Peter Peter pumpkin eater
Had a wife but couldn’t keep her
He put her in a pumpkin shell
And there he kept her very well.
I have no idea what that silly Mother Goose rhyme means. But it’s stuck in my head because after being away all weekend, Rich has declared himself to be a “Shanda-Keeper”.
I’m BACK in my pumpkin shell.
Oh yeah, you probably didn’t even know I was gone. Yup. I left Friday afternoon and drove about an hour and a half away to meet my aunt and friend COLLEEN at a hotel near Albany, NY.
We had a great weekend of talking, laughing, antiquing, etc. It was a nice little adventure!
(It’s just ridiculous that I’m up this late, blogging, but Rich is actually in the basement. He’s painting the floor with Jacob and Ethan. They are quite industrious and are determined to follow through with their plan of getting it done THIS WEEKEND. So, since Rich is busy, I thought I would sit here and post some pictures of my weekend and then go to bed.)
We went to lots of antique stores.
We had a nice chuckle over this quaint old book, written for SPINSTERS. Copyright 1901
Here is a picture of the table of contents, it sounded pretty interesting ~ I wish I had been able to read it!
A jolly yo-yo quilt~
~for my son, Jacob:
Thanks to Colleen’s navigation system we confidently (for the most part) drove around the back country roads to our destinations ~ more and more antique stores and a lunch at a diner. However, we did take time to stop and enjoy God’s creation along the way as well. Saturday was a bright sunny day and NYS was vibrant with great GREEN-NESS and rolling pastures. We saw some very lovely farms, it’s a wonder we stayed on the road, we were looking out the windows so much.
We stopped the car and got out at a creek~
and noticed the wildflowers~
Another thing we did while we were away, was indulge in new hair-cuts!
All in all, a very nice time had by all. All 2 of us. And we only talked about our children about 85% of the time!! Not bad for two very devoted mommies with a combined total of nine children.
I got back this afternoon and it was so good to hug my family members again~especially my dear husband.
I’m glad that he cheerfully lets me go off on little outings. (and thanks, Uncle Roger, for letting Colleen go away for the weekend, you are such a good sport and great Dad to your 4 little “superhero” girls.)
I have a couple more “get-togethers with long-distance friends” planned for this summer. My friend Christie and I are going to try to meet up someplace, and Joanna and I want to get together again this fall, like we did last year. I hope I get to see them both. It’s very nice to have things to look forward to. Spending time with friends is a MUST for me.
Thank you, God, for my friends and my family. . .but most of all for your goodness and grace to me each day.
“And now I lay me down to sleep. . . . .”
Good night, all.
Good to be Home 
What a lovely trip!!! It is so good to get out and spend TIME… and giggles and laughs and memories… with good freinds
p.s. that book DOES look interesting!!!
I’m glad you got a chance to get away. Your haircut looks so cute, sorry I didn’t get a chance to tell you that tonight. I hope you have a good night, and I’ll talk to you soon.
Oh that is so neat! Makes me want to do a getaway too…..
Ooooo ~ I wanna go in that antique store!
Oh I’d love to go antiquing! I actually almost went this weekend but….not yet…I need to get away with a friend too….good thing to remember to make time for.
Oh yes,we do need to recharge from time to time.
How NICE to get away for the weekend. Gives you “recharge” time! And makes seeing them all again just more lovely~ doesn’t it?Glad it was wonderful.
Sounds like my kind of weekend!! Glad you all/both had a good time. That book looks fascinating, I’m wondering why you didn’t get it. Of course your not a spinster and all but still…. Also, thanks for your sweet comment.
It is nice to get away. It makes coming home so special. You feel refreshed and renewed.
yeah for getting away! I have mine coming up next weekend! Can’t wait! ;)Friend time for sure… our anniversary~ ;)sounds like a lovely time — I do believe if you like antiques you would enjoy a place I did a photo shoot in this past weekend ~ Gruene TX. ~ though I do imagine NY has some wonders to look ~ – what a great old book! Spinsters of that day I would think would be much younger than the gals today — as it seems that women did marry younger… I wonder at what age you were deemed a spinster in 1901?blessings on your week~ !
Oh, what fun you had! I miss driving on back roads- although all the roads in Alaska have beautiful scenery (at least the ones I’ve been on). Your hair is very cute! We are taking off on Tuesday for our first camping trip of the year. We will be gone for a week and half at least. I can’t wait!!
Wow, those antique stores are amazing. . .it’s just how I picture New England actually. I have never been to NE but so want to go visit someday. My husband studied Russian in Vermont for a short time years ago, and he tells me how beautiful and lovely it is there. His family lives in W. NYS and it’s gorgeous out there too. . .lots of rolling hills and Amish communities. I LOVE that book for Spinsters. . .what a classic.
Girlfriend time is a must for me too. . .I got to go to the beach with my sister and two dear college friends last November to celebrate my birthday. . .it was a little slice of heaven. I have lived a lot of places, so keeping up with friends is a challenge, but well worth the effort.
How hilarious is that book? I’d love to flip through it. I’m glad you get to have sweet times with your girlfriends. Sounds like you’ve answered the older lady question with this post! 🙂 Just plan to do it and do it!
My feelings are hurt that I wasn’t invited on this lovely trip!!! (LOL) I want to go to that antique store- it looks absolutely beautiful and fun!!!!
The scenery is gorgeous too! Have a beautiful week…and take lots of pictures!!! 🙂
Ha Ha, I’d like to read that book too. I must say I got a chuckle from the sign in the first photo….all of the lettering except two Ls were done in capital letters. Good shots.
Well I hope he lets you out of your pumkin shell again sometime…LOL
I loved our adventures… I already told Elisha that she needs to come next time. Thanks for all the fun! Love you a bunch – my niece and friend.
What a fun, relaxing getaway weekend! I love the shot of the antique store, and driving the back roads is always fun.
OH, what fun!!!!! and I have to tell you…I LOVE THE NEW HAIRCUT! ADORABLE!!!
Oh, what a GREAT time!!! And the things you found – that quilt is so cool, and the “spinster” book is hilarious! I don’t know that I could have resisted either! It looks like you had gorgeous weather, too, and I can imagine you were so refreshed returning home. YAY!
A girls weekend! How fun! I’m glad you had a good trip.
I am going to start going to antique stores-they look really neat!
I did notice you were gone! I’m glad you had such a great time away like that. How nice of your husband to keep the kids like that. We just got a navigation system and it has been wonderful to get around in our new area.
Looks wonderful and we all need a weekend just with a special friend. Going to antique stores and lunch sounds like a relaxing and fun time. Your haircut is adorable. Glad you had a safe trip and are now back home with your family.
What fun!!! I love the new haircut and it’s perfect for summer! Thank God for friends.
I so enjoyed your “Lovely Things” post and this time with your friend continues the theme!I do like you hair cut, it make you look young and fresh as Springtime
CIRCLE OF FRIENDSWhen I was little,I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,and then I started to become a woman.And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,You will be shown the best, in many friends.One friend is needed when you’re going through things with yourpartner.Another friend is needed when you’re going through things with yourparents.Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in yourchildren and their activities.Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.One friend will say, ‘Let’s cry together,’another, ‘Let’s fight together,’another, ‘Let’s walk away together.’One friend will meet your spiritual need,another your shoe fetish,another will be with you in your season of confusion,another will be your clarifier,another the wind beneath your wings.But whatever their assignment in your life,on whatever the occasion,on whatever the day,or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hairpulled back,or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself …..those are your best friends.It may all be wrapped up in one woman,but for many, it’s wrapped up in several…one from 6th grade,one from high school,some from the college years,a couple from old jobs,on some days your mother,on some days your neighbor,on others, your sisters, cousins,and on some days, your daughters.
LOL… I chuckled about the “Shanda-keeper”. My 3 yo daughter asked me what was so funny (she asks this a thousand times a day), so I pointed to your picture and said that your husband called himself a Shanda-keeper. Of course, I didn’t expect her to understand or even care. But now she’s going around saying, “I’m a Shanda-keeper.”
Love your new do. Beautiful.
I’m so glad you had a great time! I like the new hair cuts and the photo’s from your trip! I hope you’re having a great week! Love, lish
It is good to be home AGAIN and catch up on your site. I loved your visit to the antique shop.
I have often wondered how old one had to be to be a considered a spinster. That book would have been fun to have around for sparking interesting conversation.I am so happy that you could be refreshed with the companionship of a good friend and a respite from the somewhat daunting yet rewarding task of motherhood. Your haircut is nice and perfect for summer.
The haircut looks so good on you! I can’t tell, it looks like you did end up cutting your bangs or are you still growing them? Everything you did sounded like the perfect, most wonderful, trip away with a girlfriend.
I do hope we can get together Shanda Banda, last year was a highlight for me!!!