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.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017: Day One of Finger Lakes Trip

I picked Mary Ann up at 8:40 a.m and we headed out.  We hopped on the thruway and got off just past Geneva and then got on 20 (stopped in Waterloo to take pictures of a great ghost sign)

and then
drove down the west side of Cayuga Lake.

We went to Taughanack Falls State Park and had picnic lunch and then walked the
trail to the fall.  It is an easy trail and there were a lot of people using it today. 

then to Buttermilk Falls State Park.  The falls is at the entrance to the park, so hiking is not necessary.

only stayed  a few minutes. 

then drove to  Newfield to see a covered bridge,

and then to Montour Falls to see the falls

and looked for two geocaches (found one). 

then to wWatkins Glen to our lodging (a cabin at SENECA LODGE)

then looked for a restaurant, finally settling for __Curly's____  Family Restaurant.  I had eggplant parmesan and it was OK.....their was way  too much sauce and it was very thick. 

It was a long day, but good since we saw a LOT! 

Easter Weekend 2017

 It was a VERY BUSY WEEKEND.   In the middle of the week, Megan and Chris and my grandkids decided to come to Lockport for the weekend.  Megan said I could fix the kids Easter Baskets!!!!

Carrie arrived home around four p.m. on Saturday.  Megan and her family arrived at about 6:45 p.m.  Chris, the kids and I went to Lake Effect Ice Cream and they called that their supper. 

  I skipped church and prepared an oven pancake and served it with fruit for Sunday morning breakfast.   I gave the kids their Easter baskets as well as their Christmas gifts since I did not see them this past Christmas.    They used the air brush sets and seemed to enjoy them.  Then I suggested they choose a TUCO puzzle to put together. 

Chris was in the mood to do some household chores so he repaired a few things and

cleaned out the garage and even got the electric garage door opener working!

My guest list included Megan and family, Carrie, David and Peg, my cousins Becky

and Steven and Karra.  We enjoyed ham, pineapple stuffing, sweet potatoes, muffins,

corn, applesauce, mac and cheese and Chris made cheesy potatoes.  For desert there was carrot cake, chocolate peanut butter pie and strawberry rhubarb pie, as well as tapioca pudding.  The table and counter were not sufficient, so some of us ate in the living room. 

Chris encountered a mysterious chest in the back corner garage and pulled it out.  A few treasures were found.  I got a charge out of this childhood picture of me. 

A couple of other pics I took:

 As you can see, the weather was perfect!!!!

All in all it was a great day!!!! 

April 9, 2017 in Otsego County: Out and About with Carol

Carol and I packed a picnic lunch and headed out early this morning for Green Lakes State Park near Fayetteville, New York.  We arrived mid morning and started at the OFFICE where we picked up maps.  The girl working the front office said that it is the first nice day of the year and we should expect crowds.  We noticed that an event was scheduled to start at one p.m.  Then we explored the park via car in order to orient ourselves. 

We returned to the beach area and walked along the trail on one side of Green Lake.  I would say we walked about a mile and then we  turned back.  It is a beautiful trail!  There really were a lot of people in the park, jogging and hiking the trail.  Here are some pictures I took along the way:

When we were finished on our "hike", which was really not much of a hike since the
trail was SO smooth and easy (we passed a few people pushing strollers), we headed
back to the office to use the rest rooms, but the office had closed for the event. 

We decided to head to CHITTENANGO FALLS STATE PARK.  Along the way we
stopped at a NICE AND EASY to use the rest room.

Once we got to CHITTENANGO FALLS, we had a picnic lunch (sandwiches, chips
, cookies an cider.  And then we found the path to the top of the falls. 

Then we headed north towards Cazenovia where we went to two shops. On the way east
after leaving Cazenovia I saw a sign for STONE QUARRY ART PARK  so we checked it out but did not want to pay $5.00 each for admittance (it really did not look all that interesting). 

So, we headed towards New Berlin, taking some back roads, and stopped at a small store
on Tuscarora Lake (in Erieville, NY)

And then we continued on towards Carol's place stopping in Sherburne for gas.

4/8/17 in Otsego County

Carol and I headed into Oneonta to meet up with Connie.  We had some extra time so we stopped at the DOLLAR TREE first and then went to Panera where we met up with her.  She treated us to a great breakfast.  We all had "souffles" which were really not souffles, but which were very good.

                                                    Connie

Leslie joined us at about 11:15 (bringing me a TUCO puzzle) and we all visited or a while.

Leslie, Carol and I went geocaching and found THREE OUT OF THREE.!  Then Leslie headed for home.  One of the geocache was behind this:

Carol and I went into a new shop we noticed HIDDEN TREASURES.  Carol purchased a recliner which they are holding for her. 

We went back to Carol's house and rested up a bit and then went to Oxford for a lasagna dinner at one of the churches.  Then we found two geocaches.  Carol found this one: 

It was a great day!

4/7/17 Drive to Oneonta

I woke up to three to four inches of snow this morning but I didn't let that deter me from heading to Oneonta for a few days visit with Carol.  After I cleaned off my Subaru, I headed out, around 8:40 a.m.

First stop: Paula's Donuts
Second and Third Stops:  Along the thruway
Fourth:  Stewarts in Oneonta at 2:20 p.m.

I met with Linda at Stewarts and we visited for about an hour and a half and then I
went to see Betty P.   She and I had a nice visit.  While I was there, Carol called and
we decided that I would go to Brooks BBQ and pick up meals for her and I and then
meet her at her house. 

Our meals were delicious. 

We had a heck of a time figuring out how I could connect to her internet, but we
finally did it. 

PORTRAIT OF COURAGE

I attended this event with Peggy and David.  It was excellent!

APRIL FOOLS DAY 2017 Adventure with Peggy

I was reading the newest issue of  BUFFALO SPREE the other day and most of it was about the Polish neighborhood in Buffalo.  I came across a blurb about THE BROADWAY market and was
reminded that I have wanted to go there around Easter ever since I heard about it.  I immediately called Peggy and asked if she was free and she agreed to accompany me!!!

She picked me up and we headed to Buffalo. We found the place

without any problems and parked in the parking garage and walked to the escalator.  We were totally overwhelmed at how large and colorful and noisy it was!

We checked everything out, including sampling some sweet wines from a few area winerys.  We decided to get lunch at Babcia's Pierogies

because  they offered latkes.  However, by the time we got there, they were all out of them.  We got an order of pierogies

and shared them and then we each had a slice of warm placek.

Both were outstanding.  

Then we continued looking around.  We split up for  while and I purchased a CRYSTAL BEACH sucker and two hand painted Easter eggs.  Peggy purchased some sausage and some fresh fruit.    We met up at the top of the escalator and exited the market.  Then we went to Aldi's and Peg picked up the other items she needed.

We did some geocaching in the Larkinville area.........we found three geocaches. We did not take the log out of this nano since we thought it would be too difficult to replace.

And then we went to St. Stanislau Roman Catholic Church

which is the "most polish place in Buffalo" according to Buffalo Spree magazine.  Indeed, it is beautiful inside

and I took a lot of pictures and then we headed back to Lockport.  Peg dropped me off at my house.

Later on, I went to Peg and David's place for a spaghetti and meatball supper, it was very good.
It was a great day!!!!!