Common sense

A local equestrian accident this past week that could have been MUCH uglier underscored the importance of taking your phone, and keeping it on your person, when you're out riding alone. Should you get bucked off, a phone that's in a case on your saddle won't do you much good as your horse gallops away. Yes, they'll be able to track down the horse via GPS, but that'll be cold comfort if you're lying there injured in some remote field!

Postponed

Because of the heavy rain on Thursday, June 27, the Kennett Square Historical Commission had to postpone its "The Real Housewives of Kennett Square" walking tour until Thursday, Sept. 5. It's on my schedule!

Flash flood

Now THAT rated a Flash Flood Warning! It started pouring late Thursday afternoon, let up for a bit, and then started again. The tiny creek in front of my house developed whirlpools as it rushed underneath the road. By sundown the Doe Run near Springdell had flooded its banks, creating lakes on Route 841 between The Whip Tavern and Thouron Road and also on Route 82 between Blow Horn and Wilson Road. I got through the first one but didn't risk the second one: a nearby fence was underwater above its bottom rail, which meant the water was at least a foot deep. The guy behind me was in a big pickup but turned around, too: he said even though he sits up high, the rushing water could easily move his tires. Conversely, I saw one foolhardy fellow try to get through the lake by The Whip by driving as fast as he could; he didn't get very far.
The next day I took a drive around the township and found that everything had pretty much settled down to normal, except for the flattened pastures that had been underwater and patches of gravel that had washed down onto the roads from driveways. The Doe Run was still running fast and muddy, but nothing like the night before. I saw our township road crew out working on Thouron Road, where there was some erosion damage.

"Brandywine Boy"

I'm so looking forward to reading Adrian R. Morrison's new book, "Brandywine Boy," his autobiography about growing up in Chadds Ford in the mid-20th century. Dr. Morrison is Professor Emeritus of Behavioral Neuroscience in the Laboratory for Study of the Brain in Sleep, which is part of the Department of Animal Biology at Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine. His first book was "An Odyssey with Animals: A Veterinarian's Reflections on the Animal Rights & Welfare Debate." (In other news about this distinguished gentleman, an annual Adrian Morrison Lectureship has been established at Penn's Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology!) His blog address is http://armsleepblog.wordpress.com.

Wellington

A fair number of Unionville residents head south every winter to enjoy the sporting and social life in Wellington, Florida, which the Wall Street Journal in a June 21 feature dubs a "hub for billionaires and horse lovers, from Gates to Bloomberg to Springsteen" (the subtitle reads, "Wellington may be one of the few places in the world where it is possible to get a pickup game of polo"). The effusive quotations from the real estate brokers, residents, riders, polo players and developers in the story are entertaining to say the least, and the estate prices mentioned will probably bring some smiles. As one real-estate agent is quoted as saying: "Wealthy people like horses. Wealthy people's kids like riding horses. It's a relatively small world."

Best of ...

Kennett Square and Unionville certainly made a fine showing in the annual "Best of the Main Line and Western Suburbs" issue of "Main Line Today" magazine.
Singled out for special mention were the Country Butcher, the Whip Tavern, the Half-Moon, Fran Keller's, Talula's Table, Giordano's, La Michoacána Ice Cream, Bite of Italy, Nomadic Pies, the Four Dogs, and Sovana Bistro. I've mentioned all of these at one time or another in this column and am a known-by-name regular at several. There are items about LOTS more shops and restaurants you've probably visited, along with an interview with style-maker Ashley Palandrani, owner of Ashley Austin on State Street.
It's all in the July issue of "Main Line Today," the one with meteorologist Sheena Parveen on the cover.
(In my day, the Main Line extended only as far as Malvern, but I'll let them slide. It's hard enough putting out a magazine today!)

Roadmaster

A friend of mine can't get Federal Express to deliver to her place, so she had a new swinging rope chair (the kind that hangs from a hook on your porch ceiling) shipped to my house. It arrived (the FedEx drivers know my house very well) and en route to a family dinner that evening, I went to drop it off to her. Alas, I found my way blocked by a downed tree on Powell Road, between Green Valley and Scott Roads.
I was befuddled for a moment: Wait, I thought. Here is a problem I can't talk my way out of! I snapped a photo, posted it online to warn others, then turned around and drove to Kennett for dinner. On the way home I approached her house from the "other" direction and delivered the chair. And who did I see coming down Powell Road but Newlin Township Supervisor Rob Pearson on a front-end loader! I stopped and waved to him and started to gesture in the direction of the fallen tree.
No need to explain.
"I'm on it," he called out with a grin.

Nectar

With this hot weather, be sure to change the nectar in your hummingbird feeder often so it doesn't spoil. Like a bad restaurant, if they get one bad meal the hummingbirds won't come back!
I don't have a problem with the nectar going bad because my little guys drink the whole cup within a day or two. Some flit around nervously, never settling onto the rim; calmer ones land and just make themselves at home (like my favorite breakfast pals and I at Perkins).

No soliciting

Penn Township has erected "No Peddling or Soliciting" signs at the Jennersville intersection. I'm assuming this was done to discourage the beggars who have been hanging out at that intersection and at the nearby shopping center, holding cardboard signs saying "Homeless" and approaching motorists for handouts. According to the township's ordinance, if convicted offenders face fines of up to $600 per offense. That's a lot of dollar bills given by soft-hearted people.

"Foxy Loxy"

I spotted this banner hanging above the side door at the forthcoming Unionville ice-cream shop off Route 82!