Saturday, October 24, 2009

Lancaster County, PA from my car

Every 3-4 months or so, my husband plans a big grocery shopping trip to Shady Maple Farm Market in East Earl, PA. This is where we buy our meats and the produce there cannot be beat. Well, it can I’m sure, but their produce is excellent and they have everything.

Our journey takes just over an hour from our home and we travel through Amish country. We used to live up in Pennsylvania for years, in Chester County, and Shady Maple is where we regularly shopped. We’ve been going there for close to 30 years and have watched it grow from a regular-sized grocery store to something mammoth. It even has its own smorgasbord next door, where you can gorge yourself with Pennsylvania Dutch cookin’ and everything in- between. We stay away from the smorgasbord.

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I took these shots on the journey home.

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I would have liked to get out of the car but sometimes that’s just not possible.

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We drove along familiar roads and passed places we used to live, the playground where I’d regularly take our boys to play when they were very young, and well-tended Amish farms.

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My husband would slow down when he saw me pull the camera up.

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It’s always soothing along these familiar roads of Pennsylvania.

I didn’t fare so well at Shady Maple, though. What is it with anesthesia? Or maybe it was all the drugs in the hospital last week, but when the car stopped, it felt like I was still moving. The store was blowing my mind with just how much of everything there was. Too many things. Too many decisions. Thank heavens it wasn’t packed yet, as we got there around 8:30, but I felt confused after we were done in the produce section and eventually went back to the car to sit down. I gotta get over this.

I took a small walk with camera in tow when we got home and suddenly it began to rain. I tried to walk as fast as I could up the hill back towards the house and saw my husband running down towards me. He brought me an umbrella, opened it up and handed it to me and then ran back up to the house. Wow!

Someday, I thought, I’m going to run like that.

I need a nap now. How are things in your neck of the woods?

Until later, my friends . . .

42 comments:

Mary said...

We just had a huge crack of thunder about twenty minutes ago and the heavens opened up...

I LOVE that first photo, Kate. the tones and the texture are wonderful!!!

I hope you are not trying to do too much, too quickly. I know it's no fun to be just sitting around but sometimes you just have to take it easy...

OK, enough from Mom. lol Hope you have a wonderful (restful) weekend!

GailO said...

Hi Kate!

Those big mega-stores make me dizzy even without anesthesia!

What I really wanted to write about is how wonderful that husband of yours is...slowing down when he sees you take out the camera...and running over to you with an umbrella...gotta love that guy!
xoxo

Betty said...

Take it easy Kate. don't try to hurry things. I wouldn't want you to have any setbacks we need you well so we can have our picture fix and our George fix. Your pictures today are so calming.
~~ Love and Hugs and Good thoughts~~

Michelle said...

I always loved going to Amish country. Beautiful scenery and the food/shopping was excellent. Take care of yourself and don't hurry things!

Mattenylou said...

Thanks for the photos of your countryside, so peaceful. Keep taking it slow while you recover, sometimes our bodies need to heal a bit slower than we'd like.

Caroline said...

LOVE all the photos here! Such open land...I feel like I can just breathe in that fresh air. How lucky that you can drive through such a beautiful and nostalgic place.

Cloudia said...

Ah, the soil of my birth. Thanks for the memories...mmmm, Shady Maple Farms - great!


Aloha, Friend!


Comfort Spiral

CarlaHR said...

Lovely pictures as always - you really have "the eye" for beauty. You are probably trying to do too much too soon - you've just got to learn how to take it easy for a while longer and let that lovely husband of yours continue spoiling you.

Barb T. said...

Kate--It is waaaay to warm in Florida! When you had your surgery, I was in New Hampshire hiking in the White Mts. The weather, then, not so good, but the hiking was so much fun. I thought of you often, not knowing what was going on in your life.
I am sorry your recovery is going rather slowly. You will recover, though!!!! Just keep thinking that. I know when I was nursing my sister back to health after a quadruple bypass, she, ironically being an active marathoner/runner/exerciser/etc., was so distraught over her inability to walk around a simple block. Surgery brings the strongest to their knees, but it does eventually let you back up.
Hang in there, and know that so many of us are thinking about you!!!

Deb said...

You will recover, but remember everything takes time. Love your photos...but I say that all of the time!!!!

maillady said...

hi kate, gotta love that part of PA. i would love to take a ride up there sometime. great pictures as always. you still need to take things slow. your body will let you know when it's time to do more. rest often and laugh alot... it's good for the body and soul. hugs to andrew and so glad to see him helping you. he must be grateful to be able to do it.love to all. peg

maillady said...

p.s. by the way i could'nt transfer the picture you sent. i must be doing something wrong. great job on the picture though.thanks

Jeanne Walker said...

Love, love, love Amish country. Spent a week in Berlin, Ohio...oh, the peacefulness, the serenity, the orderliness, the slow-paced living...the beauty of it all! Clip-clop, clip-clop! How blessed you are to be within its grasp so quickly!

Take it easy...have you stopped to smell the petunias? Jeanne

Unknown said...

Kate,
I hope you feel better soon...maybe hang on the couch and let all that stuff wear off. I love your photos. Some Amish men from Lancaster built our barn. They were some very nice folks...and they did a great job.
Take care,
Annie

Char said...

beautiful shots indeed. sorry you're still not feeling back up to snuff (as they say around here) - just try to take it as slow as you can without wearing yourself out.

it's cold down here for us - in the 50's so I'm going to try and stay warm.

Sugar Creek Beads said...

Oh so beautiful it is in Amish country, sounds like you were having a lovely time until the lightheaded spell. That will go away with time. You have a wonderful husband it seems. It's raining like crazy in my section of Maryland and I am in for the evening. Have a lovely night. Jeanne

Donna S. said...

Man, we have had a lot of rain. Today was actually nice & sunny for most part. But, I didn't even get out. Granddaughter spent night (& not much good sleep with back hurting), cleaned house, did laundry most of day, then did something I rarely do....took a nap. Love my tag-a-longs with you. Thank you for that. Feel better.

Unknown said...

My boyfriend had an interview in Lancaster. He didn't take the job but now I wish he did!

Mental P Mama said...

I love Amish country. If you don't take it easy, I'm gonna have to come there and tie you down.

Gail said...

Wonderful photos, I think your husband is a keeper.

Jo said...

I could feel myself driving along those country roads with you. I could actually feel the movement of the car. Wonderful photos!

Enjoy your much-deserved nap. :-)

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

It's wonderful to have someone willing to rush across the yard to bring an umbrella. There are many who wouldn't care or pay close enough attention to realize you needed one.

We had a rainbow here today.

Arlene said...

Lancaster is lovely country! The mountains are so beautiful in Pa. We lived there for 2 years when I wasin the 8th grad! Lets see about a thousand years ago! I remember the hard candy the Amish made. One of the Amish girls that I enjoyed being around was just so sweet.It was a very relaxing place. Love your pictures!! And please take care of you!!

A Scattering said...

It rained in my part of the world today as well. Very windy tonight. Hoping either that the leaves will be dry enough to rake in the morning or that they will have blown to someone else's lawn..... ;} Pace yourself, you'll feel better soon superwoman.

beth said...

oh how I love the amish...we have them around here too and often see their buggies at wal-mart which always cracks me up !!

drink lots of hot tea and feel better soon....

beautiful photos by the way....

BB said...

Your hubby sounds like quite the gentleman... a good man!

Give yourself time to recover - I always feel very second-hand for a few weeks after an anaesthetic. Your body has been through a lot. Rest.

And I ADORE the Amish images... something we don't get much of in this part of the world.

And GLAD your slideshow went well over in your Picture A Day section!!
:-)
BB

Anonymous said...

The last few lines at the end of the post are excellent - Good partners.
And Horse-cart That is good. And I wish a horse-cart ride if I am on the same road or a long walk.
Great peaceful less noisy place.

Anonymous said...

The area looks fascinating, you always make a wonderful photograph.

CJ xx

Jan Garrabrandt said...

We have an inn 3 miles from Shady Maple and I shop there regularly. What I like most about them is that they are family run and the family is very generous in the community. I also like the fact that they buy from our local farmers. This time of year they have brussel sprouts still on the stalks - so if you put the stalk in your cart, it sticks out and may poke people as you go through the store! Many of my guests comment that they didn't even know they grew that way. Hope you feel better soon.

Kerri Farley said...

Oh these are gorgeous! And I am with Mary - that first photo is quite breathtaking! But of course - I LOVE them all.
Hope each day will bring you closer and closer to feeling like your old self!!

Anonymous said...

Another place I haven't been...thankyou!.. that first photo is beautiful...

Jill of All Trades said...

Glad you were able to get out for a bit. Love the pictures and the drive looks so peaceful. Take it slow and easy and you will be back to normal before you know it. Just takes a bit of time. Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

Things in this neck of the woods are simply mah-vuh-lous! I know what you mean about not always being able to stop and get the photo you want.. Some of our roads are just too narrow, busy and dangerous so I have to just sigh and let the shot go.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

Linda said...

So glad you are getting out but don't over do. And that Husband of yours is a keeper! Beautiful photos as always.

Daryl said...

Payback for me, Safari refused to let me comment so I am here via Firefox .. sigh

PLEASE when you go back to work, go for a half day for a few days... too much outsider stimulation after all the time at home is not easy to process... baby steps!

And I must come visit and go to this store and see the horse/carriages on the road so I can snap a few too tho mine wont ever be as awesome as yours.

xo

Pa-Dutch-Travel said...

Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing. I love Shady Maple!

Deb said...

What beautiful images Kate. We visited Lancaster County PA in the early 80's and loved it! Beautiful scenery and friendly people made for a wonderful holiday.

Gabensysmom said...

What beautiful countryside!! Gorgeous pictures!

Hilary said...

Gorgeous photos on the move. I love Amish/Mennonite country.. there's such a romantic old-fashioned feel to it. Like when a man runs to bring you an umbrella. That's too sweet.

Merisi said...

You captured such beautiful images, despite not feeling well! I hope you are alright now.

I loved going up to Lancaster County. One of my fondest memories if of a weeklong trip from the Eastern Shore all the way to Lancaster, stopping and admiring the tranquil countryside along the road, in the middle of February. It was very cold, and the wind was blowing, making it even more of a dreamlike journey. I watched "Witness" again the other night, for the glimpses of countryside.

The JR said...

I love the photos. It always takes me several weeks to get back to normal after having surgery.

Hope you feel better soon.

Ramona

Ellen said...

Ummm, Shady Maple. Apple Cinnamon Bread, the bulk foods section, Garden farmers cheese, apple sausage.... the list goes on forever!

One of my favorite places to shop (duh, as if you couldn't figure that out). Did you wander around Good's Store too?