Vacationing in Amish Country

Hello  friends,  After being away so long,,,  I am trying so hard to get back on schedule.  But I have  to tell you something I am really proud of.  After not meeting my quota at this years craft show,  I have decided to make  try to make something for the show every week all year so that this won't happen and I won't have to get in a hurry next year.  Well,, so far so good.  Finished up a few stitcheries so far this month, little pumpkins, and 3 of these guys.  Don't you just love them?  I had never made a black jack before until this show and they sold right away on Sat. morning.  And guess what?  Holly and I both made us one.  WooHoo.  I rarely have anything that I make.

Okay,,, now on to our vacation.  We left on Tuesday after lunch and drove to Pigeon  Forge, TN, where we stayed the night.  We visited the new area not long opened called The Island.  They have a huge ferris wheel.  It changes colors while running as was beautiful.

 

We had a great supper at Cheddars and then were ready for bed.  We had a long drive still ahead of us come morning. 

 

 

We were on our way to Berlin, Ohio.  It is right in the middle of a huge Amish and Mennonite settlement.  Oh, we just love it up there.  Primitive shopping is everywhere and Mr. P. says the antiques in some areas are reasonable compared to around home. 

 

 

 

Love those huge witch's boots.

 

This is the porch of my favorite shop right on main street.  I really did some damage in that store.  I think we shopped there three different times.

 

Would have loved to brought this home with me, too.

 

We also love to ride the country side and enjoy the beautiful farms and the hard, but simple way of life for those that own them.  We were so excited when we came upon a barn raising.  We have seen pictures and read about them in the Amish books, but was thrilled to be able to watch.  We did at a distance so as to give them their privacy.

 

It was coming up lunch time when we drove by.  These big tents were up and the ladies were preparing  the noon meal for the men.  There were buggies and bicycles everywhere. 

 

The men were hard at work on the roof.

 

This was on Saturday afternoon.  Almost finished.  Just needed to add the doors,  Even has sky lights.  Was amazing seeing how the community came together to get  a task done.

 

We were driving down a very crooked country road and came up behind this buggy.  Thought it was funny that I snapped the picture right beside the Speed Limit Sign.  What??? No way you could go that speed on that country road.  Was tickled pink Mr. P. could not see far enough to go around the buggy.  Such a pleasant ride.  {hehe}

 

 

We always shop the market and buy butter and cheese to bring home,. Mr. P thought this horse and buggy was  cool.  What a great idea to have a trailer to pull behind it

 

 

On Saturday in Berlin was the annual Harvest Day Sidewalk sale, rib cook off and parade.  Last year it rained and most was canceled, but this year it was a beautiful day.  We were staying right on the street so we had a perfect spot to watch the activities from the steps of our hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

Families were coming from everywhere to watch.  All the kids had buckets and bags awaiting all the candy to be thrown from the floats.  I so enjoyed watching , This little boy was just precious.  I could hardly take my eyes off him

 

 

What a fun evening we had watching the tractors, and floats as they came by on the parade route.  After the parade we decided to go to our favorite Amish Restaurant to have our last big meal in Amish Country before we started on our journey back into TN, on Sunday to stay the night,

 

 

Love all the quilts on display in the restaurant.

 

We left around lunch on Sunday morning.  Everything in town is closed anyway.  We drove through Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia before finally reaching our Stop over for the night.  I love the long tunnels we go through.  We don't have tunnels here.

 

 

Although I love my home, we had such a great time on vacation, coming home was kind of sad.  We did stay over and do a little more shopping in TN, before finally getting back to GA. late on Monday night.  Holly had fixed supper for us.  I really missed my girls, but enjoyed our time away.  I got a few goodies to remind me of a great time,

 

 

Hope you have enjoyed traveling through Amish country with me.  It is a wonderful place to visit if you are given a chance to go. 

 

Until next time...

Our Annual Craft Show ,,, Now A Memory

Hello Friends.  I am not going to apologize for my absence because I have been so busy.  As most of you crafters know this is a very busy time of the year for crafting with all the fall shows.  I had to buckle down and work really hard the last month to have items made for our Labor Day show. I was blessed to have Holly and Darbee Rae come one day and help.  Darbee loved sanding for me.

   It is a 3 day show in our home town and we have been doing it for years.  I was a slacker this year and did not meet my quota that I should have gotten done.  But that is okay.  Mr. P. had his re purposed furniture which brings lots more money.  Actually I only have a few tables and use his furniture to display my items.  We did have a wonderful show despite the heat. 

 

Just love having lots of customers waiting on us when we open.

All these pieces were going home with one couple early on Saturday morning.  I really think I enjoyed this show better than any in years past.  We have so many customers who come and visit every year.  This year one lady brought pictures of her vintage/country farmhouse kitchen.  She had used many items she had purchased over the years from Mr. P.  Let me tell you, it was magazine material.  Beautiful.!     This year she purchased a chippy old white mantel and said it was going into her dining room, and would be sure to bring pictures back next year to show us.

 

Meeting new customers is always fun too.  We had a lady whose husband is on a work visa here from the Netherlands.  She bought a big heavy white bench Mr. P. had built and had an old 6 panel wood door for the back.  She ask if she paid extra would he put it on rollers and deliver it to her home.  He agreed and on Sunday afternoon our son -in-law went with him to deliver it in a neighboring city.  He came back saying the house was huge, in a gated community on the golf course, and ALL her furniture was on rollers.  Hmmmm, wonder if that is a common thing in her country.  She assured him when they went back home it would be on the container to go back to her country with her.  How neat to have a piece of Mr. P's furniture going so far away.

 

This year I added a fruit stand to my craft items.  It was so much fun watching folks come by and think the watermelons and peaches were real.  They were the hit of the show and once word got around all the vendors were coming over to see them.  They were made by  patterns from Make Me A Memory.  I so enjoyed making them.

 

 

 

A close up of the watermelons and peaches.

 

 

 

 

Some more random photos from the show.  Ornaments are my biggest sellers,  While stitcheries run a close race.  I am sorry we did not get a picture of the whole booth. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These tussie muses were new and a great seller.  They were from a Dee Duncan pattern.

 

As always Mr. P. had his chairs and flowers.  This was my favorite one this year and the first one to sell early Saturday morning.  It was planted in an old sewing machine cabinet.

 

 

 

This photo was taken on Sunday afternoon, and you can see clearly how empty the booth had become. And we still had one more day to go.

 

 

Well another year has come and gone and I would like to say thank you to our family, friends, and loyal customers that support us every year.  Thank you to all the new customers and new friends we made at this show and hope to see you again next year.

 

So.....did we take a long rest once the show was over??? No,,, on Tuesday we left out for a much needed vacation.  Can't wait to share those photos with you in my next post.

 

Thank you all for stopping by.  I haven't forgotten my giveaway that will come up soon.  Stay tuned. Hope you all have a wonderful evening.  Until next time.