Chester County, PA

It was another gorgeous, unusually warm day yesterday. An early evening ride to Chester County - Andrew Wyeth territory - was filled with painting-worthy images. There were rolling hills, old stone houses, grazing horses, trees, farms, and wide-open spaces.

While I didn't see this particular house, this is a classic Chester County farm house, and it was the home in the film Marley and Me.

The friends I was visiting live in a wonderful old farm house, too, but they are selling it because a development of "McMansions" is going in across the street.  I hate to see that happen.  Probably two parents, two kids, and a dog or two in a 4 bedroom, 3 bath house. Gross consumerism at its finest.  (OK, I obviously have strong feelings about such sprawl and the need for "bigger" and "newer"!)

We went to dinner at the Four Dogs Tavern in West Chester.  (Their web site isn't operational as of now.)  It was in a lovely country setting.  The tavern had so much character - wide-board floors and exposed rafters - as well as outdoor seating.  It was very crowded but we had a reservation for our party of 8. 

The food is tavern fare - burgers, salads, soups, etc.  (Mushroom soup was on the menu.  This is because Chester County is also home to Kennett Square, the so-called "Mushroom Capital of the World," which produces over 51% of the nation's mushrooms.) A friend had it and seemed to enjoy it.

A late night drive back to suburbia was a little unsettling as there were deer in the fields, which is where I was hoping they would stay...and, fortunately, they did.  To my knowledge, Andrew Wyeth never painted the deer, and certainly not the ones that encountered a car.