Grand Times at the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon

Friends, food, fun and more natural beauty than you could shake a pine branch at... Such was this last weekend as I road-tripped to meet Pennsylvania blogging buds, Kim, Bryan, Lisa, and Kathy.

I headed eastward... Kathy, west... Lisa, an hour-and-a-half behind a tractor, the poor dear... and we all met in the middle for a three-day weekend adventure. And folks, let me tell you-- you were not forgotten! So this Treasure Box Wednesday, journey with me to a charming B&B, and all the spring spirit of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

I'd never stayed at a B&B before, and it had all the vintage feel I could have hoped for...


The cute black and white toile room above was mine. And Denise, the lovely owner of the place, let me go ahead and explore. I'm afraid I didn't get a shot of Kathy's room, but this was another of the bedrooms...


There were a lot of antique and hand-tinted photos on the walls... This little vignette was in the upstairs stairway...


And this was a cheerful corner in one of the rooms. I love how the light is hitting that chair. Couldn't you just read there?


Because it was a B&B there was...B. Breakfast. Oh, was there B!

One morning breakfast entailed apple pancakes and fresh fruit. Another, this astounding scrambled egg, ham and crescent roll wrap that Kathy and I both spent more time lingering over and laughing how we were trying to savor every single bite.

B, I might add, also stands for "bad." Because we were both calorically bad and accepted a slice of this strawberry cake when we were offered.


It looks a bit nibbled on because, well, it was. Would you have said 'no'? I mean, really! But between this and Kim's terrific homemade pasta, soup and bread, I probably should have jogged the five hours home.

Anyway, Wellsboro, location of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, has a lot of shops with primitive decor, handcrafted jewelry, candies, books and other goodies. This was just one shop we investigated...


And then we met Kim and Bryan, our kind host and hostess, and headed off to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Step inside with me!...


This is one of my favorite views... No, don't worry, there was a railing there!...


It reminds me of a backdrop for a Lord of the Rings set, in some ways. Just so much green depth!...


I understand it's gorgeous in autumn, too, as the trees go kaleidoscopic. Here... Let's take a look far below with our bird's eye view...


Oh, and here we have Bryan!...


We don't have photos of Kathy here because she's in the Witness Protection Program and it would be at risk of her life for me to share them with you. (Or just doesn't like having her picture on the web and made me promise I wouldn't post them... hm, I can't remember quite which. :)

Well, it's time to make the journey back up...


Later, we took a tour of the Wellsboro library, which had some very nice architectural elements. Like this Tiffany-styled stained-glass window...

And this carved cherub frieze...


And this statue of a lady...


Oh, wait-- that's Kim! She's sitting in one of her favorite reading spots there in the library. And who could blame her? Great lighting, lilacs and peaceful benches can be found.

Speaking of peace... I had to include a shot of Bryan and Kim's cat, Seamus, since he'd posed so nicely...


He became my buddy over the weekend. And Kathy's. And anyone who was new and interesting. I got smooched up a bit by him... Lovely fellow. (He's so friendly, he may think he's a dog.)

Well, folks, that winds up the weekend. And here, I must leave you as I wended my way home...

• If you missed Sunday's post on Popping Up at Rossi's Pop-up Flea Market, click here.

And I hope you all have a clear road ahead of you this week, too!

Three States, Two Antique Malls, One Big Day

Road trip! Hop in the car with my friend Scoobie and me, and buckle-up, because today we're going on an antiquing adventure. I've never taken you all out to New Philadelphia, Ohio before. So there's no time better than today!

We'll head through three states on this journey. Which sounds like a much bigger deal than it is, to be honest. We'll set out from our home base in Western Pennsylvania, go straight through West Virginia (which, given the part we're going through, takes all of five minutes), and zoom clear into Ohio.

This is the nifty bridge we have to go over to get to Ohio, from West Virginia.





And don't worry, I wasn't trying to take photos while driving here. All of these fun ambiance shots are courtesy of Scoobie, riding shotgun. A true friend is someone who's willing to put up with taking pictures for your blog! Thanks, Scoobie- you're a gem.

By the way, Scoobie also expresses her regrets she wasn't able t0 get a local color shot of buzzards, enjoying some roadkill along the highway, but I said I thought you all would probably be all right for having missed that.

Here we are, making the turn for Dennison, along Route 250 West, which will be our first stop.


And no, we're not stopping at Coal Museum, the Clark Gable museum, or even the lawn ornament place with the giant stone dogs out front...


We're stopping up here...



The Route 250 Antique Mall! I'd come across this place on accident on my very first trip to New Philadelphia. And of course, I'd HAD to stop. Inside there are a wide array of vendors, with some very reasonable prices on many things. I'm not sure if we're allowed to photograph inside, but I snuck off a shot or two.


For my trash-to-treasure friends, I think of YOU all when we spot these t-to-t bedframe benches.


And me, I come up with some more of my Hazel Atlas Moderntone dinnerware. At $1 and $2 a plate, I am one HAPPY girl!


I also find an excellent handpainted World War II hankie bag-- though the tag indicates the vendor thinks it's some kind of purse.



With the Route 250 Antique Mall scoured, now we head off here...


There used to be three of these Riverfront Antique Malls-- one in Beaver Falls, PA, and one in-- I believe-- North Carolina, but the other two have closed. This is the last of the last. But it still seems to be busy.

And what do we find here? Well, Scoobie cleans up on some of her beloved Avon Ruby Glass pieces (I believe you all were with us before when she triumphed with her Avon Gravyboat discovery. This coup was similar.)

And me, I found some more sheep planters, just in time for Easter... (Dig that sheep in overalls! How funny is that?)



I also find a couple of vintage cookbooks.


After being pretty much all antiqued out, we leave the Riverfront Antique Mall decide to stop for an elegant early supper at La Maison de Pain Italianne...

Ah, yes, when you travel with The Thrift Shop Romantic, it's first class all the way!

• For a look at last week's thrifted treasures, if you didn't catch it-- you might enjoy Wednesday's post: "Treasure Box Wednesday: Cheap Chicks Choose China." Just click here.

• And because it IS Easter, and this made me laugh and question my own sanity, I thought you might also get a smile from the post currently on my humor blog -- It's Marshmallow Peeps doing a take-off on The Great Escape. Click here.

And no, don't even ask how this popped into my head. :) Too much sugar, maybe.

Have a terrific Easter for those who celebrate, and for those who don't, I hope Spring is treating you well!