A Festival in the Woods

My Daughter and I were the first one's through the gate as we visited one of our favorite Fall festivals.  It was a brisk Autumn day and just perfect for festival going. We wanted to get in before the crowds because unfortunately, people in this area are antivaxxers.

Roasting coffee the old fashioned way.

A trapper decorates the woods with some of his specimens.

This fair has many vendors selling home remedies that have been made for generations.

This booth sells soaps and salves.

Do you like apple butter?

They cook it right here over an open fire.

You can buy a slice of fresh bread spread with warm apple butter.

The pottery was very tempting.

It is wonderful to walk through the woods with the smell of wood smoke in the air.

Maple syrup is boiled in a pot over a fire to make spotza.

Spotza
One of the unique foods derived from maple syrup is called Spotza.  Spotza is made by boiling maple syrup down to the soft ball stage (about 238 degrees F) and then pouring it over crushed ice. This forms soft, clear taffy which should be eaten immediately in order to obtain its full value.  The early settlers learned about spotza from the Indians, who would pour boiled maple syrup on the snow. The name spotza comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch word for "spot on the snow". 

Barn stars and buckets made by a cooper.

This booth sells early American tools.

Wool spinning.

A rat catcher and two of his catches.

This is a good way to build trellises.

A covered bridge runs over the creek.

A colorful handmade basket.

I should have bought this gourd with the ravens.  I'll show you tomorrow what I did buy.

What can be better in Fall than driving down a road like this through the mountains?

Past historical houses.

Lots of log cabins.

Through quaint little towns with village greens.

And cute shops selling everything Autumn.

It was a wonderful way to start our festival season.