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Published: July 31st 2013
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Shipshewanna Flea Market
Just a few of the many shoppers at the flea market July 31—Most of today I spent at the Shipshewana flea market. To say the thing is huge is an understatement. According to the booklet they publish there are 1,083 permanent, covered booths plus about 40 antique booths in a large barn. Other, open-air booths may also be set up and I supposed they change from date to date. The market is held every Tuesday and Wednesday. If one doesn't want to go to the market, then it is better to avoid the town of Shipshewana altogether on those days! The traffic is bumper-to-bumper and punctuated with Amish buggies which slow things even more. (Not that I minded those. I enjoyed watching them, but I could see how they would be a nuisance to locals trying to get around.) The market is free, but the parking is $6.
I walked the whole market. (Never did find out how many acres the market covers.) I must say that I was very disappointed in the overall experience and wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they just like flea markets a lot. About 85% of the booths featured new, cheap (think made-in-China) stuff. Several booths seemed to be owned by the same people and
Amish Cultural Center
Interesting museum and another living quilt. had the same items, just located in different places. Seeing those would make me check my map to make sure I wasn't repeating an aisle. There were very few booths of crafts, local made items such as Amish, and none of what I would call real flea market items. The antiques tended to be high end. No bargains or interesting finds. Furthermore, there were only five or six fruit and vegetable stands or bakery and home canned goods booths. All I bought was a new pair of sun glasses and a cover plate for the microwave.
What the market did have in abundance was people! Such crowds! Tourists, shoppers, lookers, buyers and many Amish shoppers, too. The food places stayed crowded as did the places to get drinks. It was a hot day.
I ate a late lunch at Yoder's, one of the well known Amish restaurants. It, too, was very crowded and I had to wait to get a table. At least it was air-conditioned. All of the servers were fresh-faced young Amish girls. I had their meat loaf, which was delicious, but especially enjoyed the mashed potatoes and gravy, which was really
Bed and Breakfast
Note the garden right by the house. good!
I have noticed a difference among the various Amish populations. The ones around Lancaster, Penn. seem much more conservative, not only in their dress but also in their interactions with the non-Amish. (I think they call us “English”.) The ones in Ohio are a little more liberal as far as doing business with the “English”, but still conservative in dress and transportation. The ones in Indiana seem much more liberal. The womens dresses are still plain, but more colorful, often with short sleeves. Some of the men are clean-shaven. They are most liberal in doing business with anyone. I had a hard time telling the difference between the Amish and the Mennonites sometimes. I have read that the Amish practices depend on the bishop of an area.
After leaving the market, I drove around a bit to find another one of the living quilts of the quilt gardens. Across the street from the flea market there is an Amish cultural center with a museum and some history of the Amish in the area. Part of that complex was an Amish Bed and Breakfast. I think staying at one of those would be a very interesting
Laundry Day
I couldn't resist the Amish clothes on a line. experience. There were several more quilt gardens in the area also.
August 1: Since yesterday was a full one, I was tired so I slept in. Then I got the RV squared away to move to the Coachmen factory. My new ladder had to be custom made and had been ordered. It was scheduled for installation on Friday. In the meantime, I was able to stay on the Coachmen grounds at a small RV park provided for their customers. It was a shady, grassy area by a little creek and had picnic tables at each site. What a pleasant area and so nice to have full hook-ups at no cost while waiting for the service. There was a laundromat across the street which was very handy! I thought about touring some more, but decided just to take it easy, instead.
Bootsie—I'm glad Marty decided to stay put for a change. I was getting pretty bored driving around--stopping and starting—her getting in and out all the time. I don't know what she gets so excited about. Every time I get settled for a nap, there she goes again. I watch out the window, but Quilt Mural
One of several on the Heritage Trail. I don't see much that looks interesting. Oh, sometimes there are people with dogs. I watch them very carefully.
I have been practicing something new, though. When Marty left me with Tarena and Ward last year, I found they had a water thing that ran water all the time. I liked that. So, I have been watching Marty in the kitchen and she turns on a thing-a-ma-jig that runs water like that. I hopped up there several times and stuck my head right by it. She's a little slow sometimes, but finally got the idea that I wanted her to turn on the water. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get to the water without getting all wet! Aug. 1, 2012: Well, I labeled today the “day from hell”. I decided since the ladder would not be installed until tomorrow, that I would spend one final day checking out the Heritage Trail and photograph any quilt gardens I missed previously. I was cruising down the road when an all-too-familiar vibration started again. The wheel was getting really hard to handle, so I pulled into a parking lot and got
Amish Buggy Ride
One could purchase a buggy ride. out. Sure enough, smoking rubber and bad smell. I climbed back into the RV and started crying. (It's ok, I'm a woman and am entitled to do just that!)
I finally pulled myself together and called the familiar Midas number in Bowling Green and asked if there was a Midas store in the area. I got the number of one in Elkart. Then I called a local tow company. This drill was getting too practiced! When this tow truck came, the young man started fiddling with the frozen tire, then with the emergency brake handle. He was able to get the tire to roll again to save me a tow charge. (There was, of course, still a service call charge.)
Once I could drive the RV again, I headed to the Midas shop in Elkhart, praying all the way that I could get there. It took several hours for the shop owner to work the RV in. After inspection, he said the problem appeared to be in the emergency brake cable which he loosened and lubricated. He said he “thought” that would fix the problem. On the other hand he couldn't say it wouldn't
Another Transportation Mode
Buggies weren't the only way the Amish got around. happen again. Well, thanks a lot Midas. I drove back to the Coachmen park, took two aspirin and went to bed. Indiana is a nice state, I'm sure, but not for me!!!
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Vesta
non-member comment
Amish
I'd love to stay in the B & B!