Ice Cream Parlor Days

Can you still walk to an ice cream parlor?

I remember the days when we did. Our local drug store had a wonderful ice cream parlor and soda fountain. The father of one of my best friends, Colleen, owned the store. It was a favorite stop for me on our way home from school (We really did walk several miles home from school!)

Today, in a different lil' town, I can still walk to an ice cream parlor. It is completely retro and attached to a fabulous cafe.

I love living in "small town USA."

This weekend, my husband and I visited with family. My camera was very busy! These photos, of one of their most recent craft projects, inspired this post.
Enjoy photos of "Main Street Cafe."
Made by Gerry and Ann :)

I think they captured the spirit of the old fashioned ice cream parlor PERFECTLY!

Many of the miniatures were hand-crafted!

*I'm working on my daughter's iMac... The pictures won't open larger when clicked... I'll reload them when I get home on my PC*

They're really worth seeing up close!

Sky Watch Friday *6-26-09* Firey Sunset

Thank You *Sky Watch Friday* for letting me host this week!
You may have seen the host photo in this YouTube Video.
The view changes so quickly at sunset!

~Click to enlarge~

Less than five minutes laterAnd about two minutes after that!
See more amazing photos from Sky Watchers all over the World!

Do Girls Talk Too Much?

See for yourself!


Okay, I'll admit that for the first 35-40 years of my life...
This was true...

But now... I'm just sayin'

I'm the one waiting for my husband to stop talking...
after church, family gatherings, bumping into neighbors while on a walk...
:: love you, honey ::

I'm coming to the conclusion that by middle age, women have used up all their words.

Men, however... for most of their youth, have had their words suppressed by their sisters, girlfriends & wives...
Then, at age 45-50... They're free to speak...

only because we women are too tired.

...which is probably why I'd rather write ;D



Video from "Are Women Born Like This?"

All Things Bright and Beautiful

I wrote as one of my One Thousand Gifts, and thought I'd share it here.
Every morning, after my homeroom students leave, I spend a few minutes preparing my heart for the day. I read a passage or two and I turn the page of my desk calendar to think on the little devotional quote.
Last Thursday was such a busy day at school, I was never able to read the quote for June 18.
That evening, while relaxing after work, I visited a fellow blog writer, Cathy, from Tales of the TCKK Family.
She posted about her favorite praise songs. It started me thinking of my fav's. I even Googled song titles so that I could remember as many as possible. One of the websites I found had 6 videos of special songs and an all time favorite of mine: All Things Bright and Beautiful. I shared my favorite title in Cathy's comments.
Here is Hayley Westenra singing it:


The next day, Friday, I had another very full day... proctoring finals, grading more papers, posting grades... and because it was fairly cool in my second floor classroom...I took advantage and cleaned until 5pm. I locked up, and was about to grab all my bags... when I saw my daily calendar.
I went over and reread June 17 and flipped to 18. Tears and laughter spontaneously flowed ~ as it was a verse to All Things Bright and Beautiful!

God, you are so cute! That was just cute and sweet.

I am Humbled by your personalized greeting!

Other personalized greetings:
At the Potter's House
and

Fathers, Faith, Fire. *more Father's Day

Did this much time go by?

We must have been having fun!Shoulders strong, made for this job!

Now we use this wagon for our ole girl, Muffin.

~Gathered tinder, stacks of wood~

A father's faith
Lights the fireWell tended
Well stoked

His children gather close
Receive the warmth

The Father's Faith in Them

~In Humble Gratitude for all the men in the family do~

SKY WATCH FRIDAY *Accumulating Cumulus* with 30 second video.

On and Off with the humidity.
HUGE billowy clouds roll in, roll out, BUT
sometimes, the cumulus accumulate!

When the thunder & lightning are so close, it makes your camera jump,
It's time to go in the house!

Big Thunderstorms the other day... There was hail in some parts of town.
My husband thought rocks were hitting his car on his commute home!
The air smelled so clean when the storm was over though...
I can Breathe! ... and... All's Good

Pistachio Pudding Extra

Just three little ingredients.

1. Stonyfield Farms organic yogurt. Plain no extra sugar
2. Pistachio pudding mix (I use sugar free with chemicals to balance the organic yogurt ;0)
3. Garnish (slivered almonds & mint. if you like)Mix yogurt and pudding mix. mmmm try not to lick the spoon. ... you will ;)Spoon into a Margarita glass, sprinkle almonds ... add sprig of mint ...
   

VOILA!

It's Time to Go In The House!

Big Thunderstorms today... There was hail in other parts of town.
My husband thought rocks were hitting his car on his commute home!
The air smelled so clean when the storm was over though...
All's Good

Getting to the Heart of Exercise

This Sunday morning on the way home from church...I saw a man jogging on a busy main highway with a pained look on his face.
My husband and I had the following conversation about it:

Maria: Why do people jog on the busy highways? There's really no purpose ... After all, there aren't tigers chasing us... It's also not smart to run away from a predator... it provides a chase... more likely the predator will chase you since you've declared yourself weak by running away. (Thinking I'm so smart ;)


Maria: (continuing her reasoning) Really, most animals don't "run for exercise." They only run to escape predators.

Chris: Well, squirrels and rabbits run around for fun, they play like that to keep in shape for when they do have to escape a predator.
Maria: Well, most of us, DON'T HAVE LIONS, TIGERS AND OTHER PREDATORS CHASING AFTER US!


Chris: Yes we do have a predator chasing us: HEART ATTACK!

Maria: oh


Afterthoughts: Although exercise is really good for us... urban/city jogging has been proven to be UN-healthy! see here! Jogging on the highway alongside speedy traffic is bad for all creatures... ask the squirrels!

Rose in the Rain

This is one of our first roses of the season.
It is so fragrant. My father has deep red roses whose scent fills the house! This plant was the best I found last year. It came back this season beautifully. I couldn't resist taking pictures of this open blossom as it rained late yesterday afternoon.
~One of the nicest moments after coming home from work~

ps. Click to enlarge it, you'll be glad you did :)

Street Light to Moon Light *Sky Watch Friday* June 12, 2009

eaving for a walk in the early evening, means returning home late in the evening. Camera in hand (as Sky Watchers can be found) I couldn't resist taking a picture of our "Street Light Moon." ...kind of an "opening act" so to speak.We were just coming around "the circle" as we call it, waiting for our old dog, Muffin (her new nickname: Chunkie Doo-Little), to catch up...when we spied the full moon rising through the clouds...

...to make her grand appearance.Visit all the Sky Watchers!

An Old Fashioned Country Story With Pizazz!

Adam's Fairacre Farms is probably the best country market I've ever visited!

When you walk in, the first thing you see is all the produce.

Next, are the incredible candy counters!

No matter the age, you'll feel like a little kid again!
Look at the smiles on my daughters' faces!

I wish I had the time to spend in every department.
I love flowers!

Uh Oh... I'm in the gift department! This could be dangerous!

I'm buying this plate the next time I stop in!

Can you smell the coffee aromas from there?

I already know what flavor coffee I'm getting... Amaretto!

Known throughout the land for its "knock your socks off" flavor.
Like two shots of amaretto in your coffee cup!

I know you can smell the cinnamon-apple cider doughnuts!
The ones that are made fresh at Adam's Fairacre Farms
ARE THE BEST.
We really should have devoured the whole dozen while they were warm
...and just skipped dinner :)

These two men started Adams Fairacre Farms back in the early 1900s as a simple roadside farmstand in Poughkeepsie, New York.

What would they think of it now!?! I say WOW!

Hope you enjoyed this lil' visit there!