John and Virginia Frank are mighty busy this week. The couple, long active in all things rural in West Friendship, are readying for the 14th annual Howard County Farm Heritage Days. The three day celebration of West Friendship's rural roots, is set for Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25-27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The celebration will be held at the Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum, in West Friendship.

Located on Route 144, just across from the Howard County Fairgrounds, the museum and grounds are really taking shape. Thanks to the hard work of the Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club membership, the museum is becoming the reality that club president John Frank and fellow club members have dreamed of. Virginia Frank hopes the community will stop by to see the amazing changes that have been made at the museum.

The family celebration will be held rain or shine and will include vintage farm equipment demonstrations, wagon rides, food, arts and crafts, a blacksmith exhibit and old time threshing demonstrations.

Part of the three day tribute to all things rural, is the club's annual consignment sale and auction. The sale, which boasts antiques, farm machines and tools, will be held Saturday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. at the Living Farm Heritage Museum, 12985 Frederick Road, in West Friendship.

Art Boone and John Frank will play with their respective bluegrass bands, Southwest Bluegrass and Lone Mountain on Saturday and on Sunday. A bake sale, flea market, a country auction and tours of the museum are on the bill of fare.

Questions about the Farm Heritage Days? Go to the club Web site at www.farmheritage.org.

If you've never visited a Decorator Show House this is the year to do it. The 25th Annual Historic Ellicott City Decorator Show House features Walnut Grove, 5192 Sheppard Lane, an estate which was built around 1780, the home of Col. Gassoway Watkins, of the Army of the Revolution.

Area designers have had a huge part in decorating the home. Ingrid Melber, of Westwood Antiques, has livened the place up with her usual rustic elegance. Wanda Matthews, a West Friendship designer has designed a stately dining room setting. Jodie Perez and Karen Hancock of The Pink Cabbage have supported the show house endeavor and are acting as docents this year.

The show house will be open to visitors until Oct. 18 with hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For ticket information, directions or questions, call the Historic Ellicott City office at 410-461-6908 or go to the Web site at www.historicec.com. Tickets may be purchased locally at The Pink Cabbage, on Route 144, and at Westwood Antiques, on Triadelphia Road.

Speaking of the Pink Cabbage, the vendors are so thrilled to celebrate the third birthday of this local antique emporium that they are inviting the community for cupcakes and coffee. The patronage appreciation days are set for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Pink Cabbage Shop , 11707 Frederick Road at the corner of Triadelphia Road.

Everything's got a shine this weekend at the Howard County Fairgrounds when the Atlantic Coast Gem and Mineral Expo presents jewelry, gem and mineral dealers from all over the United States. The expo is set for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an admission fee of $5 for adults.

Jewelry making demonstrations and gem cutting exhibits are just some of the varied gem and mineral activities planned. For more information, call 410-832-5906 or go to www.gemcuttersguild.com.

Congratulations to Christine and Larry La Guardia who welcomed baby daughter Gianna Sue to the world Sept. 14. Baby Gianna weighed in at a healthy 9 pounds, 2 ounces. Big brother Larry II couldn't be more pleased. The same goes for boastful and proud grandparents Susan and Larry La Guardia, of West Friendship, and Jon and Debbie Ward, of Las Cruces, N.M. Congratulations to this delightful young family.

Nancy Stanley called with interesting news of her traveling adult children Ryan and Colleen Stanley. Nancy and Joe Stanley love to live vicariously through the adventures of their son and daughter who can boast of having visited 49 of the United States -- maybe a trip to No. 50 should be in order soon. Colleen Stanley can admit to having visited every continent, except Antarctica. Currently, Ryan and his sister, Colleen, are in Africa. The brother and sister climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, spent a week capturing amazing sights during a photographic safari and are finishing up their African adventure on the coast of Zanzibar. Now that's traveling!

All branches of the Howard County library except the Central Library, will be closed Monday, Sept. 28 as a furloough day for its employees. The closings are part of an attempt to save money because of budget constraints. The Central Library will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on that day.

Janet Sowers and the gang at St. James United Methodist Church have openings for craft or yard sale vendors for the church yard sale to be held on Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no fee for the vendors. Interested? Call the church office at 410-442-2020.

Kudos to the parishioners of Church of the Resurrection who collected more than 180 backpacks and school supplies for the students of St. Katharine School and the St. Ambrose Outreach Center, in Baltimore.

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