Last Week of WashPA Music, Family and Friends

Our time in WashPA has come to a close with another week of music, food, friends and family.  All our personal appointments are over and we are happy to report that we both had great reports from our doctors and dentist.  This week we did the usual, getting together with many of the same people we have seen on this visit.  Many have been pictured on the blog so often that some of them are now in the witness protection program so most of the pictures are of  people I have not blogged about to date:)  We got together with the Wednesday lunch bunch and Nanc did one last Thursday of lunch and games with the girls. We did a last visit to all our local favorite restaurants, Burgh's, Union Grill, Al & Ruben's and Back Porch.  All the eateries I have written about during our stay are locally owned and come highly recommended if you are in the area.  We had dinner in Pittsburgh a couple of times this week, including one last visit with my brother, Rick and his wife Denise.  We also had one last chance to have John's wonderful homemade, wood fired oven pizza.  That will sure be missed.  We have had a great time getting together with all our friends and family and even as we are heading out, we always look forward to returning to WashPA.    

We attended the Washington Wine, Jazz & Pops Festival, a two day event of music, food and wine tastings.  We ran into my aunt Elsie, top left with her friend Nancy.  Georgie, Tom and Nanc are loving the sunny skies and the music.  Tom and I tasted a bit of wine, but I do have to thank Mary Lou for sneaking in a beer for me.

Day one started with the Washington Jazz Orchestra followed by Mark Lucas on guitar and vocalist Maureen Budway.  They were all fantastic.

The headliner that day was Marion Meadows (right) whose band includes Washington's very own Will Brock (left).  Will is a former student who has been on the road with his music for several years.

Marion performing with the band including another local on drums, David Throckmorton.  Here is a video of the band playing and Will singing an emotional number about home that sums up our feelings about being in WashPA.  It is hard to believe so much talent came out of our little city.

On Sunday it was more great music with the Michael Passalacqua Blues Band (bottom), a unique group called Cello Fury (right) and concluding with Pittsburgh sensation Bill Deasy.  If you want a fun weekend and are in the area at the beginning of August this festival is an annual affair.

We had dinner with our sister-in-law Suzann to get caught up with what has been happening in her life.  It was great to have the time together.

We had to make sure we visited our old stix and brix neighbor, Dorothy.  She was our second mom and did her best to keep us in line when we lived next door. (not an easy job) She is as sharp as ever (turning 90 in September) and sure is looking great.

We finally were able to get together with Rosemary and Pete for an evening of food and fun.  We went to a new Greek restaurant in Pittsburgh and had a great time with this fun couple.

 There are many things to love about the Greek culture and this sure is one of them.  Pete had to show me how to reward the dancer:)  Check out this post from 2008 when we got together with Pete and Rosemary in Tarpon Springs.  Seems to be a trend.

 

 

We have scheduled an appointment in Elkhart to get new batteries and  take care of a couple of maintenance issues as we head west.  We had to add another repair to the list this week when our fridge died so we have no idea how long we will be there. We have no reservations until the balloon fiesta in October, so after we leave Indiana we will slowly make our way there over the next month and a half.  So as we enter into our seventh year of being on the road, life is good!