Amana Colonies a Step Into the Past

Today we visited Amana Colonies.  It is seven villages which were established as a communal society known as the Community of True Inspiration.  They settled in 1855 in Iowa having traveled from Germany in 1843.

We revisited quaint Amana to purchase summer sausage which is one of my favorites and it  did not disappoint.  Another stop was at the woolen mill which is still weaving blankets, scarves, and
other items made of cloth.  It was fascinating to watch the looms weave the products with intricate patterns.  Today the looms are controlled by computers and are able to weave several times faster than in the past.  Bettie bought a new throw which will be used in the coach.

We had a great lunch at Phat Daddy's Pizza. The Hawaiian pizza had pineapple, pulled pork, and raspberry BBQ sauce.  We also sipped coffees from a small coffee cafe as we strolled through the village.

The town had several wine shops featuring local wines.  Of coarse we had to sample some of the wines which are produced from grapes that are grown in the area.  We found it fascinating that many of the homes have trellises attached to the exterior walls.  When the grapes are ready they are harvested just like we do with our gardens.

Later, we enjoyed a historical play, Oma Tales, about the colonies which was based on stories told by early residents of the area.  Even though community was established as a religious society, it experienced many humorous adventures.  The four member cast help all relive the experiences by the community.

More than a Home Run

Spent day in Shipshewana, which is a small Amish community that has a variety of quaint shops. We saw jigsaw puzzles, dulcimers, and quilts, many of which had been produced locally. We also enjoyed a great lunch with friends at the Blue Gate, and Bettie had her favorite meal of fried chicken. The Amish really are good cooks.

The highlight of the day was the musical, The Home Game. The singing, music, and story was excellent. It had many humorous lines that left the whole audience laughing. The story was about a Amish man who was recruited by a professional baseall team. He goes through many trials and finally realizes the importance of his family. It ends by him returning home to his father and brother. What a powerful message about family relationships.

Wesward Ho!

In anticipation for our first trip to Montana in our new coach, we have loaded food and clothes for our three week trip to Bozeman and back through Missouri.  We can hardly wait to see the grandkids that we haven't seen since Thanksgiving last year. We arrived at the Elkhart Fairgrounds in Goshen and found a nice level site.

We plan to spend some time with friends from Pennsylvania before head out for Amana Colonies in Iowa.