THANKSGIVING 2017 at my house

David prepared the turkey, stuffing and dressing, and I did all the sides, the pies came from Halls.

Christa and Nik came a bit early to continue working on sorting through the bins of her stuff that I brought from Oneonta.

The guest list was   Carrie and I
                                Christa and Nikolai (and Riley)
                                Karra
                                David, Peggy and Scott
and my cousin Becky showed up at the last minute, just before we sat down to eat, so
we set a spot for her.

The menu was turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, cranberry sauce,
muffins, devilled eggs and fruit whip salad.  Everything was delicious esp the pies: apple, pumpkin (with Davids REAL whipped cream), blueberry and chocolate peanut butter.

After everyone else left, I had to say my goodbyes to Christa and Nik.  It was their last night in Lockport.

Niagara Falls,NY with Nik and Christa (including some urbex)

Nikolai said he probably had been to Niagara Fall as a young child but he could not remember anything about that trip.  Peggy took a day off from work in order to accompany us to the falls.

We left late in the morning and headed to the falls.  We viewed the falls from the lookout at Prospect Point.  I took a few pictures.

 By then we were getting hungry, but we decided not to eat in the tourist area near the falls.  We stopped and had lunch at the Olive Garden on Military Road.  It was very good.  After lunch, we went to a BED, BATH and BEYOND and I purchased three large WORKING HANDS cream,

and  I gave one to Christa and one to Nikolai.

On the way back to Lockport, I suggested we stop at the Nikei Air Base and show the remains to Christa and Nik.  We were able to go into one of the buildings, which used to be the administration building or headquarters.

We arrived home close to four p.m.  Mike called and asked if Christa was around and said yes and he asked if he and Janie could come over.  They did and we visited for a while.  After they left, I served supper (tortilla chicken soup) around seven p.m.  I gave Christa and Nik the rest of their Christmas gifts (the bat flashlight for him and vintage Christmas ornaments for her)    It was a great day

November 22, 2016 with Christa and Nicolai

I prepared breakfast for Christa and Nik (scrambled eggs, home fries with bacon, english muffins and cinnamon rolls)

We went to the geocache site (A Bridge to Nowhere) so they could see the old mill ruins, then to Upson Parks where there are more ruins, then to Grimbles, and then to see the big bridge and locks.

 I tried to reach my brother Mike at the police station but he was not there.  We went to Lake Effect Ice Cream

and then to the antique shop on the corner of Main and Cottage Street.

When we got back to my place, I laid down for a bit, and Christa also took a nap.  Nik was on the phone for a while resolving work issues.

We met up with Peggy at HONG KONG BUFFET for supper.

November 21, 2016 with Christa and Nikolai

My youngest daughter and her fiancee arrived late last night and are staying at a local hotel.  We agreed to get together at my house for breakfast.  I was getting really hungry waiting for them, but they finally arrived.

and

 we enjoyed a breakfast of oven blueberry pancakes, fruit and hash browned potatoes.  I had prepared bacon but forgot to bring it to the table.

We spent a good portion of the day going through some bins of Christa.s belongings that I brought from our old house in West Laurens.  

I had bbq pork ribs in the crockpot and pineapple stuffing for supper that evening.  

Joint Service with Refuge Temple and BUFFALO CELEBRATES ISRAEL (Sunday 11/20/16)

This morning Faith Tabernacle and Refuge Temple (a black congregation in Lockport) held a joint service at Faith Tab.  The sanctuary was pretty full.  The service was really good.  Here is Pastor Craig with Pastor Mark Sanders.

Nobody really preached.  They conversed and asked each other questions.  I was particularly impressed when Craig asked Mark about racism.  He said that Satan causes racism in order to keep people divided.  

Later on in the day I met up with Peggy and Vicky and the other Carolyn in order to go to an event in Buffalo.  BUFFALO CELEBRATES ISRAEL, at The Tabernacle, sponsored by Eagles Wings.  

Peg had arranged to use the church van to take a larger group, but several people cancelled due to the bad weather.  She decided to use her car instead.

It was a wonderful gathering of Christians and Jews and a good opportunity for Christians to show their support for Israel.

Here is Ambassador Dani Dayan, the Consul General of Israel to New York.   He was the keynote speaker.

The service ended a little after eight p.m. and we headed back to Lockport.  

Thanksgiving Dinner at the First English Lutheran Church

Once again, Bonnie invited me to the Thanksgiving dinner at her church.  Elaine picked me up and then we picked Nancy up.  We met Sue F. there.

The meal was served buffet style and everything was delicious!  Besides Elaine and Bonnie and I there was another LSHS l967 graduate at our table, and we had fun reminiscing about teachers in Jr. and Sr. High.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Faith Tabernacle: 11/17/16

Once again Faith Tabernacle held two nights of a turkey dinner with entertainment, open to the public.

I helped by cooking a turkey at home, making a HUGE batch of brownies and helping to peel potatos with the Tuesday  morning Bible study ladies, laying tablecloths and rolling silverware in napkins.

I invited Megan Fredericks, Chickie and Betty.  We met up at the church and were lucky to find a table with four available seats since the tables were mostly full when we arrived.

Craig opening the event............

The guest speaker

The meal was great, and so was the entertainment.

Volunteers Brunch at the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village

My friend Pam and I did some volunteer work for the museum this past August (The Scottish Festival on a VERY hot day).  We were invited to this event to honor volunteers which took place from nine until noon at the museum.

Upon arrival each guest was given a small gift and a ticket to put in for drawings for various items.  There were speakers and a few awards.   The Quilters Guild showed a quilt that they made, a reproduction from a l849 quilt.  Here is the original quilt

and here is the one they recently completed: 

A very nice brunch was served, and then athey drew names for the prizes.

Pam and I walked around outside and I took a few pictures of some of the buildings.   

and we looked at some of the inside exhibits.

We stopped at NIAGARA PRODUCE before heading back to Lockport. 

11/11/16 Delivering Christmas Shoe Boxes

Once again, I helped Peggy load up and deliver the Christmas Shoe Boxes to the Methodist Church in Pendleton, NY  Here are the Faith Tab boxes:

Before going back to Faith Tab, we stopped and had the buffet lunch at PIZZA HUT.

11/7/16 Pams Birthday Lunch and Fall Walk

I missed Pam's birthday last week, so I offered to take her out to lunch today.  She agreed and she chose TACO BELL, which she really likes.  We met there and we both had a BURRITO BOWL.  After that, we decided it was too nice a day to NOT do something else.  I suggested that we meet down  near WIDEWATERS on the canal and take a walk.  

We had a nice walk and I took several pictures.

Three Bazaar Adventure

There were MANY MANY bazaars and fall festivals in area churches today.  Plans changed many times, but I met Elaine, Nancy and Peggy at Covenant Church of Christ in Gasport for the first one.  I purchased several butternut squash and a Christmas snowman banner.

Peggy and I then went to St Andrews Church in Burt, NY.  I purchased a light up snowman.  We split a chicken and biscuit lunch, which was very good!

Then we went on to Wilson to a different church.  I had been looking for something Christmasy to hang up in my family room, and I was fortunate enough to find a red and green plaid tablecloth which i purchased for a dollar.

I followed Peggy back to Lockport and went home.  She went on to All Saints for their fall bazaar,.

Later on, Elaine picked me up and we went back to the church in Gasport to pick up turkey dinners.

The World of Christmas at Menne's Nursery in Amherst NY

Someone on facebook shared info about a grand opening for an annual  event called A WORLD OF CHRISTMAS at a place called Menne Nursery Garden Artistry in Amherst.  I think it was my sister in law, Janie.  I checked it out and it sounded very good so I called my friend Elaine and asked her if she was interested.  She had been before and loved it and said YES.  We agreed to leave late morning today and met up at my house and she drove.

A WORLD OF CHRISTMAS was marvelous!   Here are some pictures:

The actual nursery is also very nice.  Refreshments were offered in that area.

By the time we were finished at Mennes it was around two p.m. and we were both hungry for lunch.  Elaine suggested THE GRAPEVINE, which is just down the road.  She had been there before and liked it.

We both had one of the specials. crispy shrimp soft tacos with onion rings.  

It was very good!  

After our late lunch, we checked out Ellicott Creek Park,(both sides of the creek) and stopped to see the old casino;  

 And then we headed back to Lockport.  One last stop at LAKE EFFECT ICE CREAM where we each had three scoops.  I tried the coconut and it was delicious!

It was a great afternoon.