Hello August
Well, here we are—August already! How did that happen? Summer seems to have hit the fast-forward button, and somehow we packed a whole lot into just one week. Yes indeed! Sweet Man and I were busy, adventurous people.
Lakeshore Railway Museum
When out for a drive one day, we came upon a hidden spot in Northeast, Pennsylvania—the Lakeshore Railway Museum. Neither of us had been there before, because we didn’t know it existed. It was a fun surprise. If you enjoy trains or a little slice of history, it’s worth a stop. There were lots of old, well-traveled trains parked for good. Some were in fair shape, and others not so much. But lots of history packed into this little area.
Road Trip to the Flight 93 Memorial
A few days later, we took a road trip to the 9/11 Flight 93 National Memorial, near Shanksville, Pa. We had never been there, and I’m so glad we went. It was emotional, moving, and beautifully done. Standing there, it’s impossible not to reflect on the incredible courage of those passengers and what they dealt with on that sunny September day. If you remember, this was the fourth plane hijacked and was on its way to Washington, D.C. The passengers overtook the hijackers and knew they were going to crash it before it went to Washington, D.C.
“A Common Field One Day. A Field of Honor Forever.”
The museum and memorial are beautifully done and deeply moving. We left with an appreciation for the passengers who found extraordinary courage on that September morning. There were three recordings of phone calls, all from women passengers who called their families. They knew something was terribly wrong. They knew most likely they would never make it home. Yet in those final moments, they spoke with such courage and calm. Some places simply stay with you long after you leave. This place has for us.
Bedford, Pennsylvania
We also made our way to Bedford to meet one of sweet man’s former work colleagues and his wife for lunch. We had a lovely lunch at Jeane Bonnet Tavern. If you are in the area we highly recommend this place for dining. The food was excellent.
Bedford is one of those cute towns filled with history from the late 1700’s. There were Historical Markers around every corner.
It reminded me of New England. We wandered through adorable boutiques and antique shops, and of course, we found a few treasures that simply had to come home with us. We also stepped into a building that houses The Peppercorn Market. It’s the oldest building in Bedford County. It was once used as an Armory in the French and Indian War. There is a space that you can see down into the basement area which was once a tunnel that went to Fort Bedford in 1778.
“We do not take a trip; a trip takes us.” — John Steinbeck
Spearmint
Back at the lake, reality called…and it sounded a lot like spearmint.
Whoever told me mint likes to spread wasn’t kidding. It had completely taken over one of our shade gardens, and after what felt like a wrestling match or tug of war, I hauled out several giant garbage bags full of it. The shade garden looks much happier now, although I suspect the mint is already plotting its comeback. I will stay on top of it next spring! I also need to get a handle on the green and white Snow on the Mountain or Bishop’s Weed in this shade garden.
Roasted Beets
Sweet Man came home with fresh picked Beets from the local Farm Stand. For the first time, I roasted the fresh beets. Where have these been all my life? They were absolutely delicious, and I’m already looking forward to making them again. I usually cook them on the stove, but roasting them, I thought, enhanced their flavor and their pack filled nutrients stayed inside the beets.
Another Rainbow This Week
One evening while making dinner, I happened to glance out the kitchen window just in time to catch a beautiful rainbow stretching across the sky. It was one of those little moments!
Salad Plate Hibiscus
Speaking of colorful things, our Salad Plate hibiscus has started blooming, and it is putting on quite the show. Every blossom is the size of a salad plate.
The Boyz!
And to top it all off, I got to let a friend’s dogs out one afternoon. If you’re wondering whether there are adorable dog pictures coming…well…you know me better than that.
Reflections
So yes…I’d say August is off to a pretty great start. A little history, a little gardening, good food, treasured friends, beautiful surprises, and a few wagging tails thrown in for good measure.
This week as I head into next week I find myself thinking about how precious an ordinary day really is. We make plans, run errands, work in our gardens, meet friends for lunch, and assume tomorrow will arrive just like today. Those brave passengers remind us not to take any of it for granted.
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to visit us today. We appreciate you and wish you a wonderful week ahead.
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