Translate

Friday, April 5, 2013

A visit to Pittsburgh

Friday April 5, 2013

We left Yuma on Wednesday Apr. 3rd for our flight to Pittsburgh to visit daughter Krista, husband Jeff and grandchildren Shane and Ava.   It was a short flight from Yuma to Phoenix with a two hour layover that turned into three as our plane was delayed on our flight to Pittsburgh.  We had a good Mexican lunch in the airport while we waited and then off we went.  Flights aren’t what they used to be….you have to pay for any checked luggage….no food for free…and on this flight there wasn’t even a screen for movies or television.  For most people it didn’t seem to matter as the age of electronics means that everyone is plugged into some device or another.  I phones, laptops, E Readers etc. etc. 

We arrived at 11:30pm Pittsburgh time which is 3 hours later than Arizona and it was freaking cold.  Daughter Krista picked us up and luckily we had our travelling winter coats with us from our journey south out of Canada last fall.  Pretty bad when the temp in Pittsburgh is the same as Arizona only….35F in Pittsburgh and 35C in Arizona!  We had a few beers when we arrived at the house and then off to bed.  Too tired for dinner.  Turns out they had a record low for that date that night.  Swell!!!

It was wonderful to see how much the grandchildren had grown as for a variety of reasons we hadn’t seen them for four years so the visit was long overdue.  Ava is 6 now and Shane is 8 and they are sweet, funny, polite, intelligent and just plain nice kids.  Does that sound like a Grandma talking….well I guess so.  Krista and her husband Jeff are busy with jobs, kids, dogs and all of life’s many obligations so we just had to fit into the stream.  A bit overwhelming  and for the most part we just hung out and visited.  Friday was our 45th wedding anniversary and we took a trip out to the riding facility that Krista manages along with teaching, riding and training.  We got to see Ava ride and she is quite the little equestrian even at six.  A lot like her mother at that age! Fearless and enthusiastic. 

P1040297

Ava mounted up and ready to ride Serenity.

P1040293

That is a big horse and she is a little girl. 

P1040303

Close enough for you?

P1040306

P1040295

A bit blurry…but you get the idea.  She rode over the rails, with her arms out and at a canter…..I was impressed!

P1040310

My pictures of Ava riding are on video and I haven’t been able to figure out how to get them to upload…..later!

P1040305

Ava with Krista and Serenity heading outside to ride.

P1040312

Eric with Jeff (in the middle) talking to Jim the Vet who attends to all the horses at the barn (somewhere around 40) stabled there. 

Even with our winter clothes on we were freezing and ready to get back to the house for dinner.  It was decided to order in pizza and it was a good choice.  A long day and time for bed.

1 comment: