A good lie in, in bed Saturday and finish reading Pageboy.
Made a HUGE stockpot of Summer Chicken Corn soup...corn from Oak Grove Farms...herbs from my own herb pots! And yes, it was delish! I will also give out 20 jars to friends and neighbors.
Spent last night with several friends in downtown York at Hamir's for an Indian dinner, then off to have cocktails at the Yorktowne Hotel. We started at the sidewalk bar and then ended up on their Grantham Rooftop Lounge. The hotel looked spectacular since it's renovation. Hadn't been in the place in over 25 years.
On tap today was time at my friend's pool and a salmon cook out cooked by yours truly.
One thing I have always loved about Bucks County, is that the county as a whole reminds me so much of the English countryside...especially when your in the Doylestown, New Hope, Buckingham , and the Makefields. There are many old horse and farming estates, and many a converted barn reno. It's also not uncommon to find huge country estate mansions that have been divided up into individual apartments. Just driving around it's fun to see the names of the homes, which most have names. My good friends Doug and Jamie, years ago bought Dueling Willows, a beautiful spigot of land that occupies 10 acres. They are some of my closest friends, and have been there for me in thick and thin. Doug is also the one who I sat for nude when he took up drawing in pastels the male form. I was heart broken when they announced they'd be moving, due to Doug's job being cut in hours, and Jamie losing his job altogether. They have since decided it's best to move and downsize. When the house went on the market, it sold in four days after going up....a lady from Texas bought it. I was happy but I can't lie, heartbroken too. I thought we'd have more time. I will miss them greatly and yet just another blow to take. I found this out the same week I got laid off, in addition to one of our friends passing away of Covid. So lately, between them and the Woods, they have been my rock. So they been inviting me over to enjoy what will be our last days at their lovely pool and enjoy cock-a-tails, and soaking up the sun. I have also been on hand to help them get packed.
Dueling Willows always reminded me of a quintessential country farm estate. It sits on 10 acres and had humble beginnings. Started in 1847 as a simple stone house by Amos Subers, and evolving through the years into a proper country estate with history, and majestic views of the rolling pastures from the main house, stone barn, and pool area. Doug had done a wonderful custom kitchen crafted with carefully designed cabinets, marble counter tops, brass fixtures, a Shaw farm sink, and I always loved the hand painted tile back splash, behind the stove, he and Jamie found on a trip to Spain once. I could just live in the kitchen I tell ya. It was always yet another home away from home, and I often had my own room if a drank to much or we were doing back to back pool days like last week. They were kind enough to let me take a few snaps.
The dears often had my cock-a-tail waiting when I arrived. They even had me bring mother once when she was visiting. Might be one time I really saw her plastered.
Just for Bob and Travel Penguin whom I know love kitchens
Doug also has a good eye for arranging such fun bric n brac. I loved this old doctors cabinet they got to hold their toiletries.
They just started packing and their dog Dakota is already exhausted.
The Master Suite
The house has four bedrooms...this was my room over the garage.
And always loved the bath, but alas never had a soak in the tub.
Thank goodness they will only be moving to New Hampshire, so it will be a drivable place to visit. The place as of today....
It seems like lately things are changing quite quickly since last summer... I took the Raven's closing pretty hard. New Hope is definitely not the same without the campy fun of the Raven. I don't know how to feel about things. I don't mind change, but have a hard time when multiple things hit at once. The people I trust the most and in my inner sanctum seem to be getting further away, geographically. It was always refreshing to know they were just a hop and skip for dinner, walks in New Hope, or just hanging out here or at their place.I made many a spectacle at Dueling Willows. I know my gams will miss their lovely pool.
And they have said in no uncertain terms they will miss seeing my gams.
It was with heartbroken news this summer New Hope found out we were losing our beloved Raven Resort. The current owners sold it to a new company. While they haven't revealed any specific plans, they have said they want to keep the name and preserve the Raven heritage and its LGBTQ ties and will most like level the joint and redesign it. But will be at least two years till a reopen, if it does. This of course, has the older queens very mad, as they think if will be gone for good. But I will hold out hope that it will indeed reopen one day. In these parts the Raven is legendary, starting out in the 50's as Le Camp and then in the 70's being renamed the Raven. Over the years, one never knew who you might run into. Famous and infamous have been to the Raven, not to mention tons of drag queens from all over the country. It's always been a colorful, campy and fun place. It's always been special to me, as it's where I met new friends upon moving here, and they embraced the Mistress Borghese and my antics and drag style for the last 18 years. I have met many of the older generation and listened in awe of their stories from Stonewall and Studio 54, and famous parties on Fire Island. On any given day or night, it is like Cheers, where everybody knows everybody, and all are welcome. Good times. It's where Lady Bunny and I would get trashed, I would heckle Hedda Lettuce, and become good friends with the town grand dame Miss Pumpkin, and where I finally met the talented Brit queen Hope Springs. And met very rascally men suitors!!!! It's where I met both the Lad and Daddy Warbucks. And lord knows just how many square cuts I have worn here. And if you click the Raven in the tabs, you will know their colorful umbrellas have always made me happy. Last Tuesday was the final End of Season Pool Show...very happy and sad, as it's been a Raven staple since the 70's. But rest assured, I got my pool time in this summer. Here's are some great memories from this summer.
The famous Sunday Tea Dances...
Brittany Lynn and DJ Kirk
It's Bev Bitch and Vinchelle
The Mahogany Empress and her peeps came to see one of my shows.
My last square cut to wear there.
The queens!
Miss Tommy and Joe Black
Aloe Vera and Brittany Lynn
The hilarity of Vinchelle
The talented Scarlett Envy played the joint for a Lipstick Monday
Aloe Vera and a cutie!
China Cup and myself from the last pool show Tuesday evening.
Miss Pumpkin
Phoebe Mantrapp would bring the house down as Whitney.
You'd never know what may happen next.....
My boys...the best bartends, would always keep your Mistress well hydrated. And funny, my bill never did seem right for what a drank!!!!
Adrien and TJ
Zack
Garret and TJ.
This touching video show New Hope, but mostly the Raven from it's earlies days and all it's colorful cast. It will seem odd when it closes October 12th. Whatever becomes of the Raven I am so glad I was able to experience the place, meet many new friends there, and be just a small part of it's history and cast.
