It's Always Summer Somewhere ...

“It’s always summer somewhere.”

     ~ Lilly Pulitzer

       ~1931 ~ 2013

It’s always summer somewhere ~ what a wonderful thought, as summer is my most favorite of seasons!

Kayakers in the distance drift through the beauty of a serene summer afternoon on a beautiful mid-July day on Leaser Lake, in shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania.

Leaser Lake’s namesake is Frederick Leaser, an American patriot who in September 1777 with his farm team hauled The Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown where it was concealed in Zion Reformed Church for protection during the Revolutionary War. His homestead is located one mile north of the lake.

Leaser Lake was built by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for water-oriented recreation and opened for public use in 1971. Lehigh County leases this area from the state and operates and maintains the park. The land north of the lake was purchased by the county in the early 1970s. It is entirely wooded and is used for nature study and as an addition to the State Game Lands No. 217.

 

A Fair Night For Cotton Candy ...

“Being happy never goes out of style.”

        ~ Lilly Pulitzer

          ~1931-2013

A cotton candy stand paints a picture of happy times under the night sky at the 167^th Great Allentown Fair, a local tradition in Allentown, Pennsylvania since 1852. And if you have a yen for sno-kones, popcorn, candy apples and lemonade, they have that too!

The fair ran August 27 – September 2, 2019, a great way to wrap summer!

My personal favorite memory of the fair hands-down happened when I was a child in the 1970s seeing a performance by my first heartthrob, Donny Osmond! Oh, it’s still a thrill to hear him sing “Puppy Love!”

The Great Allentown Fair is an annual fair and agricultural show that is held at the Allentown Fairgrounds. It is operated by the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. It is one of the oldest fairs in the United States, and one of the largest in the state of Pennsylvania.

The fair was first held in 1852 to showcase agricultural advancements and to entertain patrons. It has since evolved to appeal to a broader audience, adding more entertainment and dining options. Although it stays true to its agricultural roots by offering petting zoos, livestock judging contests and a farmer’s market, the modern-day fair focuses more on entertainment; it boasts a carnival, talent shows and concerts.