After The Rain In Amish Country

 

A rainbow in Shipshewana, Indiana.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Touring South Of The Border
2017: The Wind Whistles Through
2016: On The Way To Bras, Shoes, And Eileen Fisher
2015: Truck Repairs Don't Sound So Bad When Bullets Are The Alternative
2014: Giant Three-Armed Spiny Monster
2013: Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'
2012: A Beautiful Iranian Mind
2011: Clowning Around
2010: Smolder
2009: Comrades In Driving
2008: Black, White, And Tan
2007: If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Fart At The Speed Of Light
2006: Draped In Sarcasm
2005: Feast Your Eyes

Waiting For A Driver

A horse and buggy seen parked at the grocery store in Shipshewana, Indiana. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Tres A Las Seis
2018: Sensory Pleasure
2017: Advanced Rock Climbing
2016: Moist, Crispy, Sticky, And Sweet
2015: Victory On The York River
2014: The Siren Song Of Spring
2013: No Pets. No Beards.
2012: Dykes On Bikes
2011: April Showers Bring May Flowers
2010: Can Leap Tall Buildings (And Pee On Cue) In A Single Bound!
2009: Eddie Makes A Pie Friday
2008: What A Doll!
2007: Day Two In The Desert
2006: April Showers Bring May Fish
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 7, 2005!

Curious Cow's Fencing Adventure

This blog post was written by Microsoft CoPilot - an artificial intelligence (AI) powered tool.  I gave the AI program the following prompt to create a blog post for me to go along with my photo:

"Write a short blog post about a cow stretching through a fence to eat grass in Shipshewana, Indiana."

This was the result:

“Curious Cow’s Fencing Adventure in Shipshewana, Indiana”

In the picturesque town of Shipshewana, Indiana, where rolling hills meet lush pastures, a curious cow named Daisy found herself in an amusing predicament. Daisy, a gentle Holstein with soulful eyes, had a penchant for adventure. One sunny afternoon, as the breeze rustled through the tall grass, she decided to explore beyond the confines of her pasture.

Daisy’s favorite spot was near the old wooden fence that separated her from the neighboring field. The grass there was greener, and the clover sweeter. But on this particular day, Daisy noticed something irresistible—a patch of tender grass just out of reach. Her curiosity piqued, she leaned forward, her long neck extending through the gaps in the fence.

With determination, Daisy stretched her neck further, her black-and-white hide pressing against the weathered wood. The fence creaked in protest, but Daisy was undeterred. She wiggled her ears, her eyes fixed on the tantalizing grass. Passersby stopped to watch, amused by the sight of a cow doing the “fence tango.”

Finally, Daisy’s efforts paid off. Her velvety lips grazed the emerald blades, and she savored the fresh, dew-kissed grass. It was a feast fit for a bovine queen. Daisy’s tail swished happily as she munched away, oblivious to the amused glances from the neighboring farm.

Meanwhile, Farmer Johnson scratched his head. He’d seen Daisy’s escapades before, but this was a new level of determination. “Daisy,” he called, shaking his head. “You’re not a giraffe! Stick to your side of the fence!” But Daisy paid him no mind, lost in her grassy reverie.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Daisy’s belly full, she stepped back from the fence. But there was a problem—the grass clippings she’d pulled through had piled up on her side. A mound of green lay there, slowly composting. Farmer Johnson frowned. “Cows don’t do composting,” he muttered. “That’s for the garden.”

And so, Daisy’s adventure ended with a full belly, a moldy mound, and a fence that bore the marks of her stretching antics. Shipshewana residents chuckled at the sight, knowing that Daisy’s curiosity would lead her on more escapades. As for Daisy, she’d always remember that day—the day she stretched, grazed, and danced with a fence in pursuit of the perfect blade of grass.

***

That's not too bad for a computer-generated post.  Boy, the kids today are going to have it easy when writing everything from grade school book reports to college term papers.  

And we're probably in big trouble having computers do all the work for us.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post for this post.
2022: Sorry, no post for this post.
2021: Sorry, no post for this post.
2020: Sorry, no post for this post.
2109: Decision Time
2018: Historically And Architecturally Significant
2017: The Living Desert
2016: Power Washer
2015: Reading Comprehension In Question
2014: Snapshot From The Road: Trucker Dogs
2013: The Luxurious Nomadic Life
2012: He’s Just As Handsome In Black And White
2011: Crab Cakes And The Chesapeake
2010: Young, Poor, Footloose And Fancy-Free
2009: Badass Badlands
2008: Proof That God Exists
2007: Spring In The Desert
2006: Shadows Of The Setting Sun
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Satisfying Ice Cream Lovers Of All Ages

This week, we hit a new place in town we hadn't been to yet - the Vanilla Bean Creamery in Shipshewana, Indiana.

A beautiful building with a large outdoor patio, in a prime location, the creamery called to us.  We had to stop in.  And boy, am I glad we did.

The ice cream was FANTASTIC.  Some of the best I've ever had.  The quality of the ingredients was evident in the first spoonful.  It was creamy and flavorful.  Wonderful mouthfeel.  Delicious.

We each had two scoops - I had chocolate and toasted coconut.  Ed had banana pudding and pistachio.

The coconut was out of this world, with pieces of toasted coconut throughout, the chocolate was decadent, the banana pudding tasted better than a banana, and the pistachio was divine!

These are their signature flavors, but they also have other, special flavors available.  I had a taste of their oatmeal cream pie and almost ordered a third scoop!  Soooo good.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: April Showers Bring Cactus Flowers
2018: A Bit Of The Bubbly
2017: Uphill Chug
2016: That Face, That Face, That Wonderful Face!
2015: We Both Share The Same Blood
2014: My Choice
2013: Pregnant And Dating
2012: They Really Don’t Want You Coming Through This Gate
2011: Deep Down, She Knows She’s A Princess
2010: A Three Hundred And Fifty Foot Long Dream
2009: Dillinger The Horror Hog
2008: Supernatural Hair
2007: They Must Have Been On Sale
2006: Sorry, no post on this day.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Town Pride Spans Decades

This mural, located at Detroit and Spring Street in LaGrange, Indiana, was painted in 1998 by resident Maurice Marks.

"Done in earth tones from tan to dark brown, the mural is designed to look like an old-fashioned sepia postcard or photograph and features nine separate scenes from the past."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Taking A Stab At Takeout
2018: Man On A Pier
2017: Smörgåsbord
2016: Elephant Cactus
2015: 5 Foxy Links To Pass A Few Minutes
2014: Flying Through The Links
2013: It All Started With A Tweet
2012: Waiting For Summer
2011: It Should Have Been Titled Boringpants
2010: Ed Blows A 750
2009: Another Reason I Love The Great Indoors
2008: We Think The Only Thing Worth Stealing From The House Would Have Been The Fresh Baked Apple Pie
2007: Not Nearly As Appealing As Gnocchi
2006: Working The Yard
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Must See If You Get A-Round To It

 

I photographed the Brown Swiss Dairy barn over 14 years ago and while in Shipshewana, I thought I'd take another drive by it - round barns aren't very common.  

Later that year, I was asked if my photo could be used in a book titled 101 Things To Do In Shipshewana.  Here's the post that shows you where in the 101 things my picture is shown.  

This is the text from the page of that book regarding the barn:

"If you ask locals the shape of the "Prough Barn," they'll either reply that it is octagonal, or they will answer "round".  Historical records, however, state that it was built by Menno S. Yoder in 1908 as a model for a design of a 12-sided concrete barn that he wanted to sell to farmers.  Though Yoder's barn-making plans didn't take off, the barn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the only polygonal barn in Indiana that is constructed of a material other than wood.  210 round and polygonal barns were built in Indiana from 1874-1936, perhaps more than any other state.  While not open to the public, the barn is interesting to drive by and see; just go one mile west of the Blue Gate on Middlebury-Shipshe Road.  Choose for yourself whether you'd call it octagonal or dodecagonal.  "Round" might be the easiest answer."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Damn, She's The One
2018: Bathroom Essentials
2017: The Red Planet
2016: The Calm Before And After
2015: Cheese On Horseback
2014:  A Life That's Good
2013: The Big Weekend Event

2012: Bringing The Sea To The Sleeper Bunk

2011: The Lonely Road

2010: Boys’ Town, Old Digs And A Non-Working Number

2009: She Needs To Wear A Bell

2008: Budding

2007: I Hate When He Does That

2006: The Toes Of Summer Are Peeking Out

2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Order In LaGrange!

A few days ago we took a ride to LaGrange, Indiana to have a burger at Fireside Craft Burgers & Brews.  The burger was delicious and the buns are baked at the Foltz Bakery, just down the street from the restaurant.  

After lunch, we walked across the street to the county courthouse to get a few photos.  A pretty building that stood out right in the center of town.  

According to Wikipedia: “The LaGrange County Courthouse located on Detroit Street in LaGrange, Indiana. It was designed by Thomas J. Tolan, & Son, Architects of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and built in 1878–1879. It is a two-story, rectangular red brick building with Second Empire and Georgian-style design elements. The front facade consists of a central clock tower flanked by square corner pavilions.”

From the Courthouses.co website: “The building faces east and is a two-story red colored brick structure.  The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of LaGrange. The east front has a small portico supported by two columns. On each corner of the building are square towers with mansard roofs. On the center of the roof is a large square brick clock tower with a mansard roof and cupola at the top. The windows are narrow and arched. In the interior, the stairs connecting the main floors are cast iron, and many of them are curved. The stairs from the Clerk’s office to the courtroom is a complete spiral. The Circuit Courtroom occupies the entire east end of the second story. The woodwork throughout the building is of walnut alternating with ash and windows have interior folding shutters. All window and door hardware is of cast brass in attractive designs. The main and upper halls are floored with blocks of black and white colored marble in a diamond pattern. The building houses the County Circuit Court and the County Superior Court of the 6th Judicial District. 

 

The first courthouse was a two-story frame structure erected in 1833. LaGrange was selected as the county seat in 1844 and the second courthouse was a frame structure erected in 1843. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1878 to 1879 at a cost of $71,675.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Green And Gold
2018: Single File Crossing
2017: One Of These Things Is Unlike The Other
2016: Girl Catcher
2015: Oklahoma Tin
2014: She's There Already
2013: Still Waters Run Deep
2012: The Princess Of Fruits Welcomes You
2011: I Love This Lookout
2010: There Ain’t No Rodeo On This Rodeo
2009: Covering All The Bases
2008: Ed Fantasizes Out Loud
2007: Better Late Than Never
2006: The Last Best Chance
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Vital Link

 

The National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana.

This museum is dedicated to the preservation of the New York Central Railroad.

According to Wikipedia, "Elkhart was a vital link between East and West during the growth of railroading in the U.S. In 1833 the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway (LS&MS) built a line through town; it was later acquired by the NYC in 1914."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Time Does Not Matter
2018: You Break, You Buy
2017: Tutti A Tavola A Mangiare!
2016: Do Your Brain A Solid And Read A Book
2015: Massive Collision In Wyoming
2014: Even His Feet Are Handsome
2013: Not Evolved Enough To Clap Just Yet
2012: A Cat’s Life
2011: Not So Lucky
2010: A Capitol Idea
2009: Blooming Where The Sun Don’t Shine
2008: Eddie Wakes Up Smiling Friday
2007: Gnocchi From The Gods
2006: Blurry Super Hero
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Main Street America

 

Main Street in Downtown Elkhart, Indiana. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: So Many Hours Of The Day To Fill
2018: Catfish On The Bluff
2017: If Only Gas Were That Cheap Again
2016: Friends Don't Let Friends Exercise Alone
2015: I Would Never Mute This Commerical
2014: State Line
2013: No Pity
2012: Stop Grackling!
2011: Chicks And Kids
2010: Ultima Lavada 9:00 PM
2009: Eddie Touches Up The Old Girl Friday
2008: The Morning Sun Greets Guadalupe
2007: Starting Soon. No, Really.
2006: This Mary Doesn’t Go To Pre-School
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

On The Banks Of The St. Joseph

 

I love mansions.  And palaces.  I've been to many.

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Kykuit in Westchester County, New York.

The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island - and seven of the other mansions located in Newport.  The Breakers and The Elms were my favorites.

The Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain.

The Dunsmuir Castle in Victoria, British Columbia.

The Würzburg Residence in Würzburg, Germany.  Oh.  My.  God.  This one was fabulous!

There are others, and more to explore  I will not rest.

This week we visited the Ruthmere Mansion in Elkhart, Indiana.  We were there after hours so only explored the exterior.  It was beautiful.  

Wikipedia has quite a bit of information on the interior and exterior design.  That's where I'm excerpting the following from.

Built in 1910 in the Beaux-Arts style, the mansion is three stories and the most prominent historic residence in Elkhart.  It was originally known as the Albert and Elizabeth Beardsley Residence but was renamed Ruthmere after Beardsley's only daughter, Ruth, who died at seven months old. 

The mansion was designed by E. Hill Turnock and is faced with buff-colored Belden brick from Ohio and native Indiana limestone.  

Carved stone quoins, capitals, cartouches, and window surrounds add exterior interest. The covered entrance is supported by square brick pillars created by carved limestone capitals. A balustraded marble piazza across the south facade extends to the east side of the building where a porte-cochere protects visitors as they arrive by carriage or car.

From the east porch, a covered walkway leads to a greenhouse.

The property sits across from the St. Joseph River and was beautiful in the setting sun's light.  Whenever I go to one of these places I imagine what it must be like for the people who lived there when the homes were new.  How these rich residents of these small towns lived in lavish homes while others could only dream of ever having their kind of money.  

Mansions, castles, palaces, and famous residences are going to take priority in my sightseeing in the future.  I want to see more!  Next time, I hope I have time to go inside this one but if not, I feel lucky enough to have seen one of the homes of a prominent resident of small-town America.   

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: A Street In Catalonia's Capital Region
2022: Approaching The Missile Range
2021: It's Baby Season!
2020: Fanned Out Cables
2019: Three Years Later...
2018: A Spring Moment
2017: In The Heart Of Amish Country
2016: A Spark Of Male Bonding
2015: A-MAZ-ING
2014: Ghosts Of Retail
2013: Orange Is The Devil
2012: Sixteen Hundred Miles Makes All The Difference
2011: In Need Of Some Color
2010: 122 Years And Counting
2009: Sixteen Days Old
2008: Racism Comes With A Convenient Handle
2007: Evening Tide
2006: Glittering Pasties And Swinging Tassles
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Historic Entertainment Palace

 

This is the historic Lerner Theatre in Elkhart, Indiana.  Formerly known as the Elco Theatre, it was built in 1924.  

Wikipedia says, the Lerner "is a two-story, reinforced concrete and steel, Beaux-Arts style building. The front facade features four Corinthian order columns, three freestanding urns, enriched cornice, parapet and frieze. The building is faced with terra cotta and has a lighted canopy projecting over the sidewalk. The auditorium features a large central dome measuring 30 to 40 feet in diameter. Built as a vaudeville theatre, by the late 1920s it had evolved into a motion picture palace."

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Motoring With A Saint

2018: The Three Rs In Strawberry
2017: My America
2016: Addictive Retro Fun
2015: Boldface
2014: Ciudad Juárez En La Noche
2013: Live It Up!
2012: The Last Supper
2011: New York Always Stands Out
2010: Visitor Number 933 To Room 525
2009: Makes A Nice Desktop
2008: Leaning Tower Of Texas
2007: It Should Be Called “Thimble Shot”
2006: Southern Hideaway
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Horsepower

 

Two buggy-pulling horses in Shipshewana, Indiana.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Like Rabbits
2018: Lodged In The Mountains
2017: Getting Your Ducks In A Row
2016: Rise Up
2015: Slide
2014: Sitting In The Sun Of The Southwest
2013: The Sunniest Black Hole
2012: A Visit From Woodland Creatures
2011: The Man I’m Spending My Nights With
2010: Let’s Hope This Industrious City Can Get Our Truck Fixed
2009: Free Range Horns And Humps
2008: The Earth Is Sending The Paper To The Folder
2007: Some People Are SAD; I Am Not One Of Them
2006: An Eye For Fashion…And Other Things
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Second In Line

 

The line of trucks waiting for service at ARI, the shop in Indiana where our custom sleeper was built.  I didn't take this photo but we're in it - the second truck from the right, the black one.

Looks like we'll be spending the weekend in the area!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Hard Labor
2018: Heading To The Tall Pines
2017: They Nestled The Produce On Beds Of Kale
2016: Take It To Ramon
2015: California Field
2014: Happy Easter!
2013: A Tree Grows In A Truck Stop
2012: The Herb Whisperer
2011: Turning Tables With Adele
2010: A Different Kind Of Dumpster Diving
2009: Federal Glow
2008: My Mother Is An Oxymoron
2007: The Restroom Shell Game
2006: The Pressure
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Dinner And A Show

Last night we went to see Gladys Knight at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center in Shipshewana, Indiana.  When we decided to come here to get work done on our truck we looked for things to do in the area and this concert was one of the events on the calendar. So we scooped up dinner and show tickets and had a sweet little date night.  How lucky are we?

Shipshewana, a town of less than 900 people, has this wonderful 1,500-seat performing arts center that's hosted a surprising number of celebrities. We'll definitely be returning to enjoy future shows - the venue was small and we felt like we were part of a very private event.

Gladys Knight was fabulous.  The crow was energetic and responsive and the Empress of Soul brought them to their feet several times!  She looked fantastic and put on a great show - it's hard to believe she's going to be 80 next month!

Click here to see photos and a few short video clips from the concert.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Mise En Place
2018: Keeping Time In The County Seat
2017: On Your Mark
2016: Always Be A Moose
2015: Where The Good Girls Run Into Trouble
2014: Feed The Children Of The World
2013: Burst Of Power
2012: If This Worked, I’d Become A Cannibal
2011: How I While Away The Hours
2010: Incredibly Average, Yet Heroic If Necessary
2009: May I Take A Message?
2008: Doing The Speed Limit In Your Sleep
2007: Now I Can Go Back To Watching The Show
2006: Ten Of Life’s Simplest Pleasures
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Inches Of Luxury

That's our current truck in the photo above.  It has a 132" ARI Custom sleeper on a Freightliner Coronado chassis. 

We're in the market for a new truck now, which is one of the reasons we recently went to the truck show in Kentucky.  I want a bigger sleeper, Ed wants to be able to go to Canada.

Going to Canada means we'd have to stick with the 132" and put it on a Volvo chassis, which has a shorter wheelbase than our Freightliner.  That will allow us to go anywhere in Canada, something we haven't been able to do in 10 years.

Sure, I'd love to go to Canada.  I love it up there.  But I also love the idea of a bigger sleeper.  Take a look at photos from ARI showing the interior of their 190" sleeper.  It's got a back bed, a side door, and tons of room!

These trucks are great for what we do.  Even though we have our house in Arizona, we choose to stay out sometimes for weeks, and when we're on the road I really love the comforts of home.  Overdrive did a piece last year on big sleepers.

The decor in this one is right up my alley.  Light color, barn wood flooring, greyish-black cabinet color.  There are a few other cabinet colors I like and Ed keeps telling me I have to make a decision because there's at least a five month wait time to get it.

These truck interiors are truly custom.  They will make and decorate it any way you desire and wish to pay for.  I can't say I love all of these looks, but if you're interested in seeing what other people have done with their interiors, scroll through these photos to see what kinds of choices one has.

As much as I want the big sleeper, and have been building a case for it, I'd kinda like being able to go to Canada again.  It opens up more opportunities for adventure, pictures, and scenery!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: No Room At The Tonto
2017: Skies Are Always Sunnier From The Left
2016: Talking Back Isn't Such A Bad Thing After All
2015: Staying Entertained During The Load Hunt
2014: Olive You
2013: Digging Through The Memory Bank
2012: Hoochie Easter
2011: Make It Yourself Or Just Stay Home
2010: If It Walks Like A Duck…
2009: Pink In Tacoma
2008: Not The Kind Of Flower You Pick
2007: Exclusive Holiday Visitation
2006: Basket Of Knowledge
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!