The wheels on the bus go round and round

Saturday we chartered a bus to take our employees on a day trip to MD to visit 2 bison producers we work for.  The weather was great, the ride smooth and the day seemed to be enjoyed by all.  It was grand fun to hang out and have fun with those we work with all week – no USDA dress reg to follow, no time buzzers, no phones – just time to enjoy.

 

Our first stop – Twin Springs  

 

Betz and Mr. Studly were waiting for us at the first stop and again Betz was the photographer for the day – all 603 pictures.  I promise to only share about half of them with you.  =)

Mr. Studly is employed by one of the bison producers, Gunpowder Bison Trading Company.  They have 3 locations were their bison are raised and at this one there is a small retail store and petting zoo.  But first we drove to the meadow where Mr. Studly tried to coax the bison to come closer with a snack.

On a previous trip this summer Jay & I had already been able to get close to the herd

and also get a good visual on the King of the Pack. This picture below doesn’t convey his massive size- guestimate him to weigh between 1800 – 2200 lbs. and about 6’2” at his furry shoulders.  

We waited and waited ….

but the herd wasn’t interested in coming to see the folks who had driven an hour to see them.

So we headed down the road just a little way to stop at the Twin Springs Market where they sell fresh produce and bison meat.

The Twin Springs petting zoo.

 

Some people are natural born agitators – at work and at play.  

Elianna was too much of a diva to want to touch the animals.

 

We loaded up the bus and headed for Stop 2 – the home place of Gunpowder Bison Trading Company.  Tomorrow’s post.

Mr. Studly led the way….. it was just a little over a year ago that we took pictures of the same view of this white truck and blue trailer… It was packed to the gils with Mr. Studly and Betz and their belongings headed to Montana.  This year we were all too pleased to be FOLLOWING him to our next stop – just down the road.

My, the changes a year can bring.

Family reunions

This weekend we had two family reunions.  It’s always nice to see those we just don’t cross paths with very often.  And it’s very nice when those who live hours away take the time to travel so we can connect again.

Saturday my father’s side of the family got together.  Dad was from a family of nine boys and one girl.  He always likes to say he has eight brothers and they all had a sister – making you think at first that there were 18 children instead of 10.  =)  Two of the brothers live miles/hours away and rarely make an appearance at the family reunions.  2 brothers have gone to heaven and they are missed greatly each year we gather.  One of our traditions lately is that we get the brothers together for a picture.

It was a bit of an ordeal to get this one in this year – we all played up the moment and had fun trying to get them to cooperate.

It was a very, very HOT day but at the park the Lord blessed us with a gentle breeze all afternoon – enough of a breeze to have the guys fussing with their hair.

Cameras came out and everyone was giving directions/instructions in an attempt to get them all to ‘look here’ at the same time.

The process to round them all up, get them to stand where they needed to, hair fixed and all looking in the same direction at the same time – approximately 30 minutes.  =)  But we got it done.

The Fisher Boys.

And then we try to get the aunts together as well – approximate time – 5 minutes.  These ladies are a special bunch.  We laugh alot at this family reunion.

Reunions provide time to connect, catch up and simply fellowship.

Brothers connect…..

Families go for walks……

Cousins catch up.  A daughter of my cousin is a school teacher.  She brought papers with 90 suns that needed cut out.  She puts one sun up on the wall for each school day and when they get to ninety they start taking them off the wall.  By 180 – school is over. 

She came with whole sheets of uncut paper and with help from others went home with all the suns cut out and ready to use for the school year.  

All photo’s taken by Betz – thanks Betz!

-- Our family reunion on Sunday was with my father-in-laws family.  We met long enough to eat some amazing, covered dish food, chat a little and then the rain and wind chased us home.  Thankful for the rain but it was a short visit...and no photo’s.  =(

Independence Day

Glasswing Butterflies

I received this info in an email from my DIL.  I am always fascinated by the details of Creation.  Amazing!

 TRANSPARENT BUTTERFLY
It comes from Central America and is found from 
Mexico  to  Panama  . It is quite common in its zone, 
but its not easy to find because of its transparent wings, 
which is a natural camouflage mechanism. 
A butterfly with transparent wings is rare and beautiful. 
As delicate as finely blown glass, the presence of this 
rare tropical gem is used by rain forest ecologists as 
an indication of high habitat quality and its demise 
alerts them of ecological change.  Rivaling the refined 
beauty of a stained glass window, the translucent wings 
of the Glasswing butterfly shimmer in the sunlight like 
polished panes of turquoise, orange, green, and red.
All things beautiful do not have to be full 
of color to be noticed...

in life that which is unnoticed has the most power.  

 

 

 

I hope that one day in heaven, when we take a break from singing praises for just a moment, that the Master Creator gives us a glimpse into His thoughts/process of creation.   It’s fun watching someone create something when they absolutely love what they are doing.

Artistry and creation at its Best.

Baby Eye-day-ah

I made a quick unexpected stop yesterday to see our new little one.  Just haven't had enough of him yet.  And I had the pleasure of getting him dressed, feeding him a bottle, changing his sticky little diaper and finally seeing him awake.  What a delight.

If you ask Isaac what his little brothers name is, he says Baby Eye-day-ah.  Love it.

Went to a garden party....

This past Friday was the start of the 10-day Gettysburg Festival. A number of the events associated with the festival are featuring PA Preferred products. PA Preferred is the Department of Agriculture's branding program that helps consumers easily identify locally sourced products through its gold check mark in a blue keystone logo.

There are more than 4,000 member locations enrolled in PA Preferred, including farmers markets, restaurants, food processors, grocery chains, craft breweries and wineries.

We just became members of PA Preferred and over the weekend one of our customers that we process meat for (McElhaney Family Farm)provided us with tickets for one of the events of this festival. We attended this event as representatives for McElhaney's.

"The highlight of the PA Preferred culinary events will take place on Saturday, June 10, with the presentation of the 2010 Governor's Award for Culinary Arts at the Farm-to-Barn Dinner At Beech Spring Farms." ~PA Preferred.


What an absolutely fun evening we had even though we didn't know a single soul, except Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, who we had met last month with his visit to the butcher shop for Beef Month - something I didn't have a chance to blog about yet.

Beech Spring Farms is a gardeners delight.  I was told the lady of the house does most of the gardening herself.  And she does an amazing job.  This huge tree provided the focal point for the 1st part of the evening.

Hor d'oeuvres

Flowers were from the many gardens on the farm.

Also under the tree was a young bluegrass band "River Wheel" that provided the evening with great music.

There were landscape artists set up in various parts of the gardens working their craft.  (the ability to draw/paint well has always been something I wish I would be able to do.)

And then the gardens...

Covet thou not thy neighbors greenhouse........  I'm trying.... I'm tryin....

The sun, shining so directly through,made this look fluorescent.

I only took photo's of the flower gardens but she also had large vegetable gardens as well.

This hydrangea beside the pond was one of the largest I've seen. 

The second part of the evening included the presentation of the Governor's Culinary Arts Award.

Former White House Chef Walter Scheib, The Festival's Artistic Director of Culinary Events

(shooting directly into the sun - not a great photo op set up)

Governor Rendell arrived to present the Culinary Award.

(Secretary Redding in blue tie.)

The Governor's Culinary Award. 

The TV crew man was taking a VERY long time getting his shot.  I couldn't just tap him on the shoulder and say 'excuse me but I'd like a picture as well'.  =)  So his camera is in my picture.

The final part and highlight of the evening was the Farm-to-Table Dinner 

held in the barn built circa 1987 and catered by The Greenfield Inn.

I've never been at a table that had white and red wine AND meadow tea and iced tea.  Only in PA, I'm thinkin'.  Meadow tea is nectar from heaven in my book.  The entire menu from drinks to dessert were grown and made in PA.  I won't list all the food available but some favorites were Beef Brisket (provided by McElhaney's), Pig Stomach (Hog Maws), Sliced Beef Heart , Chicken Pot Pie, Corn & Potato Chowder, and of course, Whoopie Pies (lemon, spice and chocolate) , Rhubarb Pie and Apple Dumplings.

PA Preferred provides some marvelous local fare.

Sec. Redding said that a number of events associated with the festival will feature PA Preferred products. PA Preferred is the Department of Agriculture's branding program that helps consumers 'Pennsylvanians are fortunate to enjoy a nearly year-round harvest of diverse and affordable agricultural products, thanks to our hardworking farmers,' said Redding. 'Events held throughout the year, like the Gettysburg Festival, enable us to not only enjoy the great food prepared in Pennsylvania, but also to celebrate the farmers who make the meals possible.'

I am so thankful to live in an area rich with farms, roadside stands and other options that provide access to locally grown produce and other foods.  The producers are all very hard working and we are blessed by their efforts.