Mardi Gras in SWPA

Mardi Gras in SWPA! The Dilmores traveled home to Pennsylvania for Mardi Gras this year. We were way overdue to visit family. Sadly, it is still winter there. It snowed all day Sunday.

But that didn’t stop us from having a Mardi Gras party. No parades, but we made masks . . .




wore beads and listened to Zydeco and Cajun French music . . .

ate King Cake and gumbo with potato salad . . .

But the best part was all of us being together.

Monday we drove to the city and spent the day at the Carnegie Science Center . . .

with my sister and her terrific kids.

The Science Center has, among oodles of other exhibits, a wonderful train display which is definitely the high point for my niece and nephew.

The scenes of this model train display fascinate young and old alike.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater is the newest addition.

Tuesday I did an author visit to the 3rd and 5th grade classes at my nieces’ school, Armbrust Christian Academy. Small school, small class sizes, only 8-9 kids per class.

Here’s a glimpse of Pittsburgh as we crossed the West End Bridge. The Science Center is next to Heinz Field, where the Steelers play. (See the white cone, right in the center of the photo.) The large building far left is the new casino. It took the city decades to get a gaming license. Here in Lake Charles, we have several casinos and another possibly on the way. I hear pro and con opinions on their benefit to the community. Pittsburgh readers, what are your thoughts on the new casino? Good or bad for the city, and why? Lake Charles readers, what do you think about the casinos?


I’ll end this post on a beautiful note . . . orchids blooming in Mom’s dining room window.