Day 2
I took a "ME" day, well almost. The "me" part was I had absolutely NO cell phone reception and nothing to do after 8:15 a.m.
I had to travel half an hour over the mountain for an x-ray in what is known as Big Valley. Of the finger valleys in our area, this is the widest one, but you can still see from one side to the other. I chose the early morning appt. so that I could have part of the day to spend some time in the area, which is heavily inhabited by Mennonites, Amish, and an amazing amount of natural beauty. Traveling along the main road gives you a virtual smorgasboard of items for sale, ranging from produce to furniture and everything inbetween. It reminds me of the way life was when we farmed.
After my x-ray, I headed towards Belleville to a small coffee shop that serves a great breakfast and a moustache licking chai latte. Then I headed to an Amish store called Peights. Peights is a delight to visit, if you're like me. They have everything associated with or necessary for country living at its simplest, especially a country kitchen. I grabbed up a set of measuring spoons, a fly swatter, a round of Colby cheese, and some dry goods. Then I traveled to Sharp Shopper, where I bought some groceries that were on my list (and some that weren't but for the price, I just couldn't pass them up). Had I bought them at my local grocery store, they would have been more than double the price. (Yes, I checked cause that's how I roll. How else do you think I learned to use Excel?)
In the same shopping center as Sharp Shopped, I found a thrift store. So I perused the entire shop, grabbing a beautiful new picture frame and an outhouse picture for my bathroom, (if you don't know about our history with outhouses, see my Fall Follies), and some ice cube trays that make small ice cubes (which were actually on my shopping list). Total at checkout - $5.00
Next came a huge Antique warehouse which was a conglomeration of Antique dealers who put all their stuff in one building. I made a few mental notes as I thought about how I want to decorate my newly painted walls. Country View Dry Goods was my next stop. I've never seen so many items stuffed into one store in my life but I found them a bit pricey. If you are Amish, it is a one stop shop!
When I left the dry goods store, a country road with an apple cider sign caught my eye. So I took the road that runs right along the base of the mountain between Big Valley and the next valley over. I can't say that I've ever enjoyed a country road as much as I enjoyed this one. The problem was I didn't have my sidekick with me to slow down every time I caught my breathe or said "Ooooo, look at that!" The road was barely wide enought for 2 Amish buggies to pass, so I couldn't stop to take the gazillion photos that I wish I could have. There was one farm after another, mostly Amish, with a few houses that had to have been some of the first in the area which had been wondrously restored! It's definitely worth a 2nd trip! I followed that road all the way to the end which brought me to an antique warehouse. I spent about 45 minutes wandering around and making mental notes of things that I might want to consider when I start hanging things on my newly painted walls.
By now, it was well passed lunch, so I went back to Sharp Shopper for round two (I didn't want to get any perishables until I was ready to head home) and traveled home over the mountain road instead of the interstate, through a state park, winding through the autumn trees.
As I traveled home, it felt as if I was being transported from one world to another, from the simplest kind of life to the busyness of an academic town, and from an easier going lifestyle to one that is full of schedules and tasks. I thought of how much I miss the dairy farm and determined to simplify my life even more! (It's an ongoing thing for me, but I am making progress). After breathing in all the natural beauty of the trees, the animals, the huge blue sky, and the folks who seemed just unhurried by anything, I was very thankful that God does give us times of rest and gives us things to enjoy! I was also reminded of the kind of life that He wants us to live in Him - timeless, peaceful, and full of beauty as we rest in Him every day!
Today I'm thankful for the God kind of life that is available to me when I stop and take time to enjoy Him!
I took a "ME" day, well almost. The "me" part was I had absolutely NO cell phone reception and nothing to do after 8:15 a.m.
I had to travel half an hour over the mountain for an x-ray in what is known as Big Valley. Of the finger valleys in our area, this is the widest one, but you can still see from one side to the other. I chose the early morning appt. so that I could have part of the day to spend some time in the area, which is heavily inhabited by Mennonites, Amish, and an amazing amount of natural beauty. Traveling along the main road gives you a virtual smorgasboard of items for sale, ranging from produce to furniture and everything inbetween. It reminds me of the way life was when we farmed.
After my x-ray, I headed towards Belleville to a small coffee shop that serves a great breakfast and a moustache licking chai latte. Then I headed to an Amish store called Peights. Peights is a delight to visit, if you're like me. They have everything associated with or necessary for country living at its simplest, especially a country kitchen. I grabbed up a set of measuring spoons, a fly swatter, a round of Colby cheese, and some dry goods. Then I traveled to Sharp Shopper, where I bought some groceries that were on my list (and some that weren't but for the price, I just couldn't pass them up). Had I bought them at my local grocery store, they would have been more than double the price. (Yes, I checked cause that's how I roll. How else do you think I learned to use Excel?)
In the same shopping center as Sharp Shopped, I found a thrift store. So I perused the entire shop, grabbing a beautiful new picture frame and an outhouse picture for my bathroom, (if you don't know about our history with outhouses, see my Fall Follies), and some ice cube trays that make small ice cubes (which were actually on my shopping list). Total at checkout - $5.00
Next came a huge Antique warehouse which was a conglomeration of Antique dealers who put all their stuff in one building. I made a few mental notes as I thought about how I want to decorate my newly painted walls. Country View Dry Goods was my next stop. I've never seen so many items stuffed into one store in my life but I found them a bit pricey. If you are Amish, it is a one stop shop!
When I left the dry goods store, a country road with an apple cider sign caught my eye. So I took the road that runs right along the base of the mountain between Big Valley and the next valley over. I can't say that I've ever enjoyed a country road as much as I enjoyed this one. The problem was I didn't have my sidekick with me to slow down every time I caught my breathe or said "Ooooo, look at that!" The road was barely wide enought for 2 Amish buggies to pass, so I couldn't stop to take the gazillion photos that I wish I could have. There was one farm after another, mostly Amish, with a few houses that had to have been some of the first in the area which had been wondrously restored! It's definitely worth a 2nd trip! I followed that road all the way to the end which brought me to an antique warehouse. I spent about 45 minutes wandering around and making mental notes of things that I might want to consider when I start hanging things on my newly painted walls.
By now, it was well passed lunch, so I went back to Sharp Shopper for round two (I didn't want to get any perishables until I was ready to head home) and traveled home over the mountain road instead of the interstate, through a state park, winding through the autumn trees.
As I traveled home, it felt as if I was being transported from one world to another, from the simplest kind of life to the busyness of an academic town, and from an easier going lifestyle to one that is full of schedules and tasks. I thought of how much I miss the dairy farm and determined to simplify my life even more! (It's an ongoing thing for me, but I am making progress). After breathing in all the natural beauty of the trees, the animals, the huge blue sky, and the folks who seemed just unhurried by anything, I was very thankful that God does give us times of rest and gives us things to enjoy! I was also reminded of the kind of life that He wants us to live in Him - timeless, peaceful, and full of beauty as we rest in Him every day!
Today I'm thankful for the God kind of life that is available to me when I stop and take time to enjoy Him!
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