Home Safe And Sound

Hi Everyone! I'm back from the States. I haven't had the chance yet to catch up on what everyone's doing but give me a couple of days. I did want to let you all know that I have safely returned home.

I got everything done in the States that I wanted to. My storage room is now cleaned out and I sorted through my junk...I mean treasures. I got rid of alot of stuff and the rest of it is being kept at Mom and Dad's. I only have 5 boxes there now.


My storage area wasn't all that bad, once it was sorted out. The stuff on the left was trash. It sort of hurts to think that I paid all that money for all those years for this!! But it's over now. I also got Mom and Dad's house ready for winter. You know...bringing in the plants, putting the summer furniture away, etc.

There were a few very nice days there in Western Pennsylvania. Fall was in its glory.


The lake is down about a foot and a half, according to Dad. He tracks that kind of thing so he knows.



If you look to the right in the lake, you'll see the island. It shouldn't be showing at all. Maybe there will be enough snow this winter to make up for the lack of rain this summer and the island will be covered once again.


New England is the place famous for its fall colors but I think Western PA is just as nice!


Lots of critters came to say hello...it's that time of the year. Dad put up the bird feeders (which sometimes end up being squirrel and chipmunk feeders) while I was there. Turkeys will eat there too in the winter. In fact, I think Mom and Dad somehow have an animal neon sign that says..."Welcome! We're Open! Good Food!"


I was home for Dad's 75th birthday. It's been probably 15 years since I got to spend his special day with him. We played alot of chess (the chess board was his 70th birthday present....I stitched it and my sister Susan made the board. Click to enlarge it. It's blackwork.) while I was home. And you aren't going to believe this but it's true...I won one!!!! It's the first game I ever won and we've been playing for over 40 years!!!! Of course, I immediately called the whole family to tell them! I was in seventh heaven!!! Good game, Dad!!!!