Monday, July 6, 2015

UNIONVILLE: The second annual Cheshire Foxhounds country fair

We had a great time at the Cheshire Foxhounds Country Fair at the Kennels on Sunday afternoon. Lots of friends and neighbors were there, including the senior Tally-hos, and there was good food from the Brandywine Picnic Park and ice cream from the Kilby Cream ice cream truck (minty moo, yum!). Kids competed in the egg-and-spoon race, the sack race and the three-legged race, and there were three hard-fought tug-of-wars.
Two equestrian friends of mine were mock-arguing over their respective times atop the mechanical bull (fortunately I wore a skirt so I had an excuse not to try it).
Lou Mandich of Unionville's Last Chance Garage persuaded several neighbors to drive their antique cars to the event, including Denis Glaccum's well-broken-in Plantation Field Jeep.
Cheshire's hounds, the "Cheshire Beauties," made a special appearance, parading out onto the lawn to say hello.
Thank you to the Hunt for a delightful afternoon!

Sunday, July 5, 2015

FOURTH OF JULY: A picnic, Hockessin fireworks and a very big chair

Independence Day was a jolly one even for those of us Unionville dwellers who weren't at the shore, the Hamptons, the mountains or Down East. At the wonderful picnic we went to in West Grove, the host perched in an oversized red folding chair that he could have used a set of steps to climb into. It had six drink holders in the arms. It rained a bit, but the huge sycamore in the back yard provided shelter for everyone.
We were a little late getting to the Hockessin fireworks and actually started seeing them as we were driving along Route 41, near the Hilltop Inn. We managed to park at a bank in Hockessin and found a great viewing spot next to George & Son's Seafood on Old Lancaster Pike. The fireworks were top-notch, especially the loud, huge, colorful ones in the grand finale. At the end of the display, we heard somebody's car alarm sounding, a sure-fire indicator of a successful display.
On our convoluted way home -- there was a lot of traffic -- we passed a development called "Tree Top Valley" and speculated whether or not, based on its ambiguous name, it would be a good place to watch fireworks.
Back home I heard fireworks going off until very late from parties around the area.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

CHADDS FORD: Explore the raspberry brambles at the Battlefield

As someone who can easily eat half of a $6 carton of raspberries on the way home from the grocery store, this event caught my eye. Brandywine Battlefield Park will be hosting three pick-your-own-raspberries days at the park, 1491 Baltimore Pike in Chadds Ford, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 18, and from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 19. You can pick as many berries as you want, but you have to purchase a "Brandywine Battlefield Wineberry Pail," available at the museum store for $5.00. I'm assuming that after your purchase your pail they'll direct you to the brambles.
Picking will go on rain or shine. Pickers are advised to wear long sleeves, trousers, shoes and bug repellent.

Friday, July 3, 2015

BIRTH: The afternoon of a fawn in East Marlborough

The Senior Tally-ho's report that a blessed event occurred in their front yard near Longwood Gardens the other night during a thunderstorm. My mother saw what she thought was a piece of wood and, during her morning gardening chores, went over to pick it up, only to realize it was a newborn fawn. The little thing was so young that it couldn't even get to its feet at first.
My mother kept a careful eye on the fawn the rest of the day. It managed to wriggle into the shade, but when that spot became sunny the creature started to pant -- and still no sign of its mother. My mother took a bowl of water outside, but the deer didn't know what to do with it.
Finally, in the early afternoon, the mother showed up, and the fawn was able to get up and go toward her. The doe ran off, and the baby tried to approach her. They repeated this, and the last my mother saw of them they were heading toward the woods. Let's hope the mother simply wanted to get the baby to safety and wasn't rejecting her.
There's been no sighting of the fawn since.

A MINUTE PASSED: And now for something completely different


What a sad state of affairs! I'm editing a writing manual that is aimed at engineering undergraduates. An early chapter explains how to construct a valid argument, and the author cites the classic "Argument Clinic" sketch by Monty Python.
All well and good -- but then he feels obliged to include a footnote explaining who Monty Python is! The routines from the British comedy troupe were a staple of my high school and college social life and provided a lingua franca for people of my generation.
"It's just a flesh wound!" protests an accident-prone friend after every fracture or concussion.
"I'm not dead yet!" said a friend at a picnic on Saturday, addressing a vulture perched on a pole who was looking down avidly at the crowd.
Imagine some poor Millennial not knowing about the Cheese Shop, or the Dead Parrot, or Eric the Half a Bee, or How Not To Be Seen!
Lovely Spam, wonderful Spam . . .

THE SKY IS FALLING: Pine cones and walnuts are coming down early

The gigantic white pines along the fence line behind my house are already dropping their long, greenish-brown, sticky pine cones (a neighbor said at first he mistook them for dog droppings). I've never seen so many, and I've never seen them fall so early.
The walnut tree, too, is already dropping its nearly full-sized green globes onto the roof.
I'm not sure what this signifies for the coming winter.

ANSON B. NIXON: The summer concert series gets a delayed start

Christine Havrilla and Gypsy Fuzz kicked off the summer series of concerts at Kennett Square's Anson B. Nixon Park on July 1. It was wonderful to be out there in the park again, listening to music and watching the sun set over the lake. (The series was supposed to start with Dukes of Destiny on June 24, but it had to be canceled because of the power outage.)
There was a big but not overwhelming crowd, and we saw many "regulars" who came to every concert last summer, like we did. Dennis Melton did the emcee honors.
One unexpected treat at this show was an impromptu performance of hula-hooping in front of the stage. Apparently hula-hoops are not only for little kids anymore: one lithe woman showed off some seriously amazing and gravity-defying moves, managing to spin two hoops up and down her body and from one shoulder to the other with barely perceptible movements. I was in awe. And yes, alright, I am envious.
The free concerts will continue every Wednesday at 7 p.m. through August 12. There's food for sale by a different vendor each week, or you can bring your own. A fellow from La Michoacana brought along a pushcart full of their popsicles for $2 each (the Butter Pecan was delicious). Leashed dogs are welcome at the concerts; we saw everything from a mastiff to a chihuahua.