Quote for the Day

"Remember that NOT getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck."

-Dalai Lama

Sometimes the Simplest Things To Do Are Really The Hardest.....

I have been wanting to take a picture of this barn for years and my youngest finally convinced me one day to just pull over and do it. What have you been putting off? Like the commercial says, "Just do it!"
I have been running past my computer now for over a month with the best intentions of updating the blog. "It will just take a minute to post," I keep telling myself, but then the phone rings, the bickering starts, my dog is whining to be let outside, and all of a sudden I have a pounding migraine and like the tide, life crashes in like a wave and swirls away all evidence of my organized thoughts into somewhere I can only name (very uncreatively I might add,) "THE DEEP UNKNOWN".
I realize, in the grand scheme of things, that posting on a blog is very minute on the list. However, it somehow helps me get centered and I have this romantic notion that somewhere out there, in the wild frontiers of the internet, I am striking a chord with someone. And with everything bad and scary in this world, it gives me a chance to focus and be aware of all that is good and positive around us.

I am starting to feel better already, as I am writing this. Winter is not a very good time for me-I secretly think I suffer from SAD-that thing where you don't get enough sunlight. It seems to me in the summer I feel better, I think I look better...my husband says it's just that I'm getting older, but I refuse to listen, lol. Winter is a time that reminds me of my mortality-all the more reason to try to live in the moment. Try to remember to do something special for yourself today (or very soon) We all need a little more love and happiness, don't we? Why is it so hard for most of us to be good to ourselves? Try to look at it like this: The Lord made us with all His love and attention-we need to honor this extraordinary gift He gave us by taking care of ourselves. I know it's so easy to get caught up in the daily stuff. Believe me, I am saying this as much for myself as I am for anyone. Moving forward, I am going to try my best every day to do better by Him-I hope you will too!

You Learn Something New Everyday

Each day I continue with working with my kids in our new cyber school environment, I am amazed at how much we are all learning. One of my oldest daughter's assignments this past week was to complete a scientific timeline which had to include discoveries and inventions spanning the last 500 years. I had to chuckle at one of her choices-it was about the invention of the hot air balloon: "On September 19, 1783, in Versailles, the Montgolfiers flew the first passengers in a basket suspended below a hot-air balloon—a sheep, a rooster, and a duck. The flight, which lasted eight minutes, took place in front of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the French court, as well as a crowd of about 130,000. The balloon flew nearly 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) before returning the occupants safely to earth." Our first reaction was, "those poor animals!" But then the visual settled into our brains and gave us all a good laugh. We talked about how we wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for all the crazy things people have tried over the years and how clever some of them have been. The human mind is an amazing thing, isn't it? Celebrate how brilliant you are today, and may you learn something new and fascinating!

I'm getting in the mood for Fall!

The artists of the Bluebrick Gallery will put their artistic creativity to work during a pumpkin-carving event to be held as part of Gettysburg’s upcoming First Friday celebration. The event will be held at the gallery, located at 18 N. Washington St., Gettysburg, from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. on Friday, October 1. Fresh local hot cider and other refreshments will be served.

The Bluebrick Gallery has become known for its unique and popular First Friday events, which have included artist trading card swaps and artist demos. Gallery director Lisa Harman hopes visitors will enjoy the creative designs the seven Bluebrick artists will carve into their pumpkins – and that the event will become an annual tradition. “We’ve been open over a year now, and we always look forward to the fun and excitement of First Friday,” Harman says. “There’s a certain energy in the air around town that’s really fun and inspiring.”

Most of the seven Bluebrick member artists are also educators in local school districts, so during the school year the gallery runs on an altered schedule. “Since school is back in session and we are all involved in education in one form or another, we are now open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays,” says Harman. “But we’re also very flexible and would be happy to open the gallery at other times. Just give us a call or message us on Facebook.” Harman encourages interested people to connect with the gallery on the social networking website to keep abreast of upcoming events.

The Bluebrick Gallery artists include Harman (watercolor and acrylic paintings, handmade glasswork jewelry, melted-bottle cheese trays), Wendy Heiges (custom-made jewelry and artistic frames), Shawn Heiges (raku and ceramic pottery), Sarah Maclay (acrylic landscape paintings), Amy Dreves (fine silver jewelry), Deborah Yargar-Reed (photography), and Jill Rakowicz (paintings and jewelry).

For more information about the Bluebrick Gallery and its upcoming First Friday Pumpkin Carving event, call (717) 420-0103 or visit www.facebook.com/bluebrickgallery..

Thank You, Facebook! I Would Never Have Known About This Otherwise....

Yet another reason why I love bringing up my children in this town. We will definitely be attending this-I can't wait!!!!


Next Wednesday September 22 - Battlefields and Beyond Book Shoppe - 777 Baltimore St. - 6:00pm Our group will be taking a walking tour of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Park Ranger Bert Barnett will present some of his extensive research on the poetry written by Civil War soldiers buried there as well as other poetic elements of this historic venue. All are welcome, it is a free program.

Thaddeus Stevens

"I hate school!" My youngest announced last week, stamping her foot emphatically-her arms folded tightly across her chest. "Why do we have to go to school anyway? It's just a big waste of time!"
I knew she didn't mean it-she was just overtired and had been working diligently all afternoon on a rather difficult lesson.
"You better be careful of what you say," I advised. "Thaddeus Stevens might hear you and he won't be happy."
The girls and I had had a discussion over the weekend about Thaddeus. (His picture hangs in the tavern at the Fairfield Inn where I work as an Innkeeper. My girls often have the wonderful opportunity to accompany me there on the days I go in to prepare breakfast and ready rooms for the guests.)
Her eyes got wide and her hand flew up to her mouth. "I didn't mean it!" she quickly added-looking around nervously. We had also heard lots of stories about ghosts haunting the inn, and because Thaddeus had frequented the Historic Fairfield Inn quite a bit while constructing the "Tapeworm Railroad" between Frederick, Maryland and Gettysburg, PA, in the mid 1800's, there was always the slight possibility he might decide to come back for one more cup of delicious 1863 Ham and Bean Soup or to confront a little 10 year old girl who often acts too big for her britches.
"I'm sure he wouldn't be upset with you," I said, trying to ease her concerns. We talked a little about some of the notable things Thaddeus Stevens had accomplished in his life time. Not only did he play an important role in inventing the public school system, he also built two local furnaces, one of which resides at the Inn currently. He was also a staunch Republican and advocate for the abolishment of slavery. While he never married, he did share his home with two of his nephews and his "housekeeper," a lovely woman named Lydia Smith. Her portrait hangs next to the Maria furnace at the lovely Historic Fairfield Inn.

A Tough Decision

Sometimes in life, some pretty difficult decisions have to be made. I hit one of those milestones this week, when I had to pass on a wonderful opportunity to adopt another beautiful thoroughbred named Hayley. It broke my heart to do it, but unfortunately, something as mundane but also a necessity had to take priority. In the end, our furnace won out. I wish there had been a way to make it all work, sigh!
Now Hayley needs a home quickly, as the farm where he has been calling home needs to make room for an unexpected emergency situation of another horse. I am praying that Hayley will find a forever home soon. I only wish that it could have been with me.

To find out more about Hayley, click here.