Just Another Day in the Country

Excursion to the Fabric Store - not your average trip to buy fabric...

Yesterday morning Hannah and I headed out to Harrisonburg for several errands, one of which was picking up an order of printed watercolor notecards and another was delivering an order of cards to Rocky Cedars, a Mennonite-owned fabric store out in the country. But first we had to get there...

We enjoyed our leisurely drive through green cow pastures and farms so close to the graveled road that we felt we were intruding on someone's property. I almost felt I could reach out and shoo the flies away from the cows.

When we reached Rocky Cedars, which is actually a home business in the basement of a house, I was surprised to find their parking lot full of cars! There was a spot reserved for a horse and buggy...a bike was there leaning against a tree in front...and the shop was so crowded you could hardly get around. The "Spring Sale" flyer posted on the door told us why so many were shopping this week!

After leaving the fabric store, we made our way back past the Old Order Mennonite church with the hitching posts in the front yard. If you notice the bottom left picture, in the distance you can see the lady pedaling her bike home from the fabric shop.

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Excursion to the Greenhouse - not your average trip to buy flowers...

After we left the fabric store, we headed yet another direction toward Spring Creek to Ever Grow'n' Greenhouse to purchase some pansies. Yes, more country scenery plus a trek over two one-lane bridges, more red barns, and lots of silos and cows--it was a very beautiful drive.

Below is the second one-lane bridge--only a slab of concrete over the water with no railings!

We made it to the greenhouse, and Hannah picked out our pansies. This year we're going with Orange, White, Yellow, and Blue. Like the combo? I usually choose purple, but my sister convinced me these were the colors to go with this year. :)

Hannah asked the girls who were planting seeds in the greenhouse if she could take their picture. They were friendly and hard at work. What a well-stocked greenhouse...so many plants!! We will definitely have to come back in late April or early May when it warms up enough to buy flowers.

Time to head home. It was a long but productive day! Did you enjoy your drive out in the country with us?

~Deb

Comments

[Molly]

Thank you for the trip in the country in one of my favorite states! I just LOVE Virginia, anytime of the year! There's nothing like the green pastures and red buds blooming there! Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures with us!

[Lecia]

What a beautiful area. We only live about two hours from Harrisonburg. It is such a beautiful place, but I had no idea some of these great places were tucked away there! Thanks for sharing your day with us!

[Tammy]

It was a nice trip!The bridge looked a bit scary to cross.

Still no job for Chris.

[Victoria]

What beautiful scenery. Everytime I go to Virginia I find myselt gasping at the incredible views. You live in such a pretty place.
I didn't realize the Amish had church buildings. I always thought they had church in their homes.
Thanks for sharing the gorgeous views from your neck of the country.

Victoria

[Dorothy]

What a wonderful day out! Thanks for sharing the pictures! We plan a trip up to your area sometime in the spring...we want to hike some trails on Skyline Drive. God's beauty is all around this state of ours!

[Nick Jesch]

What I enjoyed most was the clear blue sky. It was probably a bit on the nippy side, but not too cold, else Miss Hannah surely would have had more than her mid-weight sweater on, and the flowers surely would not have been outside in it. "Drives" like this make me more convinced that, before I settle on just WHERE I'll be moving, having a good look at the Shenandoah Valley area is a must. Knowing the area is populated with many of the older christian groups, as Mennonite and Amish, helps, as the communities surrounding them in general are peaceful and wholesome. They are an industrious lot with solid values, and some of the best neighbours anyone could hope to find. Thanks for the "country drive", and the reminder not all is as insane as California and Seattle.

[Kathie]

Thank you for the drive in the country, Deb. Your pictures look like they were taken in my county about 10 years ago...before the navy barged in.

Victoria ~ don't confuse amish with mennonite...big difference. Our amish here in southern Maryland are called House Amish because they worship in homes. But our old order mennonites share a church building (half worship every other week). The eastern mennonites (called car mennonites) have a plain building for church and school.

Our amish fabric store stays dark in the winter, so we always make sure we take a flashlight. Even so...we've been known to get home and gasp when we see what we thought coordinated in the dark:-)

[Tanya]

Thanks for the trip out in the country. I love the pictures of the greenhouse and the one lane bridges. All those flowers make we want to start digging in the dirt.
I wanted to thank you for joining my blog. Boy are you in for a ride. Also thanks for entering the Love Dare giveaway. I just love this book and think it will help everyone in their marriage and their walk with Christ.
Hope you have a blessed Thursday!