We arrived about 5pm, after driving 10 hours. Sleeping quarters were chosen, fans placed strategically, then Pizza Joe's take-out was ordered for supper--Jason, the owner of Pizza Joe's, is a cousin:)
Tuesday morning 9 of us biked along the 7 mile trail that curls around part of Lake Arthur. Everybody but Keith, Kristen, & I, doubled back to the trial head---but too hot & hilly for the 3 of us:)!! A great path for walking & for bikers in better shape than Keith & me, especially in cooler weather!! I will admit the 3 of us had ice cream while waiting for Cameron to rescue us--perfect after a hot, muggy ride:)
Later in the afternoon a group of us rented a pontoon boat to cruise around Lake Arthur. Korey, the 11 month old great nephew, seemed to really enjoy it:)
By dusk it had cooled down enough to have a bonfire--the only night of the week that felt a bit chilly.
On the Fourth, Wednesday, everybody enjoyed a relaxing morning, then before noon we headed to Aunt Bibby's & Uncle Ray's house for the Brown family Reunion. Jeannie made a Mexican dip & I brought peaches--I had originally wanted to bake two peach cobblers, but simply didn't bring the ingredients to make them:( Not sure what Nancy took, but we had plenty of food:)
Seth & Kelley, who left N.C. Tuesday evening, pulled into the Stoner's driveway just as we did, so it was good to see them, plus their Westie Three-Three (see photo below):)
Below is a photo of Kendall & Aunt Dee (who has been quite ill), with Uncle Denny visiting at the picnic. The Wisconisn crew all wore red Wisconsin T-shirts for the Fourth! The Pa. & N.C. crews were jealous that we didn't think of doing the same thing:)! BTW, Aunt Nancy brought Fourth of July decorations for our lodge, even red, white, & blue lights!:) She's so crafty:)
The second photo is of Mom & Dale Stoner, Keith's cousin:) Warm, warm weather settled in as the day wore on.
At the lodge fifteen fans were running all the time.
In the evening some of us drove over to see the Butler County fireworks from Aunt Nancy's cousin's lawn. Reminded Keith & me of my small town's fireworks in Aberdeen, NC. Mom & Seth & Kelley watched fireworks on tv at the lodge, & some of the Pa. crew drove down to Pittsburgh to see the big city's display:)
Thursday: Nine of us decided to go to the Sandy Creek 'Rails To Trails' bike trail about an hour away from our Moraine State Park area. Below's photo includes Keith, Uncle Denny, Seth, & Cameron. We piled into Uncle Denny's pretty red truck, Cameron's Subaru, & Uncle Ken's Honda, & left by 9am. The forecast didn't sound good--hot & getting hotter.
The second photo is of Seth, Kendall, & Scotty, all checking out Seth's bike after he took a header over his handlebars:(! Kelley was his only eye-witness--they were in the lead:) The trail traveled through a tunnel & over a number of bridges & was partly shady--a neat trek:) We biked about 10 miles, then packed up to return to the lodge before the temperature soared.
Thursday afternoon some of the group went swimming at Lake Arthur:) Others read or played games on the computer, or napped, etc. At 4:30 a group loaded up two cars to go to see a Pirates' game in Pittsburgh. I was the only one from my crowd to go. We had seats in the upper section, gulp, but what a spectacular view of the Pittsburgh skyline!! After acclimating to the height, I really enjoyed the game! Must say though, the weather was styfling hot!! Whew! I didn't want to move:( No breeze. Arg. Still, glad we went:) And the Pirates won their 4th game in a row, a clean sweep:) Then back to our toasty lodge. And the hum of fans continued:)
Friday: After another warm night, a few of us decided to hike from McConnell's Mill to Erkert Bridge & back. Sounded good to me, since I knew it would be shady:) Uncle Denny, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Ken, Nick, Beth, & I struck out from the Mill. It was beautiful & covered by a canopy of trees, plus quite rocky. Aunt Nancy found a walking stick for me, which helped enormously:) We needed to be done before the mid-day heat so we kept up a good pace.
The afternoon back at the lodge was spent trying to stay cool. Fans blowing, osculating. Some went swimming. Others visited & took a nap. In the evening a group went to Rosepoint to play miniature golf & get ice cream:) Mom decided to go along. Cameron & I visited with her & ate our ice cream while the others played. I'd been craving ice cream, so it really hit the spot:)
In the late afternoon Kendall, Kristen, & Korey packed up then left to visit Kendall's grandparents that evening before leaving for Wisconsin Saturday. Seth & Kelley decided to 'give up on trying to stick out the heat wave' & go home Saturday. They planned to rent a boat & scout out the lake Saturday morning before leaving.
Saturday: Seth & Kelley & Three, Nick, & Beth toured Lake Arthur together, early. Before lunch Seth & Kelley, plus Three, departed for N.C. & home, to 100 degree weather but WITH AC:)! I considered going with them! The fans turned, ran, continued on..... Before lunch Uncle Ken, Uncle Denny, & Scotty played disc golf. Oh my, they were a hot, tired bunch when they returned!
Earlier Mom informed us she was ready to go home (to her apartment in Pittsburgh), so the rest of us, except Cameron, Molly, & Beth, planned a trip to the Pittsburgh Museum of Art & the History Museum, (adjacant to one another) after dropping her off & saying our goodbyes:)!
With temps in the high 90's, we looked forward to spending the afternoon in AC! Cameron & Molly would join us for dinner afterward. It was a lovely afternoon! Keith & the nephews split off to see the History Museum, while Aunt Jeannie, Uncle Ken, Uncle Denny, & Pete joined me in the Art Museum section. The Art Museum was featuring a special Impressionist Exhibit & it was fabulous! I soaked it in--glorious art & AC!! Pictured below is one of the entrances to the Museums.
We congregated at Red Robin in Cranberry after leaving the Museums. It was a fun afternoon & evening together:) After our meal Nick left & returned to his Pittsburgh apartment, Pete to his Pittsburgh apartment as well. Beth had slipped out earlier to care for her neighbor's plants & flowers in Beaver Falls. Gradually the family was departing. The rest of us headed back to the hot lodge & our fans.
Cameron, Keith, & I made plans to leave early Sunday morning.
Sunday: At 6am the Subaru was packed, bikes loaded on, & the three of us left the lovely woods of Pa. Sad to say goodbye to Uncle Ken, Aunt Jean, & Aunt Nancy, all who were up early to give us a goodbye hug:)
Summary: All togther we had 19 McFarlands & Carsons, from Wisconsin, Pa., Tenn., & N.C. Our Skye girl was the only one that didn't make it this year:( We missed her.
Some came & went. Others stayed the entire time.
Uncle Ken & Aunt Jean were willing to sleep in a tent the entire week!
Aunt Nancy came & went, as she looked after her mom & dad throughout the week, plus caring for us:)
Aunt Jean & Uncle Ken took Mom to the dentist & to visit her cousin Lillian & planned out a tentative schedule.
Aunt Jean & Aunt Nancy bought all the food!
Aunt Nancy found the lodge, negotiated with the owner, & figured out the best week to go.
And record setting hot weather decided to join us--a very unwelcome guest:(!!
Still, the fun of being together wasn't dampened:)
Blessings to our wonderful McFarland family:) Thank goodness for our "scores of fans":)
Photos: The clan trying not to expend any energy, & last but not least, some of the cousins at Red Robin--Pete, Bryce, Scotty, & Nick:)
2 comments:
This is what great memories are made of! I am sure everyone will remember the summer of the fans! It is so great that you have such a great sense of adventure and family willing to endure!
This is what great memories are made of! I am sure everyone will remember the summer of the fans! It is so great that you have such a great sense of adventure and family willing to endure!
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