Sunday Funday

Over the weekend, my boyfriend, my dog, and I decided to get out and enjoy this amazing weather we've been having here in Pennsylvania. We got on the road and headed towards Ricketts Glen State Park. It's a gorgeous park with lots to do; you can hike, swim, fish, relax, bike ride, have a picnic, do whatever, it's just a really nice park. But it does get packed in the summer, so the best thing to do to avoid people is go on the long hike, I'm talking a 7.5 mile if not more, hike! This hike is beautiful, there are 22 waterfalls. There aren't many people on the hike just because it takes a lot of body and skill to complete the whole thing, one second your walking down slippery stone steps, the next your climbing up big rocks... let me just say, I busted my ass, along with the dog. It was nice, every few steps we'd stop and let Max play in the stream pools, I got my feet wet, but it was chilly! There were quite a few dogs on the hike, some were little dogs being carried by their owners that looked as if they were going to pass out... like I said, it's a long, hard, skilled hike, please don't attempt the whole thing if you are not in shape! It's a great hike, just make sure if your going on a hike longer then 2 and half hours, bring an Apple, or some Almonds to keep ya going, water is a must, too!

It always feels great to get out on the weekends!

 

A Good Ol' Southern Plantation

It's time to head to Pick Pocket Plantation!

In the South we have a lot of Farmer's Markets, we have one on Tuesday at Pick Pocket Plantation, we have one downtown every Wednesday, Thursday it's at a park near downtown, Friday it's in this community called Habersham, (which has been in many magazines for their beautiful houses and Market Place). Then on Saturday's there's one in Port Royal, and another one on Pick Pocket Plantation. So thankfully we have a lot to choose from-

But as of right now, I'm loving Pick Pocket Plantation.

 It's a hidden treasure in the middle of a town!

 If it weren't for the "Farmer's Market signs", you would never know it even existed.

When you drive onto the Plantation, you have fields filled with beautiful Horses, and on the other side you have Pecan Trees all in rows. As you keep going you come up to three cottages, which at one time, were slave quarters. As you drive up to the house you see two Chicken Coops on one side, and Barns on the other. Then you have the big Historic Home. In front of the home, there is a field, and that's where they have the Farmer's Market set up. Everyone there is really nice! The owner of the Plantation sells homemade Ice Cream in his old fashion Ice Cream Maker, wearing his big straw hat. His Ice Cream is truly the best thing ever, it's so creamy, nothing like what you buy from the store! There are quite a few veggies to choose from, but it's still early in the year, when summer comes, there will be a bigger variety. My mum and I got Tomatoes, Green Onions, a really yellow type of Squash (that I've never seen nor had before), and some other veggies! After we left the Farmer's Market, I had to go take pictures of the beautiful Plantation. I spent quite awhile looking at all the sweet curious Chickens and Roosters, and watched the Horses eating their lunch. I really wish I grew up on a Plantation, it would be so fun! I would just walk around all day, enjoying the fields, and sitting under the Pecan Trees... oh a girl can dream!

Is that the Empire State Building I see? Hello New York!

Two weeks ago I said hello to my Great Grandma in New York..

 I can't tell you how amazing it feels driving into New York, and seeing the city from across the river! I loveee it! I can hear the Sex and the City song (the one Alicia Keys and Jay-Z sings) playing as I drive over the bridges.. hello New York!

My Great Grandma who is almost 102 years old, called my mum, and told her she wanted my mum and I to come up for a week to see her, and help her out around the house. So we left Saturday night, and arrived in NY Sunday morning. The drive went by fast, only twelve hours hyped up on Monster Energy Drinks, and lots of up-beat songs! When we arrived, we saw my Great Grandma, which is always a beautiful gift! We did get to spend lots of time with her, over a week and a half. The days were long, very long. There wasn't much to do, but talk. This was my chance to get to know my Grandma, so I asked her a lot of questions! I mean hello, she's almost 102! She's lived through a lot, I mean A LOT! I love hearing all her amazing stories. My mum and I did get away, and went shopping, went to Trader Joe's (our favorite place), went to this fun Ukrainian Deli, and bought Pierogies, and tasty noodles, which we made homemade Vegetable Soup with. Of course there are five pizza places around my Grandma's house, so we got pizza, and spaghetti! On our final days there, it started getting hard. I hate seeing people who used to be strong, no longer have the strength to do things.. My Grandma needs someone there with her, at least two times a day, help her cook, and get settled into bed. It's amazing that she is living in her house, especially at the age she is, and I'm so blessed to have her still in my life! I just wish she could do things on her own, it's hard to see that.. but like she says "what are you going to do?" .

That last day we were there, we said our goodbyes, thankfully there was no crying, last time I cried my eyes out, thinking it was going to be the last time I was going to see her. But I know, that I will see her at least one more time, that is for her 102 birthday, which is in May! She is such a beautiful, strong, caring, sweet, strong willed, woman! I just hope I get some of those great qualities as I grow.

It was such a gift to see her!

I love you Great Grandma     XoXo

Ohh, don't you love those New York moments