Ten Years, Waterfalls and a B&B...

Breathtaking views, meandering scenic drives, antiques, quaint towns and a gourmet meal to top it off delivered one fabulous anniversary weekend. Ernie and I celebrated 10 years of wedded bliss in the Poconos at a bed and breakfast called Settler's Inn. Settler's Inn, a comfortable spot of heaven for us in the town of Hawley, PA. The Inn, a Tudor-style structure with a warm, inviting feel is a place we will always remember. The craftsman-mission style decor with an English accent was a marriage of two distinct themes that meshed well together. I especially loved the Tiffany-style lamps and the framed drawing of a knight being knighted over the fireplace. Blue pottery and amber glass bottles spread around the room for a hint of color here and there.

After lunch at a local deli called Fluff's we headed off on a 50 mile drive through back roads and along the Lackawaxen River, a tributary of the Delaware River. Once we met up with the Delaware River and the New York state line we toured a unique bridge, designed by the same engineer that designed the Brooklyn Bridge. Once halfway across the bridge we entered the great state of New York. After driving along the other side of the Delaware we came upon Narrowsburg, NY, a hip second home haven to the who's who of Manhattan. According, to the local shop owners, we had arrived in NYC's best kept little secret--well not so much anymore since it was listed as the place to BE in New York Magazine. After strolling along and popping into the cute boutiques we set off for the quick five mile jaunt back to our B&B.

After a snacking on homemade Amish sharp cheddar and Liberty School cab (my favorite) we got dressed for our celebratory meal. Farm to Table--the B&B's own gourmet restaurant offered a breathtaking array of dishes. We opted for a smoked salmon appetizer and a steak. The highlight of the meal was their signature dessert--English Toffee pudding. WOW...that's all I can say!
After a romantic meal, restful sleep and filling breakfast we were off on our next adventure--waterfalls. We hiked into a breathtaking area and took in three dramatically different waterfalls. With the snow run-off the falls were especially breathtaking and powerful to see and hear. There was a light mist in the air and the forest backdrop was a dramatic shade of mossy green.

To round out our weekend we stopped in a town called Milford, PA a little historic town on the PA/NJ border. Antique shops, an authentic meat market and hex signs. Yes, I have been looking for a hex sign as a souvenir from our time spent in PA. What is a hex sign? All along the scenic back roads of PA are 19th century Dutch-style stone homes and most of them sit along side a barn. The barns are adorned with circles of colorful patterns. Hex signs--brought to PA by Germans. I picked up an Irish Luck hex sign. It's hand painted with a shamrock for luck, Irish distlefink birds for a double measure of good luck, a heart for love, trinity tulips for faith, hope and charity and a scalloped edge for smooth sailing in life.
A perfect end to a perfect weekend--if all we get in life is "smooth sailing," then we are truly lucky.