Thanksgiving Festivities 2022

Thanksgiving generally involves my kids traveling over the river and through the woods "to grandmother's house we go".  But, this year, grandma did the traveling, with PapPap behind the wheel, headed to western PA as our final destination.  

There was a quick stop to see Mabel.

and some yummy Fox's Lady Locks to share.  And, believe me, they were very much appreciated!

Afterwords, we worked on making our traditional Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake. 

It gets cooked in an Instant Pot, and is always an annual favorite.  It appears that Peanut Butter and Chocolate are a win win combination....even on Thanksgiving. 

My son was generous enough to host the feast at his house this year,  and since Marty and I would be bringing my mom, we decided to stay near Beaver, at a lovely B&B called The Riverside B&B.  

I picked this venue as it was very convenient, and we were fortunate that there was a room for us. 

And, with trains to watch and a river to gaze upon, it was like a little bit of heaven for Marty.

And I must say, it was one of our most fun stays in the area!  The owners are delightful, and made us feel welcome from the moment we walked through the door. 

Thanksgiving day did not disappoint.  The weather was perfect, and there was no lacking entertainment.

Great Grandma had pulled out the game of Kerplunk for us to bring with us.

It was a huge hit!

Our granddaughter made the special placecards.

This way there was no confusion as to where we would sit at the LONG table. 

As you can see, there was plenty to feast on.   And lots of desserts to choose.

And we even managed to get a family photo before retiring for the night. 

It was the perfect day! We drove Mom home and somehow managed to waddle our way to our room at the Riverside. 

On Friday morning, we headed down to breakfast and were told by Cathy and Russ that we were in for a special treat!  While we enjoyed breakfast, Russ and Cathy demonstrated the use of two very vintage toasters!   This one from 1909.

And also one from the mid 1940's.  The bread was placed in one side, and magically worked its way inside the toaster, emerging from the opposite side in relatively short time.

I must admit, that was a first of its kind demonstration in our many travels!

After saying our good-byes, we headed back to our son's home so that we could enjoy some final entertainment with the littles. 

Thanks to Great Grandma, we had Booby Trap to try our hand.  This little guy was excited to pull only the pink pieces.

Would you believe that his pink strategy resulted in not one spring of the board!  The rest of us did not have that kind of luck. That kid must have magic fingers!

Mabel got some more hugs, 

and there were some vintage trucks to play with as well.

Our daughter's crew left for home late afternoon, but Marty and I stayed to enjoy the time with our son and family.

In the morning, Maddie made some delicious muffins for us to enjoy.

And that we did! 

It was certainly a fun-filled holiday and one that I'm certain we will remember with fondness in years to come.  I hope that my readers were fortunate to spend their holiday in the warmth of loved ones as well.

Wishing you all a (belated) Happy Thanksgiving! 

Gallivanting in Norfolk

 We made the long trek today to Norfolk in order to attend the DPAA meeting tomorrow which is being held at the Hilton Main. Little did we know that we would find ourselves in the midst of a Marathon being held in the morning, and a parade being held tomorrow night!  Luckily, we booked only one night here, and we hope to depart before the road closures for the parade tomorrow!  

I was able to secure a room at the same venue, with a magnificent view of the river.  We arrived just in time to capture a photo of the sun setting.

How awesome is that?

And, this is the view at present.

My husband is sitting in a chair near the window and tells me that he just might sit there looking out all night.   Good for him.  I think I'll enjoy the comfy bed which pretty much offers the same view.

After checking in, we decided to take a walk about and check out the harbor.  But not before spotting some entertaining decor in our midst. 

In the harbor sits the USS Wisconsin, all decorated up with a festive holiday display.

and the surrounding area was equally entertaining.

Someone thought he'd add to the decor. 

Honestly.....were you surprised by that?

The weather was perfect for a walk....not too chilly, but brisk enough to add to the festive air.

One of the local venues had a large photo of the Wisconsin without its decorations.

I read that it is docked in just 2 to 4 feet of water, and it is tied down to endure hurricane force winds.  Pretty amazing when you think of it.

We enjoyed a delightful dinner in the hotel restaurant, where it appears that books abound. 

And that was just a fraction of what they have in the restaurant.  Quite an interesting display, for sure.

Here's hoping for an informative meeting tomorrow.  If I have time,  I'll attempt a recap.

In the meantime, I'm going to relax and just enjoy the view.....from the comfort of my bed! 

Gallivanting in Boyertown

 Yesterday was a rainy, dismal day, which offered the perfect opportunity for a drive to Boyertown to check out the Vintage Car Museum.  And, I must say, it certainly did not disappoint.

Once through the doors, one is transported to a different era involving transportation, which many of us take for granted in today's world.   But this labor of love museum offered a wealth of information regarding mode of transport over years past.  What was most surprising to me was just how many of the vehicles on display were made in the Reading, PA area. I always associated automobiles with Henry Ford and facilities far from the state where I grew up.  But, here, dozens of cars proved otherwise.  

Duryea seemed to be a popular vehicle in this area.  This Phaeton, built in 1904 was produced at  a time when the company was building just about one car a week. The man responsible for this type of vehicle, Charles Duryea, had worked in the bicycle industry, and he was instrumental in the development of pneumatic tires for these cars, even if the originals managed to get a flat every 10 to 15 miles. 

James Reber, founder of the Acme Bicycle Manufacturing Company, also stemmed out into car manufacturing.  This 1910 4 cylinder water-cooled engine vehicle was built in Reading as well and featured a gravity fed fuel system. 

As driving became more common, the automobiles became larger to accommodate more people.  This Touraine Model 61 was built in Philadelphia and seated seven passengers.

The name Pullman is often associated with travel, and so we see a 1908 Pullman "light" touring car.  This one is categorized as the oldest restored and operational Pullmen Motor car in existence.  It was built in nearby York, Pa.

Here are just a few shots of the many models that were featured on the floor. 

A 1937 Chrysler Royal Six Town Sedan 

Here is a 1915 Electric Bus

And, a traveling truck 

that featured some interesting interior details.

There were service vehicles, 

 a Studebaker, 

as well as some other delightful models.

But cars weren't the only thing on the floor.  This recreated gas station was certainly entertaining.

As well as the full size Fegley's Diner, which was carefully moved from its original location to stand in this enormous building. 

It's easy to see just why the owners wanted to see its preservation.

There were motorcycles with sidecars

an ancient hearse

and a collection of children items. 

And let's not forget the collection of AAA emblems from all over the country!

There was one display that caught my eye that I found particularly intriguing: The Mighty Atom.

The information was presented in the back of what looked like a prison-on-wheels vehicle.  There was a large array of photos and magazine articles, most of them fragile and faded.  There appeared to be a small man pulling a truck full of women with a single cable wrapped around his body.  Also, there were photos of the same man bending heavy metal chains with his hands. 

After a brief search, I was able to determine that Atom Man was a Polish Immigrant named Joe Greenstein. He was, indeed a marvel when it came to unusual strength, and he performed his curious feats until he died at the age of 84.  I'm not certain why his information is featured in the museum, but I must say, it certainly did add a bit of quirkiness to the entire experience.

And, we all know how Marty and I love to embrace quirkiness!

Here's hoping you enjoyed our day out in Boyertown.  A rainy day excursion that certainly brightened our day!  I hope the same is true for you.