Do you have a sweet tooth?

In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania the Amish farming communities feed hungry tourists at several sit down family style restaurants. Also, many local markets such as this one in the township named Bird-in-Hand, offer baked specialties such as Shoofly Pie.

I've never tasted this Pennsylvania Dutch pie but do know you have to enjoy extremely sweet desserts to handle this molasses and sugar concoction. The 'wet bottom' version has a gooey molasses base and the entire pie is somewhat like a coffee cake. Anyone out there actually tried a slice? Would love to know what you thought of it.

The Amish farms dot the lush countryside of Lancaster County. We were a tad early in the season to see much growing. Fields had been plowed, and we did see pairs of horses or mules pulling plows, no mechanical tractors used here.

The farms are certainly beautiful. People were few, perhaps as it was a damp, drizzly day.
I was able to get dh to stop at one sprawling antiques mall as we left Lancaster County. I could have spent hours there as it was crammed ~ in a very neat and tidy way ~ with fabulous stuff. I had to be quick, sweeter things were calling both dh and granddaughter!

Passed up the gorgeous Mason's pink transferware above ~ being sold as a large set.
These Spode reproduction plates were lovely but too expensive.

More Mason's below ~ would have loved these pieces, especially that gorgeous teapot, sugar and creamer.

Below are the few items I did bring home ~ just $9.00 for a dozen vintage VICTORIA magazines, none of which I already had. Two old yard sticks at $1.00 each ~ have you seen how they are using them to trim edges of furniture? A beautiful 1923 sepia graduation portrait of a young woman, Hattie Chalford Mason. A German postcard mailed in 1905 to an address on famous St. Charles Street, New Orleans ~ covered with signatures of many people for some reason. A small illustrated card of a sweet child and roses.

Below is what was calling those with a sweet tooth ~ Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, PA. The theme park had not yet opened for the season (thank goodness!) and the roller coasters were silent, however in Chocolate World we rode in a 'cocoa bean' through a simulated chocolate factory which was interesting and fun.

Hershey is a true 'company town' and has quite a history. Changes seem imminent however in the chocolate world, hundreds of employees recently laid off and much of the production going south of the border and maybe even to Switzerland. Changes so drastic that our hotel concierge told us "Mr. Milton Hershey must be turning in his grave".

Jasmin is smiling knowing she has a stash of Reese's Peanut Butter cups ready to enjoy as we took to the road again! Can you believe I managed to exit the huge candy shop in Chocolate World without anything. I admit I hesitated at the Cadbury bars, but as they're nowhere near as good as the real English made Cadbury bars ~ those of you who've visited the UK know what I mean ~ I was not tempted!

Historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Do you search along the roads for history? Do you seek out places where you can learn about the difficulties and sadness brought upon families who were struggling to start a new life of freedom and happiness in their often adopted country? If you travel with my dh you will get to see everything related to the history of this great country, and then some! Or, as traveling granddaughter Jasmin said, "not another battlefield granddad, please"!!!!

After visiting the battlefield in Fredericksburg, VA on the way to Washington, D.C., this road trip of 1,100 miles included a stop on our return journey to North Carolina in Gettysburg, PA. Founded in 1786, it was the site of the terrible three day Civil War Battle in July 1863.
Below, the historic Gettysburg Railway Station ~ President Abraham Lincoln arrived here on November 18, 1863 to dedicate the national cemetery.

Walking along the streets of this historic town, many of the old buildings had characteristics which caught my eye ~ this magnificent iron porch railing and matching decorative ends being my favorite.

As the house is so old - well here in the USA it is as we are still a young country - I can imagine this intricate ironwork would create another Gettysburg battle if ever up for sale! Can't you just see people frantically bidding on it at auction?

Looking toward Devil's Den on the Gettysburg Battlefield from Little Round Top

An important stop for us during the battlefield tour was here at the North Carolina State Monument on Seminary Ridge. This cast bronze sculpture is an impressive design by Gutzon Borglum, the Danish-American artist sculptor most famous for creating the monumental presidents' heads at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota.

With dramatic flair, Borglum made arrangements for an airplane to fly over the monument during the dedication ceremony on July 3, 1929, and during the unveiling, the plane scattered roses across the field as a salute to those many North Carolinians who had fought and died at Gettysburg.

My next post will conclude our trip and show some "sweeter" moments where the only battle was for chocolate and antiquities to bring home.

Traveling Friends

I'm back from a pleasant trip and will post a few more photos when I get them organized.

I have special friends who travel to very exotic places in the world ~ Africa on Safari, the Antarctic on board Russian ice breakers, tiny Easter Island and Tahiti in the wide Pacific Ocean, and so many other places few of us ever visit.

My dear Washington State friend Patti, and her dh, leave next weekend on another of their romantic trips, this time to Romania and Bulgaria. Names such as Bucharest and Sofia are familiar, but journeying into Transylvania to actually trek to Vlad Tepes - Dracula's castle - how thrilling that will be!

My 'bon voyage' card made with love and carrying best wishes to my dear friends as they fly away to experience and enjoy the sights and sounds of these exciting countries.

Have a fabulous vacation ~ I will be waiting to hear all about it.

Cherry Blossoms ~ Washington, D.C.

Hello from Washington, D.C. A few pictures taken yesterday.

When I emigrated from England to the United States, my first home was Washington, D.C. Arriving late on an October night in the nation's Capital, my first glimpse of the Washington Monument was the next morning. Looking from my window, there it stood just a few blocks away, a sight I grew to enjoy and never tired of. Later I would climb to the top and take in that gorgeous view of the Capitol, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the Reflecting Pool, Smithsonian Museum etc., amazed that I, young English woman had 'crossed the pond' from my little seaside home and was living in such a beautiful city.

Washington Monument ~ April 2, 2008

Arlington National Cemetery ~ visiting here was both sad (we attended a burial) and amazingly peaceful and beautiful in Spring.

Looking toward the Lincoln Memorial From Arlington.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is in full swing ~ and the sights have been beautiful.

The Journey is the Reward

A magnificent French staircase similar to the one in my brother's village home in Southwest France.

I'll be gone for about a week ~ on Spring Break!

Up and down the stairs today as we ready and pack for a trip North. First stop Washington, D.C. where we'll be attending a military burial at Arlington National Cemetery for a very dear friend who passed away last week.

Following that we head to Bucks County, Pennsylvania to visit family ~ my mother-in-law who will be celebrating her ninetieth birthday soon, and dh's sister and her great family.

The original door and hardware to my brother's house ~ the key to the castle.

We'll be locking up our home with something much less romantic!

Perhaps some 'post cards from the edge' if I have time, if not I'll catch up on my return.

Always remember - LET THE JOURNEY BE THE REWARD.

Wren Update: Today it's rained nonstop ~ great because we've been in a drought. Checked the wrens' nest on the porch and saw not only mom sitting on her eggs, but dad was squeezed in there also. Such a sweet surprise ~ guess he wanted a warm dry spot to hang out!

Crowning Glory!

Ooooh, I'm so excited.

Friends who joined me for the guest room makeover in February, will recall how much I wanted to remove the huge white ceiling fan/globe light hanging in the center of this small room above the bed. The French inspired redo just cried out for an elegant, romantic, vintage chandelier to finish off the room and make it comfortable for guests............and me when sitting at the secretary of course! It was a bit of a battle with dh. He was concerned the loss of a fan would make the room too hot in Summer ~ we do have central a/c ~ and that an old fixture could be a fire hazard. Well we've overcome the negative and here to accentuate the positive is my beautiful chandelier ~ just hung today thanks to my daughter's boyfriend who is an electrician.

My great gals at SuzAnna's found this vintage chandelier for me and allowed me to bring it home to try. Being as our ceilings are low it was hard finding a fixture shallow enough, however this one with several links removed from the chain was perfect. The five lights are sufficient and by installing the dimmer switch at the wall it can be adjusted which is nice for a bedroom. I decided to buy it, took it to a lighting shop, had it rewired to be sure it was safe, and they also secured all the crystals. They told me it a was a great piece with nice details on the cast brass, very good crystals, and candle holders (cream touched with gold edges) in perfect condition.

I also bought a medallion for the ceiling which I painted pale cream to match the candle holders - it was stark white and looked far too new on the ceiling.

Just discovered it's really difficult to photograph lighted chandeliers ~ glare on the ceiling casts strange shadows ~ but I think you can get an idea as to the effect this little beauty has on this room. I am so thrilled ~ thanks dh, you're the best! If it's too hot in Summer I see they have the neatest looking table top fans now, quite elegant, I even spied a very French looking one at Homegoods last week!



Before I leave you to go sit under my chandelier..............perhaps even sleep in the guest room tonight just to get the feel and pretend I'm back in France.............

................one more project I've just finished, the little toile pillow with the gorgeous looped ribbon trim that picks up the colors of the shutters.

I think I can now say the guest room makeover is completed.................and I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. Thanks for your patience and interest over the past 2 months ~ funny how these projects start out with a small idea such as "let's repaint the walls", and then just seem to grow ~ such fun.

Cottage Tulips

Several decorative items around my cottage depict tulips and, although these are Spring flowering bulbs, to me they are so beautiful I just love to have some around all year.

This old window frame.......................................

..............the really pretty switch plate which is next to it...........



These are two pots I decoupaged with copies of old tulip prints..................

.................and although I'm not a great lover of faux flowers, I have to admit the silk version of these pink beauties found at Pottery Barn a few years ago, are the closest I've seen to real - they look so much like my beautiful Pink Impressions from the garden!
Once the real ones are over I like to keep these on my hearth until Summer flowers bloom.

As the snow and ice melts, the temperatures warm, and the trees bud and blossom, I hope so much you are enjoying Spring things around your house.