Fulltime Adventure

Ligonier Ice Festival

2012-01-31T20:10:00.001-06:00

Phil, Sue and I went to Ligonier for the Ice Festival.

We had such a good time taking photos of the ice sculptures

Watching an artist at work

These dogs seemed to be enjoying the show.

Sue and I got matching hats at a cute little Irish shop in town.

We went into a knitting shop and I had to take this photo of the sheep in the window.

The weather has been nice enough for me to get out and take some photos.

Here is a recipe I’d like to share

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole Recipe
Prep: 15 min. Bake: 20 min. Yield: 6-8 Serving
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds red potatoes (about 6 medium), baked
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 cups (24 ounces) sour cream
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
2 green onions, sliced
Directions
Cut baked potatoes into 1-in. cubes. Place half in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the salt, pepper and bacon. Top with half of the sour cream and cheeses. Repeat layers.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until cheeses are melted. Sprinkle with onions. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Books I’ve been reading.

Dance like no one is watching

2012-01-23T18:07:00.001-06:00

I took this photo at Dunlop lake last week and knew this quote was perfect for it.

We have had beautiful days and snowy days.

I got to the lake before the weather changed so I got to get some shots of the ducks.

Such a peaceful place

We went to Phil’s nephew’s Jake basketball game at the high school

Phil took me for a drive last Sunday and I had so much fun taking photos.

Books I’ve read lately.

Without art, reality would be unbearable

2012-01-09T19:35:00.001-06:00

This quote really resonated in me. I try and see the beauty in everything around me daily.

I took this picture at South Padre Island at the Bird Center.

Phil and I have had a quiet couple of weeks.

We did go for a drive Saturday so I could do some drive by shooting.

We went outside yesterday and I took some shots of Chloe.

It has been unseasonably warm this winter.

Chloe was enjoying the sunshine.

A pretty Chickadee

I have had some wins lately

Look at this beautiful frame from Wild Ridge Designs

Barn Nail Cuffs. From steampunkfunk

The Fig Leaf

This beautiful bag from Amy Kathryn

Turquoise and Swarovski crystal wire wrapped earrings from Bellissimo Jewelry

This bracelet

Still Reading J.D.Robb’s Eve Dallas series. She wrote 30 some books so far,I’m on 22.

I also read

Christmas at the Detweilers

2011-12-27T16:27:00.001-06:00

We had a lovely Christmas this year. My youngest son, David, was home with us and Phil’s daughter, Alicia ,came over.

We started our Christmas celebration by going to Pittsburgh to see the Christmas tree downtown and the skating rink at PPG place.

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city!

Our Christmas tree

We got a little snow before Christmas so the birds have been enjoying the feeder.

We always go to look at Christmas lights.

We went by Phil’s mom’s house to give her her presents.

One of the greatest things this Christmas was going to see the Trans-Siberian orchestra in Pittsburgh!

I have always wanted to see them and so we got us tickets and took Phil’s mom with us.

It was impossible to get any decent photos of them, but let me say, they put on a fantastic show!

The boys looking for Santa

David with his new Steelers cap.

I got a new Nook Color tablet, that I love!

Phil got new gloves and a “I’d rather be in Texas” t-shirt and a new watch.

Me on Christmas day, I look merry, don’t I?

Bakery Square and Carnegie History and Art Museum

2011-12-14T20:55:00.000-06:00

Sue and I have been having a great time together. A couple of Saturdays ago we headed to Bakery Square to I Made It for the Holidays
The shopping festivities included 80+ regional artisans. Sue got a beautiful handmade scarf and some earrings and I got this neat wooden wine bottle and glass holder.

These two dogs were in the Christmas spirit!

I'm glad Phil didn't see this truck, I may have lost him!

Pittsburgh is such a beautiful city, there is always something to see.

We had a bit of snow the other day. It was so pretty.
I loved this quote. I took the picture from my front door.
“I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape – the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.”
Andrew Wyeth

Ms Chloe enjoyed the snow

Next was the Carnegie History and Art Museum

There was so much to see!

We spent hours in the museum and still didn't see it all!
Here are some of my favorite highlights.

The butterfly case was amazing.

I loved the Egyptian room

Check out this sundial!

I'll post some more photos from the museum next time.

Riding the Cumberland Train

2011-12-04T16:33:00.001-06:00

Debra and I went to Cumberland, MD to ride the steam engine train.
I have always wanted to ride a steam engine train and this one was perfect!
We caught the train in Cumberland and rode it to Frostburg, MD and back to Cumberland.

View from our window

It was one of the funniest things I've ever done.

Just a couple of wins this week

Wild Ridge Designs $25 GC! from Www.tightwadinutah.com

and FUMI Classic PurseHook – Charming (Silver) and Scarlett – Zebra from www.dealfinderchick.com

I'm so thankful.....

2011-11-27T14:26:00.001-06:00

For my wonderful husband that I have been married to for 8 years today.
For having my youngest son home with us this year.
For wonderful friends to share Thanksgiving dinner with
For finally recovering and feeling better after my surgery.

Phil and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with terrific food and with my son David, and our friends, Sue and Ernie to share it with.

Saturday night we celebrated our anniversary early by going to Seven Springs for an incredible dinner buffet with prime rib.

Sue and I went up to Seven Springs a couple of weeks ago to look around and get some desert.

We discovered some new covered bridges we hadn't seen before

People around here often make fun of Fayette county, perhaps it is because of things like this.

Wins this week

This fabulous jewelry from Bombay Fashions

A lovely hand painted card and beaded heart charm from

artbyLyubka

A beautiful hand carved cross from Israel from Caring Crosses

Books

Bye Bye......Gall Bladder and Trip to Nemacolin Castle

2011-11-16T21:00:00.001-06:00

No, I did not take this photo, they wouldn't let me bring my camera into the operating room, darn it,but this is the procedure I had done Tuesday morning.
I've been feeling pretty lousy for months now, so I'm relived to have this out and hopefully to be feeling more like myself.

Sweet Sue took me the day before my surgery for a pedicure, how cool was that????
So I had pretty toes for the surgeon. :)

Everyone at Phil's office chipped in and got me this beautiful bouquet of flowers.

A few weeks ago, Sue and I went for a tour of Nemacolin Castle in Brownsville.

Nemacolin Castle, with octagonal tower and battlements, dates back to the 1790s. An original log house which predates the Castle is incorporated into the structure. This original structure served as a trading post, a refuge from Indians, and a stopping-off point for westward bound settlers. Its owner, Jacob Bowman, was himself a pioneer when he migrated to Brownsville in February 1786. His trading post prospered, and in the following years, Jacob, along with the following generations of Bowmans, built a mansion around the simple trading post.

Nemacolin Castle

The castle is suppose to be haunted but neither Sue nor I saw any ghosts, thank goodness.

This little lady was our tour guide, just look at her captivating eyes!

The inside of the castle is filled with period pieces.

The view from the grounds was nice also.

This is the Brownsville bridge

Sue makes such a lovely subject!

While we didn't feeel like the castle was haunted, we did get a very bad vibe just driving around the town of Brownsville. It felt really creepy and we were both eager to leave the area.

These are my wins for the last couple of weeks.

Books
Reading J.D. Robb's series Eve Dallas plus a couple of more

Trip to Frostburg MD

2011-11-07T17:16:00.001-06:00

Sue and I went to Frostburg to take some photos along old Route 40 and the National Pike.

This is diesel engine getting ready to pull out.

This photographer was sitting on the front of the diesel train to get a shot of the steam engine pulling into the station.

We had no idea it was even there, we had gone looking for the Carriage museum and we found the train depot with the train coming into the station.

We then went to Penn Alps to photograph the Casselman Bridge

Erected in 1813, and still standing as a picturesque relic of Maryland's early transportation history, the Casselman River Bridge, with its 80 foot span, was the longest single span stone arch bridge in the world during the era of the National Road.

The arch caused skeptics to predict the bridge's collapse once construction was complete and the supporting timbers were removed. The skeptics were wrong, however, as the bridge stood, serving as an important link on the National Road from 1813 to 1933.

Penn Alps is a village of local artists, creating and selling their work.

There is a bird carver, a soap maker, a weaver, and several others.

I captured some pretty flowers there also.

Books this week

Trip to Ligoner

2011-10-30T12:57:00.000-05:00

Ligonier PA is a beautiful little town, full of charming shops and the site of Fort Ligonier .
The history of Fort Ligonier began in September 1758 and was concluded in March 1766, embracing the period of the French and Indian War and Pontiac’s War. The town has Fort Ligonier Days where thousands of people come to see an reenactment at the fort and to shop and eat.

Sue and I were smart and went the day before. We got to enjoy the town without all the hassle and craziness of the crowds.

On the way we got to see some beautiful fall color.

Sue and I had a great time exploring the stores and just driving around taking pictures.

We saw a couple of cute dogs on our outing.

And these geese at this idyllic setting.

The horses were pretty also.

I made Apple Butter this week for the first time. I think it turned out pretty good.

All Day Apple Butter

INGREDIENTS:
5 1/2 pounds apples - peeled, cored and
finely chopped
4 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Place the apples in a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Pour the mixture over the apples in the slow cooker and mix well.
Cover and cook on high 1 hour.
Reduce heat to low and cook 9 to 11 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and dark brown.
Uncover and continue cooking on low 1 hour. Stir with a whisk, if desired, to increase smoothness.
Spoon the mixture into sterile containers, cover and refrigerate or freeze.

Books I read this week

Snuff by Terry Pratchett

Mile 81 Stephen King

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time by Mark Haddon

Fright Night at Moundsville Prison

2011-10-25T09:59:00.000-05:00

Phil always tries to think of somewhere cool to take me for Halloween. Last year it was a haunted hay ride, which was fun but kinda weird because there were young couples with their young children and teenagers making out and then Phil and I. But I think I was more scared than the kids, because I hate/love when people fall out of trees with chainsaws, but that's just me.
This year he took me Moundsville Prison. The imposing Gothic structure was first opened in 1876, but closed in 1995. It's seen riots, fires and the execution of nearly 100 prisoners through either hanging or electrocution.

The imposing Gothic structure was first opened in 1876, but closed in 1995. It's seen riots, fires and the execution of nearly 100 prisoners through either hanging or electrocution. We got to experienced the fright of being locked up in a cell, the fear of being lost in a maze and the terror of an eerie walk through the dungeon of horrors!

The Former West Virginia Penitentiary housed some of the most violent criminals in history. Many of the prisoners who lived here also died here. The prison is known to have one of the highest levels of paranormal activity in the United States.

The only thing that got to me was when we had to walk through this clingy black stuff that felt like it was suffocating me. I felt really claustrophobic and about strangled Phil with his suspenders.
All in all though it was a lot of fun and I'm glad we went. I'd like to go back for the regular tour though where the guide takes you through the prison and tells you all the history of the place.
Phil also took me on a couple of trips up the mountain to see the leaves.
This is a beautiful area, so much to see and enjoy.

Books I've read this week.