Listening to the Mockingbird

Friday started slow and then kept on rolling. We went for a late lunch at First Watch our favorite breakfast place. Then we stopped at the Adams Ridge club house and signed up for the Luau next Saturday night. They're going to have lots of food and it sounds like a fun time. While there, the office person mentioned a family "happy hour" from 8-10 later in the evening.

Since I had to work 3 hours we left there and I went to work at Treesdale. It was a fast moving 3 hours. The spot where I stay on the first Tee to check people through is also home to a "northern mockingbird." What a range of chirps and tweets! Awesome music like a symphony. And I got to see the performer up close. No doubt - a mockingbird!

After I got home, we went to "horse trading days" in Zeleionople. It kinda reminded me of the craft fair held yearly in Somers Point (only with traffic). It was nice to see the various vendors wares. I also got to hear the Butler barbershop singers. Their sound system wasn't very good, and you could hardly hear them if you were more that 20 yards back. And since it was very sunny, most people sat way back and in the shade. Their music had to compete with some music from a store out on the main drag as well. So you couldn't really appreciate their harmony. Here's a picture of the group.

They had a variety of animals you could pet. Here's a llama.

Although there were plenty of food vendors, we opted for a nice quiet meal in air conditioning at The Kaufmann House. A landmark in the town for many many years. We headed home, chilled out there for a bit, and then went to the "Family Happy Hour" down at the pool. It was nice with snacks, drinks and lots of conversation while the kids were in the pool. We met a couple of new people which made it nice as we're still getting to know folks. It was a nice event and we got to talk with one of our neighbors up the street a ways too.

A round of golf and new friends

Yesterday Dee went to Contours to workout while I stayed home and checked on the hottub. Afterward, we enjoyed a nice lunch at Siba's Cafe. We enjoy the atmosphere there, very laid back and a busy place for office workers to get a nice lunch at a reasonable price. Afterward we stopped at Lowe's for a hose and headed home.

I golfed in the afternoon with Russ, Stephy and a new person I'd not met before, Jim. Jim could crush the ball. One of his drives was about290 yards off the tee straight to the hold. Wow. We played 9 holes and rode the carts. It was hot and we were glad we rode. Afterward a cool gatorade in the club house was refreshing.

Later, Dee and I went to hear a musician (guitar) play and sing in the courtyard at a local shopping plaza. While there we saw a guy I met while rangering. He was there with his wife listening to the music too, and they live in Adam's Ridge where we do. We had a nice chat and they told us about the upcoming Luau on the 26th at the clubhouse. It was almost 10 PM when we finished talking. They seemed like a nice couple and I think we'll connect with them at the Luau. He sent me the email link and form for the event.

All in all it was a quiet day of trying to beat the heat and enjoy ourselves. Dee got to talk with her friends Kathy and Sherron on the phone for awhile as well as her sister Donna. We talked with Kerri via IM and it seems she's having some bodily pains and is going to the Dr. today for a scan of some kind to check things out. Your prayers for her would be appreciated as it's very uncomfortable for her when the pains occur.

Of Birds and Flowers

Here is Bonz watching the neighborhood from his perch on our deck. It has a chin rest so he can really chill out as he scans the horizon. It's becoming one of his favorite spots. (click the pics to enlarge them.)

Yesterday we slowed down some. Dee went to exercise at Contours and I went to Rotary at noon for the luncheon meeting. Our speaker was from the Mars Historical Society. It was very informative as he told about the purchase, relocation and restoration of the old train station in town.

Afterward, Dee and I went shopping. While she perused the department stores, I went into the religious bookstore and purchased a book about Rick Warren and his Purpose Driven approach to church life. It was a summary of his life story, his theological approach and then a series of responses to criticisms leveled at his approach and theology. It was a good read. Only 120 pages and doable in a day. Actually it was good stuff. In case you don't know he is the pastor of the largest church in America, Saddleback Christian Church in California. Interestingly after his books started selling very well, he gave his church back all the money they'd payed him during the 20+ years he was there and now takes no salary. He and his wife also do reverse tithing. What's that you ask? It's when you give away 90% and live on the remaining 10%. As someone said at the Rotary luncheon earlier, "He's the real deal."

As the day got hotter, we decided to turn on the air conditioning. It was only on for a while then it started to cool down outside. We had dinner on the deck. Grilled chicken Dee made with the new George Foreman kitchen Grill she'd purchased earlier in the day. (I think it has several different kinds of griddles for different kinds of meals.) While on the porch we saw some beautiful birds. I'm still trying to figure how to get the best pictures of them. Here are two pics. One of the gold finch on top of the feeder and the other of a downy woodpecker eating from the feeder. Here is a pic of the orchid plant delevered by Betty Wingate from the Womens Mission Society in NJ for Dee in honor of Dee's mom's life.

Strip District etc. with the Wingates

Yesterday the Wingates stopped by from NJ. We were able to show them our new home, and then take them around Pittsburgh to see the sights. Here's a little video I took with my digital camera of the view from Mount Washington. (It's blank until you click on the play button.)

We also stopped at Wholey's to show them the fresh fish market. Betty thought it was so cool. She loves fish. We also went through the Pennsylvania Macaroni store and enjoyed the smells and bazillion kinds of pasta and nuts and olive oils. The Prestogeorgeo Coffee Store was a breath of fresh air too. Lunch at Primanti Bros. was a big hit !

We finished the Strip Districe tour with coffee at the 21st Street Cafe and had a lesson 101 on fine coffee from owner Alexis and her brother D.J. Pictured here

Here we are with Alexis. Her description of how "iced coffee" is brewed added to the rich flavor of their outstanding coffee. Our out of twon friends said it was the best they'd ever had and one of the highlights of their visit to Pittsburgh. Awesome

Time with Mom

In the morning Dee went to Contours and I reprogramed my car garage door opener and installed a holder for the hose in the garage. We had a lite lunch at home and headed out to Monongahela (about 60 miles) to visit mom.

Yesterday went well at mom's place. We got lots of things done around the house and also got her meds at the pharmacy and helped her line them up to take each day. We finished the afternoon with dinner at Eat'n Park Restaurant by her house. When we dot home, we relaxed the rest of the evening on the deck reading.

Dee and I had been talking about going on a several day bus trip now that we have the time. We looked at the trip brochure that had dozens of trips listed. We each picked one. AS it turned out we both picked the same one. It was to the Pine Grove Dude Ranch in NY. http://www.pinegroveranch.com/ It sounded like fun, casual and doable for us. So we signed up! It happens in September. Today we'll spend the day with the Wingates (from NJ) who are staying in their RV in a campground near here.

Anniversary Dinner

Yesterday I preached at a local Presbyterian Church. It was a nice service. They had praise team that lead the music and a young man served as liturgist. I did the children's talk. (I used my Qchord and had one of the children strum it as we sang "Jesus Loves Me." It was the first time I used the Qchord in a worship service and sang along with it in public. I sure did have trouble finding that first note... but it went well.) Since they use a video screen, I chose to incorporate a video clip from "Facing the Giants" into the sermon. The essence of the sermon was that "God cared enough to send the very best, that we might be blessed." And then He not only calls us to give OUR best, but he helps us do that. The texts I used were: John 3:16-17; Matthew 22:35-39; and John 15:1-8 (I am the vine and you are the branches... apart from me you can do nothing.) I had fun, and I think they had fun in worship with me. (Note: Their pastor was on vacation, but due to a death in the church, he was present in worship yesterday. It was nice to see him there.)

For the rest of the morning and afternoon we relaxed on the deck and read the Sunday paper. Later, we returned our deck umbrella because it was coming apart and then bought another one at JoAnn Fabrics that was on sale and actually nicer.

Since we hadn't had a nice "anniversary dinner" together, we decided to go to the Springfield Grill and use a gift certificate give us by friends. We had the stake and cake (crab) dinner. And since I'd gotten an email from the restaurant for a free dessert, we used that too. We had a really nice time. Tablecloths and all!

When we got to the restaurant, a bus had just pulled in and was pouring people into the restaurant. We had a 45 minute wait, but the seats were comfortable and I had a chance to talk with Jan about her visit with mom. Mom isn't doing well mentally. Very forgetful among other things. That's where I'm going today to see that she gets her prescriptions filled, car inspected etc.

Community Days

Yesterday I had to work at the golf course for 8 hours. Fortunately, it was a nice sunny, breezy day and busy, so time went by quickly. Dee spent the day taking care of some cleaning issues around the house. And she'd talked with my mom and Jan on the phone. When i came home, I then called Jan and got an update on how things were going.

Jan gave me the names of the medications my mom should be taking, and that the doctor prescribed for her. She also told me that mom's car needs inspected and that she needs a couple of tests before her next doctor's appointment. Since Jan leaves for home in Philadelphia (she's off school for the next 4 weeks before going back to Chicago) Dee and I will go down to mom's place and take her to the pharmacy, (She had prescriptions before that she never had filled.) and then the clinic for the two tests she has to take. We'll spend the afternoon with her and I think Dee wants to clean her curtains or something like that.

Kerri called and brought us up to date. After several months with only one car, the decided they did need a second one. So they bought a Hyundai Santa Fe at Pat's lifetime friend's dealership. She seemed very happy with it.

Later in the day we went to the Cranberry Days festivities. It was very nice, with lots for families to do. All free. Except the food. We saw the very end of the Battle of the barrels by fireman from various firehouses (They try to push a barrel along a rope high in the air, with their fire hoses.) We learned the dog park will open in about two weeks. Then, we ate at Long John Silvers (hadn't eaten there in many years.) and came home. Relaxed on the porch reading. and finishing up my sermon for today. It was a cool but comfortable evening on the deck.