Philadelphia Flower Show III

The Flower Show theme changes every year. If you ever get a chance to attend, I think you will love it.

Philadelphia Flower Show II

More photos from the flower show....

One company did an unbelievable job depicting the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. All of the names of the soldiers who were killed aboard the Arizona were listed.  I noticed that several elderly men, wearing their military caps, spent a long time silently starring at this display. I still remember my Father saying that when he heard about the horrific attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the Navy.  In the midst of such frivolity, it was a sobering reminder of the cost of freedom.

Philadelphia Flower Show

One of the reasons we chose to visit Philadelphia was the Philadelphia Flower Show.

I had heard that the flower show was amazing and it truly is. This year's theme was Hawaii.

The Convention Center was overflowing with orchids and other exotics.

If you like flowers, you should definitely visit the flower show.

Philadelphia

As Jeff drove down to Philadelphia, I reviewed the AAA tour book and thought, "Wow! There are a lot of places to visit."

We were in Philly a few years ago and had visited the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. I wanted to visit someplace we would not typically go. When I saw that the Masonic Temple offered tours, I knew that would be a stop on our list.

The Masonic Temple ,which was built in 1867, is huge. There are seven different  halls, each with its own architectural style (ex:Egyptian, Renaissance).  The furniture is beautifully carved by master craftsman.

The large stained glass window was gorgeous.

The massive marble cantilevered staircase, with no vertical supports, was amazing.

I did not realize that 14 US Presidents were Freemasons. I was glad that we took the one hour tour and  learned about the Freemason.

National Constitution Center

While in Philadelphia, we made our first visit to the Constitution Center. The Center is dedicated to teaching people about the Constitution. There is a wonderful live presentation, Freedom Rising, which really makes you think about how unique the Constitution is and how brilliant the men who created it were.

In Signer's Hall, there is a status of each man who was a delegate at the Constitutional Convention.

We also attended a special exhibit on Bruce Springsteen. Seeing Springsteen's hand written lyrics and worn guitars made me marvel at the talent he has a both a singer and song writer.

I Want To Go Too

Otis hopes that if he can fit into our suitcase, he can go on vacation with us.

Spring is on the way!

If you look closely, you will see that the daffodils and crocus are starting to grow.

Cheesecake Factory

I have always wanted to eat at the Cheesecake Factory, even though  I know this eatery often tops the list of "unhealthy" restaurants.  I figure that any place which sells 30+ kinds of cheesecake, must be good.

The Cheesecake Factory recently opened at the Danbury Fair Mall. With our nieces visiting for a few days, I thought a day of shopping and lunch would be fun. After 3 hours of prom dress shopping, we were tired and wanted a break.

We headed to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. While we waited to be seated, I ogled  their display case full of sinful cakes. We ordered lunch and I was surprised at the large size portions which were placed in front of us.

When it came time for dessert, we each ordered a different type of cake, lemon raspberry cheesecake, white chocolate blueberry cheesecake, chocolate raspberry cheesecake and chocolate fudge cake topped with fresh whipped cream. The slices of cake were so large, that none of us could finish them.

As we left the restaurant, I commented that after all those calories, it was a good thing we had spent so much time walking the mall. After another 2 hours of shopping, I no longer felt any guilt over eating such a decadent meal.

50 lbs

The warm winter resulted in our new mallard pair coming to visit us several days a week. I was running low on corn and called the local Agway to see if they sold feed.

I asked if Agway sold duck food and was surprised to hear that yes, they sold duck/turkey food in 50 lb bags. We don't have many turkeys, so I wasn't sure this was the best idea.

We got to Agway and picked up a 25 lb bag of Feathered Friend cracked corn. The girl at the counter said, you know that you can buy 50lbs of generic corn for $4 LESS. Double the amount for less money, I said ok, we'll take the larger quantity.

I did not realize how big a 50 lb bag of corn was, until it was carried out and placed in the trunk.

All I can say is I hope the ducks decide to spend ALL summer with us. If not, the deer and squirrels will get a treat.

Waiting for Dad

Jeff spent the day out with friends. Otis watched him drive off. Otis then waited all day by the front door for his return.

Lots of Lilies

Can't wait to all these buds open!

Sunbeams

Cooper always finds the sunniest spot in the house. I often find him stretched out, sleeping as the sun warms him.

Even after all this time, Coop is still fascinated by lights and shadows.

Happy Valentine's Day

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day! 

Don't forget to wear red today.

Dying

The flower on my amaryllis is withering. I am not sure why this is happening. Perhaps it is due to the fact that the flower had started to grow when the bulb was still in the box.

Jeff says, what can you expect from a 50% off Walmart sale? Still, I am disappointed.

More Snow ?

When I turned on the news on Thurs, the weatherman was predicting 5 inches of snow on Saturday. When I went to bed on Friday night the forecast had been revised for 3 inches of snow.

When I woke up this morning, I expected to see the ground covered in white. As you can see, we have only received a dusting. Cooper is thrilled to have fresh snow to graze on when we walk.

Memories of Maddy

It was 5:30 pm and starting to get dark outside. As I returned home, from walking Cooper and Otis, I saw something by the edge of the pond. As I got closer, I realized that the mallard pair was back for a visit. I brought the dogs inside and scooped up some corn.

As I started towards the pond, the female ran towards me, quacking loudly. When I was within arms reach, she raced back to the edge of the water. As I threw the corn to the ducks, I wondered, could this be Maddy and Paddy ?

I then realized that we have not seen Maddy and Paddy since Danny died, which is almost 4 years ago. I doubt that a wild duck could survive that long. In any case, I smiled at the memory of our super-friendly ducks and our special Golden boy.

Another One Saved

Three cheers to our LI family for rescuing a Doberman!

Brook (short for Brooklyn) lost her home, when the house she lived in caught fire. The local shelter has a 2 day grace period. Any dog not adopted in 48 hours is euthanized.

A small breed rescue stepped in to help this sweet girl, but could not keep such a big dog for long. Our LI family heard of Brook's plight and decided to adopt her.

Tick Season

It seems that all this warm weather means an early tick season.

We have seen several ticks on Otis and Cooper already. Usually we do not have to worry about ticks until March.

Feeling Better

Cooper is feeling better. He is still a little stiff when he gets up, but he walks without limping.

We have stopped his pain medication. Otis wants to tussle with Coop, but I try to make sure they are playing nice.

A bit bigger

The leaves on the amaryllis continue to grow, but the flower is still the same size.