Hi everyone:
As I am recovering from my recent surgery, I want to share with you an image or two from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania! My husband went to Valley Forge on a business trip and I was fortunate enough to be able to come along. I have always read about this area and I am a big fan of Amish quilts, so it was natural that I was excited to be included on this special trip.
The first day, I had on my own, and went to Adamstown, and shopped in maybe a million antique markets? I am sure that is an exageration, but it sure was fun to look! Couldn't take a whole lot back on the plane, though. The next day, we headed out for Lancaster. We went straight to the Amish towns of Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse, Pennsylvania. We were delighted to see the local Amish people with their plain dress and carraiges. We took only a few discrete pictures, as they don't like to be photographed, and we tried to be quite respectful of their wishes. This is a big tourist place! Which I did not realize, and I am sure the citizens get tired of tourists constantly there.
My husband fell in love with the handmade furniture (he bought 2 pieces), and I of course loved the quilts! I thought most of them would be traditional darker amish styles, but most were not at all. Very modern fabrics and styles! In fact, we found one store with chinese knock-offs!! Which kind of made us mad for these people. But almost all shops had lovely, handquilted, hand appliqued local creations that we just loved! I couldn't bring one home, but I sure was tempted!
I shopped in a place called the Old Country Store in Intercourse Pennsylvania. It was just the best quilt shop ever! Later, I found out it was one of the 10 best in the United States. Of course, I just had to have a little fabric from this Amish shop. There is also a museum in this store, and they have amazing true Amish antique quilts.
We had a wonderful lunch with local people, and enjoyed the trip so much!! What wonderful people and craftsman and women we met, just a delight. One Mennonite lady invited me to her home and in her basement she had her own little quilt shop, and she is a fabri-holic too, by her own admission!!
We were able to go to Philadelphia and see the Liberty Bell, too, as well as Independence Hall. I loved seeing the old bell I had read so much about as a child. Then we topped it off with a Philli-cheese-steak, and headed back home!!
We were able to go to Philadelphia and see the Liberty Bell, too, as well as Independence Hall. I loved seeing the old bell I had read so much about as a child. Then we topped it off with a Philli-cheese-steak, and headed back home!!
Hope you all are having a wonderful day today.
Julie
30 comments:
I LOVE Lancaster County!!! Were you able to visit the Textile Museum in Lancaster? If not, be sure to go there next time---fabulous Amish quilts on display. My head was spinning when we left there LOL. Love your fabric bundles from The Country Store--I'll have to look for that shop next time!!!! Hope you are recovering well from surgery.
I'm so far behind on blog reading, I do hope your recovering well. What lovely fq bundles and it sounds like you had a fabulous time.
Those are lovely fabrics! I hope your recovery continues to go well.
What a wonderful day Julie and I love love love those fabrics. I also love to visit the Amish areas of PA.
Sounds like a fabulous trip. I have always wanted to go there. I hope you are feeling better. Sounds like you have been through it!
Oh gosh -- that's my dream vacation. Every report I read about Lancaster County sounds wonderful. I so glad you got to go!
Hang in there with recovery - and don't forget to follow doctors orders!
Sounds like a wonderful trip! Nice goodies you got to bring home!
I wish for you the same success that my DH had with his disc. surgery...from the minute he woke up it was 100 times better already, then when he went to sleep for the surgery! He was up and going in no time. Never has looked back :O)...Heal fast, heal well :O)
Glad you're on the mend! I love, love, love that Old Country Store; have been there a few times but not recently. Enjoy your wonderful goodies.
Love your fabric....I do hope you are taking care of yourself and not over doing it, thanks so much for dropping by my blog.
What a wonderful trip. I have always wanted to travel to the Amish country, oh and see the Liberty bell, wow what an adventure. I hope that all is going well with your recovery.
Wow lucky you one of the top 10 quilt stores!!! I wanna go there! The fat quarter bundles look beautiful.
Oh I would be in heaven with all those antique shops. Lovely bundles of fabrics you brought home.
Thank you for stopping by my blog, you trip to Lancaster sounded wonderful, and your fabrics are beautiful. I will have to put your blog on my feeds. I'm also a nurse who never finds enough time to quilt. Nancy
I absolutely love Lancaster and you definitely made some great stops. The Old Country Store is great and is one of the best among more than a handful of others. Lancaster and PA have so much to offer as far as culture is concerned. A wonderful place to visit and live (being a previous resident myself). Glad you had a great time!!
Thanks so much for visiting me. Best wishes for a quick recovery!
Your trip sounds like it was absolutely wonderful.
What a great trip!! I've only been to Lancaster County once, but enjoyed every minute of it. I'm lucky to live very close to Holmes County in Ohio, very similar in many ways. I love to go there and look at all the wonderful Amish made quilts and such.
Also wanted to thank you for visiting my blog :cD
It sure sounds like you had an exciting trip. Love the fabrics.
I love Lancaster County too! Isn't that museum and store wonderful! I"m hoping to get back to it again this summer!
What a wonderful trip you lucky girl - on my ever-increasing 'to visit' list but not for a long time yet - three kids to put through Uni first (and the youngest is only 11) Delighted to hear your surgery was such a success - once the operation discomfort wears off you won't know yourself
When I lived in Maryland I loved driving up to Pennsylvania and rummaging through the antique markets and the quilt stores. Great crafts people in that area. Sounds like you are recovering well from the surgery...good to see you treated yourself to some FQ's!
Hi Julie, what lovely fabric you chose! Cam't wait to see what you decide to do with it. I've never been out east, but it sure would be fun to see the 'real' Amish countryside like you did *VBS*
Sooooo happy to hear how well you are doing since the surgery..just don't overdo it!
Love the table runner from the 'spare' parts, you are sooo clever girl...LOL And a great string quilt piece also. That's s fun setting you work up. I'll have to keep that in mind. Take care, big hugs, Finn
Thankyou so much for the birthday wishes you left me! Thankyou for visiting too.
I am glad your back surgery is a success. I have osteo arthritis in my spine, so know about the pain.
I have really enjoyed visiting your lovely blog, & I love the fabric you got, it is beautiful.
Your table runner is so pretty too!
Hi, here I am again. I have tagged you for a meme at my blog. Please feel no obligation!!
Your fabric looks great. I would love to have the chance to visit Lancaster County I have read so much about it - perhaps one day.
I'm glad you are recovered enough to go on that wonderful trip. Sounds amazing, visiting places I have only read about. Lucky you getting invited into her home. Do enjoy your memories of it now and do something special with those fabrics.
Great post Julie! I hope you are continuing to recover from your surgery.
Lancaster is one of my favorite places! Your fabric is gorgeous. It sounds like you really enjoyed your visit.
That place is so much fun.Glad you enjoyed your time there.And the Amish buggies!Great.
Hi Julie, I'm from Reading (though I live in Utah) right close where you visited. I am so jealous you were there. I miss it so much sometimes. Its a fun place to go. If you get back there go to Hershey and take the trolly tour of the city. Its really uplifting to hear about Milton Hershey and all that he accomplished. Its fun to do and you get to see some of the surrounding country there. Many of the farmers in that area sell their milk to Hershey's. Your pics made me homesick.
What a wonderful trip. Next time hubby and I get to the States we want to go there...thanks for sharing your trip....hugs Khris in Oz
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