9/23/2018 Gem Show in MD

9/23/2018

Anita & Kevin belong to the Baltimore Gem Cutters Guild and today is their annual big show.  Of course they didn't know when they volunteered to help organize it, that it would be the same weekend as the wedding!

From what we understand, Anita & Kevin are sort of the "new blood" in the group and have helped make some changes and helped with organization in the group.  Anita was in charge of marketing for the show, so is nervous as to whether her internet ad, school fliers and other things will be successful.  Kevin has cleaned up and organized their display cases, supplies and other materials which he delivered a few days ago.  Despite the rainy day, turnout has been good.

Anita has asked us to pitch in - me as a photographer and Tom, Sue & Greg as helpers at a booth where kids get small buckets of gravel that are "seeded" with various minerals, crystals and stones.  They get a magnifying glass and tweezers to sort through and find their treasures. Anita distributed fliers to many of the schools in the area and gets a good response!  It costs $2, but is free if the kids complete a scavenger hunt type paper.  And of course the kids brought their parents...

Anita did these cute photo-op cut-outs!

And has a dinosaur expert on hand to talk to kids about dinosaurs and fossils, along with other dinosaur-related things.

Probably about 50 booths with various items for sale including rocks, fossils, beads, jewelry, gemstones and other cool stuff!

We spent the day there and had a good time!  And the numbers of visitors and sales were hugely improved over last year!  Way to go Anita and Kevin!

9/18- 9/22 Friends & Family/ Wedding in PA

9/18/18

After a pleasant morning with Mom, we had a light lunch and headed for Abingdon, Maryland to visit old college friends, Scott & Cathy.  Through the countryside of Pennsylvania and into Maryland, through towns that hang on to the fringes of my memory- Christiana, Quarryville, Conowingo Dam...past BelAir where an Aunt used to live....

We arrive at Scott & Cathy's mid-afternoon.  Greg & Scott played high school football together in Pennsylvania and then all of us went to Indiana University of PA,  They have just joined the ranks of the retired and are planning a celebratory trip to Australia and New Zealand.  Sounds like a lot of fun!  Lots of catching up and discovering we still have a lot in common.

We go to a small specialty pizza (I think that was the name!)  and beer place for dinner and enjoy the evening.

9/19/18-9/22

We arrive at Beth's sister's house this afternoon.  Relax, do some laundry and maintenance, then enjoy visiting with Tom and Sue and Anita & Kevin.   Their dog Cody is a friendly sort who thinks he's a lap dog!

Our niece Vanessa's wedding is this Saturday and there are quite a few jobs to be done before then. Here we are making the salad for the rehearsal dinner.

This is the barn where the smallish wedding was....reception barn much bigger!

We help cleaning up the barns at Kevin's parents' farm where both the wedding and reception will be held. Things like sweeping, planting flowers, arranging table decorations that include pumpkins, gourds & candles, shopping for a few last minute items, and more. Sue and I go with Anita for Vanessa's final dress fitting. Beautiful!

 Other friends and relatives pitch in as well, making for a fun, entertaining few days.   In the evenings we enjoy some great dinners with Tom, Sue, Anita and Kevin - one at a converted mill in Glenville, another at Big Mike's - a crab place in Hanover.  Yum!  (We aren't that far from the Chesapeake Bay.)

Greg, Anita and I go to the small town of New Berlin to pick up over 40 pies made by the ladies there in lieu of a wedding cake.  Our RV has never smelled so good!

The rehearsal is on an overcast but pleasant Friday.  Rehearsal goes well and Vanessa has brought in a portable wood-fired oven company that  makes tasty pizzas for dinner!  Nice to see Mike & Jen, Nick & Sara and kids along with many others.

Anita also puts together a unique groom's cake shaped like a combination of a fire hose (Kevin is a fire chief), a tractor tire (loves farming on his own and his parents' properties), and a ketchup bottle!  One of a kind for sure!

Saturday morning is clear but cool.  The wedding, which is just family and close friends, is in the smaller barn.  Vanessa is glowing and they look very happy! Kevin's brother checks the rings before the ceremony.

 The reception goes well also and Vanessa's Dad and wife Kim have provided great food.  We "old folks" leave early as the dancing and partying continues into the night.

A nice touch:

M0nday, 9/17/18 NJ/Hopewell/Back to PA

Monday, 9/17

Slept in a bit this morning, then walked to Bagels Plus for a NY bagel breakfast.  What a selection - and tasty too.  We sat outside as the day is coolish and dry - so far.

 Once again thankful for GPS as we head out of New Jersey and into PA.

A little rain here and there as we traverse the towns and farmland of  eastern PA.  We decide to make a stop at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.

 Lots of apple trees line the drive in with lots of fallen apples on the ground.  We learn later than you can pick your own!

Hopewell Furnace began operation in 1771 and at that point 15% of the World's iron was made in the US.   It was a prime site, being only a few days from Philadelphia and there was an abundance of wood for fuel, iron ore and limestone. It produced about 1,000 tons of iron a year. The furnace required 15 bushels of charcoal and 400-500 pounds of iron ore, plus 30-40 pounds of limestone EVERY 1/2 HOUR!

Early on, slave labor was part of the process, but by 1830 it was fully integrated and there was equal pay.  The site included housing,  farmland, stores, blacksmith shop and a nearby church. Workers included miners, wood cutters, others who made charcoal. And of course many people were required to grow and cook food, transport supplies and provide other services.  The highest paid, at $1.25/hr, were those that tended the 3,000 degree furnace and poured the molten iron into molds.  Many worked long hours, 7 days a week.  The charcoal was made in large mounds and those who tended it l had to live nearby, in huts like this.

Water power was used to operate the bellows for the furnace.

The founder, Mark Bird, made cannon balls, pots & pans and tools. He provided food to Washington's troops at Valley Forge.

The Furnace was sold in 1786 and began to make their most profitable products - 23 types and sizes of Hopewell Stoves. These were popular everywhere and known as a good product. The small welcome center had a display of several types.

 The last blast of the furnace was in 1883 and the site lay dormant till the CCC revitalized it as a National Site in 1938.

We managed to watch the film and visit most of the site before the rains came.  Never did get back to those apples!

Back to Mom's to return her car and visit.  We met Gwynne tonight for dinner at a small Italian restaurant in Honeybrook, near her worksite, to catch up and say adieu.  (Gwynne and friend Peggy are interested in going to the NYC 9/11 site one weekend.)

This is typical of the traffic we dealt with in this area.

Re-packed and got ready to head out tomorrow.  Mom has gifted us with 2 loaves of her sourdough cinnamon raisin bread - yum - along with some special dishes and bowls that we can use for our Gourmet dinner group.