The "Trying To Stay Healthy Is Tough As A Senior" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  Laying on my towel on Orient Beach in St. Martin when my wife said to me, "I just noticed that you have a rash all over your leg up to your waist.  I instantly reached to the back of my leg and felt the rash she was talking about.  It began behind my kneecap and ran to the middle of my back, a few inches above my waist.  It seemed to be oozing, but for some strange reason, I had no pain or itching sensation.  Neither one of us knew what to do, so we just spent the remainder of the day laying on the beach as I tried to keep my leg  covered from the sun.  I did enter the salty sea water in hopes it would make the rash disappear.  It eventually was diagnosed as Shingles by my wife, since she had also recently had them. I should add that a doctor in the nearby town of Philipsburg had no clue as to what it was until my wife suggested Shingles and he agreed with her.  I recently read that Shingles is a serious ailment and you should know the "Sneaky Symptoms" which come with them.  It is one of four serious ailments that can cause serious health problems if not detected quickly.  The others are "Age Related Macular Degeneration", "Dementia", and "Chronic Kidney Disease."  Perhaps you have had one or more of these diseases such as Carol and I have, and were as lucky as Carol and I that you survived them without too much of a problem.  Shingles takes most people by surprise with only general symptoms, such as the onset of unexpected localized pain, chills, fever and a blistering rash on one area of your body.  The virus is more than likely triggered by stress, trauma or a disease that suppresses the immune system.  Seems like just about anyone can get them.  If was thought that if you had chickenpox as a child, you were more than likely going to get shingles also.  But, that's not so.  Early treatment with antiviral medications is important in preventing posttherpetic neuralgia, a burning pain that can occur after an outbreak.  There is a two-part shingles vaccine you can get after the age of 50, and I would suggest you get it if possible.  I was one of the lucky ones who had no bad results except for the awful rash that oozed all over my clothes for a few days.  Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)  is the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 55.  This causes part of the retina to become damaged.  Dry AMD is the most common form and occurs when tiny protein clumps called druse build up and cause central vision loss.  Wet AMD is more serious and involves abnormal blood vessels growing under the retina and causing bleeding and damage.  Risk factors are age, family history and being overweight.  What makes it hard to tell if you have it is that we all have two eyes and the disease can affect just one eye and you might not know it.  Vitamins known as AREDS 2 helps slow AMD progression.  About 5% to 8% of people over the age of 65 have dementia which is a general term for memory loss related to many health conditions. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.  We all will begin to have slight memory loss as we age, such as forgetting the names of people or where you put the ice cream the night before, but these are not serious problems.  Getting lost in a familiar place or not recognizing loved ones are a bit different.  You can be screened for the problem and an early diagnosis is important for establishing a solid support system.  Please don't put it off!  Finally, the kidneys are your body's taskmaster being they remove toxins and excess fluid to regulate bone health.  About 37 million people in the U.S. have chronic kidney disease which puts them at risk for kidney failure.  If your kidneys operate less than 60%, you have the disease.  Those with Diabetes and high blood pressure are most likely to have the disease.  If you have low energy, poor appetite and nausea you may have the disease.  A simple blood test and urine test can help determine if you have the disease. There are treatments and catching the disease early will give you the best chance of stopping further kidney damage.  Well, I hope you have found my story for today a help in staying fit for the future.  You are aging, even as you read my story today, so you are not alone in fighting any of these diseases.  Stay alert for signs your body is sending you.  I wish you the best and a healthy life. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Smokey The Bear Is Lost Once Again" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sunny with a chance of reaching 95 degrees today.  And...if that's not enough, we have to watch out for a big black bear roaming the neighborhood.  A few days ago our daughter-in-law, Barbara, called to tell us that she had sighted a big black bear ini her neighborhood in Hempfield Township which is about a 15 minute drive from our home in Manheim Township.  She was leaving their dogs out in their backyard when she saw something unusual for the neighborhood.  A big black bear!  She managed to get the dogs back in the house before they saw the bear...or the bear saw them... and began calling everyone to tell them about the bear.  Well, wasn't long before we heard from another person about a black bear who was spotted near Lancaster's channel 8 station on the Columbia Pike which is a good 10 minutes from Barb's house.  So, the bear is on the move!  

A young black bear was seen in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Then we heard that the Pennsylvania Game Commission had placed a trap between the two sightings in hopes of capturing it and moving it to a safe place.  The newspaper later claimed that the bear was sighted near a Wells Fargo bank as well as Moe's and Friendly's at the Centerville Shopping Center.   Hey...the bear knows exactly where the food is located!  This is the biggest news we have had for quite a few days in Lancaster.  But, the last thing we need is for the bear to see a small child playing in one of the local neighborhoods.  Back in 2019, wildlife conservation officers spotted a black bear in the city of Lancaster.  It eventually captured it in the backyard of a home on West Chestnut Street in the city.  Where do these animals come from and how do they get the entire way across the city of Lancaster before someone catches them?  That particular bear was captured and released on State Game lands in Lebanon County.  I know that Lancaster County is known as the Garden Spot of America, but how do these bears find out about it.  Could someone have a pair of bears as pet in their backyard who mated and the cub escaped the back yard?  Someone will eventually catch the bear or perhaps it will find its own way to the State Game lands.  Everyone just has to hope that it doesn't grab a young child before it gets captured and released into the wild.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Winning The Big One With One Of My Former Players!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Friday morning and I had just returned from the end of my driveway with the morning newspaper. One of the first things I do, after feeding our two cats...Snickerdoodle and The Gray Lady, is to read the LNP morning newspaper.  Now, I assume, since I never read it anywhere, is that LNP stands for Lancaster News Paper.  If not, it should!  Anyway, my three favorite parts of the newspaper are the front page that usually has all of the big news on it, the obituary page which has stories and photographs of all those who won't sadly be reading the the big news anymore, and the sports.  My story today deals with the later of the three.  The headline, about halfway down the page told it all...CROWNING NEW CHAMPS.  Story's sub-head read "Streaks reach goal" and directly under it told how the Blue Streaks, the teams nickname, buried the memory of last year's season when they beat the team from Ephrata 11-2.  Last year the team was 20-0, but lost in the quarterfinals of the league playoffs.  Both my sons played for Township with my oldest son helping the team win the playoffs and making it part-way through the State playoffs before losing.  Another player whom I coached years ago was a young man named Matt Kirchoff who happens to now be the head coach of Manheim Township's high school team.  Matt was one of my best players years ago and led us to the Lancaster County "New Era" Championship which is the highlight of the summer season for Lancaster County baseball players.  He was one of the best players I every coached during my 20 some years of coaching Little League baseball.  Seems he has transferred most of his knowledge of winning baseball games to his players.  Last year I went to a game at the Manheim Township field to watch my grandson Caden, who plays for neighboring Hempfield High School, when I heard someone out yell to me.  It was Matt yelling and waving to me as I was watching the game.  Never had the chance to visit with him after the game, but it was nice to know I still must have looked the same to him after all these years.  Great to see that Matt is teaching his players some of the same things I taught to my teams from the past.  So glad that Matt's teams have been so successful over the years and I'm sure his players have benefited from having someone like Matt coach them.  They have a few more games to play before they can claim the State Title, but with a bit of luck they could become State Champs.  Good luck to Matt and the "Blue Streaks".  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Matt Kirchoff is on far left.

The "The Lady With The Cigarette Did It!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Watching the smoke rise from the cigarette being held by the woman on my television.  Yes...a woman!  The show was Perry Mason and as they zoomed in on the woman, it looked as if she had to be the guilty party!  How could a woman smoking a cigarette not be guilty?  So, when was the last time you saw someone smoking?  I can't remember the last time I saw anyone smoking...except for the woman on the Perry Mason show a few days ago.  I think back to the "Good Ol' Days" when my Mom and Dad both smoked cigarettes.  All the time!  And so did my Uncle Bob, my Aunt Virginia, most of my friends and myself!  I also smoked a pipe, since my Grand-dad smoked a pipe and I thought he looked so neat smoking it.  Perry Mason aired on Television from 1957 to 1966 and seems like everyone on the show smoked except Perry and his secretary!  Paul Drake,  Perry's side-kick smoked as did just about every criminal on the show.  You could count on cigarette commercials airing just about  every time you turned on your Television.  Both regulars and menthols as well as cigarettes with filters on them were pushed on TV.  And....all these little eyes were watching.  That's when I decided to begin smoking.  That...and the fact that my mom and dad smoked.  When they found out about my smoking, they tried to have me smoke a pipe instead of cigarettes, since my Granddad smoked a pipe and he was already in his early 80s.  Certainly had to be better for you than cigarettes they decided.  When they first approached me about finding something in my bedroom, I thought it was my "Playboy" magazine, but when they began talking about smoking, I knew I was safe!  If you are reading this and are in your 60s or later...I'll bet you might have smoked at some point in your life.  Hey...it was the thing to do back then.  My family doctor's oldest son smoked and even got caught stealing a carton of cigarettes from the Acme Supermarket where I worked part-time in the 1960s.  Bet hs da didn't like that!  I smoked through high school and part-way through college until I met a young girl named Carol.  Her mom and my dad worked together and when I saw a photo of her, I asked my dad to find out how I could get a date with her.  A week or so later he told me to call her and ask about a date.  Did so...and the rest is history.  But...when she found out that I smoked cigarettes, she gave me an ultimatum....Either it was her or my cigarettes.  I haven't smoked anything since that day back in 1966.  Memories such as these never escape me.  To this day, I believe she saved my life, since I stopped smoking that fateful day in 1966.  And...as you may be aware..most of the smokers from the past have either died from smoking or have given it up.  And most of those who haven't given up smoking appear on Perry Mason.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.         

The "The Mansion On The Bank Of The Susquehanna That Never Existed" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Beautiful day for a ride so my wife, Carol, and I decided to take a ride to the nearby town of Columbia, Pennsylvania which sits on the eastern bank of the mighty Susquehanna River, about 30 miles west from my home in Lancaster.  Just before our drive, I pulled up a sketch on my computer desktop of an elegant Second Empire style mansion which at one time was the home of John Fendrich, a Columbia tobacco and cigar merchant whose business operation then stood at the north corner of the intersection of Locust and Front Streets in Columbia.  Sitting behind the mansion was a carriage house which was just as beautiful as the mansion.  I thought Carol and I might be able to locate the mansion and carriage house so I could take a photograph to go with my story.  Well, we never found the mansion and therefore never found the carriage house.  Sure, there were gorgeous mansions on just about every street, but none that matched the sketch I had.  So, I stopped at an antique store that was a block long and asked for help.  Showed my sketch to a few clerks and not a single one knew where the house was located.  I even told them it was supposed to be at the corner of Locust and Front streets, but that didn't help.  Now, a few notes that came with the sketch of the mansion said the property had seen many changes in the past.  The mansion later became the State Police Barracks and then became an Oldsmobile dealer.  It eventually became a gas station and then the Columbia Diner.  It later became another gas station and then a Subway sandwich shop.  How a mansion would become a gas station and Police Barracks over its lifetime and no would could remember was a mystery to me.  So, I gave up!  We drove around looking at all the beautiful buildings that still remain in the city before we found our way home once again.

Perhaps if you live nearby the town of Columbia and might know where the house at the bottom of my story today might be located, please leave me a comment as to how I can find it.  Maybe someday it might make a really good story!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.      

The "Immigrant Or Refugee Artist Is Sought" Story

It was an ordinary day.  I just finished reading an article in the Sunday News that is seeking an immigrant or refugee artist in central Pennsylvania to help create a new mural for the city of Lancaster and Church World Service.  The chosen artist will work with one of Lancaster's most noted muralist, Shauna Yorty.  It was on June 12, 2021 that I wrote a story titled "From Many Lights, One!"  It too featured Shauna and the work she had done on a mural on the 400 block of Shippen Street in the city of Lancaster.  That particular mural was on the side of a house to the east of Lancaster City.  The new proposed mural will be located on the wall of Ganse Apothecary at 355 W. King Street.  The artist chosen will work with Shauna and receive a stipend of $15,000 to complete the piece.  The painting will take place during "Welcoming Week", September 10-19 which is a week when a national effort to "make communities a more welcomed place for all" takes place.  The process will also include two public engagement sessions, in May and June, to solicit public guidance on the project.  Immigrants or refugees within Lancaster, Berks, Dauphin, Cumberland, York and Lebanon counties are qualified to apply.  If you may be interested and qualify for the job, you can visit cwslancaster.org.  If you might need help filling out the application, or would like to request an interview, send an Email to mpjohnson@cwsglobal.com.  I plan to mark it on my calendar so I can visit and take a few photographs of Lancaster's latest mural.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

Shauna Yorty working on a mural in June of 2021

The "Learning Through Excavating" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about the excavations that have been taking place at the 1719 Hans Herr Mennonite meeting house in Willow Street.  The house, which I have visited many times and have written about in the past, is the oldest original Mennonite meeting house still standing in the Western Hemisphere.  I have enjoyed walking through the house, but often wondered what might be hidden in the ground below the lower level of the house or the land that surrounds the house.  The soil of the farm, which has been plowed over and over for 300 years, more than likely holds the records of centuries of life during the early years when the Herr family lived on the property near Willow Street, Pennsylvania.  

The Han Herr House

In the fall of 2020 and 2021, a group of students from my alma mater, Millersville State Teacher's College, now known as Millersville University, have been part of an archaeology program which is searching the grounds around the Hans Herr House, gathering real-life information on excavations which are about 3-by-3 foot and 5-by-5 foot test units on the five-acre Hans Herr farm.  So far they have unearthed 40,000 historical artifacts which recently was part of a presentation at Mennonite Life - the historical organization which operates the 1719 Museum as well as an archive and library on Millstream Road in Lancaster.  So far the students have moved about 4,500 tons of earth.  Every bit of dirt is hand-dug, hand-screened and excavated stratigraphically which is layer by layer.  The reason for the historical dig is to get a sense of the material that was used and still survives through the centuries.  The students are hoping to discover the remnants of the original settler's cabin which predates the historic sandstone house that is still there.  They are beginning to think that the original building might have been destroyed and one of the outbuildings was built over top of it.  Many of the artifacts they have discovered are a cross-section of material from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.  Some projectile points are estimated to be from as far back as 5,000 years ago.  Tiffany Fisk, the administrator at the 1719 Museum, says she was impressed by the Millersville students and what they have found during the past few years.  The students discovered what may have been an area that was used as a quarry when the stone house was being built.  The training that the students are receiving is tremendous and will only help them in the future. She is thrilled when the students discovered chisel marks on a layer of sandstone which could have shown that there might have been a quarry at one time.  Millersville thanks the 1719 Museum for the tremendous opportunity that they have given to the students from Millersville.  They are able to learn so much more through real-life experiences than they could through a simulated experience.   What follows are some of the pieces that the Millersville students have found during their hand digging and screening at the 1719 Hans Herr House.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

A pair of bronze cuff links, known then as sleeve links are estimated to be from about 1740-1790 and indicate whomever owned them had a sense of style.  The anchor motif is associated with Philadelphia's maritime economy.  A lot of the decorative items, particularly buttons, were made deliberately with natural themes because the sailors were a very big market for them to sell to. 

This decorative pipe dates back to about 1710-1740.  Discovering a pipe stem is fairly common, but finding one with the decorative bowl intact is unusual.  The pipe is made of white kaolin clay and the decorative face is about the size of a quarter.

This piece of Philadelphia-style red ware pottery probably dates back to the mid-to-late 1700s.  Philadelphia potters were working throughout the 18th and early 19th century.  This piece is not particularly fancy, but it demonstrates their trade connections and where they're buying things from.

In the 18th century, German Moravian potters settled in Central Pennsylvania, around the Bethlehem area and began making their own red wares with dots of green on the piece of pottery with decorative styles favored by the Moravians.  Several pieces of pottery discovered on the property indicate the family's taste for the fine things which might go against the stereotype people have of historic German Swiss Mennonite families being understated and plain.

The "Don't Miss This Wonder Known As A Total Lunar Eclipse" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Anxious to view the total lunar eclipse that is supposed to arrive in the night skies this weekend.  Always a super show for stargazers across North and South America.  The celestial action hopefully will begin Sunday evening into early Monday, with the moon bathed in the reflected red and orange hues of the Earth's sunsets and sunrises for about an hour and a half which is one of the longest totalities of the decade.  I can't give you an exact time to view the total lunar eclipse, so I hope you may get a chance to see this wonderful spectacle.  It will be the first so-called blood moon in a year.

A total lunar eclipse

Those who live in the Eastern half of North America and all of Central and South America will have a prime seat for the entire show, providing the weather cooperates with the event.  A total eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun, and casts a shadow on our constant, cosmic companion.  The moon will glow a scarlet color during the eclipse.  That is in sharp contrast to its ordinary milky white sheen.  As best I can tell, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:27 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday with the total lunar eclipse starting at 11:29 p.m   The total eclipse will end at 12:53 a.m. ET Monday an the partial eclipse will end at 1:55 a.m. Monday. According to NASA, when the moon passes through the darkest part of the earth's shadow, called the umbrellas, it's known as a total lunar eclipse.  When the sun' ray reach the Earth, much of the blue and green light is scattered, while the orange and red colors remain visible, which is why the moon turns a reddish hue and is often referred to as the 'blood moon.  Not everyone will be able to catch a glimpse of the total lunar eclipse because it needs to be nighttime to see it.  People in South America an in the eastern part of North America will have a great view of the lunar eclipse.  The total lunar eclipse will be visible in much of Artica, Europe and South America and most of North America.  About to lunar eclipses occur each year, and the next one will be a total lunar eclipse in November.  Then there will not be another total eclipse until march of 2025.  It is perfectly safe to watch the lunar eclipse with your need eye.  That's the great thing about lunar eclipses.  To see the eclipse in its fullest, avoid bight lights and tall bu9ldings that could block your view.  If it's cloudy you can watch a livestream of it from NASA.  According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, you can also see the following:  June 14: Strawberry moon, July 13: Buck moon, Augut 11, Sturgeon moon, September 10: Harvest moon, October 9, November 8: Beaver moon, and December 7: Cold moon.  These are the popularized names associated with the monthly full moons, originating with Native American tribes.  The names vary from tribe to tribe because a full moon had different significance across the tribes month to month or season to season.  So take a nap earlier in the day...and catch the total lunar eclipse.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Thanks For The Memories!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a few of the stories I have written for this blog in the past.  At times I amaze myself with a few of the stories I had written while other times I wonder why I ever posted a story being it was so terrible.  Same goes for the photographs that I have posted with a few of the stories.  Some of the photos I took to illustrate a story were professional looking while others looked like they were taken by someone with no photography skills at all.   But, after hundreds of stories, I guess I deserve to pat myself on the back for the quality of a few while wondering why some of you never told me how bad a job I did on others.  Some topics I have written about seem to draw many comments while other topics are more than likely viewed and quickly forgotten.  At times I wonder why this story or that story had comments posted after it, since I felt it wasn't a real good topic to draw comments while a story that surprisingly was about a relatively important topic received no comments at all.  I have written a few stories about my family that drew comments, mostly offering sympathy for the story.  One such story I wrote about my father told about him having his eye shot out with a BB gun as a child.  I go on to tell that I never knew he only had one eye until I was in college.  He never wanted anyone to know about his disadvantage and did a fantastic job keeping it undercover until one time I was asked to get something from his dresser drawer and I found this small box in his drawer.  I opened it and found what I thought was a marble in it.  Happened to be his original artificial eye worn when he was a child.  He eventually figured out that I knew about it and only then did he tell me about his disadvantage.  

My father

My story telling about it drew more comments than just about any other story I ever posted. I never know what type of story or a story about a specific topic will draw a few comments.  I do enjoy knowing what you think about certain topics, since I may try to write more stories about that topic.  A few times I have been disappointed by a comment or two, but that's what makes writing my stories interesting, not knowing how others might think about the same topic.  Please feel free to not only comment, but to add a few lines telling something that may come to you about the topic I have written on that particular day.  And...thanks for reading this blog.  It has kept me in touch with many of you and has given me a chance to see what you think about the same topics.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "Mr. Jeffrey Hudson Brings History To Life - Part II" Story

Foreword - A few days ago I published the first of two parts of a story I titled Mr. Hudson Brings History To Life.  I had every intention of publishing Part II the following day.  Never happened!  Sorry if you were expecting Part II and never had the chance to read it.  My mind was on something else at the time and I never finished my story.  Today is Part II and I'm hoping you will enjoy it.  Please read on... 

 It was an ordinary day.  In 1848 the city of Lancaster elected Thaddeus Stevens as their representative to congress.  Surprisingly it was as a member of the Whig party.  He was once again elected to the same position as he was two years earlier.  

Thaddeus Stevens

After his second nomination and election he was thrust into what was known as the Compromise of 1850.  Congress decided that California would enter the union as a free state but other territories would be allowed to put the question to a vote.  The Fugitive Slave Act required the citizens of free states to  return runaways to bondage.  Stevens was totally against this and spoke out against it.  Before long he had the opportunity to fight it in the courts.  On September 11, 1851 slave owner William  Gorsuch arrived at the farm of William Parker in nearby Christiania in southern Lancaster County, looking to retrieve several of his slaves that had escaped across the Mason-Dixon Line from Maryland into Pennsylvania.  Parker, a former slave had recently organized a self-defense group and at least 50 armed black men showed up at the Parker farm to prevent the capture of the fugitives. Castner Hanway, a local white miller, warned Gorsuch not to persist in his effort or there would be violence.  Gorsuch persisted and was shot and killed while his son was wounded.  Castner was said to be the instigator of the violence and was charged with treason along with 37 others.  A trial was set to be held in Philadelphia in federal court.  The head of the defense team was Thaddeus Stevens.  The trial lasted 18 days and after 14 minutes of deliberation, he was acquitted.  Parker and two of the fugitive slaves were not at the trial, having already escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad which was supported by Stevens.  Many in Stevens' district were in favor of slavery, so he chose not to run in 1852 rather than risk defeat.  In 1855 Stevens became a Republican and in 1858 Lancaster returned him to the U.S. House.  At first Stevens didn't support Abraham Lincoln as the party's 1860 presidential nominee, but he did campaign for it.  Running against a split Democratic Party, Lincoln secured the majority of elected votes...through not the majority of popular votes, but was elected President.  This led to the start of the Civil War.  Lincoln was not an abolitionist, but did oppose the spread of slavery.  Politicians in the South then chose to secede from the Union. On April 12, 1861 Confederates shelled the U.S. garrison of Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Harbor and the Civil War began.  From it's start, Thaddeus Stevens thought the war had a single objective: Abolition!  Stevens initial objective was to restore the Union.  He wanted to "Free every slave and slay every traitor.  Stevens made sure that the Union Army had the tools and supplies to win.  He was responsible for passing the first Confiscation Act, which included the provision that all slaves who worked for the Confederate military were free from further servitude.  The second Confiscation Act said that all Confederate slaves "shall be forever free.!"  In 1862 after the Union claimed victory in the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which declared all slaves to be free.  As the war approached an end, the two men worked in harmony to achieve one of Steven's cherished goals.  The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, was passed in the Senate, but got stuck in the House. 

Steven's on the House floor.

It eventually did pass, but an assassin's bullet less than a week after ended the life of President Lincoln.  The 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship to all newly freed slaves and the 15th Amendment prevented states from restricting the right to vote on the basis of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."  Stevens favored confiscation of rebel property and breaking up large plantations into 40-acre lots and redistributing them to recently freed slaves.  But President Johnson, who often used racial slurs, had no intentions of going along with the idea.  Stevens led the successful effort to impeach the President.  Stevens had been very ill during most of the Civil War and by the time of Johnson's impeachment his condition had worsened.  The impeachment trial was in the spring of 1868 and even though he was extremely ill, he led the prosecution team.  President Johnson escaped conviction by one vote.  When Congress adjourned that summer, Stevens was in failing health.  His longtime African friend, companion and housekeeper, Lydia Hamilton Smith

Lydia Hamilton Smith

was at his bedside when he died at his Washington D.C. residence on August 11, 1868.  She was overome with emotion and had to be taken from the room where the casket was placed.  Stevens was buried in the Shriner-Concord Cemetery which was the only one in Lancaster to allow blacks to be buried there.  The house where Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton lived is still in existence and is being renovated at present.  I am anxious to make a visit when the renovation is completed.  Should make for a green story.  PS - My youngest son bears the name of Paul Thaddeus Woods.  My wife and I wanted to name him after one of Lancaster's greatest heroes.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

What his home looks like today in Lancaster

 

The "The Long Lost Miss Ella Story"

It was an ordinary day.  Sometime in the early 1970s or perhaps a bit earlier, one of Lancaster, Pennsylvania's most renowned artists, C.X. Carlson, drew a charcoal image of a woman named "Ella."  The drawing shows "Ella" holding a cane with a hat covering her head.  

Miss Ella by C.X. Carlson

The sketch had been stored under the bed of Mary Armstrong of East Petersburg for some time and she would like to find a new home for the sketch that was done by a distinguished artist in her family.  Before finding a home under Mary's bed, "Ella" hung on a wall at 15 Market Square, Manheim.  But, someone else in the family just might like the drawing better than Mary...or at least she is hoping they do.  Mary's uncle owned the building in Manheim which held Weavers natural Foods for many years.  Seems the drawing was assumed to be of Dr. Ruth Brenner, a prominent doctor in Manheim, because she also had her office and home in the same building.  So, when Mary took the drawing out of the frame and saw the signature of CX Carlson, with the name "Miss Ella" in the bottom-right corner, she was surprised.  She tried to find more information about the drawing by searching for information on the Manheim Facebook page as well as contacting the C.X. Carlson Cultural Trust.  At one time Mr. Carlson lived at nearby Quarryville, Pennsylvania where he completed over 15,000 paintings and many more drawings.  He has work hanging in the Metropolitan Museum of Art as well as in many private homes.  I know him best for illustrating the book "Old Lancaster."  

Therefore... "Ella" is a valuable drawing forever whom may own it.  And now "The Scribbler," Lancaster newspaper's famous writer Jack Brubaker has been asked to help by placing the charcoal drawing in one of his weekly columns.  If you may have any information on the image that accompanies this story, please notify Mary Armstrong at dew4sea@gmail.com.  And, perhaps...if you know anymore about the drawing known as "Miss Ella," please leave me a comment at the end of this story.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Finding It's Way Back Home, Part II" Story

Copy of the Koran printed in Lancaster, PA.   
Photo by Blaine Shahan, Lancaster Newspaper photographer

It was an ordinary day.  Opened the morning newspaper and there on the top center of the front page of the paper was the headline "BACK HOME" in big black letters.  Directly beneath the sans-serif letters was a color photograph of Mr. Shakeel Amanullah, chairman of the board of trustees at Islamic Community Center of Lancaster presenting an historic Quran that was printed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1835 to Mr. Thomas Ryan, the president and CEO of Lancaster-History on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.  It had been 187 years since the copy of the Quran was printed in Lancaster.  Since that time it has traveled around the world.  The 187 year old copy of the Quran is small enough to fit into your pants pocket, but it seems to be in remarkable shape for something as treasured and rare as this copy of the Quran.  The copy was printed in Lancaster at the Boswell & McCleery printing company that was located at 9 Center Square in the center of Lancaster which today is known as Penn Square and has a large granite monument dedicated to the different branches of our armed servicemen.  The copy looks to be in a well-preserved condition with bright white pages and dark black ink telling the story of the Koran.  Thought a joint effort by the LandasterHistory and the Islamic Community Center of Lancaster, LancasterHistory acquired the copy via a January auction.  The beautiful text is now the property of Lanasterhistory's collection.  Representatives from both organizations recently celebrated the acquisition at an event on April 6, 2022.  Mr. Amanullah,  Islamic Community Center of Lancaster founder and chairman of the board of directors presented the copy of the Quran to Mr. Thomas Ryan, LancasterHistory CEO, and Mr. J. Richard Gray, LancasterHistory Board of Directors Chairman and former Mayor of the city of Lancaster.  Mr. Amanullah also presented LancasterHistory with an Arabic hard-back version of the old text and a contemporary English version.  Mr. Ryan said that the Quran is an important piece of historical memorabilia and demonstrates that the Muslim faith was part of the fabric of Lancaster County.  The timing of the recent event fell at the time of the current observing of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer and reflection.  The holiday continued until May 2.  LancasterHistory was able to get this prized possession after being alerted about the availability of the item by a supporter of the group who had heard about it being available through the Chiswick Auctions which is a London auction house.  LancasterHistory was lucky enough to get the copy on January 27 for $1,000 with Mr. Ryan and Mr. Gray delivering it to the Islamic Community Center of Lancaster on March 24.  This copy, which was printed in Lancaster, PA was written in English and was reviewed for translation and accuracy when it arrived.  Seems this rare copy is in great shape. 

Thomas Ryan, LancasterHistory President holding the Koran.
Photo by Blaine Shahan, Lancaster Newspaper photographer 

It is very small, with fine paper and some wear and tear on the spine.  Mr. Mukaram Syed, board trustee for the Islamic Community Center of Lancaster gave a brief background about the significance to Muslums the new find holds.  The text is the Word of God for Muslims with revelations given to the Holy Prophet Muhammad.  It includes religious philosophy for social and moral behavior, plus historical philosophy and accounts of certain prophets and arguments for accepting Muhammad as a genuine prophet.  Muslims believe the Quran is the unchanged last Revelation, and God has promised to protect and preserve His book.   While there are many different spellings for the holy book...Quran, Koran, Qur'an...for Muslims, Quran or Qur'an are considered correct.  Koran is incorrect and is being phased out.  The first English translation was accomplished in 1649 by Alexander Ross, a Scottish Christian cleric and chaplain to King Charles I.  The English copy presents to LancasterHistory is the third translated edition.  It has 18 chapters with 288 pages; the original Quran has 144 chapters with 80,000 pages.  A member on LancasterHistory board of directors, Suzanne Woodard said that Lancasterhistory's first collaboration with the Islamic Community Center is an exciting partnership.  LancasterHistory board member, Mr. Leroy Hopkins agreed and finds it "fantastic" to have the Quran copy back in Lancaster.  William Penn founded Pennsylvania as a colony for people who fled religious persecution, so we in Lancaster County have religious tolerance in our blood.  A list of exhibition locations will be posted soon so all can see the new acquisition.  I'll most certainly be ready to visit and view the new possession.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Finding It's Way Back Home" Story

Preface:  Recently a copy of the Quran was returned to the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania where it had been printed in 1835.  Exactly what is the Quran and what is the importance of the "document" is my story today with a story tomorrow telling about the return of the "document" to the city of Lancaster where it was printed.  Throughout my high school and college career I never enjoyed history, but I have found a new interest in it and learning about the Quran and its attachment to my home town of Lancaster was extremely interesting.

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a story about the Quran, also romanized as Qur'an or Koran, which is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God.  It is organized into 114 chapters which consist of verses.  It is widely regarded as the finest work in Arabic literature and has significantly influenced the Arabic language.  Muslims believe that the Quran was orally revealed by God to the final prophet, Muhammad, through the archangel Gabriel incrementally over a period of some 23 years, beginning in the month of Ramadan, when Muhammad was 40.  It was concluded in 632, the year of his death.  Muslims regard the Quran as Muhammad's most important miracle; a proof of his prophethood; and the culmination of a series of divine messages starting with those revealed to Adam, including the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospel.  The word Quran occurs some 70 times in the text itself, and other names and words are also said to refer to the Quran.  The Quran is thought by Muslims to be the literal word of God.  But, Muhammad didn't write the Quran since he didn't know how to write. Several of Muhammad's companions served as scribes, recording the revelations.  Shortly after the prophet's death, the Quran was complied by the companions, who had written down or memorized parts of it.  Caliph Uthman established a standard version, now known as the Uthmanic codex, which is generally considered the archetype of the Quran known today.  The Quran describes itself as a book of guidance for mankind.  It offers detailed accounts of specific historical events and it often emphasizes the moral significance of an event over its narrative sequence.  Supplementing the Quran with explanations for some cryptic Quranic narratives, and rulings that also provide the basis for Islamic law in most denominations of Islam, are Hadiths which are oral and written traditions believed to describe words and actions of Muhammad.  During prayers, the Quran is recited only in Arabic.  During the month of Ramadan, which is April 1 to May 1, Muslims typically complete the recitation of the whole Quran during tarawith with prayers.  The Quran consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths, each known as a sūrah.  Chapters are classified as Mecan or Medinan, depending on whether the verses were revealed before or after the migration of Muhammad to the city of Medina.  Chapters are not arranged in chronological order, rather the chapters appear to be arranged roughly in order of decreasing size.  Some scholars argue the chapters are arranged according to a certain pattern.  Before printing and the printing press were developed, the Quran was transmitted in manuscripts made by calligraphers and copyists.  The Quran has been translated into most African, Asian and European languages.  The first translator of the Quran was Salman the Persian who translated it into Persian in the seventh century.  The first fully complete translations of the Quran were done between the 10th and 12th centuries in Persian.  The first translation into a Western language was in 1143 for Peter the Venerable.  By 1936, translations in 102 languages were known.  The central theme of the Quran is monotheism.  God is depicted as living, eternal, omniscient and omnipotent.  God's omnipotence appears above all in his power to create.  He is the creator of everything, of the heavens and the earth and what is between them.  All human beings are equal in their utter dependence upon god, and their well-being depends upon their acknowledging that fact and living accordingly.  According to the Quran, God communicated with man and made his "Will" known through signs and revelations.  Tomorrow I will share with you how my city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania came upon a copy of the Quran that was printed in the city in 1835.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Artists You May Not Know! - Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Motoring up steep hills, passing roads to Friar's Bay and Pic Paradise, descending into grassy pastures on the north side of the island known as St. Martin.  While on this road we pass a nondescript white stucco building, high on a hill, with a sign that reads "ART - Minguet - ART GALLERY."  

View of the Minguet Art Gallery from main road in St, Martin. 

Easy to miss since it is on a very busy curve in the road and if you take time to search for it you may find horns sounding and cars inches from your rear bumper.  So, why would anyone want to open an art gallery on a road such as this?  Well, the artist picked this spot on purpose, since there is no way you can miss it.  For many, it is their destination and they are prepared for the traffic and trying to enter the parking lot in front of the store.  This gallery is for serious art patrons.  The gardens and patio out front are loaded with Bouganinvillea flowing over a pink picket fence and some cactus and other tropical plants brighten the entrance.  There is a balcony above the garden and storefront, where there is obviously an apartment. 

Inside the entrance to the gallery

As you enter the glass doors to the reception area, there's a melange of art and marketing!  Books on Minguet, postcards on Minguet and posters and photos of Minguet are for sale; with Minguet being the one and only Alexandre Minguet.  Behind the long shop counter stands a woman with long, dark hair who introduced herself to us as Catherine Minguet, the daughter of the artist.  She enjoyed talking about her father and the magnitude of paintings that line the walls of the gallery.  I pulled my camera to my face and was told...No Photos, please!  She told us that her father, Minguet, had died in 1996, but his work is still in galleries worldwide. 

Still life painted by Minguet

He owned the one we were standing in on Rambaud Hill and one in his home in the country of France.  She now owns both of them.  Her father was born in France in 1937 and educated in the art academies in France.  He eventually fell in love with the French side of the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten and moved to the island.  He was 59 years old when he died.  His photo in the gallery shows him to be a rotund fellow with a beard and bald head.  You can tell of the love that Cathrine had for her father by the way she talks about him and his work.  Most of the pieces in the gallery were priced in the thousands of dollars, above the budget of my wife and I since we were on the island to enjoy the beaches more so than the art of the island.  We did find two lithograph prints that we loved and purchased them. 

Poster for the gallery

The volume of paintings in the gallery was amazing and I could only guess the value of the prints I was viewing as I stood between my wife Carol and Catherine.  We have made several more visits to the gallery since our initial stop, but mostly to stop and talk with Catherine about her father and his immense gallery of work.  If you ever find yourself on the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten (Dutch side of island), travel the main island road and you will be treated to one of the most interesting art galleries you can imagine.  And, even after all our years of traveling to the island, I'm sure there are plenty of original prints to buy that were painted by Alexandre Minguet.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The two following prints are from my collection.

The "Artists You May Not Know! - Part I" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Trying to anticipate how much wall space my wife and I may have when we finally make a move to an apartment or a condo in a local retirement community.  The amount of wall space will determine how many pieces of artwork we will be able to bring with us from our present home in Manheim Township.  We now have close to 100 pieces of art displayed in our home and know we will be limited in the amount of those pieces of art we will be able to take with us when we move.  Some pieces I plan to sell such as a few of my Wallace Nutting photographs and perhaps a few Ansel Adams photographs.  A room full of posters from the New Jersey Shore will also find new homes as well as one or two very large original pastels we have purchased on trips to exotic locations.  Going to be tough to decide what should be sold/given away and what we will keep for our new home.  One such painting that I must make a decision about was given to me in 1971 by one of my students whom I had in my Graphic Arts class at Manheim Township High School.  Mike Kiehl was a great young man whom had quite a bit of artistic talent and entered the National Scholastic Arts competition with a few of his art class acrylic paintings.  

Painting I have from Mike Kiehl

I would stop to watch him paint from time to time when he had his art class and I had some free time in my teaching schedule.  Well, when his artwork was returned to him after the competition had ended in the 1971 Scholastic Art competition, he gave me one of his acrylic paintings I had watched him paint.  Told me he wanted me to have it as a reminder of him being in my class for two years.  It has been on my wall since 1971.  That's over 50 years now and I will have a tough decision when I have to find wall space in our new home.  I will not sell it, but if I can't find space in our new home, I may perhaps donate it to Manheim Township High School so they can place it somewhere in the school for display.  Mike's painting in not the only painting that I must make a decision on, but is certainly the most personal painting I must decide about.  I also thought I might offer it to the retirement community where we will be moving to so they can hang it in one of the halls of the place.  I do feel bad that I might not have room for it and must keep some of the more valuable pieces, but feel I can find a good home for it.  I have lost track of Mike since he graduated from High School in 1971, but I'm sure he still remembers the painting he gave to me back then.  I will make sure that it has a good home one way or another.  Now, for the next piece of art that I may not have room for...check out my story tomorrow.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "Mr. Jeffrey Hudson Brings History To Life - Part I" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading part 1 of two articles written by Mr. Jeffrey L. Hudson that appeared in the Sunday Newspaper on April 24, 2022.  Mr. Hudson is a retired school teacher, just as I am.  Biggest difference is that Mr. Hudson used to teach History while I taught Graphic Arts/Photography.  My job was much easier, since most students prefer to learn with their hands instead of solely with their brain.  While in high school, I was one who preferred learning with my hands.  But, the more I read the story in the Sunday News, the more I wish that I would have had Mr. Hudson as my history teacher when I was in high school.  He writes that the best way to present history to students is with an attitude of discovery.  History shouldn't be a mere recitation of names and dates; neither should it be a selection of events picked and tortured into shape to fit some preconceived narrative.  He approaches history as the study of people which only makes sense.  He says we should place ourselves in the same time span we are studying and become part of the history we are studying.  So, when studying Lancaster's Thaddeus Stevens, we should study him as if we were living at the same time as Mr. Stevens.  And, by doing so, we will feel more like being a part of history rather than just learning about something that happened before we were born.  So...are you ready to be transferred back in time?  Seems that Mr. Stevens was a state representative from Adams County who was trying to stay ahead of the mob that had descended on the state Capitol in Harrisburg on December 4, 1838.  The mob was there to contest the election for governor and the Legislature that had just taken place.  Boy...does that sound familiar!  Seems there was no doubt who had won the governorship, Democratic David Porter; but there were irregularities in the legislature results from a section of Philadelphia where an election judge had lost the vote tallies from one of the wards.  So, the Whigs also claimed a win just as did the Democrats.  The day the new members were to be seated, a Democratic mob, some armed with Bowie knives and double-barreled pistols, stormed into the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to prevent the seating of an Anti-Masonic/Whig majority.  Thaddeus Stevens was an Anti-Mason who had played a key role in the election.  When the armed crowd surrounded him he headed to the Senate where the situation got worse.  When the Whig candidates from Philadelphia were seated by the speaker, the mob rushed from the lobby onto the floor of the Senate, some calling for Stevens' blood.  Stevens and the speaker escaped by jumping out a window about 6 feet above the street.  That's a long way down for a man who was born with a club foot as was Thaddeus Stevens.  Wow...I seem to remember something similar happening just a few months ago, don't you?  This incident in 1838 was known as the "Buckshot War" because the state militia had to quell the mobs with buckshot cartridges.  Later on Mr. Stevens would find himself in the middle of a political controversy and it certainly would not be the last.  Mr. Stevens would eventually come to stand at the center of America's greatest conflict and there earn his reputation as a champion of human rights and racial justice.  I'll tell you, Mr. Hudson had me engrossed in what I was reading more so than at any time in my life when history was the topic.  Mr. Hudson went on to tell about Mr. Stevens being born in Danville, Vermont on April 4, 1792 and eventually teaching at York County Academy where he became famous as a public speaker.  Dartmouth College, his alma mater, picked him to deliver its commencement address in 1814.  He eventually was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar and before long he had set up practice in Gettysburg, PA.  Many of his cases were said to have been won by sarcasm.  He once responded to a huge crowd who had accused him of contempt of is court by saying, "Sir, I doing my best t conceal it."  Before long he was the county's most successful attorney.  He won 9 of his first 10 cases argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  

In 1833 Adams County elected him to the state Legislature where he advocated for free public education.  He actually worked with his rival to get something done.  Seems that Gov. George Wolf was a Mason as well as a Democrat, two things Mr. Stevens despised.  But, by working with Gov. Wolf, a bill creating a free public educational system passed.  His work for free public education earned him the name of "the father of public education in Pennsylvania."  Then in 1842 he moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he eventually became the highest paid attorney in town.  He lived on South Queen Street where he also had his law office.  A bachelor, Mr. Stevens hired Lydia Hamilton Smith, a black women of both African and Irish descent, to be his housekeeper and business manager.  She remained with him until his death.  

Mr. Stevens' home on South Queen Street in Lancaster, PA

Soon after his move to the city of Lancaster, he began his fight for abolition and human rights for all, regardless of race.  I'll tell you...if I was a student of Mr. Jeffrey Hudson when I was a high school student, I might never have followed the same track that took me to where I am today.  Tomorrow I will tell you the second half of Mr. Hudson's story that he recently had published in Lancaster's Sunday newspaper.  It was another extraordinary day in life of an ordinary guy.   

The "The Return Of The Shad Fish In The Susquehanna River" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading once again about the snakehead fish that have been found in the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.  Seems like the invasive snakehead fish has found its way from the Atlantic Ocean into the Susquehanna River and then further upstream.  The snakehead are long, slender fish with mouths full of sharp teeth.  They are native to Asia, but the fish have been discovered in the wild in 2002 in Maryland, believed to have been released "by aquarium hobbyists or those hoping to establish a local food resource.  Since then, the fish have established a wild population, which has spread, including to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  The invasive, menacing looking snakeheads are a threat to ecosystems because they are apex predators that feed voraciously, reducing food sources that have long served native fish.  Along the Susquehanna River are a couple of dams that are now being used to try and trap the snakehead fish in their lifts in order to keep them from heading further upstream.  The lifts were created years ago to accommodate declining populations of American shad, which are able to get through the dams and head upstream in order to spawn.  Worked, but the snakeheads also found their way upstream.  

The invasive Snakehead fish

So, the Constellation Energy group, which operates the downstream Conowingo Dam, will trap and transport the fish to a "Stocking point" in the Susquehanna above the Safe Harbor Dam.  A few years ago, one of the most anticipated and important times of the year along the river, was when millions of migratory American shad flooded in from the Atlantic Ocean into the Susquehanna River, surging upstream to reproduce in such mass that they pushed the water into waves.  "For native Americans and, later, Pennsylvania colonists, shad, or 'poor' man's salmon as they are known, delivered a badly needed source of protein and burst of flavor after a long lean winter.  Their roe was considered a delicacy.  Perhaps the snakeheads will never be eliminated, but maybe they can be controlled to the point that the shad will once again be the main fish of the Susquehanna River.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "President Richard M. Nixon Was A Quaker At One Time" Story

It was an ordinary day.  President's Day, 2022 and Lancaster County residents had the chance to once again remember one of our Presidents whose ancestors came from nearby Salisbury Township.  President Richard Milhous Nixon was a Quaker from Salisbury Township whose relatives on both sides of his family were mostly Quakers.  President Nixon's late father, Francis Anthony Nixon died in 1956.  Francis Nixon's great-great grandmother was born in Salisbury Township.  Jane McIlvaine was President's Nixon's distant grandmother who was also born in Salisbury Township and resided there until 1773.  She then moved to what is now Juniata County where she married Paul Trimer in 1780.  Research also showed that former President Nixon's great-grandfather was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863.  His name was George Nixon who served as a private with Company B, 73rd Regiment, Ohio Infantry.  He is buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery, close to the spot where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous dedicatory address a few month later.  His cemetery marker  reads: GEORGE NIXON CO. B REGT. 73.  Ninety years later on July 5, 1953 his great grandson, Richard Nixon, visited the grave.  Lancaster County Historical Society has traced Nixon's family tree back to his sixth-generation grandparents.  Nixon's 4X great grandparents, Robert and Isabel McIlvaine, were laid to rest in Upper Octorara Cemetery in Sadsbury Township, Center County, PA.  Their son Moses, Nixon's great-grandfather died at Gettysburg, his widow moved to Ohio where her son, Samuel Brady Nixon, married.  His marriage to Sarah Ann Wadsworth bore a son, Francis Anthony Nixon, the president's father, who moved from Ohio to California in 1907.  Richard M. Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California in 1913.  His father, a farmer, returned East in 1947, settling in nearby York county where he farmed until 1951.  He injured his arm in a fall, thus ending his farming days.  He returned to California where he died in August of 1956.  Richard Milhous Nixon came to prominence as a representative and senator from California.  He served as Vice President from 1953 to 1961 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower and waged an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1960, narrowly losing to John F. Kennedy.  In 1962 he lost a race for governor of California.  Nixon ran for the presidency again in 1968 and was elected the 37th President of the United State, serving from 1969 until 1974 when I remember him leaving the White House, flashing his usual signal with his two fingers as the helicopter rose above the White House never to return with Nixon on it again.  

He had resigned as President of the United States!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Gardening By The Zone" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just finished mowing the lawn and asked my wife when we will plant the flowers she likes to buy every year.  She told me it has been a bit too cold up until now and perhaps we could head to the local flower shop in the next week or two.  She has done quite a bit of reading during the past and knows which plants will grow the best and which plants will die too quickly if planted too soon after our winter has come to an end.  We are in zone 6 of the chart showing the types of plants that will survive the best as well as when to plant those plants.  The map showing zones is meant to give the gardener the best time to plant to ensure the plants will survive in the area in which we live.  USDA zones are based on the coldest temperature the area tends to reach in the winter, separated by increments of 10 degrees.  The lower the zone number, the colder that area'a weather is.  Zone 6 usually experiences, but not always, a yearly low of -10F.  The zone stretches in something like an arc, more or less, across the middle of the U.S.  And, the number given your area is only a guideline and not foolproof.  Planting and growing zone 6 plants typically begin around mid-March (after the last frost) and continues through mid-November.  So, what are the best plants for Zone 6?  If you look at the seed package, it should have a USDA zone mentioned somewhere on it to act as your guideline as to whether you should plant it or not.  Not all plants can survive the winter.  The number applies to perennials that are meant to survive the winter.  There are plenty of plants and flowers that are annuals and are supposed to die with the frost.  But, gardening in Zone 6 is very rewarding because so many plants do well there.  

A great garden for Zone 6

The best plants for the cold are crops such as lettuce, radishes and peas.  Other vegetables that do well in Zone 6 are tomatoes, squash, peppers, potatoes and cucumbers.  Perennial favorites that thrive in Zone 6 are Bee balm, Coneflower, Salvia, Daisy, Daylilly, Coral bells and Hosta.  Common shrubs that also do well are Hydrangea, Rhododendron, Roses, Azalea, Forsythia and Butterfly bushes.  I have read about more Gardners who enjoy planting a bee garden too help the bees by adding to the flowers they will frequent.  A few things you should remember if you too would like to have a bee garden.  Replace part of your lawn with flowering plants which provide a habitat for the honey bees, solitary bees, butterflies and other pollinators.  Select single flower tops for your bee garden such as daisies and marigolds.  Double-headed flowers look neat, but produce much less nectar than the single flower plants.  Skip the hybridized plants that have been bred not to seed which in turn would produce little pollen for the bees.  

Try maintaining a Bee Garden!

Plant at least 3 different types of flowers in your bee garden to ensure there will be blooms there during as many seasons as possible.  This will provide the bees with a constant source of  food.  Spring flowers for the bees might be crocs, hyacinth, calendula and wild lilac.  Summer flowers are bee balm, cosmos, snapdragons, foxglove and hosta.  Fall or late bloomers are zinnias, sedum, asters and goldenrod.  You may also want to leave a small patch of you garden uncultivated since some bees burrow in the ground.  Even piles of branches or hollow reeds would work.  Avoid using herbicides or pesticides in a bee garden.  They can be toxic and are not the best for children who will come to visit with the bees.  Bees enjoy a bath from time too time just as birds do.  Fill a shallow container with water and perhaps pebbles for the bees to land on.  And...you don't have to have a big garden to make it into a bee garden.  You can even use a window container or a rooftop location.  Every little bit can help to nurture bees and other pollinators.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Say It Ain't So...Joe" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Phils were playing the Mets at Citi Field in New York.  And...if you haven't watched or read about the game, just hit the delete button on this story and wait until tomorrow to read my next story.  And...why do I say that?  Well, my Phils were no-hit!  It was the 20th time in franchise history that they didn't get a hit in a professional baseball game!  They lost their very first no-hitter in franchise history on September 13, 1883 at Recreation Park in Philadelphia.  The guy who threw the no-hitter that fateful day was known as Hugh "One Arm" Daily.  Yeah..right!  Seems that either a friend shot him in the hand while playing with a loaded musket, or he burned himself while simulating fire on a theater set in Baltimore.  Hey...that's what I read so it must have been true..right!  Seems that everyone had a wild story or a crazy nickname back then.  It was tough watching the game on TV this past Friday evening.  Every time one of my Phils came to the plate, I just thought they had to get a hit.  It can't go on and on...can it?  But, they went down in baseball history swinging and missing or swinging and hitting the ball to an opposing player every time they came to bat.  It was the 20th time in their storied history that it happened.  The last time they were no-hit was on May 25, 2014 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.  That game was pitched by the Dodger's pitcher Josh Beckett.  The no-no this past Friday night was thrown at the Phillies by 5 different pitchers; Tylor Megill, Drew Smith, Joely Rodriguez, Seth Lugo and Edwin Diaz.  Hey, I had trouble trying to remember Josh Beckett's name...there is no way I will ever remember the name of 5 different guys.  Actually, by the time I will have finished typing this sentence, I will have forgotten all but Tylor's name.  And, if I had been Tylor, I would have been awful mad that my coach would take me out of a no-hitter game at the end of the 5th inning! But, that's the way it's done today!  Tough for the Phils to take since the previous 8 games they had scored a total of 48 runs!  But, it's professional baseball and I guess you have to expect some games when you don't score too may runs or even get too many hits, since you have to play well over 100 games every season.  One of the Phillies new players this year, Nick Castellanos, said that the best way to bounce back is to forget it!  "You need to have short-term memory.  Have a good dinner, enjoy the night in New York and get ready to play tomorrow."  Even the Phils manager said, "Tomorrow's a new day."  Hey, they know that a no-hitter can happen for or against you at any time, so just forget the past one and hope you are on the other end of the score in the next one.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The Phils did turn it around by winning last evening!