Lancaster, PA

Lancaster is a very unique area and we like it enough that this is our third visit here this year. Because as much fun as we had on our two GrandCamp week’s here, there was no time to see what we wanted to see.

On Sunday, as I mentioned yesterday, we drove here from South Jersey. On the way, can you guess what happened? Our “check engine” light came on, 18 miles from our destination. Fortunately the engine temperature did not rise so we made it to our destination without problems. Bob ran a diagnostic on the coach and the code that popped up indicated an issue with the DEF system. He found a Cummins repair only 25 miles away so that’s where we’ll be bright and early Wednesday morning.

In the meantime we had two whole days to enjoy the area. Our campground is located where many Amish buggies pass. We fell asleep to the clip clop sound of the horses as they drive home.

On Monday we drove to Kitchen Kettle Village in the town of Bird-in-Hand and walked around the area. There are lots of little shops to explore and places to eat here. While most of them are about as far from whole-food-plant-based as they can be, we found a pretzel place that made whole wheat pretzels and would hold the butter. Yum!

This town has an abundance of yarn shops and fabric stores. Every town should be this well-stocked.

On Tuesday Bob and I drove over to Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum in Lancaster. I was hoping to see some of their collection of tape looms that they are famous for. When we checked in, however, we were told that the Textile Building was only open on Thursday this week. Major disappointment! I told the man at the ticket counter that we were from Texas and had to leave tomorrow, and wasn’t there someone who could show us some tape looms? The fellow was so nice; he found a docent to take us over there and let us in. She explained what she knew about the equipment and it was fascinating.

Afterwards, Bob got into a good discussion with the museum’s gunsmith and I learned some things about muskets and early American rifles. Very interesting! We loved walking around and seeing the historic buildings in the village.

At the gift shop we found several tape looms for sale, made by a local woodcrafter.

None of them were as nice as the one Bob made me several years ago.

We stopped for Chinese food on our way back, and also visited a local weaving shop where I found some old issues of the Prairie Wool Companion, a great magazine published in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Tomorrow I’ll have news on our visit to the Cummins repair shop.

Summer Catch-Up

This has been a very busy summer filled with family happenings. My daughter, Emily, and her family (husband Anthony, daughter’s Quinn and Eve, and son Silas) sold their house and moved to Idaho where Anthony’s parents and some of his siblings live.

It was hard for us to see them go but understand that families need to go where they want to live. Fortunately in this day and age people can stay in touch so easily.

Bob and I have spent much of the last few weeks touching base with family and friends in NJ, enjoying our annual visits. We love you all.

Between helping with the move, hanging out with kids and grandkids, and visiting, I have managed to complete a few projects.

Using my Red PVC Loom and a Miniature Backstrap Heddle from HandyWoman I wove a five pattern thread Baltic pickup band.

This one was woven with #10 crochet cotton but I may do a narrower one using 10/2 cotton and include more patterns. I ran out of warp on this one. There are a lot of patterns one can weave using only 5 pattern threads!

I cross stitched a picture that reminds me of the trips we have made to Saguaro National Park.

This was a kit I purchased in Tucson when I was with my friend, Linda, so it has special meaning. I also purchased another kit in a similar theme that I will stitch up next summer. Years ago I worked at a cross stitch shop in Leominster, MA (I believe it has closed, unfortunately) and stitched up a lot of store samples. It felt good to pick up the needles again. When both pieces are finished and blocked I’ll get them matted and framed to hang in our little winter home in Mesa, AZ.

Daughter Kristen has inherited my love of stitching and has become an amazing cross stitcher. I made her several project bags to hold her WIPs.

We are on the move! Bob and I left Sunday afternoon for our trip west, and my next blog will give you more details, so stay tuned.

GrandCamp #3 & 4

After having broken my iPad screen over the weekend, I waited until it was fixed before writing about our third and fourth sessions of GrandCamp. O happy day, my screen is fixed and I can write again!

As I had previously noted, we broke up GrandCamp into two separate weeks this year. For this session we were farther south and west but were still in Lancaster County. The first two campers we had were Ben and Quinn, and like the other sessions, we packed a lot into our time together.

We had an easy ride to the campground, having decided to travel south of Philadelphia this time. It was a much better route for us. We had a nice campsite and started off the week with a swim in the pool.

On Monday we headed out for a free two hour bus tour of Lancaster County. The kids enjoyed seeing horse and buggies and learning about Amish life.

Afterwards Bob and I took them to Shady Maple Smorgasbord for a late lunch.

That evening after our swim we made S’Mores and saw a hot air balloon pass over us.

On Tuesday we started our day by going miniature golfing.

Afterwards we drove 45 minutes south to the Herr’s Potato Chip Factory for a tour.

Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos inside the plant, but it was fun to see all the snack foods being made. We brought home a bag of these limited-run snacks that we’ve never seen in stores.

On Wednesday we packed up all the gear and drove B & Q to the Container Store at the King of Prussia Mall to exchange them for Rob.

Bob had a scrape on his knee that kept him out of the pool, so despite the hot weather he was not able to enjoy a swim all week. But he did get to go golfing, taking Rob to an 18 hole golf course nearby.

On Friday the heat wave was in full force so we cooled down by driving out to Indian Echo Caverns where the temperature was a cool 52 degrees. It was fascinating to learn about the history of these Caves and to see the beautiful formations.

Saturday was even hotter, close to 100 degrees, so after Rob and I swam in the pool we all went to the movies to see the new Spiderman movie. And on Sunday we returned home. It was a lovely week!

GrandCamp #2

Last Friday Bob and I drove Adam and Alex to Exton, PA to meet up with daughter Catherine. She brought the six-year-olds, Jillian and Eve, and took the boys home. The girls were so excited to see the beautiful farm country and we talked about farm life as we drove to the campground.

First order of business was, of course, a dip in the pool.

These girls had no fear as they leaped into the water over and over again, swimmies on their arms and pool noodles at their waists. They had such fun.

Afterwards it was time for a cookout and a lesson on toasting marshmallows.

I showed Eve how to knit an I-cord using a French Knitter and she took right to it.

On Saturday morning we joined a craft class and the girls each got to paint a little piggy bank.

After swim time they went to a bounce house at the campground and played carnival games. Bob and I took them to the Amish market to pick up something for dinner...and while we were there the store lost power. It was totally black for about 20 seconds until the generator kicked on. Amazingly no one freaked out, and we laughed about it afterwards. In the evening they each started weaving potholders for their moms.

They loved weaving, which made me so happy!

Sunday was jam packed with fun.

We visited an Amish Village and learned about Amish life, before going outside and seeing farm animals and even a covered bridge.

I stopped on the way back to the campground to take photos of the beautiful countryside.
What else could we do? Oh yes, take them miniature golfing for the first time!

They had a blast playing on the campground mini golf course, and Jillian even scored a hole-in-one. She was so excited.

On Monday morning we packed up and headed back to New Jersey, tired but very happy. Our next GrandCamp session will be in less than two weeks, and again we will be in a Lancaster County for a week but at a different campground.

GrandCamp #1

Bob and I got back yesterday from our first week of GrandCamp, bringing back happy children and lots of good memories. This year we have split it up into two one-week sessions, with two groups taking turns in a week. As a bonus, each group gets to either ride to GrandCamp in the motorhome or else ride home from camp in it. For some of them, this was a first, since we tend to park our home and use a car to transport the children.

The campground was one we have been to a couple of times in the past with young Rob, but it seems there were a lot of improvements made in the years since we were there last. We were in a different (50 amp) section of the park, too, since we have switched from the travel trailer to the motorhome.

Lancaster County is a lovely place, filled with rolling hills and beautiful farmland. It’s not so much fun to get there from NJ, through the bumper to bumper traffic around Philadelphia and then along the narrow country roads with a large RV, but it’s worth the trip.

Amish buggies and walking families share the road so it’s important to stay alert when driving around Lancaster.

Adam and Alex were our first set of GrandCampers, and our first order of business was to try out the pool.

We were very fortunate to have good weather all week and were able to swim every day. After the swim the boys enjoyed a cookout ending (of course) with S’mores. Giant marshmallows added to the fun.

We had S’mores in one form or another every night. One evening we made mini-S’mores pizzas!

On Tuesday we went to an Amish farmhouse tour, which was located pretty much in the parking lot of a Target store! Very strange. But once inside we forgot about Target and “went back in time” to an Amish community. We learned all about this interesting culture and then got to explore a little. At the woodcarver’s barn the boys were introduced to the game of checkers and we saw an old fashioned country weather station 😆

We visited some goats...

And the boys got to sit in a real buggy. They even got to try out Amish scooters.

On Wednesday we went miniature golfing in one of the nicest mini golf places we’ve ever found. It was set in the woods along a brook with waterfalls, ponds, and lots of flowers.

Afterwards we visited Shady Maple Market and Smorgasbord for lunch. This place is a real destination! It boasts the largest buffet in the USA, a huge farm market and grocery store, plus a large dry goods store.

On Thursday morning the boys and Bob went fishing. I was sure they’d be right back but instead they were out for two hours, and they both caught fish. What a great experience!

Friday was the last day. After a final swim we drove into Exton to meet up with Catherine who brought us two more campers and we said goodbye to Adam and Alex. Next time I’ll tell you all about that session.