Month: June 2016

Took a ride south today to Danbury.  Went to the Christmas Tree Shop.  Lots of bargains!!!   Love this store!

Came across this store. Went in to inquire on some senior items; however, were told we’re not old enough yet … so we left. 😦

Remember the 4-leaf clovers I found yesterday ?  Well … wish me luck!!  Barb C … Bill wouldn’t let me purchase 8 tickets. 😦

So, “Cheetos” has this new contest going on … find a unique shaped cheeto, submit it and possibly win a prize.  Be honest..how many of you have been eating Cheetos as a result of this new contest???

I am! Can you guess what this is???

I’m sure this entry will bring me at leaSt  $ 10,000 or more!

Meanwhile … enjoying Bruno and his “wild” side!

 

Today Yelo Melo went to have her annual oil change.  She was afraid but did well.

We took the boys to lunch at “Joey Garlics” in Bristol.

 Love the food. Love their famous “eggplant fries”.  The portions are huge and prices are right.

I had a warm goat cheese salad which is a garden salad, topped with warm goat cheese, toasted pistachios and a drizzle of clover honey … dressed with a light raspberry walnut vinaigrette. The boys teased me and turned up their noses to think I was eating warm goats cheese but … it was DELICIOUS!

Bill had cavatelli with sausage and broccoli rabe.

Sitting outside today, I was admiring all the clover and, low and behold, I spotted TWO four leaf clovers!!! Powerball is up to $ 222 million tomorrow.  Guess I’d better buy a ticket!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are enjoying staying at “Noel’s Resort”.  They upgraded this year to include picnic tables for Happy Hours, huge fire pits and private pools for water aerobics!  They also offer nightly activities such as “Pegs” (a fun competitive home made board game).

Having 30 amp and water is also an added benefit!

Saturday we had a college graduation party for Katie (my cousin/Bill’s niece).  She received her bachelors degree in Healthcare Administration.  She achieved this while raising two precious girls and working fulltime.  So proud of you KT!  We met my other cousins puppy “Romeo”.

Spent time with Jr and his “work-in-progress” HO train display.  Bill had a similar train layout he built when his sons were young.  His dad worked for The New Haven Railroad and my dad was an engineer for the Maine Central Railroad.  Bill is building an N-scale train layout in the RV.

Had lunch this weekend at “Cosi’s Restaurant” in Avon.  The Caribbean chicken & spaghetti squash bowl was outa this world delicious!  Hope we find another of these somewhere in our travels!

Yesterday we went to Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket with our friends Pete & Diana to play Bingo.  Lots of fun but no winnings.  Enjoyed walking around the resort and seeing all the new additions (such as Tanger Outlets).

Within the Resort they have High Rollers Bowling Lanes!! Wicked fancy!!

. . . and who knew Foxwoods has a COW!!!

Today we had lunch at Blackie’s Hotdog Stand in Cheshire.  Their hotdogs and homemade relish are awsome!  They’ve been in business since 1928 and only serve hotdogs, burgers, chips, milk and soda and … being a Catholic family … are closed every friday.

We also made a visit to the cemetery today …

Our afternoon ended with Bill & Dave installing a new upgraded Fantastic vent in the RV.  Great job boys!!

Tomorrow Melo Yelo gets an oil change and we visit with Jr & Kevin again.  Our stay in CT is winding down.  More visits and then goodbyes as we head to Maine Friday. ..

P.S. Bill had a few pics on his phone… casino and sunrise at Noel Resort.  We also drove by Mohegan Casino Resort on the river.

 

 

 

‘Been enjoying visiting family, good food and good fun.

Bill was able to give the RV a good washing which it needed.  Now if we could just find that RV angel to come and buff & wax it, we’d be happy!

Bill and Dave did a good job cooking shish kabobs… delicious!

Today had lunch at “Frankies” in Bristol.  Their hotdogs are the best and their hot relish is delicious.  Frankies had been around since 1937 so you can imagine how many hotdogs Bill had growing up!

Also in Bristol is this strip mall that has a “GOODWILL” with a liquor store next door.  How convenient is that (for those that drink). Better yet, there is a Bank of America beside Goodwill on the other side!

Bill received a RC helicopter for Christmas so … Dave, Bruno & he tried flying it.  Bill also has a drone which he did pretty good with as well.

We have spent time with Bill’s sons Jr & Kevin as well as his sister Mary.  His nephew had us over for a great cookout tonight!  Thanks Bill & Kim!

Been a good week so far!!  Looking forward to a college graduation and some casino time this weekend!

 Lov’n me some Bruno …

Yesterday was a day of R & R for the most part. We started the day off with an oil change for the RV @ Crowley RV in Bristol.

We then traveled to Northfield, CT to park in my cousin’s yard.  We will stay parked here til we head to Maine.

 This is the home of “Bruno”!  He is a 13 year old Jack Russell whom we love dearly!  He and Taffy were tolerable buddies.  Bruno came inside the RV and seemed to be looking and sniffing for Taffy. 😦

Lots going on this week. .. visiting Bill’s sister & her family, visiting Bill’s son Kevin, graduation party and spending time with friends.

 

 

We haven’t been able to blog the past few days as we have been “camping” and have had limited access to electricity, wifi and cell phones!  Back to the basics!

Friday we went to “Hammonasset Beach State Park” in Madison, CT to camp for two nights with family and friends.  It is strictly dry camping with no hookups.  Our site was a quarter of a mile from the ocean which was nice. We saw some pretty sunsets each night.   ‘Enjoyed spending time there with cousins, close friends and my sister Jan.

Today we left the ocean and went north to Bristol, CT.  Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN whose central studios are in the city.

 

Bristol is also home to “Lake Compounce” which opened in 1846 and is the oldest continuously-operating amusement park in the United States.

Within the Lake Compounce compound is “Bear Creek Campground” which is where we are spending the night.  We are not doing the Park … just camping for the night.

The CG has electric and water only.  The area is all dirt and gravel which is dusty. They do have cable and a fair wifi.  There are cabins, huts and teepees available to rent as well.  The restrooms and showers are immaculate and roomy.  The CG store is very nice.  Bill even found a new camp chair!  They offer a shuttle to and from the amusement park but again, we didn’t go.

Tomorrow is “oil change” day for the RV.

 Friends … beach … kids laughter … campfires and s’mores … fun weekend!

P.S. A couple more pics from Bill …

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday was a travel day as we left Pennsylvania and journeyed to Connecticut … birth state of William J. Woodruff Sr.  Bill grew up in Waterbury, attended Catholic schools, married and had two sons … Bill Jr and Kevin.

We checked in to Branch Brook Campground in Thomaston.  Not a fancy CG, no cable, slow wifi, dirt roads …. but serves our immediate needs as only here for a couple nights.

Last evening was Frog Creek’s Summer Selfie Happy Hour (a great way for winter snowbirds to stay in touch over the summer). As it was our friends birthday, we gave him a “cheers”.  Now, those who know us well know we don’t drink, so we found these two empty bottles to use to cheer him!

After chatting with our FC friends we went to sleep.  I told Bill I wanted to sleep until noon. At 6:15 am we woke to a tapping noise.  Irritated, Bill went outside to see birds walking on the roof! It sounded like they were doing a rain dance! It worked as we did get a brief shower shortly thereafter.  So much for sleeping late …

We visited Bill’s oldest son Bill (Jr), wife Mary and grandson Chris this evening.  It was great seeing them! It had been nine months since we had last been with them.

Our red maple bush is doing excellent in the front yard!

Jr is still feeding the wild mallard ducks in the back yard.  While there a momma duck came by.  During the winter there can be hundreds of ducks in the creek!

Looking forward to visiting with more friends and family in the next couple weeks here!

 

 

 

All of these pictures were taken this week in our friends Tracey & Fran’s gardens. . .

What a beautiful couple.  What a beautiful life.  Thank you for showing us love always prevails.            We love you both!

Today we all went to “Root’s Market” in Manheim.  There was fresh produce at LOW prices as well as a flea market of everything you could imagine!! We did pick up some fresh raspberries, some corn for suppah and … of course Bill had to get some whoopee pies!  It was a perfect day! Had a great visit with Tracey & Fran. Going to be hard to depart tomorrow. Thank you for EVERYTHING!

Tomorrow … Connecticut!

I bet our grandkids have no idea what this is! Hmmmmm…..

See all you CT family and friends soon!!

 

 

A common sight in Amish country is the “phone booth”.  It was permitted beginning in the 1950s, when more Amish were forced to go into businesses and to use phones for emergency purposes and to contact doctors, dentists, veterinarians and food dealers. This community phone building, which often resembles an outhouse, is typically built at the end of a farm lane and shared by several neighboring families. The phone is not in the house and the number is unlisted and is used essentially for necessary outgoing calls, not socializing.

An uncommon sight are Amish cemeteries.  They usually are hidden plots of land amongst the farmland surrounded  by simple white fences.

 

The Amish believe that the person is gone, with God. Visiting their grave would show earthly attachment, and a lack of faith that the deceased is with God. The Amish believe that the person is gone, with God. Visiting their grave would show earthly attachment, and a lack of faith that the deceased is with God; therefore, they do not visit after burial.

Ok, that’s it for more of our Amish knowledge…

 

Tonight Tracey and Fran took us to “Brady’s Pub” in New Holland.  This is a great traditional pub with great food and great prices.  The corn chowder and the wings were awsome!  Chef Mike is a great cook. Enjoyed meeting their friends Al and Chris.  Good time.  Definitely a “revisit” in our future travels to this area!

 Tomorrow… our last day in PA.  Off to Root’s Market!