Here's how to tell that it's Spring in Lancaster County:

1.  Our local greenhouses are open and bursting with color

2.  The locals have switched to their straw hats.

3.  Mud sales are held almost every weekend

4. Farmers are plowing their fields

5.  Mom and Lucy are back in their summer places on the porch at The Artist’s Inn!

Old Advice for a New Year

It’s January – the month of diets, resolutions, exercise and much too much quiet after the holidays.  It seems a good time to offer up some of the advice from my childhood.

I grew up in the ‘burbs of Cleveland, home of many nationalities, especially from Eastern Europe.  Both my parents were of Polish decent and my best friend’s parents were of Slovak descent.  I never much thought about the sayings, expressions and old wives’ tales that were repeated throughout my family and hers until my husband, Bruce (who hails from about 57 different nationalities) started to comment that he had never heard such sayings and thought we were just a bit superstitious.  I’ve endured many odd looks over the years, but I love these old sayings and, in an effort to bring you good luck in the new year, I happily share my favorites with you:

• Get a new broom for the house around New Year’s Day to make a clean sweep.
• Don’t eat chicken on New Year’s Day or you’ll scratch for money all year.  Eat pork and sauerkraut and you’ll prosper.
• If you are having bad luck at cards, get up and walk around your chair and your luck will improve.
• If you say the same thing at the same time as someone else, the first person that says “you owe me a beer” doesn’t have to pay for the next beer.
• Green cars are unlucky.
• If you drop silverware, it means that “company is coming!”  A fork is a guy, a spoon represents a woman and a knife is trouble.  The utensil will point in the direction from which they’ll travel.
• Knock on wood for good luck.
• Always leave a building by the same door that you entered.
• When a woman is pregnant, she shouldn’t eat a lot of sour foods or the baby will have a sour disposition.
• You can get sick in any month that has an “R” in the name.

Of course, here in Lancaster County, the Amish have plenty of wise advice and sayings of their own.   This one seems appropriate for the start of a new year:

• To grow old gracefully you must start when you are young.

We hope that this blog brightens your January day and keeps you on track for 2013.  From everyone at The Artist’s Inn, Happy New Year!

There’s Always a Season to Visit Lancaster County....Right Now It’s Mud!

Mud season in Vermont signifies the last of the skiing....it’s kind of sad as they shut down your favorite trails and runs, limiting your options each day.

But Mud season in Lancaster County is just the beginning of fun. Saturday was the first of the mud sales (auctions to the uninitiated), and they will continue all spring. The money that is raised benefits the local fire companies in Lancaster County.

The cool weather, the smell of great food, the chance to mingle with the locals, and, best of all, to squish in the mud like a kid....it’s an experience like no other. And chances are, once you try it you’ll be back for more.

These sales each have their own personality. Some specialize in building materials, others have fresh roses. Most all have hundreds of hand-made quilts and donations from businesses big and small.

Throw in Amish kids helping to carry goods on wagons, families trying out the swing sets, horses gathering in the meadow, and you’ve got a picture of our special part of the world..... a land like no other where people come together to help a cause.

So adjust your ears for the auction cadence, grab your boots and head to Lancaster County. And don’t worry about the chill in the air - all the excitement will keep you warm.

Here’s a full schedule:

March 5 - Bart Township Annual Auction/Mud Sale

8:30 a.m., Bart Twp. Fire Company, 11 Furnace Rd., Quarryville. 717-786-3348 or Bart Twp. Fire Co. website  - Antiques, quilts, furniture, new and used equipment, small goods, hay and straw, livestock, buggies, tools, crafts and food.

March 12 - Gordonville Spring Mud Sale & Auction

8:30 a.m., Gordonville Fire Company, Old Leacock Rd., Gordonville. 717-768-3869 or Gordonville Fire Co. website

The largest firemen's auction/sale on the East Coast, featuring 500-600 Amish quilts, antiques, collectibles, new and used furniture, tools, farm equipment, horses, mules, buggies, lawn & garden, barns, utility sheds and trailers, construction equipment.

March 19 - Bart Township Building Materials Mud Sale

8:30 a.m., Bart Twp. Fire Company, 11 Furnace Rd., Quarryville. 717-786-3348 or Bart Twp. Fire Co. website - Wood and aluminum siding, windows, doors, paneling, bath tubs, wash bowls, lumber and food.

March 19 - Penryn Fire Company 3rd Annual Mud Sale

8:30 a.m., Penryn Fire Company #1, 1441 N. Penryn Rd., Penryn. 717-664-2825 or Penryn Fire Co. website

Woodcrafts, furniture, antiques, quilts, crafts, farm equipment, food and more.

March 19 - West Earl Fire Company Mud Sale

6:30 a.m. breakfast, 8:30 auction begins. 14 School Lane Ave., Brownstown, PA 17058. 717-656-6791 or West Earl website

Groceries, local nursery stock & mulch, hay and straw, lawn furniture, outside toys, swing set, sheds, quilts, food and more.

March 19 - Airville Volunteer Fire Company Mud Sale

7 a.m. coffee and doughnuts, 8 a.m. auction begins. 3576 Delta Road, Airville, PA 17602. 717-862-3806

Crafts, antiques, and household furniture, building material, plants, trees, equipment, groceries, windows & doors, tools, quilts, tractors, saddles, tack, buggies, and more.

March 26 - Gap Annual Spring Mud Sale/Auction

8 a.m., Gap Fire Company, 802 Pequea Ave., Gap. 717-442-8100

Horse-drawn carriages, buggies, wagons, new & used furniture, quilts, crafts, dry goods, groceries and more.

April 2 - Robert Fulton Volunteer Fire Company Mud Sale

7 a.m. breakfast, Robert Fulton Fire Company, 2271 Robert Fulton Hwy., Peach Bottom, 717-548-8995

Crafts, plants, tools, antiques, farm equipment, furniture, food, buggies, wagons, groceries, horses.

April 9 - Rawlinsville Annual Mud Sale

8 a.m., Rawlinsville Fire Company, 33 Martic Heights Dr., Holtwood. 717-284-3023

Quilts, horses, crafts, building materials, lawn equipment, new and used furniture.

A few fire companies have changed their sales for later in the year:

May 7 - Gratz Area Mud Sale

8:30a.m. Held at Gratz Fairgrounds, 601 E. Market Street, Gratz, PA 17030. 717-365-3043 or Gratz Fire Co. website

Equipment, nursery stock, quilts and crafts, tools, antiques, flowers, building materials, children's toys, appliances, furniture, animals and more.

May 14 *NEW DATE* - Honeybrook Annual Auction/Mud Sale

8 a.m., Honeybrook Fire Company, 679 Firehouse Ln., Honeybrook. 610-273-2688

Quilts, crafts, new furniture, Winross trucks, Smuckers bells, farm-related supplies, tools, buggies, heifers.

June 24 *NEW DATE* - Bird-in-Hand Mud Sale
Lancaster County Carriage and Antique Auction

8 a.m., Along Rt. 340 (Old Philadlephia Pike) across from Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant, 717-392-0112

Antiques, harness and tack, specialty items, quilts, crafts, carriages, buggies, wagons and food.

June 25 - Refton Fire Company Sale


7 a.m. breakfast, Refton Fire Company, 99 Church Street, 717-786-9462

Hardware, shop tools, plants, furniture, antiques, crafts, hay and straw, quilts, horses, food and more.

August 27 - Kinzers Fire Company Mud Sale

7 a.m. breakfast, Kinzers Fire Company, 3521 Lincoln Highway East, 717-442-4121

Plants, groceries, antiques, furniture, lumber, tack, sheds and gazebos, equipment, buggies, quilts, horses.

October 22 - Cochranville Fire Company Mud Sale

7 a.m. breakfast, Cochranville Volunteer Fire Company, 3135 Limestone Road, Cochranville, PA 19330. 610-593-5800

Tools, household goods, shrubbery, horse tack, quilts, horses, sheds, outdoor furniture and more

To read more about mud sales in Lancaster County, see our previous blogs:

The Best Way to Buy a Quilt in Lancaster County
and
Do They Really Sell Mud?

The Best Way to Buy a Quilt in Lancaster County

First, you’ll need a pair of boots and a plastic bag. Better take along a warm coat and I would definitely wear jeans. Go soon – this opportunity is only available in February, March and early April. Take cash, or, if you live in Pennsylvania, a check. Be prepared to walk a bit -there is never enough parking.

Next, you’ll head to the nearest Mud Sale. If you aren’t familiar with that term, it has everything to do with the boots and plastic bag. A sale, in Lancaster County terms, means “auction”. The Mud Sales held every spring are fundraisers for our local fire companies. All types of things are sold at them, from antiques to quilts. (See our blog from January, 2009 “Do They Really Sell Mud? to learn more about them.)
On Saturday, we set off for Honeybrook – the first of the Mud Sales. While it was actually just over the border in Chester County, there were enough Amish there that we felt as though we were in Lancaster! There were kids in charge of a wagon to help people with their purchases, Amish men bidding on horses and tools, and Amish women inside the quilt building. That’s what we’ll be talking about today.
The quilts are all made locally, and are either donated or on consignment for the Fire Company. The proceeds from this day’s auction will help fund the fire company – and as everyone knows, fires are a very real threat to farmers. Amish and Mennonites make up a significant percentage of the force – especially in Terre Hill.

Women work most of the winter (or longer) to produce the quilts for the sales. You’ll see every size, color, and pattern. If you are not too picky, and if you don’t mind not looking them over closely before hand, you can get a tremendous buy.

Be warned – the bidding is swift, there are hundreds of quilts, and there’s no time to put the auctioneer on “pause”. Set a price limit for yourself and know the colors that you can use. There will be a sheet available with all the quilts listed – they usually also put down the dimensions that will work for the different bed sizes.

Now the fun begins as the auctioneer starts his cadence, “Do I hear two hundred, two, two, two hundred”? Although every auctioneer has his own unique call, Bruce thinks they all sound a bit like a Native American war chant. Give your ears a chance to adjust and soon you’ll be able to follow the bids. You’ll probably learn several of the patterns, and you’ll experience Amish kids running in and out. While we were there, an Amish girl was fascinated with blowing her soap bubbles and another boy was busy eating a long tube of candy.
A good auctioneer will also announce if the quilt is signed, or if there are any “spots” on it. Once you purchase your quilt, allow about 20 minutes for them to process your bill and wrap the quilt. Surprisingly, some of the fire companies are now accepting credit cards, but I wouldn’t count on it, so unless you have a PA check, bring some cash.

Certainly this is not the only way to buy a quilt made in Lancaster County….there are dozens of stores, all with knowledgeable salespeople who will help you.
There are farms where you can purchase right from the quilter (just look for hand-made signs). And, on March 24- 27, the American Quilters Society is having its annual convention at the Lancaster County Convention Center. Any quilter worth her stitches will no doubt be there, as Lancaster County is Quilt Country.
So, yes, it’s not the only way to purchase a quilt, but it sure is the most fun!

Here’s a list of upcoming Mud Sales which will be selling quilts. They are all within a short drive of the Artist's Inn in Terre Hill:

February 27 - Strasburg Spring Consignment & Mud Sale
8 a.m., Strasburg Fire Company #1, 203 Franklin St., Strasburg. 717-687-7232 or Strasburg Fire Co

March 6 -Bart Township Annual Auction/Mud Sale
8:30 a.m., Bart Twp. Fire Company, 11 Furnace Rd., Quarryville. 717-786-3348 or Bart Twp. Fire Co.
Antiques, quilts, furniture, new & used equipment, small goods, hay & straw, livestock, buggies, tools, crafts and food.

March 13 -Gordonville Spring Mud Sale & Auction
8:30 a.m., Gordonville Fire Company, Old Leacock Rd., Gordonville. 717-768-3869 or Gordonville Fire Co.
The largest firemen's auction/sale on the East Coast, featuring 500-600 Amish quilts, antiques, collectibles, new & used furniture, tools, farm equipment, horses, mules, buggies, lawn & garden, barns, utility sheds & trailers, construction equipment.

March 20 - Airville Volunteer Fire Company Sale
7 a.m., Coffee and Doughnuts, Airville Fire Company, 3576 Delta Road, 717-862-3806
Crafts, antiques, plants, quilts, farm equipment, saddles, carriage, buggies, furniture, garden equipment.

March 20 - Penryn Fire Company 3rd Annual Mud Sale
8:30 a.m., Penryn Fire Company #1, 1441 N. Penryn Rd., Penryn. 717-665-4167 or Penryn Fire Co.

Woodcrafts, furniture, antiques, quilts, crafts, farm equipment, food and more.

March 27 - Gap Annual Spring Mud Sale/Auction
8 a.m., Gap Fire Company, 802 Pequea Ave., Gap. 717-442-8100
Horse-drawn carriages, buggies, wagons, new & used furniture, quilts, crafts, dry goods, groceries and more.

April 3 - Wakefield Annual Spring Mud Sale
8 a.m., Robert Fulton Fire Company, 2271 Robert Fulton Hwy., Peach Bottom. 717-548-2483
Quilts, crafts, horses, lumber & building supplies, shrubbery, miscellaneous items and lots of homemade food.

April 10 -Rawlinsville Annual Mud Sale
8 a.m., Rawlinsville Fire Company, 33 Martic Heights Dr., Holtwood. 717-284-3023
Quilts, horses, crafts, building materials, lawn equipment, new and used furniture.

June 25 -Bird-in-Hand Mud Sale
8 a.m., Along Rt. 340 (Old Philadlephia Pike) across from Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant, 717-392-0112
Antiques, harness and tack, specialty items, quilts, crafts, carriages, buggies, wagons and food.

June 26 - Refton Fire Company Sale
7 a.m. breakfast, Refton Fire Company, 99 Church Street, 717-786-9462
Hardware, shop tools, plants, furniture, antiques, crafts, hay and straw, quilts, horses, food and more.

August 28 -Kinzers Fire Company Mud Sale
7 a.m. breakfast, Kinzers Fire Company, 3521 Lincoln Highway East, 717-442-4121
Plants, groceries, antiques, furniture, lumber, tack, sheds and gazebos, equipment, buggies, quilts, horses.

Lancaster County – The Land of “Ahs”!

It all started with my dad. He’d take a sip of a cold drink (beer, perhaps) on a hot day, close his eyes, lean back his head, smack his lips and sigh “ah”. Soon the whole family would mimic my dad, and I now do it in his memory.

So it got me to thinking about the word “ah”. It gets a lot of use at The Artist’s Inn. No matter how sophisticated or elaborate our vocabulary may be, we all use this simple word. And there are so many ways to express it!

There’s the quiet and respectful “ah” that people utter when they learn about our Amish culture, or encounter their first buggy passing the inn.

When guests take in the breathtaking scenery of the Weaverland Valley from our back deck, there is a soft “ah”. The sound slowly escapes from them like air out of a tire. I like to think it’s their stress valve releasing.

The surprise of seeing horses playing and rolling on their backs often brings forth a short “ah”, accompanied by a laugh.

Guests can’t resist sighing a sweet “ah” when they view Amish children peeking out the back of the buggy.

Then there’s the satisfied “ah” that results from tasting something new and wonderful. From simple farm-fresh ice cream to gourmet meals from restaurants tucked away in small towns, you’ll find it all in Lancaster County.

And let’s not forget the “ah” of wonder that comes from seeing an Amish wagonload of ten different kinds of pumpkins heading for the auction – a colorful sight that delights the eye.

So……..come to Lancaster, because there are so many reasons to open your mouth and say “ah”.

Thanks to Dr. Charles Carroll for taking this wonderful picture when he visited our inn.

Girls Just Wanna……..Go Shopping in Lancaster!

We think that Cindi Lauper would agree….you have fun when you go shopping. And, as you can see in these pictures, it seems the guests at The Artist's Inn never run out of places to shop. What better way to carry on a conversation, discover new things, stop for lunch, and generally…have fun.

The thrill of the hunt is just ten minutes away in Adamstown (the center for antiques shopping in Lancaster County). Two huge warehouses and lots of little shops and outdoor flea markets await you. Whether you are adding to a collection or just browsing and open to new ideas, it’s a great place to visit. We’ve found many a treasure for our inn, cottage and carriage house in Adamstown.

Of course the outlets are here – three centers in fact – VF in Reading, Tanger and Rockvale in Lancaster. We are smack in the middle between Reading and Lancaster, so you can take your pick of bargains. Amish quilts, local crafts and small interesting shops can be found on the back roads throughout Lancaster County. They may not be listed on the major tourist maps, but you are sure to enjoy these special gems.

Be sure to leave room in your car for some of Lancaster’s bounty, whether it’s home-grown produce, nursery plants or pumpkins in the fall. Our fields burst with corn, tomatoes and squash in all varieties. And if you like flowers, trees and shrubs…..there are at least 8 nurseries within a 15-minute drive of Terre Hill.

Don’t forget our “sales”. Outsiders may refer to these as auctions. It’s a great way to mingle with the locals and catch great prices. Many auctions take place every week, while the mud sales (to benefit our local fire companies) typically take place in the Spring. You’re liable to catch auction fever if you go!

Lest you think only girls like to have fun, we recently had a guest who bought 29 quilts at a local auction. Everyone on his list is getting a quilt for Christmas!

So, the next time your girlfriends want a getaway, bring them to Lancaster – they just wanna have fun and go shopping! And you just may find your picture on our blog!

Gourd-o-mania in Lancaster County!

I had driven by many times. I had even seen the family in the fields harvesting. But I had never stopped in. And then she came for a visit - my crazy cousin, Pat, from Ohio.

And so it was that I found myself at Smucker’s Gourd Farm on a cold, rainy, windy day in April. Pat is a painter of gourds – of all sizes and shapes. She makes cats, snowmen, Santa’s, you name it….they are beautiful works of art.

Once inside this expansive shop, I knew from Patty’s comments that we had discovered a wonderful place. She quickly started picking out different gourds and making piles on the floor. Some gourds were big, some the size of a grape, some had long skinny tails, others were a little damaged. It didn’t matter; Patty looked at them all - at least once. Then we went outside to look at the “dirty” gourds – the ones just harvested by the family that hadn’t been scrubbed clean. Patty let out a low yelp. As I followed her gaze, I saw that off in the distance there was a field brimming with even more gourds. I was now thankful for the bad weather…because I knew that if it weren’t raining, we’d be heading down to that field. Patty clearly had a bad case of “gourd-o-mania”.

One of the Amish girls working the front desk asked if we needed any help. Since Pat was looking for a certain type of gourd (don’t ask me – these “gourders” have a language all their own), she offered to look for them in the barn. So we waited. Patty picked out more gourds while I admired the finished ones. Birdhouses, planters, and even a hat were painted for every occasion. I followed the sound of someone singing and discovered yet another teenager painting flowers on a gourd in a small room. We waited a little longer. Patty picked out still more gourds. After about 45 minutes, we politely asked if we could go to the barn.

As we followed a five-year old to the ordinary looking barn, I remember thinking “what could be taking her so long?” But once inside, I felt as though I was in a movie as the place ballooned to the size of a football field. Stacked everywhere were four foot by four foot steel bins – filled to the brim with – you guessed it – gourds. Patty was in heaven. Even I was excited now. We arrived just as the 14-year old expertly backed the forklift through a tight spot to present a whole bin of the specific type of gourd that Pat wanted.

We filled my car to the roof, made our way back to the inn and stored the gourds in the barn. When Pat’s husband came to visit a few days later, she went on another shopping spree. This time I asked John to take some pictures. Patty and John had a chance to meet the owner, Eli, and I don’t think it will be the last visit for Patty.


The Pennsylvania Gourd Society holds its annual Gourd Fest at Smucker’s Farm, just down the street from our inn (The Artist’s Inn) on Route 897. It is scheduled for June 12 and 13 and features classes, supplies, children’s activities, a silent auction, and of course, gourds galore. If you are the least bit curious, this might be just the opportunity to discover if you, too, might be coming down with your own case of “gourd-o-mania”.

“Have You Ever Seen An Amish Wedding Presents Room”?

Mary asked us this question as she led the way through her kitchen, dining room, then past the sewing machines where she was making aprons, and into a long room at the back of the house.

Here were tables laden with cooking utensils, a round clothespin contraption, plates….even a propane lamp/table. These, she explained, were her daughter’s gifts from her wedding in November. It was now late January and her daughter and new husband were still living at Mary’s, waiting to set up house when they move in the spring.

As we walked toward the rear of the room, the groom’s corner was even more interesting, boasting lots of tools and a great-looking grill. Some of these were given the day of the wedding; other gifts had been “collected” as the happy couple traveled to their friends and relatives for dinner visits.

Mary will be part of our Amish Tour on March 28. This excursion will focus on a behind-the-scenes look at local Amish businesses, and explore the Amish way of life – mostly from a yummy culinary point of view!

As we drove home from Mary’s house, chomping on home-made potato chips, I realized that in all the years that I’ve lived here and heard about Amish weddings, I’d never before seen a room full of their presents!

Participants in our upcoming Lancaster County Tour of the Amish will be able to walk around the farms, meet several different families and visit in their homes. We’ll learn how the Amish utilize fruits and vegetables in their family recipes, hear about their traditions and why they love the land. (You’ll even be able to ask Mary about what it’s like to have two of your children married in the same month!)

For more information, call us or visit our website at www.artistinn.com/amishtour.htm. Our tour group will consist of The Artist’s Inn and the guests from The Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast. The cost is $100/person and will cover lunch, dinner, all demonstrations and tours and transportation. Hurry! Seating is limited; reservations are required. Reserve online or phone us at 888-999-4479.

Our thanks to Dr. Charles Carroll, a recent guest, who snapped the picture below.