Just a reminder that the Unionville High School's Used Book Sale is coming up Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25.
I had fun selecting books to donate and dropped off a giant box of them at the high school the other afternoon. For years I'd thought it was mandatory to acquire all the works of my favorite authors, but I've come to realize that there's really no point in keeping the ones I don't like. The layer of dust and the pristine spines made them easy to spot on my shelves. Even a couple of Barbara Pym novels and some Agatha Christie mysteries (both of whom I adore) ended up in the donation pile.
The sale, held at the high school, runs from 4 to 9 p.m. Feb. 24 and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 25, with the $10 "bag sale" to follow from 3 to 5 p.m.
Friday, February 17, 2017
WEST GROVE: A wonderful meal
We can always count on Twelves Grill and Café in downtown West Grove for a special evening. I love everything about the restaurant, from its setting (a former bank) to its top-notch food, distinctive service and relaxed, calm atmosphere.
For appetizers we had the mushroom soup and the cheese plate (I'd never before had smoked Goudam [not a typo]), followed by crab cakes with grilled asparagus, roasted baby carrots and smashed potatoes, and incredible home-made cinnamon ice cream for dessert.
Everything was wonderful; in fact, just writing this makes me hungry again.
For appetizers we had the mushroom soup and the cheese plate (I'd never before had smoked Goudam [not a typo]), followed by crab cakes with grilled asparagus, roasted baby carrots and smashed potatoes, and incredible home-made cinnamon ice cream for dessert.
Everything was wonderful; in fact, just writing this makes me hungry again.
SPRING: It'll be here soon!
I did a double-take when a formerly very blonde friend showed up at the gym on Thursday evening: her hair was now a pretty auburn color. She said she'd dyed it spontaneously as a way to celebrate the lengthening of the days and the approaching spring (the Spring Equinox is on Monday, March 20).
I agreed that a few minutes more of daylight each day is adding up and really makes a difference in our outlooks. Also, my snowdrops are in bloom, and when filling the bird feeder I need to be careful not to tread on the tulips, crocus, and daffodils, which are up maybe an inch. The hellebores should be flowering presently.
(A friend reminds me darkly, though, that we usually get our heaviest snowstorms in March.)
I agreed that a few minutes more of daylight each day is adding up and really makes a difference in our outlooks. Also, my snowdrops are in bloom, and when filling the bird feeder I need to be careful not to tread on the tulips, crocus, and daffodils, which are up maybe an inch. The hellebores should be flowering presently.
(A friend reminds me darkly, though, that we usually get our heaviest snowstorms in March.)
DOG SHOW: Poppet is the best
Hooray for Poppet! Betsy Harris's adorable Border Terrier won Best of Breed honors at the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on Tuesday. Betsy and Poppet live in Kirkwood, Lancaster County.
Betsy's sister, "Aunt" Amy McKenna, of Unionville, went up to Madison Square Garden for the event.
A Norwich terrier, Twice as Nice, took first place in the overall Terrier Group, and a German Shepherd, Rumor, took the Best in Show award.
Betsy's sister, "Aunt" Amy McKenna, of Unionville, went up to Madison Square Garden for the event.
A Norwich terrier, Twice as Nice, took first place in the overall Terrier Group, and a German Shepherd, Rumor, took the Best in Show award.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
RODENTS: Gen X cats
The exterminator stopped by for his quarterly visit to a museum where I volunteer and reported that the mice had eaten every bit of the bait he had put out last time.
Perhaps we need a cat, I suggested.
He disagreed. He said that several of his clients have reported that their cats either just play with mice or completely ignore them.
Is there some kind of social change occurring in the feline population where they are abandoning their traditional role? Or have they just become slackers?
Perhaps we need a cat, I suggested.
He disagreed. He said that several of his clients have reported that their cats either just play with mice or completely ignore them.
Is there some kind of social change occurring in the feline population where they are abandoning their traditional role? Or have they just become slackers?
Sunday, February 12, 2017
PHILOSOPHY: Small but important
I think I may have found an appropriate epigraph for "Unionville in the News." It's from Israeli philosopher Iddo Landau's forthcoming book "Finding Meaning in an Imperfect World," which will be published this spring: "The small things are a very important component of a meaningful life; small things are what life is made of, and they can contribute a great deal to its meaning."
EAST GOSHEN: The dam project
"Please complete your dam survey," read the East Goshen Township sign that a sharp-eyed reader spotted on his travels the other day.
No, it wasn't a typo, nor were the township officials getting testy with residents. They simply want citizens' input about what the township should do with the Hershey's Mill and Milltown dams. (There is plenty of information and maps about the projects on the township's excellent website.)
No, it wasn't a typo, nor were the township officials getting testy with residents. They simply want citizens' input about what the township should do with the Hershey's Mill and Milltown dams. (There is plenty of information and maps about the projects on the township's excellent website.)
THEATER: Back to the 1980s at "Rock of Ages"
On Sunday afternoon we had a fun time at "Rock of Ages," a nostalgic trip back to the 1980s that's on stage at the Milburn Stone Theater at Cecil County Community College. It's one of those shows were the music is by far the main attraction, with the plot existing only to link the songs.
And what songs they were! The play was jam-packed with a few dozen mega-hits, like "Sister Christian," "I Want to Know What Love Is," "Can't Fight This Feeling" and a hilarious rendition of "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." The finale was Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."
The singers and the on-stage band ("Twisted Snake Poison on an Extreme Starship") did a super job, and the cocky narrator was very funny. We loved the period cigarette machine on stage -- I couldn't remember the last time I actually saw one.
The ushers got into the spirit of the things, wearing outlandish 1980s-inspired costumes and makeup. We overheard one of them leading two patrons to Row D, which she called "Def Leppard."
A group of middle-aged women in the row in front of us got a bit too much into the spirit, arriving after the show started, coming back late from intermission, giggling, talking, and frenetically waving their arms at the stage. It was distracting to everyone around them, and I suspect their rowdiness had something to do with the wine glasses they were carrying.
The show runs through Sunday, Feb. 19, and is recommended for ages 13 and up due to some adult language, topics and vintage 1980s bad behavior. FYI, they offer a senior citizen discount, and they define "senior citizen" very broadly as 55 and up - ka-ching!
And what songs they were! The play was jam-packed with a few dozen mega-hits, like "Sister Christian," "I Want to Know What Love Is," "Can't Fight This Feeling" and a hilarious rendition of "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." The finale was Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."
The singers and the on-stage band ("Twisted Snake Poison on an Extreme Starship") did a super job, and the cocky narrator was very funny. We loved the period cigarette machine on stage -- I couldn't remember the last time I actually saw one.
The ushers got into the spirit of the things, wearing outlandish 1980s-inspired costumes and makeup. We overheard one of them leading two patrons to Row D, which she called "Def Leppard."
A group of middle-aged women in the row in front of us got a bit too much into the spirit, arriving after the show started, coming back late from intermission, giggling, talking, and frenetically waving their arms at the stage. It was distracting to everyone around them, and I suspect their rowdiness had something to do with the wine glasses they were carrying.
The show runs through Sunday, Feb. 19, and is recommended for ages 13 and up due to some adult language, topics and vintage 1980s bad behavior. FYI, they offer a senior citizen discount, and they define "senior citizen" very broadly as 55 and up - ka-ching!
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