Late Winter Snow

There are three types of snow days that tickle one's senses: the first snow of the season, the first huge snowfall and a late winter snow. The first two types need little explanation. The first snowfall is delightful. Kids and adults alike can be found outdoors, catching snowflakes on their tongues, cleaning up skis in preparation for winter skiing and digging out all the warm and comfortable sweaters, scarves, hats and mittens, lovingly stowed away since  past spring.

The first large snowfall of the year is, for many, an unofficial holiday. Many school and businesses are closed. Often people stay in bed a bit longer, warm and snuggled amongst the winter comforters and wool blankets. Woodstoves are ablaze, filling the air with curls of smoke and the fragrant scent of wood burning.

However, and many will disagree with this statement, one of the best snows are the late winter snows. Because they are so late in the season, shoveling does not need to be as precise, most likely in a day or two the sun will shine and melt most of the snow anyway. Ofttimes, this will be one of the last snows of the year, so the chances for x-country skiing are few until the next winter. Many of the birds have returned. If you are fortunate enough to take a walk in the woods during or immediately after the late winter snow, you will be blessed with a forest full of bird chattering, cold, fresh air bracing your nose and cheeks and the feeling of being truly alive.

Central Pennsylvania has its beauty in all seasons, but its beauty in winter may be vastly under appreciated. This year make an effort to follow the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails during the last few weeks of winter. Enjoy the beauty that is free and yours for experiencing.

Support PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails today!!!!!!

The unofficial state bird of Pennsylvania

If you were to name which non-native bird, living in Pennsylvania, represented best rural Pennsylvania, you most likely would name the domestic chicken. In most neighborhood, the sunrise is meet with the crowing of a rooster. Drive down many rural lanes and you will be greeted by a flock of chicken scavenging for bugs on the side of the road.

When my daughter was young, her best friend was a Rhode Island Red, named Bellina. Bellina willingly let Meagan push her in a stroller around the yard often with a small blanket if the day had a bit of a chill about it. Besides Bellina there were four other chickens, all named specific for their humanistic attributes (Zena, Gabriel, David Bowie, and Esmeralda). Many of my neighbors also kept chicken and town wide potlucks always had plenty of egg dishes options.

Central Pennsylvania's love affair with chickens goes way, way back. Today much of the nations' poultry comes from central Pennsylvania, Amish and Mennonite farms throughout the region raise chickens as well as many residents whether as a home hobby or a project of FFA or 4H

Writing Grants

Community Partnerships RC&D, ever supportive of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails, acquired a grant writer to help push the trail to the next level. As a result, I have had my first try at setting a budget in order to apply for a grant. The experience is a positive one as it forces one to be organized and plan ahead. Aside from simply moving forward, a grant will allow the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails to creatively grow.

I chose three projects to focus on. Two smaller projects and a larger one (at least monetarily):

1) QR (Quick Response) a mobile marketing tool, allows those with smart phones to read a code and receive appropriate info. Codes will be placed on site via permanent signs.

2) Mobile tours is another tool that has been used on several quilt trails throughout the nation. By dialing a phone number (to be posted on site), the caller will have access to a three minute recording which will be appropriate to the site, quilt, sponsor, inspiration  and/or painters of the quilt square.

3) The final project, my personal pet project will be a book of photographs taken by a professional photographer showing the quilt (and rug) pieces in their most attractive vantage points. Through self publishing, the costs can be kept down, no need for inventory and ultimately everybody will save money.

Working as the administrator of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails has meant many exciting and new challenges for me as well as for the entire staff and board of Community Partnerships RC&D. The future looks bright and exciting.