The Twelve Days of Christmas refer to the period between Christmas and Epiphany. Since it is still ’tis the season, I thought I’d share some photos of Christmas at the Brandywine Museum of Art.
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Twelfth Night
They are known for ornaments made from natural materials. Some works from the Brandywine River School. A special display of miniatures, including this train set. One of the dollhouses. The star attraction – a beloved, and large, model train display. -
Centre County Celebrates Christmas
Homes and business in Bellefonte, Howard, Milesburg, and Boalsburg are decked out for the holidays.
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Christmas on the Susquehanna
My cousin decided to celebrate a milestone birthday in the town of Havre de Grace, at the mouth of the Susquehanna on the Chesapeake Bay. In late November, I traveled to the town and stayed at the Vandiver Inn, which was decorated for Christmas on the post-Thanksgiving weekend.
Here are some looks at the outside of the Inn, which consists of the main mansion and several surrounding houses which have been converted to guest rooms and event space.
My cousin has quite a good eye for photography. Here are some of her shots.
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A Little Birdie Told Me
A recent autumn drive towards Berks County led me into Birdsboro Preserve, a beautiful area just south of the town of the same name. It turned out to be a nice spot for fall color. The Birdsboro Preserve and Birdsboro Waters offer miles of hiking and biking trails and connect to the Schuylkill River Trail system.
I like the lawn decor here. 
I decided to swing through French Creek State Park on my way home.
The boats were stilled line up at Scotts Run Lake. 
A little late season fishing. 
The boats created a similar scene at Hopewell Lake. 
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The Daniel Boone Homestead
Here is a look around the property of the Daniel Boone Homestead. I visited this property as a child, and it has changed a lot. I will be back in warmer weather for another view of the main buildings. In the meantime, autumn was on full display when I visited the extensive grounds.
In 1730, Squire Boone, Daniel Boone’s father, built a log cabin in the Oley Valley in what is now Berks County. Daniel Boone was born in the one and a half story log house. One wall was built of native stone. The basement of the house served as a spring house.
Squire Boone expanded his property in 1741 when he purchased 25 acres (100,000 m2) of land for use as a pasture for his dairy cattle. Squire Boone was a blacksmith and weaver. The responsibility for tending the cattle was given to Daniel. During the summer months he stayed in a rustic cabin at the edge of the pasture. From there he was able to protect the cattle from predators such as the black bear, bobcat, and mountain lions.
The Wayside Lodge is also part of this property.
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Morlatton Village
Morlatton Village, in Berks County, is an early Swedish settlement begun in the early 1700’s. Structures constructed slightly later in the 1760s are also part of the village. During colonial times, the area became a center of commerce for the region as a routing center for refined iron from Pennsylvania’s earliest furnaces and for grains from the Oley Valley heading downriver to Philadelphia. Morlatton’s importance grew as roads leading to Tulpehocken, Oley, Reading, and Philadelphia all intersected in this area.
Mouns Jones House (1716)
Built by early Swedish settler Mouns Jones and his family, the house is the oldest documented dwelling in Berks County and considered to be the oldest extant structure ever built in the county. It is a two-and-a-half story sandstone structure containing two chimneys. The corner chimney is derived from Swedish architectural traditions.
Bridge Keepers House (1730 or 1830)
The Bridge Keepers house is a one-and-a-half story sandstone structure with a single interior chimney. It is a one room building with a relatively large, open attic space. The Bridge Keepers House is adjacent to the Mouns Jones House on the banks of the Schuylkill River.
George Douglass Mansion (1763)
The George Douglass Mansion is two-and-a-half story mansion that was one of the first full-blown Georgian structures in the region. The building is a central passage, double pile, Georgian-type structure with five bays. The exterior consists of fine cut sand-stone, a plaster cove cornice, and evidence of a pent roof. The interior of the building is currently under restoration.
White Horse Inn (circa 1762)
The White Horse Inn is of Georgian Style, and its principle façade is constructed of dressed sandstone. Built around 1727 by Marcus Huling and later enlarged by George Douglass, the building served as a tavern during colonial times. The White Horse has undergone significant restoration since. Today, the building is fully restored, including the addition of an adjoining kitchen.
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The King(?) of Covered Bridges
Here is a look at the Rex Covered Bridge, a historic wooden covered bridge located in North Whitehall Township in Lehigh County. It is a 150-foot-long (46 m), Burr Truss bridge, constructed in 1858. It has narrow horizontal siding and a gable roof. It crosses Jordan Creek. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
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State Parks Redux
Tuscarora State Park sits in a valley north of Blue Mountain near coal mining regions of Pennsylvania. It is a lovely park, but one which has serious problems in terms of ADA access, especially to the lake and beach.
I passed this farm on my way to my next location. It was then on to Beltzville State Park to view a covered bridge I only recently realized was there.
The Harrity Covered Bridge. 
The dam is run by the Army Corps of Engineers. -
Roaring Creek Drive Through, Take 2
Here are my photos from this year’s Roaring Creek Drive Through in Weiser State Forest in Columbia County in October. It was a good day for Autumn color.
While in the area, I also stopped to finally photograph the covered bridge at Knoebels Grove and the Parr’s Mill Covered Bridge, which was being renovated the last time I stopped by.
Knoebels Grove Covered Bridge 
Parr’s Mill Covered Bridge -
Eastern Lycoming County and Muncy Valley
I made my way into Lycoming County back in September. Before we head there, here are some remaining shots of Sullivan County, featuring the town of Muncy Valley. This particular house, on a sharp turn on Route 42, is always decked out with lots of flowers, in season.
The view from the firehouse across the road. I travelled into Lycoming County on this trip because I specifically wanted to see Rose Valley Lake, which is known as a birding area. The lake is a reservoir that covers 389 acres (1.57 km2) in Gamble Township. The three-hundred-and-sixty-acre artificial lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and was given its name, “Rose Valley Lake,” in May 1973 by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, following approval by the commonwealth’s Geographic Names Committee. Created by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, via the construction of a twenty-five-foot-high, four-hundred-and-ten-foot-long earthen dam on Mill Creek in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Rose Valley Lake is a three-hundred-and-sixty-acre artificial body of water. The most common game species of fish in the lake are largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, muskellunge, yellow perch, chain pickerel, pumpkinseed and walleye.
The area around the lake is quite scenic. 
A small church in Lycoming County. 
A valley farm. 
Another interesting old church. 
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church. A lot of ancestors and relatives are buried here. 
Eating lunch at the Lairdsville Cornerstone Restaurant. 
An interesting player piano. 
And an old stove. Finally, the Lairdsville Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge over Little Muncy Creek in Moreland Township, Lycoming County. It was built in 1888 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It is also known as the Frazier Covered Bridge. The window with the exposed beams is a unique feature.
