When I’m working at the Fort Necessity Visitors Center, I often ask visitors what else they are seeing in the area. Most of them tell me “Fallingwater” or “Ohiopyle” but a close third is Laurel Caverns. I am not a big cave person, although Tom and I have taken tours in several pretty spectacular caves. …
American Coverlet Museum in Bedford, Pennsylvania
My niece, Grace, is interested in historic clothing and textiles, as am I. When her family came to visit, it seemed natural that we would check out some historic textiles. So we traveled to Bedford, Pennsylvania to see the National Museum of the American Coverlet. Everything that is preserved is preserved because someone cared passionately …
Fallingwater: Frank Lloyd Wright Masterpiece
The #1 tourist spot in the Laurel Highlands is Frank Lloyd Wright‘s Fallingwater. Most of the people who visit Fort Necessity are visiting us because they are in the area to visit Fallingwater. This lovely house built into the side of a hill was designed for the Kaufmann family who owned Kaufmann’s Department Stores. It …
Leap Tall Buildings with a Single Bound
When I was a kid, I watched Superman reruns on television. I always remember the beginning: “Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings with a single bound!” Of course, as children, my friends and I tried to be Superman. We would tie a towel around our shoulders …
Haircuts from All Over the United States
Tom and I love our nomadic lifestyle – most of the time. One time that I don’t love it is when it is time to get haircuts. For 20 years Kenetha Bowser cut my hair and did a great job. I loved my hair short and layered. But that style is difficult to replicate if …
Helping Mom and Dad Move into New Home
Last week Tom and I returned to Ohio on our days off to help Mom and Dad move into their new home. Moving out of the home where they have lived for 56 years was a group effort. Mom and Dad worked hard to sort through a lifetime’s accumulation of stuff. Tom and I helped …
Ligonier Tavern and Table Restaurant
On the day Chris and Bill and Tom and I went to Fort Ligonier and the Compass Inn, we ate at Ligonier Tavern and Table Restaurant. On our previous visit to Ligonier, Tom and I waited too long to pick a restaurant. I got to the place where I was too hungry and cranky to …
Braddock Road Trace: History Lesson 6
In my last history lesson I wrote about Braddock’s defeat at the Monogahela River near Pittsburgh. This battle was part of the French and Indian War. Today I am going to back up a little and begin talking about the history of the National Road. In order to talk about the National Road, I need …
Clear Expectations by God and Others
Sunday night Pastor Don preached at the church service we attend at Asbury United Methodist Church. Pastor Don is not the regular preacher on Sunday nights, so it is always a treat to get to listen to him. His sermon was on clear expectations. He suggested a couple of expectations that God has of us. …
Compass Inn in Ligonier Pennsylvania
After a lot of discussion the previous night, we decided to go to Fort Ligonier and the Compass Inn on the last day of Chris and Bob’s visit with us. We couldn’t decide whether to do something active (another bike ride or a hike) or something more sight-seeey. After lots of debate, we went with …