When we were in Akron, OH last month, we found ourselves with a free afternoon to fill. Steve was not feeling quite up to par and so he opted to stay at our Airbnb to rest and read.
And as for me?
Well, if you know me at all, you know that one of my greatest joys in life is wandering through rural areas and small towns. I’m not sure why that holds such a great appeal for me but I love it beyond words. And since I knew that just an hour up the road was an extensive Amish community, my afternoon turned out to include meandering under a sunny, Ohioan sky amidst gorgeous scenery and picturesque farms.
Utter. Bliss.
To make a delightsome day all the better, in one of the small towns I drove through I discovered an Amish-run thrift store. Rural countryside and a thrift store all in one afternoon? Be still my heart.
I was actually a little curious as to how the store might be different from other stores and was fascinated by what I found inside.
I quickly discovered that an Amish run thrift store runs light on cheap junky stuff and runs heavy on hand-made, high-quality items. (I DO have to say I was curious as to what the Staples bag was doing there!)
It was interesting to see that the selection of patterns and fabrics was many times larger than any other thrift store I’ve been in. In a world where the concept of hand made is becoming increasingly rare, these wonderful folks continue to stitch their own clothing.
I am in awe of anyone who actually knows what to do with patterns and fabric. It is a great mystery to me.
These are definitely not the sights you see in most thrift stores.
The store carried non-Amish items as well and I ended up buying a cute sweater and a large tote bag. I knew I had to buy something to commemorate my visit to such a fascinating place; I’m glad I found some things I loved.
One of the many things I loved about the store was that they played really, REALLY old-timey gospel music. As I browsed the racks, I heard songs I hadn’t listened to in many decades, all sung in simple arrangements. Those songs were part of my very earliest memories growing up on the front pew of the church.
As a musician/songwriter, I am always hyper aware of music that plays in stores and I have actually left stores before that played music with ugly lyrics. I am always tuned into words being sung and sometimes I just can’t even stand to listen.
But this store? Oh my. Such an immense treat to wander aisles filled with beautiful things and to fill my head with beautiful words, all at the same time.
One memory stands out especially: the store carried a small selection of long formal dresses/prom dresses, etc. and as I walked by that rack I happened to glance over to see a plainly dressed girl of about fifteen, fingering the cloth of a frilly, fuschia dress. She looked up and caught my eye and I saw a wistful smile cross her face. But at the same time, I saw deep contentment in her eyes. She looked like such a lovely girl; someone I would have loved to have had a cup of tea with.
My day continued to unwind as I followed roads to wherever they happened to lead me.
At one point in my travels, I came across a roadblock where they were doing a small repair. The repair took about fifteen minutes and in that space of time, just two or three cars came along and stopped along with me. I turned off the engine, rolled down the windows and breathed in the heavenly aroma of manure and meadows and the distant smell of the coming rain.
All I could think was, “I hope it takes about two hours to repair this road because I am quite content just sitting right here.”
But all too soon, the road was open and I turned my engine back on, leaving behind me with a sigh a sweet, simple ride through a sweet, simpler time.
What about you? Would an afternoon on country roads fill you with bliss? Or is that not your “cup of tea?” If not, what would be your idea of relaxation if you had a whole afternoon to yourself?
Would YOU know what to do with a pattern and a bolt of material?
Dear Becky, AS ALWAYS your blog is the perfect combination of prose and accompanying photography. A simple formula, it would seem – but actually doing it as you do is the challenge. Thank you for taking your readers where we could never go. 🙂
Fred,
I’m happy to take you all along on my journeyings!
Thanks for coming along and for your always encouraging words.
I’m glad you enjoyed Amish Country- I grew up not far from Sugar Creek and we spent many happy Saturday afternoons in Amish Country when I was younger. It’s quite lovely and calming to be there. I love the pictures you selected! I love a quiet afternoon with a good book- especially if it’s rainy outside- a good excuse to skip the chores.
Heather,
My absolute favorite thing is to be at home alone when it’s raining. And to add in a good book? Utter. Bliss.
I am jealous of all your Saturday afternoon sojourns through Amish country. I can’t imagine how many memories you must carry with you from that time.
Beautiful pictures! If I had material to use, I would find a pattern for a dress for my granddaughter and sew one up. My mother taught me to sew and I have sewed many many things over the years. I even did and entire wedding party once. I did all the girls dresses, two little flower girls dresses in 2 little ring bears jackets and short pants. It was sure was fun!
Leeanne,
The idea that anyone could call sewing for a wedding party “fun” is completely beyond my comprehension. But I am in awe of you and your talent. What an amazing feeling that must have been to have gone to that wedding and seen all your handiwork on display. Kudos to you!
What a fun way to spend an afternoon. I love small towns and the older, the better! When I was much younger, we lived in Boston. I loved all the history of the towns there. I also enjoy getting in the car and just going. With a 4 year old, it’s a bit harder now, but someday, I hope to do it again!
On YouTube, I have found a few people that go “exploring”. They take their cameras and go to abandoned places. I had no idea this existed. I follow one that goes all around the world. Somehow, he makes money doing this and can afford to do it. It is really interesting some of the places that he has found. I love the old houses they find. It’s like a time warp…one minute someone lived there, the next, they were gone and the home hasn’t been touched (for the most part). There are looters, of course, over time, but the explorers don’t take anything…they leave it just the way it is. Often times, they have researched to find out who lived there and maybe some other info about them or the building (hotels, hospitals, amusement parks, even a deserted town, etc) It’s a lot of fun. It’s “Exploring with Josh”. Another one that is good it “Exploring with Hunter”. Hunter mostly does homes.
Anyway, hope you have a relaxed, blessed week!
Krista,
Thanks so much for the recommendation for Exploring with Josh. It sounds just like something I would LOVE to watch!
And I have every hope, right along with you, that you there will be many more exploring days in YOUR future as well. Sounds like you got the exploring bug as you were growing up and that is a great thing!
Two years ago, when we did our big huge drive, one of the big things on my bucket list for that trip was to visit at least one Amish town. We only spent a few hours in the town but it was a lot of fun. I was always amazed at the amount of kids who were barefoot-I would have loved that since I despise shoes! And I never tired of the horse drawn buggies that you saw everywhere. Still would like to go back again and see more.
Nicole,
Glad you got to visit an Amish town on your road trip. The thing that gets me about the horse and buggies is thinking about them doing that in the winter. Can you imagine? I guess I can’t complain when I go out to the car and it takes 5 minutes for my heater to warm up.
Hopefully, you WILL be able to visit another Amish town and enjoy seeing even more.
Becky,
As always, your photos are just beautiful! I aways admire your photographic abilities. And, as I’ve often said, you should sell them! But, perhaps then photography would become a “job” and wouldn’t be as enjoyable for you. I love driving down country roads and meandering through small towns, basking in the ambience of a simpler time and slower pace.
I do know what to do with patterns and fabric, having made many clothes, using the “scraps” to make clothes for children. But, as many have mentioned, it is now often less expensive to buy them than to make them. Although I don’t use it very often these days, I still keep my sewing machine close at hand!
Linda in Pittsburgh
Linda,
“A simpler time and slower pace.” That is such a perfect way to describe how I feel when I drive through small towns. The world has gotten so busy and crazy. Small towns offer a chance to take a deep breath and just. slow. down.
Glad to know you love them just as much as I do!
And kudos to you for knowing how to sew. My hat is off to you!
Have enjoyed going down country roads, I guess because both of us lived in the country for awhile. A few years back we. Isited an Amish store that was on their farm. It was very dark inside because no electricity and no candles, not even the battery ones. Some folks used the light on their phone. It was too bad because I believe she did have some nice things. There were 2 windows that did give a little light. When we visit different places we try and find “mom and pop” type restaurants. Again, your pictures are so meaningful and lovely.
Sharyn,
Wow! I can’t imagine shopping at a store with no electricity and no candles! As you said, it was too bad they didn’t have some way of lighting things up a little more; it would definitely help their business.
And I love that you support local mom and pop restaurants instead of chains when you travel. Good for you! (And it’s good for THEM.)
What a fun afternoon exploring!! And to find an Amish thrift store on top of that??? Definitely your kind of bliss – thanks for taking us with you!
Sue Ellen,
My kind of bliss. I love that. And SO very true!
I love driving aimlessly around backroads be it inland or coast. Yes, I’m blessed that my Mom started teaching me to sew when I was in grammar school and had my own sewing machine by jr. high school. I used to sew many of my clothes then noticed it was becoming less expensive to buy them. I still see when I’ve got an idea and want something in a particular color or print. I even sewed my own two piece bathingsuit once complete with underwire!
Guerrina,
You sewed a bathing suit complete with underwire? I can NOT even imagine. Once or twice a year, I hem something and think I deserve some sort of award. 🙂 I am so impressed by your skills.
And here’s to aimless, backroad wandering . . .
I would not know what to do with a pattern and bolt of fabric, even though I took Home Ec in high school. I had a sewing machine at one time but gave it to the step-daughter of a co-worker as she actually sewed.
Depends on the weather – if it’s not too hot, a drive in the country wouldn’t be bad. If it’s boiling hot and humid, not so much. And an afternoon on the beach is always a good thing as long as I have an umbrella and a good book to read.
Phyllis,
An umbrella and a good book. Sounds like the makings of a lovely summer day!
Nice of you to give your sewing machine to someone who could use it. I love to hear about people passing on blessings!
I enjoy an afternoon of reading. I do like to drive around country roads but not much for exploring by myself. If I know the area I have no problem driving alone. I saw a thrift store at the beach but never got to go there. I do enjoy thrift stores. Enjoyed your pictures. I often see things I would like to take a picture of but usually am driving and can’t stop.
Ann,
There are few things better than reading to pass a relaxing afternoon. So glad you guys got to go to the beach last week; hopefully you had some good reading time there! I saw some pictures on FB from the trip. Looks like you had a great time.
I was so content reading through your post. So relaxing looking at all the beautiful pictures of their neat as a pin homes, fields, store. Thank you for sharing these pictures and story. I love to go driving around the countryside too. I took my 12 year old granddaughter a few weeks ago to see all the high water from the spring melting and when we got home, she said, well, I have never seen so many cows or dirt roads in all my life…haha! I live in the country, she lives in a town a couple hours away. Loved her comment.
Wendy,
I’m so glad that meandering through my photos was relaxing for you. That makes me happy!
And you are so right when you mentioned the neat as a pin stores and homes. That is one of the main things that struck me as I drove. AMAZING neatness!
“So many cows or dirt roads” . . . .
Your granddaughter pretty well summed it up, didn’t she? Too funny! Of course, those are a couple of the things that make a country drive so great!
Love meandering down country roads and finding a good thrift shop is great anyday-anywhere. I want details on where this store is. The fabric caught my eye as I make quilts and am always on the lookout for fabric. I “can” use a pattern, and used to sew my own clothes in high school, but now find them cheaper than I can make them. Love all your photos, and just seeing them can relax me as I imagine being there and slowing down to enjoy the scene.
Hi Patti
It was the Harvest Thrift store in Walnut Creek, OH. Such a fun place to browse through, especially since you are on the lookout for quilting material.
If you can sew, you are definitely on my List of People to Admire. Good for you for developing that skill!