Tag Archives: Pennsylvania

December – Part II

January 16, 2026 steph Leave a comment

Back in 2024, I flew to Pennsylvania in mid-December to surprise my sister for her 75th birthday. It was great fun, working with her kids in the area to facilitate the surprise, and even more fun spending those days with Joie! I decided then that an annual trip (but without the surprise element) was something I needed to work into my December schedule. And so was born the Second Annual Birthday Trip.

We did all the things we love to do together –
Puzzles

(Coffee and chocolate just out of the frame.)
and games

(Super fun afternoon joining friends for a Rummicub marathon.)
and thrifting, of course!

(Yes, I brought home (much) more than I took!)
We enjoyed lunch out with Joie’s lovely SIL

(Yes, we are wearing matching scarves. Sorry, not sorry!)
and even got to take in a delightful Christmas concert at their local Christian School.

(Oh, the memories of the many Christmas concerts we attended over the years!)
Since Joie has several of her kids living within a reasonable driving distance, we also got to spend some lovely time with those folks, too! No picture of the nine who came for brunch one day,

but we did get to spend some quality time (and did a bit more thrifting, tis true!) with these folks!

(This dear family also lives close to the airport and were instrumental in the entire ‘getting me there’ project!)

Quiet mornings, coffee with cream, homemade everything, and time to share our hearts. How precious those days were. Days that reminded us of how much we miss our sister, Elna (who is waiting for us in heaven), but also how blessed we are to have each other!
And how important it is to get the Third Annual Birthday Trip on the calendar!

But wait – there’s more!! The December fun continues…
Next time!

Family and Friends, On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure

I’ve broken my record

July 19, 2025 steph 8 Comments

It’s been exactly one month since my last post, and I do believe that that is the longest I have gone between posts. Four solid weeks. Yikes – that’s a lot of catching up to do! And since I was already running behind at that point, I’d better get started –
The Ohio Week
Following our great week in Pigeon Forge with Alex, we spent the next week just hanging out with the rest of our Ohio gang. “Hanging out” might be a bit of an understatement –
There was a deck to repair/rebuild-

Ball games to attend –

Art Festivals to enjoy

and of course, lots of games to play!

(Giant cards were the perfect Father’s Day gift for Toby!).
One of my favorite moments during the week was when little Tucker (without prompting) climbed up into Gary’s lap for a snuggle.

It was a busy week spent with a busy family – but we were so glad we could spend the time with them! But soon it was time to move again…

The Pennsylvania Week
From Columbus we turned east to Pennsylvania – where we did our annual doctoring things (all good, thank you, Lord), spent time with the Chambersburg Fitzpatricks

and managed to connect with my college roommate.

We touched base with some dear SOWER friends along the way-

and spent the weekend back in the old neighborhood, spending time with dear friends!

I’m really bad at taking pictures when I’m having such a sweet time catching up with friends! Our hometown area has changed quite a bit in the 20 (!!!) years we’ve been gone,

(those were little 6 ft. pine trees when we planted them!) but it’s always good to sit down with the ‘old gang’ and remember God’s goodness to us throughout these years!

Cabin Days
So that takes us up to June 23 (just 4 days after the last post!) when we drove to Vermont for some much anticipated (and well needed) Cabin time.

But enough of this catching up for today! Thanks for coming along – I really appreciate your patience as we travel through this Sofa Surfing Summer. Trying to find those quiet moments to do this blogging thing is more challenging than you think!
Have a blessed Lord’s Day tomorrow, friends –

Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure

Pennsylvania’s Barns

July 16, 2013 steph Leave a comment

We’ve done a lot of driving around Pennsylvania this summer. Â Let’s see, there have been a couple of trips to Lancaster, a drive to (and through) beautiful Perry County, a drive to Greencastle and of course, there were the two drives across the state to Washington, PA (just this side of the WV border) to pick up and deliver Ellie for our Big Adventure.

Lots and lots of miles. And for some reason, this summer I have been totally enamored with Pennsylvania’s Barns.

Some that are beautifully maintained

And some, not so much!

But they all seem to want to tell a story – either from today

or from days gone by.

And every now and again you come across one that actually does tell a story!

Of course there are always the beautiful barns in Lancaster County

that never fail to calm my soul.

I even noticed this barn on one of our parts’ runs. Sweet Gary actually stopped the truck so I could get out and Â take the picture –

Barns. I love ’em!

The other constant, it has seemed, during our traipsing around the state, is the Susquehanna River. Really, it’s everywhere!!!Â I knew we crossed it in Harrisburg,
and we watched the trains roll across it on the historic Rockville Bridge in Marysville, PA.

But when I drove to Towanda last week to meet my high school BF for lunch, I was surprised to cross it once again. (No picture – too much traffic and I was, after all, driving!). But on the way home, I stopped at the “Marie Antoinette Overlook” (I think the French settlers in the area were hoping that she was going to settle in the area back in late 1700’s. Something else apparently came up (or down, as the case might be!).)
And that was one fine view – combining both the river, and a couple of beautiful farms.
To the left –

To the right –

And all together!

For a girl who lived the first fifty-two years of her life outside of Philadelphia, I have to confess that the different faces of Pennsylvania continue to beguile me.

Pictures of the Adventure, RV Life, The Adventure

So, Montrose

April 29, 2012 steph 2 Comments

It’s been unseasonably cold here in Montrose, Pennsylvania this week. As in it’s going down into the twenties tonight cold. But all that being said, the last couple of days have at least been sunny and bright and while we’ve had our jackets close at hand, we’ve had a lovely weekend. I hope you have also! Instead of doing an update that includes words like ductboard and returns and supplies, I thought I’d share just a bit about the town of Montrose, the little corner of PA that we’re calling “home” for the next couple of months.
So. Montrose.

Montrose is located between Scranton and Binghampton, NY in what is considered the Endless Mountains. I love the way this town, which has stayed at roughly at the same population from when it was “laid out” in 1812 to today (between 1500 and 2000), has kept its charm while moving into the the 21st century.

A little of the 1860’s and a little of the 1960’s!
I just love the downtown, with its blend of architecture as it climbs the hill to the town square.

There are lots of interesting shops and businesses along Main Street and it even boasts a movie theater that is playing current movies! And – it’s only $5.00 on Thursdays! (Plus a refillable popcorn for $5.00 which makes Gary pretty happy!)

See the building with the big pillars – that the county courthouse. You see, Montrose is the county seat of Susquehanna County. Pretty impressive, eh?

There is the Civil War Memorial on the village square

and it also has its very own traffic light. (The town, not the monument!)

Only one though. Let’s not get crazy here!

I love the details on those old store fronts, but even more, I love the houses in this town!

Since it was such a pretty day today, we took a little drive to see if we could locate the OTHER thing that this area is becoming known for – Fraking. Or, in more technical term, Marcellus shale drilling. We weren’t terribly successful in finding an actual drilling operation, but we did see a staging area –

and the evidence of a pipeline being put in-

We ventured back one dirt road that looked like it might lead to a drilling operation, but when we came to this

it seemed pretty obvious that they didn’t want any visitors.
Oh well.
Mostly we enjoyed the beautiful countryside, dotted with farms

and occasionally alpaca!

Yes, Montrose is a sweet little town. We might have to drive to Binghamton for a Lowes or a Wal*Mart fix, but I’m happy to report that not 2 miles outside of town is this –

The Ice Cream Stand.
With a $5 movie house (with refillable popcorn) and a nearby Ice Cream Stand, this is a summer that holds great promise!

Side Note:
Saturday was Gary’s 62nd birthday – let’s hear it for the Golden Age Pass for the National Parks ($10/lifetime) and the first SS check that will arrive by the end of June! Happy Birthday, honey!

Yes, this IS how he spent his birthday. What’s a girl to do!

RV There Yet?

Tag Archives: Pennsylvania

December – Part II

I’ve broken my record

Pennsylvania’s Barns

So, Montrose

Seeing the country……Serving our Lord!

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Seeing the country……Serving our Lord!