Parchment Paths

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 de...

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 wonder...

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 col...

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 reconnecti...

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 supp...

I got the chance to go to the beach last month. It was my first time since I was around nine years old.   While I prefer the forest, I’d forgotten how much I also love the ocean. There’s just something about it that stirs the imagination and draws me back. I visited two of the Delaware beaches, Bethany and Rehoboth with my good friends, Nicole and Tim. Before going to the beach, we stopped for doughnuts at the hilariously named The Fractured Prune. Nicole had enthusiastically recommend the shop for years, so I was excited to finally try one of these fabled, made to order cake doughnuts. I tried S’mores and coffee flavored doughnuts and found her enthusiasm to be well placed.    I loved them so much, I wish there was a Fractured Prune near me! After collecting our doughnuts, we drove to Bethany Beach.  After seeing glimpse of the sand and water along the way, I was getting anxious to be on the sand and in the water.   I ...