The Mohawk Trail

When I was a kid, family vacations and family day trips usually involved an educational angle. Whether my mother was a closet history buff or just wanted to expand our experiences, when my Dad wasn't breaking his hand, catching fire or cutting himself, our family trips involved learning something about the area. Often we camped or stayed at motels, ate cereal from individual sized boxes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and ventured forth to learn. I discovered Washington DC through museums and mass transit,  the deep south in the 60s via side roads and scenic routes, and followed the Mohawk Trail through upstate New York and Massachusetts.

 

Photo by Sharon Lee

Recently my Mom came for a visit. As I played her tour guide we reminisced about the Mohawk Trail. I remember stopping somewhere in Massachusetts and learning how taper candles were made. For the first time, I tasted blue green dressing and escarole. Somewhere in northeastern New York, we stayed at a log cabin off the main road. My first experience of the wonderful smells of a spruce forest was during this trip.

It is the hope of Community Partnerships RC&D, and myself as PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails administrator, that the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails becomes a trail of memories, education, wonderful sights, tastes  and smells. Please help build the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails. Sponsors, sites, painters all are needed. Make the PA Quilt (And Rug) Trails a integral part of the central Pennsylvania experience.

Happy New Years from Community Partnerships RC&D, sponsor ofthe PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails.

Heigh Ho, The Holly

Heigh Ho, The Holly

Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh ho, sing heigh ho, unto the green holly;
most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly. Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remember'd not.
Heigh ho, sing heigh ho, unto the green holly:
most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

William Shakespeare

Geting Your Quilt Trail on

Week after week I have been blogging about the benefit, the beauty and the importance to the community of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails. And if we were to meet face-to-face I would most likely talk your ear off about upcoming quilt squares, after all the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is continually evolving and there is much to say.

However this week, this blog posting, I have nothing to say.


This past weekend I attended a Christmas party at an orphanage in one of the poorer towns of Mexico. Hogar de los Niño is  located on the outskirts of Naco, Sonora. There are thirteen orphans living there ages ranging from two months to thirteen years old. Many of these orphans are paperless meaning that they were most likely found on the streets and lack any type of identification making them unadoptable. Although the orphanage has electricity enough to power a Christmas tree and a bare bulb, I saw no sign of a heat source. I was told in the past, the children were locked in the building for the evening, alone, as they had no one to stay there overnight. Now they have a house "mother" living with the children making the children somewhat safer at night.

I suppose I could go on for pages on the conditions of Hogar de los Niños but, other than making you feel extremely sorry for these kids, why add the burden of knowledge to your already highly-stressed, over-extended life? And why bring it up at all? I can't say for sure I know except that I realize fully how truly blessed and lucky I am. No I do not have a late model car, I struggle with making rent and bills on time, Christmas this year, present-wise is a few promises of gifts and words of love. Easy to wrap but sometimes hard to swallow in this time of gift giving and spending. But then I remember that my daughter never had to spend cold nights on a cot in a room with twelve others, never to have a parent's hug, never to know her birthday and her birth family. My daughter doesn't use rocks to play catch. She doesn't depend on the kindness of strangers for a coat and shoes.

This holiday season spend a few moments thinking kind thoughts for those who suffer the most.

Best of holidays to you and yours,

Sharon Lee

Winter in the Woods

Many stories and poems have been written about the beauty of the woods in the winter. Pennsylvania has over 60% (17 million acres) of forests (dcnr.state.pa.us). Although the woods are typically admired in the fall with their brilliant displays of colors, to me, an avid woods walker, the winter in the woods is my favorite time to venture amongst the trees.

A freshly laid coating of snow captures peace and tranquility like no other season. Even the chirping of the winter birds is halted. My guess is the little feathered ones are tucked, warm and safely away until warmer times.

The Tuscarora State Forest in Perry County is a beautiful place of peace and tranquility, where the true beauty of Pennsylvania's woods is evident. If you are following the Pa Quilt (and Rug) Trails, you can visit the tribute to Magdalean Briner Eby's, primitive hook rug craftswoman at the Tuscarora Ranger Station's fire building.

I know many people shutter with the thought of venturing outside in Pennsylvania in the wintertime, however take a chance and venture forth. It will be the experience you've always wished for.