What is THIS!?

Just a reminder that Jim has an awesome blog too. Check out his post from last night and see more about this photo!

Love ♥ Love ♥ Love

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my good readers. This past week was filled with so much love from my family! Arron & Amy visited for a few days and we had a nice lunch with the grandparents before they had to go back to the city. Dad gave everyone vintage Valentines at the lunch table that warmed our hearts.

The winter temperatures also moderated to allow some much needed warmth and a bit of a thaw. This made the trip to NYC and back much less hazardous than traveling in the ice and snow.

Amy & Arron treated us to a lovely meal while we were in the city. We went to Hummus Kitchen and shared many tasty Mediterranean delights from their sample platters. The olives, beets, green tahini and tabouli all made beautiful samples on what looked like a paint palette of food!

We came back home last night to a house full of rambunctious cats. The boys wrestled all night in what I imagined to be blame battles over who did what to make Arron and Amy leave. I could just imagine Birbanto yelling at Miles, "You just had to smother Amy with love and she decided not to return." and then Miles would counter, "No, it was you that kissed her so hard that you almost chipped her tooth. You were also biting 'Earl'... I think maybe you tore Amy's contact lens too!!" *wrestle* *slam* *jet*

There were hunks of cat fur everywhere this morning but all was forgiven as they looked outside at everything the warm wind was blowing by. Their mock battles are fought for, over and out of love, best friends forever.

A Warm Spot in Winter

Ice be Gone!

The Spirit of Barney Nichols

During the 70's living on South Wayne Street we had one of those neighborhood guys who always showed up when my Dad was working on an outdoor project. Barney Nichols wasn't one to lend a hand but the sound of tools or maybe the sweat of elbow grease brought out his supervisory instincts.

We have a cat who is possessed by the spirit of Barney Nichols. Miles comes running when he hears the whine of our small saw or drill knowing that there is a construction project that he must oversee. One time we took out front door off it's hinges to add a sweep to the bottom. The other 2 cats flipped out, ran and hid, while Miles had his nose up to every tool we were using.


Today some of the deck screws that held our top porch step finally rusted to the point of letting loose and Jim had to get busy with repairs. Miles was beside himself that he couldn't see what was going on so I pulled up the giant cat scratching "condo" to watch out the front door.

Sometimes Miles will hear construction vehicles banging in the development near ours and he will give a low growl. I am starting to re-think the idea that he is afraid of them. Maybe he is just frustrated he can't go supervise.

With Miles and the spirit of Barney in mind I will round out this post with Jerry Seinfeld's opening dialog to the episode, Male Unbonding.

Most men like working on things, tools, objects, fixing things. This is what men enjoy doing. Have you ever noticed a guy's out in his driveway working on something with tools, how all the other men in the neighborhood are magnetically drawn to this activity. 

They just come wandering out of the house like zombies. Men, it's true, men hear a drill, it's like a dog whistle. Just.. you know, they go running up to that living room curtain, "Honey, I think Jim's working on something over there." 

So they run over to the guy. Now they don't actually help the guy. No, they just want to hang around the area where work is being done. That's what men want to do. We want to watch the guy, we want to talk to him, we want to ask him dumb questions. 

You know, "What are you using, the Philips head?" You know, we feel involved. 

That's why when they have construction sites, they have to have those wood panel fences around it, that's just to keep the men out. They cut those little holes for us so we can see what the hell is going on. But if they don't cut those holes - we are climbing those fences. Right over there. "What are you using the steel girders down there? Yeah, that'll hold."

Irish Vegetable Soup

7 Squared Celebration continued

Chocolate Sunshine & Chocolate Mousstachio Cupcakes!

Dressed for fun!

Veggie Chili!

The Capitol Steps @ the State Theater.

7 Squared Celebration

Jim's birthday weekend!

Yet another failed attempt to travel to Pittsburgh. We have been trying for almost a year now.

Jim reading of exciting local options. The snow made us stay very local.

Mooch was playing "face" with Jim and got hungry.

Zola started off our weekend, Friday after work.  Just a snack and a sip as we watch posturing professors and suck-up students.

Friday supper was a bit of Thai food at Cozy Thai Bistro.

The winter storm was in full swing Saturday but that did keep us from a light lunch at Otto's.

Our favorite waitress and fellow distance runner, Lynda.

Starting with a 10oz Apricot Wheat - Jim's brew of choice. Happy Birthday, Jim!!

Butternut Squash soup and a pretzel!

Shopping for supper at the Wegman's Olive Bar! Some of them are kind of obscene looking!

Not tappas, but a fine little spread for a couple who didn't like what was on the menu at any local Middle-eastern restaurant in the area.

Our Mediterranean meal. Miles liked the tzatziki!

Time to curl up and watch a movie. Birbanto's latest favorite thing to do, sit with his "Frank."

Bellefonte Road Runners

We did a run with a group tonight to see the holiday lights in Bellefonte. Folks dressed up and we wore jingle bells on our shoes.


We ran over 5 miles through Bellefonte with many of the high school cross country team. The streets were dark but the Victorian houses were lovely. I cannot image how they can afford the electricity to decorate those large places with holiday lights.


After about 2 miles many of the younger folks cut back to the school for cookies and hot chocolate and probably to get warm since they had taken off their shirts. We continued on for another 3 or so and enjoyed another less Victorian but decorated residential area.

It was a fun way to start the longest night of the year.

Thoughts from the Road - #1211

Back Tracking

The run down near Benner Springs on Thursday sounded so enjoyable that Jimmy the Eye chose that location for our run this morning. The morning was again a crisp 17° but instead of a crystal clear sky a persistent glowing haze and contrail tracks muted the sun's rays a bit.

We parked at the commuter lot at the top of the hill and carefully started down the, now maintained, steep road. I could see the road could easily be icy so we kept a careful pace. When we reached the bottom there were about 4 cars in the parking area but no one was around. Jimmy joked that because the gates were open and the hours allowed they were probably taking advantage of the visiting hours at the fish hatchery.

We chose to run on the trail the whole way to the no trespassing area. What a difference a couple of days made on this trail, there were tracks of all kinds! The first thing we noticed were something like sled tracks in and out. Sadly, with a trail of blood drops, we pieced together that it was a carcass of an animal that had been shot and dragged out by hunters. A gut pile, somewhat off trail, soon confirmed that.

What is sad and gross to some made for an amazing morning buffet for others! Jimmy was actually able to determine the location of the pile well before we reached it because it had drawn the attention of crows, ravens and 2 bald eagles! Pace calculator be damned, I stopped and took photos of these beauties!

Deer tracks were now all along the trail as well as what looked like bobcat and a bear! I saw them on the way out, made Jimmy the Eye come back as we jogged back and forth and I showed him again and again the super large pads along the trail. On the way back I stopped for a photo of one of the best with my hand for scale. Such an awesome print in the snow, leathery pad wrinkles and all.

Even the shoulders going up the hill had a lot more signed of animal life. I saw a lot of deer tracks and again some very large cat-like tracks. They were all welcome distractions and my lead legs took their time. A car needed to pass us and we went single file to make room, Jimmy the Eye took the lead. Zoom! Up that hill he went and I can't blame him, why prolong it when you can open up your stride.

Back at the car we stretched out and looked at our photos. We were both so pleased to have back tracked to get them and share them on this blog.

Group Hug!

The men in this household need to stick together.

Scary Seven Mountains Wine Cellars

Fricken scary Mrs. Lovette!

Inside Seven Mountains Wine Cellars. A Halloween Party!

Mrs. Lovette serving up some hot meat pies! YOW!

Her customers!

Into the (bat) cave.

Adopted casks making the wine. BatMan over sees when not wasting his time making stupid ass video games.

Pee Wee Herman! He really did his dance! Honestly!

A cockroach in my white wine!

Gomez and Morticia Adams communing at their private table.

The ghoulish couple at the wine tasting station. They loved the Cab/Sauv.

Poe Paddy Troubadours with guest John Maninno on mouth organ.

Lazy Samhain Sunday

Three cats snooze as their "Frank" enjoys Dr. Sacks' new book on a lazy Halloween afternoon.

"Millie" interrupted with the flashing-clicker-box. "Maybe she will give us treats!"

Elk Creek Cafe