The Great Escape...

I can't tell you how long it has been since I left the farm!

Yesterday, Jenny was kind enough to take over dog and cat duties and Karen did all the horses chores.  At 1pm we were off to Chautauqua with our basket of veggies to be delivered to Susie and Curt, who were hosting us last night.

 It looked like the day was going to be a little iffy.  We even had some rain

before we left but it only lasted for a short time so I did not have to worry

about the horses.

 As we headed West, the sky kept getting darker and darker...

and pretty soon it started pouring. 

By the time we got to Bemus Point it was only sprinkling.

 It's always a pleasure to stay with Curt and Susie as they have an

absolutely gorgeous home overlooking the lake....not to mention great hospitality.

We delivered the veggies and they were very impressed by the size of the carrot!

Susie is an Interior Decorator and she sure has good taste!

 We had 1 hour together and then headed to Bemus Point for a reception being

held by our good friends Barb and Mike L.  Their daughter Emily recently got married

in the Seychelles and this event was for friends and family members who lived near and far.  It was being held at The Lawson Museum.

A very unique place.

 Not only does it holds dozens of well preserved boats, it serves as a

beautiful venue for events like this.

  We had never met Phillip, but have known Emily since she was born.

Her Dad and Gary have been best friends since kindergarten.

 I went to High School with the two people below.

Jimmy (we never called him James) L. and Dottie C.

I had not seen them since 1961!!!!

Pretty amazing!

 Many of the people in attendance went to Jamestown High School and had

graduated in 1961.  I have never known of a group this large (dozens) who have

kept in touch for all these years.

 I did not go to their school, but went to Southwestern (up the road).

For the past 50 years I have had the pleasure of getting to know them.

 The woman in the dark on the left is our friend Susie (she also went to Southwestern)

and to her right is Barb L., the mother of the bride.

 The food was outstanding!

 Right up my alley!

 The first person Susie introduced me to was the woman below.

Wouldn't you know she was a horse person and friend of my friend 

Dorothy H. (Jamestown) who used to bring her big draft horse Zip up

to our farm to do clinics.  Small world.  So many connections.

 By 8pm we were ready to go take a nap.

I'm sure Susie and Curt were exhausted as they had just gotten home

from Spain at 2am.

 I will confess, that when we got back to their house and crashed, we did a lot of talking until 11:30!

We were up and at um by 7:15 as

Gary and I had to be at a brunch up the Lake by 9:30.

Of course we were a little late as we had much more to talk about with Susie and Curt.

It had snowed!!!!! and we had to scrape the ice off the car windows.

 Holley and Pete were hosting at their beautiful home.

Another splendiferous feast!

 Things will quiet down tomorrow when the bride and groom head back 

to New York City.

 By now, it was around 11:30 and it was time for us to leave.

We got in the car and the temperature was 35!

 It was smooth sailing and we were back at the farm by 1:30.

Jenny had everything under control and the dogs (especially Little Wonder)

survived without me.

 We were only gone for about 24 hours, but it was a very nice time.

 Of course I had to check out the critters.

 Karen did evening chores while I vegged by the fire.

Dinner was leftover squash/apple soup and a sandwich.

Night all.