GETTYSBURG BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - A FAMILY TRADITION

An annual family "camping" weekend at the GETTYSBURG BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL in May has become a FAMILY TRADITION. The whole family camps outdoors, while my sisters and I stay at "CAMP HAMPTON INN". My brother-in-law, an avid hiker/camper, has shared his love and knowledge with his children and grandchildren. It's amazing to watch them all work as a team to cook meals over the fire, chop wood and tend to the campsite. I've never been there for set-up or tear-down, but I'm told it's seamless at this point.

Even 4-YEAR-OLD HAZEL helped by scrubbing the pots.

The campgrounds are always FILLED with R-V's and campers.

The FESTIVAL attracts plenty of BLUEGRASS fans who enjoy a relaxing few days and evenings of music and good times.

The following 2 VERY SHORT VIDEOS I took are a sample of the terrific music we listened to over the weekend.  This is BALSAM RANGE - 2014 IBMA ENTERTAINER and VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR! 

I bet you can't listen to them without tapping your feet.......


VIDEO 1 - BALSAM RANGE

VIDEO 2 - BALSAM RANGE


FOOD VENDORS are plentiful and playful.

The "kids" enjoy playing in the sand with other kids, so our seats (including kid-sized chairs) are always right next to it - thanks to my brother-in-law arriving early for set-up.

The kids all LOVE to get their faces painted, so I snuck away and got a "Bumble Bee Tattoo" on my arm to get them excited.  A plug for the "ARTIST", Angela Hill-Shinsky - "YOU and IMPROVED BODY ARTS".  If you're close to Gettysburg, you can hire her for an event.   

When I returned to the seats, they all wanted to get their "FACES PAINTED NOW"!!  I was amazed at their patience, with the youngest (4) choosing to be last as she watched the other two sit still for the airbrushing.

SADIE (7 in July)

DEREK (7) - BEFORE

DEREK - AFTER

HAZEL (4) - BEFORE 
(Smile Hazel.......)

HAZEL - AFTER

It's was dreadfully hot on Saturday and there is no cover, so I decided to take a drive mid-day in and around HISTORIC GETTYSBURG, which I will share with you in my NEXT BLOG POST.

After the brief rain during dinner it cooled off quite a bit and we walked back to the stage area to enjoy everyone's favorite Bluegrass Artist, RHONDA VINCENT. I hope you'll take a moment to listen to this brief video of her and her band mates and tap your feet some more.  They are amazing!


VIDEO 3 - RHONDA VINCENT


Some photos from Friday evening - my niece SHELBY with her daughter NORA (10) and also my niece LESLIE, husband BRADY and their daughter SADIE.

Another GREAT FAMILY VACATION!! There's nothing like FAMILY TRADITIONS........

JOAN

LITITZ, PA - A GREAT PLACE TO STROLL AND SHOP

Because I so love this little town of LITITZ, I wanted to share more photos with you to give you a feel for the place.  Visualize one "Main Street" with interesting shops that individually draw you in.

Looking for a gift for the person who has everything? - you'll probably find it in Lititz.  

Want to stop for a "Brew"? - yup

Want to sit for a cup of "Coffee"? - yup

Want to eat some "Chocolate"? - yup

Want to do a little "Wine Tasting"? - yup

Want to shop for Clothing? - yup

Want a nice Lunch? - yup

Ok, you get the PICTURE.......  here are some "PICTURES".........

SCROLL and STROLL slowly.........

ROAD TRIP to LITITZ, anyone???

JOAN

BOARDING SCHOOL IN 1968

It was a shock to be sent away from home at 16 years old, particularly when my destination was a PRIVATE BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. All I wanted to do at that time in my short life was be with BOYS!!

The first day there, I walked into the BATHROOM and there were 2 girls passionately kissing. "Not that there's anything wrong with that" of course, but I didn't know that Girls did that!  Ok, I had some things to learn and things to get used to, because I was going to be there for a full school year.  And do I have some more stories to tell!

Let's begin with the LOVELY town of LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA.  And I mean LOVELY!!! I was in LITITZ yesterday to visit my BESTIES, LINDA and ANDY SMITH (professional watercolor artist), so I took a few photos to share with you.  

I actually fell in love with the town of LITITZ when I got married at age 23 in 1975.  JACK found us a 2-bedroom townhouse there to rent. Here is a photo - ours was this corner unit - still there 40 years later!!

While married and living there, I met BESTIE, JILL RODRICK at a WELCOME WAGON meeting (ever heard of that??) and we hit it off immediately. Our husbands did too, which made it even more fun. Jill and Gary lived in an apartment just a few blocks away. 

Thankfully, I still see them often, although they moved to OHIO not too many years after we first met. In fact it was just a few years ago that we met in LITITZ for the day.  We had a ball reminiscing.  An old friend of theirs joined us for dinner, who I subsequently fixed up with another BESTIE!!  Yes, they too are still happily together!

In 1968, when we were practicing field hockey every afternoon, we could smell the chocolate from the famous WILBUR CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which is still operating today. YUM!! My addiction to chocolate remains strong........

Boarding school girls were allowed to leave school and walk into the town of LITITZ only ONCE A WEEK and we had to "SIGN OUT" when leaving campus.  It took me about a minute to figure out that if I wanted to go into town (to smoke a cigarette or flirt with BOYS), I simply didn't "sign out". I walked off campus and came back before our required time.  This happened MORE THAN ONCE a week of course.

Ok, back to my visit with LINDA and ANDY SMITH yesterday.  Here is their home/studio.

LINDA and I took a walk into town to enjoy lunch at a great little restaurant called "TOMATO PIE CAFE". Always great food there. We actually tried something different yesterday, but didn't pass up starting with our cup of their homemade "TOMATO BISQUE SOUP".  

So, you're wondering what's in the bag? On the way to lunch we stopped in a little shop, MinD's BOUTIQUE, owned by MINDY DONECKER BEATTY, a good client/friend of LINDA and ANDY'S. I couldn't resist making a purchase - their clothing is so fun and trendy........

And as LINDA said, "Only in a small town will you see a sign on the door like this one!!" LOVE IT.

After lunch we wandered a little more through town.

I will continue tomorrow with photos of the variety of very cute shops.  If you've never been to LITITZ, it's a GREAT strolling town and my photos will surely tempt you to visit.......


JOAN

ATTRACT WHAT YOU WANT TO ATTRACT

As NEALE DONALD WALSCH says, your soul is a MAGNET, and will attract what you want it to attract. The book "THE SECRET" by RHONDA BYRNE also focused on this concept.

THINK POSITIVELY and you will attract POSITIVE energy.  Focus on ABUNDANCE and you will attract ABUNDANCE. Focus on PAIN and you will attract and learn more about PAIN, etc.

Many years ago I dated a guy who was uptight and didn't drink alcohol ("Not that there's anything wrong with that".....). I threw it out to THE UNIVERSE that the next man I dated should be carefree and enjoy drinking. I sure got what I asked for - a hard-drinking alcoholic who didn't work. UGH. See what I mean?

Another example - I have a friend who desperately wants a man to share her life with. She's constantly asking for "A MAN", but as I've shared with her my opinion - her request is too VAGUE. As requested, "A MAN" is delivered into her life, but he doesn't have the qualities she's hoping he'll have. Disappointment..... I've suggested that she be much more specific about "THE KIND OF MAN" she wants to attract and put focus on the qualities she's hoping he'll have. 

So, remember to "BE CAREFUL AND CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU WISH FOR", because I believe you WILL receive what you ask for. Such a miracle.

JOAN