We have been spending so much time in the Amish areas that when we moved westward today, I was shocked to find road shoulders full of debris instead of horse shit. “This certainly would not do”, was my immediate reaction until I realized that Amish buggies did not travel these roads and this is probably the normal state of shoulders in most of the US. We got to know the libraries at Syracuse, Middlebury and Shipshewana (where we spent 4 hours of a drizzly cold day) so well, that the librarians in Syracuse invited the kids for a “Sock Hop” and tried to get us to come back for a “Monster Mash”. Those crazy Indiana librarians.
The leaves are changing and changing and changing and I wish I could stop so many places to photo the leaves. The sun has been most uncooperative, however, so the urge was not strong until this morning when it made a spectacular appearance. I can’t remember the last sunny day; I suspect it was sometime in Howe. We spent two nights at the Oakwood Inn in Syracuse while Ameri-Camp worked two very full, long days repairing the slide. I have to say that it works better now than it ever did. They changed the gearing and all kinds of stuff. I’m not sure that there is anything that was NOT replaced, other than the room itself. We boondocked in Shipshe, next to the library, that night and found that the nights are simply too cold and the days too cold and grey to continue boondocking, so we found a terribly depressing “campground” and promptly got stuck in the mud. Old hands at getting stuck, we simply dropped the trailer and headed to the “Sock Hop” at the library and got unstuck this morning on our way out.
We fell deeply and terribly in love with the Bulk Food store in Shipshe (quasi-locals, we call Shipshewana by its nickname “Shipshe”). Amish food in incredible variety and incredibly low prices. We actually went back three days in a row. The roast beast (roast beef to anyone not related to me) was so tender and excellent that we got Mass Quantities to stuff into the freezer. The syrups were devoid of high fructose corn sweetner and I got mass quantities of those also. I’ve never seen such variety and quantity; where else can you find bags of colored mOOnmallows* the size of a toddler? I finally caved and purchased Amish Peanut Butter, and it is as good as it might sound.
We have moved about 100 miles west and are parked near the tollroad. This is our first sight of an interstate since we left Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is loud, it is noisy, but our blood being so thin and all, we need the juice to run the heater so we don’t wake up frozen to the core. We’re actually parked at a motel, stringing an electric cord, as the campground was so muddy we decided not to even try. Tomorrow we head for Costco (we’re almost out of BEANS (the caffeine variety) and oragnic peanut butter and many other things we probably don’t need) and then we might get to Grandma Elinor’s before Christmas.
I still can’t believe we’re heading North when the weather is already more than cold enough, thank you. We should be south. Very very very south. No, more than that. Nope, a bit more; there you go. THAT south!
* edited to please the Moon God and to keep my sanity intact.
15 responses so far ↓
1 Dr Paul // Oct 21, 2006 at 12:00 am
Do you have to do anything to keep the water from freezing in the pipes/tanks in the trailer? In motor homes folks often drain all for Winter.
love, dad
2 TaTa // Oct 21, 2006 at 9:28 am
I cannot believe that my first-born, my star in the firmament, the mother of four of my wonderful grandchildren, would use (not in the quiet and privacy of their home) but would post on the Internet (for all the world to see) the “M” word. My soul is shaken, my belief in loving offspring devotion is teetering on the edge of despair … oh the shame of it all, the shame of it all!!!!
All I can imagine is that the cold of the northern states, the lack of warmth and the distance from Mexico have all worked their evil; making you something you really aren’t, and provoking you to using such ill-chosen words …..
I have waited each day for your postings, only to find this particular posting that has broken (well, cracked, perhaps) this old mother’s heart …..
The “M” word, the “M” word - you realize, dear daughter, that peopled who say the “M” word often get sent to CHICAGO!!!! (forever!)
Glad to hear you’re on the road again, that the slide is fixed and working well and that you’ll finally get to Grandma Elinor’s house. Please give her big hugs from us.
Love,
3 MB // Oct 21, 2006 at 10:54 am
I can’t figure out if the “M” word is marshmallows, motels or mud. And if it’s one of those, do I have to be concerned about exile to Chicago as well?
Hmmm….
4 TaTa // Oct 21, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Sorry, MB - Chicago it is!
TaTa aka Moongod
5 TaTa // Oct 21, 2006 at 12:14 pm
Just to be clear, their correct name, at least among the Smith Family and Friends, is:
MOONMALLOWS
I trust we will never again have to be burdened, especially by our eldest daughter!, by the “M” word!
love, dad (aka Moodgoddess)
PS> And if you think I’m going to explain this crazyness you’ve got another think coming
6 Dr Paul // Oct 21, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Check out the shrimp at:
http://www.lazydazers.com/index.cfm?fa=ShowItem&ID=2203
love, dad
7 Chrissy // Oct 22, 2006 at 10:10 am
Yeesh! Kitty - at least think of your kids! I hope this “typo” isn’t an indication that the “M Word” is being used freely and without repercussion in your home on wheels. I hate to think of you all stuck out in CHICAGO! Imagine the air fare!
Oh, and thanks for the post.
Love, C
ps - Mom, we ALWAYS use proper terminology in OUR house! (snark snark)
8 John Calypso // Oct 22, 2006 at 10:14 am
I am almost afraid to say anything below those comments above - a mother daughter thing I guess?
I wanted to mention the “B” word - coffee beans - one of the most harsh realities about returning to the States is the 6-10 dollars per pound price of mostly lesser quality coffee beans - thank goodness we are back to 2.2 lb bags of delicious beans for 50 pesos (less than $5.00) Hurry back!
Juan Calypso
9 Dr Paul // Oct 22, 2006 at 2:30 pm
Lesser quality coffee beans cannot be found at http://www.peets.com
best, paul
10 MB // Oct 22, 2006 at 10:51 pm
You know, after two weeks on the damp, cold, damp, cold (did I mention DAMP and COLD) Northern California coast (and weather.com promised it would be WARM), I think exile to Chicago would be a blessing!
I miss Maine’s snow, if only because it sucks all the ^%$^&@ moisture out of the air. Yes, we have cold, but it’s a “dry” cold.
Grumble, grumble (awaiting my chariot to ChiTown…)
11 Dr Paul // Oct 23, 2006 at 10:27 am
Yo, MB!
What’s the weather like where you are? (Running and ducking….)
best, paul
12 Michelle // Oct 24, 2006 at 9:19 pm
Oh my god, I’m the black moonmallow
(i’m probably spelling it wrong too).
But would one still be shipped to Chicago,
or would it be Minneapolis now?
13 Michelle // Oct 24, 2006 at 9:57 pm
I just looked at your pics.
I can’t believe you are so near!
We had some snow the other day,
just a sprinkle or two.
Please remember not to bring the
really yummy peanut butter spread,
or things that might have it on,
from sticky hands.
Graham and Sebastian have that fatal peanut
allergy. We have been doing a lot of planning with the folks at the Land School - getting their kitchen ready for Graham’s residency there.
Do your kids eat Soy Nut Butter?
Our kids are getting so excited about
having cousins come and stay.
I think they don’t really believe me.
14 Dr Paul // Oct 24, 2006 at 11:00 pm
Michelle:
Chicago.
love, dad
15 Aunt Kathy // Oct 25, 2006 at 8:13 am
Michelle,
I have a really good recipe for making my own almond butter - I roast my own walnuts.
Love,
Aunt Kathy
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