Mud Sales

It was a chilly Spring morning and we had plans for an new adventure. We were babysitting and needed to find an interesting place to go.
I had our boots lined up, packed some water and a pack of Ritz crackers and off we went.

With a map in hand and Tina's two boys Christopher and Brandon, we headed to Lancaster for our first ever "Mud Sale"

Sometime last year I read about Mud Sales held in the Springtime in Lancaster. These sales were an all day affair beginning around 8:30 AM. They are held each Saturday at a different location and sponsored by the local fire companies.

We traveled the back roads to Lancaster, it was a beautiful ride through the rolling hills and farmland. The horizon was dotted with silos and cows grazing. The kids called out every time they saw animals, shouting, cows! horses! chickens!  They love being in the country.

As we arrived we saw hundreds of cars parked on the shoulder and people walking along the country roads. We followed the crowds, and crowds there were.  A sea of straw hats greeted us as we made our way towards the action, we had our boots on and we walked along past the buses picking up the locals from out of the way parking lots, past little Amish boys pulling wagons filled with antiques, past the farm house and around the buggies that dot the countryside.

As we crossed the bridge and gazed below we were amazed at the sight!

The fields were full of Amish men, women and children. There were tents housing small auctions, flat farm wagons with men standing and auctioning off small farm equipment, there was a coral surrounded by hundreds of people, in the center was a ring~ horses were being led around and around as an auctioneer called out prices in a loud melodious sing-song voice. These horses were magnificent, some fully dressed in tack, chrome gleaming in the mid morning sun, they looked like they just stepped out of a Budweiser commercial, others were small ponies going for as low as $50!!!

We walked further in the very muddy field and came upon a row of at least 100 buggies, some new, others gently used, all for sale.
There were tents housing small auctions~furniture, quilts, lumber, antiques, farm equipment, lawn mowers, clothes, birdhouses, antique toys. My head was on a swivel!!!!

There was food, wonderful, simple Lancaster county farm fare. There was a milk wagon serving fresh milk, chocolate milk, raw milk. Anything you can imagine was for sale.

This colorful scene was one I won't forget. Our boots covered in mud we walked among the Amish and Mennonite, smiling broadly at everyone we saw.
We can't wait to go to another mud sale, it was so much fun and so very interesting!

The kids were tired and hungry so we headed to their favorite place! Shady Maple for a smorgasbord fit for a king! I bought them Amish Straw hats and they were Amish for a day!

SHOPPING WITH SUSAN

I woke up early to get ready. Clint left to pick up our 15 passenger van and I set out some small danish, fresh fruit and mimosas to nibble on while we awaited our shopping group.

This is my 7th year doing this and it is such a fun day.

My idea of Shopping with Susan came to me as I teach my cooking classes. Everyone is always so interested in where I do my marketing. I thought WOW what a great idea! I can take everyone with me to all the family run businesses I frequent and show them how wonderful and fresh and easy it is to cook with local ingredients from businesses who care about and know what they sell.

I patronize family run businesses because there are becoming a thing of the past. My saddest day was when I walked through a big store that sells clothes, appliances and ground meat!!! It makes me so sad. I know sometimes it is more convenient to shop at one big store but who do you ask for a recipe? who tells you how to prepare what you are buying and give you ideas on different ways to use it?
It is the personal touch that is missing.

We talk with the shop owners, sample their products, get ideas on cooking with the foods we buy and then finish with a wonderful, casual lunch before we head back home. It is a fun, laughter filled experience and one that you will always remember. These are places you will come back to again and again.

A Privilege

Last Thursday night I had the honor and privilege of being a guest speaker for The American Cancer Society Relay for Life. It was a Mardi Gras Ball for Survivors and Caregivers held at the Downingtown Country Club.

I was asked last February to do this "Little speech" by Susan Baroni who had attended a cooking class. I agreed immediately. What an honor! Was I nervous? yes~ to tell the truth, I speak in front on large groups of people on a regular basis and I never have difficulty BUT I am conducting a cooking class and have my "props" of food in front of me. This was different. Clint told me if I was nervous, bring a head of cabbage as a prop!!!!!

We were in the beautiful ballroom at the Downingtown Country Club. As we arrived I was greeted at the door and introduced to the wonderful people who plan this every year. I looked around the room and saw at least 20 tables of 10~ that is 200 people!  The theme was Mardi Gras and the room was filled with purple and yellow balloons, The "NEW KINGS OF RHYTHM" a fabulous New Orleans band was playing, some people were dressed in feathers and masks others wore Mardi Gras beads, all wore smiles!

As the evening progressed and announcements were made, this wonderful group of people were having FUN! I looked around at the dancing and picture taking and celebrating and thought to myself "Cancer doesn't stop them!" It was truly a magnificent evening.

We started off with a delicous dinner and then I was "UP." I printed some copies of my blog entries to read as we drove, I hoped they would give me a little inspiration for my speech. I was introduced and walked up to the podium. As I looked around I realized that everyone in that big room had been touched by Cancer. They wake up everyday to a different reality, knowing they have this battle in their lives. There were no tears, no sad faces, no self pity, these people had strength and hope and love, they are survivors and care-takes, a tough reality and they face it moment by moment.

As they turned their faces towards me I knew I had this in common with them, I could relate, I could sympathize, I, too am a survivor facing this challenge daily, trying to make each day count, still living my life amidst fear and uncertainty and trying to make decisions that will affect the rest of my life.
They gave me hope, these smiling happy people.

I started talking and the nervousness melted away. I talked about taking care of ourselves, I spoke about living in the moment and enjoying life's simple pleasures and before I knew it they were laughing and my little speech had come to an end.

It was an honor to be among these people, knowing what they go through and have gone through. The evening gave me hope and knowledge that we all go on, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and start all over again!!!