I looked up some information about April Fool’s day and learned some interesting facts.  Too much to recount here, but if you are mildly interested, look it up!  In the meantime, Snoopy is the ‘happiest!’ that he can be, and urges you to be the same.  Look for things that make you the happiest you’ve ever been.  For me, that happiness comes from my faith base, and I couldn’t get through a day without it.  But it also comes from little BIG things like my family, Snoopy cartoons, things that make me laugh, chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels (Chase just discovered them and is challenging my control of the supply…), and Hallmark Christmas movies.  So many things – so little space to share them all!  If you start looking, you’ll be amazed.  The list just keeps going. 

Snoopy also shared that one version of his happiness is bringing joy to others.  Now more than ever we can find joy in doing that –  sharing our time, our talents, our comfort, our faith.  Even with being sheltered at home we have vast resources we can use to make others happy.  And I might add that sharing ‘bad news’ and scary facts are NOT part of those ways!  Be happy, people!  It can make a difference in a good way.  Worrying and fretting about something never helps.  Ever. 

Today I listened to Pastor Micah McMillen from Old Mahoning Baptist Church in Home, PA.  HOME is my family home, in Indiana county.  The Skunk Hollow girls all started out living there and grew up there.  I spent most of my childhood and teen years attending Old Mahoning. (check out their facebook page or their website)  Pastor Micah had encouraging and inspiring thoughts to share.  He references Joshua, who said numerous times to be strong and courageous, and not be afraid, and God would be with us and we would experience victory.  II Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.  I can claim these verses because I know that even though our present situation is not what we choose, and we don’t know/can’t control the outcome, God will use it to work GOOD in our lives.  How can we claim to know what’s better for us than God does?  Think about Pastor Gurnee’s message from Monday –  Whatever is good, and lovely and true, etc…. think on those things!  FEAR NOT!   

And now, to add something to my list of information, on this day in history:  in 1976 Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer.   In 1970 President Nixon banned all cigarette advertising on TV and radio.  And in 1778 Oliver Pollack created the dollar sign: $. 

So there you have it.  Another exciting day – April 1st!  Don’t be a fool – Don’t worry, be happy!  Wash your hands, keep your distance, oh — and sing!  Singing 10 minutes a day improves your general health!

Today is the last day of March.  As is customary, we always try to determine if March went in like a lion and out like a lamb, or vice versa.  This year, today is cloudy but mild with no wind, snow, rain or problematic weather.  So we’ll take it!  Kelly, mom and I took a little walk up the street and then swept out the garage.  We had earlier altered a cheesy potato soup recipe to be a broccoli cauliflower cheesy soup.  It was very yummy!  Now we are watching a musical version of Esther and the King, which in truth is very humorous!  The boys are sort of trying to pretend that they are not watching it. 

BUT — our buddy Snoopy today says:  “happier…”.  I am convinced that regardless of what yesterday was like, today we should be happier than we were all the days leading up to today.  Some things that make me happy today are having my family close, even in these uncertain times.  Also I am happy to have chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels in my freezer!  Yum and double yum!  This morning Kathy and I went to the senior shopping event at Walmart (6am) and was able to get almost everything on our lists.  I finally got Lysol spray!  Can’t ask for anything more.   

The message that I listened to today is from River Hill Church of Christ in Monongahela PA.  My brother-in-law, Paul Eisaman is the pastor there.  His message was based on the song:  Jesus Loves Me.  Did you know there are actually 7 verses of that song?  We tend to think of it as a children’s song, but if you really stop and listen to the words, especially all seven verses, you will see that the message of Jesus’ love for us is ageless, and we can come away strengthened and encouraged by those words, especially when tied closely to several scripture passages.  Check out his message by accessing the link on facebook or on their website .www.riverhillchurch.org,  You will be encouraged and comforted by the words shared by Pastor Paul.  How can we face tomorrow in this uncertain world without the strength and comfort of God’s promises?   

Check in with me tomorrow to see:  What Snoopy has to say; which church’s message will be featured; what we are doing with our time and energy.  Also, don’t be ‘fooled’ – April First is not only a brand new day, but a brand new month!  

It has come to my attention several times that I have not been keeping up with posts to The Word Garden. This is a true statement. It seems like the less you have to do, the less you get done, and the less motivated and inspired you are!  So I am taking responsibility and initiative and striving to make more frequent posts!  Today I will start with the page-a-day word from our buddy Snoopy.  His advise is to be …  “HAPPY…”!  So what makes you happy today?  What made me happy today was to wake up to a beautiful world, one that God created, and even though there are a lot of scary and not-so-beautiful things all over the place, beauty still abounds. 

I spent the day with Kelly, Logan, and Chase, and had my mom here morning and afternoon.  We baked cookies and made lunch and tried to solve math problems as well as world dilemmas!  We had more success with Math.

Since there is no gathering together to visit, work, or worship, I have searched out friends and their churches of choice, and am listening to their live-streamed message of the week.  Today I listened to Byron Gurnee from Keepville Bible Church in Albion PA (My mom and John’s church).  Check out the message on facebook by ‘liking’ Keepville Bible Church.  What struck me about this message was two things:  One, he used the exact same scripture as my friend Gwen Wolfgang who is sending out daily devotions to her family and friends. (Philippians 4:8) THAT is God working!  Second, one of the many inspiring statements he made was to THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT.  In other words, don’t let mindless and negative and unhealthy thoughts corrupt your mind.  Fill it with wholesome, inspiring, encouraging thoughts.  Remember that nothing is a vacuum; therefore if your mind is EMPTY it will fill up quickly with whatever you hear.  And what are you hearing?  Is that what you want to focus on?  I want to think HAPPY thoughts and be encouraged and feel safe and loved. Seek out the good — the best — the HAPPY!

Thanks, Snoopy and Byron for your lovely words.  See you tomorrow!!!  

It’s hard to believe that we are celebrating our 9th Crocus Tea!  The whole thing started in the late winter of 2012 when I had the girls with me – who were 4 and 8 at the time! – and I was washing windows in the snow.  I went outside to do the basement window and there popping up through the snow was a cluster of crocus – white and purple.  I hustled Chrissy and Autmn outside to see the flowers, and had an idea.  We all pitched in – everyone  helping to cook and plan and set the table – and the first annual Crocus Tea was born. (Picture is from 2nd annual Crocus Tea in 2013)

Since that time we have had a few invited guests –  Torilyn, Penny Lane, and Aunt Kelly – but mostly it’s just been the three of us.  Early on, after the food was ready, we changed into ‘dress up’ clothes and added tons of my fanciest jewelry and hair clips.  These days, the girls do not think dressing in Grammy’s clothes is ‘cool’ so it’s come as you are.  But we all still pitch in with everything.  By now, the girls are old hat at setting the table with the good china, cutting strawberries and cheese, making cookies, baking pizzas, filling bowls and plates with grapes and M&M’s and deviled eggs. 

This year, since Kelly and the boys are staying with me for a while, we banished the boys to the basement family room (with the promise of pizza and cookies later — no boys allowed at the tea!) and Kelly helped cook and prepare.  I slipped outside and snipped a few small sprigs of blooming flowers and put them in a little vase on the table (although the crocus were finished blooming in my yard). It’s very ironic how the conversation moves to more ‘adult’, interesting topics and we get into some interesting discussions.

As is custom, Autmn and/or Chrissy say the blessing, and we all help serve the dishes.  We always use the lace tablecloth, the good china , and the antique serving bowls and plates from their great-grandparents – who they never met!  A legacy that they connect into without traditional connections. 

I am so blessed to have my teens want to spend this time with me, and hold the tradition close to their hearts as I do.  It’s not so much about what food we eat, or how we are dressed, or what day it is.  But it’s ALL about sharing with each other, setting aside special time and devotion to each other, and respecting the awe of our Crocus Tea tradition.  Next year will be a landmark year – 10th annual! – and we will have to do something extra special.  I’m already starting to contemplate that.  9th annual Crocus Tea:  a success and an irrevocable bond!

What a delightful week, in every way!  I am so blessed with the friends in my life, and being able to share hours and adventures with them.  Gen and Rainy came down last Monday, and on her way through from New York she stopped to visit with my parents in Albion, and took them lunch and shared her dog with them.  They had a wonderful time; Gen’s smile and gentle loving spirit enriched their lives, not only for that hour or so but with happy thoughts to keep with them.  She got to my house (The Burke Bed and Breakfast!) about 4pm and unloaded the car.  Rainy sat at the door and watched the rain, not sure if she was going to be left alone as her ‘mommy’ made trips to the settle them in. It was nice to have a quiet evening, and we had homemade chicken soup and salads for supper before turning in early. 

Tuesday night, Gen cooked a wonderful supper, and her sister Dottie shared with us.  They enjoyed time in my living room, which is full of antiques and reflects a lot of my father (who ran an antique business -Wagon Shed Antiques- in the late 60’s and 70’s).  It’s like a walk back in time, and memories were flowing.  Wednesday Gen spent the day with her mom and two sisters, and by the time she got home, Rainy was wiped out; she was happy to plop onto her bed by the heater and sleep while Gen and I talked. 

Friday I was invited to go with them to Ikea; I hadn’t been there since about 2003 and it was fun to explore the displays and the marketplace. And the Pittsburgh skyline and rivers are always a treat to see.  Gen had cut several branches of forsythia from her frozen tundra, warmed them up, and shared a sprig or two with me.  They bloomed this morning and look wonderful on my window sill! 

My guests left early Saturday morning, and I’m always sad to see them go.  But I barely had time to shower and dress before I was on the road with my friend Teresa.  We spent the day roaming Cheswick and Tarentum, browsing in antique shops and following the not-so-lazy river.  My favorite was Diamond Antiques. We didn’t spend much money, but we invested in our long time friendship and had a great time seeing all the lovely displays. 

Sunday afternoon Roger drove down and took me to lunch, a belated Valentine celebration, and as always, we talked about all sorts of things and solved most of the worlds problems.  If only they’d listen!  We had brownies for dessert, and sat at home and listened to oldies (45 rpm’s!!!) on my record player (Thanks Kelly and Matt!!!). 

I’m ready to take a break, but tomorrow starts a new week with possible new adventures and opportunities, including lunch with Diane on Thursday and a trip to mom’s on the weekend.  All I can say is my cup overflows, with friends who continue to pour generous helpings of their love and time and adventures to share with me!  Thanks thanks thanks – and we’ll do it again and again!   

I am so excited to be increasingly involved in the programs and activities and events at Historic Hanna’s Town!  For the past too many years my work and home schedule has been so full that I barely had time to accomplish the HAVE TO’s let alone the WANT TO’s.  But that is changing and I’m very happy about that. I think I have been driving Pam crazy with constant emails about being part of things and wanting to know what is next! She does such a great job, along with the rest of the staff.

This past weekend I was part of the volunteer group for the ‘Won’t you be my Valentine’ event.  It was a family fun day, with something for everyone all day.  Even though I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m not very crafty, I was helping out in the craft room.  Kids and adults alike were invited to make homemade Valentines, which they could take home or put in the shiny, heart-shaped box.  Those in the box would be distributed to local senior centers and/or Meals on Wheels.  There were two long tables set up, filled with confetti (my personal favorite), lace hearts, stickers and stickees, buttons, card stock, construction paper, plain paper, pre-cut cards, ink stamps, and craft patterns. Not to mention (but I’ll mention them anyway!) crayons and markers and glue and scissors and tape.  It was a delight to watch the beautiful creations that developed as the morning went on.  Oh, and there were little cut-outs of vintage-looking valentine images to glue on as well. 

A local vendor had a display table set up by the windows, and I’ve never seen such a wonderful variety of vintage necklaces, bracelets, rings, gloves, cards, trinkets, and decorations.  I had to hide my wallet from myself or I could have gone way overboard.  She did a great job arranging the display. 

One wall was lined with vintage Valentines from the 1950’s, ones that I remember from my grade-school days (not, of course, saying how how I am).  A glass display case held older cards, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  One valentine was a hand-drawn and meticulously cut paper about the size of a saucer.  The detail was amazing.  A display along the back wall held more elaborate examples, with several being very detailed and three dimensional. I took a picture of my favorite one, but it does not really do it justice.

Two lovely ‘young ladies’ watched over the day’s activities, and fit right into the celebrations in their Valentine finery.

After browsing and creating, guests could partake of the delicious cupcakes and cookies that Alice made, along with white-chocolate drizzled pretzel hearts and Valentine M&M’s (again, my favorite!).

The craft room wasn’t the only adventure of the day.  There was a tour of the Exhibit room as well as a scavenger hunt to find specific items related to the day’s theme.  The gift shop, which is another wonderful addition to the new site, had an entire table of Valentine and love-related items for sale.  Again, it was all I could do not to buy dark chocolate candy nuggets for myself or the tiny non-perils for my sister.  In the afternoon there was a Mr. Roger’s storytime reading for the kids, which I suspect the adults enjoyed just as much. 

Hanna’s Town has been adding new events to their programs since the opening of the education center, and I hope word gets out to the community of all the wonderful opportunities presented.  Check out their website at www.westmorelandhistory.org or their facebook page.  Some of the next events on the calendar are the Antiques Appraisal Day and the Irish Genealogy Workshop. New activities are always being added so check often. 

I’m looking forward to being a regular part of the volunteer staff in the coming months, especially once summer comes.  Frontier Court Days in July is my ultimate favorite.  Make plans to attend, and if history is in your blood, maybe consider volunteering.  You won’t regret either decision!

Beef day is the best way to start out any new year.  A trip Home (in this case, Smicksburg) with family and friends is something we start looking forward to even as we drive home from Beef day.  Totally NOT typical, though, is that fact that out of all 7 beefers, Kath and I were the last to arrive.  We are always one of the first.  However, this year a spilled mug of tea and a breakfast snafu put us behind schedule.  We were a whole minute and a half behind! 

The driveway was already full,and the workers were fully engaged.  Nate and Dave were busy cutting the first front quarter;Amber and Sara and Lynn were trimming and scraping, joined by the beef owner Jason and his son Ethan who lent a hand or two and helped until mid afternoon.  Kath and I were wrapping to start with.  About 9:30am it was decided that we needed cheese and chocolate from the Smicksburg Country Store (A favorite!) right down the road.  It was Lynn’s turn to go along.  We each got several types of cheese, I got chocolate covered peanuts, cheese cubes for my sister, and a tiny bag of homemade potato chips for the ride home. Lynn got several cheeses, Scrapple, and corn mush, and chips.

That little side trip put the wrapping behind, so I jumped in to pick up the slack.  We had all pitched in to provide lunch, so Aunt Joan and Uncle Clifford would not incur the cost and labor of feeding thirteen hungry workers.  At about 11:30am I went upstairs with Aunt Joan and we put 2 huge pans of lasagna in the oven, set the table, prepared the salad, cut the Italian bread, and then worked for another hour until lunch.  We sat down to a feast!  Lynn’s baked cinnamon apple dessert, taken hot from the oven, melted in your mouth.  Before we had time to settle in and take a nap, Uncle Clifford did the dishes (haha – just silverware as we had brought disposable plates, bowls, cups!) and we all went back to work. 

Mazie the dog guarded the last quarter of cow, Kath stuck with the wrapping, I ground and re-ground and bagged ground beef for about two hours, then helped pack everything in appropriate cars.  The guys helped Uncle Clifford scrub up as much as possible and soon the work area was almost back in order.  It was such a great day, with sharing and laughter and conversations of everything from A to Z and back again at least twice.  And it wouldn’t have been a day on the farm without a drink from the natural spring pouring down from the mountain, cold and clear and pure.  We left in a caravan, creeping down the dirt road in the dark rainy night, watching for the ever present deer in the headlights. 

Everyone arrived safe and sound back home, put their plunder safely in the fridge or freezer, content with the hard work, great company, and a job well done – with dozens and dozens of meals dancing like sugar plums in our heads.  It will be twelve months until we embark on this particular adventure again – in 2021! – but we’re already calling it our annual event!  Love you guys!   PS – Sunday’s lunch was a fresh burger on homemade bread, with a meatloaf baking for tomorrow’s supper!  Yum!

Today was another super fun day at Hanna’s Town!  Since the addition of the new Education center, there are many more opportunities to have programs and adventures.  I had emailed Pam and offered to help if they needed anything, and she asked me to supervise the cookie decorating table.  I gladly accepted, with the disclaimer that I could supervise and handled crowd control, but my decorating skills were sadly lacking.  So we were in agreement and it was set. 

There were several activities going on, including tours of the site and a sale in the new gift shop.  The cookie station was set in the activities room in the Center, and we had several different shapes of thick sugar cookies, 12 tubes of icing, 5 cups of sprinkles — ‘and a partridge in a pear tree!’  No.  No partridge.  But we did have a flock of excited children come through, and they loved decorating the cookies.  It was very interesting.  I noticed that the older kids got  very creative, using icing upon icing and sprinkles upon sprinkles, loading up the cookies as much as possible.  The younger ones, even as small as three, seemed to be very deliberate with their project.  They outlined the shapes, used icing sparingly, and were very precise with the sprinkles.  They all did a great job and I was totally impressed with their excitement and patience. 

The whole time, in the background, a large screen computer image displayed a cozy room with a Christmas tree and a glowing fireplace.  Classic holiday music filled the room with music – everything from Bing Crosby to the Beach Boys (which of course I loved hearing!).  At noon Stage Right came in, and for 50 minutes we were absolutely delighted with their entertainment.  The voices of these young people amazed me, and the solos were wonderful.  My two favorite performances were ‘Pine Cones and Holly Berries’ (I have that song on an album by the Osmond Brothers from my childhood!) and of course the Beach Boys ‘Little St. Nick’.  The singers were exuberant and engaged and very talented, and I encourage anyone who hasn’t had a chance to see them perform to check it out.  I understand that there is a performance of Cinderella in January. 

After Stage Right was finished, several of the members and also those who had come in to watch the show decorated cookies, and we were busy for an hour with that – while in the Steele House next door there was a reading of the Nutcracker for families to attend.  The afternoon wound down with only a few more cookie decorators, and some of the other volunteers wandered in to see the displays.  If you read my post from December 14th, you’ll remember that I mentioned not taking pictures at the 1900’s presentation.  The display was still up, so I snapped a few photos.  You’ll see toys and electronics and books, and wax candles and cardboard houses, Santa Coke can, melted window decor, and a few sets of lights. 

As I left at 3:15pm, I turned around and took a photo of the wreath on the Tavern door.  It’s a great site with wonderful programs.  Keep checking the website at www.westmorelandhistory.org to see what’s happening, and in the spring all the new programs will begin.  Don’t get left out, it’s a great place to be – Where History is Present!

Kath and I parted ways with Kelly, who was going to my place to have some much needed quiet time, and Di and Shannen after the Hanna’s Town program, leaving the two of them still chatting with the presenters.  I overheard Shannen telling someone she had a Coke can with the Santa on it – so there was a lot of excited chatter.  But Kath and I headed out Home, as today was the annual Skunk Hollow Girls Christmas Party Fest.  We were going to celebrate this year at Colleen’s house, one of the further trips we make for our events.  Colleen and her husband Larry live in the old farmhouse of Larry’s family, and still run the farm with dairy cows and crops.  But I should clarify.  When I say old, that only refers to longevity of ownership.  The farmhouse is absolutely beautiful!  Every corner and facet of the place has been updated and renovated, until it would rival any magazine spread on the market today.  The kitchen/dining room has a table that easily held the 11 of us without crowding. Holly was at a wedding, and of course Susan was celebrating Christmas with the angels, and Jesus himself! 

We were blessed with a tour, where every corner held pine and candles and twinkling lights, quaint snowmen and centuries of Santas and toys and photos.  Even the framed pictures on the walls reflected and holiday and the season.  I think Beth had her eye on the one in the entrance hall that said about all roads lead to Grama’s house.  I hope it was still there when we all left….  Such a comfortable, welcoming home, perfect in every way, a great place to gather and be thankful for our blessings and each other.  Colleen’s parents, Uncle Clifford and Aunt Joan, live right up the road, and she invited them down to share the evening.  As we sat there around the table, in the waning dusk we could see light snow falling, coating the ground with a light layer of white.  I had to fight down the nervous edge about driving home, especially the first 20 miles on rural, unlit, isolated roads.  “I can’t think about that today.  I’ll go crazy if I do.  I’ll think about that tomorrow.”  (Quote from Scarlet O’Hara, Gone with the Wind.)   

We gathered around the Christmas tree to take a group picture, one including both AJ and UC, and one that UC took for us of all the girls, including AJ. (Left ot right:  Kathy, Gail, Colleen, Aunt Joan, Connie, Gwen, Karen V, Karen O, Me, Uncle Clifford.  Beth replaces UC in the second photo) It was a wonderful evening with those we love most in the whole world, in a place that is as dear to us as our own home (Home!).  It’s always hard to leave, and since everyone else was local, Kath and I had to pull ourselves away from the festivities to make our way home the 60 miles to Greensburg.  Post Script:  Roads were fine, but the threat of deer and snow kept us at a pretty slow pace until Indiana!  Already looking forward to our spring event, but as for this, it was at the top of our Christmas favorites – sharing thoughts and laughs and food and faith.  Love you guys!

As you can see by the title of this post, I am a little behind schedule!  But December 14th was a big day, and lots of fun.  The morning started at Eat n Park where my daughter Kelly, my sister Kathy and I met up with my friend Diane and her daughter Shannen.  We had a yummy breakfast and spent an hour and a half chatting and catching up – and even spent a few minutes with the food service manager, Sally, who is a long-time friend.  From there we caravaned to Hanna’s Town, where we browsed around in the beautiful new gift shop looking at the books and decorations and snacks while we waited for our program.  Back in September we had signed up for their program, ‘Three Centuries of Christmas’ – and for once I was a attendee rather than a hostess.  The day was rainy and very cool, and even though the programs were inside, walking from building to building was a very chilling experience. But so fun! The first stop was the Tavern, and once we were inside we were warm and toasty, with the fire blazing in the hearth and dozens of candles glowing.  Pam and Joanna welcomed us as guests, and once we were all seated, Pam started with the 1700’s.  She gave a detailed and interesting presentation about how the Christmas holiday was celebrated (and often FORBIDDEN to be celebrated!) in the colonies. The tree was a simple pine branch, hung with common, local fruit.  It was common to go ‘wassailing’ but gifts were not a part of the celebration as such.  We met Belsnickle, who barged in on our presentation, poking people with his stick and asking them if they were good.  His determination produced either a piece of candy or a lump of coal.  He was a colorful gentleman that was full of orneriness and silly stories, and after offering us a cookie, led us to the next stop. 

The Klingensmith house represented the first half of the 1800’s, where the tree was strung with popcorn, candles,  and little handmade ornaments.  We learned about Clement Moore’s ‘The Night Before Christmas, and had a taste of cocoa with our cookies.   

The Steele house gave us a taste of the second half of the 1800’s, where we learned about Christmas celebrations during and immediately after the Civil War.  The years following the war were very prosperous, with the onset of the industrial age, and electric lights and German ornaments were very popular on trees.  Toys were introduced with movable parts, and dolls went from being ‘adult’ dolls to ‘baby’ dolls, which also introduced all and every accessory know to babydom!  Christmas cards came into the picture, which was a boon for the US Post Office as well as a new greeting card industry.   Again we were offered cookies – fruit cake and shortbread – and made our way to the new education center to visit the 1900’s and the beginning of the 2000’s. 

I didn’t even think to take pictures, but of course most of the items were very familiar – Flexible Flyer sleds, Fisher Price toys, the introduction of electronics (boom boxes and cassette tape recorders), Barbie dolls and tiny twinkle lights.  Santa became the image on the Coca Cola cans, and Rudolph and Frosty and most of the classic songs and movies were introduced. 

This was an amazing program, which is offered every year, and I heartily recommend attending.  It was fun and informative and even tasty!  I’d sign up early, like late September or early October, because even though there are several sessions over two weekends, space is limited and it fills up fast.  Set a reminder in your calendar, and join us next year.  You won’t be disappointed!  I guarantee it!

PS:  Photo credits go to Kelly!