Pennsylvania

Amish Country!  Our favorite stops in Pennsylvania are near Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse, on the backroads.

Thank you Angie Tasnady MacFarland for this collage of your photos.

We stayed at the Country Acres Campground, owned and run by the Smucker Family.  
http://www.bird-in-hand.com/index.php/places_to_stay/stay_overview/country_acres_campground/

They offer their customers at Country Acres,  Amish Country Motel, and Bird-in-Hand Family Inn, a complimentary bus tour  which was unbelievable.  They drove us around the backroads in a small bus, told us about Amish beliefs and customs, and took us to more than a few of the local shops that are located on Amish farms.  We loved it! This was the most picturesque area we have seen on any of our trips around the USA .  Too bad I put my camera away.  I wasn't thinking.  I could have taken pictures of the landscape, buggies, etc. without being offensive to the Amish.


Here are a couple of our favorite stops -

 Countryside Roadstand
2966 Stumptown Road
Ronks, PA 17572

This place had the best soft pretzels I had ever eaten.  They are dipped in butter, and they literally melt in your mouth.  They also have delicious homemade lemonade and root beer.  Their store is filled with gorgeous quilts, canned goods, birdhouses, etc..  The young girls who served the pretzels were sweet and friendly.  They even have RV parking, so we were able to go back on our own another day. We had to buy the pretzel mix so we could have them at home. When our tour guide asked about our children, (we had 5 of our 7 with us), and she learned our 7 were about the ages of the owners' children, she introduced us to  him.  What a wonderful family they have.  We hope to visit their store again this Summer.

Another favorite, 
Riehl's Quilts and Crafts      
247 East Eby Road
Upper Leacock, PA 17540
(717) 656-0697
http://www.riehlsamishquilts.com/

I know it seems odd that you can buy real Amish things from a real Amish family on the internet, but you can.  You couldn't a few years ago when I was there, but now you can.  They also have hundreds of beautiful handmade Amish quilts.  This where I found a trip-around-the-world quilt in just the colors I was looking for.

Please tell me if you have a favorite stop in Pennsylvania.  Does your family have a favorite place to shop or eat?  Something we shouldn't miss?  Please Share.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

 

Wisconsin Dells

We spent a few days at the Wisconsin Dells for our 4th son's birthday while on our big RV trip a few years ago.   You'd think that a 13 year old would want to go to one of the many waterparks the area is known for, right?  Especially since the last time we were here, in 2000, everyone was so tired from our trip that all they wanted to do was rest in the RV.  But no, he wanted to play miniature golf, and go on the go-carts.  We all had fun, and it was his birthday, so I can't complain.  I just can't believe I've been there twice, and I still haven't been to one of the waterparks.  By the way, my family LOVES waterparks.  Our favorite is Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, in California.

Please tell us about your adventures in Wisconsin, and which waterpark at the Dells we should visit.

Wyoming

Wyoming. Beautiful. Tell me your favorite stops along the way.  Thanks.

The Franz Famiy

I just saw a wonderful, talented family who plays bluegrass music,at a local Church,  and I found my new favorite group.  The songs they've written, and the harmonies they sing, are just beautiful.  This is their website
http://thefranzfamily.com/

I especially liked a song that the youngest son sang, called I Am.  They seem like such a down-to-earth, loving, humble family.

A Few of My Favorite Stops Around the House

 Sgt. Grumbles, our Maine Coon cat.

Today I thought I'd post a few pictures of some favorite things around the house.  I've decided I'm not a very good photographer, but my daughter isn't here today, so my pictures will have to do.  The two blogs I follow the most are Between Naps on the Porch, and Savvy Southern Style.  Part of what I really like about these blogs are the pictures they post of things around the house, and the way they share about their lives. I'm going to give it a try.  This all started  this morning I was thinking about the Lancaster area of Pennsylvania and how much we loved the area.  My favorite souvenir from that trip is a quilt I bought from Riehl's Quilt shop.

This collage of pictures near Lancaster was taken by Angie Tasnady MacFarland.  Thanks for letting me share it!

It's in a Trip Around the World pattern in all of my favorite colors.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  The Amish woman who made it did a wonderful job choosing all of the fabrics.

 What is it about a room full of books, and a cozy place to read ?This is my favorite room in the house.

I love books, and I love the warmth of the wood paneling and cabinets, and this room gets a lot more light than most of the house, when it's sunny.

I found this sign at a darling store in Eureka, CA.  .  This is in the kitchen, with my favorite toile wallpaper.  I know..toile isn't for everyone, but I love it.

An estate sale find, by Spode, in my favorite blue.

I found this set of dishes at a little consignment store in Santa Rosa, CA called the Treasure House.  I have it out because it goes with all of the green I have out for St. Patrick's Day.

A little tea set I found in an antique store across from Shoffeitt's Off the Square in Healdsburg, CA

 

I like finding small unusual holders like this at estate sales. Love the bee on top.

I think the one with a rooster may be a jam jar or maybe for butter, and the one with the acorns is for syrup?

This is the downstairs guest room.  I like the green paint, which is not as bright as it looks, and the fact that this was my Grandmother's bedroom set.  Our Maine Coon also like this room, as it often has warm sunlight streaming in through the window.

I love the Country French look of the fabric and trim on the curtains I made for our Family Room.

I love this book of old lace patterns, and it isn't even something passed down in my family.  It was a friend's Great Aunt's and the friend already had other examples of her family's handiwork, and was selling this at a garage sale.

I bought this pillow from France at a darling store in Healdsburg, Ca., Country Daisy Florist and Gifts.  They have a beautiful selection of French looking furnishings and gifts.

I finally broke down and bought a pair of blue and white lamps, because I couldn't find them at an estate sale.  This metal bird whatever-it-is was another find at the Country Daisy Florist and Gifts, and of course, more books.  I should have left my picture frames on this table.  It looks kind of empty.

This a part of the pattern on the rug that's in the Family Room.  I had been shopping for a rug in these colors, when I found it on the front lawn at an estate sale.

Child's chair from Ikea.  I saw them used this way in Kitty Bartholomew's book.

I like the way this chestin the Family Room was refinished to look old.  I found this at Sonoma Nesting Company in Guerneville, CA., and I think the owner did the refinishing himself.

I made this trumeau type mirror after I decided I couldn't afford to buy a real antique one.

I love the words that this 9 or 10 year old stitched.  It was done in 1842. Once again, I found it a local estate sale.

 This is a group of pictures taken on the day my husband and our 5 oldest children were baptized in the ocean.  It was a blessed day!  The kids and I gave this to him on the following Christmas.

 One of my favorite pictures of that day.  My oldest daughter coming up out of the water after professing her faith in Christ.  A day of great joy for this Mom.

This is all of the journals I started when I was expecting each of our kids.  I don't write in them often enough anymore.  I guess I spend so much time living my life with them, that I don't take time to write about it.  Our first child has a book full of memories, and our 7th has maybe less than 20 pages. 

Thanks for taking a look at my favorite spots around the house.  As I posted these, I realized that my favorite spot in the house is any room where my whole family is gathered together.  It doesn't happen as often as it used to, but when it does, there's a joy that fills this house to overflowing.  I hope you have a blessed day, and that all is well with you and yours.

Valerie