The "The Family's Still Kicking" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at a few photos of my mom and dad that I had in a folder on my desktop titled "Family".  Easter was one of my parent's favorite holidays to spend with their family.  For the last couple of dozens years they came to our house to celebrate and have a sit-down meal around a table with the family.  One or two of the photos in the folder showed mom's two sisters, Virginia and Lois.  Virginia was a few years younger than my mom while Lois was only a year and a half older than me.  Kind of a surprise I imagine.  I had been meaning to contact my cousin Susan to ask how her mom, my Aunt Virginia, was doing.  So, after she sent me an email I sent a note back to her with my request about my aunt.  Susan, as she always does, gave me a great accounting of her mom.  Carol and I read it and couldn't stop laughing at Susan's humor as she described her mom.  I thought I would share with you a photo of the three sisters and Susan's comments as we are about to celebrate the joyous holiday of Easter.  Nothing is more important than family and friends on this very special day.  So, give Susan's letter a read as I have copied and pasted it in it's entirety.

Aunt Virginia, my Mom Dorothea and Aunt Lois on Virginia's porch.

Well, she’s still kicking. In pretty good health for the most part as far as I can tell. She has her routine each day. Walks out to get the newspaper at the end of her driveway each morning around 8 or so. She reads it off and on during the day she says....not all at onct. She cleans a little each day....this or that.....does a window now and then. She likes to go somewhere each day weather permitting so she goes to Turkey Hill in Strasburg one day for her lottery ticket. Next day she’ll go to the beer store in Strasburg for her Papst. One day she goes the whole way over to Willow Street to Darrenkamps and uses the coupons she has to use. Friday’s she does her regular grocery shopping at The Market Basket there along Rt.896 outside of Strasburg. One Wednesday a month she goes to Senior Citizens with her one friend. Some Wednesday nights she goes out with her 2 other friends who are kind enough to include her....they stick close to home....Fireside...Steamboat....Iron Horse.  She naps each afternoon.....always.......and she says she wakes up sometimes at 3...........or 4..........or 5! She watches the news and Wheel of Fortune but doesn’t like tv too much cause it works on her nerves cause everyone is so loud and annoying. She likes quiet. My sista has her over there for supper way more than I do but then I don’t cook anymore. She has a man that mows her yard and another guy plows for her but when needed I shoveled and do her shrubs and paint so she doesn’t have to put out money unnecessarily although I can’t do it all cause I have my own stuff to do.  We did talk to her about moving to Strasburg to a ranch home....it was two doors down from where she did live....would have been perfect for her, all one floor....but she wasn’t having any of that.  I worry about her walking up and down the steps to get to her car where she is cause we don’t check on her everyday........guess we should?  She likes her independence. We take it one day at a time and hope for the best.

Thanks for asking! No worries!

Ciao for now! CousinS

Well, my family is still kicking as Susan has told me in her letter.  Here's hoping they all have a great Easter and many more memories to share.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "My New Favorite Friends" Story

My new friends stretching to see what
I may have for them to eat.

It was an ordinary day. My new favorite friends can't wait to get a closer look at me as I stand along the fence at the Goat Flower Farm in Lancaster, PA, since I’m offering a full course menu of carrots and crackers to them. From the location name I just gave, you could surmise I am at a goat farm, and you would be correct, after all, Lancaster County is considered the Garden Spot of America with farm after farm on rolling hills where the Pennsylvania Amish call home. But, this farm is slightly different. A few weeks ago I was reading a story in the Lancaster newspaper written by staff writer Ad Crable titled "Enough to make you faint." Caught my eye when directly under the tittle was a photo of the cutest goat you ever want to see. Read the story then turned to my computer where I Googled the farm and was amazed at all the stories that had been recently written about it.

Young goat in the tub "fainted" after becoming
frightened (excited) as it tried to exit the tub. 

Stories about programs on ABC World News, Yahoo Travel, Phila- delphia Media Network, WJBF Channel 6 News from Georgia, MTV show titled Ridiculous- ness, BBC World's Weirdest Events and even a show from a local Harrisburg, PA TV station. Decided at that time I just had to take a trip to see these goats for myself. Called the owner, Carol Ellis, and introduced myself. Happens that the farm is about a mile from my home in Manheim Township.

Young goat attempting to nurse on my wife's finger.

As I talked with Carol I found out a few more facts about the breed of goat that she has been raising for almost 20 years. Called "fainting goats", but correctly named Myotonic goats, since when the goats are startled, excited or scared, they seem to faint and fall over. They never lose consciousness so they don't truly faint.  It is a hereditary trait that causes their muscles to tighten which in turn causes them to tip over and become as stiff as a board.

Another young goat as it opens it mouth to see what I
may have to feed it.  You can see the small teeth.

Carol told me that it doesn't hurt them and they recover from the fall in a few seconds. The breed is so special that they are listed on the priority list of the Livestock Conservancy Organization. Myotonic goats are considered meat goats and are raised in other parts of the country for the meat market, but Carol has been fortunate that all her kids (as she called her goats) find pet homes. I asked if I could make a visit and a few days later found myself standing along a fence at one of the couple of areas where Carol raises them.

My wife feeding some of the adult goats carrots and crackers.

I asked my wife if she cared to join me and although she was somewhat hesitant, since she wasn't sure she wanted to see the cute goats falling over, she came with me. I must tell you they are even cuter than I anticipated. I love all animals and I can see how someone would want a "fainting goat" as a pet. Shortly after our arrival we saw this one baby goat trying to exit a small plastic tub that it had been laying in before we arrived. It became frightened (excited) when it couldn't lift it's back legs from the tub. Eventually it escaped, but it suddenly froze, muscles tightened, and it fell over onto it's back.

This feeder is in an enclosure made for the young goats,
but this young goat feels its easier to stick its head
through the fence from the other side of the enclosure.

By the time I pointed it out to my wife, it had righted itself again and was walking with away. That was the only incident of "fainting" that we witnessed the entire hour we were visiting. These little goats are so much fun. They are so inquisitive and came to the fence as soon as we arrived. The real young ones like to take your finger in their mouth to suck on as if they are nursing.

Mother nursing her young.

All of them loved the treats of baby carrots and saltine crackers that Carol told me they enjoy. They do have sharp teeth, but are very gentle when taking food from you. They have plenty of grain and hay to munch upon which I assume constitutes the majority of their diet. A few of the older goats took a liking to me and stretched as far as they could over the fence for my offering of carrots and crackers. We left knowing we had to return again sometime soon to see our new favorite friends and treat them to a few more carrots and crackers. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

A few more of my new favorite friends saying Goodbye!

The "Heritage Crisis on the Fruitville Pike" Story

Fence and gate frame the beautiful Mayer-Hess farmhouse
on the left and the barn on the right.

It was an ordinary day.  Just returned from taking photos of the Mayer-Hess Farmstead which is about a half-mile away from my home on the Fruitville Pike in Lancaster, PA.  On the farm stands an extremely rundown farmhouse and a once graceful but crumbling barn and outbuilding.  Place reminds me somewhat of the historic Star Barn located along Rt. 283 near Harrisburg, PA.  All buildings have been severely neglected with peeling paint, broken windows, missing boards, broken shutters and windows covered with plastic.  How anyone can still live comfortably in the farmhouse is beyond me.  The property, also known as Belmont Farm, stands next to the entrance of a strip mall and across from empty farmland that was recently sold for construction of another commercial retail area of 16 buildings plus 126 new townhouses and 132 single family detached units.  

For Sale sign located along the Fruitville Pike.

I grew up in Manheim Township where Belmont Farm is located and as previously stated, now live only a few blocks from the place.  For years it was a majestic sight to behold.  Reminded me of a southern plantation mansion with surrounding buildings and farmland.  Then retail came to Manheim Township.  The current owners, the Hess family heirs, could care less what happens to the property which has a limestone quarry and kiln on the western side of the property.  But to many citizens of Lancaster County, the demolition of all the buildings will destroy one of the most historical farmsteads in southeastern Pennsylvania.  The 19th century farmstead and lime kiln operation brought great wealth to the Mayer family and their descendants as well as those who have purchased and run the operation since.  

Barn on left and outbuilding on the right.

A local architect has said the house is significant because of its size and level of ornamentation.  According to the Pennsylvania historic Resource Survey it is probably the largest surviving symmetrical Italianate house in Lancaster County.  It has been written in the local paper that the developer plans, as of now, to reuse only the farmhouse which he plans to preserve and use for offices, a cafe, apartments or similar uses as permitted under Manheim Township's zoning ordinance.  

Neat details abound on this house and
barm.  Each structure has a cupola which
carries the same detail as the structure.

And that is were the problem is according to those trying to preserve the entire farmstead, quarry and kiln.  Current local zoning laws allow the developer to remove every natural feature on the farm property.  But, that doesn't take into consideration the following: Lancaster's agricultural heritage and natural resources; Conserving rare gifts of our community; An appreciation for the arts and architectural legacy of Lancaster County; and a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on our responsibility as stewards of our built and natural environment.  Here's hoping that visionaries and responsible citizens of Lancaster County can gather forces and quickly use the Supreme Court's ruling to enact legislation to stop the destruction of another piece of Lancaster's heritage as has been done so many times in my lifetime.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Photos from the past of the Mayer-Hess farmhouse, barn and kiln follow. Remember to click on the photos to enlarge.

Photo from the 1950s of the property.

Drawing of the property on the left.

Artist's drawing of the house and barn.

Another drawing of the front of the farmhouse

This is the lime kiln operation to the west of the farmhouse and barn.

The "From Stereo To The World" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just finished my breakfast at the Lititz Family Cupboard and was standing in the parking lot talking with former colleague and teacher, Mark.  Asked him where they were going to build the new business in Lititz called "Rock Lititz."  He gently pushed on my shoulder, turning me slightly around, and pointed as he said, "There."  

Right behind me, to the south of the restaurant's parking lot was a large variety of heavy moving equipment on the farm to the west.  When a rock or pop star prepares to go on tour, practice and rehearsals are an important part of the preparation.  So where do they practice.  Evidently there aren't too many places in the states for that to happen so recently, on the farm behind me right off SR501, construction began on an innovative facility named Rock Lititz Studio.  Why Lititz?  Well, my story begins years ago in the mid-1960s when I was taking a class in woodworking at Millersville State Teachers College. The two-hour long class held three times a week was part of the Industrial Arts curriculum to teach students how to teach wood shop to Jr. and Sr. High School students.  My class was titled Wood II and required me to design and construct a project of wood that would show a variety of wood joints and construction methods.  Since I was thinking of getting married, I decided I would make a stereo unit with a turntable, receiver, amplifier and speakers.  Drew my design with measurements on graph paper and submitted it to my instructor, Mr. Eshelman, for approval.  Shortly I was selecting my walnut wood from the storage room, cutting it to size, making the joints necessary, gluing and sanding the project.  As I worked on it I realized that I wasn't the only student in the class of about a dozen that was making a stereo unit.  One other guy had chosen to make the same project, but his design was more of a colonial style cabinet than my modern version.  During that semester in college I made a new friend in class named Roy.  We talked about our projects, helping each other when needed and when he offered to help me with the components for my stereo I was more than willing to accept his help.  I told him how much I could afford and within a week I had everything I needed for a top-notch unit.  

Roy and Gene Clair when they first opened their business. 

Wasn't long before I realized he knew so much more about electronics than I ever would know.  Roy and his brother Gene grew up in Lititz where their parents owned and operated a grocery store.  In 1955 their father bought them a small PA system which they eventually rented to bands, schools and churches.  Money they earned from the rental was used to upgrade and add to their collection of electronic equipment.  Then they opened a reconditioning business for loudspeakers.  In the early '60s Gene worked as a technician for Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA which gave him and Roy more chances to rent their equipment.  Then in 1966, the year after Roy and I took the wood shop class together, the brothers got their big break.  They provided the sound system for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at a show at F&M.  The musicians were so impressed with the brothers that Roy was invited into their dressing room where he talked about why the system sounded so good.  The tour manager was so impressed with Roy and his brother that they were asked to join them on the road for the rest of the tour, bringing their sound system with them.  

And so, Clair Brothers began.  Soon Jefferson Airplane, Blood Sweat and Tears, Elvis and others were using them on their tours.  Then Led Zeppelin, Three Dog Night and James Taylor joined in the parade to the Clair Brothers garage where they worked.  In 1970 they founded SHOWCO and in the '90s added MD Systems.  Today they are still located in Lititz at One Ellen Ave.  They are the premier global sound reinforcement provider and acknowledged audio industry leader offering a complete array of state-of-the-art products, technical staff and services to the professional touring industry.  To go along with their business, another similar company, Tait Towers opened on West Lincoln Avenue in Lititz opened in 1986.  Tait designs and builds the finest set and stage creations in the world.  Next came a company called Atomic which specializes in lighting and scenery for concerts.  In Lititz!! If you have never heard of Lititz before, maybe you will remember that name after reading this story.  And, to top that off, Rock Lititz has broken ground.  The campus, on the farm field behind me, will cost more than $100 million to develop and will create 600 new jobs and pump $3 million into the local economy.    Lititz, known recently as "America's Coolest Small Town" is definitely on the entertainment map!  All this because of a pair of brothers who took off running when their dad gave them a PA system.  Gene recently died and Roy has given much of his duties to the next generation of Clair's, but I will always remember that stereo cabinet that I made as my connection to some of the most famous people in the rock industry.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Catchin' The Blooms at Little Brook" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sweating profusely from the humidity and heat.  But, the orchids are beautiful with row after row of blooming plants at Little Brook Orchids.  My wife and I made a visit to the greenhouses today after Carol Pyfer, board member at the Parish Resource Center where my wife works, mentioned to her that the majority of the orchids are in bloom and are just beautiful.  

Carol making an arrangement for a customer

Carol and John Pyfer are the owners of Little Brook Orchids at 25 Rider Ave. on the west side of the city of Lancaster, PA. and along with their son Trey manage the day to day operation of the eight greenhouses that are packed with orchids as well as a variety of tropical plants.  Their store also sells supplies for raising orchids as well as repotting services and boarding for customers orchids, tropical plants and large patio plants.  

Fisheye view of the colors in the greenhouses.

 The place was started in 2002 when John, an orchid enthusiast, found he had too many plants to house in his home.  So he bought a 1950s era greenhouse complex and after extensive renovations, opened his business in 2004.  I have made several trips to the greenhouses to buy my wife plants as gifts at various times of the year.  Our living room, which has a wall of 7 foot windows which face the south, but are slightly protected for the constant sun, is the perfect place for her growing collection.  

Deanne watering the blooms at the greenhouses.

Her orchids are also in bloom at present and fill the room with color and excitement telling everyone who enters it that spring has arrived.  Well, today I am having a ball taking photos of some of the beautiful blooms that line the beds of the greenhouses.  

My wife's new addition to her collection.
This orchid is called Newberry Sunshine.

The area where customer's plants occupy the flower beds are roped off from the store's customers to prevent any chance of disturbing those plants and blooms.  I enter the first row of plants and am greeted by Deanne who is one of Little Brook Orchids employees and who is watering the thousands of plants that I am viewing.  The daunting task that she performs must take hours to ensure they all get a taste of the welcome water.  Follow with me as I take you on a tour of some of my favorites located in the greenhouse complex. I have listed the names of the orchids, but don't want to guarantee that I have the correct name, since the tags are lengthy and contain a multitude of information as well as some tags being hard to view due to the humidity and watering of the plants. PS - Click on image to enlarge.

Trick or Treat

Caanan Gold 

Charlie Brown

Black on Night

Blue Robert

Carolina Spotted Mancinni 

Lustra 

Mannini 

Ruffles Scent of a Woman

Vanguard 

Green Valley

Free Spirit Eric

Lunnart Karl Gottling

Evelynn

Pine Ridge Cockshell

Fairy Tail

Red Wanchigo

Sogo Yukindian

Little Brook Orchids has won many honors and awards while entering their blooms in shows though-out the country.  One award winner which they have raised is shown here.  Carol has had another bloom named after her as do many of the growers who raise orchids.  Interesting place to visit, especially this time of the year.  You can also see their blooms and make purchases by visiting their website at: www.littlebrookorchids.com.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Ladies and Gentlemen, THE BEATLES" Story

The Beatles and Ed Sullivan

It was an ordinary day.  A very memorable one to say the least.  Carol and I watched The Beatles on TV, together!  I know, I wrote about the Beatles a couple of months ago, but that was before we watched the show on CBS a few weeks ago.  Neat to watch it together and had a ball saying, "remember when we?" ….  or, remember when they?"  Hey, they were The Beatles.  I wrote about their arrival in my first story, but I have heard and have read so much since I wrote that.  They arrived on on Friday, February 7 at JFK airport in New York, but I never really paid much attention to the story after that point until they played on The Ed Sullivan Show.   On Saturday they were awakened by hundreds of fans chanting outside the Hotel were they were staying.  "We want the Beatles!  We want the Beatles!" was chanted over and over.  Right before noon John, Paul and Ringo bypassed a mob who was waiting by their limo.  

The set that was designed for them, buy was taken down
when the boss said they didn't need arrows to point them out.

George had been under the weather and stayed at the hotel.  The others hopped in a little red car and headed to Central Park for a photo shoot followed by burgers and shakes at Boathouse restaurant.  Then they headed to the Sullivan studio for rehearsal.  A production assistant, Vince Calandra filled in for George.  Pretty neat getting him to tell about the experience on the TV show Carol and I watched.  

The set that was used.

Vince said that the Beatles troupe member put a guitar around his neck and he freaked out when he said it was George's favorite guitar.  Then Vince said that John Lennon asked him if he had been there when Buddy Holly performed on the show and he told John that he, John, is standing on the exact same spot where Buddy stood.  Ringo asked him, "Are all you Americans this crazy?"  Later that evening the three Beatles were treated to dinner by executives from Capitol Records at the 21 Club.  After a tour of the club's wine cellar, Ringo asked if they had any vintage Coco-Cola.  Poor George had to miss all this, but they got together later that evening at the hotel to tell stories.  Sunday, the day of the broadcast, the Beatles left for another rehearsal with fans in pursuit of the limo.  Some fans, primarily girls caught up to the limo and scared the band by banging on the windows, but when the light changed they escaped.  2:30 was a dress rehearsal and the girls in the audience of 728 people screamed every time the Beatles were mentioned.  Ed Sullivan had to make a deal with them not to scream during other acts or he would cut their hair off.  The live show was a scream-fest.  Paul, during one of 

 his interviews on the show that I just watched, said the noise was so loud that they couldn't hear themselves perform.  

TV screen photo showing Paul perform live.

They had to rely on Ringo's drum beats to keep their songs going.  I enjoyed so much hearing many of my favorite songs sung by other artists, but still would have rather listened to the Beatles sing them.  We did get to hear Ringo sing a few, but when Paul and his band took the stage for the last 20 minutes of the show, it was pure Beatlemania in our house.  No screaming, but singing to the songs that we grew up with over the years.  Ringo can no longer sing as he once was able to and Paul has lost some of his voice, but hey, they're the Beatles.  Our local newspaper published a few of Beatles facts and titled it "The Long and Winding Road."  

Another TV photo with Paul and Ringo performing.

A few I had forgotten were: 1957 the original band was called The Quarrymen with John, Paul and George in it; John was 16, Paul 15 and George 14 (that I found hard to believe); 1960 they renamed themselves the Beatles, in honor of Buddy Holly and the Crickets and Pete Best is hired to be the drummer; 1962 original drummer Pete Best is fired and Ringo is hired; same year they release "Love Me Do"; 1964 "A Hard Day's Night premiers in London; 1965 the Beatles perform at JFK Stadium; 1966 John Lennon states that the Beatles are more popular than Jesus and protests break out in the U.S. a few months later; 1967 Magical Mystery Tour is released; Jan. of 1969 the Beatles start rehearsing for their movie "Let It Be" and it is miserable for everyone.  It is said that it was the beginning of the end; Aug.,1969 the Beatles are in the studio for the last time ever to mix "I Want You; 1970 Paul McCartney goes to court to dissolve the Beatles' contract. Legal issues continue until Dec. 29, 1974; Dec. 8 1980 John Lennon is murdered in front of the Dakota apartment building in NY; 1988 the Beatles are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Nov. 29, 2001 George Harrison dies of cancer; Feb. 9, 2014 Carol and LDub watch the "The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles" on CBS.  It was a great run while it lasted, but it's still just as great being able to listen to the music of one of the greatest rock and roll bands ever.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Soon you will read about another band from across the pond that sang on the Sullivan show a month after the Beatles.  Any guesses?