Day 3 started with a quick breakfast at the hotel and then off to Heather’s grandma’s house to find out what the scoops were for the day.  One of Heather’s uncles would be arriving around lunchtime, so in the meantime we helped her mom print some family tree stuff on Heather’s Great Aunt Doe’s printer at her house. 

They were making printouts for the reunion so in the meantime I was finishing up Kill Bill. "That really was a Hatori Hanso sword."

Heather's mom was making printouts for the reunion so in the meantime I was finishing up Kill Bill with this lovely country garden view. SPLAT - "That really was a Hatori Hanso sword!"

 

Heather was busy outside snapping photos of the garden, almost everyone here has a nicely landscaped yard.

This is from Heather's great-aunt Doe's beautiful garden

The purple flowers are covered with the recent rain, like a black shirt is covered by pet hair from a light colored dog or cat. HURRAY FOR METAPHORS!

 

Printing complete, it was time for some serious business.

 

YES! Time for Culver's! We were meeting Heather's family here for lunch. Her Uncle Bob just arrived from Colorado and it was his birthday so we figured, what better day to go to Culvers!

YES! Time for lunch at Culver's! We were meeting the rest of Heather's family here. Her Uncle Bob just arrived from Colorado and it was his birthday so we figured, what better day to go to Culver's!

 

Chocolate Shake, YEAHHHH!!

Chocolate Shake, YEAHHHH!!

 

From left to right - Heather, her grandma, her mom, her dad, and her uncle Bob

From left to right - Heather, her grandma, her mom, her dad, and her uncle Bob.

 

Our food has arrived! I can't quite figure out the expression on that girl's face. Anger? Confusion? Flattered?

Our food has arrived! I can't quite figure out the expression on that girl's face. Anger? Confusion? Flattered?

 

Behold the Culver basket - Butterburger and french fries. This was Heather's dish. Danielle, my sister-in-law, don't worry, we ate this on your behalf. MUAHAHA

Behold the Culver basket - Butterburger and french fries. This was Heather's order. To Danielle, my sister-in-law, don't worry, we ate this on your behalf. MUAHAHA.

 

I wussed out and got a chicken sandwich and a salad, but it was actually really good! But before you think I totally wussed out, I did get the choclate shake!! Hmmm..I never knew I poured salad dressing so daintilly

I wussed out and got a chicken sandwich and a salad, but it was actually really good! But before you think I totally wussed out, I did get the choclate shake for an appetizer!! Hmmm..I never knew I poured salad dressing so daintilly

 

After the Culver’s gorging, Heather and I headed off into gray day in our hearse.  We wanted to go exploring a bit and see some of the sites on the outskirts of Elkhart.

 

After lunch we decided to go driving around to several small towns. They have all these county roads criss-crossing the various towns, but you gotta pay attention cause occasionally you'll see an Amish buggy. Don't worry we'll have better photos tomorrow!

They have all these county roads criss-crossing the various towns, but you gotta pay attention cause occasionally you'll see an Amish buggy. Don't worry we'll have better photos tomorrow!

 

And now, prepare yourself for the second best photo of the day.  Those who know me know that it is probably a photo of some kind of animal.  Am I truly that predictable?

She's so shyyyyy, she's so shyyyyy, that sweet little cow who caught my eyeeeeee

She's so shyyyyy, she's so shyyyyy, that sweet little cow who caught my eyeeeeee

 

Yes, she was udderly breathtaking.  It was discowscerting how pretty she was.  I cowdn’t dairyly take my eyes off of her.  It behooves you to keep this photo.  Okay I think I milked it for all it is worth.  Teats!

Driving around these little roads makes you realize how freakin’ huge the US is.  It is road after road of greenery, farmland, cows, horses, and just a vastness that you don’t really get to experience in Oahu except in a few areas for a short time.

Here is just one of many red barns, sitting in a big field of green like an enormous red frog in the middle of a lily pad. YES, ANOTHER METAPHOR!

Here is just one of many red barns, sitting in a big field of green like an enormous red frog in the middle of a lily pad. YES, ANOTHER METAPHOR!

 

We stopped at Amish Acres in Nappanee, it is like a polynesian cultural center in Hawaii, but except for Amish things. We just wanted to check it out but didn't do any special tours or anything.

We stopped at Amish Acres in Nappanee, it is like a polynesian cultural center in Hawaii, but instead of polynesian stuff, it has Amish things. We just wanted to check it out but didn't do any special tours or anything.

 

They had a store inside that was full of country knick-knacks made by Amish people.

They had a store inside that was full of country knick-knacks made by Amish people. Heather apparently is some sort of Amish scholar because as I wrote this, she said in a professor-like voice, "Did you know that traditional amish dolls do not have faces?" Apparently it has something to do with their religion and not showing a human face on any object. Interesting, this blog is both educational AND uhh.. yeah.

 

I mentioned and earlier showed the SECOND best photo of the day.  Well up next is the BEST photo of the day, and no, it doesn’t inovlve any animals or anything cute, that would be farrrr too predictable and I like to keep people guessing. 

 

Outside we were lucky enough to see this goose and her brood. Doesn't she look proud and happy??

Outside we were lucky enough to see this goose and her brood. Doesn't she look proud and happy??

 

After the magnificence that was the goose and her little goslings, we figured it was time for some coffee and if we were extremely lucky, a delicious scooby snack.

We stopped off at Main Street Coffee house in Nappanee for an AWESOME blueberry muffin and INCREDIBLE coffee. It was really great!

We stopped off at Main Street Coffee house in Nappanee for an AWESOME blueberry muffin and INCREDIBLE coffee. It was really great!

 

MMmmMmMMMMMMM

MMmmMmMMMMMMM

 

 

Thinking deep thoughts. "I wonder if I can find a blueberry pie tomorrow?"

Thinking deep thoughts. "I wonder if I can find a blueberry pie tomorrow?"

 

They had this funny sign at the coffee shop. If I had a kid I'd definitely let him run around unattended so I could get the free coffee. I could always put the puppy to sleep. HAH I kid I kid, I would just drop him off at my parent's doorstep.

They had this funny sign at the coffee shop. If I had a kid I'd definitely let him run around unattended so I could get the free coffee. I could always put the puppy to sleep. HAH I kid I kid, I would just drop him off at my parent's doorstep in a bassinet.

 

As it was almost 5pm, we decided to drive back to Heather’s grandma’s house to see what was going on.  And by “what was going on”, we of course meant finding out, “what’s for dinner?”  

We arrived and Heather casually worked in the subject of dinner into the conversation.

“Hi Mom! ” she said as she entered the door.  “What’s for dinner?”

Her mom said “we’re having leftover spaghetti.”  Now don’t get me wrong, the spaghetti that Heather’s dad made was awesome, however when we’re on vacation, every meal is a chance to try something new, a journey to be discovered, an adventure to be had!   But we knew that we should probably stay with them for dinner as we were out all day.

I asked Heather if she could help me take a few things out of the car so we headed outside, at which point we both ran to the car, jumped into the gangster-mobile, and we peeled out as I gunned the engine.

We figured with our newfound freedom, we should go somewhere gangster worthy.  Like a roadhouse bar or some sort of grimey truck stop type of place.

 

Dinner was at a place in Middleberry called Culinary Treasures. It looks like a converted house!

Dinner was at a place in Middleberry called Culinary Treasures. It looks like a converted country house!

 

This appetizer was awesome! It is brie, covered in caramel sauce, and then with two types of apples. It was so indulgent and flavorful, more like a dessert than an appetizer (which is okay by us!!)

This appetizer was awesome! It had brie, covered in caramel sauce, and then with two types of apples. It was so indulgent and flavorful, more like a dessert than an appetizer (which is okay by us!!)

 

My dish was a portabella mushroom sandwich with an olive tapenade and feta cheese with a side salad. The sandwich was served on "pretzel bread" and was incredible. The feta and tapenade added a nice brineyness to the sandwich that I really enjoyed.

My dish was a portabella mushroom sandwich with an olive tapenade and feta cheese with a side salad. The sandwich was served on "pretzel bread" and was incredible. The feta and tapenade added a nice brineyness to the sandwich that I really enjoyed.

 

Heather got a salad with granny smith apples and walnut. The salad was beautiful to behold and delicious with a mango dressing. The only complaint with the salad was that some of the greens inside were getting a bit old and should have been thrown out. Too bad as otherwise this would have been a winner dish.

Heather got a salad with granny smith apples and candied walnuts. The salad was beautiful to behold and delicious with a mango dressing. The only complaint with the salad was that some of the greens inside were getting a bit old and slimy and should have been thrown out. Too bad, as otherwise this would have been a winner dish. In addition, Heather accidentally dipped the sleeve of her sweater into the salad dressing container and it soaked up half the dressing like a thirsty sponge. She smelled like mango dressing the rest of the night.

 

This is happy me because I have a perfect sandwich

This is happy me because I have a perfect sandwich

 

After dinner, we decided to stop by a wine store and pick up some limoncello as a peace offering for our uncouth behaviour earlier when we so quickly fled the leftover spaghetti dinner scene.   Heather’s mom had previously mentioned that she had tried a sip of limoncello and really liked it.

We bought some limoncello from a liquor store nearby as an after dinner apertif.

Limoncello is an Italian liqueur that is sweet and has a nice taste of lemons. It is 32% alcohol though, 64 proof, which was a bit strong for Heather's mom. But I think her Grandma loved it! Actually I think it was too strong for everyone except the three lushes in the family - Heather, myself, and Heather's dad.

 

Heather snuck yet another cookie from the freezer downstairs, much to the chagrin of her mom.

Heather snuck yet another cookie from the freezer downstairs, much to the chagrin of her mom. Heather's mom thinks that these cookies are supposed to last until the reunion, but I highly doubt that they will make it that long.

 

It’s a wrap!