Alice writes:

We just spent a soggy couple of days in Middlebury, IN - Amish country! What a cool experience. Horses and buggies everywhere - even toured the town of Shipshewana by buggy at a blazing speed of about 3 mph. Dined at a local Amish eating spot - all of us so interested in Amish families - buggies tied up in parking lot right next to cars, fresh faces on all the children, beards in all shades and so very friendly to us "gawkers'. We toured the Menno-Hof Amish/Mennonite Visitors Center - wow! A beautiful building built in 6 days as a community project - if you have a chance look this place up on the web. It was nice way to start our time here as we felt as though we had a better understanding of these cultures before we ecountered them. We wondered if you lived here how long it would take to get used to seeing gas lights at night in homes, buggies and bicycles cruising along the road.

While the boys went off today to the RV Heritage Museum in Elkhart, I spent some time on the geat quilt hunt.....had seen some yesterday and couldn't decide so went back to this wonderful Amish home where there was no electricity - looking at quilts on a cloudy day inside was bit of a challenge, but........I found a treasure! I found throw size log cabin pattern that we will take home and use in our cottage. The whole experience of meeting, choosing and then purchasing Edna's handiwork was a memorable experience.

Being in Amish country certainly reminds one to slow down and enjoy the moments and i was nice to have an some extra time here.

We have just arrived in East Harbor State Park, near Port Clinton, OH. Am cooking some beef stew that I put together from farm raised beef and stew base that I picked up this morning in an Amish store on the way out of town. With some crusty home baked bread - we should have a great supper. Boys are outside throwing football, loving stretching their legs after several days of little outside activities b/c of weather. East Harbor State Park is on Lake Erie and we hope to have time to see the lighthouse at Marblehead tomorrow - the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes. This park is beautiful - nice to be out and away from sights and sounds of any city, and NO RAIN! Hope the weather holds as we have plans for a great campfire this evening!