June 29, 2011

Just as in life, people involved with the PA Quilt (And Rug) Trails come and go. Though the trail is only a year old, three significant players have disappeared.

Larry Schardt was one of the primary forces that made PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails a reality. Larry was my Soils 422 professor at Penn State University Park campus. I was fortunate to earn an internship at Community Partnerships RC&D after graduation and was given the task to make the trail a reality. In January 2011, Larry officially retired his position as NRCS coordinator of Community Partnerships RC&D, moving on to work on his personal passions: motivational speaking, book writing, skiing and spreading the word of "Rock and Roll". Thank you Dr. Rock and Roll for bringing smiles to people and sharing your enthusiasm for community.

David E. Shenk III, an active board member as well as president of Community Partnerships RC&D, recently fell ill and will no longer be able to serve as a board member. Because of the support of CPRC&D, the PA quilt (and Rug) Trails was able to become a reality and thrive. Thank you Dave for all you have done for the PA Quilt (And Rug) Trails, Community Partnerships RC&D and our community.

Grace Donahey was one of the Tuscarora State Forest Trail Rug painters. Grace, as well as the other residents of Locust Grove Retirement and Rehabilitation Village, were faced with the challenge of translating a hooked rug pattern made of scraps of yarn into a 6' x 8' painted piece that well represented the original piece. Thank you Grace for leaving evidence of your talents behind to be shared now and with future generations.

June 20, 2011

One of the best things about following the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is exploring the beautiful countrysides and charming small towns of central Pennsylvania. As a past resident of this area one thing that stands out in my mind is the plethora of wonderful gardens. From the delightful Peter Rabbit style postage stamp gardens, to the meticulous gardens of Amish women, central Pennsylvania has the perfect weather to create lush oasis of flowers, veggies, herbs and foliage.

Each garden has its own natural beauty. If you stop a central Pennsylvanian gardener to ask about their garden you will most likely leave after a brief discourse of biology and with an armful of ripened zucchini.

Come follow the scent and the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails

June 13, 2011

This morning while I was on the phone with the activities director of Locust Grove Rehabilitation and Retirement Village, discussing the final touches of the Trail Rug, I watched a yellow bird fighting with a hummingbird at the bird feeder. I wish I could tell you what species the yellow bird and/or hummingbird was, but I was multi-tasking and unable to turn my full attention to bird identification.

And why am I blogging about this bird interaction? Actually I'm not sure except that as with most aspects of coordinating the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails it is a project of multi-tasking. Today for instance while on the phone with Locust Grove's Freda Durio, I had my mail program open to write an email to Community Partnerships RC&D staff member Mike Lennartz hoping he would help me procure paper products, chips and a cake for the Trail Rug unveiling. At the same time I was searching through an antique wooden file box for the index card with contact information for Skills of Central Pennsylvania, the group working on another quilt square. An email from Packwood Museum that needed to be addressed was open on  my desktop. Add to that petting my border collie, lying at my feet, listening to see if the washing machine has finished its cycle and writing a to-do list, I am the epitome of multi-tasking.

Like multi-tasking the PA Quilt (and Rug) trails is multi-faceted. The Trail Rug to be hung in less than a month at the Tuscarora State Forest, took about forty people to make happen. Hard to imagine but true. And each of us with a specific task at hand added to the whole, making a fantastic piece that will be availble to all for many, many years to come.

Come join PA Quilt (and Rug) trails as we unveiled this special addition to our trail

July 8th, 2011, 11AM 

Tuscarora State Forest Fire Station

Blain, Pennsylvania

For more information contact:

Sharon Lee, administrator of Pa Quilt (and Rug) Trails 

administrator@paquilttrails,org

717-248-4901 ext 326

June 7, 2011