6.28.12
Good Morning All,
I am watching the sun come up.  It has a promise of a beautiful morning.  The campground is very quiet.  It is mostly retired people here.  They are in Amish country for the shopping and the food.  Lots of family styled restaurants, home made pies and fresh veg. and in season fruit stands.  The buggies start going down the road at day break. 
A group of Amish men were shocking oats the other day and yesterday one farmer and his team were mowing hay.  They take put their life on the line every time they venture out on the highways.  The traffic goes whizzing by the horse and buggy.  Trotters pull the buggies and beautiful Belgins ( looks like Belgins to me) pull the farm equipment.  They have an auction every Wednesday and from what little I know the horses look stunning.  The gardens are huge and wash hang out on the lines every day.  Sunday is a day of rest.  Everything shuts down.  When we get off the main highway and go back on the gravel roads, their places are neat, houses painted white and barns red.  It is beautiful to see this against the green hills and trees of Ohio.  It is peaceful and quiet.
Today, we are cleaning out a few more things for another trip to the Goodwill.  If I buy something, something else has to go.  We have a few more maintenance jobs to do also.  Than we are of to lunch with Christine and Mike.
We have really enjoyed out time here.  It is great to see and visit and be a part of their daily routine.  Work and soccer pretty much take up their time.  Mike is coaching Peter's team and they have practice and open fields. Elizabeth and Emma are playing in a summer league to keep up their skills for fall soccer.  Mike is helping with that.  Both girls will play on the highschool team in the fall.
We are getting our trip planned to New England.  Yesterday, we booked a campsite an hour North of New York City.  They offer tours from the campsite into the city.  So we have that lined up and they have a service available for pet sitting.  They will come to your unit, let your pet out for a short walk and feed them or there is kennels in the area.  We will be there August 9th thru August 16th.  We will visit John on the 11th and 12th.  We will be able to take a train in.  We do this all through the camping books and the internet.  Hopefully, it works out and it's not a complete bust.  We have found that you can't believe all the pictures on the Internet. ( The campsites seem to show the best ones, can you believe that).  It's ok because everytime we walk into the unit we are home.  We can always shut the door and pull the blinds.  Really, we have had great stays where ever we are.  The people are wonderful, the sunrises and sunsets are outstanding. 
Yesterday, we took Peter and a friend to " Fun Acres".  It wasn't crowded and it was a great park.  Christine was able to go along too.  We were able to purchase 2 hour wrist bands:  go carts, water boats, laser tag, and mini golf.  Since it wasn't real busy the boys had a great time.  When they got hot on the go carts, they would go to the boats which had squirt guns on them and get soaked.  Peter has been feeling left out.  Emma is in Myrtle Beach with a friend and Elizabeth is in Chicago with Grandma Harrington.
Elizabeth sent Mike a picture of her trying on $160.00 heels in a store on Michigan Ave.  She wanted to know if she could bring them home.  Elizabeth and Mary will be home Saturday night and Emma comes home on Sunday.  Anyway, Peter is enjoying the individual attention.
Peter and Ganon (Peter's friend) spent Tuesday night with us.  We had a fire and did smores and popcorn..  The stars were beautiful as we sat around the fire.  Not many lights out here in Amish country so the night sky puts on a great show.
A few pictures of the fun day we had yesterday.  Dad and Bailey are up so we will start another day of fun.  Love Mother

Dad had the slowest car

Ready to go

Peter had the fastest

Peter gunning for Ganon

Good Morning Dear Ones,
I am up early, a gentle storm rolled over the mountains.  Thunder of in the distance and rain on the roof top woke me up.  Sounded like a good rain.  They can always use rain here, the pastures were getting dry.  Putting up hay on a steep hill must be quite the challenge.
Yesterday afternoon we took a drive to a covered bridge (one of four in TN.) and a farmer was baleing (spelling) hay.  It was about 85 degrees and so very humid.  Not surprised it rained during the night.  The bridge was neat and orginally built by a farmer so he could cross the creek with his horse and wagons.  It is now a piece of history.  A wooden bridge was covered to protect the structure and floor from the elements.  So it was not just for looks or romance.
Dad played golf in the morning.  He played early to beat the heat, Bailey and I rode along.  The course is about 1/4 mile from our campsite, it sure was reasonable 16.00 for all of us.  It was very hilly and steep.  Not quite as bad as the " Highlands" in Redwing, MN. but close.  Lots of trees, creek, rocks but no sand traps.  It was a good time.
Tuesday, we visited Andrew Johnson's birth place in Greenville, TN.  He became President after Lincoln.  He took over at a very uneasy time in American History.  The Union was split and torn apart, the South was in ruin and it was his job to lead the restoration.  He was impeached by the House and acquited by the Senate.  He finished out his term and later was twice elected governor of Tenn.  It was a time of unrest and upheavel in our country.  Johnson was followed by Grant and history tells us what a crooked Presidency he had.  Sounds like History repeats itself.
We also visited Davy Crocket's birth place and Historical Park.  It was a beautiful park with campground and a huge swimming pool.
We enjoyed reading about his life and the early frontier.  Of course we remembered watching " Disney's creation of Davey Crocket".  We remembered most of the Ballad;
"Davey, Davey Crocket born on a mountain top in Tennessee, kilt him a baar when he was only three".  He was a frontiersman, hunter of bears, nearly killed on a keel boat, a representative in Congress, and killed at the Alamo.  We had a fun day.
As I talk to all of you I hear a little family news, will share.
Eliazbeth was beat out of track at the regional level.  They moved up to Division 1 this year and the competition was really stiff competing against the bigger schools.  She remained healthy throughout all the season.
Emma will be graduating from 8th grade.  They are done with school as of today.  All looking forward to summer vacation.
John would like a batch of cinn. rolls while we visit there.
Megan will have a little celebration ending middle school and going to 8th grade.  I think they get out of school the 6th.  Could be wrong on that.
Marrissa will also graduate from 8th grade.  Pat is busy at work and they did hire a intern for the summer so he is also teaching her.  He was wishing for a trained employee.
I think Matt has there pool up or was putting it up over Memorial weekend.  I know he had to work on Saturday.
Amanda and Trevor had a great time in San Antonio.  The time went too fast as vacations always do.
Maggie is recovering from her attack.  The stitches were removed and the vet said, " It was a miracle she survived and no infection set in".  She's a tough old dog.
I don't know if Jim's have heard from David after he arrived in New York.  He flew into Albany and a van picked him up and off they went to the campsite.  Hopefully, he remembers where home is and updates the family.
Our Little House on Wheels is doing fine.  It is keeping us comfortable and safe and no matter where we are, when we walk in " We are home". 
Take care of each other and we love you so very much.  Mother