Featuring Steak Salad at Off the Rak

My mother-in-law, who is in her 80s, has been exploring her options for assisted living. I asked friends for advice, did a bunch of research online, and requested that information be sent to her about a half-dozen different places in central PA.

In May, we all went and looked at a place called Homewood in Martinsburg, and ate out at nearby Traditions restaurant. Homewood had several little cottages available, and my mother-in-law especially liked the last one we looked at, which had a huge sunroom.

Shortly after we visited Homewood, my mother-in-law had knee surgery. So she has been recuperating from that, but as she has become more able to get up and about, she finalized her plans to move into the pretty little cottage with the big sunroom.

She is meeting with a "move manager" sometime in the coming week. She hopes to be moved into the new place by the end of October. On this day, she asked us to come to her house in Carrolltown (Johnstown area) to look at furniture that she does not anticipate will come with her on the big move.

First we drove to her house and all of us went out to lunch together at Off the Rak in Ebensburg. My husband and I each had the steak salad, which you may see above. It is one of the best steak salads I know of in central PA, topped with French fries and ranch dressing.

Then we went back to her house and did a walk-through, identifying stuff she will not be taking, deciding what things we may be interested in, and strategizing about how we might get any items we want back to our own house.

We have cars, but not a truck or any other sort of vehicle for hauling furniture, so that would be an issue. Another big issue is space, which is sorely lacking: where we will put anything else, I have no idea, as our little house is already packed with STUFF! Wish us luck!

My soundtrack song for this day is for my mother-in-law's big move: Billy Joel, with Movin' Out (Anthony's Song).

P.S. Thank you to everyone who stopped by yesterday to share words of condolence and/or encouragement regarding the big tree that fell and hit the house. We are working on getting that tree OFF the house, but progress is slow so far. I will keep you posted!