WIDE OPEN SPACES AND MASON JARS

When we are up at the lake, one of our favorite things to do is drive around and get lost.  It's quite entertaining.  You can drive for miles on end and see nothing but corn and bean fields, farmhouses and barns.  Most of these roads have names, but they aren't posted; if lost, you have to ask a local and they'll tell you something like, "Take Old Gate Road down to Fallen Bridge Road and take a left when you hit Old Joe's farm...".

Last night The Husband suggested we go have dinner at a new restaurant on Fish Lake.  "You do know where Fish Lake is, honey?".  And I get that look that men always seem to give when you question their sense of direction.  At 6:00 p.m. we head off for Fish Lake about 20 minutes away.  We drive around it several times before we realize we have seen and admired an old stone house at least 4 times.  No restaurant.  So we head back out on a main road thinking we just might have the wrong lake.  After driving what seems like an eternity, we come upon a small town and pull into an old filling station/general store/barber shop.  My jaw drops as I actually see The Husband asking for directions.  "Well," says the old man in overalls and a plaid shirt, "Are you lookin' for Fish Lake, Big Fish or Little Fish?".  The Husband asks for directions to the one with the new restaurant.  "Well, I ain't heard of any new restaurants in these parts," he says, taking off his John Deere hat and scratching his head.  So, we headed on back home and ate at the local restaurant, The Full Bull.

On Friday morning we went down to Elkhart, Indiana, the closest town to get groceries.  They call this area Michiana.   I never drive this way alone.  Each time we go, The Husband takes a different way and all the roads look the same to me, a mix of sand, dirt and gravel.  And then like magic, a highway appears  and soon you see an interstate road running through and all that it brings  with it; a Walmart, Lowes, Cracker Barrel and Long John Silver.  In Walmart I am remembering an entry by a girl on Facebook, "Who let out all the inmates to roam around Walmart today?".

On our way back home (a different route), we pass this little barn and screeched to a stop.  I thought it would be a little different, I've found some real treasures out here in the middle of nowhere.  The Husband has a strategy he uses when we stop at places like this.  He stands around making small talk with the owner; the weather, the price of corn this year...and soon they are best buds.  Nonchalantly, The Husband will pick up something and they will start reminiscing about the days of old and before you know it, The Husband will have scored something for half price.  But I did, too.

Here's my new/old metal beer stein!  I put it next to a bottle of wine so you can see how big it is.  If I ever finish this post, I'm going up to the farm market/nursery/general store to get some petunias.  I'm keeping up with my mantra, "If you can't use it, lose it!".

I also came home with these.  7 old Mason jars in their original metal carrying rack.  I'm not sure why they're in  the rack, they fit just perfectly.  In my imagination I see a woman in an apron toting the jars full of homemade jam to a sickly neighbor or maybe even the country fair cook off.  What will I use them for?  I don't know, maybe just put them in my Hoosier cabinet with the 30 others.

Now, if you want to go to The Dollar Tree and get some regular old Ball jars that are squeaky clean and never been used, I have a few ideas for them.  They make wonderful fruit fly traps.  The were everywhere when I got here Thursday night.  No fruit left out rotting but a sticky floor that brought to mind all the margarita's the kids were making over the 4th of July weekend.  I had fruit flies in my kitchen last fall.  I turned to my old friend, Google, and learned they love apple cider vinegar and that did the trick then.  But here, now, I was fresh out of it.  I read that you could use wine so (while wiping a tear from my eye), I filled two of these up with some cheap chardonnay.  For two days not a fruit fly came to visit my ingenious trap.  Then this morning, when I was cleaning up breakfast, I looked and saw them swarming around our orange juice glasses.  Ah ha!  I'll let you know how that goes.

When I know I'm going to be here a long time, I love to pick up some flowers and I can do something large that makes a statement because the harvest table is long and the room is big.  Love gladiolus!

And other than a few more tweaks, I think I have most of the master bedroom finished.  I found an arrangement I liked for above the bed and I put a chair a found at Overstock a few years ago in the corner near the balcony doors.  The Husband hung my curtains a few weeks ago.  It's hard to tell in this picture but the room is a mix of light blue and green. Now on the other side of the room is my dresser, filled with all sorts of interesting things from bobby pins to deodorant to Tums.  Next to that is an old rocking chair with my dirty clothes on it and in the corner sits an old TV that doesn't work on a crate that the previous owners left here.  To the right is the balcony that looks out over the great room.  The Husband also keeps his hamper there, which isn't such a bad sight, it's just that he aims for it and usually misses, so that wouldn't have been a pleasant picture.  One of these day you'll get the whole room!

The Husband has to go back to Chicago for a meeting tomorrow and plans to drive back after.  I have a feeling he'll be too tired.  I really do not sleep well here alone.  At least in Chicago there are always squad cars roaming around.  I think our little town has two total.  And they never come around the lake.  But at least Milo and Layla, for little dogs, have a mean bark!

All is well here health wise.  No boating for The Husband yet but he's making himself busy washing and waxing his truck.  And I'm happy to say my blood tests came back normal so I am truly happy.  Thank you to those blogger friends of mine that I email back and forth with...you rock!  And thanks to all of you for caring and your well wishes.  I'll be back in a few days. :)

XO,

Jane