Peaceful Summer Days

by Gary R. Ferris

Sitting on the front porch enjoying a peaceful summer day,

Writing down the words that He’s given me to say.

Sipping on my coffee and watching the wind blow the trees,

Quietly watching the birds sailing in the breeze.




When I look at this beauty it takes my cares away,


The majestic mountains that top these skies today.

Off in a distance a bird begins to sing,

And the sounds of the country and the music it can bring.


The dogs are lying in the sun and lost in the deep,

To watch them in this summer breeze make me want to fall asleep.

To realize that I have been so blessed,

All of my troubles become no more than a pest.




Listening to the sound of children playing in the sun,

Reminds me of a boy and all the things I had done.

Laughing and playing and cherishing each day,

Sometimes I wish that those times were here to stay.

In a world full of struggle, turmoil, and strife,

I feel so blessed to get to live this life.

There are no brilliant words that I could ever say,

That ever could describe a peaceful summer day.

Chachachachachanges

Change is inevitable. Seeds change into seedlings, seedlings to plants, changing as the years go by. Landscape change; seasons change. Little that exists is not affected by change. The PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is no exception.

When Community Partnerships RC&D first began envisioning what the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails could be, there were many ideas. At first the plan was to incorporate multiple trails, each trail meandering through a tier of central Pennsylvania. An Amtrak trail was part of that vision, placing the trail along the railroad to be viewed from a rail car, as the train traveled from Lewistown to Harrisburg.

Though a rail component of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is a wonderful idea, the logistics of getting support to do such a project have not yet materialized. Perhaps after reading this blog posting, you the reader will have the resources to make it so. Nonetheless, the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails metamorphosed into what it is today. And as each piece is added, the trail changes and becomes something different that originally imagined.

Plans are underway to add a geo-caching component to the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails. As the caches are placed, new changes, most inevitable will affect the trail and changes will occur.

Now is the time to be part of the ever changing PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails. Be part of the change and part of the future. Support the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails and be the change you want to be.

Gardening and the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails

Ever since I can remember, I have tended to plants. Before I turned eight and my family and I moved to a house with a yard, I nurtured marigolds in paper cups, started an avocado tree from a pit and took charge and watered my mother's asparagus fern daily. After moving from the city to the suburbs, I had a postage stamp space next to my dad's "real" garden where I lovingly grew mint and mammoth sunflowers. And in all these years of gardening, I believe that when gardening, flowers must always be included.

Daily I check in with each of my flowers. Today I found two flowers on my pink and purple fuchsia, bracts on the Bougainvillea, huge, bright red flowers on a geranium, as well as other pink, orange, white, magenta and yellow flowers spread throughout the property. Every time one of the bright colors catch my eye, I find myself stopping to take a moment and absorb the visual contrast of a small splash of color against, the green of the grass, brown of the soil and grey of the 100+ year old house I live in.

This morning, as I stopped to look at an isolated yellow flower, it occurred to me that a quilt square on the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is a bit like a flower. The beautiful colors of a quilt square stand out against the green fields, brown soil and neutral colors of barns and houses. Yet, a quilt square last through all seasons. For all those out there who want to plant an ever-bearing flower-consider sponsoring a quilt square on the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails.