Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Oz
This morning I had breakfast with a young friend who just returned from a semester studying in Australia. I was a "JYA" (junior year abroad) myself back in the day, so I was eager to hear about her adventures.
She had both good and bad to report. She met a lot of people, experienced a different culture and took some amazing trips, but she had some unfortunate run-ins with the Australian medical system, and the university's academic standards suffered in comparison to her college here in the States.
She missed Longwood Gardens and would watch videos on their website when she got homesick. As far as food goes: it was expensive, real drip coffee was unheard of, and only two varieties of cheese were available, both made by the TastyCheese Co.
Her first Facebook post when she landed at LAX was "America. Home of unlimited wifi, real coffee, and cheap food. Oh it's good to be back." Close on its heels was: "Wait... what? I just got a NORMAL coffee and baked good for under $7... how wonderful!"
One bright spot was the Australian chocolate cookie brand TimTams, which she adored. A few days before she was due to come back home, the biscuits were on sale for half-price, so she bought 18 bags.
Ironically, that meant she had to pay $50 in overweight luggage charges.
(At a party last night I saw a friend who just that morning had arrived home from a business trip to Australia. I asked him about the coffee situation, and he agreed vigorously. He said their idea of coffee is the instant variety.)
She had both good and bad to report. She met a lot of people, experienced a different culture and took some amazing trips, but she had some unfortunate run-ins with the Australian medical system, and the university's academic standards suffered in comparison to her college here in the States.
She missed Longwood Gardens and would watch videos on their website when she got homesick. As far as food goes: it was expensive, real drip coffee was unheard of, and only two varieties of cheese were available, both made by the TastyCheese Co.
Her first Facebook post when she landed at LAX was "America. Home of unlimited wifi, real coffee, and cheap food. Oh it's good to be back." Close on its heels was: "Wait... what? I just got a NORMAL coffee and baked good for under $7... how wonderful!"
One bright spot was the Australian chocolate cookie brand TimTams, which she adored. A few days before she was due to come back home, the biscuits were on sale for half-price, so she bought 18 bags.
Ironically, that meant she had to pay $50 in overweight luggage charges.
(At a party last night I saw a friend who just that morning had arrived home from a business trip to Australia. I asked him about the coffee situation, and he agreed vigorously. He said their idea of coffee is the instant variety.)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Mexican food
Add the Guadalajara Express to your list of local places that have awesome Mexican food. I just ate two tacos with marinated beef (cesina) and they were delicious, and an unbelievably low $2.12 each. I have it on good authority that the lamb tacos are fantastic, too, but they didn't have any when I visited; gee, guess I'll just have to return!
Guadalajara, which is also a butcher shop (carniceria), is at 520 South Union Street in Kennett, between the Landhope Farms store and the car wash. They offer take-out or you can eat there, which I did. The Univision news was on the TV while I was eating and I got to hear about the Jerry Sandusky trial and that poor abused bus monitor -- in Spanish.
Guadalajara, which is also a butcher shop (carniceria), is at 520 South Union Street in Kennett, between the Landhope Farms store and the car wash. They offer take-out or you can eat there, which I did. The Univision news was on the TV while I was eating and I got to hear about the Jerry Sandusky trial and that poor abused bus monitor -- in Spanish.
Car-ma
Any motorist will take satisfaction in this anecdote.
On Thursday morning a friend reported that a speeder in a Hyundai passed her on a double-yellow line. But alas for him, just a quarter of a mile down the road was a construction zone, and the impatient driver was forced to stop and wait by the traffic-control guy with the "Stop" paddle.
On Thursday morning a friend reported that a speeder in a Hyundai passed her on a double-yellow line. But alas for him, just a quarter of a mile down the road was a construction zone, and the impatient driver was forced to stop and wait by the traffic-control guy with the "Stop" paddle.
Township meeting
Tuesday, July 3, is the next meeting of the West Marlborough Township supervisors.Come out and join us regulars in the audience; there's always something interesting going on! The planning commission meets at 7 p.m., followed by the supervisors, usually around 7:30. The township hall/garage is in the village of Doe Run at Route 82 and Wilson Road.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
A bargain indeed
I like the recipes (hot dogs with mac and cheese, mmm!) and the coupons, and they had a pretty good story on creating a daylily border. And I was amused by the stretching exercises they recommend before working in the garden.
Offline
I stopped off to run an errand at the Bayard Taylor Library on Wednesday afternoon and was surprised to find that it was closed. A sign on the door explained why: neither the Internet service nor the circulation computers were functioning.
The next morning I e-mailed Donna Murray, the library director, to find out what happened, and she replied:
We often read about how libraries are changing in the Information Age, and this really underscores that. A significant proportion of patrons come to the library these days to use the public computers (I did myself last week when I needed the newest version of PowerPoint) or to connect to the library's Wifi on their own laptops or smartphones.
The next morning I e-mailed Donna Murray, the library director, to find out what happened, and she replied:
"There was a fire at Chesconet (our ISP) in Downingtown, which left all 18 libraries with no Internet capability. We were unable to offer Internet or to check books in or out for our patrons. After three hours of hand-writing the checkouts and waiting for connectivity to be re-established, the person-in-charge at the library yesterday made the call to close because we could not offer those two basic services."
Donna said the library was back online the next day and made a point of apologizing to all the library patrons who were inconvenienced by the closing. She also sent along this photo of the fire that caused all the problems.
How much?!
I was shopping at the health-food store today and was amused to see that they were selling organic local horseradish root for $6 a pound. The idea of selling horseradish root, much less for $6 A POUND, is an entertaining one, given the struggle I had eradicating it from the garden.
Years ago I accepted some horseradish roots from a Kennett Township friend's garden, although she warned me how tenacious it can be. She was, of course, right. It flourished and even won prizes at the Unionville Community Fair, but it soon tried to take over the garden. I still see stubborn shoots coming up every spring.
Years ago I accepted some horseradish roots from a Kennett Township friend's garden, although she warned me how tenacious it can be. She was, of course, right. It flourished and even won prizes at the Unionville Community Fair, but it soon tried to take over the garden. I still see stubborn shoots coming up every spring.
Grand Prix
Our own West Marlborough Township will be the site of two cycling events this coming week: a time trial on Tuesday, July 3, and a road race on Wednesday, July 4.
As the race organizers describe it: "Once home to the King Ranch, with its rolling hills and immense open space, West Marlborough Township truly deserves its reputation as the heart of Chester County horse country. Known for its championed cause of rural preservation, West Marlborough is the perfect place to experience the countryside by car, foot, horseback, or bike!"
The 10.2-mile course for the time trial starts at Brooklawn (the Hannum family estate) on Newark Road, goes west on Upland Road (Route 842), north on Route 841 past the village of Springdell to Blow Horn, and then onto Route 82 and back to Newark Road. The trial starts at 5 p.m.
The 13.2-mile course for the road race (first race starts at 8 a.m.) has the same starting and ending point but goes further south. Cyclists will head south on Newark Road, west on Spencer Road and East London Grove Road to the village of Chatham, then north on Route 841 to Blow Horn, Route 82 and Newark Road.
There's also going to be a criterium in Kennett Square on Friday, July 6. The half-mile course (first race starts at 5 p.m.) begins at 101 East State Street and heads north on 82, west on Linden Street, south on Lincoln Street and back to State Street.
For much more information, maps, schedules and registration you can visit www.chescograndprix.com.
As the race organizers describe it: "Once home to the King Ranch, with its rolling hills and immense open space, West Marlborough Township truly deserves its reputation as the heart of Chester County horse country. Known for its championed cause of rural preservation, West Marlborough is the perfect place to experience the countryside by car, foot, horseback, or bike!"
The 10.2-mile course for the time trial starts at Brooklawn (the Hannum family estate) on Newark Road, goes west on Upland Road (Route 842), north on Route 841 past the village of Springdell to Blow Horn, and then onto Route 82 and back to Newark Road. The trial starts at 5 p.m.
The 13.2-mile course for the road race (first race starts at 8 a.m.) has the same starting and ending point but goes further south. Cyclists will head south on Newark Road, west on Spencer Road and East London Grove Road to the village of Chatham, then north on Route 841 to Blow Horn, Route 82 and Newark Road.
There's also going to be a criterium in Kennett Square on Friday, July 6. The half-mile course (first race starts at 5 p.m.) begins at 101 East State Street and heads north on 82, west on Linden Street, south on Lincoln Street and back to State Street.
For much more information, maps, schedules and registration you can visit www.chescograndprix.com.
Loyalist
The other day I was driving along lovely Wylie Road on the other side of the Brandywine and spotted a fancy sign for a private road called "Queen's Ranger's Lane." My first thought that this was somehow related to the British soccer team the Queens Park Rangers, but I soon learned I was entirely wrong.
The Queen's Rangers were a military unit that fought on the Loyalist side during the Revolutionary War. "They distinguished themselves at the Battle of the Brandywine, suffering many casualties while attacking entrenched American positions," Wikipedia says. During the battle, the unit was led by Major James Wemyss, but a few weeks later he was replaced by John Graves Simcoe. Apparently that was a good move, because Simcoe "turned the Queen's Rangers into one of the most successful British regiments in the war."
Other streets in the vicinity of the Brandywine Battlefield that are named after leaders of the Loyalist/British side are General Cornwallis Drive (there's also one in East Goshen Township) and General Howe Drive.
As for the Queens Park Rangers (no apostrophe), they were last year's Football League champions and this year are competing in England's top division, the Premier League.
The Queen's Rangers were a military unit that fought on the Loyalist side during the Revolutionary War. "They distinguished themselves at the Battle of the Brandywine, suffering many casualties while attacking entrenched American positions," Wikipedia says. During the battle, the unit was led by Major James Wemyss, but a few weeks later he was replaced by John Graves Simcoe. Apparently that was a good move, because Simcoe "turned the Queen's Rangers into one of the most successful British regiments in the war."
Other streets in the vicinity of the Brandywine Battlefield that are named after leaders of the Loyalist/British side are General Cornwallis Drive (there's also one in East Goshen Township) and General Howe Drive.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Feel the heat
As I'm writing this, the little Weather Channel icon on my phone is red instead of its normal blue; it seems a heat warning has been issued for the next few days, and temps are supposed to be in the upper 90s.
I'm not sure what I can do with this unpleasant information. When you get advance notice that a snowstorm is coming (if you even believe the hype anymore), you can stock up on food and entertainment -- but what, really, can you do to prepare for a heat wave? I suppose if you planned to resurface the driveway or take the kids to Dutch Wonderland you might want to rethink that.
Update: Day 1 (Wednesday) wasn't bad at all. It got up to 92 outside according to my Weather Channel wireless thermometer, but with the ceiling fan on it was comfortable inside for man and beast. I did splurge on an iced drink at the Starbucks in West Chester.
Day 2 (Thursday): Again, I didn't think it wasn't bad, although the peanut butter was rather soupy, and I certainly did enjoy taking a late-afternoon dip in a friend's pool. It got up to 92, hardly the 97 they were predicting, and I even sat out on the deck and read the paper.
And just for some perspective, there was a photo going around online during the heat wave showing a soldier in the desert. The caption: "I was going to complain about the heat today, but then I realized: It isn't 120 degrees. I'm not 5,700 miles from home. I'm not dressed in full uniform. I'm not carrying 70+ pounds of gear. And there is little chance of my driving over a bomb today. Thanks to all who serve."
I'm not sure what I can do with this unpleasant information. When you get advance notice that a snowstorm is coming (if you even believe the hype anymore), you can stock up on food and entertainment -- but what, really, can you do to prepare for a heat wave? I suppose if you planned to resurface the driveway or take the kids to Dutch Wonderland you might want to rethink that.
Update: Day 1 (Wednesday) wasn't bad at all. It got up to 92 outside according to my Weather Channel wireless thermometer, but with the ceiling fan on it was comfortable inside for man and beast. I did splurge on an iced drink at the Starbucks in West Chester.
Day 2 (Thursday): Again, I didn't think it wasn't bad, although the peanut butter was rather soupy, and I certainly did enjoy taking a late-afternoon dip in a friend's pool. It got up to 92, hardly the 97 they were predicting, and I even sat out on the deck and read the paper.
And just for some perspective, there was a photo going around online during the heat wave showing a soldier in the desert. The caption: "I was going to complain about the heat today, but then I realized: It isn't 120 degrees. I'm not 5,700 miles from home. I'm not dressed in full uniform. I'm not carrying 70+ pounds of gear. And there is little chance of my driving over a bomb today. Thanks to all who serve."
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sandy
Well done, Sandy Yeatman!
The local real-estate agent not only showed herself to be a crack raffle-ticket salesperson at the Bayard Taylor Library's Home & Garden Day, but she was also quoted in a June 13 "Wall Street Journal" story about neighbors who share backyards. Sandy advised anyone who participates in such a communal arrangement to draw up a legal document detailing the specifics before putting his or her house on the market.
The local real-estate agent not only showed herself to be a crack raffle-ticket salesperson at the Bayard Taylor Library's Home & Garden Day, but she was also quoted in a June 13 "Wall Street Journal" story about neighbors who share backyards. Sandy advised anyone who participates in such a communal arrangement to draw up a legal document detailing the specifics before putting his or her house on the market.
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