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.