Taking a Break

For the first time in weeks, I decided to take a day off. Some may chuckle when I say that, considering I don’t actually have a full-time job.

Yet, when I combine my “jobs” as Avon Lady, Photographer, Domestic Engineer, Patch Freelancer, Fresh Air Fund Friendly Town Chairperson, Organizer of South Mountain Family Adventurers, Assistant Organizer of Club Mom, wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend … I guess my days fill up with something comparable to work.

Some ask how I do it all. They tell me it exhausts them just hearing about the things I do. Doesn’t everyone do a lot? I don’t know … I just do it. There are 24 hours in a day, why not make the most of them?

But there are definitely moments when I could use a break. Thursday was one of those days.

Sunny skies and 60-degree temps do something to a person … Call it “spring fever.” So I decided it was time to enjoy the break from the cold and venture off to one of my most favorite places – Echo Hill Market.

Somehow many people know about Echo Hill despite it being located in Dryville (who’s heard of DRYVILLE??) and is nothing more than a block building next to a Mennonite farm on a narrow country road. However, inside you’ll find a vast array of all things food-related, many of which are in bulk.

Not only do they offer fresh deli items such as smoked turkey, roast beef and farmer cheese, they also have a complete frozen foods section. Their organic, dairy-free and gluten-free selection is often surprising.

When I posted a query on Facebook as to what some of my friends’ favorite Echo Hill items were, they responded with tapioca pearls, chives, saffron couscous, turkey jerky, sprinkles in every shade of the color wheel, Gatorade powder, fig jam, wheat berries, cinnamon chips for pancakes, mini animal crackers, and a multitude of dried herbs and spices at affordable prices.

For the hunters out there, you’ll find everything you need from venison summer sausage mixes to the casings they go in.

They even sell ear candles!

Some of our personal favorites include salty pretzel balls, trail mix, sesame sticks, yogurt-covered cranberries, French vanilla almond granola, oriental rice snack mix, micro-mini marshmallows, Puffins, fruit leather, Lucky Charms bits, and hexagonal-shaped soup and oyster crackers.

During this last trip, a friend suggested trying the white basmati rice and organic baby French lentils. I’m excited to make soup!

Echo Hill is located just east of Fleetwood, south of Kutztown. The experience of driving down Fleetwood Road (also called State Street) and taking in the sights of our nearest Amish/Mennonite country makes the trip all the better.

Just today we passed three horse-drawn buggies, one filled with a father and his two adorable bonnet-clad girls. A few moments later another older gentleman donning a black-rimmed hat passed us on his bicycle with a basket full of goods.

It never ceases to amaze me that this culture so different from ours stays committed to their 'old-fashioned' lifestyle while living in the midst of our technology, speedy transportation and the hustle-bustle routine most of us follow.

For one minute, I imagined not having my computer, my iPhone, my SUV. My first feeling was one of relief. And then one of anxiety. How would I check my email?!

The simplicity of the infinite farmland dotted with stone barns and mud-covered livestock gives a distinctive character to our region that some of us take for granted.

If you’ve never ventured to Echo Hill Market, I suggest you do. Not only will you fill your pantry with some amazing products, you'll come home with a sense of simplicity. It's those little things in life that matter the most.

I’m so glad I took the day off.