pamfritz's blog

It’s time to take a break from sipping wine and begin exploring the avenue of beer!

Susquehanna Ale Trail is the name, craft beer is their game!  The York County Convention and Visitors bureau created an ale trail throughout the area, so craft beer enthusiasts can explore many establishments that offer tours, classes and tastings.  The Susquehanna Ale Trail is a self-guided tour of 13 breweries, brew pubs, craft brewing outlets and 1 distillery in the PA Dutch Country region.

Beginning April 12, 2013, for two weekends, The Ale Trail will have a special Passport Event.  Tickets are $15 per person, which includes exclusive tours, tastings, presentations by the brewers and a souvenir mug.

The dates for the Susquehanna Ale Trail Passport Event are:  

April 12-14, 2013 and April 19-21, 2013.

Hours of operation for that event are as follows:

Fridays: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Saturdays: Noon - 5 p.m.

Sundays: Noon - 4 p.m.

 We are offering a special add on package for these weekends.  For $60, you will receive 2 passport tickets, trail map and directions, an empty Lancaster Brewing Growler or Mudhook Growler, to be filled at your expense during your visit to the breweries and a $25 gift card to Mudhook Brewery.

Located 7.5 miles from the BF Hiestand House, The Vineyard at Grandview's tasting room awaits you.  The view is phenomenal! It over looks the 5 acres of meticulously groomed vines, which were planted in 2009.  The beautiful oak and black walnut hardwood floors were milled from trees on the property.  You may choose from eight premium wines;  Chardonnay, Rose' of Pinot Noir, Crimson Quartette, a blend of four red varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sun-Kissed, a semi sweet blush, Sapphire White, Ruby Red and Mom Kennel's Blackberry.  Dallas loved the Blackberry.  He says it satisfied his sweet tooth!  I am not a dry wine lover, so I really enjoyed their sweet Sapphire White and the Blackberry.  You may also pair local chocolates and cheeses with your wine for a nominal charge.  Tasting hours are Saturday, 10 a.m..-4 p.m.. and Sunday, noon-4 p.m.., or by appointment.  For more information, check out their website here.  The Vineyard at Grandview is a member of the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail.  Over 20 wineries from Lancaster, York, Dauphin, Adams counties in PA and down into Maryland make up the Trail.  During the month of March the trail offers the Tour de Tanks, a special tasting event.  Tour tickets are $25 each and entitles you to a collectable wine glass, light food, tasting wine from the barrels before it is bottled, tours and presentations by the winemakers and 10% discount on your purchase.  For more information, check here. Come join the fun!

How do you know Spring is on it's way?  The annual Mud Sales have begun!

Mud sale, you ask?
Mud sales are annual auction/sales at local fire companies held on Saturdays.  These sales are one of the ways the fire companies raise money.  Mud Sales are also an Amish gathering as it is a time of year when farming activities have not yet begun and the Amish have time to enjoy these auctions.  Mud Sales get their name from the time of year held, during the spring thaw.  Various items are sold/auctioned at these sales and the items can vary from fire company to fire company.  Antiques, quilts, farm equipment, horses and buggies are just a few examples of items being auctioned. Here are list of up coming sales.

March 2 & March 16
Bart Township Annual Auction/Mud Sale
8:30 a.m., Bart Twp. Fire Company, 11 Furnace Rd., Quarryville. 717-786-3348 or Bart Twp. Fire Co. website
Antiques, quilts, furniture, new & used equipment, small goods, hay & straw, livestock, buggies, tools, crafts and food.

March 9
Gordonville Spring Mud Sale & Auction
8:30 a.m., Gordonville Fire Company, Old Leacock Rd., Gordonville. 717-768-3869 or Gordonville Fire Co. website
The largest firemen's auction/sale on the East Coast, featuring 500-600 Amish quilts, antiques, collectibles, new & used furniture, tools, farm equipment, horses, mules, buggies, lawn & garden, barns, utility sheds & trailers, construction equipment.
Craft show: March 7, 6-9 p.m.

March 16
Penryn Fire Company Mud Sale
8:00 a.m., Penryn Fire Company #1, 1441 N. Penryn Rd., Manheim. 717-664-2825 or Penryn Fire Co. website
Woodcrafts, furniture, antiques, quilts, crafts, farm equipment, food and more. Parking will not be available on site. Satellite parking with shuttle bus service will be available at various neighboring locations.

March 16
Airville Mud Sale & Quilt Auction
8:30 a.m., Airville Volunteer Fire Company, 3576 Delta Rd., Airville. 717-862-3723 or Airville Fire Co. website
Quilts, Animals (goats, lambs, chickens, rabbits, roosters), tractors, farm equipment, lumber, household goods, crafts, hay & straw.

March 16
West Earl Mud Sale
8:00 a.m., West Earl Fire Company, PO Box 969, Brownstown. 717-656-6791
Handmade quilts and comforters, homemade baked goods, theme baskets, wooden crafts, household items, groceries, lawn & garden equipment, tools, pre-cast concrete, lawn furniture and more.

March 23
Gap Annual Spring Mud Sale/Auction
5 p.m., Gap Fire Company, 802 Pequea Ave., Gap. 717-442-8100
Sporting goods, windows & doors, new & used furniture, quilts, crafts, dry goods, groceries and more.

April 6
Robert Fulton Volunteer Fire Company Mud Sale
8:30 a.m. breakfast, Robert Fulton Fire Company, 2271 Robert Fulton Hwy., Peach Bottom, 717-548-8995
Crafts, plants, tools, antiques, farm equipment, furniture, food, buggies, wagons, groceries, horses.

April 13
Rawlinsville Annual Mud Sale
8:30 a.m., Rawlinsville Fire Company, 33 Martic Heights Dr., Holtwood. 717-284-3023
Antiques, horses, crafts, building materials, lawn equipment, new and used furniture.

May 11
Honeybrook Annual Auction/Mud Sale
7 a.m., Honeybrook Fire Company, 679 Firehouse Ln., Honeybrook. 610-273-2688
Quilts, crafts, new furniture, Winross trucks, Smuckers bells, farm-related supplies, tools, buggies, heifers..

Every year on the first Sunday in December, the Marietta Restoration Association hosts the Candlelight Tour of Homes in our town.  Usually there are eight homes open for the public to tour, as well as public buildings maintained by the Restoration Association. Since this is Marietta's Bicentennial year, there will be ten houses on tour. We have been fortunate enough to participate in 2000, 2004 and 2010 and will continue in the future when we can.  This years tour will be on Sunday, December 2, 2012 from 11 a.m..- 7 p.m.

This is a walking tour, but shuttle buses will be available from the parking area and between sites.  Parking is available at the Donegal Intermediate School 1177 River Rd. Marietta, PA 17547.  Tickets are available in advance for $17.00 each.  They will be $20.00 each the day of the tour.  This is a fund raiser for the Restoration Association to help maintain and restore the many buildings in town, such as the Old Town Hall,  The Union Meeting House and the Bank Building and restoration of the Musselman/Vesta Office Building (a cooperative effort with Rivertownes PA USA) and the Historic Marietta Theater.

Here is the link to the homes that will be open for the tour.

http://www.mariettarestoration.org/event-calendar/candlelight-tour/2012-...

The kids and grandkids were here on Thanksgiving weekend to get the house ready for Christmas!  Dallas and I still have a bit more work to do, but it is coming together nicely! Feel free to stop by to say "HI" if you are able to come to the Candlelight Tour!

Dallas and I were blessed to be able to participate in the Better Way To Stay B&B's For Vets program on Sunday, November 11, 2012. This was our second year participating, but the program has been on going for four years.

http://www.betterwaytostay.com/current-promotions/bbs-for-vets/

The gist of the program is to honor active or retired military veterans with a free stay at a B&B for Veteran's Day.  Each property that participates decides to offer at least one free room.  We felt it was such a noble cause, we gave away five rooms on Sunday and one additional room on Monday.

Our group of Vets this year was wonderful!  A unique mixture of personalities who enjoyed much laughter, good food, conversation, crafting and even a Tai Chi lesson on the front veranda!  We had retired Army, Navy and active Air Force visit with us.  The two active Air Force gentlemen, serving together, did not know they had booked the same B&B.  It truly is a small world!  There is talk of a reunion here next year.  Stay tuned!

We are so proud of your service and wish to thank you again, Stan, Hector, Millie, Rick, Kevin and Harvey!

So, if you are a veteran, check with the B&B's for Vets website to find a participating property for next year's getaway! Please note we do offer a 15% active military discount year round off our regular weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun) night rates.