The celebration continued through the weekend

The women of our small group headed down 272 to the Chesapeake Bay for the weekend. Our destination was a cottage owned by one of our group at Hack's Point, a little community on the bay, actually on the Bohemia River.

We walked into the cottage and there was a lovely bouquet of flowers with three helium balloons . . . the first time in my life I was given balloons! For dinner that evening we enjoyed chicken corn soup made with home frozen corn and homemade olive bread. Larry sent six bottles of wine along, and we drank two of them . . . an Elderberry/Blackberry blend and Red Raspberry. We talked and laughed until after midnight.


In the morning, three of us got up first and went for a walk down to the water. Back at the cottage we enjoyed homemade granola for breakfast, then piled in the van for a day of touring and shopping. Our first stop was at a local potter, Sassi, in

the little village of Still Pond. I loved his style and ended up buying a mug and bowl. I was also intrigued by the historical marker across the street proclaiming the names of three women who voted in a municipal election 12 years before the 19th amendment gave women the right to vote.


From there, we headed to the historic town of Chestertown where we browsed through several shops and ate lunch. I had crab quiche. Mmmm. What a great place, and
spring was beginning to make an appearance, evidenced by daffodils and flowering trees. We passed a huge dairy farm . . . I had to take a picture because this farm was one of Larry's first clients when he started out on his own. We haven't worked there for years, but nonetheless, they were significant clients in the early years.


Back at the cottage, we walked around the area a bit until it was time for dinner. We had grilled chicken over pasta, asparagus with sauteed pine nuts and garlic, salad and more birthday cake. We drank another bottle of wine, this one a special selection Larry sent, 2005 Mannatawney Creek Cabernet Franc. This wine won first place in Pennsylvania Wine Society's annual contest. My friend had arranged for a birthday blessing which the women read to me . . . it was a piece written by Joyce Rupp. It was a special time and I feel much gratitude for these friendships.
We ended up talking way into the night.

Sunday morning we woke to rain. We enjoyed more granola, then a morning of conversation, lunch of leftover chicken corn soup, bread and salad, then continued discussions until time to pack up and head home, leaving about 2:00.

We talked about current careers and future plans, families of origin and
early life experiences, relationships and much more. We laughed so hard
that I had little salt specks on my glasses lenses Monday morning. It
was relaxing, stress-free and one of the best times I've had with a group
of women in a long time.