In another decade ( in other words, when I was younger) a weekend like we have just spent would be routine, or maybe even slow. In this decade of my life, it seemed full, and I am tuckered out.
Yesterday we drove over the border into Pennsylvania, with friends, for a pancake breakfast at Fay’s Sugar Shack. Scores of other people had the same idea, though the wait was short, the food (especially the maple syrup) was good, and the weather for the drive down was beautiful. George took the scenic way home, weaving around the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. There were birds around every bend, but I tried to restrain myself, and keep my attention on our company riding in the back seat. George only swerved once when he spotted an unknown bird in flight, and I kept my camera tucked away so as not to seem possessed.
Back in town we decided to check out the Mill Street Market, a place we had heard about, but had never been to. The flea market bug has bitten us recently, and though this is not a flea market, but rather a craft and collectible type of place, they did have some old Americana which caught our attention. George found a small truck for his collection, and this potato slicer which he has put to use already.
Our Saturday afternoon was quiet, so I sat down to my laptop after lunch and starting reading some of the blogs. George and I were chatting about our ride into Pennsylvania, and the birding prospects in that area, so we planned to go back down that way today. Blogger-friend Becky gave me a heads up about rain in the forecast though, so I checked, and she was right. George figured we had a few spare hours, so we could head right back down while the temps were in the 60’s and the sun was shining. The fact that we could zip around the country roads in the Miata with the top down was a factor too, trust me.
We made Mt. Pisgah State Park our destination, having seen the signposts for it on our morning trip. A very pretty place, and a good place to bird we found.
3 Canada geese, 1 ruffed grouse, 1 blue jay, 5 starling, 4 common merganser, 2 wood duck, 2 bufflehead, 2 chickadee, 2 robins, 2 red-winged blackbirds, 2 grackle, 1 song sparrow, 2 mourning dove, and THIS pileated woodpecker (my only good picture of they day) on a tree just as we left the park.
The day would have ended perfectly there, but we had tickets for the 8 p.m. concert at The State Theater in Ithaca. We used to go there in the 60’s for our inexpensive movie dates (I can say that because George paid). Now, we treat ourselves when there is a special event, such as there was last night. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Blind Boys of Alabama shared the stage, and it was an evening of great fun and great music. We arrived home near midnight.
Add in the usual weekend chores of laundry, cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping. I need another day off just to rest.
