A Welcome Break on the Way

Me & Jack, Donna and Brett

For those of you who have not traveled I 80 across Pennsylvania, let me preface this post by saying it is excruciatingly long and green and not enough visual information to keep your eyeballs and brain occupied.  It does not take long before you itch to see ANYTHING...roadkill, weeds gone to seed....something to give you mental and visual relief.  After a few hours that itch becomes almost intolerable.

That said, not only did we get to leave I 80 for a blessed side trip, but it was a really nice one to boot!
We stopped to see Brett Schroyer at his place in Mercer, PA because  Jack had arranged to pick up a motor (of course).  When we got out of the van it was like being reborn...the heavy heat and humidity and storms we had been in for days were gone...a dry breeze of summery warmth was blowing across the field, the flag was snapping and there wasn't a dark cloud to be spotted!

Brett and his brother Karl met us and made us welcome. (Actually, I thought I heard Brad, not Karl...sorry for wrong names. )  Brett is a wood carver (see his web site).  It is always nice to meet a craftsman and see what they are doing.  We were invited in to see some of his current work.  Check it out!!  All I could think of is the nursery in Downton Abby would have rocking or slider horses like these!  Their manes and tails are made of real horse hair.  I can see a little girl doing fancy braid work on them :-)  

After we hit the road again, I took refuge in the internet while we rolled on to our hotel.  Brett's biz card got me started following his work.  You can see more of his work at his Etsy Store, too. 

 Then, up popped many mentions of a really wonderful project Karl and Brett and Donna and Kristine have developed to benefit kids in need... giving beds to little kids who do not have one!   http://www.beds4littleheads.com/

They are really "walking the walk"... read the article from the local paper to see how they have involved many other people, from delivery vans to church ladies who quilt!!!