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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

George Washington's Headquarters in Bedford, PA


George Washington's Headquarters in Bedford, PA.

Click to enlarge photos.

Look at these wood floors... on the second floor of the building below.. wish I could have brought that floor home with me.


My dh and I went for a ride today and ended up in Bedford. Lots of history and places to see in Bedford. I just love the old buildings ! Lots of little shops and antique stores here, too.

Hugs,
Linda

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Duffy's Tavern built in 1819 ~ Boalsburg, PA.


Click the photos to enlarge.

This is Duffy's Tavern in Boalsburg, Pa. just four miles from State College( Penn State ). The Tavern was built in 1819 and was once a stage coach stop way back when.
The second floor was once used as a ballroom. The stone walls are 22 inches thick.

One of the dining areas in the tavern.

This is my favorite spot in Duffy's Tavern. Look at that stairway ~ I love it !


An abundance of ambiance and atmosphere surround you while dining here along with good food at a reasonable price.

One of the fireplaces in the Duffy Tavern.


Low doorways. This gentleman is 6' tall.

The drawer shown under the window was once used as a cash drawer.

The drawer underneath the cupboard had also been used as a cash drawer.

I took these photos today while dining here. The grilled chicken salad was so big I couldn't eat all of it ! The menu is varied ~ from soups to salads, burgers, speciality sandwiches, and also seafood, steak and chicken entrees. There is also a bar if you may want to imbibe.

Eating here is a very pleasant dining experience and the wait staff was very friendly.

Hugs,
Linda

Sunday, May 30, 2010

TDIPT WEBSITE UPDATE MONDAY NIGHT !




............Click to enlarge photos..............

To Dwell in Primitive Thymes will be updating their mercantile Monday evening. You are very welcome to take a peek at all the new creations the artists have come up with for the month of June.

Above are new prim cupboard door / wall pockets I have conjured up ~ which are perfect for a prim bath. I love making these pockets and adding the vintage antique finds from my antique store excursions. On the two antique vintage hankies in the bath pockets, the edging looks like it is tatting lace, but I am not sure. I absolutely adore that soap saver that opens and the talcum powder tin that still has a bit of powder in it and still smells good ! A bit of inspiration for these pockets are from Piney Creek Primitives.

You may find my wall pockets tomorrow evening on my page on the TDIPT Mercantile website. Just click the wall pocket on the sidebar.

God Bless Our Troops ~ Past , Present and Future !

Hugs,
Linda

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie ~ my secret recipe ....



This little pie and another one just like it went camping with my dh and his friends. It is a big hit with these fishermen out in the wilderness ! My dh's friend even told his wife it was better than hers...oh, my ! Since this pie went camping, I bought throw away pie pans and bought containers at the bakery to fit the pie. This is a ten inch pie container shown. Great for traveling and putting in a cooler.

The bottom crust was homemade, but I cheated for the top crust... it is Pillsbury in the dairy case and it is not bad tasting if you are in a hurry to make a pie and do not want to make up your own pie crusts.

2 1/2 cups 1 inch sliced rhubarb- I peel my rhubarb first of the outer layer since it is stringy

2 1/2 cups sliced strawberries

About 1/2 cup crushed pineapple , drained ~ my secret ingredient ...sh , don't tell anyone

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cup sugar depending on if you want it really sweet or tart tasting

4 tablespoons of flour

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 tablespoons of butter , cut up in little slices to put on top of filling before you place the top crust on it.

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Mix together the sugar, flour and nutmeg in a bowl and add to the fruit and lemon juice. Put the mixture in a prepared ( with a pie crust ) pie pan. Let the crust hang over the edge about an inch or an inch and a half or so. Place pats of butter on top of the filling and and then place the top crust on carefully and take the two edges of the crusts and fold under and pinch together so the filling doesn't seep out . Cut a few slits in the middle of the pie crust. You can add a cut out dough strawberry for decoration as I have done.

The pie will be in the oven at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes, depending on your oven. Place on a rack to cool. I place some foil around the edge of my crust so it doesn't burn and take it off about ten minutes before the pie is done so it browns nicely.

Pie crust ~

for two crusts

2 2/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening ~ I use some Crisco and real butter mixed to make one cup
7 to 8 tablespoons of ice cold water ~ I put ice cubes in a bowl of cold water
I add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a tablespoon of the water
Also, I add about 1 1/2 tablespoons of powdered sugar to the flour and salt.


Mix together the flour , salt and powdered sugar. Add the shortening/butter mixture throughly. Add a tablespoon of water one at a time and mix until it is moistened and dough almost cleans the side of the bowl. Gather dough into two balls. Shape one into a flattened round on a lightly floured covered piece of wax paper. Lightly flour top of dough with flour and place another piece of wax paper on top and flatten with a rolling pin until it is two inches larger than the pie pan. Place carefully into pie pan.

Repeat the process for top crust. And then flute the edges of the crusts together as I mentioned above. Place a 2 to 3 inch strip of foil around the edge of the crust so it doesn't burn.

This pie is really good !

Have a fun day !

Hugs,
Linda

Monday, May 17, 2010

Do You Like Heinz Ketchup ?

This is where it is made in Pittsburgh. And yes, they are lowering the sodium content in the ketchup, so I hope it tastes the same !



Some photos of The Strip District in Pittsburgh. You can click on the photos to enlarge them.



I couldn't resist buying a package of assorted biscotti cookies from this vendor. And they are fresh and delicious ! I bought one coconut macaroon cookie and it was the best I have ever eaten.!



Assorted flavors of Italian breads sold in The Strip District and it is so good ! You can see my reflection in the glass while I was taking this photo.



Fresh fish and seafood to be had also, along with free ice to pack it for the ride home. This was taken in Wholeys. www.wholey.com


A few photos of a beautiful old church built in 1891, I believe, located in the Strip District also.






I went to Pittsburgh over the weekend to visit with my sister and walk the Heartwalk in North Park for Allegheny General Hospital. After the heartwalk, my sis and I went to The Strip District in Pittsburgh. Right on the North Side , near the Strip District, is the Heinz Ketchup Plant.

Saturday mornings are packed full of vendors on the sidewalks, and it is just an awesome way to spend a few hours taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of ethnic foods and the array of shops !

My sis and I had lunch at Pamela's Diner there. I had a chicken salad and it was huge and delicious ! I could not eat all of it. We could have split one.

On Sunday we had breakfast on the North Side of Pittsburgh, not far from McNight Road, at a place called Kelly's Diner. Vases of fresh flowers on the tables and the breakfast was great !

Pictures below of my sis during the heartwalk and a view of downtown Pittsburgh from North Park.




I had a great weekend ! (( Thank you, sis ! ))

Pittsburgh is a wonderful big city !

Okay, now it's back to cleaning and cooking, etc..............

Hugs,
Linda

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Pennsylvania Countryside Ride


This photo is to the entrance of The Open House Shop off of I-80 exit 78( Brookville, PA. ) on Rt. 36 north about 1 1/2 miles on the right just passed the Quilt Shop that is on the left. The little Yorkie is named Bailey. This website will give you the details and some photos of this shop ~ http://www.gailsprimitivegatherings.com/theopenhouseshop.htm

This little shop is filled to the brim with lots of goodies. Antiques and vintage finds from furniture to buttons, prim towels, longaberger baskets and pottery, good smelling melting tarts (for your potpourri burner) that scents up the shop with a wonderful aroma and olde outside decor, some of which is shown in the photo.

Below is two photos of some *supplies* at the Bulk Country Store that is located at Farmers Inn in Sigel, PA. just 10 minutes from I-80, Exit 78 going north on Rt. 36 ~ turn right in Sigel at the blinking light and go two miles down Rt. 949 towards Clear Creek State Park. www.thefarmersinn.com

The Farmers Inn has a wonderful homestyle food restaurant with a buffet on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, mini golf, a driving range and a wildlife zoo plus Amish furniture and the Amish style bulk food store. And MORE !



This food store has a wide variety of bagged candy, some good *sodey pop* from Kutztown Soda Works, Mrs. Miller's jellies and jams, cheeses and more.



The photo below is of a quilt fabric and gift shop located off I-80, Exit 53 in Knox , PA. only 1/4 mile north. This building was once a General Store way back in 1895.



I found a few goodies at the Open House Shop and at a couple other little antique shops in the area, but it is too dark now to take photos of them. I love finding goodies to tuck in the wall pockets I have been making lately.

This was a very pleasant Saturday afternoon ride with the dh and even the rain held off until we got home this evening.

May your weekend be wonderful !

Hugs,
Linda