When fate hands us a lemon

let's try and make lemonade.  What a terrific piece of advice!   And it came from none other than Andrew Carnegie, the son of a Scottish weaver who emigrated to the US from the town of Dunfermline.

On this cold and cloudy day, Marty and I found ourselves in this very same town, where the locals consider this man to be quite the hero.  The town boasts The Carnegie Center, Carnegie Clinic and College of Hygiene as well as Carnegie Hall and the very first Carnegie library in the world.

Because it is winter, many of the historic sites are closed, but we were able to see the house where Carnegie was born as well as walk through the donated library in his name.

But this town is steeped in history that goes well back in time before the birth of this famous man. 

In the year 800, Christianity was introduced into Dunfermline.  In the early 1000's, Malcolm III married his wife, Margaret in this church and they welcomed the Benedictines to set up a priory here.  Margaret was paramount to introducing Catholicism in this town.  She was canonized as St. Margaret in 1093 and there is a memorial to her outside the abbey  for easy access to those making a pilgrimage here.  

The monastery ruins still stand, along with the ruins of the Royal Palace. Robert the Bruce was buried in the Dunfermline Abbey, and when renovations were being done in the early 1800's, his remains were found.  In tribute to him, his name adorns the bell tower.

The four sides say:  King Robert The Bruce.

On the same grounds stands The Abbot house which dates from the early 1400's.  Marty and I ate a scrumptious lunch inside while enjoying the view of the gardens from the inside.

There was a lovely park that we walked through, the paths winding through a wooded area that featured glimpses of the ancient abbey and the adjacent ruins. A stream ran through the park, surprising us with occasional small waterfalls as we walked along one of the trails.

After several hours walking around this historic and quaint village, we decided to head to Culross, another village that came highly recommended by the tourist center.  We certainly were not disappointed when we drove into this town and found ourselves being transported back in time with cobblestone streets and restored 16th and 17th century houses.

But first, we couldn't help but admire the view from the car park across the Firth of Forth.

We walked along the coastal path for awhile, and then decided to explore the village.

Most of the historical sites have closed for the winter, but were were able to stroll through the gardens of the 1575 palace that still stands in this town.  The garden was built in grades up the hill behind the palace.

We climbed up one terrace after another.  The view from the top was breathtaking.

 St. Mungo was born in this town in the mid 500's.  An Abbey was built for him in 1135 and it stands at the top of a hill overlooking the town.  Marty and I made the climb up to the top to see the abbey and the ruins of what was once a monastery.  We found it fascinating to realize that Christianity was already a part of life in this area as early as the year 500.

The skies get dark quite early at this time of year, so Marty and I headed down the hill to the Red Lion Inn where we enjoyed a scrumptious dinner among the locals.  The entire atmosphere was quite entertaining.

After strolling to our car while admiring the night view across the firth, we began the trip home.  I'll admit that I was a bit nervous with Marty behind the wheel, but he had set up his phone as a GPS and I felt confident that we would get back to our hotel without issue.

Well, there were a few tense moments on my part when the GPS suggested that we should travel up a dirt road (which we ignored) and it appeared to be taking us a very strange, out of the way back.  We did finally arrive, safe and sound, at the hotel, but driving those roads in the pitch black, on the opposite side of the highway seemed quite harrowing at times.

When we got back to our room,  and were planning tomorrow's adventure, Marty realized that he had his phone GPS set for pedestrian mode.  That explained why it was attempting to lead us onto walking trails.
Believe me, we won't be making that mistake again!

Sunset over Edinburgh

Notice the title?  SUNSET over Edinburgh.  That would imply that there was sun to set.  That's saying alot for Edinburgh, Scotland, where the locals will tell you that they rarely see the sun.

So, we were once again lucky to have a brilliant blue sky today to accompany the sun.  The weather was cold, but not very windy, so it was pretty comfortable walking around the town.

I decided to take advantage of days like these and explore outdoor activities while the weather cooperated.  So, today I took the train into Edinburgh and headed to the Royal Botanical Gardens.  It was quite a hike, but walking through Edinburgh's New Town is a pleasant experience in itself. And there was the added excitement of spotting a memorial to James Maxwell of "Maxwell Equation" fame.

It might seem a bit crazy touring gardens in the middle of winter, but with free admission, what did I have to lose?  I was surprised to see some of the very old trees totally uprooted.  A week or two ago, Edinburgh experienced high winds in excess of 100 miles per hour.  We had noticed damage in other areas, but the wrath of this storm was obvious by the number of old trees laying on their sides with the roots exposed.  There was no rhyme or reason as to which trees suffered from the storm.  It was as if someone went through and picked random trees while others were spared. As a result, quite a few areas of the gardens were blocked off for safety reasons.  But there were plenty of paths to walk along and admire the beauty of this special place.

One item of interest was the Queen Mother's Garden, a memorial to Great Britains's Queen Mother.  There is a stone pavilion at the end of the garden which holds a plaque in memory to her.  The interior is most unusual with the ceiling being constructed out of pine cones and the walls being inlaid with sea shells.

I don't know who came up with such an unusual idea, but someone obviously had a LOT of time on their hands in putting that together!

While walking along the paths, I spotted some more of those unusual trees that my friend Jennifer informs me are called  Monkey Puzzle Trees.  Here you see a little one and one that is obviously much older.

There was quite a lot of activity along the paths in the garden, as the locals come out to enjoy the tranquility.  One man approached me and began to ask me what had happened to a particular plant that usually grew in one of the gardens.  Of course, there'd be no way I would be privy to that information!

Soon, I realized that I needed to move on from the trees and songbirds and make my way back to the Royal Mile where I had set up a meeting point with Marty.  The girl at the desk showed me a much quicker route back to the Old town.  It involved a lot of uphill hiking, but it was worth it when I arrived at my destination much quicker than I had anticipated.

We toured "The Real Mary King's Close" which took us under the streets of Edinburgh and showed us what life would have been in the 16th and 17th centuries in Edinburgh.  The tour was quite enlightening, and the guide was very entertaining.  Marty and I were one of the few English speaking people on the tour, so we could appreciate the obvious humor that was directed at us.

After the tour, we popped into the National Library of Scotland just to take a peek.  Then, we headed to the same restaurant where I had lunched yesterday. The waiter was kind enough to give us the seat next to the window.  Marty and I enjoyed a fabulous meal while watching a beautiful sunset over Edinburgh.  Certainly a memory not soon forgotten.

We've Only Just Begun...

I forgot to mention, that every morning in the hotel restaurant, we find ourselves immersed in music from the early 70's:  Karen Carpenter,  Neil Sedaka, some Johnny Cash. The same music repeated every day.  The experience is so predictable that we can take bets on what's coming next.  Personally, I find it pretty amusing and am amazed that I remember nearly all of the words to every song that we hear.  Marty, on the other hand, doesn't seem to favor the same musical tastes as I do and if it weren't for the scrumptious porridge that he knew awaited his arrival, he'd probably insist that we grab something quick and get away from the music.

So for now, Marty is subjected to watching me bop my head to the music, often singing along, while he enjoys his porridge.  Hey, it could be a LOT worse!

Breakfast was even more exciting today when our waiter  surprised us with a big bowl of fruit, including grapefruits, bananas, grapes and strawberries, along with a scrumptious tray of some Scottish cheese, one resembling a Stilton and the other similar to a Brie.  Yummy!

Today's adventure involved taking the train into Edinburgh.   We picked this hotel because it was within walking distance of the Kirkcaldy Station.  I was surprised to find it was only a block away.  So, I headed out, and with the help of some locals, I managed to get off at Waverly Station in Edinburgh.  I found myself at the opposite point of my intended destination, and so began my day of walking.

The weather was fabulous.  A bit nippy, but not a cloud in the bright blue sky. It was the perfect day for walking around, and I took advantage of that and decided to walk up Calton Hill, something we missed on our August trip.  Before climbing the steps to the top, I popped my  head into the Old Calton Cemetery Grounds and spotted Abraham Lincoln.  I was intrigued by his presence in Edinburgh and soon found out that he stands upon a memorial to the Scottish Soldiers that fought for the Union during the Civil War.

Leaving the cemetery I headed towards the long set of steps that lead to the top of Calton Hill. Looking up, it's hard to miss what appears to be Greek columns at the very top of the hill. This is actually the National Monument and it was erected to honor the men who died during the Napoleonic wars.  It was never completed due to lack of funding.

With the weather being so accommodating, I could really enjoy the sights on the hill and those from the hill as well.  

The monuments look striking with the bright blue background

                                   

 and the sky was clear enough to see for many miles.

                                       

My next item on the agenda was to walk to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Although the day would have been perfect to stroll through that park, I decided to forego that adventure since I  had read that the Greyfriars church was a must see, and in the winter it is only open one day a week, on Thursday,  from 1:30 to 3:30. Since this would be my one opportunity to visit this venue, and since it is on the opposite side of  the town, I decided to head in that direction.  My plan was to visit the church then head to the National Museum and possibly have lunch in the cafe.

Much to my surprise, I made it to my intended destination with over half an hour to spare.  So, I walked up and down the street looking for somewhere that looked good to have a bite to eat, and I actually ended up in a restaurant that had no name on the outside. The host was quite welcoming and I immediately felt comfortable with stopping here for a bite to eat.

The man led me to a table that was next to a party of five, and I wondered why he squeezed me in so close when there were so many other tables open.  He had me sit on a cushy sofa and pushed the table in front of me.  I took a look at my surroundings, and when I looked to the left,  I realized just why he had given me that seat.

Can you believe the view !  There is no way from the street that one could predict that this little restaurant was situated in such a way that one could admire the castle on the hill.  How fabulous!

And, the food was excellent, too!

After enjoying every bite and relaxing for a few minutes, I headed out, around the corner, to the Greyfriar's church only to find it closed. I questioned a workman on the grounds, since the sign distinctly showed the same hours that I had expected, and very soon the proprietor came out to tell me that the church would only be open for services since there were renovations being completed during the winter.  He suggested that I come back next Thursday at 1:00 for the service, and then I could admire the interior.  Forget that idea!

Luckily, the National Museum is literally across the street.  With the admittance being free, one would find it hard to come up with an excuse not to explore this vast expanse of historical items.  In fact, I was a bit overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. The museum takes up a full block in one building.  One could wander around for days, I'm certain of that!

I decided to stay in the Scottish history section, although I did find myself among hanging sea animals at one point.  Must have wandered off the Scottish Trail!  I attempted to make some sort of rationale out of the order of items.  I began to wonder if the displays were set up similar to the driving.  Since Scots drive on the opposite side of the road than we do, does one read library artifacts from right to left instead of vica versa?  I decided that it didn't really make much difference. It just didn't seem to follow a timeline.  One minute I was looking at a replica of Mary Queen of Scot's coffin, and just behind my shoulder was a door frame from Kirkcaldy with the year 1756 emblazed in gold on the top.  If you know your history, it's obvious that the two events are not related.  I only managed to get through three floors of Scottish history, which encompasses less than a quarter of this place.  I may put it on one of my rainy day lists as a possibility.  That will depend on how my feet hold out!

The plan was to meet Marty at the Balmoral Hotel at 6:30 p.m. The museum closed at 5:00 but by 4:45 I felt it was time to head out.  My intent was to stroll slowly and try to bide some time on the way.  The destination was quite a distance from the museum, and I figured that I'd use up a lot of time walking.

Despite stopping along the way to take photos of the Castle at Dusk,

and popping into some stores to do some window shopping, I arrived at the Balmoral at 5:20p.m.
My slow-walking idea was foiled when I soon realized that when one strolls along in this town, one is approached by a variety of people wanting you to have a bite at their restaurant, see their show, buy their garments, etc.  I couldn't be bothered dealing with this harassment and decided that it was best to ask for mercy from the Balmoral and see if there was some place where I could "hang out" until Marty arrived for dinner.

In a nutshell, the Balmoral is a "fancy schmancy" place to visit.  The Maitre d' is dressed in a tuxedo, and had a thick french accent.  Our waiter had one as well, but I honestly think it was fake.

In any event, the staff set me up at the Palm Court tea room where I enjoyed a delightful pot of Earl grey tea, with, much to my surprise, arrived with three of their delectable, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies.  Really, could you ask for more?  

Well, it appears that Marty could:

These boots were made for walking!

All I have to say is that I sure am glad that I bought new walking boots prior to this trip.  They have kept my feet quite happy, although my legs have issued a complaint or two.  But, isn't that what they make Advil for?

Yesterday involved long distance walking again, but first there was breakfast.  We were greeted enthusiastically by our Scottish waiter who was eager to please us yet today.  I ordered the porridge with Maple syrup and Marty and his co-worker chose Savory. After taking our order, the waiter mentioned that he had made a special purchase of peanut butter, just for us, and would we like some?  Well, he was bubbling with excitement as he asked and I am glad that Marty told him that he would love to have some peanut butter.   The man couldn't bring the jar over fast enough!   He must have thought that Peanut Butter was something that these Americans couldn't live without.  When we were finished eating, he asked if there was anything special that he could get for us for tomorrow, and I mentioned that I would love some fruit...perhaps a banana.  You could see the excitement in his face as he said "no problem, I'll go pick some up."  We're certainly looking forward to what tomorrow's breakfast brings!

After breakfast, I once again took to the streets, intending to just walk through the town. Soon, I  found myself at the information center, where I had a lovely chat with the woman whom I had met two days earlier there.  She gave me some advice to follow, then mentioned that I might like to continue down the coastal path to a point where I would be able to see seals on the rocks, very near the shore.

I was excited about this prospect, and I walked along the Coastal Path for what seemed to be an eternity.  I so wanted to see seals that I couldn't help but wonder if what I was peering at in the distance was exactly that.  But, it seemed to me that I would hear them and that there would be some sort of movement involved.

I came to a large stone structure, and the path seemed to have disappeared.  Continuing on would require stomping through muddy grass up and down an embankment, and, once again, I decided that was not in my best interest, so I turned around.

On my way back, I encountered  several people who were walking along the path with their dogs.  I asked one man about the seals and he said that I would have had to continue just another 3 or 4  minutes to see them, but the tide was in, and the seals were not out.  And, he went on to say that the rest of the path was a muddy mess and that I had made the right decision to turn around.

I thanked him and continued on my way when, suddenly, the cutest Cairn terrier came rushing towards me and jumped up on my leg enthusiastically. His owners were horrified.  Apologies came spewing from their lips as they explained that they had only owned  "Tom" about 3 months, having rescued him, and he was having difficulty learning  not to jump on people.  I laughed and told them it was perfectly OK.  She looked at the muddy marks on my pants, and said that it was a good thing that I was wearing black.  We chatted a few minutes while Tom was perfectly content running through the brushes along the path.  The owner had mentioned that the vet called Tom a "Wee lovely little dog" and I just couldn't help but agree.

My legs were aching by now, so when a set of stairs appeared along the path, I made my way up them into a new development of houses. I couldn't help but admire the view that these people would see everyday out of their back windows.  It is simply breathtaking!

When I noticed that I was in a maze of houses, I stopped and asked  a man for directions to the road, and he kindly steered me towards the main road and soon I found myself in familiar territory on my way back to the hotel.

At first, I was a bit disappointed that I had walked so far and missed the objective.  But once I was in my warm and cozy room, sipping a nice cup of Earl Grey tea while nibbling on a shortbread biscuit, I couldn't help but smile, thinking of the people that I had encountered today and how welcoming they had all been.

Despite the wind and the drizzle, it was a delightful day!

The Royal Burgh of Dysart

The day began with breakfast at the hotel:  The best bowl of porridge that I have ever tasted, made by the waiter himself, an older, Scottish  gentlemen.  At first, he was quite taken aback by my request.  He even asked if I planned to have the full traditional Scottish breakfast (eggs, bacon, link sausage and baked beans) after the porridge.   I assured him that the porridge in itself would be plenty. He asked if I wanted it sweet or savory.  "By all means, sweet!", I told him.  Marty and his co-worker, who had joined us, followed my lead and ordered the same.

In short time, this delightful man returned with our choice. Just one taste solved the mystery, in my mind,  as to why  Goldilocks felt the need to taste 3 bowls of the stuff.  (Was Goldi Scottish?)

When I complimented the man on the taste, he blushed, and went on to describe just how he had personally made it.  He had taken the order to the Chef, but the chef is Indian and he scoffed at our request.  So, the waiter, being from Aberdeen, made the porridge just as his mother would have.  Or so he says. He also mentioned that he makes several varieties of porridge, so Marty and I are looking forward to tasting some more of his handiwork.


Little did I know that I would need that filling breakfast to sustain me as I headed out  for the the Royal Burgh of Dysart.  It was quite a hike, but well worth the miles.  I walked along the coastal trail, enjoying the beautiful views of the firth and admiring the many houses of old.

The weather was tolerable:  A bit windy, overcast, and an occasional sprinkle.  Typical  Scottish weather.

My foot travels took me through the town of Kirkcaldy to the Coastal Path which, as its name implies, winds along the coast of the Firth of Forth.  Sea Gulls scream as one admires the beauty of the sea.  The locals take advantage of this path and I spotted many a dog out for a walk, off leash, along the trail.

The ruins to Ravenscraig Castle are along the trail, standing since the year 1460.  This is one of the first castles built to withstand cannon fire. Defensive walls still stand along the coast, with the water lapping up against the sides during high tide.  I didn't venture into the ruins of the castle, but continued on towards my intended destination of Dysart.

I soon realized that I would need to walk through a rather dark tunnel in order to continue on the path.  I had seen several people with dogs at this point, and it was apparent that they had come through this same tunnel, but I was a bit nervous, at first, about entering.  But, going back would require a huge hike, and I had been walking for well over an hour at this point, so I peered through, saw light, gulped hard, and ventured inside.

When I came out of the other side, I found myself in the quaint little fishing town of Dysart.  Cobblestone streets leading along a high wall on one side with a harbor dating back to the 17th century along the firth.  A variety of sailboats were scattered in the water and walls of the harbor.

I headed to the Harbormaster's house where I rested my feet while I enjoyed a delightful Scottish vegetable barley soup with a piece of dark bread.  Just what I needed to rekindle my energy.   Oh, and a cup of tea with a lovely Scottish shortbread cookie that melted in my mouth.  Yumm!

Re-energized, I went out to explore the remainder of the town.  St. Serf's Tower looms over the town.  It stands 80 ft. high and was both a steeple for the church and a defensive tower.  I had read that the top offered an outstanding view, but the place seemed to be closed up and I wasn't willing to investigate any further since I was by myself.

I continued up the road and through the red-pantiled houses at Pan Ha', some of which date back to the 16th century, making quite a picturesque seen.

My ventures then took me up the hill towards the center of the town when I realized that the tourist map icons did not line up with the streets as marked.  But, I was able to spot the old Tolbooth built in 1576, the Old Scottish Dysart Kirk and the WWI Memorial outside.

A little more walking and I found the Carmelite Monastery where several sisters stood outside talking and I inquired about a Catholic Church in the area.  They were eager to assist me, and even mentioned that there was a 9:00 Mass at the Chapel in the Monastery on Sunday, if we were interested in attending that.

I then began my treck back to the hotel.  The weather had gotten colder and misty and my feet were getting pretty tired at this point.  I couldn't help but be in awe at the beauty of the firth as I walked along one of the stone walls that is built along the top of the hill.  Truly magnificent, and well worth the effort that I made to seek this place out.

The streets in these towns can often be likened to a maze.  I was lucky to have picked up some maps at the tourist info center or I certainly would still be attempting to find my way back.  At this point, I was eager to take the shortest route, and I was checking my map to see when to make the next turn.  A local woman spotted me and asked if I was lost. I merely told her what street I was looking for, and she told me that I was a long way off  (which I had already figured out), but she was out for a walk and would be happy to step along with me for awhile.  Which she did, and we had a delightful conversation along the way, with her showing me some of the different types of housing.  She was curious as to why I would walk so far and not just take a bus.

Walking not only gives you time to admire the beauty of a scene.  It also helps to work off  the calories in that exceptionally delicious shortbread cookie that I had treated myself to after lunch.  And, perhaps, a few more? Let's hope so!

Luck be a Lady

We arrived safely in Edinburgh where the weather was a Big surprise.  We are quite lucky that this week is supposed to be temperate and sunny.  We'll see how that holds out.

Marty needed a rental car for the trip.  Somewhere in the back of my head, I remembered  once stating that I would never get in a car in Great Britain with Marty as the driver again, but that fear must have subsided, because I felt quite comfortable with the trip from the airport to our hotel.  It took about 30 minutes and he maneuvered those roundabouts as if he were a real pro!

Marty was so shocked at the cost of the GPS on his last trip, that he decided to download the GPS software to his i-phone.  You'd have thought he discovered gold or something the way he carried on when the phone spoke out directions in a woman's British accent.  We arrived at our hotel in Kirkcaldy, Scotland after about 30 minutes drive.

We checked in early and headed up to see the room prior to bringing in the luggage.  I was disappointed to find a room that looked quite worn and tattered, nothing like the photos on the web.  And,  to top it off, the view featured an auto dealership.  Somehow, the thought of 12 nights in this place gave me the doldrums.  Then, I realized that none of the lights worked and the room was freezing cold, colder than outside.  So, we headed down to the receptionist's desk to inquire about the lighting.  While she sent someone to check out the room, I was further disappointed to hear that the free wi-fi mentioned on the web, was only in the lobby.  Things were looking worse.

The owner came over to the desk with his wife, and the receptionist mentioned that she was working on getting us a different room.  I laughed and commented that I was glad that we didn't need to freeze, and then added that I was glad that we didn't have to freeze in a dark room. The owner's wife appreciated my humor in the situation .

Suddenly, the owner told the receptionist to give us a free upgrade.  I thanked him and we headed off to our new room, this time in an executive suite.

Wow!  What a difference!  Huge room, huge bathroom, all new facilities, and free wi-fi!

The view?   Well, I'll be quite honest and admit that  I could stare at the auto dealer, but the proximity of the room opens up a whole different view to the left, which I choose to admire should I decide to peak out of the window!

Yep!  Luck was with us today!

Perfect Timing

You may or not know that I am a church decorator.  Have been for nearly 14+ years. This year's Christmas season was a bit of a challenge because we knew that our newest grandson would be arriving and we wanted to be able to skip town and help out the new mom.

This year I was fortunate to have several people volunteer to help me out, particularly after one of the priests announced that I was desperate for help.  I had a plan from the beginning of Dec., so that I could be assured that everything went up according to schedule.

The new baby actually was quite accommodating, arriving at the end of December, after the Church decorating was complete.  This gave  Marty and myself a week to help out the new parents before  leaving for home just in time for the Epiphany, which was the scheduled take down date.

Recently, my husband has been traveling frequently, and he was anxious to have me come along on his next trip, which he scheduled for departure on Jan. 8, the feast of the Epiphany.  At first, I declined, because I wasn't sure when or how long my services would be needed to help out the new parents.  But as the events played out, I was able to get a ticket to accompany Marty on this trip to Scotland.

To pull this off, we had to make the 10 hour drive home, take down our live Christmas tree, do laundry, pay bills, pack and have everything in the car so that we could leave directly from the church take down the next day.

We had a scheduled evening flight, but this required us to leave the area no later than 2:00 to be certain that we would get to the airport on time.  I contacted my help via e-mail, and gave them the details of all that needed to come down and set a time of 1:00, when the noon mass finished, to begin the huge job.  Imagine my surprise when I walked into the church and it was obvious that Mass was no way finished.  The last song wasn't over until 1:20!

O.K., I'll admit that I got a little eager and worked my way through the exiting crowd (I was nice and said excuse me!) to get to the Nativity figures so that I could use many hands to get them carried out of the church.  So, there I was, busily removing figures,  and I see a camera flash.  Groups of people were standing around the Nativity all looking at me as if I had committed murder.  One woman lamented that she didn't get her Christmas photo of the Nativity this year, because of my quick action.

Did I feel bad?  Hell NO!  And you know what?  None of the people who were there to help me felt bad either.  Once we started, nothing was stopping us.  We ran around like crazy people, attempting to get every last item down before Marty and I  needed to hit the road. We accomplished a phenomenal amount in 45 minutes time.  I walked out, as planned, at 2:00 and left the crew to finish things up.

We made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare.  And as I write this, I am sitting in a hotel in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, where the sun was blazing today, the sky was blue, and the air was crisp.  Better enjoy it while I can!

New Year Festivities

Although life is filled with unpredictability, I tend to enjoy tradition, especially at the holidays.  I can't explain the reason behind it, but, somehow, I feel that reliving the same special idiosyncrasies brings me comfort.  Perhaps it's the predictability that offers some sort of control that is often lost in the crazy adventures of life.

Today is New Year's Day, 2012.  But, if you were here with me, you'd never know that we passed from one year to the next.

Traditionally, we stay up late on New Year's Eve, watching an old movie and attempting to see a few minutes of a countdown in the final minutes of the year.  We sip chocolate milkshakes, always made by Marty according to his "famous" recipe.  We listen to the singing of Auld Lang Syne in the background.  We call family and wish them "Happy New Year".  We start off the new year at Mass, then come home and watch parades on television anxiously smelling the enticing aroma of Pork and Sauerkraut wafting from the kitchen.

But, this year, Marty decided that the traditional chocolate milkshake should be made with store brand - artificially flavored non-fat frozen yogurt, chocolate syrup and skim milk.  The end result was an unusually flavored, watery concoction that tasted nothing like what I had enjoyed in the past.  Marty thought they tasted great, which leads me to wonder whether or not I am actually a good cook, since he generally likes what I make for dinner. He obviously doesn't have the same culinary palate that I have.

There was no television to watch. No ringing of bells.  No midnight telephone calls.  No Singing.
We went to bed at 10:30 p.m.  No Pork. No Sauerkraut.

Sure, we went to Mass, but today is Sunday, and we would have gone anyway.

And although all of this seems very strange, the reason behind the change, is a tiny infant, born new to the world, just three days ago.  A new year in his life began on Thursday. And, being able to be here and enjoy his first days out in the world means more to me than any of the previously mentioned traditions.

Happy New Year!

It doesn't get any sweeter than this

Marty and I made the trip to Bristol, VA to see our newest grandson.  The title says it all.

Making Time for Memories

Christmas in our house brings back memories of movies that we love to watch every year, no matter how many times that we have seen them.  You know the favorites:  Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, Christmas in Connecticut, just to mention a few.

This year was no exception, and one of the standouts in this house has been "A Muppet Christmas Carol".   One needs a particular sense of humor to really enjoy the Muppets, but this family seems to have what it takes to laugh our heads off when immersed in one of their creations.  When we realized that there was a new Muppet movie in the theaters, the girls and I decided that today would be an excellent opportunity for all of us to go together to the theater to see it, something we rarely do.

The first challenge was finding a theater that was actually running the movie.   The fact that the film seemed to have disappeared from so many venues was, in itself, quite comical, since the premise of the new movie is that the Muppets have been forgotten, and are attempting to stage a comeback.  Easy come....easy go, I suppose.

But, as luck would have it, there was a theater in Lititz that was still featuring The Muppets, so we all headed out and even brought along a family friend to be part of the fun.

And, fun it was.  Between Amy and Stacey on one end, and me on the other, our friend couldn't  help but get caught up in the laughter as we howled through so many scenes in the movie.  Memories for the making.  

The photo features three time clocks on the wall of the theater.  It does appear that Lancaster is 30 seconds behind or ahead of the other two towns.  Unfortunately, I cannot tell you the significance of these three clocks on the wall.  I'd like to think that they are a reminder to us to make time for memories.

Oh Christmas Tree!

For those of you wondering if the tree fit in the room.  Here's the proof:

The truth be told:  one could easily hide behind this tree and be comfortably resting on the sofa, sipping a drink, or taking a nap.

Just for the record, I haven't had the luxury of being the hider.....

But, being the seeker, I've learned to peek around the tree when I need assistance!

Merry Christmas to all!

Tree Time!

We look forward to Christmas break when Marty, Amy and I jump in the car and make the trip to Becktree Christmas tree farm in search of the perfect Christmas tree to adorn our family room.  This year was no exception, and yesterday was the appointed day for the fun experience.

Unfortunately, we had a late start, and the day clouded over early, and there was a huge traffic jam on the highway.  Marty wanted to turn around and go home, certain that it would be too dark for us to go out walking among the trees.   But we managed to detour along a much longer route, and made it with half an hour to spare until closing.  We popped out of the car and the man in charge stated, "It's getting dark!"

No kidding! (I thought)  I suppose it is his job to advise the customers.  But he had no problem handing over a saw and cart to Marty, so we hiked into the trees at record speed.

It usually takes us an hour to find a tree.  We each spot one we like, and then we all critique it, attempting to decide whose choice is the best.  But, surprisingly enough, with dusk quickly approaching, we had no problem spotting a tree that we all liked in less than 15 minutes time.

The farm policy is to drill a hole in the bottom and bundle the tree with twine before handing it to Marty to strap on top of the car.

So, tonight, when Marty brought in the tree and cut the twine, Amy gasped and wondered just what we were thinking.  I suggested that we turn out the lights to see if the tree  looked like it did yesterday at dusk.  We tweaked and turned, and in no time, the branches settled, and we all decided that, once again, we brought home the "perfect" tree.  I'm just hoping that there is some space for us in the same room!

Thanksgiving "Bonding"

My husband enjoys hockey, and every year, he attempts to try to persuade me to come along to a local game with him.  I generally manage to convince him that he needs some quality father-daughter bonding time and that I don't need to tag along.

So, with both girls home for the Thanksgiving weekend, Marty thought this would be the perfect opportunity for us to attend a game.  Somehow, through the process of searching for tickets, he mentioned that it was actually cheaper for him to get the family 4-pack special rather than just three seats for the game.  So, I relented and agreed to join in on "the fun".

Now, my husband and I have a different way of looking at these "great deals".  After some questioning on my part, he admitted that the total cost for the family 4-pack was actually $3.00 more than just three tickets.

But, these were better seats, according to him.  Then we found out that the 4-pack included 4 hot dogs and 4 sodas as well.  Not quite the deal for someone who doesn't eat hot dogs or drink soda,  but I'll admit that if one has a stomach of steel, this just may be a great deal.

Of course, we had to leave in plenty of time to avoid the crowds.  As luck would have it, there were only about 6 cars in the outside lot  when we arrived (come to think of it, there were plenty of spaces when we left as well.) so the girls and I found ourselves sitting in our seats with 40 minutes to pass the time until the game began.

Our seats were right smack in the middle of a row, and by the time the game began,  it was obvious that the crowd attendees were a unique group.  Most were large, loud, and generally obnoxious.   When they didn't like a ref call,  the stadium crew would play some background music to a familiar tune where the people would chant "Bad Call, Bad Call.  Ref you SUCK!"  I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head!

We left after the second period, partly because the team was down by four points, partly because the crowd was constantly cursing the refs, and Marty realized that this was not the family-fun adventure that he had been dreaming of.  But it wasn't a wasted evening. Marty mentioned that this was the last local Hockey game that he planned on attending.  Woo hoo!  That certainly gets me off the hook.

Upgrade?

We rolled into the hotel in Strasburg rather late, only to find that our room that we reserved over the internet was not available

But, have no fear!  We were offered an upgraded room with a king size bed, which, much to our surprise came in a rather large room, about double the size of our last stay.

We were feeling quite happy with our luck, and just about ready to settle in for the night.
I went to use the bathroom, and the door knob came out in my hand.  I cracked up laughing, tried to fix it, but could not get the handle to stay on.  And, the door wouldn't close (old house....warped doors), so I asked Marty to come and fix it.
He couldn't seem to make it work either, when he noticed that the top hinge to the door had come out of the jam, which is why the door wouldn't close.

In the meantime, he finally came up with the solution of turning the door knob around, so that we could pull up while closing the door, which solved the problem temporarily.   In the morning, handyman Marty retrieved a screwdriver from the car, and fixed the door like new. (well, OK, not like new, but it at least works now)

Went to take a shower, and found the little bottle of courtesy shampoo was nearly empty.  Luckily, had some of my own to use.

Now your probably wondering what the perks of the "Free upgrade" were.

Well, let me just tell you, the bed was fabulous, and we had an awesome night's sleep.  Having spent the last two nights squeezed onto a full size futon, this was like being in heaven!

Bristol

Here's a little Geography lesson for you about Bristol.

People often ask me, "Is that Bristol VA or Bristol, TN?"  Well, now I know why.  Although I was aware of the fact that Bristol TN was right across the state border from Bristol, VA, I had not realized that the middle of State Street actually separates the two cities and states.

The above sign shows that one side of the street is in Virginia, and the other side of the street is in Tennessee.
So, tonight we actually enjoyed a delightful dinner at the Troutdale Bistro located in Tennessee.

We parked our car in Virginia and crossed the street into Tennessee for a delightful meal.
And, since the restaurant tax is 10% in TN and 12% in VA, I noticed that most of the restaurants were located on the TN side of the street.  Kind of crazy, isn't it?

Engineer at work

Here you see Grandpa G attempting to put together a changing table/dresser combination.  Boards, screws, bolts.....lots of confusion, for sure.  I'll be sure to post the finished product.

The best part of the kit were the instructions that came in the box.

Whew!  Thank goodness for these step by step directions, or what would the new parents do?
What do you suppose one does with an unhappy baby?  Does he still get a new diaper?

Relaxing in Strasburg Virginia

One might question this morning's Blog Title considering that the phone alarm went off at 5:45 in anticipation of Marty's 6:00 teleconference, so there wasn't exactly any sleeping in.  So far there hasn't been any pounding on the walls or ceiling, so Marty is hopefully not waking people with his voice.  If we head down to the breakfast room and find glares or grumpy faces, that might be a clue. But with no little white dogs pacing the floor to wake us up through the night, I actually got a decent night's sleep.

We are staying at the Hotel Strasburg in Strasburg, Va, which is certainly a unique experience. The building was a hospital in 1902, converted to a hotel in 1904, decorated in the Victorian era.  This place would put antique roadshow to shame.  Not that the place is filled with articles of value.....just old items, placed randomly...old pictures here, some plates there, a corner sconce with items here and there.  And most unusual lamps in the rooms, which I find amusing.  But it is extremely quiet (at least for us...don't know what the room neighbors are thinking with Marty's voice bellowing) and the bed was very comfy.

The on-site restaurant on the ground floor is fabulous.  The interior has those high ceilings and wide moldings, wooden floors with oriental rugs.  Old fashioned dark wooden tables with lovely lace tablecloths adorning them.  Really a charming room.  And the food was exceptional!

I love the fact that some of these southern restaurants offer a "petite" meal and small salad.  It's just perfect for me.  I had a lovely Belle Fonte Salad that featured mixed greens, apple slices, toasted almonds, craisins and garganzola cheese with a lovely orange vinegarette. And the Chicken Pesto Brushetta over Fettuccine:    noodles topped with grilled Chicken and Tomatoes and a light Pesto topping.  Both were delicious.

Marty ordered a "Flat Tire"  beer while I splurged with a Hotel Strasburgh Cabernet Sauvignon which was made in Virginia, and was quite tasty.  Our evening was truly relaxing as the staff was not in any hurry for us to leave. There was only one waitress taking orders and serving, but she was excellent, we were not in any hurry, and it was obvious that our meals were made up fresh.

It was definitely a great idea breaking up the trip, as our travels yesterday found us fighting with semis for road space and with the pouring rain adding to the adventure, in the pitch black, Marty and I were ready for a breather when we arrived here last evening.

So, after Marty is finished speaking with his European colleagues and we grab some breakfast, we're off to take on the Big Trucks.  But, not before we buy some new windshield wipers!

Snow in October?

Ok, I'll admit that I am not out gallivanting as my blog title suggests.  But the crazy events of the last two days seemed worth writing about. Snow in October.  Really?  Isn't this the predicted "Indian Summer" weekend, where temps generally rise into the low 70's?

Friday began as a glorious fall day, with bright blue skies setting a gorgeous background highlighting the fall foliage. Yes, there was a chill in the air, but  I was certainly skeptical about the predicting snowstorm and wondered just how bad it could possibly be?  It was OCTOBER for goodness sake!

Saturday morning brought rain which quickly turned to snow....heavy snow.....lots of it.  Twelve inches of it, to be exact.  Sure it looked beautiful. and we are quite fortunate that the sun was brilliant again today, beginning a thaw.  But not before many trees suffered permanent damage.

We found ourselves without power this afternoon, so Marty and I headed outdoors to begin the cleanup.  The center of my  burning bush in the front had snapped, so I decided to clear off the heavy snow, to save what was left, and while I was at it, do some quick pruning.  I noticed that the snow was very heavy, and sticky, which brought the perfect opportunity to build a small snowman.

One thing led to another, and the next thing you know, I had created my friendly Polamalu Snowman.
And the best part of my day was when I heard a child up the street say, "Daddy, look at what that girl made over there!"   Girl?  Well, perhaps I am kind of young at heart.

A Night's Delight - A Breakfast to Remember

I decided to post this morning's breakfast photo in case one was wondering just what a "Breakfast to remember" would look like.  I'll admit that it was tasty fare, but I can't say that it was an unusually astounding meal that would stand out in my memory.

What was most memorable in my mind, was how quickly the "night's delight" faded with the morning light.  Our room was directly across from the kitchen.  We were quite aware of that fact because the proprietor made mention of it when we checked in.

What he didn't bother to mention was that he and his cooking partner began "hooping it up" at 6:40 a.m. in order to cook this breakfast.   Let me just say that in an old house, where the doors don't meet the floor, when two people are making a racket just three feet away, they may as well be in the room with you.

Luckily, I was already awake in the shower when the commotion began.  But, for future guests, I'm thinking that their "Night's Delight" won't be very memorable when the sun rises in the morning!

Exploring Harrisonburg in Virginia

After a morning of fun helping Becky organize the nursery, Morena and I hit the road, and we rolled into Harrisonburg, Va just before 3:00.  After a quick run into the visitor's center, we headed across to the Quilt Museum, something that we both thought we'd find to be enjoyable.

Wish I could share some pictures, but photography was not allowed.  A bit disappointing to us both. There were several quilts from the Civil War era as well as some modern quilts displayed that showed off some newer techniques, including using photos printed on fabric.  Quilts that preserved memories from the past in a beautiful intricate pattern.  Really stunning.

The weather today was outstanding! A beautiful blue sky with nary a cloud to be seen!  Morena and I decided that the town's charm was partly due to the lovely weather which allowed us to enjoy its real beauty.

We are staying at the Stonewall Jackson Inn, in the Belle Boyd room, named after the woman who was apparently a confederate spy who reported directly to Stonewall himself.  According to the sign outside of the B&B, we are guaranteed a "Night's Delight and a Breakfast to Remember!"  We're just delighted to have had such a gorgeous day, a great dinner at Union Station, and hopefully, a good night's sleep, before hitting the road for home tomorrow!

A "Gorge-ous view!

Gallivanting through the painted hills of West Virginia was an amazing experience.  Today not only blessed us with magnificent views, but we were also treated to brilliant fall colors shining on the hillsides.  

Here you see a fantastic view of the New River Gorge, which my son cleverly commented as being truly "gorge-ous".  And, as you can see, his observation was right on track.

The drive was must easier than I had imagined, and my friend, Morena and myself managed to get the new mommy-to-be back safely into her home environment.  The weather was awesome with bright blue skies for most of the way after we left Pennsylvania.

But the drive was tiring, and I am ready for bed.  Hope you check out the most requent photos!

Fun in the strip

In the midst of Pittsburgh's famous Strip District stands St. Stanislaus Kostka  Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1875 by Polish Immigrants. In this very church, Marty's grandparents were married in the early 1900's.  Since we wanted to show Morena the sights of this unique Pittsburgh experience, we decided that we would attend Mass here and then walk around the area.

I can once again admit that Mass here offered yet another first for me.  Today, the songs that were sung during the service came from a Polish Hymnal.  I didn't bother to pick one up on the way in, because I don't read Polish, but I couldn't help but smile as I stood in the midst of the congregation singing these hymns that were obviously familiar to them.   How wonderful that this community managed to hold onto the traditions that were begun so many years ago, and that this beautiful church was able to be preserved so that we could be fortunate enough to enjoy the experience.

After Mass, we strutted across the street to Pamela's, another Pittsburgh favorite, for a scrumptious breakfast.  The pancakes filled the plate! And, as you can see, smiles filled our faces!

Of course, pancakes this large resulted in some much needed strolling around  to help us to work off some calories, so we wandered along the streets, listening to the blaring sounds of the Steeler's theme song,  and enjoying the hustle and bustle that the strip district offers.

And, we certainly couldn't ask for better weather to gallivanting around!  Yep!  Another terrific day to enjoy.

A Day for Shower Surprises

Today was the much anticipated day where Stacey, Amy and I hosted a baby shower for Becky.  The event was held at a lovely little tea house where we truly were treated like Royalty. The staff was highly attentive, the food was scrumptious, and, more importantly, the atmosphere was festive, with all of the invitees obviously enjoying themselves.

But don't think that the day was free from unexpected surprises.  My friend, Morena, made the trip with me, and we are staying with Stacey at her apartment.  When it came time to shower before getting dressed for the event, we suddenly found ourselves without hot water.  While we waited for the serviceman to check out the situation, Stacey turned the heat up in her apartment, which is somehow tied into the water heater, and she and Morena managed to successfully get hot showers. I was feeling jubilant that the hot water had held out for my turn in the shower, and had just yelled in response to Stacey's asking, that the water was nice and hot, when my aahhs turned to AAGGHH! Luckily, the sudden cold onslaught was minimal, with the regulation of the furnace, and I managed to finish up without further shock to my body.

We hit the road with plenty of time to spare, but soon found ourselves inching along  to the turnpike.  What normally takes 2 minutes to drive ended up being a half an hour creeping and crawling torture until we finally drove up the ramp through the toll booth.  Lucky for us, it was smooth sailing to the tea house, where, quite uncharacteristically, most of our invited guests had arrived early!

Everyone was eager to see Becky, and to share in the excitement of her special day. It certainly was a fun afternoon for everyone present.  And Becky's new baby will be the recipient of some terrific gifts, and lots of loving intentions. A win-win situation for everyone.

You just can't ask for more than that, can you?

Pitt is IT!

Once upon a time, Pitt had an awesome football team, and one of my favorite memories from my college years was trudging up "Cardiac Hill" on Saturday mornings to huddle on aluminum benches, with my fellow Pitt students, to cheer the team on.  With a demanding Chem E curriculum, I rarely took time for breaks, but home Saturday games guaranteed a few hours of fun where I could relax and relish in the excitement of the moment.  

Thirty plus years later finds the venue moved to Heinz Field in downtown Pittsburgh, quite different from the adventures of my college days.  Believe me, I'm not complaining. I'm perfectly happy to pass on the hike that tested my cardio, and am grateful for comfy seats in place of cold bleachers.  

There is a lot of hoopla and cheering and entertainment which makes the entire package just a whole lot of fun.  But what made today exceptionally special was the added experience of tailgating with college friends whom we have not seen in years.  They continue to live locally, have season tickets, and regularly tailgate.  So, when I contacted my friend to see if we could somehow meet up on this visit to the city, she was anxious to extend the invitation to us to meet them in the parking lot for some pregame socializing.

When we finally met up, the hugs couldn't be long enough, and the minutes passed by way too fast. I can't help but smile at the sheer fun that we had just "hanging out" today for just a couple of hours.  We know how lucky we were to meet so many years ago and form the bond that keeps us connected so many years later.

So, although it certainly looks like we can bid adieu to the glory days of Pitt football this season, it's great knowing that my friends still consider me to be just as special now as I was all of those years ago.  

So, I'll be counting today as a win in my playbook.  And for Pitt?  I think we're going to have to rely on our memories! 

How Now, Brown Cow?

The phrase, "How Now, Brown Cow" sticks in my mind from some childhood memory that I cannot place, but it popped right into my head when I opened this photo.  Although my blog generally relays my exciting adventures with Marty, today's subject matter is worth deviating from my normal course.

The picture was taken by the one and only Ernest Kirpach of Luxembourg fame.  If you have followed this blog from the start, you might remember Ernest as the delightful "tour guide" of our Echternach adventure, who greeted Marty and me at the airport, and drove us around the area in May 2010.  Ernest and I have been e-mail buddies for many years, as he took an avid interest in helping me with my research regarding Marty's uncle, Pvt. Frederick W. Goempel who went MIA on 9 Feb. 1945.  If you are interested in the details, you can take a look at my website:  http://www.searchforfrederickgoempel.com

In June, Marty and I attended another DPMO update meeting, this time armed with fresh photos including pictures that recreated the flood stage of the Sauer River, taken by Ernest this past winter.  I'm not certain if it was the new historian assigned to our case, or the "on the ground" photos that we presented at the meeting, but we were finally added to the list of field investigations by the DPMO.  I was informed in late August that a team would be on the ground on Sept.10 and 11th, responsible for an investigation.  Although I would have loved to have been part of the experience, I felt confident relying on my Luxembourg friends for updates. 

The team was eager to meet with Ernest and Mike Boehler, another Luxembourg native who has been out in the field searching for clues, for over two years.  Mike has managed to unearth several US Army military items in that area,  strongly suggesting that this area was never thoroughly searched after the war.  The blog photo features Mike at work with his metal detector, being checked out by a curious German Brown Cow.  Apparently the cow-in-the-field was a first for this American Team out searching, and all got quite a kick out of her curiosity.  

With the team marking and charting the landscape's pertinent details, Mike was able to locate the old tree that stands on the hand-drawn map from Leonard Maslanka, a survivor of the river crossing.  This man was kind enough to put pen to loose-leaf paper and sketch me an unbelievably accurate presentation of this area which included a bunker and a spot where he saw a new recruit step on a landmine. Leonard documents his own location near an old tree.  With so much "new growth" over 60 + years of time, this old tree was hidden among scrub trees, and not easily recognized.  But, quite remarkably, the tree stands pretty much in the spot drawn on the map.  This gives a reference point that narrows down the possible location of F company during this river crossing advance.

In addition to discovering "the Tree", Mike remembered that the Germans dug trenches that would connect bunkers in the event that the soldiers needed to escape "out the back door," so to say.  Mike was able to locate the trench and the team was able to sight an indentation in the ground that worked its way over to another bunker.  These trenches are 1 meter deep.  This discovery opens up the possibility that this "new recruit" could have stepped on a land mine, and thereby fell into the trench, disappearing from sight.  

I haven't received a report from the DPMO yet, but I am grateful, that after 9 years of hard work on my part, I was finally taken seriously by this organization.  Mike intends to continue searching out in the field, concentrating on the trench area between the bunker and "The Tree", in the hopes of locating items that could place Fred in this area.  This is a huge discovery, and one that extends the hope that Fred's remains just may be located in the woods that are just a few meters away from the watchful eye of  one Brown Cow.

I cannot thank Ernest and Mike enough, for their enthusiasm and their willingness to spend so many hours attempting to solve the mystery of what happened to Fred.  I am thrilled to know both of them and I look forward to the day when Marty and I can once again spend some time with them, and who knows?  Perhaps we'll even get to meet Miss Brown Cow ourselves!

Last Day in Stockholm

Here we are, relaxing after our last Swedish dinner at a restaurant in Gamla Stan. The week was certainly a memorable one as we learned all kinds of things dealing with Swedish History and the Swedish culture.

We nearly walked our feet off today touring Skansen, a 75 acre outdoor open air museum, the first in the world of its kind.  It was the brainchild of the same man who built the Nordic museum and has been in existence since the late 1800's. The old town not only featured houses that were authentic from days past, but it was also a living history museum, with people dressed in period clothes assuming the personalities of people from past days.  Marty and I had quite a laugh from some of the antics of these characters, one of whom was the "Doctor" who claimed to have some pills in his doctor bag that would be of great benefit to me, and to Marty as well!

There was just so much to see and we spent at least 4 hours walking through the various displays that are beautifully presented.  It was certainly a fun experience for us. Marty's favorite part was the matchstick museum.  Go figure.

We began the day at the Vasamuseet.  This was a fascinating museum that involves a warship that was built by Gustav II back in the early 1600's.  The maiden voyage of the boat lasted 20 minutes before the sail got caught in a gust of wind, resulting in the boat  leaning to one side, water filling into the cannon wells, and the ship sinking in a manner of 15 minutes.  The vessel sat in the mud until the mid 1900's until the Swedes decided to make the effort to rescue it, move it to a museum building, and restore it to its original glory.  It contains 98% of the original materials.  It is certainly awesome to walk into this building and see a huge Viking ship in tact in the middle of the room.

The history behind the ship involved Gustav II and his cousin, who was the king of Poland at the time.  Poland and Sweden were at war at the time, and Gustav insisted that he needed to have a larger,  more impressive ship than Poland would have ever seen, in his fleet of ships.  The king was so worried about making a "bigger, more impressive" ship that he never took the time to look at the structural logistics of the ship.  So, as a result, he had this fabulous looking ship that ended up sinking in short time on its maiden voyage. So, the king was denied of his bragging rights without ever even setting eyes on the vessel, as he had been off the shores of Poland, awaiting the arrival of his brainchild, when the maiden voyage took place. Obviously Gustav was not happy with the end result, but the good news is that no one was punished for the mishap because the man at fault for the demise of the Vasa was Gustav himself, and you know well enough that he was not going to incarcerate himself for his own stupidity!

Well, the Stockholm adventure is drawing to a close.  Tomorrow night Marty and I should be, once again, hanging with the dogs. I hoped that you enjoyed our adventures!  I know that I did.