Yesterday was a perfect day! 

It was sunny, breezy and at times, cool.  After 'chores' were done here at the river, Linda and I decided we deserved a bit of R&R.  I put the top down on ol' 'Bre and away we went!

Linda seems to love it.  She just sits in the passenger seat, looking around.  Guess we do look a little silly...

Afterwards, we sat on the glider for hours.  She snoozed while I read.  Reading on an e-reader after dark reminds me so much of those days when I sat at the window and read by the streetlight.  When I finally woke the lazy gal hours later, we walked down to the boat launch. 

One of the reasons Linda loves to come to the river is that she can sleep with me.  She loves it.  Me, not so much.  She's a bed hog!

So much of a bed hog that this morning after she pushed me out of bed, I decided to let her sleep while I went for a walk.  I don't know if she'll ever forgive me, she likes taking me for a walk.

I no sooner started my walk when I saw this:

A Jeep and a VW?  Like a pile of trash designed just for our family.  I sent a photo to

Andy telling him I found him a Jeep. No response yet.   Maybe Pink's not his color?

Of course, everyone knows what the Schenley sign looks like:

 But have I ever shown you Schenley Park?

Oh, and in case you were wondering...the post office is open until noon every day.

I'm liking this town more and more...

Home, home on the...river!

Here in Schenley,

We live in travel trailers all summer, but it's the custom to build out buildings that can hold all kinds of stuff...water skis, life jackets, bunk beds, and if you have a larger than life husband who has a tough time fitting in the trailer shower, a full size bathroom!  Yes, they are occasionally  usually normally pretty much bigger than some of the trailers and twice as nice...but we are in Schenley!

The first year we were here, we gathered materials, saved money and drew up plans.  Last year Mark took off the week after July 4th to build our out building.

Before you start feeling sorry for him, he loves it!  He loves building things, he loves being on the river and most of all, he loves getting all dirty and sweaty and then jumping in the river to cool off.

When the boys had a break in their work schedule, they came to help.  The day Andy was here, the heat was oppressive.  I brought out cool wash cloths for them to use.  Mark seemed to enjoy his!

It was hard work in the heat, but it seemed (to me who showed up to take photos every few days) to go quickly.

Tony came out too!

Part of the plans for the interior included a bathroom.  Arranging it took much discussion.

Finally!  It turned out so cute!  One of our friends calls it our Taj Mahal. 

Mark did such a great job, not only finding the materials (you can't see the green metal roof in these photos), but the work he did was first class.  Now we're like regular Schenleyites!

I've got pieces of April...

Ah, finally! The winter seemed to drag on and on, then suddenly it's April, the sun is shining, the birds are singing...

And the dogs are...lovin' their daddy! It's rare for Mark to sit down without one of the big dogs near, but recently, Winnie wants to be part of the act! She doesn't care where she sits, frequently it's on Bill's head, just as long as she's there!

And then came Easter! The weather had been so balmy, the grass was growing overtime! When we got to my mother's house on Easter day, she asked Andy and Tony to cut her grass.

First Andy

And then Tony...

And then both of them...I think Mom is going to direct traffic!

do you get the idea that they are planning something? You bet! All over Dad's clean car!

Of course, April means it's time to mosey on to the town ...

(note...as of June 30, 2009, the population was 54)

To get on the jet ski to help put the docks in the water!
Mark will use any excuse to get on a jet ski!
I found out it's not all that much fun, you have to be very careful!
Although once you've delivered a section of the dock to the men who will bolt them together, it's time to play, just a little...
Of course, when the kids heard that the docks were in the water...first Andy and Kailyn
And then Tony and Morgan
Came to walk down to the river
Where Tony and Morgan hit golf balls out onto the water

In April, we also decided that it was time for the motor home to go...to find another family. It was kind of sad. She took us to all kinds of places...But she did clean up pretty good! She found a nice family who promised her trips to Montana! Oh, don't feel sad, we found something else, bigger and better that meets our needs at the river than this gal...she was never intended to sit still for seasons at a time!

Andy invited us to tag along, a prime photo-op, he called it, while he and his friends did some 'jeepin' or off roading.

What that means is that you take your cameras and either ride in, or follow Jeeps or other 4-wheel vehicles that go where motorized vehicles could not or should not go. Example 1: I am riding in the front seat of Andy's Jeep Cherokee. This is my view:
At some point, Andy told me that to get the best photos, I should get out and walk up the hill. I did. He drove:
What you will see are several Jeeps, in much better condition than your first car, doing things that are physically impossible. Such as Brent's predicament:

It's a chance to see, and photograph the undersides of vehicles while they are still upright!
And you take photos of them doing this in case they break something and can never do this again!

Sometimes, the things you do require much thought...

And laughter...and good natured ribbing...But all in all, they are best of friends, each keeps the phone number of the other's favorite towing company on speed dial!

Whew...all that hiking made me tired. That's it for April...See you here tomorrow for May?

Good...you bring the popcorn!

Jan

October is always such a colorful month

and usually starts out with the most brilliant blue skies and perfect temperature. I grabbed my camera and hit the roads, photographing things that caught my eye:

I must have spent HOURS and HOURS, driving around, snapping my shutter! Both driving and photographing are therapy for me.

Kailyn, who always plans things ahead of time, bought her cat, Deore, her Halloween costume"

Deore wasn't fond of it, I don't think she wanted to be a lady bug, so she did her best to get out of it:
And when she did, she made sure her mommy wasn't going to try to put it on her again:
The cooler air made the dog feel frisky for a few minutes right before they went into hibernation for the winter. They felt obligated to hunt those renegade leaves and twigs. Linda obeys when you tell her to drop things. Bill seems to have a problem:
In mid-October, I was driving down the road and....OH OH!
Something hit my windshield!

What was it?

Yes, it was Bill! No, he's fine, but ouch! I had to step on the brakes quickly and he came down, between the seats and wacked the windshield. Not so sure the insurance company bought that story, but they did replace it.

The small town where we camp has a scenic train ride on weekends. When we see it pass, we always run out and wave. Usually people have their cameras ready and snap photos. Some time I surprise them and photograph THEM!
We decided to take the last train ride of the regular season.

They do have a winter run in December, but brrrrr! Mark, Andy, Kailyn, Tony and I got to go. Morgan was at work.




The town where the railroad is located has a population of 55 (today, 54 last week!). One of the cutest things was this couple, sitting at the beginning of town.
Also in October Tony was in a golf tournament with his college team. He came in second overall which brought his team in at second place. He was tickled even though the huge trophy stays with the school. How lucky is this kid who's mother had a golf trophy ready and waiting for him when he got home:
Oddly, he wasn't around in 1958, the year on the trophy. In fact, his mom was in grade school! The wonders of ebay!

Also in October, wedding preparations were in full swing! Kailyn's attendants had a shower for her:

She got so many beautiful things, and was beaming when Andy showed up later:

The tulle veil was the wrapping for a gift from Kailyn's aunt. I wish I had gotten a photo of the wrapped gift, it was beautiful and what a great idea!

Andy also had time for a hug for his sister and his cousin, Katlyn, who will be a junior bridesmaid in the wedding.

We also heard that the city had torn down the house Mark and I bought before we were married. They are expanding the base-ball park behind the house. Tony and Michael wanted to see:
You can see the baseball field in the background. It's a beautiful park.
They found some of Tony's pogs, a few legos and one jeep matchbox car. I put them in a jar as our time capsule!

Lastly, I suppose it would be Halloween...and we really don't celebrate it. I love to buy pumpkins to use in decorating, but we don't even get trick or treaters up here on the hill!


Whew...still with me? Come back tomorrow for November, which will be restful, I promise!