So I wanted to make sure the car was in good working order. Because I want it to go upstate to my brother's Drew and David. Jim said you just want to get away from me, LOL. I said NO, I have three main objectives for going up. One to empty out the car, still had storage shed items, number two I wanted to fill our freezer with deer, moose and elk meat, and the last thing we needed to find both of our birth certificates. Thought they were in the RV cannot find them will be needing them soon. So after I cooked some food for Jim for at least a few days. I left to go upstate on May 23rd for 8 really wonderful days.
For the people that know me really well they know I hate driving. And it takes almost 3 hours to get up there, especially the way I drive. So I left later then I wanted to.. I dropped Jim off at Bowman's and left at 4:45. The drive went well. Really had no issues, as soon as I arrived, 7:10. Drew was cutting the grass. And he yelled at me to turn the chicken over. He had some on the smoker. We all ate dinner together.
Tuesday May 24, 2022
I woke up to the coffee pot grinding beans. That's a great wake up call. David left early for a few day's to go turkey hunting.
Drew needed a few things so we went into Dushore. I thought Jim was quick about going in and out of a store. But Drew definitely broke his record. After our Super Quick Trip inside the grocery store to grab a few ingredients for minestrone soup.
We took a drive past the cabin house to see where they're moving a whole bunch of dirt up the road. We stopped with Drew's neighbor that has a horse for a quick visit. The man's 92 years old and doing amazingly well. We got back to the house and had a late lunch David made coleslaw yesterday we had leftover chicken and some of my pumpkin chocolate chip cookies I brought up. While we were in Dushore I was able to send a text to Pam and John setting up a time for them to come up to visit. We plan for this Friday afternoon, so looking forward to it.
After lunch we went across the road to the barn we had stored items in.
I told him I never thought I'd be looking for something this soon. He couldn't believe the birth certificates could even be over here. I said it's harder than it seems to keep essential items where you know where they're at. I did find Jim's birth certificate which would be harder to duplicate I would imagine since he was born in Germany. Still didn't find mine. I found a lot of other interesting crap.
David got home about 4:00 or 5:00 he started late but made us baked fish macaroni and cheese and a huge veggie salad for dinner was fabulous we ate together and chatted. No TV up here. But my YouTube TV works on my phone. He got rid of his satellite dish. Drew washed the dishes he has a dishwasher but never uses it. So I started to towards the end of my stay.
I was texting Jim on Facebook about his pills he needed. He was working but insurance didn't start until June 1st, that sounds crazy to me. So his pills were $1,600 for 3 months. I called the cardiologist and they put some back for him. He will pick them up tonight after work.
Drew gave me his laptop and I filled out a paper for jury duty Jim told me I needed ASAP. Later I took a shower and went to bed at 11:00 I'm sleeping so well up here.
Wednesday May 25, 2022
I woke up at 8:00 David already left to go hunting Drew and I drank coffee and chatted got dressed he went outside to work and I started cleaning windows. Went outside with Drew, Janet the neighbor came over with her two dogs. Didn't see her for many many years. We chatted a minute about a recipe she gave me. After she left Drew said we should make that, it's a kringler recipe that I've made ever since she gave it to me for Easter and Christmas. My father-in-law had specially loved it. Then I made a big pot of minestrone soup for dinner in the Instantpot. We were looking at the tadpoles out back Drew dropped a big rock in it to block the water that just runs out of the mountain. It splashed mud all over me, just like when we were kids. Lol.
David left in the camper to go to New York hunting.
The Class C used to be my Dad's.
Then I said we should go for a walk in the woods, he showed me all the trees that need taken down. He has such big plans I told him he'll have to live to 150 years old to get it all done. Hope I don't get poison.
Thursday May 26, 2022
I got up at 8:00, Drew was already up we had coffee and got dressed I made Drew eggs for breakfast. He wanted to vacuum downstairs. I said why don't I do it so you can go do something else. So he washed his motorcycle later I heard the chainsaw running. I probably vacuumed for over 2 hours up and down stairs. It's a huge house. We put chicken on the grill/smoker, we never get sick of it. I was pooped after all that vacuuming, we had lunch we ate some soup, chicken, David's coleslaw again. We both rested for a while and chatted. Drew had a cup of coffee to get a second wind. He went back outside again I didn't do much else. Later I made some hard boiled eggs in the instant pot.
Later I made us each a large dinner salad we ate around 6:30. He asked if I wanted to go for a ride to look for deer. Absolutely. I thought we were going in the Gator so I grabbed a heavier coat. I didn't even put on lipstick or get my purse,, but we jumped in the truck and headed towards Dushore. There was a few ingredients we needed to make the krinkler. He said everything in Dushore is probably closed, if you have a craving here you better have it before 6:00 he said. The Family Dollar was open I ran in there and found a few things we needed, we decided to make the dessert for when Pam and John come tomorrow. We still need almonds and almond extract. We ended up seeing a lot of deer on our Drive. The deer look so big compared to the small ones in Florida. We were pooped from a busy day I was watching Mom on YouTube TV. Went to bed about 10:00 p.m.
Friday May 27, 2022
I woke up just after 6:00. Heard Drew in the bathroom thought he was up. I fell asleep and had a dream. I got up just after 7:00 I thought he was up, I got up and took a shower. I had coffee ready but didn't turn it on yet I drank a few leftover cups.
Had a few itchy spots this morning feel like I'm getting poison from our walk. He got up around 9:30, he said he rarely sleeps in that late. He ran to the store while I started prepping food for our guests. Pam texted me their ETA and they arrived around noon. Drew wasn't back from the store yet. I gave them a little tour. We came inside we had a wonderful meal together, we had smoked a pork loin, we put sweet potatoes on the smoker the last of David's coleslaw my leftover minestrone soup, I made Tex-Mex quinoa Pam brought her wonderful broccoli salad pickled beets and eggs. Drew said it was like Thanksgiving for him. We had a wonderful meal together we so enjoy their company.
John tuned Drew's banjo for him.
We all made the krinkler together it's so easy, Drew wanted to see how it was made. One thing I can make without looking at the recipe. They stayed till after 6:00 p.m. when they left Drew said they are cool as hell, I said I told you, we chilled the rest of the evening never eating anything else watched a little YouTube and went to bed after 10:00.
Saturday May 28. 2022
I have been sleeping so well while I've been here. I woke up then I heard the coffee pot grinding beans, when it beeps it's ready, we sat and drank coffee. Probably one of my favorite times of day. Drew ate the leftover Kringler dessert from yesterday for breakfast.
I was watching Two and a Half Men on my phone. Then I texted Jeanne on Facebook trying to figure out when we could get together. I really want Drew to meet them. She's having a family Barbecue party Sunday. She said we could come oh, I didn't want to encroach. We are pretty new friends, and I just felt like we weren't at that stage in our relationship yet, LOL. She said she would have leftovers. So we planned a different day to get together.
I ate my oatmeal breakfast Drew went to shower. My poison is really itchy now. We sat around a while I made us salads at noon for lunch was really good.
Went for a ride in the car. Which also used to be my Dad's. Kind of emotional being in his Vehicles again, feels really good though. I tried not to think about it too hard.
We stopped at a TOPS store. I was never in one before. They were in the news a lot lately as we all know. And we also went to Shore Sister's store. Had some produce got some butternut squash and spaghetti Squash I also bought a fern, still trying to keep them alive was never easy for me.
We got back home at 5 ish, saw deer again. Ate leftovers at 6.
Then I went out to clean the inside of the car. I spot clean the outside a little. Ran the dishwasher. I made some steel cut oatmeal in my instant pot for tomorrow morning, since I ran out. A few people had called Drew later in the day.
This is across the road, like a little one room cabin he built.. He sells carvings out of. This PIG would be great for a BBQ place.
Later I went out to take some pictures of his work. This is the shop he carves in. All of these are still work in progress. So is the shop for that matter.
You can see a few in this one.
Another relaxing pleasant day.
Sunday May 29, 2022
I got up this morning around 8. Drew was already up had our coffee and I ate my oatmeal, I just made. We put a butternut squash on the smoker. Drew ate Nothing Yet, he showered I got dressed put some makeup on. When I looked out the window a blue truck had pulled in, when I was ready I went out it was Jess. She ran the Colley Pub for 18 years on and off. She's a great cook and invited us over later for dinner.
After she left we got dirt from the garden and planted the flowers in hanging pots for across the road, took the Gator over to the garden sifted the rocks from the soil.
Then we took a ride up the mountain in the Gator. We took 100 lb LP bottle up to Drew's deer Shack. Which it is quite the shack. It's been years and years since I was up there, but it's really nice and he made it very comfortable to be in all day for hunting. Wish I would have taken some pictures.
When we got back we took his Harley-Davidson motorcycle out for a ride. My first ever, we went by where Jess lived. Was a beautiful day. It was really fun I always said no to the ride. I did this time too a few days ago, but Drew said who would be safer to ride with other then me. Then I decided why not go for it, another fun adventure in life. The only problem is I really needed goggles because of my dry eyes for next time. Drew said shall I tell Jim to start shopping for a Harley now, LOL. No I said it was a really quick ride and he said we went 20 miles at least oh, it felt like it was five.
Then we changed and got ready and went over to Jess and Donna's she made chicken and veggies on the Fire and grilled garlic bread we had a wonderful meal together.
All cooked outside here's a view that we had while we sat at their property.
Then after a few hours we left and stopped at Steve and his wife, more friends of Drew, we only stayed a few minutes saw dear as I drove home.
I made the butternut squash soup at 9:30 at night. Not a good idea, I got so frustrated with his food processor on how it worked he got it going for me. I ate the last of the minestrone soup I made went to bed just after 10:00.
Monday May 30, 2022. Memorial Day
Drew was up first this morning he made the coffee. I'm learning to use the coffee pot. It does take some work since it does everything. It's a very expensive brand his neighbor gave him for all his help he does for her. Last time I was here I thought I wanted one but I still like my residential Bunn.
I ate my oatmeal with some store-bought yogurt, since I ran out of mine that I brought up. It was so sweet I could hardly stand it. He ate some leftover pork we took showers and left at 11:30 and met Diane at the Bluebird. We drove together to Lynn and Jeann's House with Chief the dog. They are the ones that we met in Florida at a happy hour and the next day they came to pick me up after the truck broke down for the second time. Same night I had choked later in the evening alone.
Anyway we arrived a lot of fun seeing them again they cooked burgers and dogs and chicken for me had leftovers from their party, got to meet the neighbor Frank and Wayne. Drew drove over to see all his Corvettes. He had seven new ones in the garage he told us ladies dirty jokes when Drew was gone. It was kind of weird and awkward. We told Drew later on the way home, he thought they were funny. Diane and I weren't too offended, LOL. We got to see his garage he was talking about putting up when we met in Florida. Here is Drew looking at it.
We wanted to see if Drew knew any of the same people they did since they both lived up there for so long. Turns out he went to the same school Diane did and they knew a lot of the same people, We couldn't believe all the coincidences .
We left around 4:30 in the late afternoon we took Diane back to her car we left at The Bluebird we followed her to her house. I never got to see it before. We visited for a short time she has a beautiful home. So far out in the woods was a really long dirt road, talk about remote.
We drove home almost an hour away I made a salad and moose spaghetti we would eat for tomorrow. My phone was blowing up. I was getting texts from work.. They want me to come back.. OMG. Thomas had texted too on the way home. We chatted for a minute.
Another fun fun day with Drew.
Tuesday May 31, 2022
So today is the day sadly I decided to head down state. Hopefully Jim missed me a little.
I have been sleeping so well here but last night I woke up a few times thinking about work. I'm glad it happened at the end of my trip instead of the beginning. I got rid of my work bag and most of my work shirts. I think I have a few pants left. I heard the coffee pot, got up before 8.
Just for the record I did make the coffee too, I just didn't turn it on before he was up, he said it doesn't bother him. But he turned it on before I was up, lol actually it didn't bother me at all either. It is a great wake up call.
Took a shower washed my hair threw my clothes in the washer. Stripped the bed, I washed those too. We drank coffee and ate my oatmeal with the too sweet yogurt. Can't wait to make a batch of mine again. I did my makeup and folded the first load packed it all up. Nice to take all my clothes home clean. I remade the bed all ready for the next guest oh, I hope it's me again.
While we were drinking coffee Drew was again looking at his laptop. Found out a lot of times he was looking for 1966 Chevelles, like the one he used to have. He wanted to get another one. But when he was around 21 he had one he worked on forever was pretty much in mint condition. It broke down along the road upstate. He walked back to the cabin, went back the next day to get it in a whole bunch of kids had trashed it and ruined it. Long story short he started freaking out saying he found his car again. It was in Catawissa which is about an hour away. He couldn't believe it, was quite obsessed, and probably never heard anything else I said the rest of the day, at least until I left. Long story short after I left he called the guy and bought his car back and now he's going to fix it up again. When he was young he just couldn't do it for the second time. He said it's never been on the road again since he had it. It was a great story I'm so happy he has it back again. We had an early lunch. I was getting ready to hit the road.
Then we went down to the freezers and filled up my coolers with elk moose and deer meat. I was all packed up and ready to go, not looking forward to the drive oh, and figuring out what I'm going to do about work.
Drew and I hugged and said our goodbyes. Hope to come back soon.
