SHIPSHEWANA SHOPPING

On Tuesday, a few of us decided to take off and do some shopping in Shipshewana. For you non-Hoosiers, Shipshe is a very laid back farming community full of many Amish families. You see hay stacks, buggies and more horses than cars...on usual days. However on Tuesday and Wednesday the flea market hits the town and so do hundreds of people out for a "good deal".

We left Churbusco at 8:00ish and drove an hour with lists in our hands or mind and money in our pockets. We were ready to hit those booths. We shopped for about three hours. We got plants, fresh veggies, luggage and sheets. Just when we were about to finish up, here it came. The biggest down pour you have ever seen. It just dumped out the rain. AND it kept coming and coming and coming.

Three of us had bought rain ponchos for $1.00 earlier in the day because it just looked like it could rain. Barb had brought her own umbrella, so she didn't need a poncho. We were not too proud to slip those babies on and wear them up and down the aisles in the gushing rain. We finally stopped and headed for the truck. There around it was a huge lake. We had to wade into it so we could leave.

Next on our agenda was eating. We headed for the Blue Gate. That is a restaurant known for it's Amish cooking. We tried their apple butter and peanut butter while we waited for our orders. After eating we had to stop by the bakery. Leaving at 2:30, still in the rain, we decided we had gotten everything we wanted, plus more, and had, had a wonderful day. Here is a glimpse of the Terrific Trio modeling the newest fashion in rain gear!!!

SUMMER INSTITUTE: SHIPSHEWANA

On Monday morning I hopped in the car with Natalie and Al and we headed for our summer conference in Shipshewana. All the way there we talked about the great speakers we would hear, the friends we would see and wondered about the new facilities. We weren't disappointed on any of it.

I was so excited to hear Penny Kittle from New Hampshire. I had read many of her books and have her quote hanging above my desk at work. I knew she would be inspiring, but was still shocked to see what an outstanding speaker she was. She is full of enthusiasm and makes you feel like you've known her forever.

On Monday night at the Author Dinner, I looked across the tables at the Blue Gate and there was my friend from Denver, Marjorie. She and her sister had driven all the way from Colorado to come to the conference. I knew she was there, but with around 450 people it was hard to find her. We got to catch up and then promised to connect again in the morning!
Today I got to introduce Georgia Heard. She is my favorite poet to learn from. I use her books to teach poetry to second to fifth graders. Today she spoke about her book on revision. I had forgotten some of the things she talked about even though I read her books several years ago. That is what is so wonderful about this conference: you just keep learning and learning.

Now it is time to reflect on the two days and begin thinking about next year. Mindy told us the dates, the planned speakers and the hope of having even more people. I am so thankful for the All Write people and especially Mindy and her dedication to the teaching of writing and her wonderful, bubbly spirit!