Seven Stars Farm

After leaving Camphill Special School, we paid an impromptu visit to Seven Stars Farm, a biodynamic farm in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania that produces our favorite organic yogurt in the world!

The milk is obtained from Seven Stars' own beloved and well-treated cows, and some additional milk is brought in from local organic dairy farmers as needed, and then placed in an incubator where the cultures are allowed to process and ferment.

The folks at Seven Stars were exceedingly kind and generous, giving us a free container of their new heavy whipping cream and another plain yogurt. Still, we were not able to tear ourselves away without buying a quart of our two favorites: Maple and Vanilla!

Thanks to the staff of Seven Stars for the tour and generosity, and we encourage everyone to buy Seven Stars' products at your local health food store!

Camphill Special School

Today we visited the Camphill Special School in Glenmoore, Pennsylvania, where Keith's cousin Henry (see photo above) has lived for a number of years. Camphill is a very special place which provides thoughtful and holistic care and education to individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.


Based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and his Anthroposophic belief system, Camphill delivers a Waldorf-based education that is steeped in the values of family and community living, and it is the only Camphill community for children in North America.

Henry is thriving at Camphill, and his mother Nancy Bea Miller (Keith's cousin, an artist mentioned in a previous post and seen in the photos above and below) met us for a wonderful lunch with his housemates and their attentive and loving staff.


With thoughtful architecture, beautiful art, a sense of true community, wholesome food, and excellent education, Camphill is an impressive and attractive community, and we are grateful for the care and attention given to Henry in these very important years of his development.


It was especially exciting for Mary who felt like a kid in a candy shop being in the heart of a genuine Waldorf environment. Before we were together, Mary was a single mother and worked hard to enroll her son Rene' into a Waldorf kindergarten in Silver Spring, MD. But alas, Rene' did not care for the Waldorf style so Mary transferred him to The Oneness Family School (then in its first year) until they moved to Woodburn Hill Farm. Rene' was home-schooled on the farm for the 6 months we lived there. Needless to say, Rene's kindergarten year was very interesting, ending with newly married parents and a big move to New England where he stayed until just a few months ago. Now, his parents are trailing behind, and today marks the day we officially leave the Northeast and cross over that Mason Dixon line!

---Keith and Mary

Images From Philadelphia

Keith in Fairmount Park

Mary on the phone.......

 The house on Quince Street where Keith lived as a poor art student in the early 80's

Poster for a gallery exhibition for Keith's dear friend Rachel Bliss, a successful Philadelphia artist. Please check out her website.

Keith's cousin Nancy Bea Miller and her son, Peter. Nancy is also a successful Philadelphia artist. Please visit her website.

The Japanese Garden in Fairmount Park

Ambling Through Ambler, PA

Having left the idyllic farmlands of Lake Ariel, we spent an evening and morning in Ambler, Pennsylvania, visiting with Vince, the dear father of our friend Carla in Lake Ariel.

Vince is a sweet Italian man who has lived a long and admirable life, raising three beautiful daughters, working 35 years at a local university, living a life of integrity, honesty and simplicity. Vince regaled us with stories of his early life in Italy, his immigration to the United States, his life of hard work, and his philosophy of saving, generosity and living close to the land.

We drank homemade wine, ate pasta, eggplant, fresh persimmons and roasted fish, admired the trees, flowers and gardens, and watched Game 6 of the World Series (which the Phillies summarily lost).

Thank you to Vince for his kindness, taking in two virtual strangers whom he had not seen for more than a decade, treating us like family and dear friends, which of course we now are!

Ambling through Ambler was surely a pleasure!



---Keith

Mary as Uncle Bob on Hallowe'en

Here's Mary as Uncle Bob, trick-or-treating on Hallowe'en in Honesdale, PA. Bob is one of Mary's most beloved characters, and Uncle Bob indeed made quite a splash on the streets of friendly Honesdale.

Sunset in Lake Ariel, PA

Images From Lake Ariel, PA

Barry

Raven

Carla

Pennsylvania colors

Hummingbird nest

Hallowe'en in Honesdale, PA

This afternoon we landed ourselves in Lake Ariel, PA to pay a visit to our homesteading friends Carla, Barry and Raven, who raise goats, chickens, ducks, honey, organic vegetables and berries, living off of their fertile 72 acres of Pennsylvanian land.

Trick-or-treating in Honesdale, PA was an unmatched experience of community and enthusiasm. Dozens of homes were festively decorated, with the occupants themselves dressed in costume, waiting on their front porches for trick-or-treaters to arrive. Since all of use were dressed in costume---both adults and children---we were all treated to friendly hospitality (and many treats) as we roamed from house to house throughout this quaint little town.

Being here in the hills of Pennsylvania makes the fact "hit home" that we have truly left New England. Driving west on Route 84 in our rig was an experience of realization that we have really done it, we're on the road and on our way. It's the road to nowhere, and nowhere feels just fine.

---Keith