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.

The art of giving

I guess the purpose of blogging for the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is to attach a humanness to the project. Sometimes this forum is used as a space to make announcements or updates. Sometimes its just me, the blogger, trying to make a connection to you, the reader.

My present employment status is precarious at best. I have three part-time jobs. It took me almost a year to become that solvent and my financial solvency is not even close. With several school loans to pay back, car insurance, gas, rent, utilities and food there is hardly a penny left to spend on frivolity.

The other day I was at the local grocer picking up a few essentials (tp, dog food, bagels and sugar) when I ran into two local impoverished folk. One was selling rocks and the other held a cardboard sign looking for work. Not having enough money to support a worker or purchase a piece of azerite, I bought the gentlemen a couple of apple fritters and bid them well. As I drove off I realized something,  no mater how little one is able to help, it can have an impact. Now don't get me wrong, an apple  fritter will not change either of their lives. They still are without adequate shelter, no health care, they still are wearing worn-out clothing and shoes.  Yet, for a short period of time, they felt closer to human, someone who is cared for and appreciated.

The PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails operates on a similar premise. The "squares" which are multiplying call attention to the importance of central Pennsylvania communities. Having a quilt square in your community shows others that your community is appreciated, cared for and honored in a respectable way. Donating to this undertaking, shows the community at large that you are someone who cares for the better good of the community. Maybe you can only offer help painting, maybe you only can give a small donation or maybe your efforts can be put towards getting a group together to have your own quilt square-it all matters. Nothing is ever too small a gesture.

Be part of something that gives back and grows-support the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails.

Splat

Five minutes ago I finished a blog that I was about to post here. It was a touching and moving blog equating giving indigent men apple fritters and how akin that is to donating time and money to the PA Quilt (and Rug) trails. Alas a hasty delete on an unfamiliar computer and the entire post has been erased for all eternity.

So that leaves me here with a blank mind and blank page.

Instead of trying to rehash the blog imagine the best written, heart felt words that broguht you to tears and got you inspired to help. "Help what you say?"

PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is a worth while community project that brings communities together, through work, pride in ownership while celebrating all that makes central Pennsyvania great. All donations large and small are welcomed and needed. like the protagonists in the deleted apple fritter story, small gestures can mean big things.

Support the PA Quilt (And Rug) Trails and be part of history.

R.I.P. Joe Pa

Being part of the central Pennsylvania community, it is hard not to have a story about Joe Paterno.  The sad news was announced by the Paterno family spokesperson of his passing on January 22, 2012. As Joe Pa's life is celebrated we will hear over and over again that Mr. Paterno was not larger than life and was simply a flesh and blood person just as you and I.

Years ago Milano Bread Company hired Joe to be their spokesperson, in a number of commercials, over the course of a few years.  I was hired as art director (including:  props, placement and purchase, costume and make up). Part of my job required me to purchase several sets of  Joe's uniform blue shirt, navy blue sweater and tie (I believe we had three duplicate outfits) and to have it ready at a moment's notice,  ironed and ready to wear . Additionally, I had to powder any shine off his nose and forehead so no sweat would reflect under camera lights.

The shoot took place at a lovely bed and breakfast near the State College Airport. The day was hot and muggy and Joe needed frequent powdering. This was not something he enjoyed, so I made it a game giving him a drink of cold water (Roaring Springs of course!) and a quick powder. After a few rounds of our routine, he settled down a bit and let me do my job, only after saying, "Honey, I don't think there's much you can do with this face."


To the Paterno family, friends, Penn State, State College and the central Pennsylvania community, PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails extend our deepest condolences for the loss of a monument of a man.

Click here for Milano commercial

 R.I.P. Joe Paterno

MLK

Martin Luther King Jr.

January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.