Shrewsbury & York PA

Today Doug had a Saturday off so we loaded up and drove north to PA. I have been wanting to go all summer and was thrilled to finally get to go. There is not much up in PA outside of Philadelphia & Pittsburgh but they have Gettysburg, Williamsport (Little League World Series location), and lots of Dutch and Amish people. So we went to Shrewsbury & York to take a look around. I was surprised how built up the cities were but most of the area around them were corn fields and rolling hills.

Our first stop was the Amish Market in Shrewsbury. I didn't think much about the market part. I knew they had some produce, crafts, and furniture but I was shocked at the amount of food they had. From fresh cut meat (pig, cow, chicken, you name it they had it) to seafood, cheese to candy, they had it all! AND they even had places you could eat at. Doug and I went in and immediately stated drooling. We did good and only bought a loaf of fresh baked bread, roasted cinnamon almonds, half a pecan pie, and some fresh soft pretzels. I have every intention of going back to get the peanut brittle we put back, the crab balls (think hush puppies with crab meat), the swiss garlic cheese (don't knock it until you try it!), and a giant plate of food for lunch. We will definitely be bringing our cooler with some ice next time! We looked at the furniture but that was it, looked. It was beautiful but P-R-I-C-E-Y!

After that we headed farther north to York. We went to a place called Morningstar Market Place. It was a flea market and farmers market in one. There were Amish, Dutch, and "normal" people all in one place. I found a beautiful 8 crystal glass set with crystal glass pitcher and it was only $25!! Doug talked me out of it but if its there next time I am getting it! In true veggie loving form, I stocked up at the farmers market. I got three huge cucumbers, a small basket full of apples, a small basket of bananas, some tomatoes, and a cantaloupe all for $8! They had everything you could imagine but I didn't want to buy more than we would eat. Since we already knew there would be a next time, I put peppers, watermelon, and taters on the list.

We are exhausted from a long day of eating :) but Doug is off tomorrow too so we plan on taking full advantage of the time together. I may need to take Monday off to recover! I took my camera but there was not much to take pictures of. I took one of us at the market in York. It will have to do.

White House & a Smithsonian

Today we did a tour of the White House then walked down to the Museum of Natural History. It rained a little on the way there but the sun came out and we had quite a nice day. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the house but we did get to take some after we got outside. The tour was short and sweet but major cool. We got to see the East Room, Green, Red, and Blue Rooms, the State Dining Room, the Library (one of my favorites!), Vermeil Room, China Room, and the Diplomatic Reception Room. The hallways were decorated with Official White House Photos and oil portraits of previous Presidents and Vice Presidents. My favorite was one of Nancy Reagan in a red gown. Google it. She is BEAUTIFUL!

The tour ended in the front/back middle of the house where the President often gives speeches from. You would recognize it. It was the place President Obama announced the death of Bin Laden. The Secret Service/tour guides are very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions without hesitation. One even told us how the rooms were used by the President and his family (currently there are sleepovers held in the East Room) and there have even been some epic parties thrown. We were disappointed to not see the Oval Office, Situation Room, and the Lincoln Room : ) but we plan on trying to bribe someone to get us in there next time.

After the tour we walked down to the Museum of Natural History. We ate at the cafeteria there and I was quite surprised. The food was actually good. Real good! We definitely paid well for the good food but I think it was worth it.

It was a great day and I can't wait until Doug and I get another day off together.

I bleed orange and blue!

So many people ask me, "how did you grow up and Alabama fan, go to Auburn, and become and Auburn fan?" This is so not heard of in our neck of the woods. It's more of a sin that sends you straight to hell or family betrayal than a "bad decision". But it was the best decision I ever made. 

I was accepted to Alabama but Auburn was close to home, it's where my Dad graduated from, and it's was where all my friends were. I probably would have been ok at Bama but my life would not be what it is today (love you Doug and all the friends we have!). 

My time at Auburn had some highs and some lows but the Auburn Family I joined was worth all the lowest of the lows. I have never been able to explain it and probably never will but Auburn is different than other schools. It fit me. It fit who I was, who I wanted to be, where I wanted to go, and what I wanted to do. The spirit literally wraps itself around you and latches on. It goes deep down into your soul. You breathe it, you bleed it.

It's not just football or sports, classes or the campus, clubs or Greek life. It's ALL of it. It's sitting on a bench in between classes, tailgating, downtown, the people, Samford Hall, going out at night, baseball games, EVERYTHING! 

I tell every high school senior I come across, it's not just the degree but the life you live while getting it. 

I guess with football season a few weeks away and all the Toomers Tree coverage it just got me thinking. Like the picture above said, " Unless you have experienced it, you will never understand," why seeing Toomers, Samford Hall, or an eagle soar will take your breathe away and bring you to tears. 

I am proud to be an Auburn Tiger. I will forever bleed orange and blue. Its not a choice I made, it's just who I am.

"During the last 150 plus years, Auburn University and the Auburn Family have been through Civil War, Great Depressions, World Wars, Civil Rights, annual disaster, and daily wear. Yet, we stand tall as ever in the face of it all. The Creed bears witness to what is good about us, as a family, and as a university. It's not just the Alumni who have fortune, through hard work, to walk across the platform and shake the hand of a sitting president. It's not just the championships by various sport or the achievement of acedemic success and research. It's the pulse of who we are, what we represent, and most importantly....what we deliver to our common man or woman. We are the soil that sits below us, the air the rises above us, and the foundation that makes up who we become. We are the Auburn Family! And while the trees that we all love and cherish appear to be waning to a bitter end, the makeup of who we are lives on in all of us. We believe! We not only believe, but we KNOW! The Auburn Family is special! We prove it every day, and while we aren't perfect, we are who we say we are. The Creed lives on, and so will the spirit that leads us to the corner after a big win!" - blog by autigermt

Mt. Vernon

Today Doug was off and we were thrilled to get out of the house and spend some time together. We decided to go to Mt. Vernon. I have never been but Doug went when he was little. We were not sure how the weather was going to be but the day ended up being gorgeous. My shoulders and chest are nice and red from the "not a cloud in the sky" beautiful afternoon. It was not really hot thanks to the strong breeze coming off the Potomac. We had a wonderful day and it went by too quickly. I can't wait for our next day off together!

The main house

On a boat tour of the Potomac River

A view of the main house from the river

Our fancy boat! Of course we sat at the top (hence the burnt skin) for the great views.

The Greenhouse

We went on a tour of the inside but they did not allow pictures :( Just imagine a bunch of antique furniture in a really old house.

View of the Potomac from the back porch. Could you imagine having this view everyday? The women's group that own the house and land made the land across the river (in MD) a National Park to preserve the view from the backyard. How cool is that!

See! We are still in the South! Rocking chairs on the back porch. 

As always, check out facebook for more pictures!

The hair

So like I said in my previous blog, while in Augusta I got my hair cut. Since most of you have not seen me lately I wanted to show you how desperately I needed a haircut. The last time it was cut was a year ago, in Augusta, before we moved. I got it cut shorter than normal because I knew I would put off getting it cut again. I meant to go but I just kept making excuses to not get it done. And as you can see, it needed it so badly!