THE HILLS ARE ALIVE....

.... with the sound of music. What music? What hills? Well, we mean....like....the beautiful melody you hear in your head when you're motoring up, down and around the hills of south/central Pennsylvania! Like Pat and I have been doing for the past 4 days. Why Hanover? Gettysburg? Chambersburg?

To celebrate, of course, Pat's 71st birthday on May 19th! Or as a dear friend recently recast "71st"....it's really "the 50th anniversary of Pat's 21st birthday!" Kinda poetic, huh?

Rollo and Renee always like to wave 'goodbye' to us when we venture forth on one of our getaways!

Why can't we travel like most people...with one or two bags and be happy!








Fairfield Inn really is over 250 years old. You can sense you're walking into another far off time frame when you enter the front door.

Historical tidbit: After Robert E. Lee and his Confederate Army were defeated at Gettysburg (8 miles northeast of Fairfield) he and his staff stopped at this very Inn for dinner on the long trek back to the South. Fact. Did they pay for dinner? No one seems to know!

http://www.thefairfieldinn.com/

Great historical ambience. Pretty good crab cakes, too!

The Fairfield Inn was originally in Maryland. Yet, without moving one foot, it suddenly moved to Pennsylvania! How come? When Mason and Dixon did their 'thing', the Fairfield Inn ended up north of the new line....which is Pennsylvania.

Oh, Chris! This is all so historical! So....romantic!

Yes, dear.






Black Angus and Holstein dots in the distance.

Mile-wide swaths of newly sown cornfields. Corn and corn-related subjects really turn me on!

[- The Cornmeister]

Another visit to the brand new Gettysburg Museum. Didn't have time to tour the battlefields.

If the South had won, would the USA have ended up as three separate nations? The North? The South? The Far West?

Mr. President allowed one of his very devoted fans to sit next to him for this photo op!

Thanks, Abe!

The weather was so beautiful, we actually got a few hikes in!

Took a side trip down to Frederick, MD to visit Middle Alley. That's where my mother, Mary Irene, grew up. And why my first name is Frederick!

This pic: c. 1915. Age four. Years later, when she gave me 'that look'....I used to run for cover! A most loving mother....but being German, she loved discipline. Achtung!

Susquehannock PA State Park. Overlooking the Susquehanna River. One of our favorite parks.



A four day birthday bash for Mary Patricia. Great fun! Deo gratias!

MEMORIES FOR MOTHER'S DAY!

ON MOTHER'S DAY...A LITTLE FAMILY GENEOLOGY IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL! YES, WE ALL HAVE 'ROOTS'!

Kate Donlon (b.???; d. 1911) Wife of Patrick Donlon, mother of Mae, John and Thomas. And "grandma" of Tom, Patricia, Elizabeth, Edward and Joseph Stephens. How 'bout that!

Mae Donlon (b. 1907; d. 1970) Wife of Edward Stephens, mother of (you guessed it!) Tom, Patricia, Elizabeth, Edward and Joseph.

There's somethin' very Irish about this pic! Look at those cutie Stephens sisters, Pat and Eliz, in the fiercely protective embrace of dear Mae.

Mae and girls!

This great pic needs no comment! A keeper!

And here's Daisy Mariah Gaugh-Rothenhoefer (1872-1960). Mother of Mary Irene Rothenhoefer-Christopher. Yeah, kids, my grandmother, your great-grandmother!

And here's my dear mom, Mary Irene Rothenhoefer-Christopher 1911; 1996). Your grandma on your father's side.

Guess who!! Yes, Super Mom, Mary Pat!Be proud! You have many great women in your family history. Imagine all the ones we don't even know about. But thanks to them....

...you live today!