It's Cherry Picking Time

Every year in the end of June and beginning of July, signs start popping up throughout Lancaster County saying "pick your own cherries" Cherry Hill Orchards is the place to be. www.cherryhillorchards.com Not only is it a great way to stock your shelves with jars of the delicious fruit, it is also a memory making opportunity.Something every family should do at least once.If you don't have time or can't pick you own come for a visit to www.ellmakerhouse.com and with any luck something created with cherries included just might be on the menu.

Many hands make light work, and these kids proved it! They were willing, even eager, to climb a tree, move a ladder or whatever it took to get that hard to reach bunch of bright red fruit.When the container was filled there was that one more "jack pot" that they just hit.Sorry they are not for hire.

Without the help of these industrious girls, my day would have been much longer and not nearly as much fun.Thank God for nieces and nephews that I can grab for a day!

Some of the finished product, waiting to be made into Danish, Breakfast Cobbler or any cherry recipe I find . Next it's time for blueberries. There will be no tree climbing for that experience.

After all the hard work they deserved a fun party on the patio. Perfect taste testers.

Breakfast Cobbler
1 20 oz. can crushed pineapples (in juice)
1 pint cherry pie filling (or flavor of your choice)
1 Box white cake mix (dry)
1 stick butter (softened)
in a 9 x 13 " baking dish place ingredients in the order given , do NOT mix,
drizzle butter over cake mix
bake @ 350* 45 minutes. serve warm with whipped cream

Lid Thieves and Sock Monsters

Something is going on around here. Last year's strawberry jam is all gone. All the containers ( with matching lids) have been washed and stored in the cupboard for just such an occassion as this... strawberry jam in the making.

Sometime when no one was looking the lid thief entered my kitchen and took a bunch of lids, only to replace them with mis-matched ones that nowhere near fit the remaining containers. (SIGH) Here's proof of the lids left behind and replaced for the ones that fit.

I'm convinced he is a first cousin to the "sock monster" who constantly takes one sock to a pair and leaves the other.

This is a warning to both of these "partners in crime" I'm watching for you and hopefully next year's jam making day will have better matching containers.

Until then, Ellmaker House guests and I will continue to enjoy fresh strawberry jam.Come to Ellmaker House B&B and see for yourself how delicious it is.

viewed from my kitchen window

Welcome to my back yard, literally. on any given day there may be an opportunity to see any number of unusual sights.You may see a van pull up to the hitching rail and someone in search of cheap (free, actually) fertilizer for the flower garden, clean up the offerings left behind from the horses that had been tied there.
Or, there may be an Amish girl trying desperately to fit all her purchases on the handles and basket of the scooter she rode to the grocery store.Proof that we all buy more than expected when we go shopping.
Once in a while there is a Mallard duck couple making themselves at home by the bushes.But, really don't take my word for it come and see for yourself what photo or memory you can add to your collection.
This time I became the tourist. seriously, who can resist a horse and buggy at the gas pumps?It may be a little difficult to see but there are at least 3 gas cans on the back of the buggy.Who says you have to have a car to drive up to the pump and fill up? I doubt we'll ever see him driving through the car wash, but you never know.

this Amish family knows what camping is all about. The wagon on the back has all the tents, sleeping bags, etc, One last stop at the grocery store for a few items. Mom and the kids crammed in the buggy with what didn't fit on the wagon and poor dad had to follow on the scooter because there was no room for him to ride.

the bunnies helped themselves to the purple petunias in the flower bed, not the white ones, mind you those remained safe. Must not be as tasty.Thankfully the planters are safe from the bunnies although there are birds very interested in making a nest in this one.

springtime in all it's glory.Flowers are such cheerful greeters at the door.

one of my favorite guests of all time.Maleah is always willing to entertain me with her cute smile.

View Lancaster County from a balloon

Notice our shadow and off in the distance is Sight and Sound Theater.

we had our own family, fan club. They even followed us on the road for a while.

if you look closely you may be able to see the Amish man and his son who took time away from chores to check us out.
My dad bid for a ticket for a hot air balloon ride at a benefit auction and I was the lucky one to go with him. It was a windy October afternoon clear skies, a little chilly which we promptly forgot about once we were in the air.

We were the only local folks, with fellow travelers from Baltimore and New York.There's nothing like a view from the air to remind me that we really do live in a place that God has blessed with unusual beauty.As we glided over Amish farms, residential areas and schools, it became very clear that we all have something in common, A balloon flying overhead brings out the kid in all of us.People came from their barns, houses , or stopped what they were doing in the back yard for a few minutes to wave or shout a greeting.

It was a one of a kind experience and one that I will do again when the opportunity comes . www.balloonridesdaily.com Now if I can only figure out how to share the pictures with you , we'll be in good shape.

News Inn my life

Come in and rest awhile

Ok, everyone, this is a stretch for me. So far in my life I have been strictly an observer in the Blogging world.The time has come to change that , believe me it is WAY out of my comfort zone. As a result of that you will be happy to know that this first one will be very short. Enjoy it while it lasts because from here on out it could get lengthy.

Ever since I can remember,innkeeping was a dream of mine.For a long time it was only a thought in the back of my mind. In 2004 that dream became a reality when God put the opportunity right at my doorstep.The best thing about innkeeping is the PEOPLE!! I have no regrets about doing exactly this!

No matter if you live next door or miles away, A getaway at Ellmaker House is always refreshing. visit http://www.ellmakerhouse.com/ and make your reservation today. I'll be waiting to hear from you.