Lotsa Fun in the Summertime

Skip and I made our way to Fredonia, NY on Wednesday to visit with a couple of friends from Japan who are staying in the area for a few days. We met up with Todd and Shingo at the guest house where they are staying at Lily Dale - a spiritualist camp about 16km south of Fredonia. We all went for Mexican food for dinner and then strolled around Lily Dale.













The next day we met up and decided to go to Lake Erie State Park so Shingo could see one of the Great Lakes.













Skip captured a shot of me skipping stones as I had done as a youngster on the shores of Lake Huron where I spent the first 10 years of my life.












Then we drove to a winery that conveniently had a lunch menu and we dined al fresco overlooking the lush, green fields. We then went to Chautauqua where an arts festival is in full swing but it was going to cost $17 just to go in and walk around so we just peered through the wrought iron fence. Then we circumnavigated Lake Chautauqua en route to Lily Dale stopping briefly for Skip's and my first taste of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream that just happened to be located in a Tim Hortons. I had Sinless Cake Batter ice cream with Reese's Peanut Butter cups mushed into it - the smallest scoop they could make. It was deeeeelicious. After a lovely dinner at the White Horse Restaurant, we said our goodbyes until the same time next year. It is planned that Todd, Shingo, Shingo's mother and Todd's friend, Chris will come up to visit us, touring the Niagara region on the way.

Yesterday morning, Skip and I made our way to East Aurora to The Woolly Lamb where I spent about an hour ogling the lovely yarn. I ended up purchasing the Fall 2006 Knitscene that was on sale for $1 and

a skein of grey Cascade Heritage sock yarn,













a bare skein of Cascade Heritage sock yarn to dye,













a skein of Araucanía Ranco Multy sock yarn, and












a skein of lovely, squishy Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine sock yarn.











Two doors down was The Needle Hive, a quaint cross-stitch shop where I purchased three little French Country designs:













Then we headed northward to Williamsville where we were going to be spending the night and got checked into our motel. After a delicious dinner at Italian Gardens we spent 2 hours in a Barnes and Noble. All I bought was a Maggie Sefton novel, "A Killer Stitch" that had been discounted 77%. Each of Sefton's knitting mysteries include a delicious recipe and knitting pattern. This one has a recipe for Mint Chocolate Fudge and a Cable Knit Scarf.

This morning we had breakfast at the Cracker Barrel and then did last-minute shopping at WalMart and the Lockport Outdoor store (Skip's favourite) before gassing up the car at Smokin' Joe's (on the Tuscarora reserve) and heading to the border. On the way home, we picked up Scooter who is joining us until next Sunday.

It wasn't a very long little holiday but we sure had a great time visiting with long-time friends and shopping to our hearts' content. I sure love the summer.