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Summer trips or events that might be a bit different....
Summer trips or events that might be a bit different....
How about a “what have you done this summer that might be a bit different or unusual?” thread - stuff that might be unique to your family/friends or where you live?
Linne’s post about her getaway cottage in Spain inspired me to post about some of our, closer to home, summer getaways.
The pictures and comments that follow relate to a reunion weekend in the mountains of Pennsylvania and a trip to a county fair.
The getaway cottage –
I don’t know how old it actually is but it is much older than it appears from the outside. There was a sawmill on site in the late 1800’s and we found 3+ foot wide boards in the walls. My guess is it was built from trees right on the property.
Early morning view –
Our neighbors stopped by for a visit –
The twins –
The warning should say “Adults at Camp Today”–
This is the camp up the road -
It was founded in the mid-1800’s and at least 3 generations of my family were or still are members. It’s a guy’s hunting and fishing camp.
Until the 1930’s the only way to reach this area was by train. The old rail line was located just up the bank from the building. The tracks were torn up some time ago.
There are a number of old camps in the area and building materials were either gathered locally or were shipped in by rail.
A rail line cut across this part of the state and people would actually take the train out to the middle of nowhere to go hunting.
I don’t know when the train stopped running but the old-timers remember the train. The old local station still stands about a mile up the road. It was converted to a hunting camp but is now vacant.
There are hundreds of turkey feet marching around the perimeter of the ceiling. A bunch unexpectedly fell down on my aunt as we were talking.
This is some sort of drainage tunnel under the rail bed. Legend has it, my grandfather used to sit inside it to cool off in the summer.
Our Pennsylvania version of iguanas
I believe it is a skank. It is actually a very bright blue.
This little guy was right outside the back door -
In my opinion, this is the best chicken in the entire world –
The guys put it on early in the morning and baste it all day –
The baste is a mixture of butter, Tabasco, Worchester, vinegar, salt and pepper.
When we first started dating and he attended his first camp picnic, my husband saw the sprayer and he asked if it was dedicated for chicken use only. I think he was slightly concerned it may have been used to spray weeds prior to the picnic.
It requires a lot of turning, manpower and beer from start to finish -
It is cooked over a wood fire -
Cooking the corn –
I have no idea why he is sitting on the corn pot. There must be 25 old chairs scattered about. The only logical reason is that getting a chair would have required a walk AWAY from the beer keg.
There is an OLD BLUE CHAIR (wicker) on the front porch but I forget to take a picture of it.
It was a fantastic weather day –
A few weeks later, we visited the local County Fair.
Get your picture taken on a tractor!
People bring their animals for the week –
Hello!
Dairy cattle –
Raw milk -
Raw milk, both cow and goat, is becoming very popular in PA. Signs at the farms advertising raw milk are popping up everywhere.
Beef (its whats for dinner!) cattle –
This is the Dairy Princess. You can’t tell from the picture but she is wearing a crown and sash.
Future bacon –
A public service annoucement - A child will touch EVERY SINGLE PIG NOSE at a county fair. And then will want to touch your face.
Sheep –
To shawl –
The rides are a bit rough –
Note the orange electrical tape covering up the splintered leg.
This merry-go-round was missing more than a few horses. The broken ones were scattered about the fenced in area. It was both comical and creepy.
We left before the tractor pulls started. Darn.
Linne’s post about her getaway cottage in Spain inspired me to post about some of our, closer to home, summer getaways.
The pictures and comments that follow relate to a reunion weekend in the mountains of Pennsylvania and a trip to a county fair.
The getaway cottage –
I don’t know how old it actually is but it is much older than it appears from the outside. There was a sawmill on site in the late 1800’s and we found 3+ foot wide boards in the walls. My guess is it was built from trees right on the property.
Early morning view –
Our neighbors stopped by for a visit –
The twins –
The warning should say “Adults at Camp Today”–
This is the camp up the road -
It was founded in the mid-1800’s and at least 3 generations of my family were or still are members. It’s a guy’s hunting and fishing camp.
Until the 1930’s the only way to reach this area was by train. The old rail line was located just up the bank from the building. The tracks were torn up some time ago.
There are a number of old camps in the area and building materials were either gathered locally or were shipped in by rail.
A rail line cut across this part of the state and people would actually take the train out to the middle of nowhere to go hunting.
I don’t know when the train stopped running but the old-timers remember the train. The old local station still stands about a mile up the road. It was converted to a hunting camp but is now vacant.
There are hundreds of turkey feet marching around the perimeter of the ceiling. A bunch unexpectedly fell down on my aunt as we were talking.
This is some sort of drainage tunnel under the rail bed. Legend has it, my grandfather used to sit inside it to cool off in the summer.
Our Pennsylvania version of iguanas
I believe it is a skank. It is actually a very bright blue.
This little guy was right outside the back door -
In my opinion, this is the best chicken in the entire world –
The guys put it on early in the morning and baste it all day –
The baste is a mixture of butter, Tabasco, Worchester, vinegar, salt and pepper.
When we first started dating and he attended his first camp picnic, my husband saw the sprayer and he asked if it was dedicated for chicken use only. I think he was slightly concerned it may have been used to spray weeds prior to the picnic.
It requires a lot of turning, manpower and beer from start to finish -
It is cooked over a wood fire -
Cooking the corn –
I have no idea why he is sitting on the corn pot. There must be 25 old chairs scattered about. The only logical reason is that getting a chair would have required a walk AWAY from the beer keg.
There is an OLD BLUE CHAIR (wicker) on the front porch but I forget to take a picture of it.
It was a fantastic weather day –
A few weeks later, we visited the local County Fair.
Get your picture taken on a tractor!
People bring their animals for the week –
Hello!
Dairy cattle –
Raw milk -
Raw milk, both cow and goat, is becoming very popular in PA. Signs at the farms advertising raw milk are popping up everywhere.
Beef (its whats for dinner!) cattle –
This is the Dairy Princess. You can’t tell from the picture but she is wearing a crown and sash.
Future bacon –
A public service annoucement - A child will touch EVERY SINGLE PIG NOSE at a county fair. And then will want to touch your face.
Sheep –
To shawl –
The rides are a bit rough –
Note the orange electrical tape covering up the splintered leg.
This merry-go-round was missing more than a few horses. The broken ones were scattered about the fenced in area. It was both comical and creepy.
We left before the tractor pulls started. Darn.
My good friend has a summer house up in the mountains of WVA. Very beautiful place. Relaxing, serene, lovely.
We try to do a girls trip every summer. This year there were 7 of us. We decided to take a side trip to the WVA State Fair.
So if trips to the WVA State Fair and sheep in spandex count as "unique" then I am there.
This Goat loved me. He wanted to really LOVE me. Its ok to love your pets, just don't LOOOOVE your pets.
Pig Love
Fun signage
Seriously, could not make this up
Why?
There may have been more campers than people at the Fair.
And of course it wouldn't be a post without food porn. Death on a styrofoam platter.
But Gromit & I have fun no matter where we are...
And the highlight of the trip was tubing on the Greenbrier River and I have the butt and boob bruises to PROVE IT!
We try to do a girls trip every summer. This year there were 7 of us. We decided to take a side trip to the WVA State Fair.
So if trips to the WVA State Fair and sheep in spandex count as "unique" then I am there.
This Goat loved me. He wanted to really LOVE me. Its ok to love your pets, just don't LOOOOVE your pets.
Pig Love
Fun signage
Seriously, could not make this up
Why?
There may have been more campers than people at the Fair.
And of course it wouldn't be a post without food porn. Death on a styrofoam platter.
But Gromit & I have fun no matter where we are...
And the highlight of the trip was tubing on the Greenbrier River and I have the butt and boob bruises to PROVE IT!
I can identify with sooooooo much more of this! Growing up in that very area, the West Virginia state fair was a highlight of the summer... Getting to be HEAD USHER in the grandstand was my big goal (accomplished!) - meeting the guest southern governors (who often conferenced at the nearby Greenbrier Resort) and the big name performers before the shows each night were fun perks when you are sixteen.
Thanks flip-flop; I haven't been back to the fair for several years...
I am glad that you and your friends enjoyed your time together there.
Edit: After the animals are washed, powdered and otherwise primped they wear those little jackets to stay clean until they are shown in the competiton.
Last edited by lprof on Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
... no longer a stranger to paradise
Every summer John and I go to Tanglewood for a weekend with my family. Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It is a beautiful spot for great music. This year we rented a barn that had been converted into a house:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722579176/" title="barn side view by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2608/372 ... 07eafe.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="barn side view"></a>
The woods around are great for hiking. I thought that this stick formation looked kind of like a fish skeleton:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722580722/" title="stick fish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2472/372 ... 0b538f.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="stick fish"></a>
Boating at the Stockbridge Bowl:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722583048/" title="stockbridge bowl rowers by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/372 ... 1bafac.jpg" width="500" height="308" alt="stockbridge bowl rowers"></a>
Lots of lillies grow wild on the side of the road:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3721768627/" title="lilly closeup by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/372 ... e55ef4.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="lilly closeup"></a>
No visit to Tanglewood would be complete without a visit to Catherine's Chocolates. I love their chocolate covered raspberries:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3721768367/" title="Catherines by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/372 ... 35e55f.jpg" width="500" height="385" alt="Catherines"></a>
Picnicking is a very big deal at Tanglewood. People can go as casual as a bag of chips and cans of coke, to full scale table setups complete with candelabras and crystal wineglasses. Here is our picnic from the 4th of July. My Mom contributed this picnic:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3721768761/" title="picnic by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/372 ... b7d292.jpg" width="281" height="500" alt="picnic"></a>
Usually Tanglewood is classical, but the 4th of July concert was Diana Krall:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722579972/" title="diana krall by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/372 ... 8c570a.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="diana krall"></a>
The lawn at Tanglewood:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3721769055/" title="sun through tree by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/372 ... 5d5346.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="sun through tree"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722579176/" title="barn side view by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2608/372 ... 07eafe.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="barn side view"></a>
The woods around are great for hiking. I thought that this stick formation looked kind of like a fish skeleton:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722580722/" title="stick fish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2472/372 ... 0b538f.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="stick fish"></a>
Boating at the Stockbridge Bowl:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722583048/" title="stockbridge bowl rowers by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/372 ... 1bafac.jpg" width="500" height="308" alt="stockbridge bowl rowers"></a>
Lots of lillies grow wild on the side of the road:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3721768627/" title="lilly closeup by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/372 ... e55ef4.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="lilly closeup"></a>
No visit to Tanglewood would be complete without a visit to Catherine's Chocolates. I love their chocolate covered raspberries:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3721768367/" title="Catherines by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/372 ... 35e55f.jpg" width="500" height="385" alt="Catherines"></a>
Picnicking is a very big deal at Tanglewood. People can go as casual as a bag of chips and cans of coke, to full scale table setups complete with candelabras and crystal wineglasses. Here is our picnic from the 4th of July. My Mom contributed this picnic:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3721768761/" title="picnic by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/372 ... b7d292.jpg" width="281" height="500" alt="picnic"></a>
Usually Tanglewood is classical, but the 4th of July concert was Diana Krall:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722579972/" title="diana krall by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/372 ... 8c570a.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="diana krall"></a>
The lawn at Tanglewood:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3721769055/" title="sun through tree by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/372 ... 5d5346.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="sun through tree"></a>
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
As soon as I read Flip's comment about spandex, I immediately knew what was going on.lprof wrote:
Edit: After the animals are washed, powdered and otherwise primped they wear those little jackets to stay clean until they are shown in the competiton.
I am impressed with the camo print, that is a new one to me.
Flip - our getaways were shocking similar!
-
hoosierdaddy
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liamsaunt said:
"The woods around are great for hiking. I thought that this stick formation looked kind of like a fish skeleton:"
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722580722/" title="stick fish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2472/372 ... 0b538f.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="stick fish"></a>
This photo is terrific!
Enjoyed your whole report... what a wonderful place for a family gathering - great music, food and atmosphere with those you love - truly priceless.
"The woods around are great for hiking. I thought that this stick formation looked kind of like a fish skeleton:"
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3722580722/" title="stick fish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2472/372 ... 0b538f.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="stick fish"></a>
This photo is terrific!
Enjoyed your whole report... what a wonderful place for a family gathering - great music, food and atmosphere with those you love - truly priceless.
... no longer a stranger to paradise
Thank you PA girl for starting this topic. In find it so interesting to see different examples of how to enjoy holidays and weekends.
The getaway cottage looks great. The camp too. You must really enjoy being in such peaceful and beautiful surroundings, knowing that it’s a part of the history of your family.
It’s funny to see the coloured animals and to learn what the word “vegetarian” means
,
and Liamsaunt has showed us again that she has a special eye for great photos. I second lprof. The photo with the stick formation is just terrific.
Thank you for bringing the stories and pictures. Hope to see more.
Linne
The getaway cottage looks great. The camp too. You must really enjoy being in such peaceful and beautiful surroundings, knowing that it’s a part of the history of your family.
It’s funny to see the coloured animals and to learn what the word “vegetarian” means
,and Liamsaunt has showed us again that she has a special eye for great photos. I second lprof. The photo with the stick formation is just terrific.
Thank you for bringing the stories and pictures. Hope to see more.
Linne
Ha! There was many an off-color comment when someone insisted it was called a skank.fatboy wrote:Great report PA. I like the pics, especially the drain where your grandfather used to cool-off. The lizard (we call them blue-tails) are actually skinks. Skanks are what you don't want your son to date.
I will set the guys straight when they come up for turkey camp.
I really enjoyed the PA pics, I grew up in Lancaster county...brings back some old memories...
Thanks
Thanks
STJ Villa Map:
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