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College Graduations in Lancaster County

When I stop and think that our small county as four colleges, that seems like a lot. Of course, the graduations take place in a very few weeks so the county is full but really not of tourists but parents and family to celebrate.

Two of my children chose not to go to their graduations. I was disappointed because they worked so hard to achieve the goal. Every family handles college differently, our girls knew as soon as they could understand that they would be paying their college. One saved faithfully, one said she’s getting married even though she was accepted at Penn State, she eventually went and spent 22 years getting her degree. Number 3 said she hated school and wasn’t going to college. Then after the first semester she met with her high school friends and realized that in 4 years they would have a degree to build on, so she decided to study nutrition and got her degree. The last didn’t save anything and applied at Drexel University, at that time it was 23K a year. She did it with honors.

A Time to Plant

…for everything there is a season….and it is time to plant. Driving around the countryside I see the plowing is getting done and some places the gardens are all worked to plant. The neighbors will soon be putting in peas and onions. The Vogts, however, haven’t even worked the garden yet :( . Our Amish neighbors use hoop greenhouses all year long. I found out they supply a CSA near Philadelphia. I wonder how the hooked up with each other? Some other neighbors have been growing things in the hoop greenhouses so they will have early produce to get a premium price, now how smart is that. It will not be long before you’ll see those stands along the back roads of Lancaster County with all the fresh produce. You need to experience it to understand.

Easter is coming to Lancaster County and it starts now.

WOW, we have shows, cooking classes and much more, all going on this week.

March 26 at The Good Cooking Store in Intercourse. Join Valerie Baer, a home cook with years of baking experience, for an afternoon of scones and tea. In this class you will see Val demonstrate how to make Double Chocolate Scones, Cranberry Orange Scones, Cream Scones, Lemon Curd, and a simplified Clotted Cream. You will get to sample these demonstrated recipes, along with Tomato Feta Scones and Homemade Pesto. You will also enjoy some information on various kinds of tea and get to sample various teas from our tea bar. 717-768-3032 or www.thegoodcookingstore.com

REMEMBER you can shop our wonderful farmers markets and buy all that fresh stuff for your Easter dinner. I just ordered my asparagus for our dinner. We will have about 26 + or – for dinner on the 31st. To see my Scalloped Asparagus recipe go to Vogt Farm B&B Facebook.

Susquehanna River Towns

I was cleaning out a cache of brochures that have accumulated at my desk and found a very interesting one about our River Towns. This one is called Susquehanna River Road Excursion put out by rivertownes.org. I’m familiar with the group but have never looked at their website. With this being the anniversary year of the Gettysburg Battle and knowing how Columbia played into the history I thought you all might like to take a look. In the event you do not know our small river town of Columbia played a HUGE part in how the war turned out. So if you are going to Gettysburg for the celebration (or even if you are not) you might want to take a day or two to look around here and learn that part of the story.

Winter is out

Okay, the Ground Hog had his say and now I’m having mine (however, not nearly as popular). I say lets move past winter and have some fun. Murder Mystery (and dinner) should give you a new view on life. Try Mount Hope Mansion for a fun packed night. OR a Victorian Valentine Dinner at Landis Valley Museum. You can start the day by making truffles in Hershey and then enjoying them on the way home. To me eating is much more fun then dwelling on Winter :)

Christmas in Lancaster County

Can you believe I was watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel this weekend????

Well, as much as I live in denial of where the times goes, we are approaching the season and it comes earlier and earlier every year. Merchants, like QVC were marketing gifts before October, and I admit, that probably for the first time, I did some catalog shopping in August. Christmas is so much more than all this stuff.  Lititz Moravian Church does a beautiful Christmas Service several time before Christmas, it is worth the effort. The Littiz Historical Foundation is also doing a Carol Sing in December.  Many churches in the area have cantatas as well. The reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

Fridays in Lancaster County

WORK IS DONE NOW FOR FUN…………………it’s Friday and what am I going to do???? Our small towns have a great plan for having fun, they are special Fridays. First Friday is Downtown Lancaster , second Friday is Downtown Lititz, fourth Friday is Mount Joy and Columbia. People stroll the sidewalks and enjoy specials offered by the little shops, most restaurants offer a deal if you show a receipt from a local shop. Someone thinks up great themes and it might include tastings (like chili or chocolate) or watching someone do ice sculptures. All in all you get the small town experience and have fun.

Speaking of Christmas

Okay, maybe you weren’t really speaking of Christmas but stuff is crossing my desk about Christmas, so I thought maybe now is the time for you to give  it some thought.

Here at Vogt Farm we are not going to be issuing Gift certificates any longer but we recommend that you purchase them from the Authentic Bed and Breakfasts of Lancaster County. I would love to have your friends and family so they can use that Gift Certificate to stay here. If you want I will send you a rack card to put with the gift certificate, just email or call.

That covers the gift idea for Christmas but there is much more…..the dinner theatres, American Music theatre,the house tours (I don’t have the full list yet), shopping, and don’t forget Pa Ren Faire. So you see we have lots of ways to celebrate and have fun. Some of this starts even before Thanksgiving.

Civil War in PA 150 year

2013 will be the 150th year since the battle of Gettysburg. Before the troops got to Gettysburg they tried to cross the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville. The goal was to reach Philadelphia, Harrisburg and other key locations. The residents of Columbia (just a little river town) stopped the advancement by burning the bridge that connected Wrightsville with Columbia. Columbia will be celebrating this event on the actual date of the burning. June 28, 2013. Civil War buffs can come and experience this event before going on to Gettysburg for the celebration there. Plan now.

Farm Fair Season

It’s that time of year, I can already feel it as I sit outside in the evening; the humidity is lower, the evenings are cooler and the crickets are chirping, it must be time for the fairs to begin. All of this is right on schedule because next week the 20th – 25th it is the first farm fair, Elizabethttown, a lovely town just 6 miles from us. You can get up close and personal with farm animals, taste food till you think you will burst,  view arts and crafts done by locals, and observe people ( I find this very interesting).

In Lancaster County we are unique in that instead of a County Fair we have 8 local fairs with the first being Aug. 20-25 (mentioned above) and the last one October 8-12. Pick a time and come we have a fair almost every week somewhere. If this is the reason for coming be sure to ask.