WILD IRISH MUPPETS

HIBERNIAN HOLIDAY!

IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE THIS MORNING...on this glorious feast day of the great St. Patrick to conduct a Communion Service for the folks at Woodlea. Woodlea? That's our neighbor's building we can see from our front window across from Birch Pointe....an 'assisted living' facility for the elderly. A heavenly haven! A buncha' senior saints!

Not sure of the latest head count. Let's say....100-150 souls. With 'slightly' failing bodies. Living residuals of a million memories.












Resurrection Parish here in ol' Pike Creek Valley provides Eucharistic Ministers once a week to conduct Communion Services.

The Vatican still won't.... let me say Mass. Maybe when I turn 90!

For now, Communion Services. For that privilege I'm deeply grateful....


After our half-hour Communion Service we posed for this touching pic. Then we all launched into a rousing round of Irish Tunes.


"Okay, girls! Let's sing 'Danny Boy'! This time with more Irish gusto. Take it from the top!"

The girls admired my fine Irish sweater from the Aran Islands (no, not my silly hat!). Pat gave me this sweater almost 20 years ago. When we visited Blarney Woolen Mills (thanks to Patricia Anne Sullivan Dimino's guided tour) near the Irish city of Cork. http://www.blarney.ie/


Around noon time we headed out the door for a celebratory St. Patrick's Day Picnic Lunch. (Doesn't everyone?)


Up to our favorite local, pristine picnic spot. Chester County. Just over the PA state line. Only a 1/2 from home!

Ahhh, what a day! Cobalt blue skies. A soft, early Spring sun. Look above Pat's Hibernian cap. See those specks! Those are our horse friends. We have a name for each. Yes, we're here often. But today, those guys were so distracted...they never even saw us! Usually, they'd come running up to the fence for a pet from Pat....and a few kind words! Oh, well. Next time!

An inspirational day, dear St. Patrick!
Thank you! Thank you!

Later in the day.... we headed home to the even more celebratory preprandial nips of whiskey/wine and....ahhh, ever so delicate corned beef, cabbage and Irish boiled/spoiled potatoes.

And this evening? Believe it or not, we weren't able to rent 'the Quiet Man' starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. All gone already! But we were able to land....'Waking Ned Divine'. So hilarious! So Hibernian!

POCONO MOUNTAIN MOOSE?

Friday, this past weekend, Pat and I ventured forth on another mountain 'get away'. This time to the Poconos. Spring was in the air.... you know: bright sun soaked scenery. Snow covered vistas. Et cetera.

But first, we wanted to detour up to Long Island to visit Pat's sister-in-law, Barbara, who has been recovering for months after a brutal, bone-breaking auto accident.

After weeks of unconsciousness in the intensive care unit, Barbara now lives in a rehab center....slowly, painfully recuperating from her near death experience. And it's so amazing...she's in such good spirits after all she's been through.

Her new life theme: "I know God let me live for a reason.....I could have died! I'll spend the rest of my God-given life finding that reason!" Very touching, believe me! This is faith!

We spent Friday night with Kelly and Mike at their house out on on Long Island. Thanks, guys!
We were then able to visit Barbara again Saturday morning. I think there were a coupla tears all 'round when we finally had to say goodbye Sat. afternoon....

Hang in there, Barb! Our heartfelt prayers!

We then joined the crazy New York traffic on the Cross Bronx and headed west...ahhhh, to the Poconos!

To the Comfort Inn Suites in Mt. Pocono. A snowball throw away from Camelback.

Hey, manager....lets crank up this fireplace, okay!

Uhhh, I'm just kidding, sir. Don't hit an old man!

Sunday morning we "hit the slopes"....euphemistically speaking.

"Pat, I dunno' 'bout you. Ski down if you want. But I'm walkin' down!!"

http://www.skicamelback.com/

N.B Kidding, of course. We haven't skied our whole lives.

This was real. After Camelback we moved westward on I-80 to Hickory Run State Park. High in the Poconos. A favorite park of ours!

Oh, Chris! I feel so-o-o-o free!! I'm a 'trekie'....treking thru the woods!

Slow down, Pat! I can't keep up with you! There may be bears or mountain lions up ahead....

Pat, I think this is the way to our car. North, right? Which way is north?

Yes, Mr. Park Ranger, we saw the "NO HUNTING" sign. But we're only ...like....hunting for where we parked our car!

Monday morning we arrived at Susquehannock State Park two hours or so south of Lancaster, PA. On our way back to good ol' Pike Creek Valley.

The Park is situated on a high bluff overlooking the lovely Susquehanna River.

Okay, Pat! Time for one more hike and one more picnic lunch before we return to the cats!

Not much snow down here compared to Hickory Run. Temp. in the mid-50's. Beautiful weather the whole weekend!

Pat and I discovered this gem of a park right after we retired in 1996.

One last look at the Susquehanna before heading home. We're so grateful! Such a good weekend!



Gee, we never did see any Pocono moose....

Mountain Music

OUR DAY AT THE SHOW!

Hey! It's that time of year again!

No, it's not Spring! It's not St. Paddy's Day! Lo and behold! It's the Annual Philadelphia Flower Show! Wait, wait, dear family and friends! Don't delete yet! Did you know....this is the most ambitious indoor garden show in the world. Going all the way back to 1829. Ten indoor acres of exotic flowers and plants set in imaginative, artistic displays at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Feb. 28th to March 6th.


C'mon, Chris! Let's boogie on up to Philly. It's time for our beloved Annual Flower Show!

Uhhh, yes, dear Patricia...















Seemed like we had to park miles away from the Center. But even walking thru town was fun...a mild, sunny "early Spring" day!

http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html

Since 1829!

Largest indoor show in the world!

Journey around the globe with breathtaking stops in India, Brazil, the Netherlands, South Africa, New Zealand and Singapore. See thousands of plant and floral design entries of local enthusiasts in hundreds of categories. Don’t miss on the free gardening presentations, 150 held throughout the week. http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html



Ahhh, Chris! It's so good to be back!




It's glorious.

'Scuse me, Pat. I see a coffee stand over yonder. Behind that Brazilian jungle!

Debris left over from the National Tea Party gathering last week. For conservatives.... they really know how to celebrate!

Another beautiful Asian exhibit on our trip around the world....

Some of the show's beauty was grandiose in scale.

And then, just as real....there were the small beauties!

Those are small ornamental pins stuck in the hearts of the roses. Zillions of them!

Quiet grandeur

India pavilion. These floral displays were about 6 feet across. Hundreds of beautiful roses in each. How do they keep them fresh for 8 days!

South Africa, besides floral displays, featured wild, scarey tribal masks. About 3 feet high. Each has it's own story.




Row upon row of artful displays

No comment needed!






Again!

We paid our respects to the mysterious Thai Tranquility Exhibit. Asian floral art at its best. Hi ya', Kay, Mike and Good!















There was a magnificent 6' floral display behind Pat. But as the pic shows, it pales in comparison to dear Patricia....

Wish I had some of this nice, blond thatch to wear on my head! Oh, well...











The reality was so much nicer. Gotta get a better camera.

5 hours later...guess we better head back to dear ol' Pike Creek Valley. And the SNOW!

I overheard two little old ladies (probably liberals!) sharing this tidbit: "Those National Tea Party revelers were livin' it up last nite....a lot more than tea ....went down the hatch!"

Then, they both giggled: tee, hee....tea, hee!

Heavenly music at the Flower Show. Perfect background for such a lovely day! Thank you, Philly!

Thank you....

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society!

HEAVENLY HARP