Comparing Lifestyles

Bud and I spent three days in Amish Country this week to celebrate our anniversary.   We stopped for bee supplies on the way there, and that was a trip in itself.  The bee supplier is a family run business, operated by a paraplegic in a wheelchair and his wife (daughter?).  They have “stuff” in their barn, a trailer, and [...]

The Bikers Are Moving In

The city of Myrtle Beach outlawed Bike Week beginning with this year, but the greater area did not.  In fact, the event seems to have been expanded in length and the cities of North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Garden City, etc. are only too willing to play host and cash in.  Bikers have already started moving into the area, [...]

Lazing in the Low Country

Five days into our vacation and life is good.   We sat on the beach for several hours Sunday and didn’t get sunburned.  Bud and Dave went fishing for many hours Tuesday  and didn’t catch anything.  Sherrol and I went shopping then and “caught” lots of things, including pedicures and some new clothes for me.  We went to the outlet mall today and [...]

Visiting Opulence

Kelly and I visited Stan Hywet Saturday and toured the manor house, but didn’t take time to visit the gardens, lagoons, conservatory, etc.  Franklin Seiberling established Goodyear Tire and Rubber in the very early 1900′s, and it made him fabulously wealthy.   Beginning in 1912 he built Stan Hywet, his 3,000 acre estate and mansion outside Akron, Ohio.   He later donated a much of [...]

Observations While Traveling North

Is the best part of vacation getting away or coming back?  Both are good feelings, and we had a great trip home today. Here are a few observations from the road: We could tell the difference in the onset of fall colors from the time we left last week (barely visible in a few places) [...]

There’s No Place Like Home

Another day of sun and sand, good company, a good book on the beach, the men fishing off the pier – does life get any better than this?  Oh yes, a picnic lunch and a trip to an ice cream shop this evening.  Perfection! Ahhh, too bad we have to leave it all behind tomorrow; [...]

Vacations Are Good For The Soul

I don’t remember who said “A change is as good as a rest,” or something like that, but we are “resting up” in the Myrtle Beach area this week. We arrived on Sunday evening and have been busy ever since.  Monday was spent at Brookgreen Gardens, 9,000+ acres of former rice plantation lands on the [...]

The Mother Of All Auctions

The industrious Amish leave nothing to chance, including their children’s education.  They may only attend school through the eighth grade, but the adults make sure they have everything they need for a good education during that time.  Saturday morning there was an auction to benefit a school just down the road from where we spent Thursday and Friday nights.  [...]

A Unique Culture, A Unique Religion

  Are there really people in America who choose to live like rural people did in 1908 (1858?) instead of 2008?  No electicity, no cars, no phones – none of the things we can’t live without?  Absolutely, and they live productive, satisfying lives.  They are called the Amish, and they eschew modern conveniences because of their religious [...]

Survey Results? What Survey Results?

What happens if you have a party and no one comes? How about if you ask for thoughtful insight and no one responds (except Katie, who was disqualifired because she didn’t follow the rules)? Do you assume that everyone really has no opinion, or that they are hesitant to tell you what they really think? [...]