Monday, December 12

Twin Lakes

Took a walk around the two lakes today, it was a chilly day but I think I got some really cool shots.







Thursday, December 1

Thanksgiving, Pennsylvania Style


This year, we found ourselves at home, just the two of us for Thanksgiving - I can't remember a time that we  celebrated this holiday without family or friends gathered around the table, sharing the blessing cup and stories and memories of Thanksgiving past!  Each dish, except the mashed potatoes, was a new recipe; I figured new town deserved a little adventure down the culinary path marked 'new'.  Success!  We enjoyed each new recipe, savoring the flavors that only Thanksgiving can bring all at once.  Cranberries sweetened with oranges, dressing with sausage and pecans, turkey stuffed with onion and rosemary and fresh green beans with garlic and almonds - what a feast.  We also enjoyed pumpkin and pecan pie, which I quickly wrapped and prepared for delivery to Otto's work the very next day.  Don't want to spoil the sweat and energy spent at the Y!  We ended the day decorating the house and putting up lights and our tree.



Saturday we headed out for a drive to a nearby winery, Glades Pike, which turned out to make some pretty good reds.  Two bottles purchased and a new destination plugged into the GPS - the new Memorial for Flight 93.


As we headed off for the memorial, we talked about the sadness that September day brought and how each generation has built memorials to those that fought for our freedom and rights on American soil; from the soldiers of the Civil War to the civilian heroes of Flight 93.  We bring our children and families to these sights to pay tribute to those who fight for us.  Are we saddened by how they perished?  Of course.  But we also celebrate the bravery and selfless sacrifice by honoring their actions. 


The marble wall below is in line with the plane's flight, at this angle you are looking in the direction the plane came from before it crashed into the field and each section of the wall is unique and bears each name of the 40 passengers and flight crew.  As you look into the field you see the rock that marks where the plane came to rest taking out rows of trees and settling in the woods.   The landscape architect and artist for this project used creative design to depict an airport and airplane concept for this memorial.  The black benches that line the field are shaped like an airplane wing and the seats at the entrance to the walkway look like an airport gate waiting area (I didn't get that picture though)  The one thing these pictures don't show is the emotion you could see in the eyes and on the faces of the onlookers as they walked the path along the field, peered through the fence at the rock and flags where a plane crashed smoldering the dreams of 40 families, or as they read the names on each of the marble slabs with the field reflected in their sheen.  It was sad, awesome and emotional to sum it up.  Glad we came.  Glad we were able to honor the people who had the courage to stand up to an enemy.  We pray we don't build too many memorials any time soon....


 

After leaving the memorial we saw a sign for a covered bridge, so we traveled a few miles to see the Glessner bridge built in 1881 and recently restored!  It was if I was transported back in time and could hear the clickity clack sound of wheels as they crossed over the bridge, the creek bubbling below and the wind wooshing through the rafters in days gone by! 


After the covered bridge, we headed to dinner at "Out of the Fire" a quaint little restaurant we heard about during our travels of the day.  We managed to get an early reservation and now have a favorite new place!  We had slider appetizers that were beyond words and sea bass with potato leek soup.  It was the perfect ending to our anniversary day on the road.  

And as we drove home on Claypike Road we passed Stone Villa winery, a destination for another day.....