Autumn color in the orchards

I was lucky enough to have a really bright clear day when the fall colors were so perfect.  So I took one more drive into the apple orchards to get a few pictures.  In a few days I'll be on the road home.  Some days it seems like all I have done this season is go to work, but when I review this blog I realize how much I really have experienced here and I look forward to coming back next year and experiencing even more things in this part of Pennsylvania.

Another fall festival

The second weekend in October my friend and I were off to another festival.  This time it was the Harvest Festival at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, PA.  It was a perfect day for this event--slightly cool with bright sunshine all day.  There were all kinds of activities going on like wagon rides, music and vendors selling all kinds of things from herbs to maple sugar granules.

Pictured here is the home of the Landis brothers with my friend out front.  The interior of the home was a mix of country living and Victorian style decorating.

The Landis brothers remained bachelors all their lives and spent their lives collecting things that now make up this village.  There are a number of buildings to see no matter what the season.  But on this visit there were a lot more individuals doing crafts, like the lady pictured below who was making floor mats out of corn husks.  You would think these would not last that long, but we were told they could last at least a season of wet, muddy shoes and boots by the front door.  And, then there was a man describing how he makes brooms out of a twig of poplar wood.

 

A visit to Landis Valley Museum is always worthwhile when you are in the Lancaster, PA area.  My only regret is I am not there for their Christmas celebration as it sounds really excellent.

It's fall in the apple orchards

This past weekend it was time to head to Apple Harvest Festival in Adams County.  I already knew it was important to get there early so that you did not sit in traffic, but the first day the Festival was open the traffic was toooooo much at 8:30 AM!!  A friend from back home was in for a visit and I was really thankful she was willing to get up so early for this event.  When we arrived, we were actually in the second field for parking; and even that was already half full.  The weather probably had a lot to do with it this time, as the weather report for Sunday was terrible so most people came on Saturday.  The picture of the crowd really does not do it justice.  In a lot of the craft barns the crowds were so heavy that you didn't dare try to switch directions or cross over to a both on the other side or you would get caught up in the movement of the people and be pushed in a totally different direction.

Displayed below are some of the crafts we saw for sale.  The one on the right is actually a painting of an oil "on a feather"!

Despite the crowds at this event, it really was worthwhile.  And, we enjoyed a really good chicken dinner before leaving.  After several hours of wandering the fair we were both way too tired to even try to get to the bus for the free ride through the orchards. 
This was my second year attending this festival that takes place during the first two weekends in October, and would highly recommend it to folks.

A short trip to Union Mills, Maryland

A co-worker and I made a short trip to Union Mills Homestead in Westminster, Maryland.  This museum had several buildings, but we were mostly interested in the house and the family history.  The property was developed as an industrial complex with several businesses on it, including a blacksmith shop and grinding mill.  The original house started out as a much smaller cabin and eventually developed into the 14 room house you see above.  The house had some fascinating things in it, including an original indenture document from the 1700's.  There was also a folding cot out of wood and a rather unusual cast iron lid with a hole in the center.  It was a shame the museum would not allow me to take pictures inside as there was so much there of interest.   We both would like to go back again as there was so much to take in and so many fasinating furnishings.

One story we were told about the family was how when one brother married a Catholic girl, it created strife in the family.  So, the brother, who had been living in the house above with the rest of the family, just built himself another home across the road.  And, boy, was it a big house!

There were so many fascinating things to see at this site, I highly recommend it.

What a wonderful retro store

I recently found this wonderful General Store while out doing a little garage sale shopping.  The store is on the way to Littlestown coming from Gettysburg.  From the road the building does not look like much, but as you get closer it just gets better and better.  The entrance way had all kinds of advertising and Halloween signs.

Then when you go inside, the store opens up with all kinds of wonders.  On the first floor there are decorative items like lamps made out of old Singer sewing machines and unique Halloween decor for your home.  I particularly liked the Out House decor for the bathroom.  And then, you go to the second floor, where you feel like you have stepped into the 1950's!!

There was so much to look at I must have been on the second floor for an hour.  So, if you should happen to be in the area, this place is a real fun place to spend some time in and maybe purchase a memory from the past to take home.

 

WWII event at the Eisenhower Farm

During the second weekend in September each year there is a World War II event at the Eisenhower Farm.  At least this year they were not dealing with a lot of mud like last year when all the vehicles were digging into the ground more than a foot from the wet conditions.  The first person I encountered was a young man (center of photo between two ladies) who was working the Navy Recuiting tent.  He spoke with me about enlisting and showed me a magazine from 1942 with an ad showing that I would be presented with $200 worth of new clothing if I joined up.  When you think about how hard the preceeding years of the Depression had been, $200 in new clothing was probably pretty tempting along with doing your patriotic duty to fight the Japanese and Germans.  So, I joined up, and after taking the oath of allegiance, I was presented with a signed document showing my enlistment.

And, then there were several other people I had a chance to talk with, like the Canadian soldier who talked about a specific Chaplain named Doug.  He told interesting stories about Doug, like how he would play poker with the soldiers and always seemed to win.  Then when he had their money and they wanted to go to town to probably get into trouble, he would dole out small amounts of money so the soldiers could go into town with just enough money for a few pints and a movie or some other entertainment, but never enough so that they got into serious trouble.  Doug was also known for saving several men from the battlefield, but when he was told he would be put in for a medal for meritorious conduct, he totally refused saying it was the other soldiers who deserved the metals.

Here is a lady demonstrating doing some sewing on a portable Singer.  She was making a pair of men's underdraws from a pattern.  We discussed how it can be hard to use old patterns like that since the instructions are very limited.  Back in the 1940's the pattern companies  assumed that all women knew enough about sewing that they did not need instructions included with the pattern.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          It also amazes me how young some of the re-enactors are, like this youngster.  It makes my heart feel good to see young individuals getting involved in this kind of activity

instead of constantly being involved in something like videogames or getting in with the wrong type of peers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colonial Day at East Berlin, PA

Yesterday, I was off work for a change.  I made sure I got to the Colonial Day event early because there was the threat of storms.  I was hoping this event would be like the one I was used to going to in Ohio, where they have a fair that is truely all colonial.  Everyone is in colonial attire and all the wares being sold have a colonial origin.  This one day event was not like that, but it still had merit.  There were a number of vendors who had some unusual things for sale.   Like these gourds that were so intricately carved and painted.  And, these really unusal holloween figures dressed with antique looking fabrics and antique family photos on their shirts.  On all the side streets people had also set up for big garage sale items, so there was plenty to see.

I did buy myself one thing that was different--an antique iron from probably around the 1920's or 1930's decorated with ribbon and clothespins.  It will be a fun addition to my laundry room.

On my way out of this event the wind started to come up some and you could hear a couple of things shatter on the ground.  Not long after I got on the road to come back to Gettysburg, the skies opened up.  The rain and wind was so intense, I pulled off the road into a parking lot and parked somewhere that there were no trees near as I was really worried some of them would come down.  When I got back on the road and passed the site where another festival was being held, I could see some of their tents blown over and the ground looking like a small lake.  I really hope that all those crafters at Colonial Day were O.K. because they had even flimsier tents.

There's a new addition at the Shriver House

About a week ago a new little kitten appeared at the giftshop of the Shriver House.  She had been found behind one of our employee's homes, and brought in to see if she would work out as a shop kitty.  So far, she has been playing with the staff, has learned to use the litter box and is even getting used to having larger groups of people in the shop.  She really enjoys playing with a toy mouse and climbing on our long skirts to get some attention.  Since I haven't had a pet for a couple of years, my time with this tiny bundle of fur has been so soothing.  Now, she has a bell around her neck so it is easier to find her; and the main emphasis is to make sure she stays away from the front door.  Welcome, to Buddy!

An audience with General and Mrs. Grant

Sorry to have been gone for so long.  I have just been working a lot--on the jobs and some quilting projects.  I have decided that I want to complete several lap quilts before next year.  Each will have a Civil War theme in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Just recently I was able to take a little time to go to a presentation by two excellent living history first person interpretors.  General Grant told the story of his life in great detail.  There were a number of stories about his courtship with his wife.  It seems she was somewhat reluctant to accept his proposal--at first.  He also spoke of how she pretty much ruled the roust at home.  After marrying when he got his pay, he tried giving her an allowance.  She immediately turned it around, and he was the one to get the allowance while she took care of the money affairs.  In the end it was a good thing she did this.  Some time during the middle of their marriage she invested $100 in a new company called the Compstock Load.  After Grant's Presidency they were able to travel the world on the $85,000 she had earned for them on that $100 investment.

There is another couple in the area who do presentations on General and Mrs. Lee.  These individuals are also very well versed about the lives of the General and his wife and the lifestyle of the time period.  They frequently do presentations at different sites around Gettysburg.  I believe they are planning on  doing a presentation next year at the Shriver House during the 10 days of re-enactments during the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.  Yes, next year there will be TWO weekends of re-enactments going on and hopefully an old fashioned 4th of July town parade.  However, if you didn't get your room reserved by July 1 of this year for next year's events, you are out of luck trying to get a room in this area.  Every room is already reserved.

We are getting into the fall soon and things around this town will be getting pretty quiet.  But the fall means that all kinds of festivals will be taking place, so there should be more posting coming soon.  Take care everyone.

What beautiful sculptures

I have driven the Battlefields of Gettysburg over and over again.  There is something very moving about being on this battlefield that takes a hold of a person.  There are over 1,000 monuments to all the different groups of soldiers who fought here situated at the site where they actually fought.  Some of these monuments are spectacular, huge sculptures, like this one for North Carolina:

And, then look at the detail and the intense expression in the faces of these men. 

Another very expressive monument is the one for Maryland.  You see, Maryland was a divided state with some of its men fighting for the North and others fighting for the South.  This monument actually shows two brothers--one a Union soldier and the other a Confederate soldier, each helping the other off the field of battle.

And, there is this statue of John Burns.  This man was 69 years old at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.  When the fighting started, he came out with his old musket and joined in with the Union soldiers to fight the Confederates.  He receives three wounds before he was willing to leave the field of battle.

Another statue that I find significant is of Elizabeth Thorne. She and her husband, Peter, who was away fighting for the Union, were the caretakers of the civilian cemetary.  After the battle she was expected to bury 102 Confederate soldiers even though she was six months pregnant.  She had asked some friends to come to Gettysburg to help her; but when they arrived, they were so sickened by the smell of death in the area that they had to return home.  She and her elderly father buried all of those soldiers despite her delicate condition.  What stamina and courage this woman of the 19th century had.  This statue is dedicated to her at the entrance to Evergreen Cemetary.

Confederates take the Shriver House

Each year during the re-enactment weekend for the Battle of Gettysburg there is a special presentation at the Shriver House.  On Saturday evening at 5PM the program starts in front of the Shriver House with Hettie Shriver and other townspeople excitedly talking about what they are going to do with the Confederates coming into town.  The next thing you see are the Confederates coming around the corner and entering the house.

As you tour the house, you see the Confederates moving through the home.  Up in the attic you see the men shouting their guns out of the window, just like they did during the battle.  And, in the cellar there are folks discussing medicine and surgery during the war.

Lastly, the Shriver Saloon is open where you can get some snacks and root beer where you can talk with the re-enactors. 

Despite the intense heat we had this weekend everyone seemed to still have a good time.  The fellas in the attic had to switch out more often because of the terrible heat, but no one minded lingering in the Saloon in the cellar as it was nice and cool. 

This event takes place every year on the Saturday evening of the re-enactment weekend, so hopefully you might get a chance to see it one of these years.

It's a tea party!

Remember me speaking of the Rupp House a short while ago?  Well, they have tried something new--a tea party.  The turn out was really good.  There was even one little red-headed girl who was dressed to the 9's in her flowered dress and sun hat. 

Todays' program centered around the women of Gettysburg of 1863.  There were approximately 8 ladies present and each one said something about their lives during the course of the battle and immediately after.  And, then there was a discussion about all of the garments a woman would have worn.  After the discussion the ladies each sat at different tables so that the guests could talk with them more about their lives.  A young lady, who portrayed Elizabeth Thorne, sat at our table; and I couldn't help admiring her lovely hat.  There will be three more of teas coming up during the rest of the season, each one with a distinct theme.

The food was really nice with one cold berry tea and a hot jasmine flavored tea.  There were four different types of tea sandwiches followed by a blueberry scone with lemon curd and one final course of desserts.

What a pleasant surprise! The Rupp House

On several occasions I have passed the Rupp House on Baltimore Street and could see inside a little bit.  It appeared that the front room only had a couple of chairs in it and people were watching a big screen TV.  I was not impressed, and would just keep walking.  Then the other day I had to stop in there to make a reservation for a tea party for a first person presentation about some of the women of Gettysburg for Sunday afternoon.  Boy, was I surprised.  Inside this house it was actually very nicely decorated with furnishings and artifacts.  There was the story of the Rupp family and how Mr. Rupp had hidden in the basement while the battle ragged outside with Union soldiers on the front porch and Confederate soldiers on the back porch and bullets flying though the house itself. 

The best part of this place is that it is for free!  There are occasions when a couple of friends of mine who portray General Lee and Mrs. Lee also do presentations here.  So be sure to spend a little time at this site.

It's Lavender Festival time

There is a place in the Gettysburg area called Willow Pond Farm where there are acres and acres of lavender.  I was lucky that the weather was cooperating on this one day that I had off during this festival.  I got out to the farm early and started to meander.  There were small garden areas of herbs, edible flowers and plants, etc. and a lovely pond area where the sign there read, "Please do not disturb the frogs."

There was a fairly large area where you could snip your own bunches of lavendar--as long as you dared share the fields with the multitudes of bumble bees and honey bees.  I just took a deep breath and thought to myself, "Show no fear."  I quietly moved among the lavendar plants and bees while selecting branches to snip.  Luckily, I was not bothered by a single insect.

There were vendors selling garden items of all sorts.  My one selection was of some votive candles in lavendar scents.  There was one stand where the vendor was selling all kinds of things about fairies for your garden area.  I was so tempted to ask her if she really believed in fairies, but she was too busy with customers.  I, myself, do believe in fairies ever since a friend caught one on his camera this one evening while we were out exploring at Lily Dale, the center of spiritualism.  But that is a story for another time.

There were lectures on identifying and growing a variety of herbal plants and lavendar; but since I am the kind of girl that hasn't gotten into dirt since I was about 8 years old, this only held my interest for a short time.  There were also some workshops on things such as making a lavendar wand.

And, then there was lunch.  I selected the turkey sandwich, a small cup of pasta salad, green tea with lavendar, of course; and last of all blond brownies made with lavendar.  Each item had it's own flavor with just that hint of lavendar in everything.  But, the one thing I enjoyed the most before leaving this site was an ice cream cone with peach lavendar ice cream.  And that was really good!

Once again, it was getting really hot out so it was a relief to know I had seen everything and could go back to my air-conditioned room for the rest of the afternoon.

There has been some talk that this "might" be the last Lavendar Festival as one of the owners of this farm has been having health issues.  However, they were asking for information from everyone as they were leaving so that they could make contact with them for next year's event.  Since the crowd attending this event was pretty large, I am sure the people are hoping this festival will continue again next year.

I forgot to mention a shop I've enjoyed for years

Ever since I started coming to Gettysburg with a group called The Ladies of Living History, I have known about this wonderful fabric shop.  For re-enactors this shop is a real find.  There are hundreds of bolts of reproduction period fabrics to make clothing from the early 1800's through the Civil War period.

These fabrics also make wonderful quilts, and they have the extra wide fabric for the backing on quilts.  And, if you have a hard time matching or selecting fabrics for a quilt, they have bundeled fabrics to make a quilt top.  They even ship if you find that you did not buy enough of something while in the shop.

They also carry a lot of other things needed for recreating period attire, like the proper buttons, hook tape, stays, corset fabric, trims and wool edging for the bottom of dresses.

Unlike most modern fabric shops, this one has an extensive selection of light weight and heavy weight wools for making capes, great coats, etc.

If you're in this area, you can find this shop just a few miles outside of Gettysburg on Route 16 going toward Fairfield.