Pennsylvania Adventures with old friends…

Woodley is my friend from college, we met when I was 18. A long time friend, who now lives in Phoenixville, PA. I stayed with her last year too, for 2 weeks. If you’re a loyal blog follower, you might recall. She and her husband, Jason are SO gracious to open up their home to me for 2 weeks. They have 2 incredible kids and a crazy, half loving- half viscous dog named Libby. She loves me, but is the world’s best protective dog around and acts like an attack animal if other people or cars are nearby. Without having a fenced yard, Libby must be taken on many walks. When she goes out, she is on high alert. She barks like an attacker and has serious leash aggression, it’s called. She is not your sweet outdoor pet, yet snuggles and cuddles on the couch. My arrival was timed perfectly for Woodley to avoid needing childcare, since camps are over and school had not started yet. I got to spend every morning with her kids, 9 and 12, they loved Laurie Camp as much as me.

I arrived just in time for dinner, Woodley cooks 3-4 home cooked healthy creations around the clock, a matter of fact, I felt like I was watching a cooking show daily in this very open kitchen with a huge counter space for food presentations. All fresh vegetables from the fields and gardens of PA. She has a gift at making everyone want to eat healthy. Eggplant dishes, tofu, stir-fry’s, the best zucchini, patty- pan squash, and greens I have never heard of. A delish Salmon recipe from the NY TIMES, and tuna- noodle with Swiss chard. Home- made watermelon popsicles with wooden sticks in a cool holder. The best was breakfasts….. I loved the quinoa- chia seed mixture with maple syrup and cinnamon, plus Jason makes the best blueberry sheet pan-pancakes.

One of the snacks she served brought me back to my own childhood- remember ants on a log?! Yummy! This kitchen never closed, and I became the head dish-washer. We did go out for a few dinners at the neighborhood sushi place, a pizza spot, and ramen….always ended with the corner yummy gelato place for a treat. And they have an awesome local neighborhood grocery store where everyone knows your name called, Kimberton Whole Foods. This place is out of the movies and so quaint. We frequent there often, lol.

Camp Laurie consisted of hikes in the woods, scooters/bike rides for Ellery & Holden while I walked the trail every morning to the Main st in town….we checked out every bakery/coffee shop and got yummy treats. Hootie Hoo’s were the favorite and not always available. This was a special cookie in the shape of an Owl. 🦉 They came with me to the King of Prussia mall to make some returns…..what a mall. This place was gigantic and had every fancy story imaginable. Marc- you would have loved this place! We made our way to Crumble cookie, as they tried it for the first time with me last year when my sister Jackie sent a delivery for my birthday. They don’t eat sugar often so this was a huge treat. I did get the parental approval. 😉We came home with a box of 6 huge delicious cookies. The weather in PA was the start to the hot-humid east coast summer weather for me. It was hot and sweaty on our walks. We did manage to get a handful of rainstorms during my 2 weeks that called for rainy day schedules. One day even a tornado/flood watch. Lots of time spent playing games. We played many rounds of rummy cube and I taught them Facts in Five. I got to paint Ellery’s nails & toes and take her to pick out an OPI color as my gift. There was loads of laughter happening daily. My special alone time with both Ellery & Holden was so bonding and super fun silly times.

I managed to meet with 2 different adoption professionals while in PA, one attorney and one agency director/social worker. Always a special treat to meet professionals in person, as everyone LOVES PairTree. The more in person time the better. Everyone loves to receive the fun colorful PairTree socks. Great marketing, bonus points! I worked from either Woodley’s basement or coffee shops in the cute quaint downtown of Phoenixville. Im loving the time zone wk schedule on this coast while soaking up remote work.

Woodley & I had 2 solo outings….one dinner out just the 2 of us, and a Philly adventure with a friend of hers for Ethiopian food. Woodley and her friend are on a mission to try all the Ethiopian restaurants in Philly, this was the second on the list for them. I was mostly excited to spend a few hours in the city of Philly. Not a fan of the food, but I was up for the adventure and willing to try it. We shopped a bit and found another yummy known gelato place after, that we had been to before. A real authentic italian place. Im in need of a diet again, oink oink. 🐷

Being here in the summer months was filled with different family activities…..We went bowling, mini-golfing, kayaking at the lake, and spent time swimming at their swim club. I always get a lot of rest at her house, as we all go to bed so early. I enjoy my coffee on the deck, if it’s not too hot, and get to chat with the neighbor Marilyn in the morning. The beauty of living in a townhouse community. Holden makes fun of the fact that I take SO many pictures. He was talking to a friend on the phone about me, and he described me as this girl who needs to photograph EVERYTHING. I found it cute that he is talking about me. I enjoy listening to Holden’s Cello practice, which I love so much- true music to my ears.

It was crazy to me how fast 2 weeks flew by, all the hiking trails and mornings spent with these 2 fabulous, well behaved sweet kids was my favorite, and quality time spent with my dear old friend. . The scenery in PA is so peaceful and very olden day roads. Truly over the river and through the woods streets. Driving through the Valley Forge National Pk is beautiful, the huge historic oak tree truly screams history. All the farms, creameries with goats, pigs, and cows, with the gorgeous sunsets. I was sad to say good-bye to one of my favorite families.. We sure laughed a lot! Now in the country/ mountains of New York state typing this entry. The Catskills are a special spot….Stay tuned for the next post.

I hope you are all doing great! I know Im feeling refreshed and blessed!

Miss you all! Hugs & Kisses xo xo 😘

love Laurie Sue, AKA Dora 😘🧚🏻‍♀️💕💫❤️