SHREWSBURY AND RED LION, PENNSYLVANIA

Carol and Rachel, ready for seatbelts.

Yesterday we defied all logic and hit the road at the height of flooding in our area. Of course, we had checked all of the web sites that indicate road conditions and called ahead to see if there were any problems where we were headed.

"We" are Susanne and I, my sister Rachel, and her dear friend Carol. Our destination? Shrewsbury, in southern York County, where the John Stevens Gallery is located. Carol had seen some of Mr. Stevens' work at an art show and was ready to buy!

A fine old fireplace.

Susanne and I picked up the others at Rachel's palatial estate in Wentworthington Heights or something modest like that. We left their husbands behind as we drove down the sloping carriageway, past the emerald green lawns and on to Buckingham Circle.

Soon we were whizzing down I-83 toward York and Shrewsbury beyond. We arrived without problem except for finding no parking on the street. Instead, we pulled behind a shop located in a great old brick house. The sign told us non-customers would be towed, so we made sure to stop in the shop, where the proprietress offered pieces of china and other stuff. I was taken with a beautiful old mantel in this house.

S. needs a chicken feeder.

After staying sufficiently long to justify the parking, we   headed next door to one of the most beautiful and well-stocked antiques stores we've ever seen. Even though Carol is not particularly interested in antiques, she was a good sport and graciously followed us around. I think she may even have enjoyed it a bit!

Our target was across the street, so we carefully crossed and found ourselves at the John Stevens Gallery. Except for missing the little dog that used to run to greet you, we enjoyed the visit as usual. John's work is traditional watercolor in a historical vein. He paints old houses, farms, antiques like jugs, furniture, and lots of stone surfaces. You'll see some pictures below.

En route to the gallery

Once Carol had chosen the prints she wanted, we headed north toward Jacobus. There we stopped at another antiques mall, but it was the little café attached to it that interested us. We had a surprisingly good lunch there, and everyone enjoyed it. Appropriately, the café was called "Geezers." Just saying.

We asked for directions to Red Lion but they were so confusing we doubted we would find it. Then I remembered that the location we were searching for was logged into the car's GPS from a previous trip. So we pushed a few buttons and were on our way.

At Red Lion we visited the Kline Family Heirloom Weavers workshop and display house. Susanne had inquired earlier in the summer about a coverlet in a color they did not have, so they said they would make a swatch. Instead they made a whole queen-size coverlet! We were not obligated to buy it, but Susanne liked it. I was not sure. They let us take it home with the promise that they would take it back if it did not look good.

We went through the display house, packed with woven articles, and Susanne came up with some things she had to have. What she is going to do with them is "a surprise." This should be good!

On the way back to I-83, Rachel declared that ice cream was needed -- and pronto! I had to veer in front of traffic to reach a Baskin-Robbins just before the on ramp. It was risky, but can you imagine the horror of getting on the Interstate without the ice cream?

Shipoke  (Pennlive.com)

We dropped off Carol at her home, then took Rachel to hers and headed back across the muddy and swollen Susquehanna River, overflowing its bank as we passed. A major road to the north on the eastern shore was closed, so everyone had to go up the western bank of the river. The traffic was backed up about five miles to the Linglestown exit.

We had our turn to sit in traffic last Monday. Now we were happy that we were going in the opposite direction.

Let's take a closer look at our visit:

This shop apologizes for being closed, then at the

door invites us to 'Come In. We're Open.'

I always like to see Shaker boxes, the

Tupperware of their day.

Old iron stoves always draw my eye. This is a

particularly beautiful example.

The John Stevens Gallery offers many

prints in a variety of sizes.

This one is called 'The Gardener.'

'Mother's Day'

This is the famous Hans Herr House

in Lancaster County.

 Susanne always likes to see sheep.

 Here's a work in progress -- a blue barn.

We stopped to admire this tree hydrangea

in front of a coming-soon restaurant.

On the way to the car we passed this old shed, whose

asphalt covering was wearing away -- creating a 

piece of art.

At Geezers I had an angus burger in a pretzel roll.

Rachel enjoyed a graphically interesting grilled cheese.

Talk about a coffee addict!

The weaver's workshop.

The women pick through the bargain room.

I liked this piece of pottery.

I liked this, too, but I was afraid it was made in China.

And I just don't like to buy Chinese redware!

Before leaving, we looked through the glass door to

see and hear the looms working.

You can see and hear it too.