82-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 8, 1987 Dottie Bard Offers Her Home & Dinner to Guests QUARRYVILLE It was cows, not cooking, that attracted Dottie Bard’s interest in 4-H as a youngster growing up in southern Lancaster County. Now, however, it is Do'ttie’s cooking ability that is going to benefit current 4’H’ers. One of the items to be sold dur ing the 4-H benefit auction at the Solanco Fairgrounds on August 19 is a prime rib dinner for four at Dottie’s home south of Quarryville. Dottie and her husband Ronald have been opening their home for family style dinners for the past two years, and Dottie thought offering the auctioned dinners jttie con. r paren\ ,a. iw her to take marimba lessons Instead of an accordion, and now she plays the marimba and the organ for her own enjoyment and in her church. Solanco Auction Benefits Local 4-H’ers LANCASTER Benefit auc tions are very much a part of Lan caster County organizations, and the 4-H clubs of the county are in the second year of establishing their own auction tradition. As a means of providing more opportunities to the County’s near ly 4,000 4-H’ers, 4-H AgentZoann Parker organized the first auction last summer which raised $3300. This year she is hoping for a big ger, better auction with more funds being provided to assist the 4-H program. The benefit auction will take place as part of the expanded three day 4-H Fair being held this year at , which will be sold to benefit Lancaster County 4-H’ers at the benefit auction to be held on August 19 at Sol anco Fairgrounds In Quarryville. In addition to the and crosstitched •pillows, there are a wide variety of wooden crafts being offered. were a good way to benefit the 4-H program, a program she enjoyed being part of during her growing up years. Tlie lucky bidder will be treated I to the family style dinner served in the dining room of her home, appe alingly decorated in “country.” In addition to the entree, guests can choose an appetizer, homemade soups, vegetables and any one of her many desserts. Her chocolate cake is the first pick of most guests, with carrot cake running a close second. The chocolate cake recipe is from her mother, and Dot tie says with a smile, “My husband married me for my chocolate the Solanco Fair Grounds in Quar ryville on August 18, 19 and 20. According to Parker, the auction will highlight the second evening of the Fair, Wednesday, August 19, and will begin at 6:00 p.m. Prior to the auction there will be a chicken barbecue sponsored by the Quarryville Lions Club and the Penn Manor 4-H club. In this Penn State Nittany Lion Country, perhaps one of the most exciting items is a football auto graphed by Joe Patemo. Patemo, a stomg supporter of young people, is one of the featured speaker at this year’s Pennsylvania 4-H Week held at the University this cake.” Dottie acknowledges that she “talked about offering dinners in her home fora long time before she actually began doing it.” She recalls, “I needed encouragement from Mother.” She took the plunge at the same time her husband Ronald resigned from his job with Farm Credit to work independently as a financial consultant. She ran an ad for two weeks in the local weekly paper, and then removed it because she had such a good response. Since then the word has spread strictly by word of mouth, so Dottie says it is always like having friends because visitors know someone who has been there. Dottie works fulltime at the Murry Insurance Agency in Quar ryville. She notes, “I have a list of things to do before I go to work and another one when I get home from work.” It is not unusual for her to bake a cake before going to work while her husband turns ice cream. The Bards only open their home to guests on Wednesday and Fri day evenings and Saturday. When they are having guests on Friday evening, Dottie frequently goes to the Lancaster Central Market to get fresh foods. She says, “I am there at 5:00 a.m., and it only takes me about 20 minutes. I know which slandholders I want to visit, and they know what I want. My husband and I leave with our bags full very quickly.” Dottie comments, “I like to serve as many fresh fruits and veg etables as possible. I freeze all my own com and only serve that. I make my own applesauce in the fall.” She notes, “I stick to Pennsylva nia Dutch cooking. I don’t do gourmet cooking, but I do prime rib and chicken cordon bleu which is not strictly Pennsylvania Dutch.” Dottie adds, “I do all the cook ing. My husband serves, and with large groups my son helps as well as my brother and sister-in-law. week. Seven quilts are being featured this year, each one donated by an anonymous “Friend of 4-H.” The quilts, fine examples of Lancaster County workmanship, are in a var iety of colors, patterns and colors. There is a star log cabin quilt, a log cabin, a dated quilt with a “tree of life,” a bear claw pattern and a red bird pattern. There are also several wall hangings, and a comforter, wall hanging and two matching pillows. Benefit auctions have the repu tation of having something for everyone, and this one is no excep (Turn to Page B 5) fc«Si ss. w 9 ■ -m i / is- Visitors are often welcomed itc .me through this door. A mat inside the back door states this philosophy: “Back Door Friends are Best.” Dottle enjoys the opportunity to meet new friends through her food service. My parents enjoy washing dishes. It really is an 'all family’ project.” She prides herself in having all fresh ingredients and cooking everything fresh on the day it is to be served. The secret tosuccess is simply; “I make a list and do all preparing of food that day. I enjoy cooking.” They serve only one sitting, and only one group, so there is no feel ing of being rushed. Often a group _ q< the Bear Claw pattern is one of seven that will be sold as part of the second 4-H Bene fit Auction on August 19 at Solanco Fairgrounds. The quilt measures 90”x113” and was donated by an anonymous “friend of 4-H." homestead tMoifS uses their basement room to hold a meeting after eating the meal. Doltie enjoys having people tell her that they like the “homey atmo sphere,” or the feeling that “they don’t have to hurry.” She rejects the idea of opening more evenings a week, saying, “Now it is fun and a hobby. It would become a job if I opened more often.” Doltie also enjoys visiting with (Turn to Page B 4) •aSjb
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