Today the sun was shining and the sky was a glorious blue with high wispy clouds. And it wasn’t hot. Yesterday four great friends and I volunteered at the Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival. The crowds were amazing, but parking cars, selling tickets and handing out wine glasses under the glare of mid-90’s weather was a test of endurance. We did it!
Afterwards we settled in the cool of Garryowen Irish Pub with spouses and friends joining us. Bangers and Mash, Shepherd’s Pie, and Wee-bit of Fish and Chips were all spot on. Even this celiac thoroughly enjoyed veggies and chicken with a scrumptious Whiskey sauce. Great service. Great place to unwind on Saturday night. It’s in Gettysburg, so make a reservation the next time you’re in town.
So getting back to this morning, what better time than Sunday for a little road trip to Peters Orchard. It’s up Route 94 north from Hanover toward Carlisle and has been in the same family since 1870. The orchards stretch for miles on either side of the road, and in addition to peaches, plums and pears, there are over 70 varieties of apples from which to choose. Ah, Adams County fruit!
We couldn’t help but wander around just a bit. Signs of fall were everywhere, despite the unusually warm outing we had had the day before.
Finally we stepped inside the market to make our selections. Lots of tomatoes. Lots of peaches. Lots of nectarines. And the early-to-ripe apples are out. It was hard to choose, but I elected to go with Golden Supreme this time around. They are crisp, firm and sweet, good for eating, sauces, baking, and pies. What could be better? There will be apples in most everything I prepare this week!
The real problem with Sunday is that it marks the end of the weekend. But what a memorable one it was. Sometimes it is hard to be a transplant. Most of my life has been spent in St. Louis; for many, many reason I miss being there. Miss my family and “old friends,” naturally, and being off to the opera, symphony, Forest Park and all its museums, CWE, and living in my long-time community, U. City. On the other hand, south central Pennsylvania with its rolling hills and not much traffic is truly beautiful, especially on days like today. And I am truly fortunate to have a great group of friends who love to get out and enjoy the surroundings, to be active, and to share lots and lots of laughs.
Sometimes it is just best to look around, enjoy a bit of contentment, and take it all in. I surely did that this weekend.
Kathryn White
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