Monday, June 8, 2009

HOME FROM PA

This past week I was in Lancaster, PA for a round of shopping, checking on the motel for THE GATHERING and attending a Graduation party....all went great! Well, all except the weather...RAIN EVERYDAY except for the day of the Gradutation party - sunshine all day and a great evening temp. and that was a blessing.

But first we stopped in Cranberry, PA for the first night and visited a friend, Linda Moczan - center with the white top....she's the one who will be doing home parties whenever I can get this thing off the ground. She invited us to dinner that evening for spaghetti and then some wonderful desserts. The two girls in the aqua are friends and they are sisters and the other lady is Kathy who came here to our house with Linda the first of May to talk about the party prospect.



Then on Wednesday when we arrived in Lancaster we met Grace Maurer from the Amish View Motel and what a charm! She gave us a most wonderful tour of the motel and I have to say to anyone wanting to have a peaceful place to stay on a visit to Lancaster...YOU MUST GO THERE!

The rooms, the gathering spaces and the views are to die for. After the wonderful tour we went up to Kitchen Kettle Village for lunch at the awesome KLING HOUSE. I do hope we can all get to have lunch there at least one time during the Gathering.

We are getting reservations slowly for the GATHERING so if you are thinking of joining us please get your name into the motel to reserve your room.

I got information on lots of places to shop and am still waiting to hear from more people before I decide on the Sight & Sound because of the group price....not that we can't do it even if we don't have a sure 15 - the price break isn't all that much.

I never thought I'd say I'm tired of shopping but I was glad to get in the car on Sunday morning to head home....POWER SHOPPING is a killer! lol So anyone coming to the Gathering you better get your rest in before hand!

View of the front of the motel - it's part of a huge complex of Family Style dining, shopping and relaxing.


This is the most wonderful gracious Grace!


View of the common space where the full course breakfasts are served


King rooms which we all will be having


On Thursday I met a group of girls in the little town of Columbia, from A Primitive Place forum. We had breakfast and exchanged gifts and then headed out shopping. I got a good taste of seeing what 'new friends' like to buy and the excitement was thick. I'm really looking forward to the GATHERING more than ever now!
Linda, Terri, Nikki, Kathy and me

Opening our gifts - my gifts are packed so I don't have a picture of them but we got pin cushions on a zink lid, a huge potted SWEET ANNIE plant...how wonderful, an adorable painted wood Colonial house plaque and a sweet prim pin and a fabric covered box with sugar cookie wax tarts in it.
After we went shopping as a group some had to leave but Kathy and I went on to an Antiques shop and she found me playing the ole pinball machine and riding a rocking horse!!! She had a hard time keeping track of me! lol


I do hope you enjoyed this little vacation with me although I have no goodies unpacked yet to take pictures of...that will be much later as I have a ton of things to unpack, laundry to do and tons of orders to get started on....by the way, I stitched out and back on the trip so I did get a couple orders finished.
Karen

27 comments:

  1. How nice that you got to meet some friends from APP. You guys look like you had a great time! Sorry about the weather. But then again, rainy days are great for shopping! Looking forward to seeing more pictures.

    Take care,
    ~Kris~
    (simplyprim)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a wonderful trip Karen! I can't wait to see pics of all your goodies! Janet

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds like a nice weekend! Enjoy your goodies.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's nice to go away but it is also nice to be back home!

    Friends,
    Susannah

    ReplyDelete
  5. Karen,

    It looks like you girls had a great time! I'm looking forward to seeing what you brought home! :) I can feel your excitement growing concerning the GATHERING!

    Have a great week!
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  6. sounds like you had a really good time!! I so agree Grace is the BEST friend a gal could ask for!!
    I hate it when I have to leave her...feels like our visits are NEVER long enough....
    ahh and the Amish view in is just pure heavenly to stay at!!! love that place!
    saw some other familiar faces in your pics...Linda and Terry....sweet sweet ladies!! :-)
    Sandy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Karen!....yes I am still planning on joining everyone for a day or two of shopping....just not sure of the exact days but I'm thinking Thursday and Friday....I guess it will depend on which two days you have the shopping itinerary scheduled for....I know you've got a craft show planned for the Saturday but I am most interested in visiting all the wonderful shoppes in the area! Janet

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for sharing your trip. It looks like everyone had fun!

    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Karen,
    Looks like alot of fun! Wish I could join you for the trip...but unless you guys want three kids that hate to shop with you...I'll be stying home. We went to Sight And Sound on one of our trips there..it was something to see..really great! Cant wait to see your "goodies"
    Hugs
    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Karen,
    Cranberry PA is about an hour away from me:) Glad you had a great time meeting everyone and shopping:)
    Can't wait to see your gifts:)
    Rondell

    ReplyDelete
  11. Looks like you had a great time! But then 'tiquein' in Lancaster is the best....Becky

    ReplyDelete
  12. Karen ~
    How wonderful your trip sounds and such fun to meet blogging friends. Can't wait to see your goodies.
    hugs,
    Pam

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am glad you loved the Amish View Inn....I think it is the most perfect place ever!!!! I knew Grace would look after you...she is wonderful!!! It was so nice to see the photos!!!! xxxRobby

    ReplyDelete
  14. Looks like you had a wonderful time , except for the rain . Love the pics ! Wish I had some friends close to me to get together with and shop !
    If you get a chance email me . I need a bit of help with my shipping on my website .
    Hugs
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  15. Karen, Enjoyed your pics from your trip to PA! You sure are one busy lady!! Look forward to seeing all the goodies you got on your trip.

    Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  16. After seeing your pictures, I am sure that is where DH and I stayed a few times in the past!

    Sounds like a lot of fun and how nice to meet some gals from APP!!
    Lucky you!! And lucky them!

    hugs, Linda

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sounds like you had a ball! I'm still hoping for August. This thing with my dad might put a damper on it though, just have to wait and see. Picked up lots of new antiques on Sunday and got them out into the shop today. Love all your pictures. By the way, your flag is on the way if it's not already there. Thanks, Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Karen,

    We went on vacation to Lancaster a few years ago and we also went to Kitchen Kettle Village. I loved it there!

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wish you lived closer too! I do try to change out the store a lot and add new things as often as I can. A stale store is boring to me.
    Glad you got your flag. Aren't they great? I have one too.
    Have a great week, Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  20. Glad you are back safe and sound and had a great time. Shopping is should be considered a sport. LOL! It can be downright exhausting.

    Carey

    ReplyDelete
  21. Looks like you had a great time visiting and shopping! How fun. I love Lancaster and loved the Sight and Sound theatre.
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sounds like such a wonderful trip Karen!!!!!

    :)hugs,
    Doreen

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a WONDERFUL trip!! Thanks for takin' us along!! :> )
    ~Peanut

    ReplyDelete
  24. Looks like a fun trip Karen! I look forward to seeing your new goodies! Have a wonderful day!
    Janae

    ReplyDelete
  25. So glad you had a great time!:)
    hugs~
    angie

    ReplyDelete
  26. karen i loved the time you and i spent together and the first half of the day was terrific with the girls but rain and all i want you to know how much meeting you ment to me . you and terri where so small i was tempted to sing we're off to see the wizard ,you two where like little munchkins and i knew for sure when you dicided to ride the rocking horse, you where one of the best and sweetest persons i have ever met ! i wish the other girls, linda, jackie terri and nickie could of joined the full day of fun they would be as grateful as i am to have you all to there selves your friend kathy

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi Karen...Hoping to spend a day with you girls for the "Gathering"...just have to play it by ear! I knew you would adore GRACE...she "is" her name for sure. Hugs, Judy

    ReplyDelete

So glad you came to visit - feel free to leave a comment.
I will try and answer as many as I can - maybe not immediately but I will get to you!

Karen