MOOD BOARD

 

Now I know it's Monday. I forgot to schudule my post to go automatically.some days one can tell I really am a natural blond. I sure hope you all made it this far without your morning cakes!!! Meanwhile...of course the weather is glorious today...since we are all back to work right? Onward hos to the week ahead!!

Happy Monday All...and enjoy some cake today!

FONTHILL

 Now for something different.

One of my favorite places when I lived in Doylestown to escape and walk, to contemplate, was a place I have featured before, Fonthill Castle. I used to walk there many times each season. It always enthralled me. To describe this European castle as a gingerbread castle of an enchanted prince is probably not far from the truth.  These pictures I took when there back in September. The builder was Henry Chapman Mercer, a handsome and interesting man.

The Chapmans and the Mercers were both prosperous and prominent in the area. Mercer himself, an archeologists, author and collector, and single all his life though he had a relationship with a debutant who would stay with him somewhat regularly, and there were also rumors of men he may have also been involved. He was very private, eccentric and an avid dog lover and lover of all creatures. Before his death he destroyed files, dairies and other things that may have given us more background on him. Fonthill, just one of his masterpieces was built between 1908 and 1912, by just himself and 8 to 10 tradesmen who knew nothing about concrete to help him build the castle. The castle itself is a fantastic object, but I wouldn't classify it as a work of architecture partly because there was no architect really. Mercer himself designed the thing, as he did with the nearby Mercer Museum, and the Moravian Tile Works. Mercer himself designed the castle, one room at a time, molding each of the rooms from blocks of clay, which he then stacked in a pile with little regard to interior traffic patterns or exterior appearance. Fortunately, the result is fantastic, considering it's mostly reinforced poured concrete, not the warmest of building material, yet the place is charming and stunning and undeniably appealing. 

On the same grounds is the Moravian Tile Works for which Mercer is so famous for. They are pretty unique tiles and are currently on display all over the PA State Capitol Building, the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Casino in Monte Carlo and many others overseas. His museum also located in Doylestown, is a huge structure, and houses one of the largest collections of pre-industrial American items.  The tile works is a pretty cool place to walk too.

EIGHT HANDS FARM & BEE CO.

 

With more and more chains and corporate stores getting greedier, and heavens forbid offer any customer service, I have no problem paying a bit more and support more and more local shops and business. Between all the locales I often go to, I now have a nice plethora of shops to go to now to get things for myself or as gifts and support the local little shops.  The last time in New Hope I was finally able to go visit a good neighbor's new shop, Eight Hands Farm & Bee Co. which started out on their farm with cows and goats, and beehives. Tom and his wife make all the candles sold in the shop, along with all their beeswax products, and honey. I'm here to tell you, the candles are among some of the best I have ever smelled. Other items in the shop range from kitchen wares, dishes and pottery. gourmet concessions, candies, and sauces, linens, bath and skincare products and all kinds of little treasures to be found. The good thing: everything in the shop is handmade by other artisans or small businesses to sell in the shop. I can get lost in shops like this. While the shop is fairly new, it fits right in with quaint New Hope. I made a trip down yesterday and had lunch with a friend and got back late evening. I'm well supplied with candles now, what can I say I'm a huge candle whore... and many of the great smelling soaps, not to mention all four of the only gifts I had to get for the holiday. But how charming is the shop?

I'm a major sucker when it comes to kitchen things!

I also couldn't resist this honey bear honey pot with dipper.

 Yes... it came home with me too.

VAMPA HOUSE

 
Two weeks ago while in Philadelphia, I also went to Doylestown to take in the Vampa Museum. How appropriate that it be in Bucks County, a county famous for its oddities and hauntings. I was aware of the house and grounds...it had been an antique dealer in most of my years living there. The property is stunning. Very pretty and almost Victorian in design, compete with peacocks, which is where I think they would escape from, as I would periodically see them at my apartment and the neighboring cemetery. After I moved away it became a museum of all haunted items and vampire killing instruments, to unsettling items with presence connected to them. Think of the movie The Conjuring where Ed and Lorraine Warren act as stewards over their collection of haunted items. I thought this would be the perfect day to feature the place. The now owner Edmondo Crimis, a minister and an exorcist, takes his demonology very seriously, and will regale you with tales about demonic infestations and mysterious presence on the property. The place dates back to the late 1700's. Edmondo has collected most of the pieces in the museum over the last 40 years during travels to Germany, Austria, France and Italy. The museum houses several thousand pieces in the rooms and many pieces dating back to the 17th century, some pieces are said to have been owned by witches and private collectors, and some art that was owned by " suspected" vampires. there was on portrait in particular that we were told not to hang around looking at for long. Other pieces were donated to the museum, and some others were purchased from private vampire enthusiast like Vincent Price, Wolfgang Pauli and Jack Palance. I will say the place is heavy. There is definitely an aura about the place. If things like this make you nervous, or unsettled, I wouldn't go. I was told some go, and then will not enter. There are signs of warning of not touching items, and that Edmondo is available for talks and counseling before leaving for those who get unsettled. While I didn't mind being there, I did sense an odd uneasy feeling at times. To date, I don't think any unwanted presence came home with me! And if they did, they haven't revealed themselves. 

Yet.

A Happy Hallows Eve to one and all!