch and more raspberry picking while we walked one of the many trails on the Audubon property, eating berries as we went.

It's time to go see if there is some ice cream to go with all the raspberries they picked next door at Joe's after they watched this afternoon's Harry Potter movie.

Toby sometimes perches on the stair rail while I am on the porch early mornings having coffee and reading the e-NY Times.