I’ve been without my car this week as it was undergoing major(expensive) repairs. So today I tired of this house arrest and spent a few hours walking about our small town, Red Lion, PA.

Rick and I both grew up in the area but spent over 25 years living  in other states, including MN.,MD.. and Illinois. for Rick’s career.

When we were young we were desperate to leave small town life and experience other places. So we packed up our baby son and were off ! I regret nothing and It was so good for us.  Somehow, after the children were grown we found ourselves drawn back to home.  Life is different when you hit 50 and a slower pace life looked great.  York County is one of the most beautiful areas of the country- when we were young we were too boneheaded to see that.

We ended up in Red Lion because we found an old  Victorian house cheap that was sorely in need of restoration. We bought it from a young couple who had started working on it and we just picked up where they left off.  4 years of work, sweat and every spare cent we are pretty proud of our home. We replaced moldings, installed  antique light fixtures, removed miles of dropped ceilings, repaired plaster, installed a period senstive bath and kitchen, painted miles of walls and trim, outside painting, and created a garden with fish pond.  Tons more to do but that is the nature of reviving a victorian–it’s not just a house, it’s a lifestyle.

The best part is all the great folks we have met, small business owners,and neighbors.  We have been invvolved with local govt.  Like many small towns on the northeast coast  we are a town that struggles. Red Lion was incorporated after the civil war and was extremely successful manufacturing cigars and furniture, up and down the streets you can see the old tobacco factories now made into apt buildings and such.  During those days a lot of money was made and some beautiful homes were built.

That heyday has passed and Red Lion has struggled to find a new idenity. We have a cute main street and many have started businesses. We do have empty store fronts, and are supportive of new businesses. The housing stock is amazing- a virtual treasure trove of Victorian architecture. of all sizes and prices.  Many people have fixed up properties and they are beautiful.  Many more are crying to be saved.  With the housing market crash, all properties are a real buy, if you can afford to invest. There are so many people here who care about the  town and work constantly to improve. it.

I took pictures within a 2 block radious of our house- I live near the square.

My apologies to all the businesses I missed, we have a lot of great places, I also didn’t make it to our great park, library, or high school.  This is just a little overview of our town that I have come to love and consider my forever home at this point.

Julie and I wore vintage outfits of course!  Julie looked adorable in her 50′s red and white cotton dress, red flower in her hair and vintage red bracelet and earrings. I wore a black and white polka dot strapless cotton dress with a red cardigan. I also wore a vintage bracelet. I tried to make my makeup as authentic as possible. The food was various hot sandwiches and fries and there was an open bar.  It felt so good to dress up and go out, we need to do more of that!

The crowd was hoppin’ and the dance floor packed. Very hard for me to dance since my back makes walking difficult but Rick and I did slow dance which made me all giggley. Swoon. The guy has still got it! Rick wore a black and red bowling shirt I got him, Marv  wore a cool Hawaiian shirt, Scott was cute in his bow tie and argyle. Unfortunetly my pic of Andrea and Brooks didn’t turn out!S

After the Party

For the first time in way too long the vintage spouse and I went out for a New Years eve party – and party we did!!

We went to Kerry’s Green which used to be the old Red Lion country club. Rick made reservations and we joined our friends Scott and Sandi plus his work colleague Mark and his wife Cindy.

Dinner was roast beef, chicken with crab sauce, various veg, baked potatoes. There was a chocolate fountain with various things to dip plus a nacho cheese fountain. Later in the evening ribs, shrimp, wings, cheese bologna and ham were put out.  Yummy  Open bar!!

First there was a comedian who was hilarious and then we rocked the night away to the music of the live band. Mostly classic rock. The guitarist just wailed on that thing and Rick went to high school with the drummer.  Great band, great music.

Now for the important stuff- what did I wear??  Dress code was dressy casual but I always do my own thing anyway. I finally decided on a leopard print wrap dress with encouragement from Rick. I wore this with dark brown tights, long gold and brown beaded earings and several large cocktail rings.  I wore brown suede, open toed flats instead of heels as my back hurt and I had wrenched my foot earlier in the day.  My outfit was topped of with a darling vintage 50s, salmon pink wool swing coat, leopard gloves and a mink poodle pin on my coat lapel.

Rick was his usual dapper self in navy sports coat, tan pants and dress shirt.  For a purse I took a small vintage tooled leather clutch.

We had great time and I can’t wait until Jan. 29th because Kerrys is having a 50′s dance party and dinner!!!!! More details on this soon and yes, I will be going vintage, complete with hat!

Thank you, Julie, Becky, Ken, and the vintage spouse, Rick, you were all so much help. Especially since i couldn’t sleep the night before and was in a lot of pain.  So many vintage goodies left the shop! Sales were fabulous. It gives me a nice nest egg to advertise the new internet shop and buy new inventory.

 I’m up to my fanny in chaos, breaking down the store and inventoring what’s left.  I started taking pictures again today which will be added to the site tomorrow of new items for sale.   I will be adding weekly.

I did cry a little when it was all over, this was my dream and baby, but I just can’t handle the hours any more with the scoliosis pain.

Oh—- I am getting a new puppy!!!!!!!!!  In about 4 weeks she will be able to leave her mama. A darling little girl poodle.  Ziggy loves other dogs and I can’t wait.   I’m going to be posting pictures soon.    Love to all!  JoAnn

Remember all the whining and moaning I did during the blizzards last winter???

It’s coming back to haunt me!!!!!   Tropical heat wave at Vintage JoAnn.  I scurry around in the am turning on fans and a few window air units before opening.  It makes it a lot cooler then outside but it’s still HOT to a menepausal momma like me.

Shop exploding with goodies like usual and I’m now working on adding a new dimension to VJ>

Soon you will be able to browse a shopping area on the website and purchase the same great items in the store.  I am busy taking pictures and listing things when I have time.   The internet store should be available to customers by Aug.  before the great Red Lion Street Fair and Vintage JoAnn Sale!!!!

On a sadder note the outdoor dance has been shelved for the time being.

I’ll post details as they are confirmed.  If you want to help in any way, we would love to have you!!!!  I’d love to get some high school students involved.  I’m already planning what to wear.  And please, someone come over here and teach me how to dance!

One of the things I like about visiting HCAG is that there is absolutely no pressure to do anything except to enjoy the work on display.  The atmosphere is complimented by Handy Concepts Radio which is not only heard in the Gallery but also can be heard on the internet.  Programmed by Mike Anthony, who is also the Gallery’s Marketing Director, the radio station  provides information about the Gallery and the surrounding area as well as great background music. Listen for the spot about Vintage JoAnn!!

Cheryl and Mike go beyond their regular hours to provide all kinds of experiences for people at HCAG.  There’s Football Widows afternoon on Superbowl Sunday and Date Night coming up in February.

Beyond the Gallery, this is a wonderful vintage building lovingly brought back to life by Sandi Graham & Scott Thompson. A 3-story 1929 brick building that has been completely restored inside & out.  Scott & Sandi recently won an award for the design and work on this and one other building here in town.

So come to Red Lion and spend the afternoon at Vintage JoAnn, Handy Concepts, The Ice Cream House (in-season), The Whistle Brew Coffee Stop or any of the other places listed on our “While You’re in the Area” page.

We set up a tent and display in front of the store which my sister in law Becky manned and had loads of clearance items as well as new inventory. I had the store packed with great vintage fashion.

I had sent out a coupon to all my regulars that entered their info in my guest book and advertised.

We sold from 8:30 in the am until almost 4:30.

Thank you loyal customers and new friends!!!!!! Afterwards My hubby bought a bunch of hardshell crabs and corn which we enjoyed with my son Rick JR., his wife Aggie, sister and brother in law Becky and Ken and my cutie pie niece Kristina, age 6, who is the apple of my eye.

Afterwards we went to Macks for ice cream!!!!!!