Corny BUT It was A MAZI ing

Thanks Amy

What a weekend in many ways. For me driving there and getting there with no major getting lost was TREMENDOUS.A goal I had challenged myself with and I got a gold star.

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Tee hee there are my STARS! ;)

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This trip was purely a WOMANS WEEKEND…

But sure glad my Son in law joined us all in our ventures...I might say he is AMAZING

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SHUCKS, I had to say that ;)

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Stars for his abilities to lead with Brilliance

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My traveling companion and riding shotgun for me was my Sister-in-law. I am not sure how many hours we spent at the Outlets, but it was QUALITY time in many ways. ;)

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Actually we should have had one of those ped o meters to clock how many miles of walking we actually did. Bottom line all the good food we had got walked off as we leisurely strolled through many shops and restaurants.

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Everything we did was new except for Eastern Market Market, but as I have said I really enjoy that place.

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The market has been in continuous operation since 1873. This weekend we were blessed with sunny skies, while brisk in the early morning the temperatures warmed to the low 60’s.

******** After a good nights sleep, the pride of driving through major traffic and many lanes really was not a dream after all…we headed for The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show. Founded by Denise Medved in 2005.

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Before the Corn Maze and after Eastern Market and the trade show… ************ Wonderful food goes without saying. I had the Fatteh, warm yogurt sauce served over layers of chickpeas, eggplant, pita chips, tomato and garlic sauce, topped with pine nuts, with a stout Dark Ale. OH WOW!

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Of course more shopping to walk off lunch...;)

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Then off for a Corn Maze, Thurmont, MarylandPirate Theme. CHECK OUT THE PIRATE BOATS THAT ARE BUILT FOR YOU TO SHOOT PUMPKINS AT Pirate Theme. CHECK OUT THE PIRATE BOATS THAT ARE BUILT FOR YOU TO SHOOT PUMPKINS AT.

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After that more shopping and more food…then more shopping…Virtual Tour of Isabella's Taverna & Tapas Bar.A small slice of Spain with a wide variety of tapas (little dishes) in Historic Downtown Frederick Much like Jaleo’s but different setting and wonderful foods.

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Some of the foods we tasted:

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Espinacas a la SacromonteLeaf Spinach Sautéed with Pine Nuts and Malaga Raisins

************ Calamares a la RomanaFried House-Breaded Calamari Served with Citrus Sea Salt, Lemon and Garlic Alioli

**************** OH this one was new and YUMMY

************ Queso al HornoWedge of Creamy Brie Baked on Toasted Bread with Almonds, Port Wine Reduction and Fresh Oranges

****************************** Gambas al Ajillo y TomateTiger Prawns in a Tomato, Garlic, Herbs, Wine, Lemon Sauce

********************* Fritos de Datiles Y ChorizoCrispy Bacon Wrapped Spanish Dates Stutted with Chorizo on Mild Goat Cheese Cream

***************** Jaleos is also a favorite of mine.

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Needless to say Downtown Frederick was not a disappointment. Frederick County Maryland is less than one hour from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and nearby Gettysburg, Antietam, and Harpers Ferry. There are many attractions, historic sites, and Civil War heritage. Once a month, merchants host evening, art-related events during the evening as part of First Saturday Gallery Walk. Frederick is home to more than 100 exciting and diverse specialty shops and art galleries, some 200 antique dealers all within walking distance, and 30 restaurants with menus that span the globe. The historic district bustles with activity seven days a week and offers evening entertainment at three performance venues, as well as live music in numerous restaurants.

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That was our Saturday; we still had one more half day before we headed home…

Bottom line we never ran out of GAS!

About WVU and ~~ JAMIE the Great Moose Hunter

Ok first it is my Alma Mater as well as hubby’s. We just like College football. We have for many years done football picks when the season heads into the COLLEGE BOWLS.

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We like other sports,

The Pittsburgh Steelers, The Pittsburgh Pirates, The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions. The Pirates are also referred to as the Bucs (derived from buccaneer)… even The Pittsburgh Penguins.

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It's too early to tell if young Sidney will reach the level that hockey greats Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux did before him, but he definitely has the hype.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions. The Pirates are also referred to as the Bucs (derived from buccaneer).

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Sidney Patrick Crosby (born August 7, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. He was the first pick of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and one of the leading scorers during the 2005-06 NHL season, finishing 6th in scoring with 102 points (39 G, 63 A). Crosby was one of the most highly regarded draft picks in hockey history, leading many to refer to the 2005 Draft Lottery as the 'Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes'

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And in all that mix we have donated the use of some of our farm to the youth Soccer Leagues in our counties. YUP we love Soccer. Hubby’s has been a ref for the youth leagues and all of our kids played soccer from the youth leagues to high schools. Youngest son was also a youth Ref.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Add to that all the kids were swimmers, Hubby a swim team coach, youngest son also a youth coach and lifeguard as was eldest daughter…we spent many a time with four kids at many sports events. TIME WELL SPENT!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Might add Hubby was on his under grad college swim team and still EVEN now can impress me with his BUTTERLFY!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Seems to go faster in the farm pond knowing full well that there are snapping turtles in there let alone the Bass and bluegill.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ So that brings me to our Great Nephew that bagged this Moose…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lets hear it for JAMIE! WHAT a MOOSE!

MUMS the WORD!

Fall house cleaning

********* Have not had a chance for any further investigation on the second identification… Will attended to that tomorrow ;)

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BUT the house is getting in order…

**************************** Some MUMS ~~~~~~~~ ever so lovely from the most amazing Garden center in the DC area…got my Fringe Tree ~ more about that later!

*************************** Behnke Nurseries Co. In 1930 Albert and Rose Behnke opened Behnke Nurseries in Beltsville, Maryland. Over the years, the nursery and its reputation for honesty and true value have steadily grown. Today, Behnke Nurseries has three locations in Maryland, and each one reflects the same old-fashioned values set forth by Albert and Rose Behnke - they offer the widest practical selection of top-quality plants, with knowledgeable staff to assist in plant choices and to help educate their customers in plant care. Behnke Nurseries enjoys a nationwide reputation as Washington's premiere garden center

Flip that Dirt

Compost Happens… ^^ Compost Site Selection

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Check the Chart useful information I thought. The three primary nutrients used by plants are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; their soil had NONE of these.

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Yes we did the soil tests! ;( Needless to say our trip to DC to see our daughters and Son In Law was fabulous. Helping the newly weds was neat. The Garden Center we went to was totally amazing as well. Seeing the results of JUST the Beginning of a yard makeover breath taking. Then just sitting in their back yard and admiring the Blood [holly branch in the upper lip] Sweat and tears [of laughter] was astonishing.

^^^^^^ Now I am going to need some help in identifying some trees/shrubs for them, I hope you all can help me in this one!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I will do one picture per tree/ Shrub so I do not get confused! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Looks like this MIGHT be a Magnolia Compost Recipe! Recipe Ingredients · Air · Water · Brown stuff Green stuff

Crape myrtle/ Lagerstroemia indica

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeee Skippyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy I found my Crape Myrtle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

** The 6 petals of the flowers are wrinkled, suggesting crinkled tissue paper, hence the name ” crepe” myrtle.

************* IT had been hidden behind stacks of roofing materials, ladders paint cans etc… Bottom-line it LIVES!

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I first noticed this plant on the campus of the THEN Randolph Macon Woman’s College. I knew one day I would get one to plant, not only because it is a lovely plant, but also for the memories it evokes. Ummmmmm Maybe it would live in the DC area??? I need to be Checking Zones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

************************* Founded as Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1891

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Randolph-Macon became co-educational in 1972 and Randolph College became co-educational in 2007 and the two schools are now governed by two separate boards. But that is another story.