Day 25

Some Things DO Change

May 31, 2013, 9:20 PM

Today I had a little personal disappointment. This morning Kim and I hurried to make corn muffins and banana nut muffins for a bake sale. We wanted to hurry cause we were going off to a place that was a favorite haunt when I lived up this way 23+ years ago. Sadly it had changed, not for the better either. We used to have so much fun walking around Zern's Farmers Market in Gilbertsville. The place is nothing like it used to be. I guess that is to be expected. Robert and Alex had bagged off this trip. Kim, Steve, and I were looking forward to walking around and then going to Scheafer's in Boyertown for dinner. Well that didn't even get the chance to disappoint, cause Scheafer's is CLOSED. I really don't understand that. It was the best darn place. The food was wonderful and the helpings for the money, oh you just couldn't beat it anywhere. 

On the way home we picked up one more item that Kim and I needed for a project we are working on. I don't want to spoil the surprise, so you're just going to have to wait for the finished product. Then we hit Wanker's food store, it's actually Wegman's, but I think wanker's is just so much more fun. Oh this is the food store to beat all food stores. They even have $799.00/pound truffles. Yes that is correct, it's not a typo, they have truffles that are eight hundred dollars a pound. I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!!

From there we came home to a wonderful dinner of BBQ chicken, rice, and brussels sprouts. YUM, even if I do say so myself, I cooked. After dinner was cleaned up we rode our bikes down to check on the chickens with Alex. Oh my gosh, I think this housing development was conceived by billy goats. The hills, I didn't think I was going to make it, but I pushed on to see the chickens. Alex is taking such great care of these little guys. He is a wonderful kid, very responsible, and he wants to help so much. 

After we got back Alex and Steve were trash talking. Alex was challenging Steve to a race. So Steve gave in, they decided Kim would time Alex as he rode to Catherine's and back, then she would time Steve doing the same. Alex got back, his time was 2:38, then Steve took off in the car. When Alex put up a fuss that Steve was cheating, Steve told him "I never said I'd ride my bike." Poor Alex he puts up with a lot from his Uncle Steve. 

Tomorrow Kim and Alex will be helping with a bake sale at a dog agility competition. I may go over and see of I can get some good photos. So watch out for tomorrow's blog. 

Day 24

Philadelphia Zoo (continued)

May 30, 2013, 10:16 AM

As promised here is my tale about the Philadelphia Zoo. . . 

Spanky was very anxious to get started to the zoo, he told Alex to jump in and the two of them were going to try to take off without us, thank God Spanky's little legs really didn't reach the peddles. Steve had to pull him out of the driver's seat. Then Kim showed up sporting her retirement T-shirt. So off we go.

The traffic was terrible getting there. That didn't surprise anyone though, the traffic has never been good around Philadelphia and it has only gotten worse and the slow downs start further out. However if you can make it through the traffic and down the Sure Kill Distress Way, more correctly known as the Schuylkill Expressway, you get right off the highway and are facing the Zoo Garage. Now this is a very highly populated area, and the zoo is a big deal to Philadelphians, so they can get $15 to park cars, but wait, parking is included in our annual membership. So we drive up and in  and we don't have a care in the world. Then the slap in the face by reality hits ya! There are HUNDREDS of school kids coming to the zoo today. Kim, Robert, and Alex went to the window to get their tickets and thankfully the school groups were being ushered in a separate gate and they already have tickets so it really wasn't a problem. We looked at the map and planned our course of attack. Since when you come in everyone is sort of ushered down the same path, it will be a mess trying to see anything with all those school groups going in the same direction. The zoo is pretty much laid out in a loop, so that was our plan, we'd start where most people will end up and go against the flow. This turned out to be the perfect plan. We didn't realize it at the time but the monkey house was pretty much at the beginning and along the path as you come in. It would have been horribly crowded, but cause we hit it toward the end of the day, it was a nice respite in air conditioning AND there was almost no one in there. It gave us an opportunity to speak with one of the zoo keepers and really get up close with the apes. 

Spanky insisted on having his picture taken everywhere. The animals were all calling out greetings to us, some were posing, smiling, and putting on the dog, and there were lots of families visiting with small kids. One little girl took a real shine to Spanky and I was afraid I might have to insist I at least get his shirt and pins back before she makes him her own. My dad and my step-mother were able to join us, which was lots of fun. When we got home each and everyone of us were exhausted. We had dinner, which thankfully we had started before ever leaving the house. The French dip sandwiches were so good to tired and hungry people.

The Philadelphia Zoo is by far one of the country's premier zoos. It is beautiful. It has large animal areas and yet you are still able to see most animals. There are shady walking paths so you aren't being blasted by the sun. It is just a perfect zoo to really spend a day. I'm so glad this is the one we decided to join and financially support. Because of expansions it's is very different than I remember, but it is still the best one so far and by far. 

After dinner Kim, Alex, and I went down to Catherine's to take care of the chickens. Since Catherine and her family are on vacation Alex is taking care of the chickens, cat, and watering plants. Oh the chickens were a riot. We had chickens trying to escape and Alex trying to round them up to go into their house for the night and Kim and I standing around having no idea what to do. I will have to take the camera down tonight to get some of this, for you. 

May 30, 2013, 12:38 PM

Today Steve is going to repair a piece of trim that is hanging from the bottom of the driver's side slide and we are going to take it easy. It's hot here and we are all worn out. 

Day 23

Philadelphia Zoo

May 29, 2013, 9:10 PM

What a day, what a day, what a day, what a day!!!!! We are all exhausted. I think we walked every bit of the Philadelphia Zoo today. Of course it was the hottest day we've had since we got here too. I can plan a trip, let me tell you. Since we don't have much on the agenda, and since I have about 1,000 photos, that's not An exaggeration either, to go through, I think a detailed blog about the day will just have to wait till tomorrow. I will be able to include photos then, the eyes have had it for tonight. Good night all, no I don't want to hear any complaining either, I try to get a detailed blog out each night but. I'm beat and I'm going to bed. 

Day 22

Reading Terminal Market Day

May 28, 2013, 9:14 PM

Today we had another good time. Go figure, isn't that what vacation is all about? We had rain in the morning and pretty much ALL day. We did want to go to the zoo today but we were watching the weather and knew it just wasn't going to work. So the plan was for indoor activities. Reading Terminal here we come. Oh the traffic in Philly, it was almost like being on I-4 at home. Yuck!! But we got through and we walked into the Reading Terminal. Daddy was just getting there too and he came in at an entrance just feet from us. We couldn't have planned better if we tried, trust me I know, I've tried planning things like that and they NEVER happen. So the day is off to a great start huh. 

The smells and people and food and produce, it's just an amazing place. We walked around and got ideas for what we wanted to eat for lunch. Alex and I went to a cheese steak place. We ordered and I handed they guy my card, he looks at me and says we don't take cards, just cash. Now anybody that knows me knows damn well, I don't carry cash, almost NEVER. So my darling nephew Alex says "Oh I can cover that." Is that too cute or what, he's such a man anymore. Anyway, we got our food and just as I was trying to juggle getting back to the table with the food and drinks with no tray or anything, up walks Steve, MY HERO!! He had decided he wanted a cheese steak too. Perfect timing. We all met up at a table, different food all around. 

After that we walked around a little more. We went into the Galleria mall, it was pretty cool when it first opened in the 80's I think, now it's second rate, but we were able to walk to where we could see the China Town arch all inside. That was perfect cause it was raining outside. NICE!!!! You are going to find this hard to believe but I got a picture. I almost forgot to mention, we also stopped at Termini Brother's Italian Bakery booth, Kim and I got cannolis. Oh, they were so good!!

Then we pretty much retraced our steps and went home. Not before we made a quick stop at a Walmart. Steve needed to get a sewer hose extension, all you campers know how that goes. While we were in there Kim and I found this Walmart had a sewing section with material, patterns and all. Perfect! We are going to tackle a sewing project. More on that later. 

Dinner, and a visit from Catherine and the kids and the night just couldn't get any better. We are having a great time here visiting with Kim and her family and friends. It has been wonderful!!!!!! Tomorrow we are hitting the zoo. Yippie skippie, I can't wait. It has been so long since I have been at the Philadelphia Zoo. I am so looking forward to this. This is my premier zoo, at least I hope it still is. We will see tomorrow. 

Good night everyone. Oh and I just want to wish Catherine, Akio, Geo, and Azure save travels, have a great time in California. Already we will miss you!!