Road Trip

We headed out early Saturday morning for Michigan after stopping for coffee at Starbucks.  Destination, New Boston Michigan, home of Doreen, youngest daughter of Aunt Rose and Uncle Red.  

Two of Doreen's daughters, Natalie (B.S. Psychology) and Jenna (R.N.) just graduated from college and she was having a big bash on Sunday to celebrate.  We thought it was the perfect way to see as many of the cousins as possible.

We drove NW out of Pennsylvania and West through Ohio and then North into Michigan arriving early afternoon to Doreen and Frank's house.

Me and Doreen

They live in a beautiful rural area SE of Detroit.

We chatted and caught up, met Frank and then were taken on a drive through a series of County Metro parks.  It was so pretty and had bike and walking paths that winded through and along the Detroit river and Lake Erie. We found out that Dor and Frank like to ride bikes and hike as well so we hope to join them for some adventures in Ohiopyle soon!  

After we got back to the house, Doreen had made some pulled chicken, we had sandwiches then learned a new card game, Aces Down.  Apparently a favorite of Uncle Red's. 

After waking up on Sunday morning, we helped ready for the party as much as we could, but really needed to get out from under foot so took their dog, Jack for a walk along the railroad tracks near their home.  We were serenaded by the black birds and bull frogs along the way and got some exercise too!

After returning to the house, it was the final push to get ready for the guests at 3:00 p.m.  Then they came, and they came.... Family after family!  Well, what do you expect, Aunt Rose and Uncle Red had 7 kids and their kids had kids, and their kids had kids and so on and so on...... Here's what I can tell you.  Pat and Glenn were there, their son Rich, his wife Cindy and their daughter Lori, her husband Rob.  Rich and Cindy have two boys and Lori and Rob have a daughter Olivia.  Ed and Diane were there with their daughter Jackie and her husband and two boys.  Joe's daughter Tracy, her daughter Caitlyn and Matt, his son were there.  Joe and his current wife Debbie live about 3 hours north and didn't make it.  Of course, Tom and Ruth weren't there, Tom works in China and Ruth lives in Texas.  Bob and Sue were in Kingman visiting mom plus they in AZ.  Three of Joan's kids were there, Julie only had the two girls, her husband Chad and Kyle their son were home painting.  Patti was there sans her husband Scot who had to work!  Oh, and they are expecting in November.  Marti wasn't there, she lives in FL with Larry.  But Joe and his wife Michelle and their two kids Shelby and CJ were there too.  

Here are some pictures of the cousins we met, some for the first time, others reunited after meeting at Aunt Rose's 90th!  I'll see if I can get them all right!  I didn't get pictures of all the cousins, but hope to in the future.

Tracy (Joe's daughter), her daughter Caitlyn
Aunt Rose and Devyn (Doreen's granddaughter)

Julie, me, Aunt Rose, Joe and Joan

Doreen, Joan me and Aunt Rose 

Doreen's girls, Jayme, Natalie, Jenna and Kelsey holding Devyn (Jayme's baby)

Jenna and her boyfriend, Mike

Ed and Diane, Aunt Rose with Jackie and her husband and two boys

Doreen with Rob, Lori's husband.  Lori is Glen's daughter (not in picture)

Pat and Glen, Otto, Aunt Rose, Joe (Joan's son) and me

After everyone left, Frank built a fire and we sat outside talked and fell asleep!  It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day!

Monday morning Otto and I drove up to Melvindale, about 25 miles, to meet Joanie and Aunt Rose for breakfast.  We walked to a little cafe on the corner by Aunt Rose's house.  It was so good to get to spend time with the Harris family!  We took Aunt Rose to see Jayme and Devyn, drove to see Joani's house then returned back to Frank and Doreen's to say our goodbyes!

Since the drive is only about 4 hours, I am sure we will be returning for more family get-togethers.

Life in the Country

Well, our weekend started out with a short but challenging bike ride to Maxwell field where Otto's co-worker's sons were playing a LL game.  It was very humid and we both got bike-short tans, but had a really good ride!

We came home, made lunch and crashed - watched TV then ended up hitting the sack early.

Sunday am we headed to the trailer for some cleaning.  We washed the windows, swept and scrubbed the floors, made the bed and readied her for our first camping trip the weekend after Memorial Day.  The trailer was in storage for so long, and the week we took it was the week we moved in.  So much activity surrounds that week that we forgot where we stored the rugs, towels, sheets and other stuff we brought home when we stored the trailer.  Looks like we'll have to tear apart the garage to find them!  Yikes.

After we got home we decided to take a drive and picked out a new winery to visit.  It was only a short 20 minute drive from home through some country roads that led us to Greendance Winery and Sand Hill Berries.  It was a beautiful day and we were ready for some good tastings and fun times.  Out here, the tastings are free!  But the state mandates all wineries post a sign that says "Pennsylvania law allows only 6 tastings".  But still, that beats the $10-20 fee we are used to paying.

The winery sign as we entered the farm

We were greeted by the rhythm from the band playing in the orchard and a lot full of cars and I skipped with anticipation and excitement to the tasting room first!

Lots of berry wines (too sweet for me) but one stood out with an aroma reminiscent of Christmas, a spiced apple that when chilled tasted pretty darn good!  Most easterners would probably like it around Fall, but Otto really liked it and wanted some to drink right away.  We enjoyed the Vidal Blanc, a dry white and their Petite Syrah as well.  After tasting and purchasing a few bottles we headed out to hear the band and sample the Spiced Apple we just bought.

It was so relaxing to be sitting there with the views of the farm surrounding us and people buzzing around - a great atmosphere.  The only bad thing was they ran out of sandwiches so we had to settle for a piece of their raspberry pie (darn) that was really good.  We really enjoyed the afternoon at the winery, and look forward to our friends and family visiting so we can share our little gem with them!

The drummer for Abacus James, a local band playing alternative and some classic oldies

View of the picnic tables scattered throughout the orchards

Soon to be a bunch of grapes

Pointing out the cluster of grapes

Wild turkeys

Otto was getting a little antsy, so we headed for home but decided to stop in on our friends, Mark and Judy who were supposed to be working in the yard planting.  We stopped at the local six-pack shop and picked up some beer and headed over, only to find that they retreated to indoors, it was too hot to plant and decided to resume after dinner.  They invited us to join them, so we did.  We had a real nice visit - a great ending to a wonderful day.  Sometimes the best days are those unplanned and left to the unknown and unexpected.  I love the journey we are on right now, am I sad that we are away from friends and family?  For sure!  But, tyring not to let that determine my mood and the ability to enjoy the journey.  I know that God has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and if we focus on the here and now, I know that when He is ready for us to see that plan, we will.

In the meantime, I will really try to enjoy all that God is showing us here in Pennsylvania.

Leave it at the Cross

There are no 'do-overs' 'just kidding' or 'take-backs' in life.  Once you say it or do it, it's done.  Such is life.  But, we have mercy and grace and hope and that is the cross.   Thankfully.  We need to take our regrets, our guilt, our pain, our mistakes, our shame and failures, all of it.  We need to take it to the cross and LEAVE it there.


For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people
Titans 2:11

How many times have we given it all up to God, only to take it back?  Baggage; it's an unnecessary load if we don't get rid of it.  Extra stuff that we don't need to carry, burdens that we don't need to bear.


Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens
Psalm 68:19  


In our haste, words may be spoken and action may be taken - these are the regrets that so many of us hold on to and they slowly eat away at us and cause us to lose sight of who we are, a wonderfully made creation.  A child of God.  So what are we to do?  Give it up and move on.  If we don't move on, we may miss out on something really great, something special God has planned specifically for us.


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11


I know this because it is written.  Written in words that is music to our soul and contains hope and saving grace.  A sweet melody that reminds us He has a plan, not to hurt us, but plans to prosper us. Words intended to let us move on, up and away from complacency, from inadequacies, from ourselves.  Words that we need to read and re-read, often.   Hope is offered to all, it is there for the taking.  But in taking it we must leave something in return - our burdens.

Great Love!

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:4-5

The Adventure Continues

This past weekend we were so grateful for the time to be able to serve families from the county by handing out food on Saturday and then enjoy the great outdoors as we hit the road on Sunday to ride the Great Allegheny Passage trail http://www.atatrail.org/
We chose a small portion of the trail that starts in Ohiopyle and runs through Ohiopyle State Park to Confluence, about 22 miles RT.  Ohiopyle is located along the Youghiogheny River and is a great spot for river rafting.
The trail is riddled with waterfalls and the trees form a canopy of green most of the way through, offering some protection from the sun.

On the trail - there was only a 1-2% grade with level tail all the way from Ohiopyle to Confluence, where we turned around just short of the town.  It wasn't a difficult ride, but this was the first time we've been back in the saddle for awhile.  We opted for a 20 mile RT ride today!  Definitely will be back again!  Otto was on the Trek, which wasn't the smoothest ride of all!

We had lunch here, enjoying a beer and a burger after our ride.  The town is small, but buzzing with activity as it is the center and meeting place for rafters!

We stopped for a snack by Ramcat Falls, although it doesn't look like it, this is one of the areas of concern on this Class II stretch of the river.  There are several underwater swirls created by the rocks and river bed that can suck a raft under easily. 

 

We had to go to Cucumber Falls and check it out - it was beautiful.  I was curious about why it was called Cucumber Falls, it didn't smell like the vegetable to me.  I found out that Copperhead snakes smell like cucumbers so, that is how the falls got that name.  We didn't smell or see any snakes while we were there!

My Way

Today I was confronted with this - the path I choose to take is not always the one someone else would choose to travel or visa-versa.   I really let something bother me today that I had no right or reason to bother me!   I was annoyed, and it took awhile for me to come down off my high horse (something my Nana would say) and quit being annoyed and bothered.  At times, I find myself getting caught up in others' actions and choices and forget that my thoughts and actions are my own and so are theirs.  Everyone does not think like me or would do what I do.  Don't we all though, honestly feel that way sometimes?  I am learning to let go, but still need a gentle reminder at times.  Today thankfully, the sun and the ceasing of water falling from the sky nudged at my adventurous spirit - ah ha, my gentle reminder, let it go!

So I got on my running shoes, grabbed my camera and headed for the hills, well Twin Lakes actually, which is in the hills!  I did a quick lap around the lake (it was very hot and humid) and then sprinted for my camera when I noticed a hawk circling the lake enticing me to just try and catch it dipping into the water for its evening meal.

I spent the afternoon just the way I wanted to.  With camera in hand wandering around the lake and then parking it on a bench for hours, just shooting anything and everything that moved.  Whether in the bushes, trees or in the water, I snapped away.  For hours I was content to sit, listen and snap, but mostly just be.  Be me, uniquely and wonderfully made by the Father - just as others in my life are made, made to be who they are and make their own choices.

And, below you will see the fruits of my labor, my therapy, the serenity of being me.   I captured the hawk soaring and searching, two sunfish playing as they chased and kissed all the while avoiding the hook of the ever-hopeful fisherman, those fishermen waiting patiently while sharing stories of their day, and an as-yet unidentified bird, a few walkers sweating it out with their pups and some random beauty!

I need more therapy!  More days where I leave others' choices to them and choose what I love without bother, guilt or regret.