Sunday, I had the opportunity to spend the day with one of my long time friends Keyla. A much needed "me" day and "girl" day renaissance style. We journeyed ourselves to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire and what a great time we had. The last time Keyla and I attended this faire was seven years ago.Time sure has changed in the shire. New shows, new vendors, great wines, and so much more. I try to attend the ren faires as often as I can since this is one my favorite time periods. Mostly I go to Maryland since it is only 40 min away. This day it took us two and half hours to get there. It was an absolutly gorgeous day, that we rode with the top down in her car. Yes, Keyla has a convertable. We decided to dress-up in time period. However, we waited til we arrived before we donned our dresses. Oh yea, we changed in the car, .. imagine that..yes a bit of a show.. and yes we put the top back up on the vehicle. We spent 5 wonderful hours walking the shire, sitting in on the royal falcon show, those birds are so majestic. We were marveled by Dr. Volz and his elixirs and illusions, and were serenaded by comedic voices of the Ragged Rogues.
It was a wonderful day spent with a wonderful friend, upon changing and stepping back into the 21st century, We ended our day with a good ole fashion hamburger at a small town Lancaster, Pa diner.
Huzzah!!! Gracias mi amiga para una dias muy fabulosa!!!
Fall like spring has always been associated with changes. Changes in season, changes in a multitude of our day to day activities. I find that September and October have always flown by with so many activities going on.
Recapping most recent events include my Relay for Life team's annual Fund raising BBQ this past Saturday. More than 200 attended and although we had a slight decline over last years event. We really can't compete with NASCAR . Yes it was the race weekend! Still our BBQ was successful! We still have raffle tickets left for the quilt raffle, interested in purchasing a chance or two, email me! All proceeds go to a great cause. This is the beginning of our fund raising. We fund raise through out the year, at least til May. Our Relay for Life event is always the first or second weekend in June. Stay posted :0).
Fall is also Football, Bonn fires, and Homecoming and this year SAT's . Brandyn, has been busy with essay's, college applications, and SAT's. Whoever said Senior year wasn't expensive lied! With that also comes Homecoming. I am just grateful I have two great boys' , they are so much less expensive and definitely create less drama than girls!. Although Brandyn, has his moments! drama moments that is. It will be very interesting when he will be away from home next year.. AHHHH reality. Mom won't be around.The school year has just started! Never a dull moment in this house that's for sure.
In all seriousness, there has been a lot going on this year, as imagine the rest of the world as well. I have been blessed with the most amazing friends, and family one could ever have. Despite the tribulations, that have been going on in my life, I could not keep my sanity and humor with out all of you, that includes some of my Daily Challenge connections as well! I heart you all!
Enough sappiness... I will try to include pictures and do my best to blog daily. Even as mundane as it may be.
Folks, waiting to eat at the BBQ
Highlight of the evening is smore's on the HUGE Bonn Fire
It is often said that one should look forward to the "Golden Years" when aging. You know that time in your life when the fruits of your labors have come full circle, the time when you should be enjoying your spouse, significant other, traveling and doing all things you've dreamed about. Well, I think someone lied! Sure, there are many who are enjoying all those things. Lately, by my count there are a good many who are not. Troubled by medical "issues" and Dr.s appointments, many of these "Golden Agers" are finding that their having to enjoy life around appointments. Not to say, folks do not take care of themselves. Reality is what it is. However, we must begin to take care of ourselves now, so that we can do all those things. Mom & Dad, I love you for having taught me that. I look at you two and feel blessed that you two are still young and are enjoying life, even at 80!
Today I celebrate another Birthday and approach the "Silver years of life" , I find myself gravitating to enjoying life, it's challenges and oh the "journey". Did I take a wrong turn? Perhaps, the unexplainable has been in front of me all along, yet I failed to "embrace" it. To my friend Elisabeth, you were right . So now I am embracing this journey, and have accepted to aging with grace. Let it be known, I have NOT reached that benchmark yet .To my friends, who have started their journey, I look to you for support, love, friendship and for answers, (even if we are still seeking them LOL) and to the males in my household, well, your in on this journey too like it or not.
So I ask myself is this the beginning of my Silver years, or the Silver lining in the best years of my life.
" He who knows not where he is going, for the ocean will decide. It is not the destination, it is the glory of the ride."
Not sure who said that, however I have to agree with the sentiments. Yesterday's HAG adventure was about the glory of the ride! A few months ago, my friend (of many years) calls me and says, I met this awesome woman at a Social Media event and had the opportunity to talk with her afterward and extended in invitation to attend a HAG Travel event. So my thoughts were, okay Social Media is good, but what is a HAG event?
Definitions Hag - a wizened old woman, or a kind of fairy or goddess having the appearance of such a woman. (Wiki) Travel - to journey or traverse ......... Travel Hag - a wise old journeying woman with goddess attributes
With that being defined, our first Travel HAG adventure was a camping adventure on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Cristfield's Janes Island was the destination of our first HAG adventure. Now Shari and I have been on a good many adventures in our years. I knew we could handle this. By the time the weekend came around a third friend Elisabeth joined us among the 12 or HAGS from Maryland. The Janes Island adventure started on Friday with check in, set up tents, bond with our fellow HAG ladies, Kayak on trails that lead to the bay, pot luck dinner on the pavilion and return home on Sunday. Sounds fun, relaxing no brainer stress free.
What is that they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Recap from that weekend!
On to the next HAG adventure.... A Haunted Paddle adventure and Old Salty's for Dinner
This past weekend (August 6, 2011) 16 Travel HAGs mostly from Maryland of course along with the Delaware HAGs met at Drawbridge Road Crossing of the Transquaking River outskirts of Cambridge, MD and launched our kayaks and paddled through some of the most beautiful, scenic and some say haunted landscape in Maryland. There were a few HAG men on this adventure. HAG men can accompany their HAG, but they are not the center of attention. The five mile paddle was breathtaking, the weather was perfect and we had the opportunity to get to know fellow HAGs. The trek was perfect for any beginner, we had the opportunity to see bald eagles, turtles, herons, and a few snakes or two. ( I didn't stick around to long when I did!)
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Locals claim that this area is said to be haunted by spirits from the Dorchester's past. We finished are mystical journey, as the weather quickly changed and mother nature churned the current and gave us 2-3 ft white caps. Not sure if it was mother nature or Big Lizz and the spirits of the past. We finished at DeCoursey Bridge a well-known haunt of Big Lizz, an African slave who was beheaded by her master, after she followed his instructions to bury his money in the swamp. DeCoursey Bridge is a frequent stop for curiosity seekers and those hoping to see Big Lizz.
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After, a long day of kayaking with my fellow HAGs, I was famished! After all I burned a lot of calories and was looking forward to a good Eastern Shore Crab Cake. Going to Hooper's Island and eating at the Old Salty Dog was a good end to a day's hard work. Old Salty's Crab cake is the bomb! I have had some good crab cakes but I don't think anyone can match these guys and worth the trip. No fillers and it's made with Maryland back-fin, lump crab meat.
Crab Cake at Old Salty's - Hoopers Island, MD (pictures by Mindie, travelhag.com)
Old Salty’s Restaurant
2560 Hoopers Island Rd
Fishing Creek, MD 21634
(410) 397-3752
A few months back, while strolling through Face Book, I discovered a long lost friend from High School. I must explain that while I am not a "creeper" or a FB "stalker", ( I will explain the terms for the novice FB users) I did find my best friend from HS through another HS friend. Creeper or Stalker by FB definitions if there are any, is one who looks or follows others on your friends list. I actually, found my friend Deborah through a post she had written on a mutual friends post. ( how confusing is that ) So, in FB fashion I friend requested Deborah and now we are forever BFF's ! (Best Friends Forever). We decided on our course of multiple telephone and emails that a road trip to West Virginia was eminent. A date was set and off I traveled with my oldest son and friends in tow. It was a weekend filled with adventure (for the teens) food and and wonderful years of friendship rekindled. We shared our love for food, and exchanged recipes. I still say Mountain Man (my new name for Steve, Deborah's Husband) should have his BBQ sauce marketed. The weekend like all good things came quickly to an end. But like all good things, our friendship will continue will continue to grow into our older golden years. I look forward to weekly conversations about the many new teen adventures that occur in my house or in Deb's homestead. Yea, she has a "new" teen.. her adventures are just beginning. Mine are in their prime! I always say, "there is never a dull moment" when teens are involved. On a more serious note.. I enjoy my political talks with Mountain Man and the direction this country is going.
I truly am blessed to have such great friends, regardless of how near or far my friends may be. You know who you are and know you are loved. <3.
This year, as I celebrate another year of gracefully aging, I also celebrate a year of renewed friendships and challenges that I never knew I would ever accomplish. A few years ago, I traveled with a team of teachers to Italy's beautiful Tuscany region, only to learn that to truly enjoy life is to stop and smell the flowers along the way. I mean that in the literal sense. Having grown up in Europe, with a different culture then what I now live, has made me understand that in order to truly experience what life has to offer and the challenges it throws us. We must really slow down and enjoy the moment.
Which brings me why this years birthday celebration means so much to me.
Aging gracefully, simply put, is celebrating what life throws at you, smiling , accepting that life lesson and wisdom you will impart to your children. I spent my birthday, with my boys and their friends, who impart made my day truely special. Discussions of young issues (ahh to be able to re-live my youth..) French toast breakfast.. sunshine cupcakes, wings, and late night birthday chants will be a day long remember in my golden years.
Thanks to social networking I have renewed friendship gone astray from years gone by. I am reminded daily, of my youth, my life, my accomplishments and my challenges and look to re-connect and reminice once again. Sharing stories old and new with my family, friends and my children.
Thank you for making my birthday a great milestone... and I have yet to turn 50... Wow.. ! Yes I am still young :)
