Walking into the log cabin that Shirley Harms shares with her husband, Ned, in Conestoga, one gets the feeling that good things are about to happen. Fun things. Unexpected things.
 
Maybe it was the smell of gingerbread cookies in the air that set the stage for anticipation. Or more likely, it was Shirley Harms herself.
 
Sitting at her kitchen table, Shirley talks--no, gushes--about the activities and adventures that she has shared with her children and grandchildren. There are stories of puppet-making (out of her old wedding dress, no less), mini golf course construction, imaginary elves that report to Santa, cooking, sock snowballs for throwing in the house and "Grammy Camp," a concept she invented for creative teaching and playing with her grandchildren during the summer months. She pulls a photo album from the shelf. Inside are images of her grandchildren beaming in delight over crafts and field trips that they experienced during "camp."
 
And then there are the gnomes.
 
Strolling through her property with 10 Rhode Island Red chickens at her heels, Shirley points out the various places that the little people have set up residence, thanks to her imagination and Ned's handiwork. There is a recreational area, a pool, a string of condos, a nursery for gnome babies and a meeting place for the dreaded owls--the arch enemy of gnomes. Two of Shirley's grandchildren eagerly point out the little red hats that dot the mini-landscape. (These are signs that gnomes are out and about.) It's a place where children can lose themselves in pretend.
 
"We're making traditions," says Shirley simply. And the inspiration for these traditions are her grandchildren.
 
With gnome-catcher in hand (a stick with fancy ribbons and a small basket), Shirley seems to be at the ready to experience something new. Her daughter, Courtney, supports this notion, recalling the family road trips her mom planned for her and her sister, Kimberly, to places like Gettysburg and nature preserves. These excursions were always opportunities to learn something. "'Come on, girls,' she'd say," Courtney recalls. "'There'll be boys there.' Of course, there never were!"
 
"I'm passionate for learning," Shirley explains. "But then I want to turn around and teach it."
 
Between these stories of being a mother and grandmother, Shirley offers a glimpse into her life as a young woman in the '60s. Her participation in the Brethren Volunteer Service allowed her to see and experience other parts of the country. There was the time she hitchhiked from Washington, D.C., to York with a friend. And the terrifying night she spent hiding in a hospital basement during the Chicago riots that followed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. 
 
It's suddenly obvious. Adventure, learning, life-enriching experiences ... Shirley doesn't hunt for them. She finds inspiration in the people and world around her, and then they appear. Perhaps she is proof that if you find a thrill in new discoveries and have an eagerness to learn, anything can happen.
 
Even catching a gnome.
 
 
Family: Husband, Ned, married 40 years; children Courtney, 38, Kimberly, 37; grandchildren Bobby, 14, Everett, 6, Jack, 5, Spencer, 4, and Maggie, 3.
 
Pets: 10 Rhode Island Red chickens, five fish and a cat, Woody.
 
Employment: Sixth-grade language arts teacher at Martin Meylin Middle School in Lampeter. 

How I met my husband: We met at the National Institute of Health, as volunteers for a cholesterol study. The doctors said, "You should check out that guy down the hall." 

My favorite spot in Lancaster County: Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve.

The best shortcut I take: I'm a multitasker. I keep my chores in line and never leave a room without carrying something into another.

The book currently on my nightstand: "Outliers, The Story of Success," by Malcolm Gladwell.

My ideal weekend: Adventure! To take a short road trip and see something new.

I'm passionate about: Learning and teaching. And, after [I retire], I would like to work in a nature center. I can name trees, edibles, etc. I want to be a naturalist!
 
The music I prefer: It depends. If I'm cleaning, then soft rock. Dancing, soul. To get rid of stress, I listen to Celtic music.
 
Exercise of choice: Walking. 

How I indulge: Friday night date nights. We go out to eat, like for pizza, and cool down from the week.

A surprising fact about me: My hitchhiking trip from D.C. to York. A hearse even picked us up and missed three of his exits just to continue talking!
 
Favorite TV shows: Sitcoms, like "Scrubs" and "Friends." Although [my husband and I] prefer romantic comedies to TV.

The most influential people in my life: My mom, my dad and my husband. Each has enriched my life.

Person I'd like to meet most: Oprah Winfrey or Michelle Obama.
 
The best dish I make: "Any pie," says daughter Courtney with much enthusiasm. Everyone loves my Thanksgiving dinner. 
 
What I always told my kids: Be fair and be true to yourself. Communicate the good and bad, and there will be a solution to your problem.

Photo: November Mom of the Month Shirley Harms, upper right, is shown with her grandsons Spencer Barry, 4, Everett Barry, 6, and her daughter, Courtney Barry, of Lancaster.

Photo credit: Suzette Wenger.