FRIENDS GATHERING IN PENNSYLVANIA

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A BLOG OR A WEBSITE...you just have to have a love for Primitives/Colonial/Country and a desire to meet new friends with the same interest...that's what this whole thing is about...bringing kindred spirits together.

I HAVE UPDATED THIS POST - IT STARTS ABOUT IN THE MIDDLE

GATHERING OF FRIENDS trip to Lancaster, PA

August 5 - 8, 2009

We've had a wonderful response and I want everyone to be able to take advantage of this.

I have finalized a few things so it will give you a better insight to cost, etc.

But read on down if you haven't seen this before.

First - I booked rooms at THE AMISH VIEW INN in Lancaster, PA www.amishviewinn.com thank you Robby for the lead!

Grace gave us a deal to die for at this busy time of the season.
$99.00 per room and you can sleep up to 4 so if you want to share and cut the cost go for it!

You don't know what a great deal this is!!!!!

Log onto the website to view it - it’s gorgeous and set right between the main roads in Amish Country.

The price includes a wonderful American breakfast every day - full course with freshly made Omelets as just an example.

We also have use of the ‘gathering room’.

Grace will have rooms available a couple days before and a few after for those wanting to come early and or stay later….which I know we will be doing.

Second - I booked a Make And Take project at Family Creations by Julia in Intercourse.

We’ll be making a Fabric Covered Book with a stitched verse on cloth for the front.
This is for Thursday night the 6th from 7 - 9 (she only does evening sessions) and it includes snacks and drinks - not a meal but goodies.
We’ll have dinner before heading there.
Cost is $15.00 payable that night
I will need a positive for this session by June or the end of June for the Make and Take session.

We’ll go to the Lititz Craft Show on Saturday the 8th

More details as time goes by for the other days.
How does this sound so far????

PASS THIS ON TO YOUR BLOG AND FORUM FRIENDS

I do hope we get a good response for this - it has been something I have been hoping to do for a few years now and decided it’s now or never!

The Lancaster, Lititz area is just beautiful and there’s soooooo many places to shop, many things to see and do and many wonderful places to eat!

It would be so much fun to meet all you Blogging and Forum friends out there….this could be a huge event if we just DO IT!!!!

E-mail me at: kmprimitives@yahoo.com with GATHERING OF FRIENDS in the subject line

UPDATE TO THIS POST:

I have ideas of what we will be doing but need to get some feedback so I'm not planning something you all aren't in favor of...this is going to be an enjoyable outing for all of us.

1. Would anyone be interested in getting tickets for the SIGHT AND SOUND THEATER it's the most fabulous show you will ever see: http://www.sight-sound.com/WebSiteSS/getshowdetails.do?eventCD=ITB
And I was thinking it would be a good Friday night show to see....but I need your feedback. We would not do a package that included dinner - we'll just do our own and then head for the theater.
I need at least 15 to get the group rate.

2. I'm not sure if anyone would care to do WHOLESALE shopping or not - we probably will have enough shops to get to in the time given with so many people....BUT if you do have your tax ID and sellers permit number bring it along - you just never know. I'll have a list of WHOLESALE places to go to.

3. I'm going to need to know approx. how many are going to do the MAKE AND TAKE so I can give Julia a head count.

4. Each person is responsible for getting their reservation into the Amish View Inn where several rooms are being held for us...just tell them it's for the KAREN MARTINSEN group.
Try and do this as soon as you can so Grace isn't holding rooms she would need for other guests.
http://www.amishviewinn.com/

5. I would like it if each of the lady/girl participants would bring ONE SECRET GIFT for our MEET AND GREET NIGHT which will be on WEDNESDAY (5th) evening - we all want to receive something nice so keep that in mind when packing up your special gift....we will try and keep the dollar amount between $15/$20 so as to make it fair for everyone.

6. I will be arriving there on Monday night very late so I'll have Tuesday to do some running and setting up.
Please let me know when you expect to arrive so I can hopefully be there to meet you.

7. Every evening after shopping I'm having a SOCIAL HOUR in the Gathering Room from 5 to 6 p.m. - we can unwind after the day and if there are any stragglers this will be a great place to relax before heading out to dinner.
I'm hoping to have some treats/snacks and beverages available.

8. FOR THOSE THAT LIVE LOCAL do you have some kind of idea when you will be joining us - will you be able to do the MAKE AND TAKE???....are we going to have your pretty faces at our dinner table???

9. I'm going to make sure we get at least one good Amish meal in for the 4 nights we are there....one good place is Shady Maple Smorgasboard and I mean to tell you it's the BIGGEST and BEST one we've ever been to.
I'm hoping to have us do some shopping up in that area so we are near there for our evening meal, otherwise it's a 25 minute drive....but hey, we're on vacation...RIGHT???? It's soooo worth it though.

10. I also think this would be an interesting and fun thing to do is anyone is interested: http://www.familyheirloomweavers.com/showhouse.html
I purchase many of their products - made right there in Red Lion - and they give mill tours as well.

Well that's it for now...this is just a quick note to say I haven't forgotten and that my head has been going over and over different things to see and do.

Yes, we will be hitting all the hot spots for shopping on the shopping days so that's a 'given'...but if anyone has any suggestions I'd be happy to hear from you.