Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside. Elizabeth von Arnim

Translate

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy New Year

Just a quick post today.  Spent the day getting reading for tomorrow.  Got all my cleaning done and spent a lot of the day in the kitchen.  Ken has been a great help and tomorrow things should go smoothly. 
A picture of the kitchen where the planning and preparing has begun.
I'll take pictures tomorrow of the food all set out because once people start coming I'll probably forget all about taking pictures.

Soon it will be supper time and then off to church we go.  A short service will be followed by food and fun in the fellowship hall.

HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FRIENDS
I wish you much happiness, good health, and a thankful and happy heart.
happyone : )

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Tuesday

I didn't take any pictures this morning on my walk.  
Nothing really caught my eye.  
This picture is one from yesterday.
☀     ☀     ☀     ☀
It was 23 degrees this morning when I left at 6:50.  Just a slight breeze and once the sun rose it stayed out.  Just a few clouds floating around.

Stayed around town this morning.  Thought about walking the Farm Loop again but with just a little breeze out in the open it would have been really cold on my face. 

A nice walk but nothing out of the ordinary today.
Walked 6.2 miles.

We went to Walmart and bought the rest of the food we will need for the open house.  Almost every time we go to Walmart we see someone we know and today was no exception.  I guess when you don't have that many stores to go to it is really not that surprising. : )

I finished up the puzzle today.  It was only 750 pieces but it was a pretty hard one.  I wanted to finish it so I could get the table back again. : )Three more puzzles arrived at the house for Christmas but I won't start another one till next week.  Once I start doing a puzzle I get on a puzzle kick and do a lot of them. 
Didn't do much knitting today but this is how far I've gotten on the sleeves for the baby sweater.  You can see how I'm knitting the two sleeves at the same time. 
I really need to finish the sweater quickly.  I thought I had till the middle of February but the baby shower is being held on the 10 of January so that doesn't give me that much time.  I also want to knit a hat and little slippers all in the same yellow.

Another picture from Ken's Layout.
Well, I'd better go and get some knitting done

Hope your day was a happy one.
happyone : )
Approach the New Year with resolve to find 
the opportunities hidden in each new day.
~ Michael Josephson
Comment replies:
 Mary - I watched Upstairs Downstairs when it was first run on television.  We were living in Scotland in the 70's.  : )
John - Ken's fictional railroad is set in northern NJ where we are originally from. 
Anonymous - Menu and pictures of the food will be posted. : )

Monday, December 29, 2014

Kens Trains

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀
Went to bed late last night because I stayed up doing the jigsaw puzzle so got up late this morning at 8:00.

Did some laundry and some house cleaning.  Getting things spruced up for the Open House we will be having New Years Day.
After lunch I went for my walk.  Went to the post office first and then walked around the Farm Loop.  Not that there is a lot of traffic around here but there is definitely more during the afternoon.  Once in a while a car will go by on the farm road but today 6 cars passed and every one waved at me. : )

I saw another woman walking in the distance but never caught up with her.  It was a nice sunny day and the temperature was 40 degrees when I walked.  Just a slight breeze and it was very pleasant walking.  Didn't even have to wear all my usual layers and I was still a bit warm.  Ended up taking my hood down and it felt nice to have my hair blowing around.

I walked 6 miles.

Baked a batch of Chocolate Chip cookies for Thursday when I got back home.  Made a list of things we need to buy yet and will get them tomorrow. 

Ken will be showing people his train layout in the basement and he has been working on putting in some last minute details and cleaning things up.  Here are a few pictures of his layout.


Last year I posted some pictures of the start of his train layout which you can see HERE.

I'm going to relax the rest of the evening.  Do some knitting, reading and of course having a little ice cream while we watch a little television.  We are watching the series Upstairs, Downstairs.

Hope your day has been a good one and you smiled often.
Till next time.......
happyone : )
Who is rich?
He who rejoices in his portion.
~ The Talmud

Sunday, December 28, 2014

No Fear

We all are afraid of something but God tells us we don't have anything to fear.

II Timothy 1:7
For God hath NOT given us the spirit of fear;
but of POWER, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.

Psalm 56:3 & 4
What time I am afraid, 
I will trust in thee.
In God I will praise his word, 
in God I have put my trust;
I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded thee?
Be strong and of good courage;
be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Three things to do when you are afraid.
  1. Trust in God
  2. Obey God
  3. Pray
May you all have a blessed Sunday free from fear.
happyone : )

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Another sunny day : )

☀     ☀     ☀     ☀
This morning it was 31 degrees when I set out on my walk.  No wind and it was another morning when the sun rose and stayed out.  Seems like my new time for walking lately is 7:00.  I'm sure once it gets light out earlier I'll be back to my usual 6:30 time.

Like yesterday I walked the Farm Loop and then around town.  Saw a black cat crouched down in the weeds along the side of the road.  No other animals or people around.

I enjoyed feeling the sun on my face once again. : )
I walked 6.4 miles.
☀     ☀     ☀     ☀
 I took advantage of the nice weather and hung my sheets outside to dry and with it being cold they always smell extra good being outside.  As most of you know I don't have a dryer and in the winter I have lines downstairs and a clothing rack for drying my clothes.

It was so nice Ken and I both thought about washing our cars but that is as far as we got.  Our cars are still dirty.

I finished knitting the two mittens for the lady that asked me to knit them for her granddaughters.  If you'd like to take a look at them, click HERE.

Every year since we've been married Ken has taken a red Christmas ball and painted  something on it from the year.  He never tells me what he is going to put on it.  The ball just pops up one day.  This is this years ball.  The initials stand for our church.  Mountain Lake Independent Baptist Church.  We are so blessed to be part of this church. : )

Hope you all enjoyed your Saturday.
happyone : )
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,
and the life of the candle will not be shortened.
Happiness never decreases by being shared.
~ Buddha
Comment Replies:
Nellie - No, I've never saved and framed a puzzle.  Thought about it, but never have.

Friday, December 26, 2014

A sunny walk

☼     ☼     ☼     ☼
Hope everyone had a nice Christmas.  We went to church Christmas Eve and Ken and I had a very nice Christmas Day.  We opened our presents and then had a special pancake breakfast with strawberry sauce and whipped cream.   It was a nice quiet relaxing happy day. : )  We had a few snow flurries but didn't have our white Christmas.  I was talking to a friend and she said it was the second Christmas she could remember that  wasn't a white one.
☼     ☼     ☼     ☼

I didn't walk yesterday or the day before so it was nice to get back to my walk.  It was 27 degrees but no wind at all and once the sun rose there were no clouds for it to hide behind.  Feeling the sun on my face on a cold winter morning is one of those special times when it makes me extra happy. : )

I walked up around the Farm Loop enjoying the quiet and peaceful farm lands.  Didn't see any cows or horses.  They must have been in the barn or up in the woods.  I didn't see any animals at all except for a few crows.  With no school there was even less traffic than usual.

When I got back to town I stopped in at the post office to mail off a Netflix, then walked around town and back home.

I walked 6.4 miles.
☼     ☼     ☼     ☼
Ken got me a few jigsaw puzzles for Christmas and I started one of them today.  It's a puzzle of cows in a field. It looks like a picture I would have taken.  It's just 750 pieces so I should be done with it pretty quick. 
I got a call from the library saying the book I had on hold was ready for me to pick up so I walked over to the library to get it.  It's the book club selection for January, The Third Hill North of Town, by Noah Bly.

It's been a beautiful sunny day in the 40's.  Hard to believe it's wintertime.
Hope you've enjoyed your day and you smiled often.
happyone : )
There's no happier person 
than a truly thankful, content person.
~ Joyce Meyer

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas

For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called 
Wonderful, 
Counsellor, 
The mighty God, 
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

And the angel said unto them,
Fear not:
for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.
Luke 2:10

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
II Corinthians 9:15


MERRY CHRISTMAS to one and all.

happyone : )

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Tuesday

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
Thanks everyone for giving me your opinion on the house on yesterday's post.  I didn't want to say what I thought because I didn't want to influence you in any way.  I like the house and the colors.  I think it goes with the Victorian house style.  In fact I think it should have some more gingerbread trim on it.  It is a good thing we like it because it is right across the street from our house.

It is the only Victorian house around here and I guess people just aren't used to something different.

There is no one living in it at the moment and rumor has it that it is going to be some kind of an art gallery.  The same women who owns the little cafe in town also owns the house.  
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
Another late start walking this morning.  Left at 7:20.  It was 33 degrees out and cloudy but after a while the sun came out.  HOW NICE to walk in the sun.  I walked up the hills behind my house and then walked on over to the Industrial Park and walked around there.
Then back to town for a walk up and down the streets and then back home.  Saw a bunny rabbit up at the end of my street.

Walked 6.4 miles.
I found a dime and a lucky penny - heads up.
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
We made a trip out to Walmart to do a little food shopping.  No surprise to find the place crawling with people.  Nothing like where we used to live though. 

Got a little knitting done this afternoon and now I'm off to make supper.
Hope your day has been a happy one and that you are all ready for Christmas.
happyone : )
There is a lot to celebrate about that little Babe 
who was laid in a manger.
Christians celebrate Christmas because
they are thankful for the promise of salvation,
which was delivered in human flesh
and named Jesus.
~ Monica Johnson

Monday, December 22, 2014

The Victorian House

☃     ☃     ☃    ☃
24 degrees this morning and cloudy when I walked with a bit of a breeze.  The sun tried to get through the clouds as you can see in the above picture but the clouds eventually took over.  I had some sun shining on my face for about 15 minutes.

I got a late start again because I woke up late.  Glad that the sun will be rising a bit earlier each day now.

Walked here, there, and everywhere all around town.  No one else out walking.

A red tailed hawk flew right in front of me about 6 feet above my head.

Nice to be out walking.
Walked 6.2 miles.
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
There is a Victorian house in town and it has just been painted.  Most people around here think it looks awful.  I've heard the words, horrendous, ugly, and a monstrosity, to describe the house.  Just wondering what your opinion is.  (it is not my house)
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
After lunch I went for a little walk taking some more of the little loaves of Pumpkin Bread and Christmas cards to some neighbors.  Also to Joe  (town worker who I see most days), and one at the bank too.  It is so much fun seeing the surprise on their faces when I hand them one. : )  I have just three more to deliver. 

So that's been my day so far.  Think I'll do a little more knitting.  Still working on the baby sweater.  I have the back and front done and I'm now working on the sleeves.  I knit both the sleeves at the same time.  A hint my  mom told be about.  This way both sleeves are the exact same length.

Hope your day is a happy one.
happyone : )
I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six.
Mother took me to see him in a department store
and he asked for my autograph.
~ Shirley Temple

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Charity

I Corinthians 13:4 - 7 and 13
4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.

7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

13. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.


Definition of charity 2014
The act of giving money, food, or other kinds of help to people who are poor, sick, etc.;
also: something such as money or food that is given to people who are in need

Websters 1828 definition
In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorable of their fellow men, and to do them good.  In a theological sense, it includes love to God, and universal good will to men.

I wish you all a blessed Sunday.
God loves you.
happyone : )

Saturday, December 20, 2014

10 Commandents for the Christmas Season

Pond at the dairy farm
Zoomed in on the duck in the pond
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
When I walked this morning it was 22 degrees, cloudy with a few peaks of blue sky and very still, not even a breeze.
Took advantage of the no wind and walked the Farm Loop and  a little around town too.  It was very quiet for a Saturday - seemed like a Sunday morning.

Before I headed around the FL I dropped off the water bill down the slot at the office and then dropped some mail down the mail slot at the post office.

I saw Maryanna walking her dog.  She had the same day glo green sweatshirt on that I did.  : )  I could see her coming from a long way away.

The Vaseline is working good protecting my face from the cold.
It seems to take forever to put on all my layers of clothing on these cold mornings but they sure do keep me warm.

I walked 6.3 miles.
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
Came across this reading the Baptist Daily Bread
written by Dr Guy Goodell

Ten Commandments For The Christmas Season
  1. Thou shalt remember to keep Christ in Christmas.
  2. Thou shalt pause in they business to consider the magnitude of God's gift of Christ to mankind.
  3. Remembering that Mary and Joseph found no room in the inn, thou shalt give Christ the chief room in thine heart.
  4. Thou shalt participate in the Christmas activities sponsored by thy church.
  5. Thou shalt be generous in the giving to foreign missions at Christmas.
  6. Thou shalt take time to plan for the happiness of those outside thine own circle of family and friends.
  7. Thou shalt give of thin own self in all gifts, giving not for duty, for reciprocity, or personal satisfaction - but for the simple joy of giving.
  8. Thou shalt enjoy, in unhurried calm, the priceless heritage of Christmas music which exalts the Lord Jesus Christ.
  9. Thou shalt remember, with great patience and understanding all those who serve thee:  the salesclerk, the postman, the delivery man and all others who bear the physical burden of the Christmas season.
  10. Thou shalt teach thine own children the true meaning of Christmas, the Prince of Peace, Who came to give mankind a way to righteousness and a true and lasting happiness. 
 ☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
Enjoy your Saturday.
happyone : )
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
Star and angels gave the sign.
~ Christina Rossetti

Friday, December 19, 2014

Frozen fog

The trees on the mountain were frozen and looked beautiful. 
It was foggy and the fog just froze on the trees.
The picture can only partially capture the beauty of it.
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
It was a bit chilly out there walking this morning but it was beautiful as well.  It was cloudy, 25 degrees and just a bit breezy.  Yesterday my face got a bit chapped from the cold wind and last night I put Vaseline on it and it was almost back to normal this morning.  Put some more on this morning to protect my face from the cold and will start doing that on these cold mornings.
It was supposed to snow last night but it still hadn't started by morning.

Walked out toward HT again and also up Barn Sale Rd, but just part way up to the wide open part.  Just a bit too cold and windy to be out in the open.  Headed into town and then just walked around there.   Again I didn't see anyone else out.  Didn't even spot any animals except for a some cows and they were huddled around hay pile eating.

I stayed warm in all my layers but it was still nice to come home to a cozy warm house.
I walked 6.2 miles.
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
Had a nice time last night at the restaurant and ornament exchange.  I got a sparkly golden reindeer to hang on the tree.  The food was very good and there was much laughter and just a good time.

After lunch we went out to the Shop and Save and replenished our ice cream.  We wait until a sale and then stock up.

 Still knitting on the baby sweater, but so far it is going smoothly and I've had no trouble.  Hope I didn't speak too soon!! 

The movie, Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House came in the mail from Netflix today and we plan on watching it this evening and eating home made pizza.  A nice cozy thing to do on a cold evening.  The movie is an old Cary Grant movie and my blogger friend Kerin recommended it. 

It's been another good day here in western Maryland.  Would like to see a little snow though.  : )
Hope your day is a good one too and that you are happy and content.
happyone : )
The universal joy of Christmas is certainly wonderful.
We ring the bells when princes are born,
or toll a mournful dirge when great men pass away.
Nations have their red-letter days, their carnivals and festivals,
but once in a year and only once,
the whole world stands still to celebrate the advent of a life.
~ Unknown
Comment replies:
Thanks for all the prayers for Farmer Georg.  I'll let you know if I hear anything else about him.

Barb - Thanks for stopping by.  I often think of Centennial Lake and walking around it and I can't think of it without thinking of you.  You are part of place. : )  I miss those awesome sunrises.  Happy walking.  : ) 

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Parmesan Crips

☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
Woke up at 7:30 again and this time I didn't have time to walk in the morning.  I had a hair appointment at 9:00.  While there I met the former librarian from the town library and also learned that Farmer Georg had a heart attack.  He is expected to be okay though but a prayer for him would be appreciated.  Thanks.

I asked Sherry about the Drane House Cookie sale.  She told me they sold out of cookies by noon and made over $900.   I'm happy that I contributed to it.  Both the baking and the buying and eating of the cookies. : )
 ☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
Went for my walk after lunch.  It was 26 degrees, cloudy with some snow flurries and windy.

I took along a few little loaves of pumpkin bread with a Christmas card and dropped them off at the dentist, the library and the hair salon.  Continued on to the post office to drop off some mail and then walked around town.

Also walked down the main road and turned around when I got to the turn off to HT.

The snow was very fine and the wind would just blow it right across the road.  No one else out around down except for a few people at the post office.  I seemed like early morning.

Cut my walked just a tad short at 5.5 miles.
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
We are having an open house here at home on New Year's Day for our church friends and we've been trying out some recipes for the appetizers that we will be serving.  This afternoon we tried one that my blogger friend Lindy suggested.  It sounded too easy and I couldn't imagine it working but it all worked out and they taste really good.  It went on the list to have at our open house.  : )

Parmesan Crisps
Grate 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese - use a block of cheese, not the kind in the green can.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Pour heaping tablespoons of Parmesan cheese onto a silicone or parchment lined baking sheet and lightly pat down.  A silicone baking sheet is highly recommended.  (I tried both and preferred the parchment paper)

Space about 1/2 inch apart.

Bake for 3 - 5 minutes or until golden and crisp.  Cool.
I baked them for 7 minutes.

This month the Super Seniors are meeting this evening at a restaurant and having a Christmas ornament exchange.  It's fun to do something different each month and I'm looking forward this tonight.

Hope your day is filled with happiness and contentment.
happyone : )
Keep your Christmas-heart open all the year round.
~ Jessica Archmint

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Wednesday

 ☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
I woke up at 7:30 this morning.  My internal clock has been off lately.  It was 35 degrees when I left on my walk and there was a fine rain/snow mix coming down.  I could feel it getting colder as I walked and a wind kicked up too.  

Walked up and down the three hilly streets which are behind my house.  Flicka lives at the end of one of them with Patriot.  Don't know which one this is but they have a nice big pile of hay to eat.
Walked all over town including the two cemeteries and the loop behind the ball park.  Didn't see anyone else out.  Nothing unusual today.

So nice to be out walking around my town.
I walked 6.4 miles.
☃     ☃     ☃     ☃
All the presents are wrapped and sitting under the tree waiting for Christmas morning.  Sometimes we open one on Christmas Eve.  : )

Some Gingerbread men sit around the tree too.  Can't eat these though, they are wooden.
Some house chores got done and I also had a little time for some knitting and reading too.  It's been a good day so far. : )
Hope your day is a good one too.
happyone : )
Fail not to call to mind,
in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month,
that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth
was born on that day;
and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it;
for mirth is also of Heaven's making.
~ Leigh Hunt
Comment Replies:
Kerri - Thanks for the book recommendation.  I've made a note of it and will check it out.
John - I know what you mean, some days I have to make myself go home.  : )

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

A Farm Loop Walk

✼     ✼     ✼     ✼
Last night when we were at the Dollar General, Farmer Bill was there and I introduced Ken to him.  Farmer Bill said he didn't recognize me at first without my orange sweatshirt! : )

I woke up last night and just couldn't get back to sleep so I got up and read for about an hour until I got sleepy.  Then went back to sleep and didn't wake up again until 8:30.  That is really late for me.  It was pouring down rain so I didn't go walking right away and besides it being that late I wanted to have breakfast first.  Did a few things and then at 10:45 I left on my walk.  By that time the rain had stopped and it was just cloudy and 44 degrees.  While walking blue sky started appearing and the sun even came out for a little while.  How nice to feel the sun on my face after a week.

First went to the post office and mailed off the last of the Christmas cards.  Nice to be finished and have them on the way and in time to arrive before Christmas.

I walked the Farm Loop.  So nice out that way.  Quiet too and no cars at all passed me.  No school buses either walking down the school road.
A couple of pictures along the way.

Passing by the school I heard laughter and saw kids playing on the playground.  Something nice about children's laughter.  You can't help but smile. : )

Walked around town and the loop around the ball park before heading back home.  A nice walk of 6.2 miles.

Home in time for lunch and afterwards I did some knitting.  I'm working on the yellow baby sweater.  The baby I'm making it for is due in February.

The book I started yesterday is a P D James mystery, The Murder Room.  I've read some books of hers before and liked them.  So far this too is a good one.

Making another batch of Pumpkin Breads and they're baking in the oven right now. These will be for our neighbors.  I think the little loafs make nice gifts. 

And that's been my day so far.
Hope your day brings you joy and contentment.
happyone : )
It came without ribbons. It came without tags.
It came without packages, boxes, or bags.....
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
Maybe Christmas he thought
doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas....
perhaps.....
means a little bit more.
~ Dr Seuss
How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Monday, December 15, 2014

A Foggy Morning

✼     ✼     ✼     ✼
This morning it was foggy and 37 degrees when I went for my walk.  It is pretty dark when I start out so I stay in town where there are street lights.
Stayed around town this morning and walked up and down all the streets.  Walked around both cemeteries and the loop behind the ball park.  The woman with the ear phones was walking around the ball park loop and this time she said good morning. : )  She just walks around and around that same 1/4 mile path.  I don't see how she can just walk that when there are so many other places to walk. 

Just the usual walk today, nothing out of the ordinary but it is sure nice to get back to my morning walks.  : )

I walked 6.4 miles.
Found one penny.
✼     ✼     ✼     ✼ 
I knitted a scarf as a surprise for a woman in church but she didn't come to church yesterday so I couldn't give it to her.  Hope she comes next week.  I knitted it with a ball of Fun Fur.  

I've been writing out more Christmas cards today and got most of them finished.  I'm going to finish the rest of them later and then will take them to the post office tomorrow on my walk.  Usually I get tired of writing them out but this year I enjoyed every one for some reason.  Maybe because I really like the cards and wanted to share them.

It was supposed to be cloudy all day but this afternoon as I look out of the widow writing this the sun is out.  : )  How very nice to see the sun.  I was beginning to think all of us here in Garrett County would have a vitamin D deficiency if the sun didn't show up soon.

I don't have any library books out at this time, so I will pick one off my own shelves for a change.  I could go a year without going to the library and still not run out of books.

Hope you found bits of happiness scattered throughout your day.
happyone : )
I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars
and open a jar of it every month.
~ Harlan Miller

My answer to that is you can.  Have Jesus come into your heart, and you will feel the spirit of Christmas every day.  : )

Sunday, December 14, 2014

More Pittsburgh and this months Bible verse.

The Bible verse this month that our church is learning together 
is a great verse and one that I've memorized before.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings as eagles.
They shall run, and not be weary.
They shall walk, and not faint.
✝     ✝     ✝     ✝
✼     ✼     ✼     ✼ 
More on the trip to Pittsburgh.  Christmas tree above was in the center of the room with all the gingerbread houses.

We all walked down the street to where some beautiful craft items were sold in a little village like setting.  Beautiful jewelery, hand painted Christmas balls and decorations,  and wooden items just to name a few.  
Santa's house was there too.
And I got a picture of him arriving.
Stopped to listen to some carolers for a while.
Had some lunch and then made our way back to the cars and I'm happy to say arrived at the hotel in only a couple of minutes.

In the afternoon we back to the mall to do a little more shopping but this time we were smart and went in two taxi vans.  The others did more shopping and I walked a couple of laps around the mall.  I also bought one more and final gift for Ken.

We got back at the hotel just in time to get ready for the main event of our trip, which was to see the play, A Musical Christmas Carol.  Back we piled into two cabs and off to the theater we went.  

The play was excellent and we all enjoyed it very much.  We had perfect seats - first row in the mezzanine.  The two hours flew by.

Then we were out front waiting for our taxis to show up.  One came and and took a group and as the rest of us were waiting for the second taxi who should walk by and say Merry Christmas was Ebenezer Scrooge himself.  : )  We stopped him and had our picture taken with actor Tom Atkins.  He asked where we were from and he told us he comes to Deep Creek once a year.  We gave him a tract and invited him to church and told him he could sit with us. : )  Meeting Tom Atkins like that was just the icing on the cake of a great evening.
We never did eat dinner so when we got back to the hotel we ordered out for pizza.  : )
So ended our last night in Pittsburgh.

In the morning we got up, had breakfast and headed home.  On the way we stopped at an outlet mall for a while and we ended up getting back to the church at 4:00.  I had a wonderful time and I'm so glad I decided to go. 

I loved going but it was nice to get back home to my little town of 325 people.  : )
✼     ✼     ✼     ✼
It was a misty rainy morning today and 33 degrees but nice to get back to my walk. : )

A blessed Sunday you to you all.
God loves you.
happyone : )

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Part one of the PIttsburg trip

Sunset at a mall in Pittsburgh Thursday night.
✼     ✼     ✼     ✼
Here we are at church ready to leave on our trip to Pittsburgh. 
Arrived lunch time, had a bite to eat and then spent the rest of the day shopping at the mall.  It wasn't just a shopping day though.  We had a scavenger hunt to do too with fun things we had to accomplish and take a picture of it.  We were divided into three teams and we competed to see who could get the most of them done.  One thing was to have one of us gift wrapped so we went up to the gift wrapping desk and asked if they would gift wrap one of us.  I was chosen to be gift wrapped and this is what they came up with.  They even made me a hat. : )  I got some odd looks.
Getting to the hotel afterwards was a bit of a challenge but eventually we got there I think about 9:30.
Some of us waiting for the elevators and some more loaded down than others.
After the 10 of us got settled in our three rooms we all met in one room for devotions and talking and laughing.  We did a lot of that : )

A couple of pictures outside the hotel window.  Along the river there is a path that runs along it and was where I would have liked to walk.
After breakfast on Friday we headed out to the PPG Place which was only .9 of a mile away and should have been a quick easy ride.  Well, it wasn't so easy with a caravan of three cars with 10 woman in a city that we didn't know.  I was in the second car and we lost sight of car number 1 and got lost.  Doesn't sound possible in such a short distance but we did.  We finally found the place and then we had the problem of finding a parking place.  We circled around and around but couldn't find any place to park, asked a policeman where we could park and his answer - "I don't know."  Meanwhile car number 1 found a parking lot and we tried to find where they were but we never did.  We were just about to TRY to find our way back to the hotel and walk there when we came across a parking lot.  I took this picture in the parking lot and that tall glass building was our destination. 
We walked the three blocks and finally after 50 minutes we were inside the building.  Yes, that's right 50 minutes.  We could have walked it in 15 minutes.


We shook that frustration off and enjoyed our time looking at all the gingerbread houses on display.
More about our trip tomorrow.  I think that's enough pictures for one post!!  It's just about bedtime and I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.

Till tomorrow.......
happyone : )