Oh wow, you sure picked a weather-challenged weekend to visit. Hope you enjoyed slogging through the leftover snow, although we had a fresh coating on Friday.

Your poor sister. What a mess. I had a tree fall across my driveway last year. Once I cut off a few branches, I could drive under it so I wasn't trapped. It was a nuisance getting rid of it and it sure didn't do much to improve the appearance of my lawn.

I am so glad you got to the Terminal and had a couple of good meals. What a shame that you didn't have more time. There is so much to see and do here.

This has been one tricky winter. I am glad the flower show didn't get hit by a snowstorm as it has in the past. See you next year!

Lisa, it sounds like you made the best of a challenging weekend, I sure hope your poor sister has her yard cleaned up and her power back on!

It's too bad you didn't have more time at the market, but now you have a reason to go back next year and spend more time.

As for those bags, well, SOMEONE has to spend some money and help keep the economy afloat, so I'm happy you did your part, LOL.

Annie

Lisa, you are to be admired for your perseverance. I would have given up more easily.

Sound like there was more than just garden seeds in those bags.

Jim

Well, a couple of times we almost gave up and canceled the whole trip, but we really wanted to go!! If I hadn't been able to book that early morning train, we probably would have just given up, but luckily we made it. And yes, I certainly did my bit for the economy! I got a great copper watering can shaped like a beehive, three miniature African violets and one normal size one and pots for all of them, two pots for my orchids, a bamboo windchime, and a stained glass vase as a gift for my SIL who's birthday is next week. I also paid way, WAY too much money for some hand made wooden spoons and spatulas, but I couldn't resist them! Then at the market I got some hand made soaps, beeswax candles, a pair of earrings for my daughter's birthday, candy for everyone back home, and before we left Monday we hit the Amish stalls and I got sticky buns, some noodles and some thick cut bacon. I would have gotten a lot more things but I knew I already had more than I could lift!!

The Indian restaurant was called something at the Ben - I have the name at home, but I can't think of it right now. It was a few blocks away from the convention center and actually wasn't in the greatest place for foot traffic. I have had Indian food many times, but haven't actually gone to many Indian restaurants, and the people we were with said it was expensive for Indian food (about $18-$24 for entrees), but they gave you a lot - we really could have split a few of the dishes as we didn't make a dent in some of them. But the food was fantastic and the restaurant itself was lovely. The Vietnamese place was right down the street from us and that food was fantastic as well. I would have liked to try a few more things at the market, but where we lost so much time I only got to eat lunch there once. But we did pick up some stuff to munch on in the hotel room, some wonderful cheeses - my new favorite is St. Andre! - spicy shrimp and a whitefish spread that I wasn't sure I'd like, but it was wonderful. My pants were way tight by the time we left lol!!

And my sister now has power and phone lines back altho her fridge and dishwasher apparently got fried when the power came back on so she's none to happy, but hopefully she can get them fixed and not have to buy new! Then there's all those trees to take care of - they had more than 10 come down around their property!

Lisa

Wow!!! Seems like some unseen power was throwing all sorts of obstacals into your path!

Next time you go there, be sure to take in the Italian Market in South Philly. A fascinating place to browse through! Also, there is Fante's where you can get all sorts of uncommon cooking tools and equipment, especially for Italian cooking.

You just needed more time LOL!!

I wish I could have met up with you but when work offers me more hours I have to jump on it !!

I am scheduled to go tomorrow and I have been SO GOOD on my diet this week so I CAN do some major damage at Reading Terminal!!

Did you take many pics??

Cheers!
Susie

Ya - we were beginning to think someone, somewhere, does not want us to take this trip lol!!

I took tons of pics at the show, but I'm going to have to get myself to BestBuy or someplace like that as I cannot for the life of me find the cable that connects the camera to the computer to download the pics!! When I do get it, I'll definitely post some.

If you go to the show, be sure to check out The Seed Source. They have a wonderful booth chock full of unusual seeds from Japan, Italy, as well as organics and heirlooms, etc. I stocked up and am itching to start my tomatoes and other goodies in preparation for gardening season - it can't come soon enough!

Lisa

Wow - you and your sister are the picture of perserverance! Glad you made it (finally) and had fun despite the challenges.

Hopefully next year you can stay a little longer and we can manage a get together!

Alexa