Happy 100th, PA Farm Show!

So, have you made your plans to visit the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg?
If not, choose a day this week and go!
We were lucky enough to get there on opening day, Saturday. The best bet: Go SUPER early. We got there shortly after 7 a.m. and got a great parking spot. The food court was already open and we could enjoy the first hour or two with no crowds!

There is so much to see that you could easily visit a few times during the week, but most of us can make it only once a year. Back when our daughter was in 4-H, there were a few times when we spent the week as the kids exhibited their dairy animals. What fun that was!!

But those days are long past... Still, we try to make it every year. Here are just a few photos from our visit...

Above, have a seat!! Below,  the real thing...

Other critters...

Delaware Valley University always is there....

And machinery!

Tired? Have a seat!

But don't miss the butter sculpture. Amazing, as always!

There are just so many other entries to see. This one won best of show for bowling pin transformation...

Here, a magnificent gingerbread house.

When I was in 4-H, I showed a dairy heifer at the 1964 Farm Show, and found the program recently. This is the current program, for the 100th year.

Early in the year, my daughter and I decided it would be fun to enter in the 100th, since it has been a few years since she entered many times as a 4-H'er. So we entered photos! She won a few honorable mentions, but not all of our photos placed in the top, of course. It was fun nevertheless. Check out the website -- maybe you will decide to enter something next year!

I was astounded to win best of show with a black and white photo of our cat Wednesday. Absolutely surprised! I give Danielle a lot of credit for helping me choose a photo and always assisting as I try to hone my hobby. SHE is the true photographer, and if I had been the judge, she would have won top honors -- not that I'm biased!!

If you can't make it, check out Pennsylvania Cable Network,  PCN, which covers the Farm Show all week. They do a great job!

But try to make the trip to Harrisburg. It's a lot of fun.... and the critters are waiting to see you!

RETIRED!!

At the end of December 2011, I retired from The Reporter after more than 38 years on the job.
At the end of July 2015, I retired from Harleysville Veterinary Hospital after three and a half years, so I guess that qualifies me as "old."

This is the oh-so delicious cake that we devoured last Friday, in addition to the goodies that hospital staff brought in as part of "dip day," a tradition at the hospital on occasions of such celebrations as marriages, births and yes, retirements.

I truly appreciate the send-off, and it was bittersweet to leave the practice. It had always been a dream of mine to work there, having been a client forever, and it was wonderful to be able to realize that dream.
But it's time for another chapter in my life. I hope to do some traveling, with some plans already in the works; I want to pare down my belongings; I want to spend more time with family and friends; and I want to do some volunteer work.
I also hope to do more blogging and more photography.
There are other items on my bucket list, but I guess this is enough for a start.
So here I am on my first official day of retirement… It will be interesting to see what develops in the years to come!
And, of course, it will give me more time with our kitties … including this little mischief-maker, Wednesday!

New York, New York!

Saturday was a beautiful day, especially after the rainy, raw weather we've been having. And my daughter and I were happy that are plans to go on a day trip to New York City, via Hagey Bus, turned out so well. We couldn't have asked for better weather! These first photos show Times Square, of course, and the photo at the right includes the famous ball that drops on New Year's Eve, seen just above "2013."

Our main goal in heading to NYC on Saturday was to visit the International Center of Photography, and the exhibits, "We Went Back: Photographs from Europe by Chim" and "Roman Vishniac Rediscovered" were moving and thought-provoking.

After that, we headed to Bryant Park and, of course, passed some New York natives...

Bryant Park was beautiful and plenty of people were out enjoying the day. Notice the skyline reflected in the building at the left. We ate our lunch by the fountain at right. 

Of course we had to make a little time for shopping ... and looking up!

These aren't your typical bus passengers ... but are great advertisements for the Jekyll & Hyde restaurant/bar.

And then we spotted this cool car advertising the BowlMor, so we went in, were dazzled, had a delicious drink and appetizer ... no time for bowling, though.

Of course the day flew by too fast once more, and soon it was time to board the bus for home. And one last look at the New York City skyline....

'snow getting away from it

The snow is beautiful ... after you're done shoveling and you've safely arrived at your destination.
No problem for my daughter today, because her workplace was closed.
So she was able to snap these photos, offered here for your enjoyment.