Day 29 - Vacation Journal

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I am on vacation mode; “chillin”, sitting back and enjoying my mom, hubby, and surroundings. I do miss visiting everyone and the blessing of your posts.

We are ready to build an ark. Our campground is right by the Swatara Creek (too me, it is a river!). The creek is only a few feet from the banks and swiftly flowing. The rain is nice to see, especially when one is from the valley of the sun where we only see rain maybe 5 days a year, but I must say – “Enough already!” LOL.

Wednesday, we went to Hershey, PA. As they say on their welcome signs – “The Sweetest Place on Earth!” I was a fairly good girl too. The only things we bought was fudge for my mother (she ate the whole thing when we gave it to her! She said that was her dinner – and it really was! LOL. We also bought a big Hershey kiss cookie and believe it or not – I shared the cookie with Jim! Yes, for real! I can be nice sometimes! LOL. I think I gained 10 pounds just lusting over all the beautiful chocolate and baked goods! There were so many things I wanted, but I resisted and didn’t spend any more money.



We decided to go to Gettysburg from Hershey, so we traveled on to Gettysburg. It seemed fittingly that as we arrived at the National Cemetery the rains came down as though they were tears from heaven. This was a very solemn sight and moment as we walked around the cemetery to give respect to the fallen soldiers. We decided not to tour any more sites this time since it was so damp and rainy.



As we drove back to our campground we decided to return through way of Hershey and eat at the Friendly’s Restaurant. They had a special offer for $9.99 – drink, meal and dessert. I was a good girl until the dessert! I had an oriental salad – very good – but then as I looked over the dessert menu, the picture of the “Forbidden Chocolate” sundae jumped right off the page and landed right in front of me! It kept pleading with me, “eat me, eat me, EAT ME!” So, not to be rude, I obliged, and enjoyed every spoonful with great pleasure! LOL!! I know, I paid for it later, about 30 minutes later my IBS repaid me! LOL. But it was good going down! YUMMY!!


Thursday it continued to rain, so I made the three of us homemade chicken, vegetable noodle soup at mom’s. It sure tasted good on a damp and rainy day. Mom and I played Phase 10 and I beat her 2 out of 3 games.

On Friday, mom was hungry for Cracker Barrel’s fish fry, so we took a drive through the countryside to Hamburg, PA. Jim and mom enjoyed their fish, I on the other hand thought I would be a good girl and ordered a salad that said it was mixed greens but was ONLY iceberg lettuce! Since I cannot eat iceberg lettuce, I ate a corn muffin instead. Needless to say, when we returned home I ate some soup. So note to self, do not eat salad at Cracker Barrel!

Saturday, mom was determined to beat me at Phase 10 – NOT! I’m so bad! I won all three games! They do not call me cut-throat granny for nothing! LOL. Yes, I know it sounds really terrible when you think I am playing an 86 year old woman! But hey, she taught me all I know about playing games! Show no mercy! LOL!

Today, Sunday, we visited Jonestown Bible Church. We enjoyed the fellowship and worship with the friendly people there as well as the uplifting and encouraging message from the pastor. Afterwards we went out to eat at a “family” restaurant called, The Farmer’s Wife. We both ordered broiled seafood, and I must say that my crab cakes were about the best I have eaten. Mmmm, my mouth is watering as I write! Jim and I shared another no-no on my list of eats – New York style cheese cake! Oh was that a tasty feast! Then we came back to the RV to rest, and “work” on the computers. Jim also received Father’s Day well wishes from our daughter and family, as well as his sisters all of which are back in AZ. We then did a little “house” cleaning and enjoyed the partly cloudy day with 82 degree temps.

Each day Jim and I enjoy a beautiful ride around the Amish/Mennonite farms, rolling hills, and green tree laden countryside; and every evening a walk around our campgrounds by the Swatara Creek. Such a peaceful, simple, and humbling life we have been living the past month. We hate to leave next Sunday! But, we must return to the hustle and bustle of Phoenix, AZ. First though we will stay a week in the back woods of Graham County which is located in the far reaches of Western North Carolina in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains of the southern Appalachians. We will stay in a small campground near my sister, Marsha and visit her and her hubby then leave July 6th for our cross country trek back to dry and hot Phoenix, AZ. It will be good to see our family in Phoenix once again.

Well, sorry this update is so late in coming and long in length!

Visit Lebanon County http://www.visitlebanoncounty.com/index.html
Our campgrounds: http://www.lickdalecampground.com/
Lancaster County: http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/site/default.asp
PA Dutch Country: http://www.padutchcountry.com/