NO ROOM

Amish country offers peace to the soul...  From it's vast fields of green trees and plenteous crop...

To the secluded chalet where we hang our hats at the end of a day of exploring and shopping...

Peace surrounds us.

 Our walks offer nature at its best.

Perfect!  Except for one thing.  We miss our DOG!!!

And speaking of DOG.  Allow me to share some throwbacks from our DOG.

Gracie.  The best Christmas present ever.  She turned 14 last month!  FOURTEEN!  No matter how you say it, that is getting old in dog years.  What will I ever do without her!!!???

So while in Amish country, we ran across this cutie...

A Gracie look-alike!!  I know, right?!

So I texted Gracie and asked, "Shall we bring her home with us?"

She texted me back.

There is no room in this house for a wild, crazy, hungry, energetic, goofy poop dropper, nor is there room in the bed.  Abort that idea.  Gracie.

A Star Is Born

While on vacation in Berlin, Ohio we got tickets once again to the Amish Country Theater.  Of course, in typical Gary-fashion he was sure to brush and floss before heading over there...

How ironic that this, being the exact date of our 16th anniversary, that this year we'd BOTH get called up on stage.

And once again...  A star is born....  an then another.  HAHA!

Amish Country Vacation: The Farm at Walnut Creek Pt. 2

In part 1 you saw a paradise tucked away from the hustle bustle world that we know...  that was crawling (literally) with hundreds of beasts of the forest and fields.  Come with me now to another paradise...   as we step inside an Amish home and get a feel for how they live their daily lives.

No computer, iPhone or television set can compare to the beauty and peace that comes from this simple life.

And the smell is phenomenal!!  Fresh and clean...  and then the smell of cookies and bread baking!  Somebody pinch me!
 

Room number one was a gigantic kitchen where several of the sweetest Amish kids helped Mom scoop cookies from a cookie platter and place them on the table for those of us touring the home - their guests.  There were dozens upon dozens of cookies fresh out of the oven to welcome us.

We were drawn to the next room by an angelic voice singing the sweetest song...  and there I spied a little girl, her back towards me, singing and rocking her dolly in her arms as she turned the pages of a picture book.

When asked if we could take her picture, this very 'adult' 5 year old replied, "No pictures.  But feel free to take pictures of the home and everything else, just no pictures of us."  My heart melted at her sweetness.

Simple.  Sweet.  Quiet.  Peaceful. Aromatic.   These words describe my overall experience as we found our way through this beautiful home.

The family that we were seeing lives somewhere here... but the photos that you are seeing are mainly for show.

And the impression I got is that this is a typical model of how the Amish do live.

So what do the Amish do with no TV, no phones, no video games, no electricity ... ?  Well.  I would sum that up in one word.

Work.

This little guy photo-bombed us...  The reason I post it is because he has an uncanny resemblance to our grandson Jasper..  He even acted like Jasper...

"Did we tour this part of the home yet?"  Gary asked.
"I'm not sure," I said.
So he walked up the steps and said he'd check.  He went inside while I waited at the bottom of the steps for his response.  I waited.  And I waited.  And...  soon I became tired of waiting and I decided to just go ahead in.  I reached for the door to open it and it was locked!  Wait!  What's happening here?

"Anyone in there?"

Gary, playing one of his practical jokes.  Oh, he is just so funny.  Not.

Amish Country Vacation: The Farm at Walnut Creek Pt. 1

The problem with these newfangled iPhones is ...  the camera takes a great picture and it is fast as well!  You can snap-snap-snap away and before you know it, you have a dilemma, which photo's to delete and which ones to save.  

And that brings me to this edition of Amish Country Vacation:  The Farm at Walnut Creek Pt. 1

I had never been to an animal sanctuary before and did not know what to expect.  The sign gave me a momentary chill...  but it didn't stop us.

We concluded early on that the bucket of food that we purchased (to feed the animals) was not nearly enough.  These guys were hungry!

The welcoming committee trotted steadily towards as upon our arrival.

And it was obvious that they were expecting compensation for their hospitality.

The Farm is home to over five hundred animals with around a hundred different species of animals.

Being the animal lover that I am, I could hardly contain myself.

I soon learned that being quick to put my hand full of food outside of the car window would keep food pellets from being strewn throughout my car.

Note to self:  Clean car when you get home.

 It was a heavenly experience.  And speaking of Heaven, this must be a glimpse into what it will be like.

 The animals all seemed to get along beautifully...

Their existence, peaceful and carefree.

We missed the part where you can get out of your car and interact with certain animals...  it was getting too hot...  so, next time.

I know, I know... I got really carried away with all the pictures.  And to think I've deleted a lot of them to keep this shorter!!

If you love animals and ever get a chance to visit The Farm in Walnut Creek, Ohio....  do!

 I do not think you would be disappointed.

Goodbye little buddies...  God willing, I'll be back to feed you again next year....