Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Middlebury, In.........

     Ted and I went to Kathy's today to pick up my camera. I was afraid the battery would need charging on it once I got there...thankfully it didn't need it. We got up early, drove the by pass to get to hwy. 20 near South Bend.  We pick Kathy up at her house and took her to lunch here.  Das Dutchman Essenhaus.  It's a huge complex with many buildings. This one alone is full of shops and restaurants.


  We  sat in this section , to order off  the menu, instead of eating family style serving. This is a view of the counter. The place was full of tables for every number of groups. A family of ten sat next to us here.  We ate lunch, walk and shopped the other buildings and came  back here for pie. (snack)
 This is Ted, he looks kind of tired.LOL Too much shopping. But he was rewarded with praline pecan cream pie. Kathy ordered coconut cream. I ordered a glass of water and ate about 3 bites of Ted's  pie and Kathy's.  Trying to not eat so much sugar.
  This is one of the buildings we went into. It really is like an old cabin.  I had Kathy pose in front of the signs in this next picture. She looks like she's going to start laughing.
                          I liked these  dishes with birds on them. Blackbirds.  You can see a bit of the wall.
      Here's a couple fake bears...so cute. Looks like mom bear and little bear.
      Lots of things with birds on them, cutting boards, cups, coasters, towels and trivets.
    I really like the saying on this towel, find your happy place.   I took more pictures I'll post later.  I sure was glad to have my camera back with me.  I  missed my camera when I wanted to take photos of the snow on Saturday, the sunny skies on Sunday. Our weather has gone back to winter.
    Hope all of you are doing well. I'll be visiting soon.  XO

39 comments:

  1. you find the best places to shop,, I would love to go there.

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    1. Laurie, In the Amish area of Indiana, there, many places like this. The Amish are very good craftsmen, bakers, cooks, and actually business people. It truly like to find things they make themselves. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  2. I love that pretty towel too and all the special items. We traveled up into Amish country a few times and they have the best bakeries! We always bought extra bread and baked goods. Have a good evening my friend. Hugs!

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    1. Diane, You are so right about the bakeries...we went to the one there...so tempting. I am trying to cut back on sweets....that's why I didn't order pie for myself. I will say the pie Ted order, praline pecan cream was delicious.LOL. Blessings for a nice day. xoxo,Susie

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  3. Susie, glad you got your camera back! The bird dishes are super fun. Pecan pie and coconut cream are my favorite. Rich and I have to have just a bite or two, but then in an hour I'm ready for another bite. lol!
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. Jann, You are right about that pie...it was the sweetest I have ever tasted. I am trying to cut back on sweets...oh boy that was hard with my daughter and Ted eating those yummy pies. I did sample theirs and I mean sample...I did not take big bites. I was proud of myself. LOL. What makes me nuts about visiting some Amish stores, they sell junk from Chiina also. I mean really with all the crafters in their community. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  4. How fun! How far are you from South Bend? Our lakehouse is 35 minutes east. I'd love to meet up one day, wouldn't that be cool? Let me know, Susie!

    Jane

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    1. Blondie, We are a hundred miles or close to that. I have nor driven to my daughters for 3 years ...usually get Ted to go too. She lives north of Elkhart, In. Just about 3 miles from Michigan line. It would be wonderful to meet up. I am trying to get Kathy to take our mini vacation to Chicago this summer. Maybe then.? Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    2. Mom, I told you your friend Blondie's lake house was close. Korey's good friend Ellen's parents have a house there.

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  5. I've been there years ago. I am sure things have changed a bit, but I hope they still have that fried chicken the same.

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    1. Hi Peggy, Hope you did not get all that snow. I am so beyond ready for spring to return here. The hwy configuration is different around South Bend ..off of hwy 31 , onto hwy 20 . Amazing. Bless you, xoxo,Susie

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  6. Yes, this weather has got me into a funk. I would have purchased that towel, I love it! I've been to Middlebury several times. We used to stop by there when we were going to Shipshewana. Four of our family members used to have a tradition of going to shipshe flea market every summer. Twas fun times.

    Cindy Bee

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    1. Cindy, I thought of you yesterday. I saw lots of bee hives. My daughter even talked about the honey. It was a bit cold to be outside..but you know the area and so you are only outside a bit..cause you are going into another building after leaving one. :) What happen to Spring girl? Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  7. I love good eating places with lots of stuff to look at. Glad you got your camera back! That towel was sweet.

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    1. Nonnie, It's fun to eat out and let others take care of our needs. I tell Ted I was born to have servants...then why do I have dishpan hands. LOL. That's the kind of joking we do. The menu there was outstanding. Home cooking , like our moms and grandmas. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  8. Oh this is my dream shopping! I LOVE primitives! I could have spent all day here Susie! Love this! What a great day y'all had! Hugs!

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    1. Hi Betsy, It was a fun time... We laugh at ourselves ...Ted was needing a nap after eating that pie..He doesn't eat lots of sweets at all. I am trying to truly cut back. Not the place to go to not want sweet. LOL. I love seeing the glazes on some of the pottery. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  9. You find the neatest places to shop! I would love this place. Looks like a fun day with some yummy things to eat, too. The pecan praline cream pie sounds delish!

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    1. Cheryl, There were many shops in this complex. I will show more later. One had clothes such as you would find in a resort area...not in an Amish place. I almost wanted to laugh...you know the Amish is not into "bling". :);) I had never heard of praline pecan cream pie...oh my goodness I hope to one day get to eat a whole slice. LOL. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  10. What a fun way to spend the day Susie..Looks like fun and yummy too...

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    1. Missy, It was fun to be with my daughter again..we never have enough time together. She and I are so similar in our likes and dislikes and crafting. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  11. Glad you got your camera back and that you went to such a cool place! I love the birds and who wouldn't love those bears? If I had room, I would have one of those...maybe- the cats might destroy it. We didn't get the snow but we are cold here, too. Wind...its calm today...feels weird.

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    1. Tete, I am past wanting spring. I took my pansies to the shop...tired of putting them here and there so they don't die. What a bother. Now that I have my camera, I can at least drive around and take photos. LOL. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  12. Susie, so glad you got your camera back. Where would us bloggers be without our cameras? Looks like a great place to shop and eat. We have sat at a family style restaurant before and I think it is great fun..Happy Wednesday..xxo Judy

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    1. Judy, I never thought I played with the camera that much...till it was not here. Especially when there were sunsets. LOL Once my mother ate family style and actually wrapped things up and put in her purse..my brother who was a state trooper said , "mom, that's like stealing here..they take that back to the kitchen"(?..do they?) Anyway, Mom said Miles was eating that stuff the next day. LOL. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  13. Susie, this is my kind of place. I love the little shop with all the bird items. Ted's pecan cream pie sounds Yummy. So glad you got your camera back. I can't believe it snowed Saturday. I wish you could have taken a picture of that. I have a few blog friends that say that it's snowing in their areas in April!

    I like the "find your happy place" towel. :)

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, That was a very sweet pie. ted rarely eats sweets. We have had every kind of weather you could think of . It's been the crazy year for weather here. We had 70's just a little over a week ago then down to the 20's at night. Girl, I am ever so ready for spring to come and stay. Blessings to you and yours, love you, xoxo,Susie

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  14. Boy, that looked like a fun day!! We do miss our cameras don't we? I miss not being able to take pictures when I'm in the van;( Tom was always do patient with me and my photo obsession!!! Lol. I really miss him;( I've learnt, you really need to enjoy snd love them when there here..

    Blessings
    Gert

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    1. Gert, I know you miss your sweet Tom. I was always touched when you would say that Tom drove you back around an area for a picture, or would pull over for you. He wasa good man and now he's a great angel. I know he watches over you. You are so right about loving someone while we have them. I believe in telling people we love them....every chance we get. Blessings for a good day, xoxo, Love, Susie

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  15. That looks like a nice place to poke around in. Good for you not caving and having a full piece of pie (although those do sound wonderful!). -Jenn

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    1. Jenn, If I had not just eaten lunch an hour before, I may not have been as strong about refusing pie. LOL I like looking around all the shop...some things were reasonable and some were over priced...you know that touristy kind of pricing. LOL. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  16. Susie, I'm with Ted -- can't take too much shopping! I only shop when I need to shop (I know, I know, I'm not a normal woman!), and then I need to take along a good shopper like you just to keep me going! :D

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    1. Jean, My shopping cart only has 3 wheels any more. LOL..I used to shop for hours and hours. Now I have to take breaks , go to the restroom, have a coffee..There's little I need any more.,,,plus my ankle start hurting. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  17. Looks like a fun little trip. I enjoy going places like that with my husband. He's patient, like Ted. :)

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    1. Patty, Ted and I used to enjoy shopping more. It's that we need very little any more. We do like to look for ideas to make things out of wood for Christmas gifts. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  18. Any time I go somewhere out of the norm I always bring my camera. Thanks for the tour. I look forward to seeing the other photos.

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    1. Paul, I didn't realize how much I used my camera till I left it in Kathy's car. I sure did miss it. Missed many sunset photos. LOL. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    1. I feel like Amish cooking isn't with many seasonings. But my daughter does buy their herbs and seasoning at a whole sale place. That seems funny. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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