Manufacturers of solid braided multifilament polypropylene rope, it's the rope derby people love! "An All-Purpose, Utility Rope." The Troyer Rope Company began in 1965, when Andrew Troyer (Andy) and his dad went to a local auction to bid on a rope-twisting machine. While his dad made a bid for the machine, they were unable to get the highest bid, and it was sold to another family for $8.00. Even at this young age, the way the rope is made was still continuing to dwell in his mind. How can rope …

An Adventure Back to 1958 There was a time when a good mystery didn't begin with a glowing screen. It began with a book. For me, it was going to Stone Memorial Library in Conneautville, PA. Maybe it came home from the Scholastic Book Fairs, or perhaps it was waiting under the Christmas tree with your name written inside the cover. Then you found your favorite chair, stretched out across the living-room rug, or crawled into bed with a flashlight and started reading. Before long, yo …

You can always tell when fall is coming.. mornings are a little more crisp than what we have been used to, the dew on the grass takes a little longer to dry off, and the leaves are starting to show up on our lawns rather than just in the trees.  Fall always brings more yearning of comfort food to my mind, and comfort food can always be made in the crock pot!  Fall is my husband, Randy's, favorite time of year.  Not because of the things described above (he hates being cold) but be …

Celebrating Hard Work, Family, and the Simple Joys of an American Labor Day There is something special about Labor Day. Maybe it’s the smell of hamburgers sizzling on the grill, the sound of children laughing in the backyard, or a bowl of homemade potato salad sitting on the picnic table. Maybe it’s the American flag waving from the porch, a parade passing through town, or the feeling that summer is giving us one last warm hug before autumn arrives. For generations of American famili …

Easy Tips & Tricks for Making the Transition from Summer Days to School Days a Little Easier There’s something wonderful about summer. Bedtimes get later. Breakfast might happen at 10 o’clock instead of 7. There are afternoons spent at the pool, evenings around the fire pit, and days when nobody knows what time it is—and nobody really cares! But then, almost overnight, the school supplies are bought, backpacks are packed, new shoes are sitting by the door, and the alar …

There are few desserts that capture the flavor of summer quite like a homemade peach pie. With its flaky, golden crust and sweet, juicy peach filling, peach pie is a all time favorite that brings together everything we love about summertime: fresh fruit, family traditions, warm memories, and a delicious dessert shared around the dining room table. On August 24th, National Peach Pie Day gives us the perfect reason to celebrate this classic American dessert and enjoy a slice—or two! A Slice …

When a Family Vacation Became an Adventure Of all the Happy Hollisters books I read growing up, The Happy Hollisters at Sea Gull Beach was always one of my favorites. There was something about this story that made it especially easy to imagine yourself right alongside Pete, Pam, Ricky, Holly, and Sue. You could almost feel the ocean breeze, hear the seagulls overhead, and share the excitement of packing the family car for a long-awaited trip to the beach. For a child like me growing up in rural …

Why do we all love s’mores so much?  Could it be the ooey gooey melty marshmallows or the warm melted chocolate bar?  For me, it’s both for sure, the more the merrier.  They are the real stars of the show, the graham crackers just hold it all together!  And they get their own National Day to boot, every year on August 10th! But there's also just something magical about gathering around that campfire as the sun sets, whether you’re camping or just having a ba …

There are few things that say "summer" quite like a juicy slice of watermelon. Whether you're enjoying it at a backyard barbecue, packing it for a picnic, or simply standing over the kitchen sink trying not to drip juice everywhere, watermelon has a special way of making summer feel a little sweeter. Today, August 3rd, is National Watermelon Day, the perfect excuse to celebrate this beloved summertime fruit—and all the memories that come with it.  This day gives watermelon lovers ev …

As we celebrate National Ice Cream Month (pretty cool that it gets its own month!) this July, it brings me back to my own childhood… There are certain memories in life that never fade, no matter how many years pass. For many of us, ice cream is one of them. It's more than just a treat—it's a time machine that takes us back to carefree summer afternoons, laughter throughout our neighborhoods, and sticky hands that no one seemed to mind. Growing up, ice cream wasn't just a treat, it w …