New Oxford Antique Day

I usually have to work on this day each year, but I got lucky this time and had off.  It was a hot day outside, but there was enough shade here and there to get a little relief from the heat.  I wandered around for hours exploring all the stands that lined the streets for more than four blocks.  I am at the point in my life that I already have so much STUFF that I get very particular about what I might select, but I did find one more antique perfume bottle to add to my collection.

One place I really enjoyed was the New Oxford Coffee Co.  I got an iced Irish mocha and a rather large piece of their homemade apple cake.  Thank heavens there are still some places where you can get something that still has real flavor to it!

Memorial Day Parade

One big advantage to working at the Shriver House is that I always have a front row seat for any and all parades.  The parade this year lasted for a quite a while with a nice variety of entries.  There are always groups of soldiers and nicely decorated vehicles.  This year my friend's young son, pictured above, marched in the parade wearing a WWI uniform.  There were other men representing every type of soldier ranging from the American Revolution thru present days. 

I was very pleased to see the support for the parade by the community and visiting public as you can see in the picture above with the crowd that had assembled.

 

It's been a L O N G few months since my last posting.

2013 did not start out very well for me.  During February I was sick with the flu.  I was still recuperating in March, but did not feel very well.  At the end of March, during my THIRD visit to the doctor's, I was told that my gastric reflux had gotten worse and that was why I was still coughing so much.  Since I had not had any severe heartburn episodes, I would have never guessed it was GERD giving me the terrible taste in my mouth.  One good thing came out of it, I lost a few pounds since nothing tasted that good to me for a couple of months.  And, then there was April.  On April Fool's Day I was heading north to visit an elderly Aunt when I was stricken with kidney stones.  I barely got myself back to Columbus where my son lives before the pain was so bad I could hardly breath.  Well, three days in the hospital and $25,000 in medical bills later and I was starting to recover. And, then on my last visit to the urologist, I took a nasty fall and badly injured both knees.  I probably should not have gone back to work as soon as I did, but now I really need the job with all those medical bills, of which I still owe over $3,000; and that is after my insurance paid!
It has taken me all this time to finally get back some of my energy.  So, on to more pleasant things.  Before leaving home I was told about an automobile museum in Harrisburg, PA, which was the first thing I got to see on a day off from work.

For a good part of this museum it was a stroll down memory lane for me--and, no I do not mean the Model-T.  There were so many vehicles from the 1950's and 60's.  The old style gas station scene was pretty cool as was the scene at the outdoor movies.

There was also an entire area of old buses and a gallery of motor cycles.  I'm not a diehard enthusiast about vehicles, but this place was still pretty interesting.

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.