Amish Country

Last week several of us traveled to Amish country in Pike County, Missouri.  One of the ladies in our group lived in the area for several years and acted as our tour guide.  There had been a threat of rain all week but the day turned out to be cool and clear.  The perfect kind of day for a ride in the country!

The Amish community was preparing for their annual school auction the following day so there was lots of activity.  Many people, both young and old, were out in their buggies transporting their auction items to the field where the event was to take place.  This community has several schools and they are all supported financially from the proceeds of this auction. 

 

I wanted to be respectful of the Amish.  They dislike having their pictures taken.  I tried not to get any photos with people. 

 

 



This is the site for the auction.  According to our guide, the auction is quite the event and lots of people in both the Amish and surrounding communities attend.  Her husband has purchased several quilts for her in past years.

Although not in session the day of our visit, here are photos of two of their schools.

We visited several stores selling a variety of items. 
There were a couple of groceries...

... a general store ...

Loved these handmade baskets! They came in lots of sizes and shapes!



 

Tablescaping material!!

Those iconic hats and shawls!

 
... a nursery ...

This greenhouse is heated with a wood stove.  The lady said when we had the severe cold weather early this spring, her husband had to get up several times each night to be sure the fire was still burning in the stove.

... a fabric store...

 

 

  

She also had dishes and a few finished items for sale.

 





 

 

Aren't these dolls precious.  They reflect the Amish tradition of humility and not reproducing personal faces on photos, drawings or dolls.

 

 

 

Here's what I chose.  I'm think these will make a cute baby quilt!  Love the tiny ducks!  The fabric on the right was just plain pretty!  Maybe I can use it with scraps from the baby quilt.

 

 

 

... and a bakery! ...



 

 

 

Yes, there were originally six fresh doughnuts!  (Guilty) They also had lots of pies and breads available, too.

 

 

We enjoyed seeing their homes and farms.

 



 

I liked the way they hung their curtains.



 

 

 

 

One of us made a new friend, too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

It was a great day in Amish Country!  Thanks for tagging along!

 

Now to work on that baby quilt with my beautiful new fabric, make some fresh cookies using my Pollyanna flour and enjoy some delicious homemade sweet cherry preserves!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



April 2014

 Wow!  May is already here!  At the end of this month I will be celebrating my One-Year Anniversary of my retirement!!  What a busy and fun year it's been!  I've really enjoyed challenging myself to learn some new things.  I can't believe it's almost been a whole year!!

 

 

April has been a cool and wet month but I have managed to put in some garden and it's starting to come up.  We've had some projects and activities as well.  Here's what we've been up to:

 

 

During Lent, I challenged myself to post something on Facebook each day for which I was thankful.  I'm not a big FB poster so that, in itself was a challenge.  I thought finding something to be thankful for each day would be more difficult as the days went on but it was really a lot of fun.  I looked forward to what God would show me each day and actually enjoyed sharing many of those moments with my FB friends.

 

Here are couple of my favorites.

 

Our pretty Jewel.  She's our oldest border collie at 14 and hates getting her picture taken.  I had to be sneaky to get this one. 

 

   

 

This was a beautiful sunrise outside our front door.

 

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And it's always a joy to spend time with our kids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great time on Palm Sunday (at my brother and sister-in-law's home).

 

 

 

Enjoying a feast and then hunting Easter eggs, inside this year due to rainy weather.  Note the action shot!

 

 

 

 

And lots of fun at Jerry's mom's home Easter Sunday. 

 

 

 

 Andy found the Golden Egg this year!!

 

 

 

 

 

I did a little tablescaping for Easter.

 

These panorama Easter eggs were made by my sister-in-law for the kids many years ago .  We've been able to keep them safe and love displaying them each year.  Aren't they pretty?!

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tried a few new recipes this month.  This one was a nice surprise!  The blueberry tart recipe was from Tricia at her "Under Lock and Key" blog and included almond flour.  I had picked up some of this the last time we were at the Soulard Market and was excited to get to try it.  We really enjoy this tart.  The almond flour gave it a nice, earthy texture but it was still pretty rich.

 

I also featured Wonderful Hubby's and Precious Daughter's favorite Salmon Dip as the April 'Friday Night Specials' recipe.  This is a dip that's super easy and is better if made ahead of time. 

 

 

 

Even though the weather around here was a bit cool and wet, I still managed to get out in the garden. 

 

Here are some of my herbs for the back porch.

 

 

 

 I tried something new - a Salad Garden.  You can read more about how I made it here.  It turned out pretty well and am anxious to have our first salad from it this week!

 

 

 

Here are a few more shots from our yard.

 



 

 

 

 

 

I just love spring!!!  You can see more of the post from Floral Friday here.

 

 

Wonderful Hubby has been busy this month, too.  He's been working first shift for several months now.  We've enjoyed him being home in the evening until turkey season started.  It dawned on him that first shift is cutting into his hunting activities!  He has taken a few vacation days to get more time in and it's paid off for him.  Here was the turkey he took at the beginning of turkey season!

 

 

 

 

 

He has also been busy in the evenings working on his new (to him) dirt scoop.  There have been several things needing to be redone and it's taken him several months but it's now fixed and ready to get to work!

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

I've finished another patchwork quilt top this month but need to add the border.  That will be for show and tell next month!  I purchased this fabric (precut and called a "Layer Cake") at the Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, MO back in January. 



 



 

 

The last weekend of April, the Master Gardeners had their annual plant sale and we did very well!  Here are a few photos of our offerings.

 

 

We've had another fun and busy month!  I enjoy putting these monthly posts together.  It's a little like scrapbooking but so much easier!! 

 

We have several activities planned and will be sharing those next month!

 

Enjoy your May and let us know what you've been up to!

 

Zenda

 

 

 

Linking to SHOW US YOUR APRIL

 

Floral Friday

Tricia from www.underlockandkeyblog.com is hosting "Floral Friday" this week.  I decided to walk around my yard to see what plants had started to awaken from a very long winter's sleep here in Missouri.

Here are some sights that put a smile on my face.


Violets and Violas

Mint

Ranunculus

 

Pansies



Redbud Blooms

Crabapple Blossoms

"Elsa's Ivy"  

Violets

My Salad Garden

Won't you join us?

I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else is seeing along their floral walks this month!  Linking to:  
                                             Floral Friday
                                             Fishtale Garden Party 
                                             Seasonal Sunday
                                             Feathered Nest Friday
                                             Amaze Me Monday
                                             Home Sweet Garden

My Salad Garden

Have you seen those tub gardens from William Sonoma?  Doesn't this just look absolutely delicious?!  Growing a SALAD in a TUB!

 

source: William Sonoma

 

 

Nicole at My Garden Diaries posted about it a few weeks ago and I thought it looked like such a great idea I just had to try my hand at making one for myself.  Of course, I couldn't spend the $145 WS wanted for their tub planter. 

 

We had an old square tub that was already leaky.  I thought it would work pretty well as my planter.

 

 

 

 

At one of our local plant outlets, I found these greens!  They already needed to be cut back.  I wanted to get them started in a nice home before harvesting.  The plants I chose were 'Black Seeded Simpson' Lettuce, 'Gourmet Red Leaf' Lettuce, a variety of head lettuce, 'Roquette Salad' Arugula and a curly leaf variety of spinach.

 

 

 

 

Even though the tub had a few leaks in the bottom, I poked several more holes.  Drainage is important because these plants

'don't like having their feet wet!'

 

 

 

 

Several of my gardening friends suggested filling part of my tub with some crushed plastic bottles and jugs to help with drainage.  I could save on some soil and the tub wouldn't be as heavy when it needed to be moved.  I've never done this before and was a bit skeptical about the effect these items might have on my produce so I'll call this an experiment.  Results will follow...

 

 

 

After filling the bottom with my crushed items and then the potting soil,

 

 

I added the lettuce and spinach plants.  Finally, I watered my tub well.   

 

 

Lettuce and spinach are cool weather plants here in Missouri so we'll enjoy these garden greens for the next few months.  I've never grown these plants in a container before.  Usually, I just plant them in the garden in early spring and enjoy them until they wither in the humid summer heat.  They are replanted in late summer to enjoy again in the fall.  This will be a new experience.  Since they will be portable, I may try to find a cooler spot for them to spend the heat of our summers.

 

 

 

 

I'm happy with how my "Salad Garden" turned out!  I'm hoping for several deliciously fresh salads in the next few weeks!!

 

 

Are you trying some new plants or planting techniques this summer?

 

 

Linking to these great parties:

 

  Fridays Unfolded
  Fishtale Garden Party

  Metamorphosis Monday

  Home Sweet Home

  Tuesdays At Our Home

  Inspire Me Tuesday

  Share Your Cup Thursday

  Submarine Sunday
  Home Sweet Garden