"Today is a Good Day to Drive!" .....Van-Go

We welcome into the world our little grandson. Born September 29th at 6amish. Nicole had the baby at home; the midwife arrived just in time for the birth. Nicole was in labor for just three hours, but they were intense as the baby was backwards. Mother and baby are fine. We will be going up to visit them next week.

Cliff and Will playing air guitar to Dueling Banjos while we drift in the Allegheny River.

We attended the annual PowWow in Dorseyville and enjoyed the native dancers and craft displays.

The call arrived from Kathy's big sister, Sueann. She needed some help organizing the new kitchen. She will have her two grandchildren, Stella and Silas, staying over for a week in just a few days. The livingroom floor has to be cleared for refinishing. Boxes are everywhere and have to be emptied. All of the walls have to be washed down and two of them have to be repainted. Furniture has to be moved out of the livingroom. Sueann was feeling a bit frazzled. Kathy headed south through the Liberty Tubes and stopped to pick up some lunch. She brought grilled chicken salad and they sat out on the deck eating and discussing their attack plans. Crows called out giving ideas, leaves drifted down and the cool autumn air refreshed their spirits. They were ready to take on the livingroom. Boxes first. What fun they had sorting and arranging. Pots and pans, dishes and more dishes, wine glasses, water glasses, more wine glasses and lots of serving bowls and fansy dishes. Nic nacs and display d...

Local news trucks were everywhere and camera-men had their cameras aimed high on the hill where workers were perched tossing down rocks and debre. We saw it live! Luckily we were sitting in traffic along route 28; everyone went along real slow to watch the action.

The green is leaving the leaves. Colors are bursting forth . Leaves drift to the ground. Green grass is being covered by a blanket of leaves. Cool air fills the mornings.

Maria invited us out the boat and we again went down river, through the lock and anchored. What a beautiful view of the bridge, water and moonrise. Kathy even helped out through the locks this time by holding the back rope. We started to drift out and she had to really pull at the rope to get us back against the side! Maria almost freaked imagining us spinning around in the lock. The lock master came over and gave us some pointers for tying off; she was nice.

The dirt pile out back of Jayne's was the popular spot for play. What fun digging in the dirt finding worms and rolly polly bugs. Then Damiana styled Granny Kathy's hair; like the new look?

We drove up to see Will's daughter, Nicole. She was having a blessing for the new newly expected baby. Her lady friends, children Grandmother and Granny Kathy went up into a wooded area. Candles, and burning sage filled the air with a fresh clean smell. We made beads, blessing one for new baby and mother and giving it to Nicole. She will have that necklace around her during the birth to bring those good blessing to her and baby. Nicole opened gifts; Kathy got her Mother Ease diaper covers, cuddly stuffed panda bear and a big scarf to use as a wrap for carrying baby. We had snacks and talk. We watched as Nicole and another mother to be, Connie, had belly casts made; they would be dried and painted and will be a keepsake to remember the days before baby. Back at the center of the camping grounds where Nicole lives is a large area for concerts and an outdoor kitchen area. We went there and had pot-luck with everyone. Then Calipso, Nicole's boyfriend, cut the cake Nicole made to ce...

Morning is Kathy's special time. She brings her coffee and computer out on the front porch and greets the day. Birds say good morning, insects chirp and now the leaves are starting to wiggle off the trees. The cold morning mist is slowly burned off by the sun and the day breaks into itself. Good Morning.

Kathy's sister has a boat and we love going out. Some evenings we just move out from the dock, find a little nook and have a meal rocky and swaying with the waves of other boaters. Some evenings we head down through one of the locks along the river we stay out and watch the sunset and the stars come out before heading back to the dock. Maybe we will get a boat!

Kathy's sister has a boat and we love spending time with Maria and Cliff on the Great Escape.

Nick and Evelyn and cousin Grace surprized us. They arrived at the garage sale just about noon pretending to be shoppers; well, they really did shop each finding a little treasure to make their own or pass along. It was a short bit really good visit. Kathy, Will and Jayne joined them ater in the day at John Anthony's, a local restaurant, for dinner and conversation. The food was really yummy and the talk was a chit about this and a chat about that. Love getting together with big brother!

Kathy was up at five in the morning and out the door. She had packed the car the night before with lots of goodies to pass along to new owners. Carmine was setting up tables and putting out her goodies when Kathy arrived and shortly after Sueann pulled up with her car stuffed to the edges. Robert made us bacon and eggs so we would have a hearty breakfast to start the day. Buyers came in groups of four to eight shopped and hurried off to their next sale. Carmine sold her big items: a kitchen aid mixer and a workout machine. Sue sold all of the bedspreads and lots of nic nacs. Kathy, well, she knew from the giddyup that her crafts were not going to do so well; need to set a table up at a craft fair. But she gave away a few children's books, sold a few fantasy books, and sold some of her jewlery making a whopping $4.10! That was okay. It was the fun of spending time with her sisters that made it a great experience.

Poobiebaubie gives the grandkids, Damiana and Finnaeus, horsey rides. Our new little grandchild is expected the first week of October. We are so honored to be invited to the birthing.

September 13-15, 2007 The gray road rolled under us as we drove across the state east to west. Fast trucks whizzed by and still the gray road rolled under us. Light faded with the day, lights of the night came out and still the gray road rolled under us. It was after 11pm when we arrived at Jen’s house. This was Carmine’s first trip out to see her niece; it was Kathy’s second. During our tour of the house Kathy noted the changes. The biggest of which was the demolition of the garage; only three cement block walls remain in its place. Carmine got the guest bedroom; Kathy had the trumble bed in the den. The cats were confined to the master bedroom since their declawment; Kathy went in to visit them. Troy was already asleep. We too, were asleep in a short time. The next morning Kathy joined Carmine already flipping channels on the surround sound plasma TV. Jen and Troy woke and got ready for work. Carmine and Kathy finished breakfast, got directions to QVC and took off. Just half an hour ...

Kathy and her sister Carmine stopped at the headquarters of QVC and opted out of the tour for shopping instead. Carmine is a shopping queen when it comes to QVC!

We parked the car, Jayne's, and walked about two tenths of a mile to the gate and showed our pass. Riding the moving steps up to the top of the hill we are entertained by childrens songs about animals. Then we walked about 3 tenths of a mile to get to the first, the snow leopard. He was asleep as usual. We did the loop at the zoo and found this leopard up staring back at us. The best experience at the zoo today was the polar bears. The two brothers were in the water playing king on the mountain. They were pushing and shoving and having a great time. Sure beats watching them pace back and forth. Check out the movie in the gallery. It is taken from under the water; no, we did not get wet. They have a tunnel under the exhibit and our view was great.

The Roadtrek went in for new breaks and is the mechanic found that when they put the new fuel pump on they cut the fuel line and jury rigged it back together. We had realized there was a problem with the fuel line shortly after having the fuel pump replaced, but thought it was a kink in the line. Getting a replacement part for a new fuel line is taking some time; they had to order it from Colorado. So we are without the house...amazing how many times we go out to the driveway to get whatever and remember that it is not there.

On Saltsburg Road near the Dollar General we found a treasure, Kelly's Candies. It reminded us of Nick's Cake Decorating Shop in Atlanta. We could just see ourselves doing inventory! Gina Broderick is the owner and shared with us some of the exciting opportunities the shop offers like parties where everyone makes their own chocolates to take home, cake decorating and candying making classes, and personalized candy bars....we want ones that have our logo on them. They even have a chocolate fountain for rent. Look them up at www.kellycandies.com . Tell them Vango sent you.

The Roadtrek got a new look! We took it to Zoresco in Turtle Creek, PA and had a tire hitch put on the front. Now we have room in the back storage compartment for other important stuff. Jeff and Chad did a good job! Zoresco also has offices in Wexford, and Altoona, Pennsylvania and Brooklyn, Monroe and Wickliffe, Ohio.

Will went to meet with a specialty doctor over at the hospital. Kathy sat at Panera Bread in Fox Chaple sipping coffee and "playing" on the internet. Who should appear but friends Alan and Carrie, parents of former kindergarten students--they are now in high school! It was fun catching up.

We are ready to part with our sterling silver collection of world stamps. Know anyone interested in investing in the collection? Crafter could use them for unique touches to their creations. Features a beautiful LIMITED EDITION collection released by the Franklin Mint in 1981. It features accurate miniature re-creations of the world's 100 greatest stamps done in solid sterling silver.

Kathy spent the day with her neice, Jess. It started at 5:45 when she left the house to drive across town to Wexford. Traffic started gradually and soon she was in the line moving at a snail's pace. All she could think of was the Jetson's, wishing she was in a little saucer traveling at great speed on remote. But Kathy was in charge of the gas and break pedals of Jayne's 4-door car. (Kathy misses her sports car!) Traffic on the Holton Bridge was a nightmare, backed all the way up the hill and to the Oakmont Country Club. Across the the bridge and zip zip into the Route910 traffic, then the Route19 rush hour and finally into the parking lot an hour and a half later. Jess supervises children in the morning/afternoons program called Stepping Stones. She is active and enthusiastic. She already knows the children by name and greets them all with a friendly smile and happy words. Some children settle into drawing, cats was the theme today, some work on an introduction project of...

August 4,2007 We met a long-time friend, Tim, at the airport hotel where he is attending a NASA department retreat. It was great seeing him after so many years of postcards and emails. We ha a nice dinner together (Thanks Tim.) then drove up to Mount Washington for a view of the city. The incline took us down to Station Square where we owned the town with so few people out on a Tuesday evening. Then we wisked him back to his hotel so he could prepare for meetings.

August 2, 2007 Carmine and Robert invited us to dinner. Also there were Lorretta and her family and Stevie. We had Jumboli Pasta, a recipe Carmine got from the Food Channel....Do you watch the food channel?

August 31, 2007 We spent the evening at Kennywood Amusement Park. Like little children we rode the rollercoasters, merrygoround, and bumpercars. We walked the strip watching people, and ate funnel cake and pizza. Kennywood has several rollercoasters and we rode them all...well except the Steel Phantom that goes way too fast. The Thunderbolt shakes you apart; the Rabbit has lots of hills. Our favorite is the Racer where two cars filled with screaming people race on tracks side by side. Then there is the Exterminator. It is set up like an old electric plant gone to the bugs...big bugs. The rollercoaster goes through the dark, it twists and turns, whips and dives you not only forward, but backwards too!

Greg and Mary Ann are getting new furniture; the old is going to their brother in Ohio. MaryAnn was a good supervisor!

It is a mystery. Where does the rain water come into the Roadtrek? Is it through the air conditioning union....no.