FIRsT DAY DRIVING and Grand Opening of the CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER in Lockport, NY

It was the first day I was allowed to drive after my surgery (two weeks ago) and I took advantage of it.  I went to the rummage at Faith Tabernacle sponsored by the youth group.  I found several small item and one spectacular one:  this Pyrex casserole dish in its original box: 

(Christa was nearly ecstatic when I showed her pictures of it on facebook.)  I went to Niagara Produce and bought a few items I was craving (grapefruit and oranges) and I also went to BEAR BOTTOM WHOLESALE and purchased a Pyrex mixing bowl for Christa and a MAY Angel for Megan.  Then I went home and rested up. 

I saw this event mentioned in the newspaper and decided to attend if I felt up to it.  I felt pretty good and after picking up some books at the library I went to HARRISON PLACE for the Public Open House. 

I thought it was a bit unorganized as nobody seemed to know when tours would start, so I "did" the basket raffle and eventually I got to take a tour. 

after the tour I went into a shot presentstion in the planetarium. 

The presentation was very interesting and had some great visual effects. 

UPDATE: I got a phone call the next day teing me that I had won a couple of "models".....that you put together, I will save them for Tyler. 

ELEVEN DAYS POST SURGERY Outing with Pam

It was bright and sunny, blue sky this a.m. and I was feeling pretty good, eleven days after my surgery, so I decided it was time to get myself  "out and about".  I called Pam and offered to buy her lunch in exchange for her picking me up and taking me out for a few hours.
She agreed!!!!!  YAY!!!!

Our first stop was BEAR BOTTOM WHOLESALE, who recently moved to a new and better location, right next to the old train station. 

The new location is very well organized and appealing.  I found a few PYREX items and I took pictures to show to Christa.  I also found two MAY Birthday Angels and I may go back to purchase one for Megan. 

We went to Molinaro's for lunch and split a small pineapple and ham deep dish pizza.  It was very good.  Between us, we ate half of it and we split the rest to take home. 

Then we went to the Kenan Center

for the THREE GENERATIONS OF BURCHFIELDS display.  It is very good!

I was pretty worn out and ready to rest by the time we left the Kenan Center, so Pam brought me home.  It was so good to get out there and do something.  And, as the picture above shows, the weather was very nice. 

Victorian Tea and Theme Basket Raffle at the Lockport United Church of Christ

I did not know for sure if I would be able to go to this spring event because it was so soon after my surgery but Peggy suggested that we go for a short while and I agreed.  We found seats at a back table reserved by Bonnie Burnett and joined several of my friends.   My cousin Becky showed up a little late. 

I did not have enough stamina to look at the MANY baskets up for raffle, so I skipped that and enjoyed the  buffet style Victorian tea which included small sandwiches, fruit, and too many deserts to count!  I particularly liked the elderberry tart! 

It wore me out pretty well and I was glad to get home, but I am glad I went. 

Saturday, April 22, 2017 ISRAEL REUNION at Faith Tab

Our trip to Israel was February 6-16th.  Pastor Craig arranged for a reunion dinner that took place tonight at Faith Tab. 

The Ortons provided Israel food and others provided some great deserts.  I provided soda.  We had a pretty good sized crowd and lots of testimonies were given. 

Friday April 21st David's Birthday Celebration at Papa Leo's

Once again Peggy organized a small birthday gathering for David and also for his grandson Noah, at Papa Leo's.

Those who attended were David, Peg, myself, Catherine, Scott, Kelly and her husband and Noah, and Mike and Janie an her sons, Dylan and Dominic.

Thursday April 20th, leaving Watkins Glen, heading for home.

Mary Ann and I packed up and checked out of our cabin and then went to a diner called CHEF'S for breakfast.  Then we started driving up the west side of Seneca Lake.  We saw a sign for a variety store so we stopped.

It was an Amish shop on an Amish farm.  I purchased a  couple of post cards.

We headed towards Penn Yan.  We went to DUTCH KUNTRY STORE (bulk foods)

and saw an Amish schoolhouse on the east side of Penn Yan.

We saw THE WINDMILL, but it was closed, went to THE QUILT ROOM

and then another larger bulk food store OAK HILL BULK  FOODS, they have a very nice café and lots of home baked items. 

I bought oranges, biscotti, and double chocolate zucchini bread.  Shortly after that we stopped at a rest area and had lunch.

In Penn Yan, we found two geocaches, one was on the backside of a HUGE griddle that had been used to make a huge pancake.

We went into an interesting shop/café, met a guy named ALEX who worked at the local library and was doing an outreach there.

When I showed him a postcard of a chapel, he gave us directions there.  Eventually we found the chapel.

It was getting late so we decided to head towards home.  We went through an Amish area
in or near Potter, NY.............there were many Amish wagons on the road and we passed a farm where there were many buggies parked. 

Had supper at THE ALABAMA HOTEL in Alabama.............very good.  I arrived home
at 7:45 after dropping Mary Ann off at her place. 

Wednesday April 19, 2017 staying in Watkins Glen

Mary and I had a very inexpensive breakfast at Burger King and then decided to do some geocaching.  We could not get up Pine Street to get to St. Mary's Cemetery so we went to the Visitors Center on Main Street to get alternative directions. The girl was very helpful and she printed out the directions for us. 

We located the cemetery and cache location but were unable to find the cache (it would have meant climbing a slope in the woods, and I did not feel comfortable doing that plus it was starting to rain) but we checked out the  mausoleum.  A man who died in the Titanic and his wife who survived are buried here. 

and also it was starting to rain.  We decided to go to Elmira to see Mark Twain's Study at Elmira College.  We really enjoyed seeing the study, the exhibit and the beautiful college buildings. 

We looked for a Main Street or area with restaurants in Elmira but did not find either but we did find an interesting restaurant TAGS in Big Flats, New York. We split a cheese steak sandwich. In that same area, we went to OLDIES BUT GOODIES but were disappointed to find it more of a gift shop than a shop for antiques and collectibles. 

Then we headed back towards Watkins Glen. 

When we saw the BRICK TAVERN MUSEUM was open we stopped there. Actually, they were getting ready to close, but the woman working there agreed to stay open a little longer.

And then I backtracked a bit so we could see the LEE SCHOOL MUSEUM. 

Montour Falls to take a picture without the sun in my eyes.

After that we went back to our cabin at Seneca Lodge

and then to GREAT ESCAPE ICE CREAM.

This place is truly VINTAGE, with a few pinball machines and a jukebox that works.  The ice cream is homemade and very good.