Longwood Gardens

On the third we went to Longwood Gardens.  On the way we stopped at White Chimney's which is the Slaymaker family (of Slaymaker Locks, of course.) home.  We had been trying to get a hold of someone there for months, with no success.  They've had an anitque and tours sign out, but were never open.  We finally got a chance to talk to the current owners, so that was great.  We hadn't even gotten to the gardens yet and it was a good trip! : ) 

The Gardens were beautiful, as always, and not crowded at all.  We  did the water gardens, the bell towere and eye of water, the children's garden, and  two of the tree houses.  Mike found a padlock of a company that will be at the show on the Overlook Tree House holding the slide door open.  I just laughed and laughed.

After Longwood we went to the best ice cream shop!  It's in Kennett Square on the main strret, going west.  It's owned by a Mexican family, and they have all flavors.  Besides the regular ones, they have things like corn (which is one of my favorites), cantaloupe, and cinnamon and chili powder are available for sprinkling. It's really fun to check out the unusual flavors.  When there open in the summer there are always people out on the sidewalk ( where they have some benches and chairs) eating ice cream.  For some reason it's feels very much like when we were kids.

Anyway that was our Independence Day. (ok they day before).  It was very nice.

check the story

The story continues...check it out on the story page.

Well the lock show is in three weeks.  We now have had to enlarge our space (for the 2nd time.)  We're up to 55 vendors with more coming in.  Yea!  Mike is obsessing over the details, but I suppose that's to be expected.   It should be a great show. 

We've been thinking about a vacation afterwords, maybe in late August, or early Sept.  We don't have to worry bout kids in school anymore!!!  Unfortunately we can't think of what we might want to do.  We're less interested in the beach, probably because the same old t-shirt etc shops get really boring.  Mike likes the swimming in the ocean, (I like watching/listening to the ocean) but we both have to be careful about the sun.  We like historic houses, neat architecture, antiquing, learning about stuff, and weird things. (whatever that means!)

I guess I'm asking for suggestions.  Thanks

Another movie

We saw "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" the other night.  (we love Netflix watch it now.)  It is an interesting love story with strange twists.  It starts Audrey Tautou who is always great to watch.  We really enjoyed it.  Mike talks about it still, as the twists really make it an unusually enjoyable film.
.Enjoy

Movies

Mike and I just watched "Precious" based on the book...  WOW!  It's very difficult to watch, being about a very painful life.  The story is so powerful, and so powerfully played.  I was crying quite a bit.  (yea I know I used to cry at Bell Tell commercials.)  I recommend it highly, but not when you're alone.

The lock show is coming together.  Looks like we'll be oversold on tables.  Hopefully lots of those people will stay for the banquet.  Especially good from my point of view,  some new collectors will be showing, and/or coming to the show.  Fresh blood!!!  Someone has to buy the locks Mike sweetly tells me are my inheritance.

It's been really hot, so today was the first time in awhile I've done anything in the gardens.  I weeded some, and trimmed a ton of forsythia.  I keep thinking about trimming the grapes, which are going crazy.  Mike's big (!) car is parked in front of the grapes which now trail underneath the car.  I want to see how long it'll take the grapes to cover it.  OK I'll probably trim them before the car disappears.

I did see some tiny beginning cucumbers and some beginning tomatoes. YEA.

easiest mac and cheese ever. (also cleanest!)

This is the way I make mac and cheese. (Except for Sara, she likes the cheap boxed kind.  Comfort Food!)  It's not so much a recipe as a method.

Boil the pasta.  While that's boiling grate your choice of cheeses,  Make sure to grate onto waxed paper.  Sprinkle flour to lightly coat the cheese, and dry seasonings on cheese and using hands (or a spoon) distribute the flour through out.   When the pasta is done, slightly al dente, drain it, and set it aside.

Poor some milk, at least a 1/4 cup to start, into the pasta pot. Heat on medium low  When the milk just starts  to bubble along the edge put in a handful of cheese.  Stir to melt, continue to add handfuls of cheese till all is melted.  Adjust the ratio of milk and cheese to the consistency you want.  Poor the pasta in. Take off heat, stir and eat.

To clean up throw out the wax paper, wash the grater, any utensils, and soak the pot in hot water and soap.  You can leave the pot over night, or wash up sooner.

Ok so this is not gourmet mac and cheese, but it's easy, quick and kids like it.  (Cooking's not my best thing!)

changes etc

You'll notice the new look.  I thought this reflected me a little better.  You all know how I like to fool around with designs and colors. : ) 


We're gearing up for the Lancaster Lock Show.  Only 5 weeks to go.  Weee. (sarcasm, in case it wasn't obvious.)


Check out the addition to the story.  You can probably tell, I'm having trouble getting into it, also I'm stuck in writing for kids mode, hope no one minds.  Ideas are warmly encouraged!

More story and stuff

Thanks for the story ideas, it's interesting that the flowering bush is a rose bush. I think I may have to make a separate story page to keep the story all together. As to the book sale, I did get a few decorating books, nothing spectacular. No etiquette books though, sorry. ; ) Mike and I saw UP the other day (yea Netflix). I loved it, the animation was great, a joy to watch. I especially liked the translucency of the balloons. The story was moving but not too mushy. (ok I have a high mush tolerance) and the characters had.. character. So many movie characters do not! Definitely a movie to watch more than once. We saw Atavar too. Liked it a lot. Beautiful world. I particularly like the 'magical' glowing scenes. The back and forth between Pandora and 'our' worldlings was interesting, and not confusing. I think the hype was overdone, but definitely enjoyable. Our house is being painted, finally! I teased the painter that the colors were pink and purple, he just said they were havoing trouble finding the purple. Oh well. I guess we'll go with the colors already on. Brick and white. We've painted the porch swing! it's royal blue. (ok I had to get the blue, right....I have no blue or green or purple on tody, so there. ; ) I will try to make a page for the story, and add more to it later, hopefully this weekend.