Pennsylvania needs a new groundhog

Phil predicted that we would have an early spring-with winter ending early-boy was he wrong. Heavy snow and low, low temperatures fell in the middle of March. The snow and its beauty would have been welcomed for Christmas-but not so late -almost the opening of trout season.

Spring Mud Sales

Would you like to attend a get-together with thousands of people-most of them Amish? Do you like to wade in 3-5 inches of gooey mud? Do you like auctions and bidding on everything from horses, mules, quilts, to about anything you can imagine? How about some great home-made food-chicken corn soup, shoo fly pie, summer sausage, plus dozens of other tasty, fattening, treats?

If the answer is yes, then plan to attend one of the many fire company benefit auctions that are held each spring in the Lancaster Area. Many of the items for sale are donated- others are sold on a percentage basis-owner and fire company each benefiting. They are a lot of fun which is why we have been attending then for the past 30 years. They are great for people watching plus there are real bargains to be found. Peggy likes the quilt barn-some quilts are a "steal" while others are quit "high"!

I has posted some pictures of interesting people. One shows Tali inspecting a "New ride"! Another shows Lynne straddling her "New Ride"! Others show mud, buggies, and a little boy getting ready to auction off his pony.

Testing Your Marriage

Redbook and a lot of magazines are always publishing quizzes about selecting a mate: is he the one; are you compatible; finding Mr,/Mrs. Right! Bull____! If you really want to see if you are compatible, pack your Honda CRV with clothes and munchies, travel over 9000 miles for 6 1/2 weeks-selecting restaurants, motels, correct routes, interesting attractions, etc. If you end your trip on good speaking terms, you have passed Marriage 101!

Peggy and I came home today-in the worst weather imaginable. We ran into snow in Virginia and "white Knuckled" all the way. Yes, we are still speaking-but I think we will both need our "space" for a week or two!

First Monday Trade Days, Canton, Texas

First Monday Trade Days is a huge event in Texas. There are over 7000 dealers selling everything under the sun-animals,antiques, food, clothing, etc.Peggy and I visited with our old friends Tom and Judy from Dallas, Texas. Tom and I grew up together in a little mining town in central Pennsylvania. While they went to work, Peggy and I drove to Canton for two days-it was truly a "junk hunters" paradise.

We were totally impressed with the wide selection of steer hides and horns of Texas Longhorns. I love to see things that are indigenous to an area. Needless to say, our CRV was much more loaded when we left than when we arrived.

Apparently the Trade Days have been going on for over one hundred years. In the old days, the circuit court judge would visit Canton on the first Monday of every month All the country folks would visit town that day-to see trials and sometimes hangings. They also brought crops, vegetables and animals to sell or trade-hence, Trade Days was started.