Homemade Slip N Slide

After a water balloon battle that came down to Tyler versus me, we broke out the bottle of Dawn dish soap and made a Slip-N-Slide out of a paint drop cloth.  It didn’t take long for my neighbor, Deb, to add the plastic bag her new mattress arrived in, and in no time, we had fun trying not to break any bones.  Well, I was trying that is, the kids don’t really think about their bones breaking during moments like this.  Tyler, Blaine and Tesla were reckless and daring, as usual.

My brilliant idea of the day.  Make a slip-n-slide.

My brilliant idea of the day. Make a slip-n-slide.

Ammo

Ammo

The playing field

The playing field

 

The battle lasted longer than I thought; many balloons didn’t break on the first throw.  We had about 80 balloons, the green ones looked like hand-grenades.  The tie-dyes were really cool and everyone’s favorites.

After Deb cut open the mattress cover, I womaned up and joined in the fun.  Deb didn’t want involved, so she stuck to taking pictures.  Didn’t hurt myself, but I admit, I’m tired.  Good thing Suz is coming over and making dinner!  🙂

What a fun, but exhausting day!  A day that memories are made from.  ~P.

 

 

 

Shopping in York PA

My how the look of shopping centers has changed and it never stops changing!  From the Farmer’s Market to strip malls, York has them all.  ~P.

315 East Market Street York, PA 17403

A beautiful building, full of surprises with fancy chandeliers, stained glass windows and lots of gold paint.  Were we allowed to go to the third floor?  I have no idea, didn’t see a single person the entire time we were wandering around.  We should have checked out the bathroom.  I bet that would have been photo worthy!  Enjoy the beauty of the Renaissance Bridal Shop.

Restaurants in York, PA

York County restaurants  –Click on the first thumbnail to view gallery.  Enjoy!  Paddock 2013

From Stauffer’s to Hake’s to abandoned

If you lived in Dover, drove through Dover or heard of Dover, you surely know of the little store on Route 74 that was convenient to pick up needed items.

As a teen, I rode my bicycle to Stauffer’s Grocery and as an adult, I made many stops at Hake’s, often for a Smittie’s soft pretzel and a pint of Rutter’s chocolate milk.

Now the little store is closed, abandoned in my opinion.  I held my camera over the fence to see what condition the pool might be in.  I would say the pool condition is ideal for disease carrying mosquitoes, and a health risk for everyone in the area.

Not good.  ~P.

Click thumbnail to open photo gallery.

 

The Little Green Owl at the Historic Shiloh Mill~York, PA

A consignment shop just opened a week ago at the historic mill located at 2500 Carlisle Road, York 17408.  Once a tack shop years ago, this building has housed many businesses since.  Tesla and I, and our neighbor Deb and her grandson, Tyler, walked down to see what the new store had to offer.  After talking to the store owner, Jenn, I asked if I could get photos of the actual mill part of the building.  She’s going to check with the owner and let me know.  I’m looking forward to what might be an interesting place to photograph!

More to come, I hope.

Photos from our walk.  ~P.

Gravestones at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church~New Bridgeville, PA

I had some free time and find cemetery’s interesting places.  This cemetery was at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, just outside of Craley.  These towns are small, blink and you miss them!

A little country church

A little country church

 

The gravestone dated back to the 1800’s.  Some may have been older, but the inscriptions were worn away.  The ones etched in German were especially interesting, as I tried reading bits and pieces on the stones.  Many of the stones were broke, I don’t know if this happened naturally, by accident or by vandalism.  Broken tombstones makes feel angry and sad.  Angry that someone may have intentionally broken it, and sad that this personal artifact of the person buried below, was knocked down.

Click the first thumbnail to open the photo gallery.  ~P.

Rail Trail in York, PA

My dear friend from high school, Beth Fike (Lightner) asked if I ever rode my bike on the rail trail.  I had not, so we made half-ass plans last night to go this morning.  Beth was the only one really prepared at 9 am, Dale and I were just winging it.

Some pictures on the way to the trail:

Remember when this was McDonald's?

Beth gets our bikes down.

Beth gets our bikes down.

We started riding just off of Richland Avenue.  There was quite a bit of activity-walkers, joggers and bicyclists.  Ages ranged from babies in strollers to active senior citizens.  Beth, Dale and I were just trying to not wreck our bikes.  Dale’s bike has some serious gear issues, making this 4 mile total trip very difficult.  The trail is shaded and the scenery is over-all, pleasant.  The people we passed said hello, good morning or at least nodded if their ears were plugged with an electronic gadget.  I ran into a musical friend of the family, Lori Yost, and recognized her.  She couldn’t get over that I remembered her and her parents.  Gene and Esther Yost are doing well, still love Bluegrass music.  😉

There are many turns on the trail due to roads.  The weren’t any active trains (the weeds growing through the tracks and the “Derail Ahead” signs gave it away) in the area.  I said to Beth, “If the tracks aren’t being used, why don’t they recycle them?”  Beth’s answer was simple, “then it wouldn’t be a rail trail.”

Good point,

~P

Click on the first thumbnail to see what I discovered on the rail trail in York, PA.

How to Change Your Car Radiator

Click on the first thumbnail and scroll through the photos.  Jon Simpson was a good sport. ~P.

Sculptures & Monuments in Philadelphia, PA

Tesla and I walked Philadelphia, excited by all the sculptures, fountains and monuments to take in.  When possible, I will note the name and information about the photograph.

View from the steps at the Phila Art Institute and the steps where Sly Stallone ran up 7 steps before his body double finished the run for him.

View from the steps at the Philadelphia Art Institute, and the steps where Sly Stallone ran up 7,                                            before his body double finished the run for him.

 

Phila Art Institute PnT at Rocky Rocky Statue

We had a few interesting moments at the Rocky Balboa sculpture.  A man introduced himself and offered to take pictures of Tesla and me.  I agreed and he snapped away.  I realized as soon as I reviewed the photos there was a smudge across the lens.   Graciously, he took over again, telling me he was homeless and moved to Philly after Hurricane Katrina.  I slipped him a buck and moved on.  The Rocky t-shirt looked cool and I asked him over my shoulder how much they were.  “Ten bucks, they’re his,” indicating another man further off to the side.  Pink was my choice but the seller didn’t have change for a $20.  He yelled back over to the impromptu photographer, “Hey General, you got change?”  The General replied, “Yeah, what ya got?  I can break a hundred even.”  I spoke up, “Dude, you just told me you were broke and homeless.”  To which he replied, “Well, I am homeless.”

We moved on.

TT Rocky shirtPausing ever so briefly to catch a man taking a nap on a bench.  I’m sure this is a no-no–him sleeping there and me taking his photo–but he didn’t seem to be harming anyone. Interesting hair, that’s what caught my eye.  He was sleeping like a baby.  God, I hope he was just sleeping…

In their natural habitat

In their natural habitat

Click the first thumbnail to open to picture gallery.  Honestly, the only sculpture I saw that I didn’t care for was, Iroguious.  Just didn’t do a thing for me…or Tesla, who thought it was part of something abandoned.

Meudon Gate Rodin

Rolin Adam 2

Adam

Rolin Adam

Rolin The Shade

The Shade

Rolin The Thinker

The Thinker

Rolin The Thinker close

Thinking…

Tesla and I visited many more exciting places.  More to come and thanks for joining us in Historic Downtown Philadelphia!

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