Sunday, November 15

After seeing our granddaughter Diana’s Facebook entry introducing Ralph (puppy) to her readers, I told her that I would love to meet him.

He is a Rottweiler (I think I got that right) and a gift from her handsome boyfriend Donovan.

We were delighted that they brought him to see us.

Later in the evening we went to Checkers Bistro in Lancaster to meet our daughter Deb and son-in-law Roy for her belated birthday supper.

Lancaster is a great meeting place for us as we live about half an hour north of Lancaster and they live half an hour south of Lancaster.

We were a bit early so I took a few pictures in the foyer.

Cerwin was trying to remember what this building was when he was a young boy, then when he saw these on the wall, he asked the host if this used to be a forge. He said, “Yes”, and showed us a book with a bit of the history.

There is also some history on the Internet: http://www.championfancorp.com/aboutus

The origins of Champion Blower & Forge date from a day in 1874 when Henry B. Keiper, then a 16 year old driving a furniture wagon, watched a blacksmith shoe one of his horses. Keiper realized that a rotary blower would relieve the blacksmith from pumping the bellows to fan the fire in the forge.Champion Blower & Forge Co. was founded in Lancaster, PA in 1875 by Keiper. Along with blacksmith forges and rotary blowers, Champion Blower & Forge Co. manufactured tire benders and tire shrinkers. In the early 1900’s the company started manufacturing centrifugal fans, drill presses, and power hacksaws… (more on the website if you’re interested)

Before long Roy and Deb arrived and we were ushered to our table. We were early, so the tables were still empty. By the time we left, most tables were filled.

This is what happened when I took a picture of this table without a flash. I like what happened to the candles. 🙂

The menu

What fun to spend the evening with Deb and Roy.

Cerwin and Deb got steak

Roy’s chicken

My fish du jour. If I remember correctly is was swordfish. Yummy!

The side was carrots.

Cerwin’s dessert

Deb’s cream puffs and ice cream

Roy got vanilla ice cream and a cookie.

You guessed it. I got my usual crème brulee.

~~~

When we finished and said our goodbyes, we went to the train station to pick up our grandson Josiah. He went to Maine and back via train for a friend’s wedding, but left his pickup truck keys in Maine. A friend (in a car) brought them along back to Pennsylvania, and arrived at our house later in the evening. Cerwin took Josiah back to the train station, and he was on his way home – about an hour north of us.

That was a full, fun day.

Love our family.