I really don't know where the month of September went. It really flew by. The end of August we had all 5 children and their families here-what fun!! It was exhausting but fun. After they left the following week my good friend, Renee, took me to the Hershey Spa for the day-a belated birthday gift. What a time we had. Renee and her husband Ted are in the collage above along with pictures of the grounds outside the Hershey Spa. As soon as we arrived we changed into robes and slippers and went to the quiet room for coffee and muffins. After about 45 minutes of just relaxing, we were called in for our full body massages. I'm not in Heaven yet but it sure felt like it for an hour. Next it was back to the quiet room for more refreshments and conversation. Our next call was for a facial. All I can say is WOW did that feel great. This was followed by a lovely luncheon and then a stroll around the grounds. After that we hit the sauna the pool and the hot tub. We made a full day of it and had dinner on the way home. Renee just spoils me rotten and I don't seem to be able to stop her. 
In September tropical storm Lee hit and this area of PA had some of the worst flooding since Hurricane Agnes back in the 70's. We had had so much rain for the month and the ground was so saturated that everything was run off. This is the lane on our property and the bridge was underwater during the night.
The pasture lands along the road were pretty much flooded.My sister who lives in town, on a hill, not near the streams had flooding. The run off was so bad sump pumps could not keep up with the water.
The picture below shows photos that we were laying out to dry before they were totally ruined. We saved almost all the photos.
All the houses in this area looked like this. What people could salvage was in their garages.
Lee and I went over to my sisters and in 2 days we were able to remove 4 foot of dry wall and the wet insulation from the basement.
They had 1 foot of flooding and we had to go up a full 4 foot to get totally dry wall.
Job is done and now the drying out begins.
I have been busy putting up applesauce and apple butter. I probably have about 30 quarts to go yet. I swore I'd never do all this canning again but times are already hard and food prices going up so fast.
Jim Tull, this picture is for you. This is the prep work for the posts for the Pergola that Lee is building for my brother.
Lee mixing his concrete.
This is where the pergola is going to go.
This is a picture of the deck that Lee put on my brother's house. It turned out really well.
Lee, painting the dry wall in his man cave.
We along with my brother, Graham, sold a piece of land about 3 years ago. It was purchased by Dauphin County for the purpose of building a Solar field to pay for the electric for the administration buildings of the county. They had the grand opening of the facility today (Oct. 3).
This is an aerial view of the property we sold with all the solar plates. We live just to the north of this on the same property.
The dedication ceremony follows.
There they are pulling the switch on. Even on a cloudy day, like today, it is generating electricity so one can only imagine how well it does on s sunny day.
Of course, all the local TV stations were out the film this new endeavor.
We so look forward to winter in Florida this year. Staying home last winter was hard but it helped to pay for our lovely trip abroad with Jim and Jane and I would not trade that for anything. We did, however, miss all of you and look forward to seeing you soon.
All the houses in this area looked like this. What people could salvage was in their garages.
Lee and I went over to my sisters and in 2 days we were able to remove 4 foot of dry wall and the wet insulation from the basement. 
They had 1 foot of flooding and we had to go up a full 4 foot to get totally dry wall.
Job is done and now the drying out begins.
I have been busy putting up applesauce and apple butter. I probably have about 30 quarts to go yet. I swore I'd never do all this canning again but times are already hard and food prices going up so fast.
Jim Tull, this picture is for you. This is the prep work for the posts for the Pergola that Lee is building for my brother.
Lee mixing his concrete.
This is where the pergola is going to go.
This is a picture of the deck that Lee put on my brother's house. It turned out really well.NOW I WANT YOU ALL TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE PICTURES THAT FOLLOW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK THIS IS THAT LEE IS WORKING ON.
Back at the beginning of the summer he told all of us he was going to put a root cellar and cold storage room in the bottom of the barn. That way when times get hard we will be able to store our canned goods and produce from our garden there.
In my younger days I was known to put up about 250 jars or more of assorted fruits, veggies, jams, etc. but it is not something I really choose to do in retirement unless absolutely necessary sssssssooooo the purpose of the room is what???? We have all come to the conclusion that it is Lee's MAN CAVE.
Lee, painting the dry wall in his man cave.We along with my brother, Graham, sold a piece of land about 3 years ago. It was purchased by Dauphin County for the purpose of building a Solar field to pay for the electric for the administration buildings of the county. They had the grand opening of the facility today (Oct. 3).
This is an aerial view of the property we sold with all the solar plates. We live just to the north of this on the same property.The dedication ceremony follows.
There they are pulling the switch on. Even on a cloudy day, like today, it is generating electricity so one can only imagine how well it does on s sunny day.
Of course, all the local TV stations were out the film this new endeavor.We so look forward to winter in Florida this year. Staying home last winter was hard but it helped to pay for our lovely trip abroad with Jim and Jane and I would not trade that for anything. We did, however, miss all of you and look forward to seeing you soon.
