Random

Since I can't seem to post on any sort of schedule or theme, I thought this post could be a list of random events and photos. 

Big in my life, but no one elses - I chopped off my hair. Well, actually I went to a professional.

No after photo since I am not sure how I feel about it yet. 

My daughter and I made a last ditch trip to the Amish greenhouses after birds and animals dug up her newly planted perennials. 

No luck at our first farm. 

And nothing but tomatoes and peppers left. 

We did stop at the Mennonite grocery for meats and cheeses so it wasn't a wasted trip.  

My daughter dropped me off at my church office where I saw six clients in one day, mostly my age. Don't tell me the economy is improving. 

Good news and food porn.  I went to our area amusement park with two grandsons and their dad. I hestitated on renewing my pass in the fall because I wasn't sure I felt up to all the walking in the sun anymore. I am happy to report I was there for over 5 hours, walked almost four miles and was fine.  We also have meal passes. 

This is a "hot honey chicken biscuit" and was the reason the grandsons wanted to go. 

My son and I got the breakfast sandwich. Everything came with a ridiculous amount of tater tots. I did eat the sandwich which I am sure was over my sodium allowance for the day. 

I ordered three sides for lunch, the chicken dumplings (which are like tiny noodles but delicious), fried potatoes and fruit. My grandson saw it and said, oh, that is what I meant to order. 

So I traded for the steak, fried potatoes (covered in salt) and salty biscuit.  I only ate the steak.  It was good, but not as good as the chicken dumplings (which I am sure are loaded with sodium too). 

Mr Merry is having a rough summer with sciatica and busitis so I doubt he will be making anymore visits. 

We have four grandchildren playing baseball this summer altough one broke his foot the first week and isn't actually released to play yet. 

A steam locomotive traveled by my area and I got to spend an afternoon in a lawn chair by the cemetary's fence where my husband thought he could get a good view.

My oldest son took a break from his volunteer job restoring a different steam locomotive at a railroad museum nearby to join us.

A photo of me from 1975 with short hair. This is my reminder that it will grow . . . 

A Fire Truck

I know we are all having a busy summer and I know I am overwhelmed at the moment.  I have ideas for posts - just hard to find the time. Here is one about a fire truck. 

 In 1913 or 1914 my town bought it's first fire truck. They were pretty darn proud of it at the time.  

This photo was taken up on Main Street - maybe a celebration or parade. 

And here is Engine 1 on the right in front of the "old" fire station which still exists today (empty). 

According to my research Engine 1 was declared redundant and put up for sealed bid on June 27, 1943.  The newspapers don't list the buyer, but apparently it was a gentleman about an hour or two south of us who put it in a building and there it sat. 

His family recently approached a person who I think plans to run for mayor (not my choice but anyway) who facilitated the purchase for a private organization in town.  It was brought to town a week or so ago with great fanfare. 

I missed most of this part of the story and thought my husband was just taking me to watch it go down the street. Otherwise I would worn something besides stretched out old jeans and a t-shirt and maybe combed by hair. Since that didn't happen I spend the afternoon stepping away from home and newspaper photographers.  They did get one photo in a crowd, recognizable by my distinctive purse. 

The owner made sure to find the largest trailer possible to transport Engine 1 so the banner would stand out. 

It's hard to tell, but the condition of this 114 year old fire truck is pretty darn good in my opinion.  (and don't go by the year on the banner - I think it is the year they ordered it). 

They backed it into the old fire station. 

Strong young firemen push it off the trailer. They did not hear about the arrival until shortly before it pulled in. They are friends (and relatives) of my kids and were chatting afterwards. And then were buzzed to a real fire call and missed the photos. How everyone else knew (like my husband) I am not sure.

Important people posing with the fire truck. 

My important people posing with the fire truck. Look at Mimi (that is a joke since no one is looking at me). 

My middle son and husband pose by the fire truck. 

All kinds of people checking out the fire truck. 

They have started a fund raising campaign for $200,000 to restore the fire truck. This seems optimistic to me.  Meanwhile I was under the understanding that the old firestation will be converted to offices and meeting space in the very near future.  I am guessing that Engine 1 will be relocated soon, probably with a smaller trailer.  

Graduation

Welcome to another catch-up post from May.  

We officially have three graduates in our family this year.

Our youngest grandchild graduated from kindergarten. He lives in the same town we do and I believe this is the first year they held a kindergarten graduation.  

Later that week we attended our #4 grandson's graduation from 5th grade. Graduating from 5th grade in his country consolidated school means he moves to the other side of the building. 

And that Sunday we traveled to the Big City for our oldest grandson's high school graduation. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with all kinds of awards. We are very proud of him. He is also very tall. He and his best friend are having a joint reception in July.  

We received three out of state announcements and party invitations from great nephews and nieces in Texas, Montana, and Florida. We sent well wishes and checks but were very disappointed to miss the parties.  

We will be attending a neighbor's high school graduation party next Saturday and I am hoping for a sandwich! Graduation season usually means I don't have to cook on Saturday. My favorite graduation parties are hog roasts but I think we lucked out this year. 

Mother's Day

 Yes, I know I will get points taken off my grade for submitting late assignments.  

Meanwhile.  I determined a few years back that if I wanted things in the world to be the way I wanted them to be, I would need to do it myself.  I had an idea for celebrating myself for Mother's Day and moved ahead. I invited both my daughters and both my daughter in-laws, both my granddaughters and step granddaughters, as well as their mother  and mother in-laws to tea. Only my youngest daughter and granddaughter had room in their busy schedules. I made the reservations. 

The facility shared this photo of the scones baked that morning. 

Not only was the reservation for a special Mother's Day Tea, but there were ADD ONS.  Of course I signed up for the optional Flower Bar and optional Mimosa Bar! 

We dressed up and arrived on time. We had a champagne bucket on the table and a glass of sparkling grape juice for my granddaughter. 

This was also posted by the facility. 

The menu was scrumptious (as usual).  My daughter and I each chose our favorite pot of tea and my granddaughter had a whole tea pot of hot chocolate.

These are my actual sandwiches, clockwise from bottom, Chicken Salad Croissant, Pumpkin Bread, Shredded Carrot Bruschetta (which was a baked sandwich with a cheese sauce), Carmelized Onion Jam with Apple on White, Turkey and Cranberry Cream Cheese on White, Egg Salad on Wheat and Bacon, White Cheddar and Roasted Tomato on Wheat.  Each one was as good as the next. 

Our table was very full!!! 

They do offer a smaller "Princess" plate for children but my granddaughter prefers the tiered tray for adults. 

The middle tiers were slightly different. Mine showcases the Blondie (My girls had a chocolate peanutbutter brownie), a Fruit Cookie, Chocolate Mousse, and a scone. 

And the top tier featured Homemade Canoli, Strawberry Shortcake and Almond Layer Cake which was something I am still dreaming about. 

Now let's talk about the Mimosa Bar. 

We had decided that a bottle for $25 was a better bargain than two glasses for $20. Neither of us is a drinker, but this was a special occasion! There was lots of fresh fruit and mixers. 

We tried champagne with orange juice, cranberry juice and pink lemonade. My daughter's favorite was pink lemonade and my favorite was cranberry juice. We did not try the syrups. 

My daughter as maitre 'd. 

Posing my champagne glass. 

Sparkling Grape Juice. 

The Cranberry Mimosa. 

As you can tell I was enthralled with the Champagne Bar.  I was documenting for future parties and celebrations.  Then I went to my cardiologist appointment a few weeks ago and found that my newest forever prescriptions require zero alcohol and this was my final hurrah. We are slowing down my heart rate and blood pressure to ease the strain on my heart and alcohol will reduce it further to dangerous levels. 

Now on to the Flower Bar. This was my first flower bar, too, and I was very impressed. 

We had lots of flowers to chose from. 

Of course I purchased the Flower Bar for everyone. 

We all chose our own flowers. 

The ribbons were to tie your bouquet together.

 

The bouquets actually lasted over two weeks. 

Happy Mother's Day!  

(and don't worry - Mr Merry drove us to the tea and my daughter's husband picked us up afterwards).