Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Quakertown, PA

Cade grew up in Quakertown, PA. It's a great little place and we all enjoy our visits there. Cade gets to watch sports with his Grammie, catch up with cousins, and drive around his old haunts telling Mara about fishing holes and other such childhood memories. Mara gets to play in a really nice park, in Grammie's big back yard, and at the Wata/Bobwhite Farm. I get to hear stories of Cade's childhood, look at pictures of him as a "girlie boy," and shop! Life couldn't be better.

Cade's cousins own a farm that sells You-Pick-Them cash crops all year long. A huge part of the nostalgia is bringing your family to pick fresh fruits and vegetables, and there's always something fresh and delicious to find at Bobwhite Acres and Wata Farm. This visit, we got to see the Christmas tree set up, which is really very sweet and endearing. Families came with dogs on leashes, pushing strollers with babies, and older kids tagging along to cut down this years perfect tree. The trees are priced by variety, so no matter how tall it is, you get a fair price. They provide the saw and the tree cart, as well as preparing the tree for travel. It's really a great place to get a tree, so if you're in the area, head on over.

Cade's Grammie cooks the most delicious meals for us--Steak sandwiches with sides of corn, sweet potato, ham, macaroni and cheese, followed by homemade cookies and other treats. Then, just before bedtime, she pulls out the chocolate icecream cones as a bedtime snack. We never go hungry at her house! Everything is always scrumptious!

We had a great visit and hope to make it this year for the family reunion on Independence Day.

Bushels of apples, wreathes, honey, apple butter--what more could you want for the Christmas season? Posted by Picasa

Cade with Jane looking at pictures of Dean's 4-month-old, Larissa Lynn. Posted by Picasa

Neil's snowman gourds--pretty crafty. I just had to have one for my Christmas tree. That's Betty working the table. Posted by Picasa

It was so cold that Mara's face stayed chapped the whole time we were in Pennsylvania. This is the first time Mara and I have visited Cade's family in the winter, and the first time since Mara was 11 months old. For her, it was like meeting everyone for the first time.  Posted by Picasa

Whoa...Who's working Tamara's Camera if that's Tamara?!? Posted by Picasa

Neil and Cade--I can't believe I got him to smile, but such is the triumph of Tamara's Camera! Posted by Picasa

Eileen Posted by Picasa

These people really hate having their pictures taken, but Tamara's Camera prevails! Posted by Picasa

Dean and Cade--gotcha! Posted by Picasa

Wata Farm Christmas Trees
Coopersburg, PA Posted by Picasa

After cutting your own tree and wheeling it down to pay for it, they have a set up for preparing the tree for travel. First, the tree gets shaken for maybe 30 seconds to scare away critters. Posted by Picasa

After all the mice and dead needles are shaken out... Posted by Picasa

Load it up--hook it to a chain that pulls it through and set the string to wrap it around... Posted by Picasa

Going! Posted by Picasa

Going! Posted by Picasa

Going! Posted by Picasa

Almost.... Posted by Picasa

All wrapped up! Posted by Picasa

Mara and Cade watching the Christmas tree machines Posted by Picasa

You can never have too many pictures of Mara looking cute. Posted by Picasa

He was hungry, so we didn't hold it against him. Posted by Picasa

Merry Christmas! Posted by Picasa

Merry Christmas! Posted by Picasa

Those Braeburns are good! Posted by Picasa

The Heisman Apple Posted by Picasa