Weekend in PA

What a great weekend!
Another sister/birthday to celebrate. This time it was Rita's birthday.... I'm not allowed to tell you that she turned 63, so please don't ask me.

She wanted to go to Ikea in Pittsburgh, then spend the night at her daughter Heather's new home.

My sister Deb called at 8:45 a.m. to tell me she was on her way to pick me up. She lives just a mile away from me..... I overslept.... and was still sleeping when she called!!!! omg. ..I said "okay".. and kept laughing... she figured out that I was just waking up! Good thing I had packed the night before and luckily, I showered before I went to bed... so, I just had to throw my clothes on. ( I decided I could put my makeup on at Rita's.) I asked her to please give me an extra 5 minutes. Off we went to Rita's, who lives in Willoughby, about 40 miles away. My sister Susan had actually arrived before us!... this is remarkable, as she is ALWAYS LATE FOR EVERYTHING!... I do believe I had witnessed a miracle! LOL.

We went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel, then headed to Pittsburgh. It was a wonderful Spring day! Lot's of sunshine, bright Blue sky and the temperature hovering around 70! PERFECT!
I hadn't been to Ikea in about 8 years. I really love that place. The prices are great and the stuff is all so unique.
We spent about 4 1/2 hours in there! well, we did stop in the food court for a quick lunch, But the time flew by. The only thing I was really hoping to buy, was Roman Blinds for my Bay windows, and they didn't have any! The clerk said they had been recalled... huh?... this whole big giant store, and the one thing I want... has been recalled. Alrighty then. So, I picked up a cool Floor lamp with a square paper shade, a regular shade.....that does not fit... (great) 2 really cool blown glass lighted globes, so pretty! and a few misc. items.
Now it was time to go to dinner. We were meeting up with Heather, husband Bryan and their 2 daughters. Heather called to say that the restaurant Rita chose, was packed, and there was a 2 1/2 hour wait! Rita called Heather to let her know we were just a little lost, and in a town called "Harmony"... and we were near a restaurant called "The Harmony Inn"... Heather said "Great! stay there!"... she had just called the same place and made reservations, just before Rita called!
While waiting for Heather & Bryan, we walked around taking pictures.
Harmony Inn, is a beautiful Victorian Building, with floors that creak, and wonderful architecture. The service was great, the food ok too. As we left, my niece Sahra noticed a framed piece on the wall. It was documentation, and photos, of the Ghost that haunts the Inn!.. OK!
It showed a really cool photograph taken from the top of the staircase in the main hall. You could distinctly see a figure of a man at the top of the steps. You could determine it was an old man, holding on to the railing. In another photo... you could see an Orb, in front of the doors. COOL! I love ghost stories, and haunted places...... but don't think I really want to "experience" them!

We followed Heather and Bryan to their house. They just bought their house about 1 1/2 years ago. What a deal they got! The house is 4200 sq. Ft. It needed tons of work, but the remodeling is in full swing, and the house is just amazing! I got lost the first couple of times I went upstairs! I told Heather I was going to make her a sign that said "You are Here"... lol. They have a lot of furniture to buy, and the house echos for now.
We sat around drinking wine, and talking. We finally went to bed around 1 a.m.
In the morning Heather fixed a yummy breakfast. I played WII with my 5 year old great niece Madison. She's an adorable Blue eyed, Golden haired precocious kid, who is as smart as a whip!
She taught herself to read at age 4... yes really!

Bryan and Heather were wonderful hosts. I can't wait to see the house when It's all completed.
We headed home and I took a nap.

So... i't s almost 2 a.m. and the weekend is gone.
It was fun hanging out with my sisters as always. It's officially Monday... ugh.

Have a great week. If anyone has warm weather, please send some this way... our temperatures have again dropped into the 40's... and they're predicting a chance of snow showers .. again. grrh!







































HARMONY INN





























Madison and Deb















Bryan, Heather and Madison




























The living Room... looks like a banquet hall!

HAPPY EASTER!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

Cooking, cleaning.. and even working on a small art project!

Just stopping for a quick break to say:

~Happy Easter!~

Have a wonderful weekend.

IMAGES OF SPRING

They're everywhere... little signs that SPRING has arrived.

My "new" neighbors..

"The Robins".. mama so fat and round, ready to lay her eggs and papa, always watching near by.

Brilliant deep brick-Red buds have started to appear on several of the trees outside my window. I don't know what kind they are, but they're so gorgeous.

And my old friend "Mosely" the Maple, hasn't started to bloom yet, but I do see little feathery wisps, that I'm sure are the prelude to Maple leaves.

And aren't those Tulips just stunning?... they were JUST as beautiful last year, and the year before, when I first bought them in the floral section of Pat Catans lol.. sorry.. I probably shouldn't have broke the illusion. I think they look pretty darn real. They're "potted" in a White washed Terracotta pot. It is one of the center pieces from my sister Rita's 60Th birthday party. Tulips are her favorite flowers. We wrote lines from one of her favorite songs: "In My Life".. by the Beatles, on the pots. So we all got one after the party was over, and I think of that day when I see this arrangement!

So... It's the weekend! Saturday is almost gone. I had to work 8-2 today, which, if I have to work on the weekend, I prefer those hours, because at least you still have some of the day left when your done working. I went to work in a "fog"... because I just couldn't fall asleep! I got very sleepy after dinner yesterday, and thought I would take a small nap. It was longer than I wanted, but still, is usually not a problem. I stayed up a little later than normal, but when I finally went to bed.. I knew the minute my head hit the pillow, that I wasn't going to fall asleep. I was so tired, but yet, I just layed there! I kept telling my self to just be still, and I would fall asleep.. well, "my self" wasn't cooperating! I finally got up around 5 a.m.. and really wanted a cup of coffee bad! I thought I'd have the coffee, and watch a little t.v. and I'd still be able to squeak in an hour of sleep, before the coffee kicked in. NOTHIN' So the alarm went off at 6:30.. omg. I dragged myself into the shower.. and thought about turning on the cold water.. nahhhh. Well I made it through work, despite feeling like crap. Got home, and yep, you guessed it, took a 3 hour nap. I could have slept more.. but didn't want to repeat what happened. Soooo.

My son and his girlfriend are coming over in the morning for a visit, so I need to be awake.

And once their gone, I can finish cleaning. I must sound like a complete clean-a-holic, as much as I've talked about it, but.....NOTHING could be farther from the truth!... I'm STILL cleaning.. because I didn't finish putting everything back after the Exterminator was here on Wednesday.. so I'm a Procrastinator!

So that's my big exciting weekend. I will stop "talking" now.. and wish you a great Sunday!