Friday, November 2, 2012

A Fall Lunch in Amish Country


What is a perfect way to spend a mid fall day?  How about in Amish country?  And eating "home-style" cooking??  Perfect.  That was our destination on a recent Saturday (pre-Hurricane Sandy) and it really made autumn complete for us.  Our "boys" grew up visiting here in the summer and fall and for them it was THE definition of a great family day together.  We've been rather short on those lately between school and jobs...so this was a great family get-a-way!
And where better for us to visit than Middlefield?  A nice sized Amish community about 40 miles south of us.  Rural, country and boasting "Mary Yoder's Amish Kitchen," it never disappoints.

A row of willow rockers are there to greet you...
We've been coming to this restaurant for over 20 years now and it's not only still the same great food, but they've expanded the gift shop so it's a one-stop shop for all your country needs.  They really feature local artisans, Amish and otherwise, so you'll find a little bit of everything...

These rockers are THE most comfortable chairs ever...(at least our guys think so!)

This sign says it all.  You know you've entered into a country dimension with the myriad amount of crafts, food and homespun.  It's an ecclectic mix where you're sure to find something to please.


Little circles of fabric look like flowers scattered in a field...


That turn into this fabulous Yo-You quilt...locally made of course!


And let's not forget the eats...that's the main attraction here.  It was Saturday so it was a hot buffet (including salad bar), all-you-can-eat, baked chicken, pot roast, green beans, carrots, real mashed potatoes, unbelievably delicious!  It feels like you're going to Grandma's house.  I think my mouth is watering...again! (Oh, and we finished this meal with their homemade Peanut Butter Pie...wow!)

Alas, my lack of photo skills for food pictures didn't quite capture how amazing this pot roast with noodles really was!!
If for some reason you're still hungry, then the gift shop offers lots of take home, home made foods.

  
 Couldn't resist these sweet harvest table decorations.  They would make a perfect Thanksgiving table...

 

It really was a great meal and a lots of fun together...on the way out, I couldn't help but take a picture of this pot of mums with only one flower escaping a fall frost.


Our day didn't end here fortunately.  We took our time visiting an Amish vegetable stand, stopping at a local cheese factory to pick up a pound of their own Colby-Jack Habanaro Cheese and finishing up in another little town at their general store.  Another really cute place to see and holding lots of memories for us all.


It really felt like autumn for us and good thing too because the hurricane really has left us feeling very winter-like, with most of the trees stripped of their leaves.  

Well, thanks for reading and sharing a part of our day. Sorry I have no peanut butter pie to offer you all, but if you ever have the chance to have a piece...you won't regret it!  Blessings!

What's your favorite fall memory? 

Like more autumn photos?  Check out Fall's Floral Postcards .

Linked to these blog hops...Your Sunday Best     Simple and Joyful: Fall Festivals   
Homestead Revival: Barn Hop   
Hello Mondays!
Clever Chicks Blog Hop  Backyard Farming Connection 
Frugally Sustainable: Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways  
Rural Thursday Blog Hop 

44 comments:

  1. Looks like a great place! I would have ended the meal with peanut butter pie as well :)

    I don't really have a specific fall memory that is my favorite, but I do love hayrides in the fall.

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    1. Hayrides are the best...we went on one in August or July, not sure when. It's one of my earlier blogs about a summer picnic. I'm sure you're creating lots of great memories with your family right now...thanks for stopping by! :)

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  2. We spent last fall up in Amish country- your post made me nostalgic!

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    1. Thanks Amy...glad it brought back good memories for you, blessings!

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  3. Oh, I still remember my great-grandmother's collection of yo-yo items. What great fun...and I love those rockers. Beautiful shots of a fun time, Nancy!

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    1. I would love to see pictures of your great-grandmother's collection! That would be a lot of fun! Thanks for visiting Dina...blessings!

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  4. I love visiting Amish country! It's been so long since I've been there. I'm in upstate NY so we drive over to Lancaster, PA, for our Amish experience. Lovely pics! Thanks for visiting me at Doorkeeper. Blessings!

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    1. I've never been to Lancaster, PA but would like to visit sometime for sure. It's so nice having an Amish community nearby...it's such a different world to visit for sure. Thanks Renee! :)

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  5. sounds like a very pleasant day. I'm sad there's no pie for me! I'm your new follower. xxo

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    1. Nice to meet you Ana. Thanks for visiting; wish we could send pie over the internet! Blessings! Nancy (thanks for following, following you too.) :)

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  6. Oh what a great place. I would love to explore there.

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    1. It is pretty special...thanks for stopping by! :)

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  7. What an interesting quilt that is. I have never seen one like that.
    Several of the counties near here have groups of Amish. They are very talented and hard workers.
    Our local Farmer's Market has Amish baked goods and fresh veggies. They are always awesome! And, a local Flea Market has Amish that sell hand made furniture.
    A friend of mine recently lost her son and his casket was hand made by the Amish. It had the most beautiful hand carved designs.

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    1. Thanks for sharing your stories about the Amish communities near you. They are excellent woodworkers, my mom had custom cabinets built in her kitchen by them and my neighbor a shed and attached gazebo. Not only do they build well, but they're are fast, hard workers and are clean! Have a great week...blessings! :)

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  8. I really want one of those rockers! Beautiful!

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  9. Beautiful! I agree with Nancy about the rockers, and I love your photo of the mum!

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    1. Thanks...thought the single mum was kinda cool!

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  10. Love those Amish rockers, and all that yummy food!

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    1. The food was just like our Sunday dinners growing up...! :)

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  11. I love the Lancaster Pa Amish area...everything about it is just beautiful!

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    1. I'm sure it's beautiful there; would love to see it sometime!

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  12. Wonderful chair and a romantic atmosphere. Great !

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    1. Agreed...they're pretty great! :) Thanks for visiting!

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  14. That place looks wonderful, I would love to go there!

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    1. Wish there was one near you...it's always a great time! :) Thanks for stopping by.

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  15. Oh that is an amazing place I love the yoyo quilt. Awesome pics. B

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  16. That looks so fun - I haven't been up there in ages!

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    1. It was a much needed fun day...hope you can go sometime! :)

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  17. I love the willow rockers.

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  18. What a great place to visit - between all of the lovely items they sell down to that delicious looking food. Glad you had a good day :)

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    1. Thanks so much! Thanks for visiting too... :)

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  19. I have found your blog from a comment that you made on Homestead Revival about living near Lake Erie. I used to live near there and we would go to Mary Yoder's often! Thanks so much for the great memories tonight!

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    1. Ahhh, so glad it brought back good memories! It is a special place and except for the addition to the building, the food is still really great! That says a lot for a restaurant that has been serving as long as Mary Yoders...thanks for visiting! Blessings, Nancy

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  20. Sounds like a delightful way to spend a day, it would be quite fascinating to have a good look around.

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    1. You could really be in the place for a couple of hours looking. I didn't even show the local art on the walls or other myriad of crafts available. Some homespun, others tourist-y, but all interesting! :)

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  21. Sounds like my kind of place to visit.

    Enjoying you blog, My husband and I have been married 22 years and we also homeschool, with 2 sons - and also 6 daughters. Happily following......Off to church now as it's nearly 8:30 Sunday morning here.

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    1. Wow! Homeschooling 8...amazing! Thanks for following and enjoy your worship, blessings!

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  22. My grandmother used to make those "Yo You" quilts. ♥
    Thank you for linking up with the Clever Chicks this week; I hope you’ll join us again!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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    1. Would love to see one of those...they are so cool! Thanks for hosting the party! :)

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