So I recently had this wonderful opportunity to get away from it all to this charming rustic farmhouse property. Though just a scant 30-minute drive from my home in Bethlehem, I felt I was a world away from everything at Hemphill Farm in Alburtis.
Dating back to the 1870s, the three-bedroom farm is fully operational with its collection of chicken coops, pastures full of sheep (plus one adorable little goat named Ginger), and thriving herb and vegetable gardens.
We arrived to Hemphill on a rather rainy Friday night, but awoke to crisp morning sunshine as it streamed through the leaves of the enormous trees on the farm's front lawn, for just a moment Gone with the Wind's Tara came to mind. Emerging from the squeaky front porch screen door that morning, I spied a small and perfectly rusted triangle dangling in the breeze off the front porch eve.
I found a comfy set of wicker chairs with cozy pillow tops and settled in for a good lung's worth or two of rare country air. My cup of tea that morning was enjoyed with a repertoire of continuously drifting cumulus clouds followed by huge bright blue synapses of sky. I was in my Saturday morning version of Heaven.
I could hear the goats grazing and mumbling as they do in the far off pasture and I wondered why it took me so long to take this time to unwind. When I first heard of the pastoral property from a friend I knew I had to interrupt my busy schedule and experience it. Of course, I brought a bunch of magazines with me, and the farm offers guests Internet access and cable TV.
As I eased into the double bed in my room adorned with simple vintage wallpaper the night before, I puffed up the pillows to the headboard and settled in for a good old-fashioned night of reading. This has actually become a somewhat guilty pleasure for me these days, as complete exhaustion generally overtakes me in my real-world days before my eyes can scroll a line of text. Intermittent pellets of rain struck the windows against a backdrop of otherwise pure silence.
Fresh eggs had been gathered from the hen houses early that next morning and provided a wonderfully simple scrambled egg breakfast with a dash of pepper and tomatoes fresh from the garden. Coffee brewed alongside the kitchen window overlooking the sun on the back pasture. A young rabbit hoped across the yard as we considered our options for that evening's dinner.
Now, there are a number of fine dining experiences within minutes of the farm, including Savory Grille in Macungie, but since our time that weekend was limited, we decided to hit a local grocer—there is one small market in the general vicinity but plenty of shopping options in nearby Emmaus.
Our knowledgeable innkeeper directed us to Radcliff's Market in Mertztown and highly recommended their deli's secret recipe fried chicken. This was great advice. We added that to our basket of locally baked goods, market-made deli salads (there were seven different varieties of potato salad alone at Radcliff's) and fresh vegetables and cheeses. We were set for the duration of our stay at the farm.
The picnic table out front made the perfect spot for a late lunch that warm and sunny Saturday afternoon, after which we took a good stroll of the grounds and fed the animals—well animal. It seemed that the sheep were a tad people-shy, but Ginger the goat was more than happy to partake of the feed. We literally had her eating right out of our hands.
It's amazing what a few days of quiet reflection can do for the psyche. I can truthfully say that we did not turn the TV on the entire weekend. Instead, we focused on the lost art of conversation over a glass of great wine and partook of an amazing sunset from the front porch.
Should you be looking for a more adventurous stay at Hemphill, there are also plenty of nearby activities including skiing at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort that will satisfy your need to get moving and doing.
To date, this quaint escape has attracted visitors from near and far including the UK and Saudi Arabia. It has also been the home-away-from-home for cyclists competing at the nearby Lehigh Valley Velodrome.
For more information on this tranquil alternative to the big box hotel, visit them online and enter the number 384029 in the search field.
I definitely hope to visit again in the winter, light a fire in the living room and lift my seasonal doldrums with a great change of scenery just minutes from home.
