The Deer Roam Free

My husband's brother and family live in a small town a few miles from us.  Their property backs up to a large park, so this is a normal sight in their yard.

When we were leaving a few nights ago, there were two deer in the yard just past the driveway, two more in the yard across the street, and we spotted several more as we left the neighborhood. 

The deer roam free

In our town

Beware the deer

At sundown

When darkness falls

And shadows flee

In our town

The deer roam free

Fortunately, they also come out during the afternoons for photo ops.  Hubby got this with his cell phone.  The deer rarely make an appearance like this when I'm there with my camera.

Quote of the Week

Image source: Wikipedia

 If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves. 
 -Thomas A. Edison 

As a scientist, inventor and businessman, Edison is responsible for over one thousand U.S. patents.  Home schooled by his mother, his work advanced communication, the motion picture camera, the light bulb and the concept of mass production.

Imagine if he had said "I can't do that" in his process of invention.  We may not be famous inventors, but we are all capable of amazing things.  Just say "Yes, I can!"

A Wine Weekend

Ten people in five cars visit seven wineries in three days.   

Rain, fog, misty clouds hung low made for slow go round and round the mountain. 

A blast that passed too fast.  

Good food set the mood for our eclectic brood.   

Good friends and good wine equals good times.  

Cheers to all wine lovers everywhere.

Written for Friday Flash 55.

Mountain View

Afton Mountain Vineyards

Mountainous backdrop

Layered behind the vineyard

Like smokey shadows

Written for dVerse poetry.

Quote of the Week

Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.  - Maori Proverb

As our shadows fall behind us, we can better see all the good that life has to offer, so turn your face to the sun and make the most of each day.

Moving Day

Amber sat down hard upon the steps, still hot from the afternoon sun. She thrust her chin into her hand, trying hard not to cry. Callie was leaving tomorrow. It was totally unfair. Her lower lip trembled as the tears started to fall. At ten the whole world ends when your best friend moves away.

Written for Friday Flash 55.

Nursery Rhyme Redo: Jack and Jill

Image Source: Wikipedia

 

Jack and Jill took some pills
They got from their drug dealer
Jack fell down upon the ground
And Jill called an herbal healer

Posted for dverse poetry.

Second Anniversary: Meet and Greet

Dear Readers:

Another year has rolled around, and tomorrow Roses to Rainbows celebrates its second anniversary in the blogosphere.  Last year I listed for you the things I had learned during my first year of blogging, and introduced you to some of the people I had met.

This year I would like you to introduce yourselves to me.  I would like to meet those of you who pop in and leave without a trace.  This is not the FBI, but you are all on my most wanted list.

So whether you drop in regularly or this is your first visit, please look around and make yourself at home.  There's a pot of coffee on for you morning folks, and a glass of wine for the evening crowd.  Don't be shy now - you are among friends here.

You are all important to me.  I want to thank the regular R2R crowd for sticking with me, and invite everyone else to join in the fun.

Cheers, everyone!

The Quote of the Week will return next Monday.

Signs of the Season

This little leaf caught on the remnants of a spider web, danced for me in the breeze.

The Tulip Poplar is the first to release her leaves.

Pretty red Dogwood seeds will feed the birds this winter.

 Sunlight plays on these bushes turning them golden.

 Mother Nature highlighted these leaves on an otherwise green tree.

Written for Friday Flash 55.

Pennsylvania Part 2: Ephrata

Yay!  We finally made it to Ephrata.  My best friend, Ashley, and her family moved here last Spring.  Having had some time to adjust, they have decided that they love the area.  The schools, parks, shopping and the library are close to their house.

Ephrata Borough, Lancaster Co., PA

As you can see, it is a quaint town that make you feel like you have stepped back in time, and when you see the horses and buggies of the Amish you may think you have.  This was taken at the local Walmart.  

Horse and Buggy parking only!

This year was exceptionally hot with days of triple digit heat indexes.  Like many areas in the northern part of the country, very few homes have central air.  But winter is coming, and the boys are looking forward to the snow.  They have already located a good hill for sledding/snow boarding.

Main Street in Ephrata

There is a nice park just blocks away from Ashley's house with a large picnic shelter, playground, a walking path along the creek, and plenty of benches to sit and watch the kids play or just relax with nature.

A park within walking distance

When you have kids, knowing where all the parks and playgrounds are becomes important.  This park has a ball field, playground, and walking paths, one of which leads to this pretty lake.  It was late afternoon, and the sun was playing off the trees and their reflections in the water.

Just a few miles down the road from Ephrata is another small town called Lititz.  It was a nice day to stroll up and down Main Street and visit the Wilbur Chocolate Company.  From the moment you step inside your senses are assaulted with the fragrance of chocolate.  They sell a huge variety of chocolaty treats, which are made upstairs above the shop.

There is a natural spring in Lititz Springs Park.  It flows into a pool and then down a shallow "stream" with stacked rock walls on either side.  It is filled with ducks, coming and going.  It looks like a lazy river ride - ducks just walk over to the edge and plop in.

A lazy river for ducks!

Here is a short video of the ducks swimming up and/or downstream.

This is a natural spring and the water is quite cold, and very clear.  When I looked into the spring where the water was still, I actually couldn't tell there was water there.

This tells more about the history of the spring and the park.

Here is the lion guarding the spring.  I believe the original lion was carved into the rock below, but has worn away over time.

After walking through the park, and sampling chocolates at Wilbur's we enjoyed some great pizza at a Roma Pizza on Main Street.

On another day, we visited Ephrata's Green Dragon.  The Green Dragon is a farmer's market and flea market all rolled into one.  There are many vendors including the Amish.  You can find just about anything there from fresh baked goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses to clothing, sunglasses, household goods and too much more to list.  People come from miles around to shop here, and it only operates on Fridays.

Image Source:  The Green Dragon website

Quote of the Week

Image Source: Wikipedia

Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul.    
- Thomas Merton

No matter whether it is big or small, tragic or joyful, there is something to be gained from each moment lived.  We are the sum total of all of our moments.

Where Were You?

We all remember September 11, 2001 - the worst terrorist attack on American soil.  As with all life changing events, it is natural to remember what was going at that instant in your life.  No matter how mundane the task, it is cemented into your brain.  This is how I remember it.

We were vacationing in Madeira Beach, FL, as we do most years.  It was a beautiful morning with barely a cloud in the sky, and nothing to portend what was about to happen.

Hubs and I had gone to John's Pass to buy him some flip flops.  We walked into the beach shop and as usual, there was a radio on.  However, it wasn't blaring the usual Top 40, rock, rap, or whatever was the clerk's choice that day.

Instead what we heard was news.  We heard words like "attack" and "World Trade Tower".  "Is that real" we asked?  A quiet 'yes' was the response.

Like everyone else we strained to hear every detail.  Our country was under attack.  There had been attacks on Americans before, but this was larger and more deadly than anything previously in my lifetime.

For me, stunned and shaken were understatements.  Already there were three planes down, thousands of lives lost, and the landmark World Trade Towers lay in ruins.  The terrorists used our planes as weapons against us.  At that moment no one knew the full extent of the attack.  Would there be more?  The situation was frightening and there were questions on everyone's minds and concern on their lips. 

Outside the skies were silent.  It was an eerie sound.  Yes, silence was an eerie sound that day.  On any given day you would see planes coming and going over the Gulf, some pulling advertising banners, others carrying passengers far and wide. Instead of the roar of the jets and buzz of single engines, silence ensued.  All planes were grounded. 

We seldom watched TV on vacation but now the TV was nearly always on.  It was heartbreaking to watch as we suffered with those who lost friends and family.  We felt pride for New Yorkers, and for heroic citizens everywhere as they pulled together.  The wave of fear that washed over our nation was quickly replaced with outrage.

This tragic event brought about much grief and suffering, but it also united a country against those determined to destroy us.  Americans are strong.  We won't be broken, and we won't back down.  

We will always remember where we were that day.  As a nation, it has been carved into the steel of our resolve.

Written for the Tribal Blogs 9/11 Tribute.

Cheesesteaks, Swans and More!

Getting There.

Into every vacation a little rain must fall, right?  So there we were motoring up the interstate just as happy as if we had good sense.  Uh oh, looks like some bad weather ahead.  It had been an overcast day so some rain wasn't unexpected, but nevertheless not appreciated - as least not by the passenger - ME!

At 12:06 it looked like this

At 12:09 it looked like this.

"So, can YOU see anything?" 

And yes, the wipers were running!

The Sights and Tastes of Philadelphia.  

The historical city of Philadelphia was home to Ben Franklin (there is even a bridge named after him) and the Liberty Bell.  The Liberty Bell has a new home in the new Liberty Bell Center.  Admission is free to see the bell.

What else is Philadelphia famous for?  That's right!  The Philly Cheesesteak sandwich.  If you want a great, authentic Philly Cheesesteak, then check out Jim's.  There was a line out the door and around the corner.  It seemed like a long line but it was a small shop so how bad could it be?  However, what we didn't know was that the line snaked up and back inside the shop to where you place your order. 

Yes, it was worth the wait!

We stayed two nights at the Hyatt Regency along the Delaware River.  (Don't you just love Priceline?)  We got a great room and the hotel staff were friendly and helpful.  Wouldn't you know on my first ever day in Philly, I came down with an raging, down-for-the-count headache.  Even after dragging into the restaurant at 9:30, we weren't rushed and cheerfully served a tasty dinner.

If you want to see the Delaware like George Washington, for the small price of around $10 an hour you can take one of these cute swan paddle boats on a tour along the river. At night you can sit along the river and gaze at the many lights on the water.

Swans on the Delaware?

On our last night in the city, we sat by the river trying to decide where to have dinner.  Like with any big city, there are an overwhelming number of culinary choices.  Eventually we asked the concierge where to go (you know there's always someone willing to tell you).  

Some of the places we had considered were on his extensive list of "good" places.  The Chart House topped his list of seafood offerings, so we said "let's do it".  The concierge made the reservation for us, got us the best table and experienced servers.  We were treated like royalty plus we got a free dessert.  Now with that dessert we ordered dessert wine, which was more than the dessert and sodas would have cost.  The evening was concluded with a nice walk back along the river to the hotel.

Here is the view from our corner table.

The Chart House overlooking the Delaware River

The Last Day.

It was quite the morning, beginning with a thunderstorm and pouring rain (ending any chance of going to the zoo) and culminating in me setting off the car alarm by trying to get out of the car. We fended off our starvation at the South Street Diner with a couple orders of pancakes. 

This lovely lady was standing guard outside of one the shops as we made our way back to the car after breakfast. 

Philadelphia Street Art

Since we were unable to go to the zoo because of the morning thundershower, we checked out the Independence Seaport Museum.  It was chock full of exhibits, both visual and interactive.  There were replicas of many historic boats and ships, and so much more.  In addition to the exhibits, there is an active workshop in which skilled workmen, as well as volunteers, build and/or rebuild ships in the old styles.

The workshop at the Independence Seaport Museum

On the way out of the city, we saw one of Philadelphia's cable cars.  While it is a common sight here, it is interesting to us because the only trolleys we have are just buses in disguise.

And that concludes our tour of Philadelphia, PA.  I hope you enjoyed yourselves, and please recommend us to your friends.

Quote of the Week

Image Source: Wikipedia

Don't wait. The time will never be just right. 
- Napoleon Hill

Most of us work hard and play hard on a daily basis.  This is Life!  However, our dreams, whether big or small, often get put on indefinite hold while we wait for just the right time.

The longer you wait, the less likely you are to realize your dreams and resign yourself to Life - unfulfilled.

So Don't Wait!  Seize the opportunity, grab the bull by the horns, jump in with both feet - whatever it takes to get you from Point A to Point B. 

Life is worth living, dreams are worth dreaming, and bringing the two together is a beautiful thing.

The End is Near

Summer's vicious heat 

Now becomes a gentle warmth

I always feel a little sad at its passing 

It's like saying good-bye to a friend 

After a too-short visit 

I want to hold its hand a little longer

To walk together a little further 

Crickets sing in the light of day
As Summer slowly fades away

Written for Friday Flash 55.

Nursery Rhyme Redo: Old Mother Hubbard

Old Mother Hubbard

Had ants in her cupboard

So she couldn't take out a loan

But she posed with such flair

That the banker did stare

And tossed her poor dog a bone

I'll bet she didn't have ants like these!

Quote of the Week

Do not go where the path may lead, 

go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think this is saying that instead of blindly following the figurative road before us, we should make our own way through life.  We should leave something along the way to show others that the best path may be no path at all.

Meeting the Challenge

Philadelphia Street Art

Today's post is the product of a challenge issued by my friend Nicky at We Work for Cheese.  She is funny, talented, and loves cheese!  So when I read her latest post, "The I’m Hungover And Have To Go To My In-Laws Post" wherein this challenge lies and saw that she had opened it up to whomever wished to participate, I jumped right in.  The challenge is to link to seven posts in the following categories.  I mulled over nearly two years of posts and came up with these to meet the challenge requirements.

1. Most Beautiful Post:  This one is, for obvious reasons, a tie between two posts.  Happy Birthday Mom and Daddy and Me.  My parents have been gone from my life for some years now but I remember and think about them every day.
2. Most Popular Post:  The Peace quote.  This is one from my Quote of the Week series.  A blogger friend had a picture on her blog that included the quote in a photograph she'd taken.  With her permission, I used her picture for my quote and interpretation.  This post was stumbled and I still get traffic from it.
3. Most Controversial Post: Charlie Sheen: Don't Feed the Frenzy.  Tribal Blogs hosted a blog carnival and the hot topic of the day was Charlie Sheen and his impending meltdown.  I chose my angle to express my distaste at how the media exploits and distorts the personal lives of celebrities.
4. Most Helpful Post: Ten Things I Have Learned From Blogging: Anniversary Edition.  In celebration of my one-year anniversary in the blogosphere, I shared with my readers some of what I had learned over the year.
5. Most Surprising Successful Post:  Conversation in the Tomato Patch.  This was written for Magpie Tales based on a picture prompt of...you guessed it...tomatoes.  Some of the other veggies joined in a spirited conversation about their impending harvest.
6. Post that didn't get the attention it deserved:  Five Things You Should Never Pay Full Price For.  I am a bargain hunter, thoroughly trained in the skills of effective shopping by my Mom.  I use store sales and coupons to maximize my savings, and like to share those strategies with others.  Some things are just way over priced, and I show you how to reduce the impact on your wallet.
7. Post I am most proud of:  I Sing No More.  This is another of my Magpie Tales creations.  The prompt that week was a sculpture.  A bust of what looked like a girl singing.  This is probably one of my best pieces of poetry.

Ah, this is the point where I am supposed to nominate a half dozen or so unfortunate lucky bloggers to participate.  I know a lot of people don't like to be singled out, so I'll leave it up to you whether or not you play the game as it makes its way around the blogging world.  My only request is to please include a link back to this post.

A Night to Remember

Image Source:  Magpie Tales

I look at the photo of our smiling faces.  We were happy then.  The three of us were on our way to our high school dance.  None of us had dates, but that didn't stop us.  We were filled with a zest for life, and hope for the future.  There was a big beautiful world out there just waiting for us to make our mark.

It was a warm fall evening, and the dance was the first event of our senior year.  Donna was driving her Dad's car.  She was the first one of us to get a driver's license.  She was a happy-go-lucky, up for anything girl.  Ben was the wild and crazy guy, the risk taker and live wire of our trio.  It fell to me to be the level-head voice of reason.

We arrived at the dance to find the the lights bright, the music dull and the dance floor nearly empty.  We had the car and permission to be out until 11:00, so why waste the night here.  Ben suggested we pick up his pal Rick and go hang out at the park.  Where Ben was a bit crazy, Rick seemed dangerous.  Donna and I were a little leery of him, but agreed because Rick could buy beer.  
We swung high on the swings with beer bottles in hand until we could barely walk.  Then we went down to the lake, toting a flashlight, blankets and the last six-pack.  Let's go swimming Rick said eyeing us girls, and Ben piped up a quick second.  "That's crazy" I said.  "It's dark and besides we don't have swim suits."  Donna, more of a free spirit than me, said "That's OK" and started to remove her skirt and blouse.  "Oh, all right," I agreed, not wanting to be the only stick in the mud.  One by one, we stripped down to our undies and waded into the lake.  The water was colder than we expected, and once in about waist deep, Rick and Ben took great delight in splashing Donna and me until we were all shivering. Thinking maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all, we slogged our way to the shore.

Back on dry land, we wrapped ourselves in the blankets and talked of our dreams and how we would take the world by storm.  "To good friends, good times, and having our whole lives ahead of us" toasted Ben as we finished off the beer.  "This is a night to remember."

Now the moon was high in the sky and it was getting late. "We need to get going," spoke the voice of reason, so we headed back to the car.  Donna was sleepy, so we let Rick drive.  That's where things started to go wrong...fast.  Fast as in Rick was driving like a madman.  How many beers did he have anyway?  The road twisted right then left and back again.  We were approaching the curve too fast.  Rick lost control and yanked the wheel to bring the car back onto the road.  The car crossed back and then off the other side, crashing through a fence and down into a ditch plowing into a big oak tree.  It all happened in a matter of moments but it felt like slow motion. 

Rick was killed instantly when we hit the tree.  Donna died later from her injuries.  Ben and I were pinned in the back seat for what seemed like hours until we were found.  A passing driver saw the tail lights and went to call for help.

Ben walks with a limp, his right leg twisted as a result of being awkwardly pinned for so long.  I was the only one who escaped serious injury.  I was still wrapped in my blanket when I was removed from the car.  Ben could have had surgery to repair his damaged leg, but he chose to live with the pain and disfigurement as a reminder of that night, and his decision to include Rick in our plans.  The accident wasn't his fault, but he carries the guilt of their deaths with him every single day.

Yes, it was indeed a night to remember.

Written for Magpie Tales #79

For more fiction, please join me tomorrow at Sara Healy's a sharing connection where I will be guest posting. 

Quote of the Week

 
The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection. - George Orwell


It seems that today, as a society, we are always striving for perfection.  To be good is not good enough, to be better still falls short, and only by achieving perfection, can one truly be satisfied.  The problem with this is that true perfection does not exist in human nature; there is always another level to be reached.  While putting your all into seeking that elusive state of perfection, you neglect to pat yourself on the back for a job well done, and say "That's good enough".