Today as a treat... I took my mom and my daughter to Erway's Family Restaurant in Coudersport, PA. The Erway family has been in the area for several generations, and are in the farming business. I remember always getting Erway's Dairy milk... and going to the barns to see the cows. Now... there is a restaurant (*think a smaller Cracker Barrel)... a old time candy section... a farmer's market type fruits and vegetables area.... feed for birds, dogs, cats and such... and in the spring/summer/fall months... there is a huge plant section. It's always fun to wander about and see what's available.
So... today we ate an early supper in the restaurant (I had a Philly Cheese steak with all the goodies... homemade fries.. and a cold coke. Kristin had a crab cake sandwich with homemade applesauce and potato chips, and mom had a deluxe chicken salad with homemade rolls).
But-- most people go to Erway's for the fresh homemade pie. Their menu features 13 different kinds of fresh pie... served with local made Perry ice cream in any flavor they have.
The photos show our servings of Blackberry pie... with black raspberry ice cream for Kristin; and vanilla bean for me. (total bill was $35... 3 entrees, 3 drinks, 2 desserts)
Then we went out to the various other areas... and in what is usually the plants section.... were these huge bins of baby chicks (Rhode Island reds, a black variety, and a golden variety). I am against the selling of baby chicks, ducks, and bunnies at Easter. To me... it encourages people to buy these little babies for small children who are (for the most part) too rough on them... and lose interest after a week or so... leaving the poor creatures unattended... abandoned... set "free"... or doomed to perish in a small cage somewhere.
Now. I know that the farmers/ranchers need to earn a living... I just feel bad for the animals.
Having personally owned/ rescued several bunnies over the years... I know all too many bad stories of mistreated critters who were originally gotten as an "Easter pet."
So... getting off my soapbox.... Erway's was doing an awesome job with the animals. They were in large, safe bins with clean litter.... lots of fresh food and water... and warming lamps for the chicks. The bins were tall enough that most little kids couldn't randomly grab at the animals or tease them. The bunnies even had some cardboard on the walls so that they wouldn't chew at the plastic on the bins... and it would give them something safe to nibble and scratch at. I give them many many props.
(these 2 photos are by Kristin.. and show the cause and effect of my actions)And I suppose that I am no better.... having seen their cute cuddliness... I was immediately drawn in. I took a few photos (no flash... and I did not disrupt the critters). And I only very briefly held the tiniest of the bunnies who had somehow gotten stuck mostly under the cardboard walls and seemed stuck.... so I helped him up and out.... gave him a little snuggle (while my daughter took a photo) ... and put him very gently back with his siblings. Mind you... I held him for maybe a minute or two at tops.... and as you can see from this photo.... I immediately got red eyes and much swelling/ itching and such.
I have always been allergic to most every animal... but after years of having rescue rabbits... I became increasingly allergic to them. But... I simply ADORE rabbits. ... and could not resist.
Was it worth it? You betcha :)
(photo of me holding the baby bunny ...by Kristin)
(all other photos by Elaine A. Russell)