Ringwood Manor & Tricky Tray Friday Nov 7 2014

Friday was supposed to be only 10% chance of rain, so we arranged to go to Ringwood Manor State Park with Plish and John and take the 11 o'clock tour there.  They drove up from Bloomfield to Mahlon, and John graciously offered to drive to Ringwood.  Despite a few glitches in directions, we did find the park only to learn that the 11 o'clock tour was cancelled, but there would be one at noon, which according to the internet was the lunch hour and thus no tours.  Grumble..grumble...in as much as I felt pressed for time because I was to meet my cousins later in order to go to a Tricky Tray fund raiser for our church.  So,  we killed some time and then returned for the tour.  Photos are not allowed inside the manor for security reasons, and the history of the manor involving the Erskines, Ryersons, Coopers and Hewitts is so convoluted, I suggest you either go there yourself or google it on line.  Either way, it's definitely worth the effort.

Entrance to the Manor



The Manor from afar





 

Plish at the gardens which remind me of one of my favorite childhood books, The Secret Garden

Flowers and plants at the entrance to the  park office

Photo of the mortars in front of the Manor.  The site played a  pivotal role in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

 

Plish and I.  It  was cold and had begun to sprinkle at the end of the tour.  We thought we might see snow, but it wasn't cold enough.

 

Bob & John still contemplating how all the additions and renovations were done over the past 200 years.  They would have loved to be part of it.

 

 

Switch scenes and eras to the union hall in Little Falls where the Holy Cross Church was holding its annual Tricky Tray fund raiser.  Thanks to the hard work of some parishioners and corporate sponsors, a multitude of prizes was donated.  Tickets are sold.  Participants place tickets in cups for prizes they hope to win.  Prize numbers are drawn, and if you are lucky, or bought a lot of tickets, you could go home a winner.  Unfortunately, our table did not fare as well as several around us who must have needed to rent a  U-Haul trailer to bring their loot home. Never the less, I enjoyed my first Tricky Tray experience and a girls' night out with the cousins: Adele, Jill, Kim, Barbara and Carol. 

 



  Jill on the right and a person in a Tricky Tray Mardi Gras  hat who chose to remain anonymous

 

Jill and Kim...much more than just sister in laws

Cousin Barbara...soon to be a grand mother in January.  Lucky in love and life, but not in Tricky Tray!

Wow!  After about 100 ticket numbers were drawn, our table finally won something.  Here is Adele with a Bob the Builder prize  package.  Maybe her 2 month old grandson Alexander will grow up fast enough to enjoy it before it becomes a vintage toy!