Short Visit with the Keators

Megan, Chris. Cassandra and Tyler arrived a little after six p.m. on Tuesday April 29th.  Peggy and David stopped by for a short visit.

I gave the kids their Christmas presents.  

I served bbq pork ribs, Cracker Barrel Hash Browns, carrots and Trader Joe corn bread for supper, with Amish pie and whipped cream for desert.  

Later on the kids had their Easter Baskets 

For breakfast Wednesday morning I prepared french toast casserole and served it with deviled eggs and fruit.   They headed out towards Boston at 10:30 a.m.

Easter 2016

We had a wonderful Good Friday service at Faith Tab.  On Easter morning there was a continental breakfast before the service, which was VERY good.  The choir sang:

and the floral arrangements were gorgeous! 

Easter Dinner was at my house.  David and Peggy provided the ham and macaroni and cheese.  Becky brought two Amish made pies, and Pam brought lemon pudding cake.  I provided four bean salad, carrots, raisin bran muffins, Cracker Barrel hash browns, deviled eggs, no bake chocolate/pb/oatmeal bars and jello/angel 

food cake/ berry desert.  Everything was delicious!  It was David, Peg, myself, Carrie, Pam and Becky.  Steven Bowler stopped by for desert.  

MAPLE WEEKEND 2016

For various reasons, I missed both Maple Weekends in 2015, but I was able to go this year and asked Mary Ann to accompany me.

We went first to WOLFs.  They had a large variety of products for sale.  The Talking Tree at Wolfs was a big hit with the kids.

We took a ride back into the wood where hundreds of Maple trees are being tapped for syrup.  

After that we headed towards Medina to find a place for lunch.  We chose Avanti's.  We each ordered a wrap (one steak and one Greek) and shared.  Both wraps were good, but not as good as the Buffalo Chicken Wing Wrap I had there with Karra a couple of weeks ago.  

Then it was on to Schumachers Farm on Mill Road.  My TomTom took us right there.  It is right across the road from the Amish school.   Schumachers is a small family run business who taps trees the old fashioned way.  We met a tiny newborn lamb

before going into the Sugar House.

Things were really steamed up in there as they processing was being done.

We were given samples of the warm dark syrup and it was absolutely heavenly.  They had a small area under a tent with their products and some other items for sale  I purchased a pint of their syrup and two kitchen towels.  On the way back to Lockport, I drove by Peggy's house and Beachy's and the stone schoolhouse and I showed Mary Ann the "haunted farmstand".  

It was a fun and interesting day.  

Trip to Millers Bulk Foods

Betty had the day off from work and asked me if she and I could go out to lunch.  I suggested a trip to Millers Bulk Food Store on 104 in Medina.  She agreed.  I picked her up at ll:45 and we headed out.  I showed her where Peggy is living now and where the Amish family that Peg and David help live.  

We both purchased several items at Millers.  We decided to have lunch there.  They make huge sandwiches for less than three dollars.  We both enjoyed ours. 

BASIC PISTOL SAFETY COURSE

My sister Peggy, my cousin Becky and I along with about eight others took a basic pistol safety course today from Steven Padin.(716 961-8846)   It was very interesting.  We practiced holding and aiming with plastic models

At the end we all got certificates.  Here is mine

I have sixty days to file an application at the Niagara County Court House.  When I am ready to purchase a pistol or revolver, Steven will accompany me to a shop and help me pick one out.  

THE MONKS, THE ASYLUM and MORE!!!

I picked Becky up at Darryls in Middleport and we headed southwest to get to THE ABBEY OF THE GENESEE, home of Monks Bread.  Becky had been there once before and wanted to return.  It was a pretty long drive, I think about an hour and a half

This is a view of the Abbey from the parking area.

Brother Christian let us in

This very sweet and very old monk was so friendly and helpful.  He said he has been at the abbey since l953 which would be SIXTY FOUR years!  I wish I had asked him how old he was when he entered the abbey because then I could figure out how old he is!!!

We went into the chapel, which is beautiful.  The outside walls are made of huge boulders with interesting stained glass windows.  

Then we went to the store where the bread made in their bakery is sold.  I purchased four loaves.  

Before leaving we chatted with Brother Christian for a little while.  

After leaving the monastery we drove down to see their retreat house.  These crosses are in front of the abbey, and I wonder if this is a cemetery:  

and then we headed towards home.  We stopped at a great place for lunch.  THE BARN in Piffard, NY

It was recently renovated.  It is a fifties themed diner.  

And then we looked for and found ROLLING HILLS ASYLUM where I found a geocache.

Apparently it was originally a Poor Farm.

On the way back to Niagara County, I made a couple of photo stops.  It was a great day!!!!!

Paula's and More 3/3/16

My friend Pam has a broken wrist and cannot drive.  This morning a lens fell out of her glasses.  I offered to take her to the optician so it could be fixed.  Once we were out, we went a few more places and somehow we ended up at Paula's Donuts in Clarence.  They had fastnachts today so I bought one to take home.  Pretty good, but not as good as their peanut cream donuts.