Planes, Trains, & Automobiles (Minus the Trains)

I can't believe it's already been over a week and a half since my last post and I can't believe it's been nearly 5 weeks since hubby and I attended this RC Plane Show up in Olean, NY!

Life has just been flying by that is for sure!  I figured I should post a bit about our trip to see a friend fly his radio control plane and out Car Show from a few weeks ago BEFORE post about the fair and concerts of last week.

Pardon me while I get my past posts caught up!

Yup!  About 5 weeks ago hubby and I went to Olean, NY, to see a friend of ours fly his RC Plane.  It was pretty neat!  I remember it being chilly that day - one of the few chilly days of this summer so far - and a bit gloomy and rainy - as well.

We were able to get our Abarth detailed prior to a local car show we actually participated in this summer!

Because our vehicle was 'too new' and not modified enough we weren't judged to be awarded anything but it was still fun because we were able to meet up with some of our Fiat Friends.

We had a guy in Corry, PA, do the detailing work on our Abarth and it turned out really nice!

I still can't believe it's taken me this long to post about these two day trips!

I will have many more posts coming soon - so stay tuned!

I will have a recap (or several) from the WNY VegFest as well as many from our Warren County Fair.

But first - how about some more photos from the car show, eh!?  This is our car next to our friend Tom's car.  He qualified to be judged for the modified and he won first place!

I still really like the orange graphics and paint we did last year.  My parents don't love it as much as we do - apparently - they think it makes it look like one of those 'Fast and Furious' cars!

That makes me laugh but in a way it's true!

Tater Tots & Fiats!

Happy Friday!  Last night I literally threw this Tater Tot Casserole together!

I started with Spinach, Chickpeas, and Carrots.  I made a mild cheesy sauce with Almond/Coconut Milk, Earth Balance, and left over Egg Trick Seasoning (the recipe for that is from The Vegan Zombie Cookbook).  I then topped it with baked Tater Tots.  Next step - I covered it in leftover vegan cheese sauce I made with a combo of almond milk, Daiya Cheese, and spices.  Then I sprinkled Wildtree Taco Seasoning and Hemp Seeds over it!  This was pretty amazing if I do say so myself!  I think I just might have to make more of these!  Oh!  And I didn't bake this casserole either...stovetop!

Earlier this week I blogged about the Fiat Meet Up from last weekend but I nearly forgot to post these photos so here they are!

I really wanted to post these because you can see our new orange graphics and rims!

Yup!  That is our Abarth on the right!  I just LOVE the orange color!

We might adjust and/change the back a bit in the near future tho!

In case you missed the previous post - this was the Western NY - Southern Ontario Fiat Club and we went to the Grand Opening of the Erie, PA, Fiat and Alfa Romeo Dealership!

Here's another look at some of what we did with the graphics and rims!

We have the rims done first at a local tire store - they did a great job!

We had the graphics done locally, too, and I do like the sides the best out of everything!

We have a few things we hope to do in the near future with the club - one being European Car Day in Clarence, NY.  We may try to get to Pittsburgh for Fiat Freakout if we are able to for the weekend part of the meet up.

This weekend will be a Wildtree Weekend!  We will be at Chapman Dam State Park. 

The Fiats Are Coming! The Fiats Are Coming!

This past weekend was fun!  It was the first Fiat Meet Up of the season that Dale and I were able to make!  We first met another couple in Jamestown, NY, and then headed to Dunkirk, NY, to meet up with a group that was traveling from Buffalo, NY.  After chatting for a while we all headed over to Erie, PA.  There were about 12 or 13 cars that was on the ride!  It was a little cool and windy but at least the sun was shining!  The reason for the meet up was to get a group of us from the Western NY - Southern Ontario Fiat Club over to the Grand Opening for Auto Express Fiat Alfa Romeo of Erie.  During their Grand Opening of the Fiat Dealership they were raising money for an animal shelter there, too!  Dale and I made a small donation.  I think they raised over $1,000 for the shelter that day.  After we all left the dealership after spending a couple of hours there many of us went to Southern Tier Brewery in Lakewood/Busti, NY, and enjoyed the sun, some of the group ate, and others tried some of the brews.  There was a Reggae/Folk Fusion type band that played on the outdoor stage and we listened for a bit.  After Dale and I left the group we went out for dinner.  It was a great day!  We met some new people and met up again with some new friends we made from last year, too!  Oh!  We took our Abarth - not the Fiat 500 Pop - but we hope to take both of the cars to an upcoming cruise-in soon!

In case you are trying to find me in the photo above - I'm the one in the grey shirt next to the guy in the blue shirt to the left of the red car.  The guy in the blue is Dale.

Sunday - my mom and I traveled over to Nobel Winery near Westfield, NY, to meet up with my sister who was putting on a bridal shower for her soon-to-be-sister-in-law.  It was the first time I met her.  But it was a nice day and I am always happy to see my sister!

Monday - Dale and I did some yard work.  We did some major trimming of the trees in our front yard...which isn't much of a yard since we live so close to the street...we will call it our front garden instead.  It was long over due and now it's done...it looks much better.  So YEAH it was a busy weekend!  What did you do?

Our First Fiat Club Meet Up!

This past weekend Dale and I participated in our very first meet up with the Western New York Southern Ontario Fiat Club. 

I, personally, have been waiting a month or two for this!  It did NOT disappoint!  It was a FUN time!  We did a LOT of driving and met some really great people! 

Our starting point was in Warren, PA, and we met up with a couple from Jamestown, NY, over at the Park N Ride there.

After we met Tom and his wife Kathy in Jamestown - the 4 of us - in our 2 Abarth's - drove to Ellicottville, NY, for the first stop on the run!  

When we got to Ellicottville we grabbed some tea and coffee at The Coffee Culture and chatted a bit.  This was the first time we have met ANY of these people.  Everyone was great tho!  Shortly after we started sipping and chatting another man drove in with his Ferrari.  Not too long after that the brunt of the Buffalo Area crew drove in - with their various Italian Cars!  2 of them stopped to get gas before the entered the parking lot of the coffee place. 

Of course I snapped some photos on my iPhone.  After everyone official 'met' each other we decided to take off!   In the photo above I think I was able to get everyone accept maybe 1 car.  In this photo I wanted to get the Abarth's and Fiat's together.  The red one is Tom & Kathy's and ours is to the right of theirs...the grey one!

From Ellicottville, NY, we all drove to Bradford, PA.  We drove around downtown and over to the Zippo Museum.  This was the first time I had ever been at the Zippo Museum eventho it's not far from our home.  Funny thing, too, is we drove the other way to go back but we want to get to know these guys and thought it would be fun!  I think I am going to post another blog entry about the factory in the near future because this post is already going to be VERY long.  There is a TON of history when it comes to Zippo Lighters but more on that later.

We spent some time at the museum and were able to talk to the chapter's leader Darryl and his brother Owen quite a bit.

On the drive from Ellicottville to Bradford Owen was leading the pack then Tom and his wife and then Dale and I.  The Abarth's were in front.  When we left the Museum the Ferrari was in front of us.

I was able to get a photo of most of the cars in the parking lot of the museum except for Darryl's Spider that was in the other section.  There was also an Alfa that came along on the drive.

The weather ended up being pretty nice but it didn't start out that way!  When we left Warren we were attacked by bug swarms!  I think it's going to be a problem near the Conewango Creek this year.

As you can see our SPRING is a little behind because of the wicked winter we had.  Not much has bloomed yet.  Some area Landscapers have said it's about 2 to 3 weeks behind schedule.  Many people in our area have lost a LOT of their trees, shrubs, and other plant life that comes up every year because it was colder than usual.

So...that's why the scenic tour isn't as scenic in these photos, I guess.  It was nice, tho, at least it wasn't snowing!  Fingers crossed there will not be any more snow but then again nothing ever shocks me anymore!

From Bradford we headed back to the state of New York to Salamanca.  Much of Salamanca, NY, is on the Seneca Allegany Indian Reservation.  It's a lovely part of the state.

Our destination while in Salamanca was a restaurant on top of a hill.  It used to be called The Red Garter but it was recently bought and remodeled.  It's called Bear Mountain now.  They still have the restaurant and are adding a RV Park.

Dale and I got HUGE salads (because we were going to have dinner in a few hours) and they were really fresh and tasty and reasonably priced!

Here's a photo I took of the cars lined up in the parking lot on top of the hill.  You can see SOME of the trees bloom in the back.  We have mountains of trees around our area since we are near the Allegheny National Forest among other things! 

The restaurant was HUGE and had 2 floors.  They had a bar downstairs - capabilities of one upstairs as well as outside - plus decks on both levels.  The outside seating area was painted in Orange and Black - Harley Davidson Colors.

Here's a look at the view from the parking lot.  It's MUCH higher up than it looks in this photo.

We had a GREAT time!  There are more photos on my Facebook if you are interested.  The WNY SO Fiat Club will be participating in the Euro Car Day in Williamsville, NY, on June 8th and I think we are going to go!  I think on June 21st they are headed up to the Finger Lakes for a stop a a trio of Wineries.  I really hope we can attend that as well.  In between those two weekends we have a LARGE Wildtree event that I will tell you about in the near future, too!

After we parted ways from the group after a late lunch or early dinner we took a drive on our own.  Not nearly as speedy or lengthy.  But we ended up in Onoville, NY, which is near Frewsburg, NY, and went to The Horseshoe Inn for dinner.  It was nice.  I haven't been there in a LONG time and they made me a wonderfully LARGE Veggie Wrap!

Afterwards we headed back home.  It was a FULL day but it was super FUN!  Can't wait for the next Meet Up with the Fiat Peeps!  I think we ended up putting 400 miles on the Abarth but we didn't even empty the tank!  NICE!