Ketch-Up Friday

 

It's been awhile. How are you? If you are in the states and celebrate Thanksgiving, how was it?

Once again, we took the choo-choo to Philly to spend the holidays with our daughter and son-in-law. I always mean to get pictures of the train and/or station for Andrew, but it never seems to work out as we are usually boarding, riding or getting off. 

Thanksgiving Day we always go on a little outing then come back and the 'kids' plunk us in front of the TV with wine and a cheeseboard while they fix a most delicious meal. 😊

This year our outing was to Valley Forge. In the past, when I've pictured Valley Forge, I envision a small group of hungry, poorly clothed men huddled around a campfire, but it was so much more. 2,000 cabins were built to house the 12,000 men in the Continental Army who were quartered there along with the approximately 400 women and children who followed their husbands and sweethearts to the encampment. The women turned out to be a huge help, laundering clothes and nursing the sick. Two thousand soldiers died that winter, suffering from disease, malnutrition and cold.  There was also a language issue because of the diverse ethnicity in the army.  Congress played a large role in the lack of supplies for the army. But through it all, Americans persevered. I may have issues on where our country is currently, but of our roots, I will always be proud.

 Friday we took our traditional outings to Longwood Gardens and the Terrain Store.   We had pizza for lunch in one of their many heated tents.

When we came home, the SIL made these luscious tofurky sandwiches and the daughter made homemade tater tots.  Have you ever heard of homemade tater tots? I didn't know they came other than frozen. Ha.  She topped them with parm cheese.  I didn't quite have the nerve to ask for ketchup. Heh.

 

The next morning it was back on the choo-choo train and home.

 AND

This is what we were doing before our Thanksgiving getaway. Got home and they need raked and blown again. Sigh.

If you blow them to the curb, the city picks them up, which is a nice bennie. Apparently, this info hasn't reached the neighbors at the end of the street, because instead of blowing them to the curb, they blow them out into the street.  Maybe they are building an obstacle course, hey? 

AND THE CRITTERS

Maisy
 

Callie and Nori 

THE GARDEN 

It's gotten cold and nasty here but a handful of roses are holding on.

AND

The Nandina Bush has no problems with the cold weather at all.

Well, dear bloggers, that catches us up on this end. What's going on in your corner of the world?
 

 

 

 

Ketch-Up Day

 

Finally! Did you think I was never coming back? It's been crazy busy, but things are finally slowing down. Relatives came by train, plane and automobiles:) There were thirteen of us on Christmas Day. We took our last travelers to the airport Dec. 30.  What about you? Did you have wonderful holidays? Are things calm at your house?

Here's a couple more shots from the train, when we went to Philly over Thanksgiving.

 

Our daughter's orange tree. Can you see the green orange?

I'm thinking I need one:) What do you think?

 

As is rapidly becoming a tradition, the Friday after Thanksgiving we went to Longwood Gardens. It was beautiful as always.

A Poinsettia Tree

 

That's it for now. More Longwood pics to come. Let me know how your holidays were.  I'm anxious to hear.

Ketch-up Day

 

Did you have a good week? Everything okay on your end?

Every day's a healing day here. Our only glitch, the HH needs a $3K piece of equipment for his back that our insurance would pick up but medicare doesn't and our insurance follows medicares guidelines, so.....We'll get it figured out.

AND

Odds and ends from Longwood and the last of the pics.

 

 

 

 

 

There's always some type of a fruit tree in bloom inside the conservatory. At least, when I've been there.
 

 

I liked the blurred effect;)

AND

I got this with Christmas gift cards.  I'm so excited.  It holds three loads of laundry. I keep it in the closet in place of the dirty clothes bin then just wheel it into the laundry room, hang up the clean clothes after they're washed and fold the rest and wheel it back. It's the little things. 

 Did you take part in the Goodreads challenge? If you're a reader, it's a fun little thing to do:)

 

Have a great week.