"I would say the two biggest blessings in my life have been my house burning down and diabetes," wrote Kirkwood resident Richard Humpfreys. "That may seem like a strange thing to say, but one thing I have learned is that so much of life depends upon your attitude."

Ever since he was 14 years old, Humpfreys has lived with Type 1 diabetes, but this disease has never held him back from pursuing his dreams and doing what makes him happy. Humpfreys applied to the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in 1961 and, while enrolled, went on a two-month-long road trip to the West Coast. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in education from MICA in 1965, and two years later, he found himself working as a middle school art teacher in Quarryville. After getting married in June 1967 and securing teaching jobs, Humpfreys and his then-wife, Mary Lou Crittenden, moved to Alaska for a year, and after the school year ended, they decided to travel around Europe. After their trip, they were ready to return to Lancaster County and settle into their new lives in Kirkwood.

A side effect of diabetes is eye hemorrhaging, and by 1980, both of Humpfreys' eyes had hemorrhaged. Although he received laser treatment, which stabilized his vision for a few years, Humpfreys knew that his vision problems would negatively impact his teaching career. While thinking of other ways to make a living, Humpfreys remembered stories and traditions he heard from indigenous people in Denmark and Iceland about little people who dwell in the woods. Humpfreys thought of the little people as gnomes, so he decided he would create a nature trail on his property, where he would tell stories and look for gnomes with children. This was how Gnome Countryside was born.

"When children visit Gnome Countryside, I greet them in my gnome outfit: lederhosen, hiking boots, a red gnome hat, and big oversized sunglasses," said Humpfreys. "The children always laugh at my outfit. I love to hear children laughing."

Each visit starts with an introduction in the Gnomery, where Humpfreys shows children gnome artifacts and talks about the lore of the little people. Then comes the trail, which is about a half-mile long. Visitors see Gnomehenge, Gnome Canyon, - one of the Nine UnGnome Wonders of the World - the Gnome Playground, Gnome Niagara, and along the way, children are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild.

On March 24, 2014, the 237-year-old American Chestnut log house where Humpfreys and his then-wife had lived for 37 years and raised three children burned down. Humpfreys noted that although it didn't seem like it at the time, his house burning down was an unexpected blessing. "Without the house fire, I would not have this wonderful new house with the many improvements that have been made on the property because of it," he said. "And without diabetes, I never would have started Gnome Countryside."

Gnome Countryside is located at 63 Bridle Path Road, Kirkwood. To learn more, call 717-786-4928 or visit http://www.gnomecountryside.org.