Boyds Bears

This picture currently is on the top of my page as of today and it is my "happy place". It is a store full of Teddie bears and friends (i.e. rabbits, chickens, moose and a whole variety of animals), most of which are collectibles. I go here when I am feeling "in the dumps" and want to feel better.

It is in Gettysburg, PA and has a panoramic view of Pennsylvania countryside. During the summer the grounds behind the store are occupied by Civil War buffs re-enacting the life and times of that era. It is a good place to go for an afternoon of shopping, eating (very good food available here) and learning.

It now has two new attractions so to speak - an art gallery featuring the work of Thomas Kincaid and a shop featuring Longanberger baskets. I like the art gallery idea but I have never really been a big fan of baskets, even though they too are supposed to be collectors items.

The best time to visit Boyds Bears is during the week because the crowds are non-existent and you can wonder around to your hearts content without bumping into other people. One of my favorite areas of the store is the baby section. The bears and other animals are made from the softest materials possible. So cuddly.

My Crepe Myrtle

This crepe myrtle bush was given to me as a retirement gift by my friend Linda. That was three years ago. It finally decided that it was time to bloom and I must say that it has done a good job. I think that it must have heard my son threatening to dig it up if it did not do something this season.

I am so glad that it listened. She has attracted butterflies galore, which has been an added pleasure. I like watching the wildlife around my home and "flutterbys" are a particular favorite to watch.

The color is called raspberry. It is mostly pink with white on the very edges of each petal. I have tried to take good close up photos of the blossoms, but to no avail. For some reason the white just does not want to show up all that well. Therefore, I must be satisfied with this picture of the full bush, Hopefully it will bloom more and more for many years to come. Thanks to my friend - Linda - for the years of joy that I have to look forward to.

That is the life of a retiree - when a mere flowering bush can create so much excitement and happiness.

Golly- part two

More travels of Golly - these pictures were taken in Amish Country in Pennsylvania. He went to the Amish Village, rode the Strasburg Railroad with us and did some shopping at a store specializing in selling nik-naks featuring Amish stuff like hex signs. He had a good time despite the extremely hot weather. He has a very long way to make it back home so that he can tell the kids all about his adventures. I am sure that he will be glad to be home again, but he will be greatly missed after he leaves.

Golly - part one

Meet Golly - he belongs to the kids in Adrienne's class at school. He is traveling along with Adrienne so that the kids have an idea where she has gone on her travels to the U.S. He is a cute little character and has come a very long way to visit.

53 years in the making

This is me with my penpal (Adrienne Gelton) of 53 years. This was the very first time that we met in person. We were on the Strasburg RR in Pennsylvania when this picture was taken. It was a very hot day (7/6/10) - in the triple digits and it showed as far as I was concerned. Another passenger on the train took this picture for us. I have a ton of other pictures that we took during our three days in the Amish Country in Pennsylvania, as well as other pictures that she took to take back home (New Zealand) with her.

Even though it was 53 years ago that we started writing to each other and we had never met in person before, it was as if we had lived next door to each other all that time. We found out that we are actually very similar in many ways, i.e. the way that we think about things, the way we live our lives and the way that we were when we were kids. It has been fun and it is going to be a sad day when she leaves. We have been talking non-stop ever since I picked her up at Dullas International Airport in Virginia.

We went out to lunch today (7/12/10) with a friend of mine and had salads at Potbellies, a favorite place of mine to eat. We had a good time and on the way home we saw more sites and even more pictures were taken. It has been fun and a memory that I will have for the rest of my life. I am now very motivated to save up my money and go to New Zealand to see her country and meet her family. I can't wait and am very excited to get started.