It’s the beginning of harvest and we’re enjoying the flowers, fruits, veg and sweet corn that are available in proliferation here in the country. New Wilmington’s Fresh Market, local farms and roadside stands are bursting with flavor. This is ‘the season’ here.
Noble home office. Menu writing. Tomatoes in need of processing. The big zucchini.
The hum of summer bugs are a constant reminder that it isn’t over, yet. We humans designate fall too early. The sunflowers still turn their yellow heads to follow their favorite star. Tomatoes are just starting to turn red, yellow or purple but most are still green. Garlic and shallots are drying in garden sheds, kitchens and even home offices. The lakes and rivers are warm. Time to swim. Time to hike or camp. Time to explore. Deep summer.
Exploring the nearby Allegheny with O.A.R.S.
No leaves are turning, but in this pocket of Pennsylvania, where I spent my childhood and we now raise our children, some wordless receptors recognize the more subtle signs of change: the constant drone of those bugs; the fleeting arid breezes that don’t make sense in this Northeastern jungle but whisper hints of autumn to come; earlier sunsets with deeper drama; the cooler nights and, if you keep a garden, the heavy stems and branches. All is ripening.
Getting out on The Square for the 15 Mile Yard Sale this August.
Change is constant onsite at The Tavern. The decision-making hasn’t slowed down. It’s dizzying but exciting. We have a solid plan for each room and it’s coming together. Matt and contractors, Nate Heckathorn and TJ Rollinson and their crews, are solving problems and making progress.
Raising the roof of the old banquet room took the whole team.
General Manager, Evan Filip is working hard at standard operating procedures, employee training materials and hiring with a winter cocktail menu heavy on his mind.
I am wearing all those fun hats I get to try on: designer, menu developer, puppy trainer, teacher and now retailer.
Our latest drop at The Mercantile online.
I’ve been digging through local antique shops finding some great gems to share at the restaurant and Mercantile. We’ve opened up our online shop and the inventory is growing weekly. I get to design shirts and hats. I’m working with artists and local Amish craftspeople to bring their work into our store. Again, dizzying but exciting. Like the smell of these ripe peaches sitting on my counter next to me, it’s deep, rich and demands action.
The new front door and the Mercantile facade on the right are coming into focus.
Thank you for your continued positivity and enthusiasm for this project. It is everything right now. We are all in. Living and breathing it. Sharing this experience with you has made it all the more rewarding. We can’t wait to open the doors and see your smiling faces at the tables.
With gratitude,
Maggie Noble
