Fort Bellefonte Campground

Greetings from Fort Bellefonte Campground!!

Located in Bellefonte, PA this is a very beautiful place to spend some time on your next camping vacation!!  You will be greeted by very friendly and helpful Bobbie, Duff and Willie the camphost dog.  They have reasonable rates and everything you could possibly need during your stay.  Enjoy free wifi with your hookup!!  They have full hook up sites with 30/50 amp service, cable tv hookup and wifi!!  And Willie wants you to know they LOVE pets!!

Also available are Pavilions, Mini Golf and Shuffleboard at no extra charge for campers.  Explore a nearby Amish Community,  Victorian Downtown Bellefonte and Bald Eagle State Park.

Rates run from $38 to $48 a night or you can even rent a cabin ranging from $65 - $75 a night. Check out their web site at www.ftbellefonte.com for more information.  Take advantage of a special they are currently running.  Stay 3 nights or more, first night pay full price, second night half price and third night is free!!!  You can also email for more information at  info@bellefonte.com or goodwillie11@gmail.com  and tell them Alice sent you!

Here are some pictures of the campground.  Such a beautiful place, you don't want to miss stopping here during your travels!!

Willie, your camphost dog

Willie, Bobbie and Duff, they will make you right at home

Many wood carvings and tons of beautiful landscaping!

Gorgeous scenery

You will enjoy sitting on the patio and walking through the gardens

Take time to smell the roses, then play some mini golf or shuffleboard

Just a peaceful place to visit

Love the sound of the water flowing over the rocks, so peaceful!

You can't ask for a prettier place to stay in PA

No RV? No problem!!  They rent cabins too!!

Rusty says, This is a cool place!!

For more information on this campground call 814-355-9820, visit their web site at www.ftbellefonte.com or email info@bellefonte.com or goodwillie11@gmail.com

Until next time,,,,,,,,,,,,,,blessings!!

Gutten Appetit,,, a cook book purchased in Arthur,,,,

Greetings!

A few days ago I made a trip to Illinois Amish Country in Arthur, IL.  You might have seen my post with pictures from my trip.  I purchased this cookbook from an Amish shop called Clear View Fabrics and Books.  I have enjoyed going through the book and will share some recipes from time to time.

While I was in Arthur I picked up a couple of pumpkins for baking to make filling for my pumpkin pies and also some pumpkin bread.  That is why I chose the recipe for today, it is for a pumpkin pie.  For some reason none of the pie recipes include a bottom crust but I am assuming they would make the pie with a bottom crust to help hold its shape.  I am also including a recipe for pie crust found in this cookbook.  Hope you enjoy them!!

Arlene's Easy Rolled Pie Crust by Mrs. Louie Jr. (Olive) Peachy

4 c. unsifted flour            1 egg

1 tsp. baking powder           1 T. vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt            1/2 C. cold water

1 1/2 C. shortening

Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.  Cut in shortening.  Add egg, vinegar and cold water.

Pumpkin Pie by Elam and Nina Nissley Family

1 1/2 C. white sugar            2 C. mashed pumpkin

1 1/2 C. brown sugar            4 egg yolks

4 T. flour            4 C. milk

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice            4 egg whites

dash of salt

Mix everything together, except egg whites.  Beat egg whites until stiff and fold in last.  Bake at 350* for 45 minutes to 1 hour.   Yields two 9 inch pies

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A scripture for the day, found in another book I bought while in Arthur called "God's Wisdom for your life"

Luke 6: 20-23 (NLT)

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, "God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.  God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.  God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.  What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.  When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy!  For a great reward awaits you in heaven."

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Thank you dear Lord for these timely and most precious words!!  Yesterday, I was attacked for trying to live the life you have chosen for me, for wanting to follow you.  People have shown their hate and anger towards me because of my close relationship with you.  I pray for them O' God that they might find a close relationship with you and walk in your ways.  In Jesus name, Amen!!

Until next time,,,,,,Blessings!!

Some pictures of Illinois Amish Country,,,,,

Greetings,

I did not post first thing this morning as I usually do because I made a trip down to Illinois Amish Country in Arthur, IL.  What a beautiful day God blessed me with for this trip!!  The sun was shining, a beautiful blue sky, and temperatures were just perfect for a day trip, in the low 70s with no humidity.  What an awesome day!!

The first stop on the trip was a place called Clear View Fabrics and Books.  What a cool store!!  I will be going back there for fabric when I start to sew clothes again later this fall.

This is the sign outside the store.  The store is on the owner's personal farm in a separate building.  Like most places around the Arthur area, this place is out in the country and not downtown.

This horse and buggy were parked outside the store while its owner was inside buying fabric and perhaps a few books.

As you face the store, their house and barn are located to the right of the store.  That's an easy commute, LOL.

This is an Amish School House out on a country road, I stumbled on it when I got a little side tracked, LOL.

I did not stop in and visit this business but apparently they make and sell rugs.  Perhaps next time I will pop in for a look around.

There is laundry hanging on the line near the house.  I just liked the looks of this place and snapped the picture while driving down the road.

The two mail boxes, with two different names caught my attention at this farm.

An Amish lawn mower??  It does seem to be cutting the grass.  There were actually 2 of them working this field.

This little Amish boy was working in the fields with his father.  No doubt he is learning how to care for his own farm someday.

Well, I was able to stock up on some baking supplies while at Beachy's Bulk Foods.  I also picked up a neat cook book from Clear View Fabrics and Books which I will share some recipes from in another post.  I picked up a couple of other books at Yoder's Restaurant where I stopped for lunch.  And I will be sharing them in another post as well.

I had a really enjoyable day and look forward to my next trip down there.  I still want to make it out to Miller's Dry Goods and a few other places.

Until next time,,,,,,,Blessings!

What happened????

Greetings,

I was just reading a post on AmishStories.com  from an Old Order Mennonite couple in NY state near the finger lakes region regarding that horrible accident that took the lives of 6 Amish folks.  David wrote the first part as he is a trained medic and firefighter and was called to the seen of the accident.  Then Jean wrote the second part regarding what the community has been doing prior to, during and after the funerals.

I can not help but wonder what has happened to the sense of community in this country?  I am referring of course to non Amish and non Mennonite as they both have that community spirit.  I can remember when I was a small child, everyone knew who their neighbors were.  Parents watched out for each other's children and kept an eye on the neighborhood.  If someone was sick, hospitalized or even passed away, the neighbors were right there offering their help.  They brought food, took care of the kids, helped with housework, whatever needed to be done, they pitched in and helped.

You did not have to be afraid that the guy across the street might be a sexual predator, or someone was going to grab your kid while they were playing outdoors.  And at the same time you knew in times of trouble, your neighbors would be there to help.

Today, most people do not know who their neighbors are.  They don't know their names.  Many do not even wave hello if they see you on the street.  Each is in their own little zone, worrying about their own problems, not caring what has happened across the street or even next door to them for that matter.  Gone are the worn out paths between the back doors of neighbors who used to get together for a cup of coffee or a glass of ice tea.

The sense of community is no longer in many churches today in the secular world.  We go to church on Sunday, perhaps even a bible study mid-week but when that duty is over, with few exceptions we might not speak to the other people in church the rest of the week.  We only know of trouble in their lives if they make a special prayer request.  But how often do we follow through with a phone call to see if there is anything they need, or anything we can do to help them?

How sad our world has become!  It is my prayer this morning that we all strive to bring back that community spirit.  Reach out to each other and be willing to lend a helping hand whenever possible and whenever it is needed.

Until next time,,,,,,Blessings!!

Amish in Florida???

Greetings everyone!!

Many people know I have a deep interest in the Amish.  I admire and respect their way of life and faith beliefs.  In many ways I would like to live like them and try to on some levels.

But did you know there are Amish in Florida?  So many times I have heard people say, "I have never heard of Amish living in Florida, you are nuts!!"  To be honest, until recently I did not know there were Amish in Florida and not only that, they have been there since around the 1920s.  These Amish along with their Mennonite friends and family have a paper called the Pinecraft Pauper. 

Ms. Sherry Gore is the editor.  You can find Sherry on facebook.  What a charming woman!  Well Sherry is offering a contest through another blog that I read on a regular basis called, "Amish America" a free subscription to the Pinecraft Pauper.  Just follow this ling to go to that blog and get the information.  While there say hello to Erik who writes the blog and tell him, Alice sent ya! LOL  http://amishamerica.com/pinecraft-pauper-florida-amish-mennonite-newspaper/comment-page-1/#comment-10516

Hope you enjoy reading about the Amish and Mennonites as much as I do and you enjoy Erik's blog.  Browse around while you are there.  You might find quite a bit that peaks your interest including a state guide to the Amish.

Until next time,,,,, blessings

Learning from the Amish,,, Keep it simple stupid!!

Greetings!!

Ha!  I thought that title might catch your eye!

Regarding crafts and business what can I learn from the Amish that will benefit my business?

As you know the primary thing I make and sell is ceramics.  All other crafts are just an add-on.  So, I have been thinking about this very thing this morning as I plan on putting my ceramics and crafts in a rented booth in the heart of Illinois Amish Country, Arthur, IL.  I want to offer items that not only will attract the local buyer but also the tourist who come through Arthur each year.  So I have been doing a lot of reading up on it.

I have found, the Amish have no reservations about buying useful items for their homes as long as they are not overly decorated.  For example,,,, those nice painted items I posted yesterday, would not fare well in Arthur.  They are too fancy.  Keep it simple stupid!!  Because of their religious beliefs Amish would not own such fancy things.

Take for example the little green table with the roses painted on it.  The Amish might have use for a table of that size but would never buy it with the roses on it.  They would pay the same price for a plain green table, with no roses.  So things like that, which I enjoy painting, need to be sold in another venue away from Amish country.

But you are thinking, "yeah, but what about the tourist trade in that area"?  Well, I believe when tourist come into an Amish area, for shopping, they tend to want what the Amish want or what the Amish themselves made, either way.  They look for the simple things that the Amish would have in their own homes rather than the fancier items.  They can find those items else where.

So, on my list of items to sell in Arthur are plain, basic ceramics with solid colors and not a lot of decoration.  Hand made pure soaps without fragrances, and hand dipped beeswax candles.  I might make some other candles as well but not necessarily with a lot of fragrances.  Keeping things as simple and basic as possible will allow me to pull sales from the Amish as well as the tourists in that area.

Another thing that keeping things simple is it is less labor intensive and therefore I can charge a little less for the same piece that I might have put more decoration and design work on.  A lower price will attract more buyers.  More buyers, more sales.  You can't make a living on one piece!!

I'm liking the idea of "keep it simple stupid" so much that I might just carry that into a couple of my other venues as well.  I also plan on selling at the 3rd Sunday Market in Bloomington, IL next year.  3rd Sunday Market runs once a month, on the third Sunday of the month, from May through October.  It is like a giant antique and crafts fair.  They get thousands and thousands of people coming through each market.  Not only could I sell my wares there but I can promote my booth in Arthur.  I think dressing "plain" and selling "plain" wares just might be the ticket.  Hmmm, I should think about this some more.

I also plan to have a web site up and running by early spring.  I might just have one page of the fancier items but keep the rest along the same lines as what I would have in Amish country.  Again I can promote the booth in Arthur as well as 3rd Sunday Market on my web site as well as facebook and here.

Sounds like I am coming up with a pretty good business plan.  What do you think?

I would love to hear your comments and suggestions.

Until next time,,,,, many blessings!