Oh, my...Didn't think it had been so long since I last posted!  Time just slips away...

Joe & I spent two Saturdays ago with his sister, Maryann & her friend (ours too) Trudie,  in Pittsburgh.  We had not been to Trudie's home before so we went there early on Saturday morning.  What a pleasant & nice place she has just off McKnight Road! 

Breakfast was next on the adgenda at Valliant's Diner on Babcock Blvd.  http://site.valliantsdiner.com/  Cute little place with great diner food!  After filling our tummies with goodies, we drove to Shadyside to look at The Mansion on Fifth that friends of Trudie's are renovating.  http://www.mansionson5th.com/ It is lovely and I can't wait to check in!

The Phipps Conservatory was next on our travels.  I renewed our membership so we could all get in that day using the membership & Joe & I can use it for the next year.  The family membership got Joe & I each a card and we each got a pass for a guest.  (And, if they screw up when they send our membership package in the mail, we may get 2 more guest passes!)  The flowers were lovely and the day was warm & sunny so we had a very enjoyable visit to the as always beautiful Phipps.

Shopping on Walnut in Shadyside filled the afternoon.  We meandered in & out of most of the shops, working our way down one side of the street & up the other side.  Joe got a little bored with the "girlie" things we were interested in so he sat on a bench in the sun and patiently waited.  He didn't complain, but I think that was because we were in the company of others!!!  I found a pair of white slippers that I really wanted until I saw the price...$75.00!!!  For slippers...

The four of us dined at GIRASOLE http://www.733copeland.com/menu.html when we got tired of shopping.  The food was fabulous and the ambiance was devine.  We shared a bruschetta appetizer and wonderful Italian bread & butter with a little wine.  Joe ordered a cup of mushroom soup that I tasted & will definitely order the next trip.  The house salad that came with the dinners was very large & tasty with crumbled gorgonzola.   I ate the potato gnocchi in maranara sauce;  Joe ordered a broiled fish with sauted vegetables.  (I have forgotten what Trudie & MA ate since it was two weeks ago.)
We shared a piece of decadent homemade cake for dessert.

We topped off our busy day with a trip to the Market District and back to Trudie's.  At the MD, she purchased a piece of brie covered with mascarpone mixed with brown sugar!  To die for...We gorged ourselves.

Last Saturday Eileen, Dad & I went to breakfast at the Golden Corral  to attend the Veterans monthly get together.  They meet the first Saturday of each month to keep up on the latest news & views & to socialize.
We were invited because my father is one of the  Veteran honorees at the Mercer Memorial Day 500 this year.  http://www.mercermemorialday500.homestead.com/    The Mercer Memorial Day 500 is also on facebook.
We are excited about this honor and hope to see all of you at the parade on Memorial Day.

It was also Stone's birthday party.  Stone is my friend Kathy's grandson and he was four.  I never saw so many presents.  The day was perfect with 80 degree temperatures although it was very windy. And, there was an Easter egg hunt after the opening of all the presents.

Last evening, I went to New Castle for a house warming party for my friends  Eleanor & Faith.  They bought the neatest  Craftsman style house on the north side of NC.  They received an abundance of nice gifts and a good time was had by all.  I am looking forward to visiting them again soon.

PS  Joe & I also went to a wine & cheese party at the UPMC Woman's Care Center in Hermitage on Tuesday evening to welcome Children's Hospital to Hermitage.  It has been a long time coming and now there is finally world class care right here in Hermitage for children.