Day 5 was a pretty busy day!  We’re getting ready for the big reunion so had several preparations to make.  We woke up extra late though, around 10:30am.  I guess all that lack of sleep caught up to us.  

We knew it was going to be busy so we figured we might as well load up on a good lunch!

 

We decided to have lunch at Charlie's which is a local Elkhart butcher/deli that has great sandwiches and food.

We decided to have lunch at Charlie's which is a local Elkhart butcher/deli that has great sandwiches and food.

 

 

Once again, the difficult choice of deciding what to eat. I wonder how much weight I've put on during this trip?

Once again, the difficult choice of deciding what to eat. I wonder how much weight I've put on during this trip?

 

 

We ended up splitting two things. One was a deli sampler which had 3 kinds of salads in it: pea salad, mozzarella and tomato salad, and lemon dill green beans. All three salads were excellent! I especially liked the pea salad as it was crunchy, sweet, and creamy all at the same time.

We ended up splitting two things. One was a deli sampler which had 3 kinds of salads in it: pea salad, mozzarella and tomato salad, and lemon dill green beans. All three salads were excellent! I especially liked the pea salad as it was crunchy, sweet, and creamy all at the same time.

 

 

The other thing we split was an Italian Panini. I don't know all the stuff it had inside, but it was meatrageously great!

The other thing we split was an Italian Panini. I don't know all the stuff it had inside, but it was meatrageously great!

 

After lunch, we had to go to the grocery store to special order bread rolls for the party.  And we had to get some ingredients for the cole slaw that we were making.  Well, we were buying the ingredients for the cole slaw but her grandma is going to make it.    While at the grocery store, we ran into Heather’s parents!  SMALL WORLD!

 

 

Heather's mom and dad decided to get some food to eat themselves. Her mom got sushi and her dad got a piece of fried chicken.

Heather's mom and dad decided to get some food to eat themselves. Her mom got sushi and her dad got a piece of fried chicken.

 

 

Heather decided to try the sushi just to see how it would be. She said it was "okay" as far as grocery sushi goes.

Heather decided to try the sushi just to see how it would be. She said it was "okay" as far as grocery sushi goes.

 

 

Meanwhile, Heather's dad for some reason decided to take the ginger that was left and smother it in wasabi so he could eat it. Yes, just ginger and wasabi together.

Meanwhile, Heather's dad for some reason decided to take the ginger that was left and smother it in wasabi so he could eat it. Yes, just ginger and wasabi together. "Don't worry, I do this all the time" is what his expression is saying

 

 

Stage One: OHHHHHH !@#!$!!@#, what have I done??

Stage One: OHHHHHH !@#!$!!@#, what have I done??

 

 

Stage 2: (quiet sobbing)

Stage 2: (quiet sobbing)

 

 

Stage 3: Hallunications

Stage 3: Hallunications of the rapture

 

 

Of course, if there's a display of cheese, I have to look at it for awhile. I do love the cheese.

Thinking we were still in Shipshewana, I visit the display of cheese hoping for free samples. DARNIT!

 

We had found out during lunch that the menu for tonight was hamburgers, so I wanted to make some guacamole to go along with it.  I figured if I was going to make guacamole, I needed to find ripe avocados.  Heather was patient enough to go along with me to a total of 4 different places until I found a place that had ripe ones.  While in the parking lot we spied a couple of funny things.

 

 

I originally thought this was a stuffed fake dog but it was real, and totally ridiculous.

I originally thought this was a stuffed fake dog but it was real, and totally ridiculous. How can anyone walk this kind of dog without getting teased?

 

As we were looking at this dog, we heard an incessant beeping coming from another car.  It sounded like someone was REALLY impatient.  They’d beep for a few times in a row, then beep a really long one, then beep several times again, and then a really long one.

It was when we saw who was beeping that we both busted out laughing.

 

Yes, it was this dog left by himself that was beeping the horn. He would beep the horn and then start howling along with his beeps. If only we had a video camera!!

Yes, it was this dog left by himself in the car that was beeping the horn. He would beep the horn and then start howling along with his beeps. If only we had a video camera!!

 

 

Look at this face that only a mother could love

Look at this face that only a mother could love

 

 

Another place that we stopped by while looking for avocados is a place that we visit whenever we’re in Elkhart.

 

Bullard's is known for their fresh corn, but it isn't corn season so instead of just bought some fresh strawberries. They didn't have ripe avocados though..

Bullard's is known for their fresh corn, but it isn't corn season so instead I just bought some fresh strawberries. They didn't have ripe avocados though..

 

 

While driving we saw this sculpture. It sort of looks like an eagle with one wing pointing at something. Too bad it was so big because I'm sure my friends would love to have this sculpture proudly displayed in front of their houses. A

While driving we saw this sculpture. Normally I see an eagle and go, "Whoa, eagle, awesome!" But somehow, the one wing outstreched and one pointing downwards doesn't work so well. And by the way, this is someone's lawn ornament.

 

We also passed by Lowes.  

Look at the size of this Lowes!

Check out the size of this Lowe's! It's like miniature.

 

 

In comparison, check out the size of MeNARDS!!!

In comparison, check out the size of MeNARDS!!! Arrrr, MENARDS is HUGE in elkhart.

 

We got back to Heather's grandma's house to see Heather's mom proudly showing off the grill she assembled. We decided to shoot a photo to commemorate the occasion.

We got back to Heather's grandma's house to see Heather's mom proudly showing off the grill she assembled. We decided to shoot a photo to commemorate the occasion as she Vanna White posed in front of it.

 

 

Heather's Grandma's Aunt Phyllis came to visit. Yes, I got that right, Phyllis is the aunt of Heather's grandma, but age-wise, she's 3 months younger. There really is a simple explanation for this, it involves a Delorean car and being able to produce 1.21 Gigawatts!!!

Heather's Grandma's Aunt Phyllis came to visit. Yes, I got that right, Phyllis is the aunt of Heather's grandma, but age-wise, she's 3 months younger. There really is a simple explanation for this, it involves a Delorean car and being able to produce 1.21 Gigawatts!!!

 

 

 

Heather's dad was busy weeding the garden. Some vacation yeah Charles?? haha sucker

Heather's dad was busy weeding the garden. Some vacation yeah Charles?? haha sucker

 

 

I guess I shouldn't have laughed at Heather's dad having to work, because before I knew it, I had to start chopping onions

I guess I shouldn't have laughed at Heather's dad having to work, because before I knew it, I had to start chopping onions. (Heather's editor's note: haha sucker)

 

 

The onions were being used for the 5 pounds of cole slaw we were making for the reunion on Saturday

The onions were being used for the 5 pounds of cole slaw we were making for the reunion on Saturday

 

 

He weeds, he cooks, he sings, he paints, what else can he do??

He weeds, he cooks, he sings, he paints, what else can he do??

 

 

Here's the guacamole I made!

Here's the guacamole I made!

 

 

I don't know about you but it does appear that the angel is praying that all the food comes out good.

I don't know about you but it does appear that the angel is praying that all the food comes out good.

 

 

We all gathered in the outdoor patio to eat

We all gathered in the outdoor patio to eat as it was the nicest day yet in terms of weather

 

 I do declare all the food a success!! It was delicious!!! Best homemade burger ever!

All the food was a great success!! It was delicious!!! Best homemade burger ever!

 

 

It isn't a complete meal here in Indiana apparently unless there is dessert. Dessert was baked by Heather's mom -- poundcake covered in fresh strawberries and a slice of ice cream. MMMmMmMmmm

It isn't a complete meal here in Indiana apparently unless there is dessert. Dessert was baked by Heather's mom -- shortcake covered in fresh strawberries and a scoop of ice cream. MMMmMmMmmm

 

That was day 5!  Stay tuned for tomorrow because we’re headed to Chicago for the day!  I’ll explain why then.