Last weekend my husband, myself, and his parents went to the world’s largest population of Amish – Millersburg, Ohio. We have talked about this trip the past few years and FINALLY made it happen! Bill & Carol flew up from North Carolina to enjoy the fall weather and what we soon learned was the busiest weekend in Millersburg – Sweetest Day! Who knew. It also is harvest so tourists come from all of the world to see the fields being plowed in the traditional way. To avoid the crowds Carol and I took a back road route to see the countryside when we arrived. Beautiful!!!
This pot belly pig was too cute! This is the first one I’ve seen in person. I wish I had video to show his personality. He kept wiggling his nose and tail…
We stayed around Amish families at Garden-Get-Away’s Cottages. We had two cottages side by side with long porches to relax and enjoy watching the horse and buggies come and go. I told Josh we had rented cabins. When we walked in he was blown away by the “fancy” jacuzzi tub, fireplace, flat screen tv, and decor… he thought I meant a rustic cabin! ha ha.
The amazing view from our porches!
An added bonus… we had horses right outside our porch! Well, we had apple trees and the horses came to get “snacks.”
Josh was REALLY excited about feeding the horses. For those that know Josh that’s a big deal. When we woke up in the morning, he peaked out the window and made a mad dash outside. Of course… the horses were back for apples. 🙂
Here we are at a random farm on the side of the road. Josh is nice from time to time and humors me when I scream for him to stop for pictures! 🙂
In historic Roscoe Village they were celebrating their 41st Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival.
We walked around a bit (way too big too see everything) and I found this really cool mug!! I collect pottery but I’ve never seen one with this intricate of a handle. I’d like to come back when it’s not festival time to really see this town beyond all the shopping. A potter was making vases in the midst of the vendors… I like that he was using a spoon! I’ll have to remember this when I take another pottery class.
Bill did this on his own!
There is a funny story behind this photo. Carol & I went on a shopping route given to us by Carol at the B&B. This route led us to Amish stores that were in their homes, barns, etc. but the route was very complex to us! It was country directions for sure!!! The first stop on the map was L and E candles. We kept seeing signs for it everywhere but couldn’t manage to find it for quite some time… just when we gave up… there it was on the hill! This store had the carved candles that are purchased for weddings, jars of candles, pillars, gift baskets… you name it! I’m glad we finally found it. Not only for the shopping but we were able to talk to the ladies running the shops and hear about their lives. We saw her husband plowing the farm near this shop and heard about her day.
More photos of the countryside! The photo of me was taken in “lovers lane” we were told! It’s very secluded here. The Amish kids hang out here in their buggies on the weekend nights.
That evening we had dinner with an Amish family. They are not into having their photo taken so I have no pictures to share with you! I can tell you the meal was so so so so very delicious and abundant! Best apple cider we had all had in our lives!!! The menu: chicken, green beans, to die for potato/cheese dish, noodles, yeast rolls, fruit pizza (YUM!), some kind of jello mold…. all good! As if we were not full enough … 2 hours later we were eating dessert again! The B&B has a traditional campfire every night and tonight they cooked a cobbler with the coals from the fire. It was chocolate with blueberries!!
We had such a great time we hated to go back… we only stayed one night!! On the way home we went to see the Longaberger basket factory & building.
I know lots of people make an entire vacation just to see this… we were lucky it was on our way!
Our very last stop was just down the street from my house. Our favorite tea house… Clara J’s. They have baskets and baskets of hats!! I think we are the only ones who ever wear them though! Anything for a picture, right?
Thank you Bill & Carol for traveling all the way to Ohio to vacation with us!!!
