How different it looks...

Welcome to our stay in Indiana. We returned to the scene of the crime in Fort Wayne to visit with friends, and we got a new view of the city. It was amazing how different it looked to both of us as we viewed Fort Wayne without the stresses we had during the 2 years we lived there. It wasn't dingy or gray but instead full of beautiful neighborhoods, manicured lawns, flowers, and lovely homes.

We had a wonderful visit with Peggy and Larry Eckert. They opened their home to us and Peggy immediately became "Auntie Peggy" to Finnegan. He preferred playing with her to just about anything else. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to leave with us...or stay with Peggy. They played fetch with a tennis ball, rag and tug with a knotted hand towel, and Finn got to keep the rubber door stop he adopted as soon as we arrived. He was perfect...almost... The weather was hot, so we parked the RV at Larry's office and stayed in their house.



Maureen and Alan Grinsfelder invited us and mutual friends Mary and Dick Lee to their lovely home for dinner. We couldn't resist taking a photo of the house. It's quite beautiful. A 1914 Prairie style home that Maureen and Al have given loving care to for umpteen years... What a joy to have them share it with us.

That's Al with Ed in front of the big leaded glass windows and large table that's original to the home.

That's me with Mary Lee and Maureen and below is Mary in the dining room as we prepared to have a delicious dinner. Al - you can grill salmon for me anytime!!!

Ed spent an afternoon at the World War II Museum in Auburn, IN while I just hung out with my buddy, Peggy. We did some really fine catching up. Funny how time doesn't seem to have any gaps when you're with good friends...

Peggy, Ed, and I took a drive up to Shipshewana, Amish central in the area. I used to love going up there. Whenever I was down, I would get in the car and drive the 1 1/4 hrs up to Shipshewana by myself. Then I'd drive the backroads of the area. I found all sorts of interesting places...and we visited a few of them on this jaunt. We skipped the old fashioned soda fountain but we did talk about it. We did go to the cheese factory and decided it's even better than Wisconsin. We loaded up and now we have Shipshewana cheese in the RV freezer. Yum yum! Peggy and I went to Yoder's General Store to look at the Amish stuff and play around in the fabric department. I made more than one quilt with fabric I purchased there... I tried to get Peggy to buy the leaf hat, but she refused. She'll regret it one day...

I took this photo (on the sly, of course) inside Yoder's. They sell the chairs, and everyone tries them out.

This is a typical scene in Shipshewana. Cars and buggies...and buggies and cars...

I don't agree with some of the Amish practices like not educating the children and not paying taxes, and running puppy mills. But they do have beautiful farms with perfectly lovely vegetable and flower gardens. And they put their laundry on the line all sorted by type and color. And the horses are beautiful. It's scenic in the Amish country...no wonder I chose it for my escape in our Fort Wayne time.

Since the RV was parked at Larry's office we got together one night and played "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." We began with our Trek, the smallest of the 3 RVs. Then we looked at Peggy and Larry's Winnebago. Finally, we drove over the Mary and Dick's Phaeton. It was sort of like the Papa Bear to the Eckert Mama Bear to the Kibel Baby Bear. The one thing we all agreed upon was that we've all had some amazing times in the RV's. Maybe one day we'll all be able to travel somewhere together. THAT would be fun!!!

Now we're off to Cleveland to visit Rita, Sheila, Carole, Hannah, Linda, and Shelly.