WE TOOK LORENZO TO LUNCH!

MONDAY:
Bob went to help our friend, RJae,  as today he was installing a new hydro-heat machine in their motor home.   Bob wanted to be there around 10:30 plus stop for coffee and donuts. It was nice and quite so I just did one thing after another enjoying the day.  

WE MADE THE ZUCCHINI SQUASH TONIGHT WITH THE VEGGETT GADGET.
DESPITE THE WORMY LOOK, IT WAS VERY GOOD.

TUESDAY:
I  awoke early before Betsy left for work.   The pears in the refrig left over from Betsy's clam bake needed used, so they were on my mind.   I decide to can them as I can't eat them all.   I dreaded getting the jars ready and hauling all the canning stuff out again.  
They looked good on the outside but once peeled several were bruised or wormy! Ekk.  That's a shame as fruit is so expensive now.   I really think they were to ripe to can, hope they aren't mushy when served.  

Bob had made a trip down to the bottle return place...he had 5 bags stored under the deck and we will need the space for the patio furniture when closing the pool.   When he came back, he came in and sat right down to help peel.  What a honey!  We had the jars in the caner by 10:00 o'clock.  With all this canning, our kitchen floor was sticky.  I still had a little energy left so I dusted furniture and cleaned the upstairs. 

We went out to the pool after lunch.  It was hot out!  In between dips, we started to take down the gazebo canvass while it was dry.   Then I put all the figurines away.  Little by little, we did a lot and it will make closing the pool much easier if we do a little each day.   

I made a new recipe for supper.  I've seen it on Face Book and it's in this month's Ramblings magazine.   It's the cabbage/hamburger one.    It is suppose to be like cabbage rolls without rolling the cabbage.  (cabbage is cut in 1" squares) Cooking it smelled so good.  But presentation-NO!  I couldn't decide whether to set the table with soup dishes for flat plates.   Guess what?  The family liked it.  I was a little sheepish putting it on the table so that was a surprise.   After eating, Betsy and Bob went outside and packed the patio tables and chairs.  Guess the little we did earlier inspired them.

WEDNESDAY:
Today I have a hair appointment in Lockport.  I had made arrangements with Christianna to go to lunch first as her birthday is coming up.  She offered to drive from her house so that she could leave Enzo's car seat in their car.  We went to Panera Bread restaurant and had a good time visiting.  Enzo never peeped until after we had eaten.  

LORENZO'S CADILLAC!
  THE CAR SEAT FITS ON THE BUGGY FRAME AND AWAY WE GO!

CHRISTIANNA FEED HIM A BOTTLE.

LORENZO LAUGHS NOW.

He weighs about 13 lbs now.   My arms were sore from holding him.  Guess I'll have to get my weights out and exercise my arms for a little more strength.  

CHRISTIANNA LOVED HER MACKENZIE CHILDS VASE.  

After my hair cut, we had a quick cup of coffee @ Debbie's house and then came home, as she had a dentist appointment.  We stopped at Bed & Bath as I wanted to buy the Nutri Bullet machine to make Smoothies.  I had researched the machine on line on Monday and knew that I wanted the 900 Watt motor.  Then to Tops grocery store for a few things.  We had warm ups for supper a little later, and then I read all the info on the Bullet machine.

 THURSDAY:
Cool during the night, I got up and shut the bedroom window.  

Okay, get every thing done so I can try the new machine.  I made poached eggs, emptied the dish washer, took chicken out for supper, brushed my teeth and dressed.  Now, let's give it a try.
I peeled a peach, cut up some carrots and celery, put in lettuce, and milk.  I call Bob to come and see.  I put it on the base and figured out how to start the motor.  IT LEAKED ALL OVER.  So I tightened it again.  Same thing.  Bob tried it, same thing.  So he reads the manuals and makes a call...20 minutes later he is trying it with water.  Doesn't leak!  Yeah!  Now I try it again.  IT LEAKS.  I guess my hands aren't large enough to grip the top enough to tighten it.  That's it, back in the box and back to store.  I don't have patience for that and I'm not calling Bob every time I want to use it.  

Today's temp was not for a swim day but it was nice out.  We worked outside, cleaning the flower beds and trimming shrubs.  

I CUT BACK THE HEATHER
I DON'T LIKE IT HANGING OVER THE BRICKS.  

FRIDAY:
I feel house bound.  Let's go somewhere.  I had a few pick up duties around the house and I wanted to do a couple things on computer before going some where.
Bob was agreeable to a scoot up to Buffalo.  By then we had four things on our minds.  First we stopped at AAA for a trip ticket to West Virginia for the Holiday Rambler International Rally.  We like the old fashioned trip tickets (long paper versus the wide print).  Bob had all the maps from home which he had marked up but to print the details would take 18 pages for just the first part of trip.  
We were lucky and had a lady who has 27 years experience in there and she was excellent-she even let Bob sit and watch her use computer as he had questions on the AAA web site too.   Within our booklet, she printed detailed inserts for the destinations.  Then she checked out Bob's maps, one was dated 2003, so she updated all the maps.   We were there a long time and I'm getting fidgety.  Bob has one more question...since the long trip ticks are being discontinued the end of December...would she print us a long paper trip tick for next year's International Rally in Michigan?  She did!   I just like the longer prints; the exits and rest areas show up better.  When your moving 38' plus car length that's important.  The irony is -we haven't decided if we are going to either.  

We wanted to see the Trader Joe's store next.  I heard it had health food products.  We had a good time scooping it out, but it was busy and I would say there health products are limited. 
Off to the Apple store to have our I Phone 5 batteries checked because of the recent recall.  Over whelming busy!  School starts soon.  Rather than register and wait 45 minutes, we decided to check on computer at home and call if we need replacement batteries.  
Home again, home again, jig, jig, jig.  That's enough for today.

 I fell asleep on the way home so it took me a while to wake up and make supper.  We were just finishing when we heard a motor cycle that sounds like it came in our yard.  Yep, David and Donna were out riding.  We had coffee and treats with our visit before they left. 

DONNA & DAVID
PREPARING TO LEAVE

SATURDAY:
Lovely day, we enjoyed the pool until dark clouds appeared and we thought it a good idea to get out of the water.  We heard thunder but never received any rain.  
Before I made supper, we repacked the Nutri Bullet machine.    Bob had a return to Home Depot also so we planned a trip across town.  
Coming home, we went to Lickity Splits and had a delicious chocolate covered soft serve ice cream before they close for the summer.   
At night, I finished the book by Bill O'Rielly called Killing Jesus.  It was long and had lots of facts.  

SUNDAY:It rained during the night and I never heard it.  The sidewalks were still wet when I got up at 10:30.  Hope it was a good rain.
It's cooler today so we stayed inside and worked on the computers catching up on a few things.  Bob typed an article for the Ramblings magazine.  We are ready to settle in for the night and watch TV so guess I'll post now. 

Have a good week and thanks for clicking in.

GOLDEN GRAM 

FIREMEN'S FIELD CG AND GOLDEN HILL CG

AUGUST 19, 2014
Sorry readers, I was not fighting with the Internet to do my Blog at the two previous camp grounds that either didn’t have it or had poor service.   Now I will catch up.     

EAST AURORA FIREMEN’S FIELD:

Friday: 8/15:

Bob offered to pick up the building key uptown at a pizza shop.

We had four units come for the weekend plus four guests came for dinner on Saturday night.   Our camping layout was scattered since we have had so much rain, the heavier units hunted for solid gravel.  

OUR COACH
12 YEARS OLD NOW

On Friday night we all went up town for fish fry at the Iron  Kettle.  Returning to camp, it was windy so we played Mexican Train with dominoes in the hall.   It was getting late and we had a long way to go to finish the game; so everyone agreed to continue the next day and we all retired to our coaches.  (Ha, retired)

Saturday was a Continental breakfast, lunch on your own and a pot luck for dinner.  We brought our own meat.   Many campers went up town again to shop as it’s another quaint setting with artsy store fronts and brick highway.  The famous Vidler’s Five and Dime is always a fun stop, two floors of instant insanity!  

4 O'CLOCK COCKTAILS
SCOTT & JONI'S DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER CAME
FOR SUPPER.  THEIR G.DAUGHTER (KENLEY) IS A BEAUTIFUL BLONDIE AND SHE WEARS PINK SAPPHIRE PIERCED EARRINGS.  (17 MONTHS OLD) 

We played more Mexican Train after dinner and we still didn’t finish the game! Again, it was to windy for a fire outside and then it rained.

Sunday we cooked breakfast in the hall.  Wow, we had so much food.   We didn’t need a lunch, that’s for sure.   Somewhere around three, three units pulled out and headed for GOLDEN HILL STATE PARK on   Lake Ontario .

JONI COOKED THE SAUSAGE & EGGS
SCOTT MADE THE PANCAKES
I COOKED THE BACON.  

We arrived at Golden Hill about 4 o'clock, just before the office closed.  We registered and went to our site.  After set up, we visited until everyone was hungry again.  Then we all had quickie dinners, much easier to plan them on travel days.   I had stuffed peppers to zap.  Since the coach front was high, making the step hard to manage, I asked Bob to carry the food out so we could eat with the others at the picnic table.   He had the dish with the peppers on a cutting board and he stumbled coming off  the  step----all down the front of himself and onto  the plastic door mat.   

OOPS!

 Art built a fire after we ate.  He has one stick that he uses to maintains the fire, don't anyone burn it.

VERY PRETTY!

MONDAY 8/18  AT GOLDEN HILL STATE PARK  

This morning we woke up to look out the front window of the motor home to the beautiful blue Lake Ontario.   It was nice and calm.  Lots of sea gulls flying about.   After breakfast, we sat around outside-resting-from chair to chair.  Lots of conversation about health foods as Art & Donna do not eat meats or dairy products.   Of course, I had questions for Bonnie about Trim Healthy Momma Meal Plan.   

ART'S BOOK.
I HAVE TO SEE IF THE LIBRARY HAS THIS BOOK.

I hate to say this for fear things will change but since I have been using the coconut oil for cooking, my feet are healing from the psoriasis.  I have one little spot that is still chapping.  Oh, so improved!  Who'da thought?  

Later, Bob and I drove down to the boat docks and he practiced with his fly rod.

OUTLET TO THE LAKE

ANOTHER SUNSET 

TUESDAY:

The wind has shifted and the lake is rough with white caps.  The dark blue water and white caps, so pretty.   We had one heck of a cold night!  Temps dropping to fast to suit me!  Up and at em!  Picking peaches was on the agenda for  today.  This area is known as the Ridge, and it’s a perfect spot for fruit trees.   We had agreed to be ready to travel by ten o’clock and everyone was ready.

Bob and I picked two pecks.  The peaches (Freestone) were so big that only eight would fit on the bottom layer of the baskets.   We had our baskets full in ten-fifteen minutes.  Then we stood around eating a few!  So delicious.  I hope to make pie and peach jelly at home.   

AT WATT'S FARM

HUGE!

DONNA & ART

BONNIE & BOB 

16 PEACHES FILLED THE BASKET

WHAT A TREAT!  DELICIOUS!

 

THE TREES WERE LOW AND LOADED

Leaving the farm, R Jae drove us around another camp ground.  It was mostly permanent sites and campers were pretty well settled in...not to attractive in some cases.  We decided it wasn't as nice as Golden Hill, despite the beach area.  

Back at camp, we stored the peaches in the bay to keep until we got home.   Bonnie pealed enough to make a Dump Cake for our supper dessert.  It was delicious.

The last fire of this camp out was cold.  I wrapped up.  We couldn't see the sunset due to clouds and a mist.  It was very, very cold inside the motor home during the night.  I got up and put on my flannel pj's and robe, closed all the vents and windows.  

WEDNESDAY:

We all packed up and headed for home.  It was over-boo hoo.  Once home, we unloaded the remaining food so we could make lunch.   Then we tackled the rest.  Bob had heard rain was due so he hopped on the John Deere in high gear and did the lawn.  I started the washing.   I went out to the shed to get jars to wash for the jam.  

On the kitchen table was a gift from Betsy.  Her hair dresser told her about a delicious recipe and she wants to make it.

This little gadget makes the squash look like spaghetti noodles.  Less calories than pasta.  We shall see.  It has a recipe booklet; potato pancakes is in there.  I'd like to try that recipe.  Must be the blades can be changed.

THURSDAY:

It wasn't an earth moving morning but I did get the washing and folding finished.   Bob washed the car and then down loaded the blog photos for me to pick out.  He had the Oatka retirees luncheon today so he left for Bob Evans for one o'clock.   

I washed the jars for jam, then made a peach pie before Bob came home.  

Bob took a nap, he didn't feel good.  That gravy will get you very time!  Ha!  

FRIDAY:
I checked the peaches and they looked ripe enough to start using the rest of them.  Well, after coffee and waking up.  
I made two batches of jam and canned seven pints of slices.  The slices were so fragile, it was hard to pack the pints as they mushed up if you pressed down on them in the jar.  Some parts were over ripe and some still clung to the pit.  But they were juicy and delicious.  
It took me most of the day.  Bob helped with the caner pot as I am afraid of it.  He helped with the last clean up too.  I was bushed and couldn't face making supper so we had a pizza!

After supper, I sat in a chair reading until I finished my book, then went to bed.  

SATURDAY:
I was lazy this morning.  I sat an checked my phone for the latest!  So many people taking the ALS ice bucket challenge; hope they all donate.  

Then I wanted to look up sauerkraut, yes sauerkraut. Bob heard at the Oatka luncheon that the German's did not create sauerkraut!  Well, the Internet says the Chinese had kraut during the time they were building the great wall, 2000 some years ago but it didn't say they created it.   

Playing with the phone takes a while and I realized that I better get something done.  We have the great grand baby's baptism tomorrow so I needed to do a gift.  

A trip to the grocery store, making supper and the day is gone.  

SUNDAY:

Rise and shine people!  We had to be at the Niagara University church by ten o'clock for the baptism   Betsy drove, we couldn't decide on the exit to use and made a longer loop for ourselves but we arrived in good time.

Following mass, everyone joined Father around the baptismal.  Baby Lorenzo never made a peep!  He was so good.  

GODPARENTS
JOE'S BROTHER-ANTHONY
CHRISTIANNA'S SISTER-ANNALYNN

   

BLESSINGS TO ALL 

After the ceremony we all were invited to the Siena Restaurant in Snyder.  Debbie and Christianna had the tables decorated beautifully.  Christianna had a photo of Lorenzo framed for everyone.  We had a very good meal with lots of deserts!  Cannoli (little tube) with cream cheese filling in a pastry bag to insert into cannoli,  and then add sauces on top of that filling, cake and home made ice cream and eight huge trays of cookies.  We joined right in filling a baggie of cookies to bring home.  I scooped up the meatball cookies, my favorite.  Guess I'll hide them in the freezer.  

We were home by four o'clock.  It was still to hot to water the flowers and lawn.  (rain by passed us again) So we all took a napppie!   

Another week gone by.  I'll be in a state of depression thinking of closing the pool already.  Seemed like a short summer to me.  

So thanks for checking in, hope you have a great week.

GOLDEN GRAM 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN! A short trip.

MONDAY:

For once, we did not have appointments for a couple days!  We had plans to get up early and leave for Cayuga Lake State Park Campground.   True to life, we slept in.  So punt, and get on with it.  All hook ups went smoothly so we started off.  The thruway was very busy, in a couple weeks when schools start up, it will be different.  We ate lunch at a thruway rest area and arrived at the camp office about 2:30.   After set up, we went for a ride along the lake.  In and out of roads, driveways etc., okay Bob enough!  There are many beautiful homes, many for sale, and many in a run down state, needing attention.   After supper we read all the  vacation books on the general area,  deciding on some of the attractions to see.  No wwi fi here but $21.00 a night is cheap compared to some camping places.

SITE 29
CAYUGA LAKE STATE CAMPGROUND

CAYUGA LAKE

 TUESDAY:

We went to the downtown Skaneateles area for the shopping experience which I had heard about from a couple people.   This town located on the lake edge has converted all the old buildings to shops of all kinds, even the banks are in old renovated buildings.   The sidewalks were very busy with vacationers, gawking, making some purchases.   We went in and out of stores, walked all over, had lunch at a Johnny Angels, a hamburger place that reminded us of Johnny Rockets in the Galleria Mall.   It was set up in cafeteria style with seating at long tables.    Naval antiques were all over in stores.  Back at the car, we were happy to sit down,  Bob drove thru town and we saw the old, big homesteads.  I noticed that commercialism was not apparent any where; no Mac Donalds’,  Wendy’s, Tim Horton’s,  Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or etc.  The city fathers must fight to keep them out!   

THE WHITE SLEIGH
CHRISTMAS STORE

A CHILDREN'S SHOP

MANY COLLECTIBLES

LUNCH AT JOHNNY ANGELS

I ORDERED A BUFFALO SALAD
THE CHICKEN WAS HOT!  JUST LIKE CHICKEN WINGS!

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS HOME

We were leaving the Skaneateles area and decided to look at the vacation book to see if there was anything else we wanted to see/do there.  I found a flour mill store that was still open.  We went all thru the store, many products from candy to pancake mix.  There were all kinds of dried beans, soups, flavors, baking products, cereal grains, dried fruits, gluten free  and desserts.  We enjoyed the shopping and made a few purchases. 
   WWW. NEW HOPE MILLS. COM

ALL KINDS OF PRODUCTS

Driving back to the camp ground, we stopped at the Montezuma National  Wild Life Preserve.  We have always been curious while driving the thruway how cars entered the area.  We enjoyed the birds, ducks, and flowers.  The NY STATE BARGE CANAL & CAYUGA SENECA BARGE CANAL  runs thru there and there was an area where the Carp fish tried to enter the ponds from the canal.  They had a sign that stated they would corrupt the ponds if they were left in.  We got out of the car an looked down in the drainage tube area; those Carp were huge, fighting the current from the tube.   Outside of the preserve we saw three huge nests on the top of telephone poles.  The pamphlets said it was Eagles nests.   www.fws.gov/r5mnwr

VISITOR CENTER

THESE FLOWERS WERE ALL OVER EDGES OF PONDS
THEY LOOK LIKE HOLLYHOCKS
PRETTY!

A GREY CRANE

FOLLOW ME

BEAVER HUT

REFLECTIONS

I made supper in and then we watched TV and did some reading.  As our site was up in the morning, (or move to another site) Bob called the Canandaigua KOA for reservations.  They had one site for one night.  Busy time this summer.  

WEDNESDAY:

We left for Canandaigua early.  Check in wasn't until 11:30. We pulled in anyway only to learn that in addition to the camping fees we had to pay $10.00 for early arrival.  What?  Lesson learned!  KOA'S are not cheap anyways.  It took a long time to register as Bob was fighting this policy and they were still looking for two nights stay for us. 

Set up was a snap!  That's one thing good about a KOA, their places are pretty much standard with level sites, patio, fire ring, and utilities.   Nice and clean.  We were escorted to our site. Nice!

KOA SITE 

Victor mall  /Apple Store: We drove to the Victor Mall to visit the Apple Store.  It was about a 20 minute drive from the campground.  Bob had some questions about his phone.  It wouldn’t allow him to up date and several other things.   While Bob was with the service person, I walked around and viewed (again) all the beautiful new machines: Mini IPads, Mac Air, Mac Pro etc.   Someday I need to face replacing the Dell as it is continuing to give me problems.  We were in the store for an hour or better; coming out we were parched as in thirsty and directly near was a STARBUCKS!  Ahe, for an iced coffee.

We are doing so much that we are exhausted!  Nappie time back at camper.   But not before Bob went next door to meet some campers that he noticed had a business logo on the front of camper & car that said Erie, Pa.  They have a waste disposable business - LOF or LOV  Bob couldn't remember.  Their motor home was a Newmar and it was long and beautiful.  

Betsy sent a text about a German restaurant that her friends have gone to when in Canandaigua.  Bob looked it up on his phone and then called to make reservations, they had a 6:15 opening.    Arriving at the Rheinblick German restaurant, we had to walk up an  alley, customers were seated outside.  It didn’t look to promising!   Inside was small, tables very close, and sparsely decorated walls.  Our reservation card was on the table in a cute holder.  The waitress took our drink and appetizer order.  We wanted the Kartoffelpuffer!  (German Potato Pancakes)  They were delicious!  Then our salads came and on to the Wiener Schnitzel!  (Veal-the classic recipe from Vienna) It was served with spatzel noodles.   Oh so good.  We were not disappointed.  A big meal for us, so we ordered dessert to go.  www.restaurant-rheinblick.com

RESERVATION CARD

EIN  PROSTING!

OUR WAITRESS WITH OUR MEALS

After dinner we drove up to the Finger Lakes Casino,  our first trip there.   We registered and cards were made for us.  They gave us a $10.00 coupon for registering first time, plus lots of future coupons and info.   We found machines and that money was gone in fifteen minutes.  Swish!  The machines said a penny a play; but there was only buttons for 25 lines and up.  So really a person is playing a quarter each time.  Tricky!  Bob put more money in.  We lost what Bob put in but it was fun to check the place out. 

Back to camper  to eat our take out dessert: Bob had the Apfelstrudel /Apple Strudel and I had Heidi’s Homemade Cheese cake with Raspberry Swirl Syrup.  Um mm.

I wanted to use the computer for my Blog so I preceded to get that all ready.  I must have typed a little bit, when I woke up, the lap top was still on my lap!  I couldn't stand myself so I headed for bed.  Cranky!

THURSDAY:

We both made sure that we had everything done and ready to leave before 11:30 as I didn't want to pay another of their fees.  The roads were busy but we moved right along and arrived home about 11:30.  We had such a good time and now back to reality!  Unload and clean the camper.

FRIDAY:
What a blah day!  No excitement here at home.   Now we have to pay the fiddler so to speak.  Bob washed the car and motor home and helped me with some computer work.  I did some washing and computer entry work.
Bob spent some time doing phone work for our next camp out with our camping group.
SATURDAY:
In the morning as I was going thru Face Book, I saw a photo of a girl who lived on our street while growing up,  I quickly ask her to be a friend.  She now lives with her family in Virginia.  She has her doctorate and is a pharmacist at a hospital there.  She had been "home" for a high school reunion.  We chatted back and forth probably for an hour, about my kids, her kids and parents, other neighbors etc.  Love that Face Book.  

Pretty much another quite, warm, enjoy the pool, kinda day.  We had a few ideas on changing the pool patio set up around.  Some ideas worked, some not so good.  Since the solar lights are burned out, we drove over to Home Depot after supper to buy new batteries.  Like every shopping trip; more than batteries went in the shopping cart.  
SUNDAY:
Well, today went by fast.  All the plans of weeding and trimming bushes did not get done because it was too hot.  Also to many bees!  we spent the day in the pool.  How sweet it is.  

There isn't much else to add so I may as well post this and go see if I can pull weeds now.

There's suppose to be a preview of Downton Abbey on tonight at 10.  Hope I stay awake to see it.  

It's been a good week, hope you have a good week.  Thanks for clicking in.

GOLDEN GRAM