Shipshewana

Day 16

Our actual address in Holmes County was Millersburg, Ohio, but we were about 1/4 mile outside of Berlin, Ohio. It is a beautiful area and we'd love to go back for a longer visit. We didn't see much of the towns since everything was closed on Sunday (the full day that we were there) and today we decided to get an early start on the road.

The weather has cooled down considerably and today we had some sunshine! We drove to Shipshewana, Indiana. Of course we had to make a few stops on the way.

First stop was the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio, where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed. We were too early for tours or to get inside the fence but we did get a few photos. This place is massive!

        

We made a couple more stops for stretching breaks, and then stopped for lunch. About an hour before our destination, we hit another detour - it feels like this is becoming a habit! We finally stopped near LaGrange, IN at Lehman's Variety Store. It was an interesting Amish store. We saw lots of buggies and a few bicycles on our way to the store. I learned that the Amish in this area are allowed to wear any color they wish although they wear very few patterns. The Amish near us at home wear dark colors - mostly black with the men wearing white or cream colored shirts.

We headed for Shipshewana, IN, where we'll be for a few days. The lady at the visitor center gave us lots of literature and now we need to figure out what to do! We did make a couple stops and I found a little fabric at the The Cotton Corner and Yoder's Department Store. 

I loved the barn quilts on the side of Yoder Shopping Center where both stores are located.

Our rental is nice - clean, quiet, and very comfortable. We are in the country in a lower level walk-out.

We walked to the end of our lane tonight to take pictures of the sunset.

I don't ever recall seeing this much "scribbling" in the sky.

Day 17

We slept in. If there wasn't so much we wanted to do, we might have been very lazy this morning. 

First stop was the Shipshewana Flea Market. We've been to an Amish auction but were told we needed to see this. It is huge and quite an experience. We found some great food to eat and some fruit butters to go home with us. I tried to take pictures but they don't begin to show the magnitude.

We enjoyed the play Dear Soldier Boy this afternoon at the Blue Gate Theater. It was a musical comedy and very entertaining.

We also found time for a little shopping. I was in Lolly's before the play to look and went back afterwards to do a little shopping. There will be a couple of gray quilts in the near future; one with pops of orange and one with teal. The patterns are still formulating in my head as I build a gray stash. The dark piece with colors (on the left) will become a backing for a different quilt. The two larger pieces on the right are backings for the gray quilts.

I just checked for tickets to the Happy Together Tour 2022 that will be here in two days. It would be fun to stay but it's sold out. Maybe next time.

We again walked to the end of our lane for the sunset. It was gorgeous! One of our Amish neighbors was out with his wife and child on an evening buggy ride. It was very peaceful. Our road is closed for roadwork and a bridge out. The only people on the road live within less than 1/4 mile range so it's extra quiet in the evening.

Day 18

This morning we traveled a few backroads. It was a beautiful morning and fun. We made a few stops - bakeries, a furniture shop, and Laura's Amish Fabric Shop. I enjoyed talking with Laura and left with a few treasures. Laura told us that Amish customs have changed some here. She said even though people may wear any color, some don't think they should be wearing bright colors. Today I saw two Amish women in bright red dresses. Laura wore dark green; she's had her store for 41 years so she is a bit older.

I wanted to go to a fabric store in Rome City but there is a lot of construction that way so we decided to forego that. I think that means we have to come back!

We found a local spot for lunch - Country Corral - it was full of local people, both Amish and English. Although the restaurant had varying reviews, we had a great meal and would definitely go back. 

This afternoon we went back to the Blue Gate Theater for a concert, 2022 Salute to the Stars - Classic Rewind, including tributes to Elvis, Patsy Cline and Roy Orbison. We both enjoyed it. The singers were quite good and the music was great!

We walked quite a bit after that and shopped some but didn't buy much. We were going to eat at the Food Truck Rally and  Jam Session but checked out the trucks and decided nothing sounded that good to us. I think we are just tired. We came home and ate.

Now Ray is out photographing a new lily blossom and the local sandhill cranes.

We once again walked to the end of the lane for the sunset. You might be able to see some horses in the first picture.

Today our road was blacktopped. It's not finished but it's nice! Tonight, I'm guessing there were 3 families gathered by the bridge that was out. (about 300 feet from our lane) Our host said families gather most nights to see the work that was accomplished each day. A couple of the Amish young men took turns riding an electric unicycle, something like the one I linked. The one fellow knew little about it (I think his English neighbor owned it) but said speeding up and slowing down was done by leaning forward and backward. It was his first time trying the thing and he was having great success. About 6 or 7 Amish children ran by us at one point and said they were going to the next lane. They soon returned riding in a pony cart! 

It was an enjoyable, peaceful evening in the country. We'll leave this area tomorrow.