October 8 to 10 - Battle Creek, Michigan and Shipshewana, Indiana
The stop in Battle Creek, Michigan to visit Aunt Carol and Uncle Arden was filled with love, family time, and a trip to Shipshewana, Indiana. We also had a lovely family dinner at Mike’s cousin Trent’s Restaurant, Lucky Rooster (dinner was outstanding!). After dinner we visited his cousin’s Tony and Kara’s home and adorable little farm.
Aunt Carol and Uncle Arden took me on a lovely drive to visit a sweet Amish community in Shipshewana, Indiana. I was instructed that photos were okay, but perhaps they did not want you to take photos of them personally. This made me quite shy to take any photos at all, but I did manage to take a few.
So, of course I had to look up a few things about the Amish, primarily because I was under the misguided notion they all lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Turns out there are 31 states that have a significant Amish population. Who knew? Also, in the last 20 years the Amish population has doubled to about 335,000. Such a surprise!
A great big thank you to Aunt Carol and Uncle Arden for the fantastic time and warm hospitality. All my love.
P.S. Gosh, they are great cooks! Uncle Arden’s cinnamon bread was delicious and Aunt Carol’s orange upside down French toast was the bomb!! (I stole the recipe)! No wonder Trent is such a good cook!
Shipshewana, Indiana Amish community.
Buggy parking outside of E & S Sales, a bulk food grocery store. It was an amazing experience grocery shopping alongside the Amish, just doing an every day chores. Their preferred store had similar aspects to a Sprouts in San Diego. All the checkers were Amish.
Where the modern world and the old world collide.
Loved this clothesline method. It’s on pullies and hoisted high in the air. How cools is this!?
Trent’s restaurant.So good! If you’re ever in Battle Creek, Michigan, it’s a must do!
Trent Mead, the chef!
Dinner with the Mead’s.
Aunt Carol and Uncle Arden.
End of summer sunflower in the Mead’s yard.
Sleeping bee’s in the morning.
Cleome blooms
Macy and her rabbit and pet goat. She’s very active in 4H.
Treysen’s showing the Mable syrup the made from their 17 maple trees in the backyard. Tapped their open maple trees!!
The Mead’s.
Macy’s adorable pet goat.