Parchment Paths

2018 was a wonderful that saw adventures with friends and family. I returned to the seashore after many years away. I saw my friend’s Nicole and Tim’s new home on the same trip and tasted one of the best doughnuts I have ever tried from of  The Fractured Prune. My dad and I explored the site of a local mine disaster where there is a memorial, walking trail and the remnants of some old buildings.   2018 saw several trips to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire .   Opening weekend, Mel and I met up with a group of our college friends, one had never been to a renaissance faire before so it was amazing seeing her experience it for the first time.  My dad and I went for Heroes of the Realm, aka Labor Day. It’s not often that he goes and get to pick what to see and do, since we usually take my niece and nephew and let them pick,   The kids and I went on a separate occasion and while we missed Dad, we still   had a great day.   I ended

Hillside Farms is not only a working dairy farm, it’s also a great ice cream parlor, dairy store, mercantile, antiques market, and petting zoo all combined. I love going there to visit the goats, eat ice cream, and pick up some homemade soap or a candle. Christmastime at the farm is still a great time, despite the cold weather.   I wasn’t able to go last Christmas, so when a friend and I were deciding where to hang out, I suggested Hillside.   My friend and her kids had a great time. We visited the animals in their festively decorated barn, and got Christmas themed ice cream and hot cocoa. Aside from being at one of my favorite places, it was great visiting with a friend I don’t get to see often. We talked about Christmas and what was going in our lives and tried to keep a friendly cow from chewing on our coats. As I’ve said before, Christmas is a very busy time, so I was very grateful for the time we had  to enjoy each other’s company and the holiday. 

While the movies and songs make it seem as though Christmas is a magical time during which we all get along, the reality is that the holidays can be overwhelming and stressful.   We feel so much pressure to find the perfect gifts for friends and family, to attend community events, and to send Christmas cards that the sparkle of the season is often dulled. To add to the holiday pressure, we still have our regular jobs and obligations to attend to. If, like me, you’re regular job is retail than the holidays can seem not only overwhelming but oppressive as well.   Stores are crowded with costumers, merchandise, and seasonal hires. Materialism mounts as people fill their carts and grow testy with employees. Employees, overworked and tired, grow testy with co -workers and customers alike. If I sound a bit jaded, it’s because I have worked retail since I was old enough to work.   Retail can be downright brutal during the holidays. People can stress over buying gifts that they wrack up

Sounds like a great name for a Hallmark Christmas movie, doesn’t it?   I was watching Hallmark Christmas movies today as I did laundry and other household chores.   I was vacuuming the living room so that it would be clean when my dad came to help put up the Christmas tree, when I remembered Christmas decorations that I usually put up in my bedroom.   It occurred to me that not only had I not found them this year, but it had been so long since I had, that I had no idea where they were. After checking the obvious places in my room, I cleaned off the top of my hope chest, thinking that perhaps the missing décor was inside. I found not only the three items I had in mind but enough items to completely fill the large wooden chest. Aside from the Christmas fairy figurine, Christmas NYC postcard and picture, I found holiday decorations I had put aside years and years ago. I say holiday because I found not only Christmas but Halloween décor as well. Most of the Christmas decorations I re

It’s been a few weeks since I bid farewell to the Shire of Mount Hope.   The last weekend of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire was rainy, chilly, and wonderful.   I went both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was cold and rainy the entire day, so much, that my friend Mel and I almost left early.   A street musician taking shelter from the rain  We decided to brave the weather and stay until the end. I am so glad that we did even though we went back Sunday.  We visited our shopkeeper friends, saw some shows, drank tea and coffee, and even had a chat with the Lady Mayor.   Since the weather was so terrible, we didn’t have long lines for food and drink, which was very nice. The meatball sub, tea, and coffee, really warmed me up  as we wondered about in the rain.   We skipped the joust and got excellent seats for Finale in Song, which due to all the rain was held at the smaller, but covered Swashbuckler Stage.   The finale was a wonderful end to a wonderful day. Sunday was

Now that summer is over, regular routines have resumed, vacations are over, school has resumed and some people already have the winter holidays in mind.   Despite all of these pressures, don’t let fall pass you by without enjoying the season.   frances slocum state park Take the time for a walk in the park, whether a town, city park, or a nearby state or national park.   If you work near a town park, consider taking your lunch break there to enjoy the cool weather and the colorful leaves.  south abington community park Sip a fall flavored coffee or hot chocolate as you enjoy your time out in nature. Chain and local coffee shops alike introduce seasonal flavors, including, but not limited to pumpkin spice. Treat yourself to an apple cider doughnut or a fall frosted cookie as well. After all, seasonal snacks are not just for kids.     Maybe take some pictures of the fall foliage or just sit and enjoy the leaves. Remember collecting the leaves and making artwork a

With all my years spent working in retail there are some mysteries that remain unsolved. Where do all the missing shoes go? Why do people smack the maternity mannequins? Why do people allow their kids to run through the store? But the biggest and most frustrating mystery of them all is why do people rip open packaged underwear, socks, and shirts, pull out one or all of the items and then toss them around like confetti? They know the store sells actual confetti, right?   

The 2018 season of the Pennsylvania RenaissanceFaire has begun. I’ve already attended two weekends, opening weekend and Celtic weekend.   Both times were amazing, even though the weather was not comfortable either weekend. Opening weekend was extremely hot and humid both days and the Sunday of Celtic weekend was rainy. I didn’t mind even though I was sweaty the one visit and soaked with rain the second.   As I like to say, “A bad day at the renaissance faire is better than a good day at work”. Bad weather is really the only reason I’ve ever had anything resembling a bad day at the Shire of Mount Hope.  Even in bad weather, there’s also a good time to be had, partially becosue of the faire itself and partially becosue of the people who visit with me. The first Saturday I went with one of my best friends, then on Sunday we met up with our old college buddies, one of whom had never been to a renaissance faire. It was wonderful showing her around and reconnecting with everyo

I don't claim to be an expert on the weather. I do know that weather patterns change suddenly and frequently.  I witnessed this changeability first hand Thursday night as a tornado ripped through a series of shopping centers around where I work.  While the storm completely destroyed an entire strip  mall close by, it only clipped the store on the end of the strip mall my store resides in.      The strip mall up the hill took damage to one half, and another, where a Barnes and Noble resides, was heavily damaged as well.  While my heart aches for all the people now out of work, I am so grateful that my store was spared.  It does not mean we are any better than any of those other stores; it just means that for whatever reason we were meant to remain open. I pray the other stores will reopen, and in the meantime , jobs will be provided for all those out of work.   Till then, please come out and support the stores that are still open, Target, Bob's Marshall's, eat a