Monday, May 11, 2009
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Trains and the Plain - day 3
So Sunday night at the hotel I jumped online (yes - we bring a laptop with us pretty much everywhere) to find something for us to do in the Lancaster area on Monday morning before hitting the road to head home. I'm searching around on a number of Lancaster tourism sites and I find ...
Oh. MAH. GAWSH.
Me: MIKE! You are not going to believe this. There are real live Amish people that give tours of the area in real live horse and buggys! And they are open tomorrow! And ...
Mike: No.
Me: WAIT! You don't understand. This guy Abe - He's AMISH! And he gives tours! IN HIS BUGGY!
Mike: Um - no.
Me: (still perusing the website) GET OUT!! If you take the hour long ride you get to see an Amish one room school house AND you get to stop at Abe's friends house who is Amish and tour their property!! (I'm totally getting goosebumps).
Mike: (silence)
Me: DID YOU HEAR ME??? You get to go to Abe's friends house. A REAL LIVE AMISH PERSONS HOUSE. And TOUR THEIR PROPERTY.
Mike: (staring at me as tho I have 5 heads) Seriously tho, what is wrong with you?
I was not kidding when I said I was obsessed. Unfortunately my killjoy husband put the kibbosh on my real live Amish experience. I've decided that I am going to plan a trip back to Lancaster soon sans killjoy husband to do the Amish thing. Who is with me!? Come on now - don't EVEN try to pretend that the thought of visiting Abe's friends house and touring his property doesn't set your heart all a-flutter. Seriously is it just me???
So we decided that Sunday morning we'd wake up whenever - go to breakfast - then hit the road and stop in Gettysburg on the way home and find something to do there. We ended up doing the whole battlefield thing which was cool - but nowhere as cool as Abe's buggy ride would have been.
Cutest little boy sitting at a monument EVER!!!
I ask for a smile and this is what I get ...
He may be an Amish killjoy - but he's the most handsome Amish killjoy EVER!
Now that is a picture that sets my heart a-flutter. How in the world did I ever get so lucky as to have my life graced with the presence of the two most beautiful boys in the universe? HOW I ask you?? Seeing those two faces beat Abe and his buggy ride anyday of the week. What an awesome weekend. Just awesome.
Friday, May 08, 2009
BREAKING NEWS!
I would like to thank the academy .....
Click here! (here = on these words, not on my picture)
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Trains and the Plain - day 2
So where did we leave off? Ahhh yes, donuts. So Sunday morning we ate whatever donuts were left that Jack did not eat the previous evening and then we headed off to ...
We had reserved tickets on an "open air car" for a 40ish minute ride through the Strasburg/Lancaster countryside. Our car looked a little something like this:
Do you see what is pulling us? A STEAM ENGINE! Jack was in awe. And yes it's going backwards. You go about 20ish minutes out, then the engineers un-couple the engine from our end of the train, direct the engine down a siding and then couple the engine to the car at the opposite side of the train to pull us back to the station (facing forward this time). Notice all my cool train lingo? Couple .. siding ... engine ... I'm so hip in the train world. Here is picture of the steamie (SO hip) engine down the tracks pre-ride:
And Jack's reaction to said steamie:
While we were sitting in our car the steamie came down the tracks and coupled up to us - here is how it looked from inside our car:
And from the side ..
There were a number of different cars to choose from for the ride - and we were so glad we chose the open air car. Jack loved having such a wide open view of the farmland we passed:
He did not, however, love how that farmland smelled at times:
He also took issue with how often they blew the super loud train whistle:
A rare blog appearance of ... ME! I look way better in black and white:
Please ignore my hair. Large open windows + slight humidity = very bad news for me and my tresses.
Riding trains makes us thirsty!
After our ride we headed next door to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania where we saw - you guessed it - MORE trains!
And Jack was put to work shoveling coal. 'Bout time that boy started earning his keep around here.
Then it was back to the hotel for a little relaxation. And GUESS what we saw on the way back to the hotel?
Do you see what I see (what I seee .. what I seeee)
'Scuse the glare and peeling state inspection sticker. I was taking these shots through the windsheild of the car as we were driving by. Mike wouldn't come to a dead stop in the middle of the highway traffic so I could get a clear shot. Spoilsport!
After a little R&R in our suite we headed out to the super cool and awesome playground at our hotel. Can you guess what mode of transportation the super cool and awesome playground was modeled after? Can you?
HA! You totally thought I was going to say "train" didn't you? Yeah you did.
Arggghhhh! The villainous pirate Captain Jack G is at the helm!
When we got to the playground there was another little boy there about Jack's age. Jack walked right up to him and said "Hi, my name is Jack G, would you like to be my matey?". Seriously is he not the CUTEST villainous pirate EVER?!
After that it was dinner at Outback and that brought day two of "Trains and the Plain" to a close.
And now because I am old and tired I must again say ... to be continued ....
We had reserved tickets on an "open air car" for a 40ish minute ride through the Strasburg/Lancaster countryside. Our car looked a little something like this:
Do you see what is pulling us? A STEAM ENGINE! Jack was in awe. And yes it's going backwards. You go about 20ish minutes out, then the engineers un-couple the engine from our end of the train, direct the engine down a siding and then couple the engine to the car at the opposite side of the train to pull us back to the station (facing forward this time). Notice all my cool train lingo? Couple .. siding ... engine ... I'm so hip in the train world. Here is picture of the steamie (SO hip) engine down the tracks pre-ride:
And Jack's reaction to said steamie:
While we were sitting in our car the steamie came down the tracks and coupled up to us - here is how it looked from inside our car:
And from the side ..
There were a number of different cars to choose from for the ride - and we were so glad we chose the open air car. Jack loved having such a wide open view of the farmland we passed:
He did not, however, love how that farmland smelled at times:
He also took issue with how often they blew the super loud train whistle:
A rare blog appearance of ... ME! I look way better in black and white:
Please ignore my hair. Large open windows + slight humidity = very bad news for me and my tresses.
Riding trains makes us thirsty!
After our ride we headed next door to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania where we saw - you guessed it - MORE trains!
And Jack was put to work shoveling coal. 'Bout time that boy started earning his keep around here.
Then it was back to the hotel for a little relaxation. And GUESS what we saw on the way back to the hotel?
Do you see what I see (what I seee .. what I seeee)
'Scuse the glare and peeling state inspection sticker. I was taking these shots through the windsheild of the car as we were driving by. Mike wouldn't come to a dead stop in the middle of the highway traffic so I could get a clear shot. Spoilsport!
After a little R&R in our suite we headed out to the super cool and awesome playground at our hotel. Can you guess what mode of transportation the super cool and awesome playground was modeled after? Can you?
HA! You totally thought I was going to say "train" didn't you? Yeah you did.
Arggghhhh! The villainous pirate Captain Jack G is at the helm!
When we got to the playground there was another little boy there about Jack's age. Jack walked right up to him and said "Hi, my name is Jack G, would you like to be my matey?". Seriously is he not the CUTEST villainous pirate EVER?!
After that it was dinner at Outback and that brought day two of "Trains and the Plain" to a close.
And now because I am old and tired I must again say ... to be continued ....
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Trains and the Plain!
That's right I said "the plain" (as in the plain people). Not "da plane" (as is boss! da plane! da plane! - RIP Riccardo & Herve.) Altho if anyone knows a channel on Direct TV that shows Fantasy Island reruns please let me know because how much do we LOVE that show?! That Tattoo was so damn cute. But not as cute as .... THE AMISH! What a perfect segue into my new obsession.
So last weekend Mike and I made a last minute decision to take a little road trip. The weather was shaping up to be amazing and we were itching to hit the open road for an adventure. In the past we had heard a lot about the Lancaster/Strasburg Pennsylvania area and the array of railroad themed attractions they have there. What better location to take our little trainaholic? So we booked a hotel for two nights and off we went. (How cool are we? You totally wish we were your parents don't you?) Little did I know that we would get a big 'ol bonus in the form of some quilt making, technology shunning, horse and buggy driving folk called the AMISH! Oh my goodness people I am OB-SESSED. I love their little suspenders and bonnets. I am curious about the hair buns that the women wear because they are never ever permitted to cut their super long hair (does that mean no highlights either?!). I am amazed by the fact that they use no electricity what-so-ever (how do they dry that super long hair!?). I had heard of the Amish before, of course, but this was my first time seeing them live and in person and I'm telling you I could simply stare at them ALL.DAY.LONG. But not in an animal-in-the-zoo kind of way. More of a wonder and amazement kind of way. That's not at all inappropriate, right? I want to start a little vegetable farm in my backyard and hire an Amish family to tend to it for me. They will have names like Samuel and Rebecca and after a long day of work I will return home in the evening to find Rebecca leaving a fresh loaf of bread on our porch. A loaf that she spent the afternoon baking from scratch in the little barn house they built for themselves out back. Oh the Amish. I Love them. LOVE.THEM! Would want to BE them if they were allowed to go to Starbucks for Grande Skim Mochas. If loving the Amish is wrong I don't wanna be right!
(It's a bit out of control, no? Pretty sure I'm starting to scare Mike.)
So the first stop on our train-a-pooloza tour was the "Choo Choo Barn". Their website boasts "you've never seen anything like it!" and they definitely got that right. The attraction consisted of the biggest train layout you have EVER seen which was basically a replica of Lancaster. Not the best shot - but this kind of gives you an idea of the size of this thing:
There was a ski resort:
A wedding chapel (and what luck - there was a wedding taking place while we were there!):
There was a parade going down Main Street:
An aquarium (Yes those are real live fish in there! Crazy!)
This guy got so totally busted:
There was a barn raising (and they are AMISH! Be still my beating heart!)
And an old fashioned town baseball game - altho they sold no peanuts nor Cracker Jacks.
All seemed well and good at this ski chalet-esque house ...
but then...
FIRE!!!!!
Smoke actually came out of the hole in the roof!
Lucky for them the fire station was located right next door.
So the firemen drive to the house, then get out and unload the fire hose ..
They rescue the residents ...
Is it me can you see that rescued girl's skivvies!?
They climb the ladder ...
And then put out the fake fire with ACTUAL WATER!
Never seen anything like that, have you? Their website was RIGHT!
Jack was allowed to pick out a little something from the Choo Choo Barn gift shop. You're figuring he picked a train, right? Wrong.
Tractor, train, what's the diff!?
As we were perusing the gift shop Mike glances out the window and says "Oh look - an Amish farmer!" And I'm all what what WHAT?!!?!? I run outside camera in hand (sidenote: The Amish religon does not technically prohibit them from having pictures taken - it prohibits them from actually posing for pictures) and I start snapping away. I LOVE this shot. He looks like he's just exhausted, no? I call this one "Time to get a John Deere"
Then I believe he saw me ..
When I noticed that he was looking at me I ran as tho my life depended on it. I'm still not quite sure why.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Dunkin' Donuts to pick up some breakfast for the next morning. Jack simply could not wait until the next morning to indulge:
Then it was time for jammies - are these not the best jammies EVER?
And that brought train-a-polooza day one to a close. Now I must go watch Grey's Anatomy. In about an hour I'll be sobbing like a baby and wishing I never pressed play on the TiVo. Just a typical Thursday night. Damn that Grey's Anatomy!
To be continued .....
So last weekend Mike and I made a last minute decision to take a little road trip. The weather was shaping up to be amazing and we were itching to hit the open road for an adventure. In the past we had heard a lot about the Lancaster/Strasburg Pennsylvania area and the array of railroad themed attractions they have there. What better location to take our little trainaholic? So we booked a hotel for two nights and off we went. (How cool are we? You totally wish we were your parents don't you?) Little did I know that we would get a big 'ol bonus in the form of some quilt making, technology shunning, horse and buggy driving folk called the AMISH! Oh my goodness people I am OB-SESSED. I love their little suspenders and bonnets. I am curious about the hair buns that the women wear because they are never ever permitted to cut their super long hair (does that mean no highlights either?!). I am amazed by the fact that they use no electricity what-so-ever (how do they dry that super long hair!?). I had heard of the Amish before, of course, but this was my first time seeing them live and in person and I'm telling you I could simply stare at them ALL.DAY.LONG. But not in an animal-in-the-zoo kind of way. More of a wonder and amazement kind of way. That's not at all inappropriate, right? I want to start a little vegetable farm in my backyard and hire an Amish family to tend to it for me. They will have names like Samuel and Rebecca and after a long day of work I will return home in the evening to find Rebecca leaving a fresh loaf of bread on our porch. A loaf that she spent the afternoon baking from scratch in the little barn house they built for themselves out back. Oh the Amish. I Love them. LOVE.THEM! Would want to BE them if they were allowed to go to Starbucks for Grande Skim Mochas. If loving the Amish is wrong I don't wanna be right!
(It's a bit out of control, no? Pretty sure I'm starting to scare Mike.)
So the first stop on our train-a-pooloza tour was the "Choo Choo Barn". Their website boasts "you've never seen anything like it!" and they definitely got that right. The attraction consisted of the biggest train layout you have EVER seen which was basically a replica of Lancaster. Not the best shot - but this kind of gives you an idea of the size of this thing:
There was a ski resort:
A wedding chapel (and what luck - there was a wedding taking place while we were there!):
There was a parade going down Main Street:
An aquarium (Yes those are real live fish in there! Crazy!)
This guy got so totally busted:
There was a barn raising (and they are AMISH! Be still my beating heart!)
And an old fashioned town baseball game - altho they sold no peanuts nor Cracker Jacks.
All seemed well and good at this ski chalet-esque house ...
but then...
FIRE!!!!!
Smoke actually came out of the hole in the roof!
Lucky for them the fire station was located right next door.
So the firemen drive to the house, then get out and unload the fire hose ..
They rescue the residents ...
Is it me can you see that rescued girl's skivvies!?
They climb the ladder ...
And then put out the fake fire with ACTUAL WATER!
Never seen anything like that, have you? Their website was RIGHT!
Jack was allowed to pick out a little something from the Choo Choo Barn gift shop. You're figuring he picked a train, right? Wrong.
Tractor, train, what's the diff!?
As we were perusing the gift shop Mike glances out the window and says "Oh look - an Amish farmer!" And I'm all what what WHAT?!!?!? I run outside camera in hand (sidenote: The Amish religon does not technically prohibit them from having pictures taken - it prohibits them from actually posing for pictures) and I start snapping away. I LOVE this shot. He looks like he's just exhausted, no? I call this one "Time to get a John Deere"
Then I believe he saw me ..
When I noticed that he was looking at me I ran as tho my life depended on it. I'm still not quite sure why.
On the way back to the hotel we stopped at Dunkin' Donuts to pick up some breakfast for the next morning. Jack simply could not wait until the next morning to indulge:
Then it was time for jammies - are these not the best jammies EVER?
And that brought train-a-polooza day one to a close. Now I must go watch Grey's Anatomy. In about an hour I'll be sobbing like a baby and wishing I never pressed play on the TiVo. Just a typical Thursday night. Damn that Grey's Anatomy!
To be continued .....
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