Paul and Vanessa at Hawk Rock

Christmas is a time for celebrating life.  A time for family, friends, and loved ones to connect with one another.  This celebration comes just once a calendar year.  Celebrating with the people you care the most about can bring memories that will last a lifetime.  Memories that you can relive every day that follows.  They are the kind of memories that a grandfather tells to his grandchildren.  The kind of experiences you write about in your journal, Christmas cards or even, in this day, your social media page.  These memories are sometimes captured by a photo but more often than not an experience that escapes the camera and can only truly be remembered with a look into the eyes of the person you were with at the time.  The eye contact you make with that special person can take you right back to the place you were in the story that you are reminiscing about.  Sharing these experiences with others can be as gratifying as the time you have lived.  These special moments can be found sitting around a fireplace or on the top of a mountain in the vast wilderness. Wherever you find your happiness be sure to share it with the ones in your life that mean the most to you and beyond.

Some of my most memorable moments have been found outdoors on a trail, on the water, or deep in the forest where you can feel like you are the only person to ever find this special place.  These moments are sometimes experienced alone and may be a once in a lifetime occasion.  It is still a story worthy of sharing but the times you have experienced with others are without a doubt the most celebrated ones. Continue reading →

Have you seen any Monarchs this year in Pennsylvania? Probably not. The Monarch population is decreasing at an alarming rate! Why?

Monarch butterflies need nectar from flowers and the Monarch larva (caterpillar) only eats milkweed. Unfortunately 90% of milkweed and Monarch habitat occurs within agricultural areas and these areas are disappearing due to development. The use of herbicides is another contributing factor to disappearing habitat. The use of herbicides in farming is eradicating the milkweed because milkweed is poisonous and farmers do not want it in their fields. A milkweed plant bound in a bale of hay or eaten by a grazing cow can result in disastrous consequences. The poison, however, is beneficial to the Monarch. The Monarch’s bright orange color warns birds that it is poisonous. The caterpillar only ingests milkweed, consequently during the final stage the butterfly is poisonous. The milkweed plant also grows frequently along roadsides where herbicide sprays and cutting are used to kill roadside growth. Weather has also been unkind to the Monarchs. Migration, life cycle stages, and winter habitat are influenced by weather conditions. The 4th generation of Monarchs migrate from Pennsylvania to Continue reading →

“Appalacian Primitives” is an outlet for Sheldon Ott’s generosity.  After retiring in 1997,he spends his spare time building rough primitive furniture with an inner beauty that suits his utilitarian aesthetic and then distributing it to people at a price near the cost of materials or, as is often the case, for free.  Appalacian Primitives has donated over 50 different pieces of furniture to various groups throughout the Duncannon region such as community parks, church fundraisers, auctions for charities and generally anyone Sheldon takes a liking to.

The Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community has been fortunate enough to receive one of his tables as a gift and we will be raffling it off during the upcoming Little Buffalo Festival on Saturday, October 5th.  Simply stated, it’s a couch/hall/television table made form distressed old walnut barn planks with a teak oil finish but we think it’s so much more than Continue reading →