Ron and I headed out on Friday, Sept 23rd and that was one long day. Up at 2:30 am so we could make the 7 hour drive to Seven Springs PA, arriving in time to get a good parking spot. The later you arrive, the higher up the the hill you park. The first round of workshops were scheduled to start at 1 pm and the vendors opening for business at noon and Ron wanted us to get there at 11:30 am.
We lucked out with the weather, it was a beautiful day with little traffic and just a few construction spots. Annoyed at myself though. I forgot to bring the printed out driving directions. I always feel better having that on hand, just in case. After all, you never know when your GPS will crap out on you.
While we did arrive at the Fair right on schedule, the lower parking lot was already full. Up the hill we went. We had brought lunch meats to make sandwiches for ourselves over the next few days. The food offered on site is just a bit pricey. Quick lunch for each of us and we headed out to the fair. We had an hour to check out the vendors before the first workshop started.
Ron immediately spotted one selling shiitake mushroom logs and had to check them out. They were being offered at 30-35 dollar a pop. I could see the light bulb flickering over his head. Another idea. We headed to the same workshop, all about garlic. After that we split up, each of us going to the ones that interested us the most. Medicine making, herbs for digestive health, and herb gardens were my subjects.
By the time the last session ended at 6:30 we were wiped. But we had to make one stop before heading to the hotel in Somerset. I wanted to get some seat cushions. The chairs we had been sitting in were not the most comfortable. We decided to make it easy on ourselves and just eat sandwiches for dinner. Off to sleep and our first day was over.
Saturday morning it was foggy out and about 10 degrees colder. After breakfast at 6:30, we packed our bags with water, lunch and snacks and drove the 30 minutes to Seven Springs in order to get there by 9 am. Again we parked in the upper lot and then headed out to the vendors again. Ron headed off to listen to the elderberry talk while my focus was again on herbs. I had decided to wear long pants but Ron was in shorts and a T shirt. By the time I ran into him a few hours later, the man was bone chilled. Being the good wife that I am, I dragged him off to buy a hammock for Jo and then took that out to the wagon and grabbed his jacket to take back. Ron was now a happy camper and could enjoy the rest of the day. I did have to yell at him though. He lost his seat cushion. Let it behind when he headed out after a workshop. Thank goodness there was a lost and found and good people who turned things in. Once again we met up at 6:30 pm and headed back to Somerset for dinner. We stopped at our favorite place – Rey Azteca Mexican Restaurant. We had planned to get take out and head back to the hotel, but Ron wanted to eat there. A good idea as we stuck up a conversation with another couple who was also attending the Fair. You can tell who we are by the wristbands. Lots of us at the hotel too. That is one of the best things about these events. You can talk with people about the oddest things, and they don’t find them odd. Mushroom growing, making and using tinctures, raising chickens, growing and preserving food; all are shared interests. And you always learn something new or have an idea sparked.
Sunday was the last day and once again the weather was great. We had already decided to spring for an extra night at the hotel. The Fair ended at 5 pm but there was no way we could handle the 7 hour drive home starting that late. Maybe 20 years ago, but not at our current age. Besides IKEA is only an hour away in Pittsburgh. That will be a fun addition to our trip.
Ron’s last workshop was a talk by Joel Salatin and of course it was in the farthest away venue. We had planned to meet by the bookstore, but the sun was too hot there. I wandered across the site, watching the vendors start the breakdown process and some kids enjoying the alpine slide. Then I headed toward the tent where Ron was sitting, figuring we would spot each other as Ron walked back to the bookstore. Didn’t happen, though. I had to go back into the main area to find him and then we headed out.
Once we got into the first building I stopped to dig out my regular glasses. That is when the fabulous day went south. No glasses. Checked both of my bags and then left Ron to walk back to where I had used them last. The chairs were already stacked up ready for storage and the staff member suggested I check the lost and found. I walked back over the route I had taken, asking about my glasses as I went. No luck. Back to find Ron and we headed to the lost and found. Not there. We went over my route again, but most attendees were already heading out, vendors busy packing up and security was directing traffic. Back to lost and found, still nothing. They took my name and cell phone number ( I remembered to include my area code) and sent me off the check the hotel’s own lost and found. That did not go as well. Apparently only security had the keys for that closet and they, of course were busy with event breakdown. Again left my name and number and we headed back to search again.
One more walk through and we had to give up for the night. The Fair lost and found would be handed over to the hotel after everyone left. I would have to survive with my sunglasses. Thank goodness they were prescription, but for driving only. We decided to try the new Italian restaurant for dinner, but their kitchen was closed already. So we went to the diner across the street. I felt like one of those silly celebs who wear their sunglasses all the time. Done with dinner and we headed back to the hotel. Watching TV and working on the computer did not go well. I was getting a headache and gave up pretty quickly.
The next morning, we got up and started the going home process. By this time I was convinced that my glasses had been found. If they had been crunched by one of the many vehicles the day before, we would have spotted them. My fear was that whoever found them, did not get a chance to drop them off and absentmindedly took them home. By 8 am we were ready to go and headed back to Seven Springs. It was like a ghost time with an empty parking lot and no people milling around. I found a staff member who directed me to the sales department office. They called security for me and I settled in to wait. Actually Ron settled and I paced. After 10 minutes, no one had shown up and they called again. Finally a woman came and checked their box for me. Lots of glasses but not mine. So not sure what to do next. I did not want to leave without my glasses.
While we talked with the hotel staff a woman who worked in sales office walked by and Ron’s karma theory kicked in once again. I don’t know if she heard the calls on the radio or was just headed back to to her desk. That did not matter as she turned out to be the keeper of the Fair lost and found box. She asked me what my glasses looked like and 2 minutes later I had them again. O frabjous day. We could now go home and I would actually enjoy the trip. Our stop at IKEA was back on and all was right with the world.
And everything did go right. A bit of traffic in Pittsburgh, but to be expected. Great fun at the store and then we headed home. We hit rain here and there along the drive, and an increase in traffic. Especially those scary car carriers. Those, neither one of us like driving behind. A little after 7 pm we were home. Ron having again done his fabulous job of getting us there and back safely.
We are already planning our Mother Earth News Fair 2017 trip. But next time, I will not lose my glasses and will definitely not come home with a stinking cold.