ROBESONIA, BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Today the Box and I drove to Robesonia, a small town in Berks County, for a memorial service for a friend, Lester P. Breininger, Jr., who died December 3. Lester was an expert in Pennsylvania German culture, antiques, arts, and language. We knew him mainly as a famous potter, who produced Pennsylvania German-style redware pottery for most of his years, occasionally producing pieces outside that genre.

There was no funeral because, always the teacher, Lester wanted his body to be donated to a medical school where students could learn from it, and perhaps especially about Alzheimer's, the disease that ultimately led to his death.

The memorial service was organized by people from Lester's community at Robesonia. Upon arrival, I received a printed program, then signed the guest book. In the hallway of the immaculately maintained Conrad Weiser Middle School, there were two display cases, both filled with publications, photos, redware, and all sorts of memorabilia.

I was thrilled to see as one of the first items on display (first if you, like me, would start looking in the upper left hand corner of the display) a copy of Pennsylvania Heritage^® magazine, open to the interview of Lester I had written. Lester was very pleased with it and loved having his picture on the cover. You can see one of Lester's iconic straw hats on the left.

Lester is shown tending his sheep on this plate from his pottery.

Lester was a devoted member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America. His fellow members turned out in numbers to honor him.

Here is material pertaining to the Order, including two very large pieces of Breininger redware.

In a few minutes, the auditorium was filled, and the program began.

The first speaker was a woman who served as transcriptionist for Lester's publications. During her talk, the cover of Pennsylvania Heritage^® was projected on the screen. Lester loved that photo!

Lester, like me, was a graduate of Kutztown State College (now University) and taught biology at Conrad Weiser High School. A recurrent theme from speakers was that Lester did not teach only his subject, but that he taught life and how to live it, full and enriching. Their anecdotes were laced with humor and tales about fun things Lester had led them into. He founded a week-long environmental class for the school, and it is still going today, many years after he retired.

 

The POSoA conducted a brief ceremony during the program. Many of the speakers were students of Lester when he taught biology at Conrad Weiser School.

A young neighbor whom Lester had befriended spoke, as did Curt, one of the potters who worked for Lester for quite a few years. Under Lester's direction, Curt and his brother made many of the pieces in our personal collection.

Mike, a close friend of Lester, who considered Lester his antique collecting mentor, told lots of stories about Lester on the hunt for antiques he just had to have. One of Lester's paintings, on the screen,  was sold recently at auction for a record-breaking price for the artist.

At the end of the program, Mrs. Breininger spoke briefly and then was greeted by many in attendance. As the crowd departed, some fiddle music that Lester loved was played. Here is a tiny excerpt.

This folk art eagle was carved and presented to Lester by someone in the POSoA. It was placed by the podium. One thing I clearly remember about Lester was the time, when I was press secretary for the Historical and Museum Commission, I was charged with finding Pennsylvania artists and craftspersons who would create ornaments for the White House Christmas tree. I asked Lester to make a piece of pottery. He hesitated at first because he did not like or approve of the then-president. He finally relented and made a beautiful little yellow finch to hang on the tree. Lester and Barbara, like the other artists and their spouses, were invited to Washington to see the tree in the White House (I was not, darn it!), but I do not believe he accepted that invitation. Lester had principles.

Here are some additional items from the displays that will interest Lesterfans®. This one is from Lester and Barbara's wedding day, and a younger Lester appears behind, holding examples of his pottery.

There was a picture of Lester (on the left) during his teaching days -- no beard!

These sashes were worn by the POSoA members during the program.

The program lasted from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., and as I drove home through Berks and Lebanon counties, I enjoyed the end of the day through the trees ahead and behind me a huge full moon.

ENOLA, PENNSYLVANIA

On New Year's Day, we were invited by Rachel and Jack to share pork and sauerkraut, the traditional New Year's meal, at their place in Enola. We've had that meal on New Year's as long as I can remember, so we were delighted to be included in this ritual.

When we arrived, Susanne gave Rachel photos of the grandchildren that were sent for her.

Do you want to see what we had to eat? Here's the pork and sauerkraut. Doesn't it just look lucky? I've heard that in some places, a coin is placed in the pot, and that will bring wealth, too!

Mashed potatoes are needed as base for the sauerkraut.

Giant dinner rolls were light and flaky and tasted great with butter.

After dinner, the final baked treats of the season were passed around.

Jack surveys the selection.

Along with coffee, the cookies and candies -- with good conversation and laughter -- brought an end to the New Year's celebration.

HARRISBURG AND HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA

Following Christmas and our trip to Lancaster, I got back to work on the choir library at Market Square Church. I take several hours each Thursday to collect, organize, and re-file the anthems used by our 30-voice choir. We often sing two or three pieces during a service, so there is a lot of music going in and out of the library.

I use this great cart/shelf to gather and move the music among the main room and the three smaller rooms where the music is filed. I showed a little drawing of what I needed to my choir neighbor Lee G., and the next week he walked in with the finished product. He is a fine woodworker and a most generous person. This cart has made my job a whole lot easier!

Here's where the music ends up, arranged in boxes, each piece of music numbered. I am working on creating a database of the whole library. So far I have about 800 pieces logged in, including title, composer, voices, accompaniment, and season for which it's appropriate. There are hundreds more to go! Some of the pieces date back to 1912 and earlier.

Occasionally, I am interested in hearing what a piece sounds like, so I will walk over to the piano and try it out.

One evening, realizing that the the Harry and David pears that my sister Rachel had shared with us were at the peak of their ripeness, I decided to make a pear pancake, following a recipe that is found on the Web site of a great bed and breakfast, Old Rhinebeck Inn, in Rhinebeck, New York. We have stayed there and have become friendly with the innkeeper, meeting her and her husband twice while they were traveling in Pennsylvania. 

We did not get to see our western Pennsylvania grandchildren at Christmas, but we did see our Baltimore grandson when his parents came to Harrisburg to attend a party given by friends near us. I was "greeting" in a model home in Hershey (when the manager is gone, a "greeter" holds down the fort and allows people to look through the house) when Matt, Marylee, and Ian arrived, so after lunch, they came down to Hershey to chat and see the house. Matt and Marylee were interested because they are building their own place near Baltimore. 

Ian donned a builder's hard hat and posed on the stairs.

Matt relaxed by the fireplace.

Marylee and Susanne claimed the couch.

Soon it was New Year's Eve. Normally, we are asleep by midnight, but this year we decided to go crazy and celebrate like mad. So at 9:15 p.m. we headed to Market Square Church, where the New Holland Band, one of America's oldest town bands, played its 13th annual New Year's Eve concert. In the first picture, the band is gathering and tuning up as the audience assembles.

Soon, the room was full.

Eric, the church organist, added sparkle to the concert with a robust "Finale" from a French organ symphony.

Right after this picture was taken, my camera's battery ran out (drat!), so I have no photos of the city's fireworks, which took place only yards from the church's front door. They were spectacular, I must say. 

Here is a photo taken last year by my choir friend Wilmer, just so you can see what the scene was like.

Afterwards, many concert-goers returned to the church social hall for "Muffins at Midnight," where fresh muffins, hot apple cider, and coffee were served to welcome the New Year.

HARRISBURG AND LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA

The days since Christmas have been filled with various activities and short trips in the area with the Box and its younger but bigger sibling the Sienna. Here's a brief recap for you rabid Box fans.

We decided to head south to Lancaster on December 28 to visit the Mennonite Historical Society on Rt. 30 east of Lancaster city. I had read about an exhibit and sale of Pennsylvania German-style crafts there.

Our day started at Roxy's Café at Third and North Streets in Harrisburg. It's across from the State Museum building, so I ate there often when I worked. Roxy's has the best Rachel sandwich around, so that's what I had! Susanne had something that I don't recall. I think there was soup involved.

 Roxy's has the smallest sink in the world in the men's room!

Leaving the restaurant, I took this photo of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, located just across the street from Roxy's.

Interestingly, I came across a similar vintage photo today (January 6) in a bookstore in midtown. It looks to me like we two photographers stood in approximately the same spot many years apart.

Soon we were driving down the highway until we came across the historical society.

This elegant jar with a lid was the first thing that caught my eye.

These wooden rolling pins are for making different widths of noodles!

I liked this small piece of redware with its traditional decoration. Looking at it now, I should have bought it!

This grain-painted mirror was attractive. I like the small one to the right, also, with the black corner pieces that are used to hide imperfect miters. The corner pieces are decorative, too.

Next to the sales room was a small museum with really nice antiques portraying, in this photo, Mennonite life at home in the "old days."

Here's the "church" exhibit. Imagine the hymn singing.

And, of course, the "school" exhibit.

This colorful teapot and cup were on display.

Susanne and I both liked this beautiful quilted piece.

Finally, we were taken by the beauty and simplicity of this Mennonite wedding dress with its exquisite needlework.

After enjoying the folk art show and the museum, we drove a block or so down the road to the Rockvale Outlets to visit the Pottery Barn outlet.

We came across our friend Gloria S., who worked with me at the Historical and Museum Commission and is a Box fan. We also chatted with a woman who dated my brother in high school. Small world, isn't it?

Our next stop was at Hershey Farm Restaurant around the corner on the road to Strasburg. I think it was our last visit there. You can read why here. Not even the whoopie pies interested me!

And, frankly, in the restaurant's gift shop, I thought ol' Lizzie here looked just a little too pert and perky for a Plain girl!

Having returned home without incident, in the evening I made a little treat of cherry croissants to enjoy with coffee in the glow of the fireplace.

And so ends the fourth day of Christmas.