you know you're in amish country when..........

Eric and I went up to Holmes County (Amish country) for our little anniversary get-away. It was so nice to spend time, just the two of us.... That's a rarity with 3 children! We visited a few of our favorite spots and just enjoyed being together. Eric surprised me with this ring while we were watching fireworks on the 4th! I've always loved the princess cut diamonds! Didn't he do a fabulous job?!


My other ring was too big since we got it before I lost weight--it literally would almost fall off and I almost lost it several times. And, there's been a long-standing 'joke' between us..... When he proposed the first time, he actually did it the day before he planned to since the subject came up in casual conversation. I've always said I still want the 'planned out, romantic' proposal :0) Soooo, after our nice dinner out and right before the grande finale of fireworks, he proposed, again!

Of course I said 'Yes'!!!! I'd do it all over again!
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So, anyway, while in Amish country a few things popped in my head.......


You know you're in amish country when..........

...there's horse poop on the road every 1/10 mile
...while driving through the back roads, you meet/pass more buggy's than cars
...every other mailbox has any one of the following last names: Yoder, Lehman, Miller, Erb, Bontrager, Graber, Burkholder, Zook, Stolzfus, and the list goes on and on
...people selling hand-made baskets and birdhouses abound on many a corner
...there are many signs saying things like 'Der Blitzen Haus' or something like that
...there are about 20 bulk food stores in a 10 mile radius (well maybe not *quite* that many!)
...you see a school house every mile or two
...there are multiple cheese factories you can visit
...basically any restaurant you decide to eat at (not including fast food) serves delicious foods including blackberry pie
...there are about as many places to buy ice cream cones as there are bulk food stores
...variety stores selling things from china to shoes are quite common as are the gas lanterns giving light inside such stores

and the list goes on! (*note--this is in no way meant to 'make fun of'! just my simple facts/observations!)

All in all, we had a great time and it went way too quickly!