Well, we are sort of what feels like halfway through summer.  Summer in our town is marked by annual events, and they roll by one by one, like the big giant bales of hay that dot the fields this time of the year.  The carnival came and went. The car cruise was canceled due to a dicey weather forecast that day, and Main Street Blooms events have wrapped.  We will post winners and pics by the end of the week…until then…it’s a mystery. 

 The summer is also measured by the height of the corn…that is why I think we are fast approaching the peak of the season.  Soon there will be a cavalcade of people at the local corn stands some of which actually have help just directing traffic really in the middle of nowhere.  You would not believe how middle of nowhere suddenly becomes the place to be.  These farms are worth the price of gas just to smell a cool cement block structure full of fresh produce…I wish this could be put into a candle or something.

 Just like in the eighties and nineties, the generation of  “there are no losers”, there really were no losers in this flower planting competition.   There really is such a thing as flower power and we proved it with the great response from everyone. 

Saxonburg is a diamond in the rough in and in alot of ways, that is the charm here.  The buildings are really pretty old and some are nice, some are real nice and some are terrific…add flowers to this mix and it makes for a nice atmosphere in which to walk and gives you a reason to perhaps walk a little slower than usual. 

 The Stillroom is slowly emerging from the lazy days of summer  and starting to have some pretty good summer sales and new merchandise will be soon adorning the shelves of our little shop.  Saxonburg is not exactly a shopping mecca, and I consider us very much a neighborhood type of shop.  After Christmas, life slows down, (although the tea flows all winter long) and I spend the next six  months getting ready for the last six months of the year. 

On that note, stop in and visit The Stillroom the next time your’e breezing through town. 

Keep posted for photographs of Historic Saxonburg, home of John Roebling, creator of wire rope, who connected people with the Brooklyn Bridge.

Weather is always a roll of the dice and it looks as if it is not going to be a great weather day for the Kruizen Knights Big Car Cruise.   Always a hard call to make in most cases, when it comes to vintage cars, I know they really can only be appreciated in the best of conditions…

So, anyone who was planning to come to the well advertised annual event, it unfortunately won’t be happening.  The Chandlery Gift Shop and The Stillroom will be opened from at least 1 to 5 to accomodate foul weather shoppers!

The voting for people’s choice for best flower display seems to have been well recieved and the winners will be announced in spite of the weather.  We will post the winners as soon as I find out.  Main Street overflowed with flowers and they are just starting to reach their full summerness.  How wonderful to see this small village so colorful and enjoyable to walk through.

If I could vote, I would vote for Novotny’s Pizza shop for their enthusiasm by planting an overnight garden in  old tomato cans and lined them up on their outdoor counter.  This place is run by a young  kid and (they make a great white pizza)  he gets our vote for originality.  It’s like art.  In fact, here is a picture of it.  We loved the thought behind this!

Anyhow, we are in the midst of a pretty great summer, (in spite of the fact that our car cruise was cancelled) enjoying our staycation around Pittsburgh.  There was a great article in The New York Times recently about what a great city we have.  As if we didn’t already know that!

You know, it is amazing what beauty a flower can bring.  The Stillroom has been here in the village for six years already!  Every year, over time, over people moving in and out, something very interesting has taken root, almost as if by magic.  What was started twenty five years ago by shop and antique store operator Jenny Nelson as a beautification project, has bloomed into something quite special.

Through an occasional poster, through word of mouth, through the generosity of landscape architect John Temoshenko a few years back by donating a large flower pot to all of the properties on Main Street, one act of kindness has passed on in the most subtle of ways.  You have to live here in the village to appreciate the colorful changes that have taken place, not only on Main Street, but through the entire community it seems.

It is hard to resist the beauty of the flowers. Simple scents like the corn that is “knee high by the fourth of July” as my husband’s mom still says every year as growing season starts.  The summer solstice is this weekend.  The yarrow is coming up, the day lilies, marigolds, clematis, the cilantro and basil and rosemary and parsley and the smell of the leaf of a tomato plant…it is a medley of fragrances that just scream summer.

Main Street looks like a rainbow this year.  The Main Street Blooms project is optional. You don’t have to plant anything at all.  I am happy to say that the participation level is over the top!  This year, the weekend of July 11th 12th and 13th, the public will get to cast their votes for the best displays.  Ballots will be in participating shops and stores and eateries with the winners being announced Sunday afternoon, July 13th at the Big Car Cruise.  This production is an annual event that is organized by The Kruizen Knights. That is the Sunday where Main Street is hopping with crowds, food, live entertainment at the Main Stage by Kellys’ restaraunt, 50/50 raffle (proceeds go to VOICE), the quaint shops will be open that afternoon, enjoy the cars and the flowers and meander through the whole village including the side streets to cast your vote for the best flower display.

The one nice thing about the village is that it is all level and you should walk beyond the venues to the shops on the side streets as well.  The Gray Wolf Gallery, Novoty’s Pizza, The Stillroom are all within a nice walking distance of Main Street.  On the other side of Main Street you will find the pharmacy, florist, post office, The Cafe Contrary and an array of services. (The Stillroom is not eligible for the competition because I help organize the flower event).  But please do come and visit, we are always happy to see you!

The Stillroom is gearing up for the fall, bringing in new merchandise every couple of weeks.  Enjoy your staycation here in Saxonburg…where we try to bring you the best in tiny town shopping.

Meet up with us Friday night at the Fresh Cup Cafe to hear our local troubador Nathan Johnson perform live from 6:30 until 8:00.  We are skipping lunch so we can enjoy a light dinner at the Fresh Cup along with a sweet afterthought with coffee or tea!  I’ll work off dessert by checking our flower powered Main Street!

Iron, Wine…

Iron and Wine official website

Iron and Wine MySpace profile

The carnival is in full swing and the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company has their big parade this evening.  Chairs and blankets are staked out for the best seats in the house!  This parade brings happiness to children young and old.  If you love firetrucks and candy and carnivals and community this ones for you!  On these hot days, the smell of french fries and pizza that linger in the air are most pleasant.

 We look forward  to the Kruizen Knights Big Car Cruise on Sunday, July 13th from 3-9 p.m. Sunday comes alive that day with free family entertainment, shopping, eating, cool cars and live music acts at the Main Stage throughout the afternoon into the evening.  This is one time just about every shop is open and is a great opportunity to enjoy our village!  Saxonburg is in full bloom that weekend and this year the people who come into town will  vote on the best floral display on and around Main Street for the Saxonburg Blooms Weekend.   This is what summer is all about.  Mark your calender and scroll down our blogs, download the shopping guide and come and discover the treasures inside of our little shops and restaurants…we heart Saxonburg! 

The Stillroom is coming up on six years in business already!

In that time, with the encouragement of the John Roebling’s Historic Saxonburg Society, Inc.  the Main Street Blooms program has clearly “taken root”, pun intended.

Every year that goes by, flowers are being planted and properties polish up as we wait for the fun summer entertainment to begin.  Whether you are here during the events such as the Firemans Carnival (June 9th through the 14th) or the Big Car Cruise in July, or just taking in quieter moments during the summer weeks, you are sure to enjoy what the village has to offer! 

 Architecture, history, flowers, the shopping and eating, the bed & breakfasts…it all adds up to what we hope is a visit that transports you back to another time.  I think that the people who have their businesses here have an optimism and clear realization of what a neat little village we have!

The Fresh Cup Cafe and The Yoma Room moving to Main Street could not be better.  I also just got word from Katie at The Salon of Saxonburg that they are now offering expanded services.  Now, your bridal party can have the enjoyment of a private room to celebrate with a special luncheon and relax while the hair, nails, pedicures are being done in the main salon.   Let Tom & Katie welcome your group into  the heart of the historic home to enjoy all of the expanded amenities that they have to offer.  Now offering bridal luncheons and the much needed relaxing massages, call The Salon at Saxonburg at 724-352-2282 for more information.

My experience here these past years have been great.  I have watched more shops come in, each complimenting the other.  The people who have rolled the dice to have their lively hoods here, each clearly has an optimist view of Main Street and surrounding area.  We get to watch it happen before our eyes and be a part of something very special!  Just like John Roebling, we are building bridges together…o.k…that is corny but true!  GO PENS!!!

Well, I  just came back from the newly opened Fresh Cup Cafe and I am delighted to report that the lunch was terrific!  The atmosphere is light, airy and very fresh!  Might that have something to do with the name perhaps?  Either way, Laura is a wonderful hostess and the sandwiches were a hit with all three of us! We each ordered a different sandwich, cut them into three sections and tasted all of them.  We were in agreement that we loved the roast beef the most!  With a splash of old school Red Ribbon pop right out of the bottle, we were completely satisfied.

The Yoma Room is coming into a new spot sometime in June at 170 Main Street.  We look forward to the diversity of services that Cathleen and Phyllis have to offer.  Learn how to mellow down easy with the subtle and effective therapies that are offered here!  Very exciting for Main Street.

The Stillroom is in lazy day late spring mode.  The yarden (that’s yard and garden in case you are not familiar with “Vicspeak”) is cleaned up and planted, the fountains are pumping that gentle sound of trickling water that I so welcome, and the outdoor seating is in place if the spirit moves you to stop by and cool your heels.  Accompanied by music of the moment, that being anything from hammered dulcimer to Benny Goodman, our job is to make you feel comfortable when you visit our little shop.  Our offbeat little shop is off of the beaten path, which is not a completely bad place to be!

Don’t forget to plant those flowers Saxonburg…we are looking better and better every year!

Spring is so beautiful!  All of a sudden the hills are every shade of green and it’s all good in spite of the rain.  In fact, I would say the changing cloud cover is the perfect back drop.  

What’s new at The Stillroom?  How about our new screen door!  This might sound kind of ridiculous but here is why I am so excited about it. 

 The shop always remained stuffy even when we ran the air conditioner.  This drove me nuts.   I would light only a few lamps to keep the heat factor in check and that did not work.  If I opened the front door, the bees would come in so that did not work.  We obviously had an air flow situation here. 

Well, we enlisted our fine carpenter Phil and he came to the rescue and added some frame work and a new screen door…pet screen and all!  Here is where the “cool” part comes in.  When you come into The Stillroom now, you are greeted with a jingle of a bell and the gentle sound that only a screen door can make when it closes behind you.  Very old school.  I can’t believe how many people have commented on this simple door!

You are then in a space that you want to just stay in.  The breeze that now flows through the shop is wonderful and with it a Benny Goodman or some big band song catches a wave and flows out softly into the parking lot of the shop.  I enjoy it because it is uncomplicated and simple.  It lets the sound of the St. Francis statue water fountain trickle in.  The birds take a bath and sing.  They don’t know your watching them through the window so they clean up “real good” and splash ’till their birdie hearts are content!

Also new?  How about the Fresh Cup Cafe opening coming up on May 27th!  Also, word on the street is that a Yoga Studio will be coming in as well…we’ll keep you updated on the progress with that too. 

Saxonburg’s Main Street will be going green with blooms and flowers as soon as the weather stabilizes which is around the beginning of June.  So, by the time summer is in full bloom, so are the flowers!

The carnival week is fast approaching and involves the pet parade which we love…the Saxonburg Volunteer Fireman’s Department should have a schedule of events on their website or in local advertising so watch the papers!

Don’t forget to download the shopping guide which will have a few adjustments.  Sadly,we will be losing the Quilter’s Delight’s shop…Rosie can’t keep it open any longer and we will miss her terribly! 

The Fresh Cup Cafe, Laurie Lynn’s and the Red Squirrell, Wilma’s and hopefully the Yoma Room as well will be added to the list so as soon as we get the time, Mike & I will update it…in the meantime…it’s still a good little guide to the area!

It is that time of year here in Saxonburg, where the village starts to prepare for our Main Street Blooms competition.  It is a fun and friendly competition between businesses and property owners to start planting the seeds that bring forth an abundance of color and that summer feeling to our town.    Soon carnival week will be in full swing along with the pet parade that now draws huge crowds!  Watch for our blog, Main Street Bulletin Boards and posters that will pop up announcing the Blooms and Bubbles children’s flower planting event. The date will be announced soon. 

We are also looking forward to the opening of The Fresh Cup cafe on Main Street.  Located in the former Antique Coffee Shop, Laura is taking on the exciting task of adding one more wonderful place to visit when you come into town.  The Stillroom will keep you updated on her progress!  The shops are in the process of getting ready (dare I say) with ordering for the upcoming holiday season and look forward to your visits throughout the summer with the many activities that take place during the summer months.  From the old school car cruises, the firehall events, the library events, Penn’s Colony, Main Street Blooms and the museum at the park, this is truly Americana. Don’t forget to download our shopping guide which will be udated with even more places to visit in our area.  That would be Laurie Lynn’s Antique and Spice shop which I am ashamed to admit, I forgot she was there and has been for quite some time now, and Wilma’s famous chocolate shop across the street for L. Lynn’s.   We also look forward to the reopening of The Red Squirrell (it’s a call first kind of place) and well worth the phone call to see this quaint shop. Hopefully Isabella’s Reflection will be back in the game soon as well,maybe Sherry will consider coming out of retirement…after all…she is one of the original antique shopkeeps! 

still-room: A dry, warm room filled with the aroma of herbs and spices. Sunlight was detrimental to the fragrant herbs and spices, therefore, it was not bright with sunlight, but rather, dim and cozy. A most pleasant place to visit.