Summer Trip: Part 1

We headed to upstate NY for a week this summer. It was a friends and family trip--the kind where you get to catch up with people you love, people you miss, people you don't see enough.

One spends a lot of time driving through PA to get to upstate NY. So we stopped in State College for lunch, where the girls were introduced to "Shirley Temples."

When we arrived at destination #1, Mindy & Raleigh's homestead in Clymer, NY, we met up with the Smiths, who were in the area to go to Camp-Li-Lo-Li. We had one night with all of them before saying farewell to the oldest three (plus one Dunkerton--under the Under Armor hat--and one White--you can only see the whites of his eyes in the pic.) They headed to camp and we stuck around.

But not before checking out Chautauqua for an evening--which we heard termed, "Camp for Rich People." We were just glad they had a beach and a Starbucks. :)

The family in Lake Chautauqua. Love times like these!!

We got to visit Tom and Marilyn Dumm in their beautiful log home just outside the Chautauqua Village. He's been playing viola in the Chautauqua orchestra for over 40 years!

The next day we made cucumber sandwiches! Jess and Mindy and I posed with a plateful. I'm bummed I didn't take pics of AMY, as we got to visit with her, too! She was there with her husband's family, and it was a joy to see her for a few hours!

We enjoyed an evening swim at the Peek-n-Peak resort, just a few miles from Mindy & Raleigh's. The water slide was quite nice.

An early morning walk refreshed me on our last day.

This is Mindy & Raleigh's Beautiful Manse on the Dairy. :)

The kittens were a daily draw--even for people who are allergic! (We're hoping that, through repeated contact, we'll get rid of this cat allergy thing. Is it possible?)

I really wish I'd taken more pictures while we were there--our Sunday church service in Mindy & Raleigh's parlor was a favorite memory, with Alan playing piano and all the kids reciting verses after a devotional by Raleigh.

The meals, the laughter (SO much laughter!), seeing Clarice, eating HOT wings (burning my lips off, really), time with Anneke (who was so gracious with our girls!), and lots of conversation...fellowship is such a good thing. And we enjoyed it in Clymer for those first few days.