Category Archives: Quips

You probably won’t find decorated trees, hanging wreaths, or wrapped mp3 players in an Amish home during the holidays, but you will find the spirit of Christmas alive and well. As I was out and about these last few weeks … Read More »

Picture this: No iPods, smartphones, or computers. No videos or digital games. Instead, you get imagination, movement, and discovery. Sounds almost too good to be true, but Christmas shopping for your kids in Shipshewana makes those kind of non-techie dreams … Read More »

Dear Special Man: I’m really quite easy to buy for at Christmas. I don’t want small appliances, or large appliances for that matter. I don’t want anything that implies or resembles “work.” I want indulgence, not expensive. I want thought, … Read More »

I just finished reading an online article about Christmas gifts for men. The thing is, those gifts would not go over well at all for the man in my life, and I’m thinking, at least for our small-town feel, not … Read More »

Many people are fascinated with the Amish culture and the people’s simple ways of life. Some people write books on the culture. Others know it up close and personally, and THEN they write books about the Amish. Such is the … Read More »

The “I Love Lucy” scene is famous: Lucy and Ricky go to Italy, and Lucy finds herself in the middle of a huge grape vat, squashing grapes with her feet. Not so famous is a different way of getting grape … Read More »

It’s good to live in the moment. It’s also good to visit the past every now and again, and especially when the past is found in a store. Past Times Country Shop in Shipshewana, an “eclectic country” store, as described … Read More »

Your excitement is growing as you turn from U.S. 20 onto State Road 5 North into Shipshewana. You are eager to begin a day of shopping at unique stores owned by Amish businessmen. One of the very first things you … Read More »

As of three days ago, The Shipshewana Quilt Festival has come to a close. You guests and visitors are a fun bunch! What did you enjoy most? The speakers? The vendors? The workshops? Ricky Tims? Shop Hop? Time with your … Read More »

LaGrange County and Shipshewana are home to the third largest Amish community in the nation. This community’s simple way of life is the reason many people visit our area—to observe, learn about, pay tribute to, and purchase items from the … Read More »