Xanga

Be tenderhearted

and

Keep a humble attitude.

1 Peter 3:8 (New Living Translation)

Happy Birthday

To Our Favorite Elizabeth

We Love You!

Grandpa & Grandma

Cameron Estates

With Roy & Deb

Part 1 – The Meal

I posted a few pictures right after this evening in June – and promised you more.

If  you are interested in the history of this estate, click here.

In short, The grand 1805 mansion was built by President McKinley’s great-great grandfather and was the rural retreat of Simon Cameron and his descendants. The Camerons were one of the most influential families of the Civil War and Victorian America. The Mansion has held lavish parties for visiting dignitaries and Republican governors in Pennsylvania and was converted to an Inn in 1981.

We entered through the brick verandah.

A view of the verandah from our table.

The setting of our table was delightful and peaceful with a beautiful view of the grounds.

Roy was the only one to order an appetizer – of which we all tasted. It had the texture of Pennsylvania Dutch Scrapple.

Crab Pon Haus
A twist on a Pennsylvania Classic Made of Crab, Buckwheat and Cornmeal served with Dilled Cucumber-Onion Aioli and Roasted Corn Compote

My iced tea.

Each of us chose this special as our meal.

This tomato soup was delicious. I think I said, “Oh, yum” with every spoonful.

Our salad was a mix of greens, tomatoes, pine nuts and goat cheese.

Petit Filet and Crab Cake

Deb’s choice

Grilled 5oz Filet of Beef Topped with Roasted Shallot-bourbon Butter and Accompanied by Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Creole-dill Rémoulade Sauce

Raspberry Long Island Duck

My choice

Half semi-boneless duck topped with a raspberry agrodoice.

Marinated Grilled Hangar Steak

Roy & Cerwin’s choice

Marinated Grilled Hanging Loin Steak Served with Red Wine Peppercorn Demi-Glace.

We enjoyed coffee in Cameron Estate cups.

The container on the left held the cream.

Roy and Deb bought each of us one of these cups.

Deb and I never turn down crème brûlée when it is on the menu.

Cerwin’s raspberry cheese cake

Roy’s chocolate and whipped cream dessert.

~~~

Tomorrow night I will post photos taken during a short walk around the grounds.

~~~

God is able to do much more than we ask or think

through His power working in us.

May we see His shining-greatness in the church.

May all people in all time honor Christ Jesus.

Let it be so.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (New Life Version)

Pretty Flowers

&

Visiting Josiah and Grandma 

God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.

Ephesians 1:22 (New Living Translation)

Catching Up

Going back to a few activities that happened before Jeff and Chris’ auction and the Truck Rally took over my blog.

Sherry Stoner

On Sunday, June 10 we went to Will and Sherry Stoner’s house for lunch and a short meeting on defining each person’s responsibility when we take International Chapel #1 to Manheim Brethren in Christ Church on Sunday, July 22.

Will

Geff Stoner (Will’s dad). I somehow missed taking a picture of Sharyn (Geff’s wife and Will’s mom).

Will and Sherry’s son Trent.

Trent’s little brother, Jack.

Enjoying sitting on daddy’s feet

Ready to jump

Sometimes daddies just have to be there.

~~~

Antique Truck Club Of America (ATCA)

30th Annual Truck Show & Flea Market
Macungie Memorial Park, Macungie, PA.

I included this in the same post as the Stoners because they were partly responsible for getting a chapel to this show.

~~~

Cerwin wasn’t able to spend much time at the show this year due to Jeff and Chris’ auction. However, after he took the chapel to Macungie, he enjoyed a quick look around the grounds.

Special thanks to Bob and Jake for manning the chapel for this event.

Not all trucks were antique or vintage – this is a new CAT.

He has a load of beautiful old trucks!

Cerwin liked this Cadillac golf cart. I expect it was used by the grounds or show staff.

A well-preserved 1939 Mack pickup.

 The power of the Holy Spirit has made me free from the power of sin and death.

This power is mine because I belong to Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:2 (New Life Version)

Happy Birthday

To Our Favorite Roy

We Love You!

Daddy & Mother

Birds and Critters

Last Saturday, when working on the patio, I noticed movement on the ground, and saw this baby robin. I quickly located the nest and a step ladder and put it back where it belonged.

Mama robin was not happy with me at the moment, but soon returned with a worm.

The bird bath has been a popular place recently due to the heat – it was in the mid-nineties today.

On most hot afternoons I add a few trays of ice cubes so the birds can bathe in cool water.

They seem to appreciate it.

The other evening there were mourning doves in many of the feeders.

I like the pattern on this one’s feathers, and learned that it is probably a young dove.

It almost looks like a ragged quilt.

The basket feeders have been popular this summer.

I still see a wood thrush or two every day.

I was wondering what is clearing out this area of one of our flower gardens until one morning I noticed a wood thrush bathing in dust. It went through the same motions as the birds do in the bird bath.

From the Internet: Dust smothers skin and feather parasites and absorbs excess oil that’s removed as the dust is preened away.

A praying mantis on our car

Though this isn’t a great picture, I like the shadow.

Our grandson Josiah bought some natural peanut butter that he didn’t like. He wanted his mom to take it back to Maine, but she didn’t like it either. I was going to throw it out when Cerwin suggested that I feed it to the critters in our feeding area. It didn’t take long for the squirrels to find it.

It is quite amusing to watch them stepping in it, and licking their feet.

I was just ready to enter this post when our grandson Nathan left to go home. He quickly came back inside saying, “There is a skunk in your bushes.” I was able to open a window to get this photo, and he didn’t seem bothered when we opened the door, so Nathan soon took a chance on going to his car. The skunk didn’t move until he started his car – then he ran, without leaving a scent behind.

 Something ate peanut butter during the night the other day. I wonder if it was this critter.

About an hour later, when checking the feeding area, I startled a raccoon.