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These past couple of days... were spent going down (and back) to Hawley,  PA... where one of my mother's cousins lives. She is a wonderful lady... who is in her late 80's... but she is still as vibrant and alive as ever. I always loved "Aunt Flossie"... and we had a marvelous time catching up with her.

Of course, what we were told would be a 4-5 hour drive... took us 6... I guess I am slow.
But... we did stop quite a few times to gaze at the gorgeous autumn scenery... grab a cup of coffee and such. We also stopped at a very cool antique shop and wandered for a bit. Everything was very affordable... and there were so many treasures... that I just couldn't decide which trinket to bring home. In the end... we bought a couple fabulous old postcards for me... and some Currier and Ives type plates for my mother... and a gorgeous little mug for my daughter ... and a few more little things.

We drove up and down hills... thru farmland... thru quaint towns... past rivers, lakes and gorgeous views. We saw old Gothic steeple churches... diners made from old railway cars... fabulous (and humongous) Victorian, Gothic and Colonial homes.... and so much more.

We stayed overnight at a kitchy-kool motel ... "The Pocono Pines"... run by Claire Huber and his wife Sheila... right near Lake Wallenpaupack... in the heart of the Pocono Mountains (a traditional area for honeymoons... camping... fishing... and more). I haven't been to the Poconos in decades... and it was just like I remembered... lots of trees... rivers... lakes... and fun.
The lake was gorgeous.

On the way back to my mother's house.. .we stopped at a Krispee Kreme Doughnut Shop ... (she has never had one of their awesome donuts)... and enjoyed some fresh hot glazed beauties. And once we got home... we all made an early exit to dreamland.




...oh... and the daughter and I took just over 800 photos (combined)... which always makes me happy.

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mist... rising from hills
as the rain drizzles on down
chilling my fingers

***

It's raining... again. No, not the song. 
Today was the perfect day for staying in ... reading... visiting... and drinking tea. 
And so we did.

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It's been very hard for me to get on-line here... so my posts may be a bit sporadic. 

I know we've been doing things... because I've been really busy the past couple of days... but I can't pinpoint any one thing that I have been doing... just errands and such.. catching up on the laundry... going to the bank... etc, etc.

The weather has been wonderful... but yes, most all the leaves were already off the trees by the time we got here. Today we went out to Genessee Natural Foods... and we got some wonderful groceries and such. And we had dinner with family... which was nice.
Hopefully, in the next couple of days we will be making some small trips in the area to see more family...
and perhaps to see some more of the scenery :)


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And today it rained. All day. It's been chilly as well... and I am grateful that I thought to bring a sweater.
Unfortunately, I was really worn out today... so the daughter and I decided to stop at a rest stop in Ohio... and I took a nap. When I awoke about an hour or so later... we discovered that I had inadvertently left the lights on in the Jeep... and the battery was dead. 

I was able to get a hold of our insurance company... which offers roadside service to it's 
customers... and in about 40 minutes or so... we were able to get back on the road.
It was reassuring that we had plenty of water, snacks, a blanket and pillow in case of emergencies... should anything have gone really downhill. 

Traveling in PA is always wonderful for me... even when it's raining.
The fall leaves were looking very colorful in places... although quite a few were on the ground.
By early evening, we were at my mother's house... it's good to be back.


the stats:

miles traveled: 300
gas: $48
coffee, food and such: $30
photos taken (both of us combined): 320
roadside service: free

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well... I'm certainly not setting any land-speed records on amount of miles traveled in one day.
However, We got to Ohio... and fall is definitely here.

We spent some time wandering around a particularly gorgeous rest area...
went to a couple Starbucks (and got an ultra cool thermos for my coffee),
 and then we got to the Dayton , OH area... where we used to live many years ago.

We decided on taking a "side-tour" of Yellow Springs, OH... which is 
a fabulous art community near Dayton. It has lots of little funky shops... gorgeous homes... and several wonderful cafes. We saw yarn-bombing... street performers... and ate at a fabulous little place that was a combo of a cafe and grocery store. We found breads I ate when I lived in Germany many years ago... and I got some roasted garlic chicken and had a supper/ feast.
It is also home to Antioch University... so it definitely has a college-town feel to it.

From there... we went slightly out of town to Young's Dairy...
and wandered the pumpkin patch for quite awhile.

And although we didn't travel far (in miles)... we traveled far on the road to relaxation.






so here are the stats:

miles traveled : 270 or so.
gas: $43
coffee, water & a stainless steel thermos: $38
beads and stuff: $45
dinner: $30
hotel: $110
photos taken (both of us combined): 570

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with loving intentions
cast into the river deep
... leave it all behind

( a haiku prayer/ intention said as we drove over the Mississippi river today)

*****


The hotel we stayed in last night was so luxurious... and I slept like a rock.
We both felt a little better today... and started the day with a visit to the Antique Mall in Lebanon, MO. It was wonderful. We made a few thoughtful purchases, then got some cheese and such at the shop next door... and headed on out. 

It rained all day. It was cold (as low as 41 degrees)... windy... overcast... and traffic was slow and a bit sketchy at times. There were alot of construction zones, although no one was actually working as we drove through them... which made them a little less problematic. We made a few stops along the way for hot coffee and such... and enjoyed fresh salad and sandwiches from Subway for dinner. 

We are in for the night... in another really nice hotel... and that bed is looking pretty darn comfy :)
These bottom photos are ones I took in the Antique Mall today...






so... here are the stats for today:

miles traveled: 420
gas: $98
meals/ water/ snacks: $63
trinkets from the antique mall: $48
hotel: $120
photos taken (both of us combined): 200


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It's been sort of a comedy of errors... and a series of odd events... but it's been an interesting day.
We started out alot closer to Tulsa, OK than we thought we were last night... and because we severely over-slept
... we were already "behind" on where we thought we would be. 

That said... we had fun. We had a great breakfast/ lunch at a Waffle House diner... and a great visit with Virginia and the gals that work there. We took lots of stops along the way to take photos... and to enjoy the scenery. After all, that is what traveling is all about, right?

We took an extended tour of Miami, OK... including a nice coffee break... a burger at a 50's diner
... and took lots of photos around the fabulous Coleman Theater (which we went to on a previous trip).
We also went to what we thought was a fabulous Flea Market (there was even a sign that said "Flea Market")... but after an hour of wandering... taking photos... and gathering some things we wanted; we were told that it was an auction... and to put everything back exactly where we had gotten it from... as bids were on entire rows of items per lot. eeps. But it was fun.

Then we drove. And drove. And thought were might be making up a little of the mileage...
only to stop for the night around Lebanon, MO.... having not gone that far at all. 
Upon getting a wonderful room for the night...  I discovered that I had a fever, had gained probably 20 pounds of shear water weight,
and had weeping legs and bruising from all that fluid...
Which perhaps explains my fatigue and distortion of time. Ah well. 
We got a recommendation for a place to eat... and had a great meal at a local steakhouse
... and are now in for the night.






so here are the stats:

miles traveled: 240 (yes I feel inadequate)
gas: $30
breakfast/ snacks/water/ dinner and tips: $60
trinkets from an antique place: $40 
tolls: $6
hotel: $110
photos taken (both of us combined): 625

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...and on day two --- so much to do!

We awoke bright and early (especially for me!)... and had a wonderful breakfast buffet at the Big Texan in Amarillo, TX...
tons of fruit and yummy food... and a wonderful visit with our server, Ruby.
From there we took all kinds of twists and turns before ending for the night near Joplin, MO.

We passed through some really gorgeous scenery... had some truly excellent coffee...
and some awesome stops along the way (a thrift shop, some old silos, fields of golden flowers). 
We even thought up some Haiku... and enjoyed some new music we found along the way.

And even though there were a few complications (allergies, massive swelling, and some "tummy trouble")
... it was ultimately... a truly excellent day.

And now we are in for the night... with our legs propped up :)





today's stats:

miles traveled: 330
meals/ coffee breaks/ snacks and water: $44
music: $15
thrift store finds: $12
supplies from Walgreen's: $34
tolls: $7
gas: $55
a present for moi (a sterling charm that was an indulgence): $28
hotel: $80
photos taken (both of us combined): 270

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well..... the daughter and I are on the road. 

I have done this trip so many times... and yet... the road always offers something new and interesting.
As usual, I did make a short stop in Cuervo, NM (a wonderful ghost town along I-40)... and took more than a few shots of the desert beauty... and a very cool old abandoned building. The light was amazing.

Throughout the drive, we saw alot of gorgeous scenery, and were blessed with an astounding sunset in our rear view mirror. We also saw alot of ravens... and a stunningly handsome huge 6 point buck (alive... and watching the traffic from his spot near some big rock).

For dinner, we stopped at the Big Texan... which is a feast for the eyes... as well as the stomach... with all it's kitch and cowboy wonderfulness... and discovered that we were amongst a huge group from England... who were having lots of fun... and lots of beer :) --  I kept waiting for Dr. Who to come out of a telephone booth somewhere...





and so the totals are:

drove about 300 miles...
spent: $10 on snacks and water, $10 on trinkets and postcards,
 $40 for dinner (for 2), $60 for gas, $80 for a hotel room
photos taken (both of us combined): 400 


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old clapboard siding
window boxes filled with flowers
memories of home

***

I have a picture in my files, from a magazine that says... "I have so much to do... I'm going to bed."
I love it... and really thought it was funny... until today.
I have a small ton of things I shoulda/oughta do before I head out to PA... and what happened?
I slept (a dead man's sleep)... and didn't wake up until supper time. 
Yes, that's right. 
So much for today... which means I REALLY have alot to do tomorrow.
yikes.

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gypsy travelers
on the road to anywhere
sunlight on my face

***


I have learned alot about myself these past couple of years...

I need water like I need the air to breath 
I savor small blessings... like fresh flowers, good coffee, excellent music
I collect all kinds of little trinkets... beads, leaves, rocks, shells, pieces of bone or wood,
and love to incorporate them into talismans and jewelry pieces
I like to write Haiku... and find my daily practice of writing soothes me
and I need to travel. Anywhere and anytime I can.


And so. This coming week I will be leaving on another journey. 
I have a rough sketch of where I will be going... and my daughter and mother will be going along.
Sort of a bonding experience... if you will.

So. Now to get things together and ready for the trip...