Explorations: Cake Concepts

One of the things I miss most about living and working in the city was having access to all kinds of neat specialty shops.  Whether the stores sold clothing, food items, or tchotchkes, there were always interesting things to see.  Which is why I am so excited that Kittanning is getting some new shops.

One of the new shops that I have been wanting to check out is a new cake bakery, called Cake Concepts.  Since going gluten free, however, I have not had much reason to buy cake or cupcakes.  But this week, my niece is visiting.  When I asked her if she likes cupcakes, her response was, "Uh YEAH, duh" so I knew I finally had a reason to visit.

Yesterday we walked into the store, and I swear it was like visiting the childhood dream of the perfect tea party.  Everything was pink, and elegant, and beautiful.  I absolutely love the way the store looks.  I could have spent hours in there, even though I cannot eat anything there.  That is how lovely it is.  After taking in the cuteness of the shop, I spied the cupcakes.  Oh, they all looked so delicious!  The specialty cupcakes were Key Lime and Chunky Monkey.  Um, yummmy!  There were also plain iced cupcakes, and filled cupcakes.  DARN YOU GLUTEN INTOLERANCE.  I bought half a dozen for my niece and for Hubby.

I was talking to one of the owners, and explaining my gluten intolerance.  She said they are currently working on recipes for gluten free and sugar free cupcakes to add to their offerings.  She said they are taking their time to find really delicious recipes, which I totally respect.  No one wants a subpar product just because it is the only GF thing available.  So, I look forward to the day that they release GF cupcakes for sale.  

When we got back into the car, my niece wanted to eat a cupcake immediately.  It was all I could do to get her to wait for me to drive the few blocks home, because she said they just looked that good.  And once we got home, she sampled them and assured me they really WERE that good.  I snuck a swipe of the icing, and it was delicious.

The atmosphere is wonderful, the owners are friendly and helpful, the product is delicious, and the price is really reasonable.  So, what are you waiting for?  Go get a cupcake from Cake Concepts, and you can thank me later!

Note: This post was not sponsored in any way, nor was I approached to do a review of this business.  I simply wanted to share this great shop with my readers and encourage people to support local small town businesses! 

Explorations: Relict Prairie

I remember once a few years ago hearing that there was some prairie land in Pennsylvania, and thinking that there must be some mistake.  Prairie and Appalachia do not seem to go together.  When I think prairie, I think Laura Ingalls Wilder, I think North Dakota, Montana, and Kansas, I think bison.  So, with all these thoughts about what and where a prairie might be running through my mind, imagine my surprise to find that not only is there prairieland in Pennsylvania, but that it is only about 45 minutes from my home.

The Jennings Environmental Center, near Slippery Rock, is a state park that allows preservation of and education about the ecosystem of its relict prairie.  "Relict" simply means it is what now survives of what was once a much larger ecosystem, meaning the prairie land was once much more expansive than it is today.  The  prairie is only about 20 acres, and it is the only protected prairie in Pennsylvania.  It helps protect some rare, and in a couple of cases endangered, species of plants and animals, including the blazing star flower.  In short, this land is a real treasure, and it is practically in our backyards.  We simply had to go visit it.

A few days ago, when I began to look into the details of the prairie, I learned that it was in full bloom, and would only be in full bloom for a short period of time.  So, off we went.  When we arrived, it seemed as if we were just going to any old wooded park. We found the entrance to the trails, and off we headed.  The majority of the trails are woodland trails, but the do lead to and connect with 2 trails through the prairie.  And there was no mistaking when we hit the prairie portion of the trails.  It was, in a word, dazzling.

The area opened up from trees into wide open fields, with the blue sky above.  The fields were ablaze with the vivid colors of many different plants and flowers, and several different types of butterflies were floating about.  Immediately, I began wishing I had a better camera.  But as it was, I did get to capture some truly gorgeous photos.

We walked the two trails through the prairie, which was about half a mile total.  Then, we ended up on the woodland trails.  I actually found the trails a little confusing, one constantly leading to another, to another, to another.  We had no map, so after walking in the woods for about an hour, I started getting a little nervous that we were walking in circles.  I pulled the map of the trails up on my phone, and we then found our way back to where we needed to be, and got to walk back through the prairie before returning to our car.

A few times in my life, I have experienced nature in a way that is so pure, and serene, that it cannot help to bring me joy.  In graduate school, I had a place where I could go, enjoy nature, and think about life.  I often find myself missing that place a lot.  In Celtic spirituality, there is a reference to a "thin place", a place where heaven and earth are most thinly divided, where man can easily experience the divine, where God and His majesty are most evident.  To me, I often find thin places in nature, and I feel certain that, in this beautifully preserved prairieland, I have found another.

You can see the rest of my photos from the prairie here.

Explorations: Northern Nightmares

Each year, Hubby and I try to do something spooky during October.  In the past we have gone to Phantom Fright Nights at Kennywood. , and last year we went to the Scarehouse.  So we were looking for something new and different to do this year.  Boy howdy, did we find it.

While doing some online searching I located an attraction in Butler County called the Northern Nightmares Tour.  This trolley tour went all over Zelionople and Harmony, pointing out allegedly haunted sites, and telling local ghost tales.  This sounded right up our alley, so, on Saturday afternoon, we headed out.

Since we headed out early, and planned on being gone for a while, we started with dinner at The Harmony Inn.  For any local folks reading, if you have not tried this place I really urge you to go.  We went last winter for lunch, and we were impressed then.  We were doubly impressed with their dinner menu.  Really unique menu items, and the food was delicious.  Plus, the ambiance is really cool.

 The Harmony Inn is a haunted location, and after we ate, the staff let us explore, even allowing us in the attic.  It was really spooky.

After we were done with dinner, we headed off to catch the trolley tour.  It was a nice, small trolley, and was really comfortable.  The spooky tour guide was the executive director of the Strand Theater, and he told us lots of amazing and creepy tales along our 45 minute tour.  I do not want to spoil it for you, since I really hope  my local readers will go next year, but there were some interesting twists along the way.

Our last tour stop was the Strand Theater.  At this point, for most, the tour was over.  But for Hubby and I, we still had a bit of excitement.  You see, that night, the Strand was showing Night of the Living Dead, which many know was filmed locally in Evans City.

 The proceeds went to a group trying to save the Evan's City Cemetary Chapel, which you see in the film.  I love horror films, particularly ones filmed locally, and I have visited the Evan's City Cemetery to revel in the movie nostalgia.  So, we decided to go to the viewing.  Imagine my surprise when we learned the 3 original cast and crew members were there to speak to us.  How exciting.  Russell Streiner (Johnny), his brother Gary Streiner (a sound engineer on the film) and Ella Mae Smith (an Evans City resident who played a zombie).

It was so amazing to be there to hear them speak, and this moment right here made it totally worth it:

The theater has been restored beautifully, and we loved seeing the movie on the big screen. We got to sit in the balcony, which in and of itself was a really cool experience. Finally, we were ready to head out, but we had one last thing to do.  Out admission also gave us a free raffle ticket for a raffle of some movie posters.  Guess who won a poster?  Hubby!

All in all, the had a magically spooky night, one I am not likely to forget for a long time.

Notice two of the pictures are full of fuzzy orbs.  As much as I would love to say this was spectral evidence, it was merely fog and mist.  For more pics, go here.

Explorations: Clarks' Landing

One of the hardest things about not being a native to my town is not knowing all the awesome things that used to be here before I moved here.  Which is why I am so excited that Clarks' Landing has opened in Kittanning.  Everyone talks about this great restaurant the used to be in town, called Clarks.  Family restaurant, great prices, good food, whats not to love?  Well, it shut down last year, before I ever got to try it.  So, when I learned that it would be reopening at a new location, with a slightly new name, I was super excited to try it out.

Today, I got the chance.


The first thing we noticed as we walked up was the adorable outdoor seating.  I love the bright colored umbrellas, and the nice view of our town.

We walk inside, and we are greeted by a bright, friendly interior.  Everything is shiny and new!  I liked the look of the place, very warm and inviting.

Similarly, the staff were all friendly and helpful.

When we got the menu, I was flabbergasted.

There were so many different things to choose from.  The menu is so extensive, there is no way someone, even the pickiest of eaters, could not find something to suit their palate.  Everything sounded so delicious.  Hubby settled on a burger, and I ordered my favorite, a buffalo chicken salad.  A restaurant's whole reputation, in my opinion, can be won or lost on their buffalo chicken salad.  When the salad came, I took a deep breath, and prepared to make my determination.

Verdict?  Absolutely the best buffalo chicken salad I have had in months, possibly ever.  I have tried them from so many different places in town, and I am telling you, this one was hands down the best in town.  I ate every bite of it.

Hubby also opted for a piece of pie, which looked delicious, but I was too stuffed to even taste it.  He was very happy with it though.

We got a copy of their carry out menu (many more buffalo chicken salads in my future I predict), and I can guarantee we will be back.

Clarks' Landing reopened in the midst of a site that is being redeveloped as Kit-Han-Ne Village.  The plans look gorgeous, and I really hope some more businesses move in, I think it will be great for our town.

Explorations: Allegheny Overlook, Cadogan

One of the best parts of living in Armstrong County is having so many spectacular views of the river.  Last week I spent some time checking out one of these views at the Allegheny Overlook Park in Cadogan.  I had passed this park many times, and never stopped.  But when I found out there was a geocache hidden in the park, I knew I needed to pay it a little visit.

I was not sure where to park, as there does not appear to be a designated parking lot, or if there is I did not see it, so I parked across the street and walked over.  The first thing I noticed was a large rock with the name of the park carved in it.

 It was a nice alternative to a metal or wooden sign.  The park has a couple of benches, and a little gazebo.  When I first got there, a man was eating lunch in the gazebo, and I did not want to disturb him, so I walked to the actual overlook.  While it is a little overgrown, the view is still fantastic.  And I loved all the mock orange that was growing along the bank.

After the man left, I went to check out the gazebo a little more.

It was small, with a bench inside. It still provided a nice view, just a bit further from the bank. I can see why someone would want to eat lunch here; it was lovely.

Finally, after finding the geocache, I decided it was time to head out. This is a very nice little park, and I think I will be visiting it again, especially when the leaves begin to turn in the fall. I imagine the view will be spectacular.

Explorations: The Barns of Butler County

Even though I am an Armstrong County girl, sometimes my explorations make me cross county lines.  Armstrong, Butler, and Indiana counties all have similar rural settings, but each has their own unique things to offer to visitors and residents.

Last weekend, Hubby and I took in some of the amazing Butler County countryside.  One of the things Butler has to offer is an amazing Barn Trail.  Actually, there are 3 separate trails.  We chose trail 3, and due to it's location in relation to where we live, we actually did it backwards.

The first barn we saw was the Love barn.  Built in 1865, this barn is now a popular site for weddings and other events in the area.  I love the bright red roof, it is just so cheerful!

Then we moved on the 3 different barns that are homes to alpacas, Cotachachi, Sunset Hills, and Four Points.  Hubby thought the alpacas were odd looking, but I thought they were so adorable.  I want one, but alas, we are not allowed to have livestock in town. Someday in the future, I want to arrange to visit one of these farms.

Next we saw what was my favorite barn of the trip, the Fairfield barn.  It like something you would see in a movie, it was that lovely.

We finished up with the Maharg barn, located within the Succop Conservancy.

All in all, we really enjoyed the drive, and seeing the countryside, including some barns not part of the trail.  I am looking forward to doing the other 2 trails over the summer.

View a few more photos from this exploration here.

Explorations: Mars

Pennsylvania is host to many oddly named places.  Places named after other states (Indiana, California, Oklahoma), foreign places (Bagdad, Japan, Germany), even some odd general locations (Hospital, Library, Laboratory), but the place with the most far out name has got to be Mars, Pennsylvania.

Mars is a little town located near Cranberry, and Hubby drives through there on his way to work.  We decided to see the sites, which admittedly are pretty sparse in this small Western PA town.  The town likes to poke fun and their celestial name, and there is actually a little space ship in town

as well as a sign wishing for peace on earth.

It is clear that the residents of the town have a great sense of humor.

Personally, I love the small town nature of this town.  It is the kind of town where you know everyone, you wave to strangers, and you most certainly notice some creep taking pictures of the local grocery store.  Ahem.

Probably my favorite aspect of the town is the lovely older buildings. The town is rich with historic architecture, as well as Mars Station, a depot of the Pittsburgh and Western railroad.

If you are ever near Butler or Pennsylvania, take the time to visit Mars. It is certainly out of this world. (sorry, I had to.)

Explorations: Baldingers

When the weekends roll around, Hubby and I are often very busy.  In fact this whole month is jam packed for us.  But this past weekend was pretty quiet, so we decided to take the opportunity to do a little exploring.  After looking up various places to go, we settled on taking a short drive to Zelionople PA to visit a place called Baldingers.

This store is marketed as having tons of candy, particularly unusual finds or candy of yesteryear.  They also have foods from around the world, and an amazing supply of cookie cutters.  It took us a little while to find it, and Hubby said "I hope this is more than a crusty old bucket of horehound candy and some star shaped cookie cutters" or something along those lines.  Needless to say, when we walked in the door, we were not disappointed.

There were tables of penny candy, and the entire back shelf was various candy bars and wrapped novelty candies.  Plus, there was a table of unique chocolates.  I was in heaven.  I saw so many of my childhood favorites!

There were also soup mixes, baked good mixes, teas, snack mixes, it just went on and on.  On the other end of the store, there were all kinds, and I do mean all kinds, of cookie cutters.  We even found a dachshund cookie cutter!  And every flavor of jelly bean you can imagine.

There were also kitchen gadgets, vintage hats, and knickknacks for sale, and the coolest thing was the old fashioned cash register.

We probably only took in a fraction of the awesomeness of the store.  I guarantee this will not be our last trip to the store.  If you are ever in the area, I really suggest you check it out, if for no other reason than to buy some penny candy and feel like a kid again.

Explorations: Harmony

On Saturday, Hubby and I decided to venture out of the house despite some awful weather, and traveled up to a tiny town in Butler County called Harmony.  It was a settlement created by the Harmony Society, a group of German anabaptists, back in the early 1800's.  The land was eventually sold, buildings and all, to a Mennonite group, who resettled it as a Mennonite community.  Traces of both groups' cultures still remain.

We started out by touring the Harmony Museum.
There was so much history and culture encapsulated within the place, I could not stop looking around.  And our tour guide was so nice.  Part of the tour included other buildings, and she took a snow shovel and shoveled paths for us to access them, when she easily could have skipped that part of the tour.  It was so awesome to see the bits of the past.

We also looked around at some of the other sites in town, including the Mennonite church and cemetery, Grace Church, The Harmony Inn (where we had lunch, yum!) and the Harmony Society cemetery.  The Harmony Society cemetery includes a revolving stone gate symbolizing traversing between this world and the next, and none of the graves are marked.

The town is clearly very proud of their heritage, and I would love to go back for some of their special events, including the Christmas market.  The time in Harmony was definitely well spent, and very peaceful.

You can view the rest of my photos from the visit here.