Neatest (flea) market ever!

That would be Renniger's in Kutztown, PA. 

We found it by accident one day when we were on vacation and just cruising the back roads for flea markets, etc.  Then we found out that it is a very well-known place for their twice-a-year antique fairs.  But they also have a weekly open-air weekend flea market, year-round, weather permitting. 

We've never been to the flea market outside, when it's in full swing,  as it falls the same day as the big reptile swap we go to in Hamburg, but the indoor booths are almost as much fun.  There is one unique vendor who has a permanent spot under the outdoor pavillion.  He stocks "parts" so if you have a lamp that's missing a shade, or a finnial, or you have a jar with no lid, or you needed that extra door handle to match up with the three you already own, chances are, he has one in stock.

Everything is organized by type (handles, lamp parts, lids) and color.  And he has more than what's on the tables, of which there are a few as you can see.  But there's so much more to Renniger's. They have a huge, long barn that houses a good number of flea market/antique booths, a Pez dispenser swap, and an amazing deli and fresh produce market.

 (Dennis in the doorway of the barn.)

The Amish, or Quakers, and others, have great displays of fruits and vegetables they've grown on their farms, and there are baked goods, and butcher shop-type displays where you can buy fresh cuts of meat, sausages, etc, etc, or you can have a meal at one of the indoor restaurants.   They're not restaurants with walls, just a few chairs set up near a counter where people are cooking. 

 (Produce down one of the aisles.)

You may wonder about what the health department thinks of all this, but I can tell you, the place is popular beyond belief.  And the smells will make your mouth water as soon as you set foot inside.

 (One of the many meat vendors.)

There's another Rennigers in Pottstown, PA which is about 30-40 miles north of Kutztown, and also the home of Yuengling Beer, but we like the atmosphere at Kutztown a little more.

I'm in love with my Forester!

No, it's not a big, burly guy wearing a plaid shirt.  It's a car, a vehicle, an SUV, or really an oversized station wagon!  But as with so many things, the term "station wagon" is not "classy", so SUV it is! 

Now mine is a real SUV as it's all-wheel-drive, which I really don't know the difference between that and four-wheel-drive.  Again, it could be what ever sounds "classier."  AWD sounds more urban/suburban, where as 4WD sounds more rugged, manly, outdoorsy, rural, and not at all sophisticated.

Anyway, I was in the market for this car for over a year.  I originally saw one parked at a wildlife area where I like to hike.  I liked the size, the style, and the fact that it should go near anywhere.  Since I got a new job where I drive alot, I decided it was time for the car, plus I could now afford to make payments.  Ugh! 

Subaru makes them, and we have a Subaru dealer in the area, but they're not well-liked (the dealer) so I looked elsewhere.  And I looked, and I looked, and I looked.  I looked at eBay, Craigslist, Autotrader.com.  I went to dealers out of the area.  I was looking for a used one, and there were none to be found.  If you go out West, or out East, they're everywhere.  Around here, they're practically unheard of.

I was sitting in McDonald's, reading a local advertising newspaper.   I never read car ads, but I needed to kill some time, so I succumbed.  Lo and behold, I found a description of the car I wanted, at a Ford dealer, who just happened to be on the way home from where I was!  And even the price was right. 

I stopped there on the way home, cruised the lot to make sure the car was still there, found it, talked to the salesman who pulled the car around for me to see, and fell in love!   It had all the bells and whistles I could ever ask for.  If I were to special order this car, the only thing I would have changed would have been the color.  I really, really wanted a light or white colored car, as they're easier to keep clean, and this one is dark grey!

It's got heated leather seats.  It's got remote start!  It's got a sun roof!  It's set up for satellite radio!  And now it's mine more or less...

I thought about going back to the Ford dealer to tell him that Im sorry, but I will never buy a car from him again, as I'm keeping this one forever!  Or unless he starts to sell Subarus when this one finally bites the dust.   Which will be a long time coming, as owners tell me they drive them 200-300 thousand miles and they keep on ticking! 

I should go back to the lending bank too because they looked at me as though I were nuts when I told them I wanted a Forester, but had never even driven one!   Test driving this one only strengthened my resolve that this was the car for me.

Now if I could only get Subaru to make me their spokesperson, and give me a free one so I wouldn't have car payments...hmmm...

Sorry Starbucks!

I recently bought a new "go" cup at Starbucks, as I needed a certain shape (not flared at the bottom) to fit in my car's cup holder.  I wanted a deeper cup than I already owned, and Starbucks had one that I liked, and I liked the picture/design on the cup.  It was not cheap, even with the free first cup of joe.   But I read the advertisement on the bottom, and the cup was Made in America, and of recycled materials!  I've been trying to buy more and more products made in America as we need all the help we can get to get this economy on the mend, and jobs back to our fellow citizens.  And I try to recycle as much as I can. 

Well, the cup had a design flaw, in my opinion.   The lid, when "flipped back and locked in place" would hit me in the nose when I tried to drink out of the cup.   I cannot adequately explain the problem, but it just would not work for me.  So I returned the cup.  BUT, they had yet another cup, even deeper, with a better designed lid!  I was now excited and forgiving at the same time. 

Then I looked at the bottom of the cup for the obligatory information including price.  The cup was the same price, but made in China.  I did not buy the cup.  Think about it, same company, bigger cup (okay that may have made  a small difference in cost-per-cup to the American company), different design which was okay, said nothing about being recycled (which again can be a cost deterrent), and the price which was about 3 times what you would pay for a similar cup at the gas station.   

I'll pay a little more for something made in the USA.