Off to Shipshewana

August 14 – Finally, a fun day!  It’s been such a rough time with the ivy that is was so nice to get to go somewhere that we were looking forward to.  We were supposed to go last Tuesday to Shipshewana but you see how that turned out!  We left about 9:30 for the 2 hours or so drive into Indiana to the big 2 day a week flea market. 

Amish buggies 

It was much busier than our first trip here on the way to Michigan and hotter also.  We paid our $3 to park, took 2 Trader Joe bags and off we went.  We managed to fill one bag with nothing but used books as there were several shops and we did pretty well on the books.  The other bag was filled with Christmas gifts along with a few odds and ends.  Bill bought us some fried pies to bring back to the RV so that was a nice surprise.

It was getting hotter and we were getting hungry and worn down so left our shopping in the truck and walked to the

Red Barn Shoppes

Red Barn Shoppes where they have a little deli type eatery inside a shop with everything related to tea.  I had a nice salad with chicken and bacon while Bill enjoyed a thick BLT.  It gave us a much needed rest and chance to cool off as well.

On the ride down we heard from friends that one of our camping ladies fell and broke her hip while at their summer residence in VA.  Oh no!  We managed to finally connect with Morris, her husband, and get the details and how she’s had hip replacement and doing very well.  Then we found out another couple, Tommy and Betsy, she was still recovering from some back surgery and he had double hernia surgery.  Maybe poison ivy isn’t so bad!  When we all meet up at our October campout it will be all talk of our medical issues!  What a summer!

You can’t go to Shipshewana without stops at the bulk food store and Yoder’s meat and cheese market.  My family loves cheese, good cheese!  I bought Colby, Colby-jack, smoked

A buggy we passed

gouda, summer sausage, pork sausage and scrapple.  Then at the bulk store I got 2 kinds of pretzels for my main man, a horn of baby swiss, more pork sausage and gingerbread mix.  It I had the room we’d sure take a lot more home!  As it was, the fridge was stuffed by the time I got it all arranged and put away.

I checked out the 2 main fabric shops looking for the perfect fabric for a table runner but had no luck.  Lots of beautiful fabric for quilters and crafters for sure.  On the way out I got us each a frappe for the ride home and they were delicious! 

Typical Amish home and farm

The drive home wasn’t bad until a back up in Grand Rapids and we made it though without mishap.  After unloading and putting our spoils away it was time to think about dinner.  Well, as I put the cheese away I took out what was GOING to be eaten and that emptied 3 containers out. 

Nothing on TV tonight so we read.  My eyes are really struggling.  I think I have some issues remaining from the ivy.  My eyes water constantly and even with my glasses things are quite blurry.  Will give it a few days more and see if it clears up any before finding an ophthalmologist.   Would rather see my guy at home but can’t take any chances.