Thanksgiving – Was It Just A Figment of My Imagination?

There used to be a holiday this time of year – a day off work to gather with family and give thanks for life’s blessings.  But this year there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of it, and I’m afraid that next year it may disappear altogether.

A local store is advertising the fact that you can shop their Christmas specials starting at 6:00 a.m on Thanksgiving Day.  I feel that my beautiful horn of plenty and the few Thanksgiving decorations are up for about one week before the boatload of Christmas stuff must be brought down from the attic.  (It’s always tricky decorating around guests so we must start early to get all three houses finished.)

In a world that seems to rush by faster every year, the whole idea of Thanksgiving may seem a little, ah, old-fashioned.  Perhaps that is why I like it so much. It is so rare to take the time to reflect and give thanks.

Yes, the two holidays have always been related.  The Christmas season traditionally starts with the Macy’s Parade in New York City, but stores hardly wait for that anymore....it seems like it’s still August when they start putting up the fake trees and dancing Santas. 

Thanksgiving....it’s our most “American” holiday, and it appears it’s the only non-commercial one left.  So enjoy it while it lasts.....before you rush off to stand in line tonight to get into the nearest mall.

Here’s my short list of things for which I’m thankful:

To be surrounded by people I love

To be able to bring joy and comfort to those who stay with us

The sound of laughter in at our inn

To learn to be happy with my talents, limited as they may be

To appreciate the beauty that is Lancaster County

To be able to share with others and give back – whether it’s time, talent, money or just a smile

To be grateful always, for everything, especially good health

To look for the good in every person and situation

And my wish for the year to come - to be able to give thanks next November having enjoyed more of the same – at Thanksgiving time - a holiday that I’ll always celebrate.

Pumpkin Crazy in Lancaster County

Whether it’s Fairytale, Cinderella, One Too Many or the plain old Jack-o-Lantern, Lancaster County is covered in pumpkins.  I recently visited two of my favorite farms to share some pictures with you.  They are right around the corner from The Artist's Inn.

As the summer landscape gives way to cooler weather, there’s no loss of color – from mums and asters of every color to the vast array of pumpkins that seem to float in fields around every turn.  Gourds of every size and shape decorate front porches, and roadside stands boast huge boulder-sized pumpkins of every shade of orange.  They seem to exist just to make us happy.

If you are lucky, you’ll take the time to explore some new varieties....and choose some to take home - they make great souvenirs!  But you’d better hurry – the heavy fall rains have left many pumpkins rotting in the field.  Be sure to store them out of the weather so they’ll last longer.

We admit it – we ARE pumpkin crazy.  

Look closely at the pumpkin on the left.  Luke carved the words in it when it was young, and as it grew, so did the welcome!  Of course, no fall decorations would be complete without including our own Cat in the Hat.  As you can see by his smile, he likes pumpkins too!

But my favorite pumpkin this year is one that no one can explain.  It has no name and grew in the middle of the gourd patch, looking a bit like a giant candy corn.

For more about pumpkins and gourds, read out other blogs on this subject: Lancaster County - The Land of Pumpkins!, Pumpkinology, and Gourd-o-Mania!

I Love a Piano (and More!)

It was a dark and stormy night last week when we set out to Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre  to see their new play – “I Love a Piano” – celebrating the songs of Irving Berlin.  The play is jam-packed with American standards and it tells the story of a piano that made its way through quite a few owners from the 1920s, through WWII, and into the 1950’s.

From “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” to “Puttin’ on the Ritz”, to “There’s No Business like Show Business”, the energy of just six people on stage was remarkable. And I loved the tap scenes with the men.

While I didn’t know all of the 50+ songs, I knew quite a few – you will too!

The great thing about musicals is that they take your mind off all serious topics of the day and let it float through the night with joy.  They are a great break from reality.

There is usually one song from a musical that gets stuck in my head.  That song was “Blue Skies”.  It was one of my dad’s favorite songs and he often sang it – or at least the refrain.  And when I’d call from two states away and ask how he was, he’d often answer – “we have blue skies shining above”. 

Maybe I remember that song the most because at the end of the show, we walked outside to pouring rain, lightning and thunder.  It was the second day of the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, which would bring torrential rain and flooding to Lancaster County.

If you need a break from reality, head to Dutch Apple for “I Love a Piano”.  It's only 30 minutes from The Artist's Inn.  I'm happy to report that we do have "blue skies" once again.

Enjoying the Red, White and Green of Lancaster County

Lancaster County wineries sure know how to throw a party.  Whether it’s jazz in the evening, picnics on the lawn or tasting new wines while enjoying the view, you are guaranteed to have a good time.

Recent rains have turned the county green once again and views from many of the wineries are relaxing and reminiscent of Napa or Sonoma. – and you don’t need to buy a plane ticket!  Harvest season is just a few short weeks away, and fall colors always go better with a glass of wine.

Here’s a listing of events that are just a short drive from The Artist’s Inn.  Then again, a day of tasting followed by a night on the porch provides some spectacular views as well.

Moon Dancer Winery - Live music Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Mt. Hope Winery - Mt. Hope winery has the biggest party of them all – the PA Renaissance Faire...every weekend until October 30.

Nissley Winery - Lawn concerts every Saturday night until Labor Day

Tamanend Winery - Offering winemaker dinners

 

Twin Brook Winery - Enjoy their gazebo concerts on Friday evenings.

Waltz Vineyards – Here are some pictures from one of their lawn events.

 

 

Don’t let summer slip away before you enjoy the red, white and green of Lancaster County.

Summertime...and the Eating is Easy in Lancaster County

You just can’t beat the fresh taste of summer foods...tomatoes that are still warm from the sun, corn that crunches on the cob and vegetables that look like they are posing for the latest gourmet magazine.

Lancaster County is all about food – after all, we provide it for over six million people a year and grow countless acres of feed for animals too.

There’s a procession of different fruits that parade through the season, each one sweeter than the last...

I thought about all that tonight as I ran out for some tomatoes at the farm stand around the corner - how lucky we are to live in a climate with ample rainfall, and the richest non-irrigated soil in the country.

One time I stopped at this stand and the farmer had run out of lettuce...when I inquired if he had any, he produced a knife and went out to the field to cut a small head of lettuce, for which he charged me only half price. Now THAT is fresh!

We really delight in showcasing these local foods at The Artist’s Inn. The breakfast tomorrow will feature zucchini bread, cantaloupe with lavender syrup, roasted potatoes, asparagus and swiss frittata, dutch apple sausage and double chocolate brownies. Everything is from Lancaster County: the flour, eggs, milk, cheese (from a certified organic old-order Mennonite cheese farmer not a mile from our inn), cocoa and chocolate from Wilbur (in Lititz) and the sausage is made at Shady Maple Farm Market – just three miles up the road. Even the lavender and the herbs are from the inn garden.

The best part is that when you visit, you can take home much of the home-grown goodness of Lancaster County. Just ask us where our favorite farm stands are located.

Here’s a very simple side dish that we live on in the summer: Fresh tomatoes, sprinkled with baby basil leaves, balsamic vinegar and sea salt. Add a little Lancaster County goat cheese and I’m in heaven....or maybe just in Lancaster County.

Great Places to Shop in Lancaster County – (Eighth in a Series)

Here’s how an innocent mug led to a new dining room at The Artist’s Inn.

I’m always searching for something new for our bed and breakfast. When I attended a recent innkeeping conference, I ordered new mugs from Deneen – they are hand-thrown and made in the USA and our guests love them. I picked out a navy blue with a white glaze top.

I saw this as the perfect opportunity to change the color of the walls in the dining room (after all, the color of the dining room should serve only one purpose – to show off our new mugs in the best light). Bruce wasn’t too keen on the idea, but I was tired of the Williamsburg blue and wanted navy and so whining ensued.

Of course, the chair covers had to be changed to match – lucky for me our inn is about 15 minutes away from The Interior Alternative, tucked away in the Manufacturers Outlet Mall in Morgantown.

They offer a dizzying array of designer and home decorating fabrics, ready-made chair pads, window treatments and trim. I picked out enough material for six chairs (and little extra) and paid my bill of only $30. (They have terrific deals here as some of the bolts are seconds due mostly to color dye  – watch carefully when you buy but I’ve never had a problem and Waverly is very particular).  Unfortunately Interior Alternative doesn’t have a website, but their Google Places page gives some basic information.

The chairs only took about half an hour to cover,

and I had lots of help from the cats.

Bruce painted the walls below the chair-rail in about two hours.

We’re pretty darn pleased with the change, even though the blue doesn't quite match. 

So the next time you get the urge to redesign a room, you may want to check out the collection of stoneware at Deneen Pottery.

Jonah – it sounds like a whale of a good time in Lancaster County

Two weeks ago I attended a preview of the 2012 show at Sight and Sound...Jonah.  It promises to be the most interactive show the theater has ever produced – and these folks have been in the business for 35 years.

Jonah is one of the shortest stories in the Bible, and Sight and Sound admits they took some liberty with this story, expounding on the personality of the character of Jonah. They’ll use lots of symbolism and humor during the play. From what I saw, Jonah is a bit like his house – rigid and straight and strictly adhering to the laws, and God would like him to be just a bit more forgiving. Ah, the lessons this show will hold for all of us.

We met an absolutely adorable skunk – just one of the animals being trained for the show opening in March. We met the donkey as well – one that Jonah thought was a bit, ah, stubborn. As I said, lots of symbolism on this set.

And what a set it is. If you’ve never been to this Lancaster County theater, the stage is all around you – and this show promises to bring you underwater AND inside the whale. Just how they will do that is a secret that won’t be revealed until showtime. What isn’t a secret, but is just as amazing, is that the sets are controlled by GPS!

Kids are especially going to love Jonah...there are bubbles that float out and over the audience and cute little crab puppets for sale.

It’s going to be a great show...we can’t wait to see it. If you can’t wait, call us – The Artist’s Inn  is a participant in their hotel program, so we can purchase tickets at a discount to any Sight and Sound show.

Bed and Breakfasts, Soap, Lancaster County and the World

Did you ever wonder what happens to all those wonderful used soaps that are left at a bed and breakfast? Innkeepers take great care to seek out a nice scent, design a package (often touting their private label) and proudly display them. Some offer a plastic sandwich bag so that guests may take their leftover soap home. But most folks leave them behind, often hardly used and still sporting the inn logo that is carved into the soap.

Years ago, we donated our used soap to some missionary organization, but they ruled that the soaps were unsanitary and discontinued the practice. And so, over the years, thousands of our soaps from The Artist's Inn were thrown out.

Last year we heard about the Clean the World program. We now had a new place to send our soaps....and we could either mail them or save them for a Bed and Breakast conference to be held in Lancaster County. That conference was last week, and I hauled in 17 lbs of soap from our inn. There would have been more, but throwing away soap is a hard habit to break! (Finding a place to store them until the conference was a challenge too.) I’m guessing I finally got with the program in August of last year.

At the conference, there was a competition sponsored by the generous folks at the Hummingbird Inn in VA, offering $100 to the innkeeper that brought in the most soap.  My good friend, Ruth, from Flowers and Thyme B&B won – she saved 81 lbs! YAY Ruth! All together the innkeepers at our conference brought in over 300 lbs. of soap.

Still more amazing is the company that processes the used soap, Clean the World.

To read about how they recycle the soap, click here:

http://www.cleantheworld.org/operations.asp

We’re proud to be a small part of such a great program.

And now they are helping with the gigantic clean-up efforts in Japan.  To read about how you might help, click here:  http://www.cleantheworld.org/japan.asp

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?

Staying Warm During the Winter in Lancaster County

Lancaster County received its first significant snowfall Wednesday – about 9 inches of the stuff.
So on Thursday afternoon, Bruce and I packed up our cross-country skis and headed to Nolde Forest, only 20 minutes away on Route 625; actually it's just over the border in Berks County.

There’s no better place to appreciate the beauty and romance of the snow than among the towering pines, planted over 100 years ago. When hosiery baron Jacob Nolde acquired this area in the early 1900s, there was but one single white pine. Inspired by this tree, the German-born Nolde hired an Austrian forester to create a coniferous forest. Now it’s one of the few places around where you can enjoy over 600 acres of century trees.

There are trails, occasionally marked when they cross each other. We just followed the tracks left by some hikers.

Once off the road, the forest becomes very quiet. Occasionally there’s a group of birds, the gurgling of a stream, or a call from Bruce as he waits for me while I play with the camera.

See if you can hear the stream...

 
Big puffs of snow, falling from high tree limbs, float to the ground silently.

Turn in any direction and you'll see majestic trees reaching skyward.

And the snow is so pristine, it looks blue.

Thank you, Jacob, for having the insight to create such a beautiful place.

Nolde is a well-kept secret – in fact, we only saw two other folks the entire time we were there.

So, grab your Valentine, pack your skis or hiking boots and your backpack and we’ll fill a thermos with hot chocolate, pack up some cookies and send you on your way for a romantic afternoon.

Not into skiing? Here are some other ideas for staying warm in the winter...

Go Ice Skating.  New York has one. So does downtown Cleveland, and now Lancaster has one, too—its very own ice rink. Skating is depicted on countless Christmas cards throughout the years, a romantic way to spend an hour or two. Yep, we’ve skated here at Clipper Stadium. No skates? No worries – they rent.

Or stop and build a snowman, Lancaster has many parks with all the snow you’ll need.  We found this one on the way to Nolde - just past the Amish schoolhouse.  I couldn't resist giving it a hug.

Of course you can look forward to coming back to the inn to soak in your own Jacuzzi, and sit in front of the fireplace. Ah, the best part of winter is warming up.

And don't worry about a little bit of snow - The Artist's Inn is located on State Route 897, so our road is nearly always clear.

For more romantic ideas for Valentines’s Day – or any day, see our January Blog, "25 ways to add romance to your getaway in Lancaster County" from last year.

Great Places to Shop in Lancaster County (Seventh in a Series)

Boy, Oh Boy!  OBIES!

About fourteen years ago, just after we had purchased The Artist’s Inn, I was out and about and needed mustard for dinner. I drove by a shop on Route 23 in Goodville that had an A-Treat Soda sign. I assumed that they would carry food, parked the car and went in. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

When I opened the door, the little store nearly exploded with bolt upon bolt of fabric. Or maybe it was the number of women busily gathering up their selections that made it feel so crowded. And then there was the (pretty loud) Christian music playing. It seemed all my senses went on overload at once!

I had not only opened the door to a store, but to a way of shopping long forgotten. Penny candy, children’s books, a pop machine, and squished in the middle of it all, a tiny desk with a cash register. That was just in the first five feet!

One thing I was certain – there was no mustard in sight and I was beginning to doubt that I would find any. But mustard was quickly forgotten as I set off to explore another one of Lancaster County’s hidden gems. This was a quilter’s delight. And though I don’t quilt, I can sew and do get “fabric fever”.

And fabric they have – not only calicos and plaids, but some interesting novelty ones as well. Every football team you can name,

every hobby and subject matter,

every kind of food.

Just look and you will find it. One might think the store is jam-packed and crowded, but don’t for a minute think it’s unorganized....I’ve seen people request a certain pattern in apple green and Nan can find it in a heartbeat.

Nan is the owner – she inherited the store from her parents, and her grandparents before that. She officially started working at Obies in 1975.

The store was originally built by a ship-builder in 1830. There’s a huge lighting fixture in the shape of an anchor – it hangs from the ceiling through two stories.

Look closely at the end of the hook to see the mermaid


I recently talked with Nan about her customers. “Oh, quilters are happy people. We’ve met folks from all over the world. They may not be able to speak English, but they know what material they want!”

Seems like quilters aren’t the only ones having fun. Renee has been working for Nan for about 12 years. “I have six kids. When they were young, I practically begged Nan for a job just to get a break. It’s so interesting and a lot of fun, so even though my kids are now older, I’m still here.”

This is old-fashioned shopping on a personal level. You talk, they listen. You both laugh. You explore, they wait patiently and offer helpful suggestions.




Aren't these pincushions cute!


 There are about five thousand potholders – made right at the store.

(Yes, this is where I buy the potholders that I sell at our inn.) Nan currently has eighteen local ladies that sew for her – everything from aprons,

 to Christmas tree skirts,

quillows, and placemats.

And quilts.


Upstairs there are about 300 large quilts in stock and about 60 wall hangings.


Quilts, quilts and more quilts!

Don’t see anything that you like? No problem – they’ll make one for you. Just go downstairs and pick out the fabric.



Since my first discovery, I’ve sent scores of guests to Obies – some order quilts to have them shipped all over the country, others purchase material that they had long ago given up ever finding again, and mostly men go just for the experience. They all marvel at what they find.