Aug 24th-27, 2014 Wrapping things up in Shipshewana, leaving for Illinois

Sunday-Wednesday August 24th-27, 2014  We are wrapping up our last couple of days here in Shipshewana, Indiana. We are really looking forward to this day, we are going to meet Lennie's Regional Manager from his MAC Tools days, Dale Guibert & his wife Marge. Dale we saw a couple of years ago, but Marge....we haven't seen her in over 20 years! Boy how quickly times goes by! 

Sundays in Shipshewana is a lot different than Monday-Saturday! Due to the large Amish & Mennonite population, all shops & restaurants are closed on Sundays. Driving down the streets, you can definitely see a traffic difference!

Since no restaurants are open here in Shipshewana, we are meeting Dale & Marge in Elkhart, Ind a further drive for Dale & Marge than for Lennie & I, but it was Dale's idea!

We met at the Cracker Barrel in Elkhart, a great restaurant choice!(I love all restaurants!)

It was fun seeing Dale & Marge again, & we enjoyed a wonderful Cracker Barrel meal!

I don't even need a menu when we go to Cracker Barrel, I always have chicken & dumplings! After we ate, we sat out on the "front porch" & talked for a couple of hours, well until Otis sent Lennie a text that he had to P!(that's the only letter Otis can text!?!)

It was fun seeing old friends again!

Our Monday started off pretty much the same as every day, till we added a little sightseeing! We went to visit a local Cheese Store!

Through these windows you can actually see the cheese being processed!

There's only one reason we go to shops like this.....they have soooo many samples & Lennie LOVES the samples!

Better than the cheese house.....afternoon delight was an Amish Restaurant! Oh Boy.....bring on the buffet!

We end the buffet with a piece of pie, we didn't need, but wanted so badly!?!

Even Otis benefited from our late lunch at the Amish Restaurant, I brought him home a nice piece of roast beef!

Tuesday morning started with rain.....I didn't want a rainy Tuesday as Tuesday is the big Flea Market day in Shipshewana! We stay at home....not much to do on a rainy day!

We had our lunch & then lucky us.....the rain ended! So we're off to the Flea Market!

We better shop fast, still looking a little gloomy                                                                                                              out there!?!

Sold! If I had a way to haul it home!

The best deal at the Flea Market! Homemade Ice Cream!

So we better get in line for it!

I tell you, we were real shoppers, the only thing I bought was a window cling for the shower door, & all Lennie bought was some bungee cords! We got ALL our shopping done before the clouds started rolling in again. Otis is scared of storms so you  know where we're going....right, home!

Otis is always expecting something when we get back, not this time buddy, nothing till dinner. After dinner you'll go on a nice walk!

If Otis looks a little fuzzy, it's because this was an action shot! He was barking at a passing Amish horse & buggy!

Tonight's Sunset!

aaaahhh!

We're calling it a night, let's head back to the RV!

August 21-23, 2014 Taking it easy in Shipshewana, Indiana

Thursday, Friday & Saturday August 21st-23, 2014 Over the next couple of days we were pretty much just taking it easy!We had a couple of rainy days that slowed down our sightseeing. Having been here before, we didn't feel the need to go into town every day. So we had short days that included driving to several of the nearby towns, just looking around with nothing really in mind but to enjoy the drive!

We went to this RV surplus place...OMG, it had everything  RV related in there!!!! Lennie LOVED the place, but after looking at so much surplus, I went out to the car with Otis. Lennie did buy something, what we're looking for is dinette slipcovers.They did have some, but not to fit our dinette cushions! We went to a couple other RV surplus shops over the next few days but we still didn't find what we wanted!!

We also lunched out a couple of times, once at Culver's( I love their Swiss Mushroom Burger!

Lennie chose the "healthy" chicken sandwich!

Another time we had lunch out at a place with a little more class than Culver's!

The South Side Diner!!!!

                      Lennie had chili, I had a grilled Liverwurst sandwich! Yumm!!                                                                                                                                 

This diner was visited by Guy Fieri

& while we're on the topic of food......

The same day we had lunch at the diner, we started our day early, took our coffee from home & drove out to the Rise & Roll Bakery & Deli for a yummy donut!

Lennie had his usual, an Apple Fritter,

I had a chocolate raspberry truffle & it was.....

as good as it looks!!!

                                                                                                         

It was kind of nice doing things without Otis!!! He would have been going crazy with so much Amish traffic on the roads! We never stayed gone too long with Otis on his own. Oh he's trustworthy by himself, but Lennie feels guilty leaving Otis alone for too long!!! Let's hurry up & go to the Farmer's Market before going home to Otis!?!

We did buy some tomatoes & went home & had BLT's & watermelon. Imagine my surprise when I cut into the watermelon & found this....

First time I've ever seen yellow watermelon!?!

Lennie & I weren't the only ones getting a treat out, no Mr McSpoiled got his McDouble whenever Lennie felt we were gone from the RV just a little too long!

Lennie ordering the McDouble!

We'd also gotten a few groceries while we were out. Lennie can't wait to get in to give Otis his treat!

Otis isn't sure which treat he wants first!?!

Except the days it rained....

we enjoyed some beautiful sunsets!

I love sunsets!! I might have said that before!

It was so interesting to be in Amish country to see how completely satisfied the Amish people are to be living in a world with no modern conveniences. The only one not impressed with the Amish was poor Otis, their horse & buggies just drove him crazy!

Then there was some down time too, Lennie has no problem relaxing!?!

 Oh wait........he's actually watching the                                                                                                                  NASCAR race!!!

I think our night is over!