TRAVELING THE TURNPIKE

On Sunday afternoon we left Lancaster headed to Michigan for the NOMADS annual meeting. We decided to get on the turnpike to head west. The last time we traveled the turnpike with the RV we couldn't understand why we didn't get a ticket when we got on. Stopping at the next exit we found  out it read our E-Z Pass on the tow car. In Florida the Sunpass does not work for our RV when it is on the car, so we were surprised.

When we entered Ohio and went on to the turnpike we received a ticket, so we got off at the next exit to explain that we had E-Z pass and that it hadn't read it for the RV since it was on our tow car.  They told us it had to be on the RV and had us move it, fixed the toll and helped us make a U-turn back onto the turnpike. Lesson learned to keep it on the RV. WE are now enjoying a few days in Ohio and will be at Kalamazoo on Wednesday. Looking forward to seeing all our NOMADS friends.

CELEBRATIONS

 The VA offers a program to veterans called MOVE. It is a weight lose program through exercise and diet.Tina was the instructor and was a great teacher. I was able to join in as Larry's support. The first week they were given a pedometer and encouraged to walk a little more each day. Larry has walked over 10,000 steps every day since. He is reading nutrition labels, realizing serving size and how many calories are in foods at restaurants A great web site is calorie king. The program ran for eight weeks and on the last day he was given a certificate congratulating him on his lose of  18 1/2 pounds and 4 inches at his waist and is motivated to lose a little more.  

Ashtyn will be one on October 1st, but we will not be here so we celebrated a little early.

 Her first piggy bank. That will take a lot of coins to fill it.

 She loved her little beach house purse with the sea critters in it. I hope this will remind her of us while we are in Florida.

 Bob's birthday was on Saturday. We met him in Downingtown for a meal at Texas Roadhouse. Larry gave him a YETI cup and he loves how it keeps his beverage cold.

 We also gave him a new paddle for his kayak.

Saturday evening we went to the Cavalcade of Band competition at Hempfield High School.  It is really amazing the performances these bands put on. Hempfield band looks and sounds great and since they were the host they were not in competition. Glad we got to see their shows this year.

BUSY WEEK

 Tuesday we had an early morning appointment at Stoltzfus RV in West Chester to get new steps installed. Our steps were not going in and out. Larry called the company and tried to repair them himself but they finally agreed to replace the whole step system.  Since we were camped at Hershey Thousand Trails it meant leaving real early in the morning, so I left Monday night and took the car to visit my sisters. Larry couldn't find the cat in the RV when he arrived at Stoltzfus to take her out with him, so when the repairman opened the door to check the steps Godiva ran out. Everyone searched for her for awhile but with no success.

 I checked in with Stoltzfus RV on the way home from my sisters on Wednesday, but Godiva still hadn't been seen. My son used Face book to get the word out at Lost Pets in Chester County and he made some posters to be put up at stores in the area. Godiva has a microchip and part of Home Again, so they were also notified and contacted all the shelters and vets in a 25 mile radius.

 Earlier this summer Larry had replaced the light in my sister's kitchen. Since it was smaller then the previous one the ceiling needed painting.

  I painted the ceiling while I visited her. It took two coats of white to cover the blue.

 On Wednesday, Thursday and half of Friday we babysat Ashtyn. She is walking up a storm now.

Playing with the mail that was trash that Grandpa threw on the floor was great entertainment.

On Saturday we decided to go to Stoltzfus and spend the day there looking for her. When we arrived we were told she had been seen around the grounds a couple of times. They had a humane trap out and some food but had not caught her. We spent the day walking around the acres of RV's calling her. We told some of the customers that were looking at RV's about her being lost. At the end of the day a dealer rushed up to us on his cart saying they have your cat. A mother and her two daughters heard her meowing and she came out from under an RV. Luckily Godiva has the harness on her so they were able to hold her for us till we got there. We are all glad to be reunited and she is back home safe and sound. What a week!

SUMMER HAPPENINGS

 The first week of August is my girls week at Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. Next to me is my friend Kathy from college, then my sister and on the end is Lynn a teacher who taught with Kathy. Kathy and I spent time in the ocean each day. It was warm but a little rough.

 Friday was rainy so Kathy and I worked on a puzzle. We also went over to Cape May and strolled the boardwalk in Wildwood. We had a very enjoyable week together,

 Sunday, August 9th, Ashtyn was baptisted at Hempfield UMC.

 The knitting group at the church made this lovely baby blanket for her. We thank whoever made it for all the prayers, love and time they put into making it.

 Our prayer for Ashtyn and a little rememberance of her baptism.

 We went to Brian's house for a family gathering afterwards. One of the few times we have had all of Larry's children together. Left of Larry is Brian, and to his right Mystique and Mark.

 Wednesday I went over to Mystique's with her grandmother to help can peaches. This was the first time I had canned.

 We canned up three baskets of peaches. Mystique's mom did all the canning and made the light syrup, while we peeled and sliced the peaches and  prepared the jars, We had a good operation going.

The peaches I had picked were not quite ripe enough so I canned them myself a few days later. My first time solo. 6 quarts ready for peach pie this winter.

JULY DOINGS

 The first two weekends of July Mark and Danielle set up their tent and camped with us.

 My sister was up for the 4th of July. Friday we went to see Joseph at Sight and Sound and then on the 4th we celebrated with a night at The Buck for  demolition derby and fireworks.

 We babysat Ashtyn for two nights. We were able to find a good highchair at a children's thrift store.

 Now that we were experienced babysitters we watched Ashtyn and Alivia Friday night, because Mystique and Eric both had to go to work. Eric just got hired at the prison so he has six weeks of training. Saturday afternoon they came and enjoyed time at the water park at Circle M.

 Aliva loved this slide.

 Mystique going across the pods

 Eric had a little harder time. While his daughter,Alivia cheered him on.She has to wait for a few years till she is older and taller.

 Whee!

 Eric made it down a lot faster on this slide then in the children's slide with his daughter.

 Ashtyn wasn't sure of what to make of it all, next year!

 On Sunday we took Chase, our grandson, to Gettysburg Farm for four days. He had never been to Gettysburg. It is funny  that when you live close to famous places you never go.

 We toured some of the museums learning a lot about the battle and how it effected the people in the town.

 Then we did the auto tour of the battlefield using an ipad that showed and told  us about the battle at each stop.

 Chase had done a report on General Lee so he had to take a picture the Virginia monument.

 Grandpa and Chase on top of Devil's Den.  Chase climbed all over these rocks, those are some big rocks.

 After two days of touring Gettysburg in high humidity and heat we took a break and went over to Mystique's so Chase could ride a horse for the first time.

 He rode around the ring

 and then around the property. Watch out for the pine trees Chase, remember to duck.

 Mystique gave Ashtyn a little ride. I think Ashtyn looks cute in my hat, at least she was in some shade.

 Larry rode around a little, notice Mystique and Larry are riding bareback.

Later that day they all came over to the campground, only 15 miles away, and went swimming. We sure have enjoyed visiting with our children and grandchildren.

 We moved to Hershey Thousand Trails on Thursday and my sister came up for the weekend. Saturday night we went to Mt Gretna for the play Girls Night Out, the Musical. They had a nice affair before the play with wine, finger food and vendors selling things of interest to women.

 We enjoyed the play, lots of laughs and music. A cast of five women.

Sure great to have a sister to have a girls night out with. Looking forward to a girls week at the shore with her the first week of August.