Friday, June 19, 2009

Friday's Fave Five- June 19, 2009


I'm back! What a busy busy week my staycation was! I'm ready to get back to my routines, which includes participating in Friday's Fave Five.


1. This first favorite is actually from last week, but I didn't get the pictures loaded to the computer till this week. That makes it count for this week, right?


During our staycation, we traveled to Arcola, Illinois, to the heart of Amish country. We visited a museum, ate at an Amish restaurant, went to an Amish store (I went crazy buying spices, flour, etc.), and went on tours to see a woodworking business and an Amish home. (I also got lost in the heart of their farmlands -- all those narrow roads look alike!)


The Amish do not want their faces to be photographed, so this picture of an Amish man in a buggy with his three daughters is not clear. The horse's tail kept their faces from being shown.

You can't see them, but there were three adorable little girls wearing black bonnets in the buggy. They were probably ages 1, 3, and 5.


As I drove along in Arcola (and Arthur, IL) I passed many horses and buggies alongside the road. I always slowed down; I was afraid the traffic would spook the horses. I also saw many Amish ride bicycles. Some of the bicycles were curious looking - I wish I could have gotten a picture - the pedals for the legs were up near where handlebars normally are.


2. This next picture is taken of my daughter in an Amish Whole Foods Store. I loved this place! If you like organic foods, this is the place to come. There were all kinds of pasta products, different flours and grains, spices, and candies! Oh, my. I wanted it all! The cool thing is I found out that you can order from them and they will ship to you. I will be ordering soon!


Also, at the store, was a selection of stuffed animals. Malia had to have this cow:



because she said it was smiling. How many smiling stuffed cows does a person normally see? Yes, the cow came home with us!


3. Sadly, the staycation had to end... (how do you end staying at home? :) I mean, my mom and sister headed back to Florida, and I went back to work. Time to get back into my routine, which of course, included riding my bike.


Here is a picture of a creek that I always stop at to catch my breath while riding bikes. (I know ... it's sad how out-of-shape I am!)

You know that I love to take pictures of water. I hope you can see the ripples of water over the creek bed - it's not very deep this time of year.

4. Here is a picture of the road I take every day to go to work. Actually, my favorite is the view from the other side -- heading back home! -- but I thought I would share this with you.




5. My favorite thing this week is that I am now all caught up at work from my vacation! I love the feeling of relief when you don't have anything hanging over your head. I plan to relax this weekend.


How did your week go? Link up with us over at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story.



















14 comments:

  1. Jerri, thanks for sharing about your week. It makes me want a staycation, too. Maybe tomorrow... ha. I love the smiling cow. Blessings to you.

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  2. Fabulous FFF. Loved the pictures, especially the cow :) Have a great Friday :)

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  3. We visited an Amish area in western New York last year and I was fascinated by just about everything. I snapped a picture of three Amish girls in their black bonnets as our car came up behind their buggy - they were all facing forward so all you could see were the backs of the bonnets.

    Everything about the trip was interesting - the way Amish laundry is hung up on the clothesline according to size and color (for an organizing freak like me, I was really impressed), the beautiful horses and buggies, the children and teenagers walking barefoot along the side of the road, and a group of Amish men and boys working on someone's roof.

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  4. I love the Amish community in IL. Its been about five years since we've been there. Thanks for the inspiration to head there again. I believe they have a quilt show coming up!

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  5. Sounds like a great staycation. I'd love to visit Amish country :0)
    Glad you got caught up at work. Have a great weekend!!

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  6. sounds like you had a nice 'staycation'....the visit to the Amish sounds very interesting.

    I like the photo of your road to work - the trees are lovely.

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  7. We have Amish not to far from here, their lives are fascinating. I never heard of Staycation...I like it!

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  8. What a cute cow!! I'd love to visit Amish country some day.

    How great to have had some time off yet be all caught up now so you can enjoy the weekend.

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  9. The Aimish are so fascinating.
    They live such a simple lifestyle, sometimes I wonder.....
    Yes, by far the cow is a winner.
    Have a blessed weekend.

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  10. How fun was your staycation! I would love to visit an amish community!

    Love your pictures.

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  11. Staycation - that's a new term to me, and I think I like it. The Amish man in a buggy is very interesting. It's like being transported back in time. One day I would love to visit an Amish community.

    Thanks for visiting my FFF entry. A great week to you and your family.

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  12. love your fave fives.....love all the pics. We toured Amish country in Lancaster Co, PA when we visited during a spring break vacation there 2 years ago.

    I love all your pics....

    thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your nice comment. God bless you, have a great weekend!

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  13. Great FFFs! My dd lives near Amish country in Ohio. Next time we go back there, we hope to visit.

    Cute cow!

    Have another great week!

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  14. Didn't you just love the clothes lines in Amish country?
    Thanks for sharing about your trip.
    I would stop at that creek too. I think you would stop, no matter what shape your are in.
    TTFN...

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