Small Town Living

 Not exactly sure how you define "small town", but since we have moved back to Elkhart, IN, there are a LOT of things we see that you might not normally see in bigger towns so we are just gonna go with Elkhart and the surrounding areas as small town living....Here we go.....Some little jaunts around the area that we have taken lately....

The South Side Soda Shop, Goshen, IN...This is a family run retro diner in Goshen that was started as a grocery store in the early 1900's. In the 1940's a soda fountain was installed. In the 1980's, the shop was restored and in 1993, a dining car was added to give it a more '50's vibe. 

It has been featured in several publications, Gourmet Magazine, and was featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri. The interior is definitely vintage. It's not like some retro diners with reproduction decor, this one is definitely a step back into time. Check out the juke box! There are many items that make you wonder how old they are!

The decor is definitely from the past.....

We enjoyed a simple burger dinner, nothing too special, just good home cooked food, but it was just kind of fun to immerse ourselves in a different vibe and the prices were reasonable. The seating area is decorated in a lot of different ways with  painted murals or displays of school spirit, or random bulletin boards.

We didn't try the ice cream, but there were a lot of choices. Bet it was good! The little dishes are those traditional metal ones.

If you like pie, this is the place for a BIG top loaded meringue on your pie.

And of course, there is the soda fountain. 

Something else we experienced lately... A small town parade! We happened to visit Shipshewana on a Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago, and ran into the tail end of what seemed to be a little farm parade. It wasn't Memorial Day yet and we really didn't know what the parade was all about, but it was fun to see lots of Amish turn out to watch it. 

Not only were they watching, they were in the parade floats as well, throwing out candy to the crowd, much to these two boys delight! (above photo) This gentleman had a farm DOG walking a "treadmill" to churn butter! Didn't know if that was just for show, or if his dog really did do churn butter duty!

A vist to Kryder Gardens in Middlebury which is right on the Pumpkinvine Bike Trail and worthy of a picnic stop or a rest stop at least. The gardens are GORGEOUS in mid May and the volunteers who keep it beautiful are to be commended. So many beautiful flowers and plantings! There are water fountains and statues and artwork there a well. Sparky loves stopping in one of the many shaded bench areas to reflect a bit before heading back out onto the Pumpkinvine Trail. It's a small town treasure, for certain!

And how is Eldo? (really, Eldon, but doesn't Eldo sound a lot cuter? a name given to Eldon by his granddaughter. Sparky calls him Eldy around the house.) He's doing well. Round 2 of physical therapy after hip replacement is underway. Eldy is getting in stretchy band exercise for golf swing/hip movement. He is very mobile most often without his cane but carries it with him just in case. In about another two to three weeks, the doctor says he can get out and swing a golf club ! Yay! 

And so, life goes on for us in our senior years...Day by day we take it. You never know when life is going to throw you a curve ball. So we take it and run with it, or hobble as the case may be, as each day is different for us physically. Sparky has bad sciatic problems still, but we just sort of soldier on. Maybe she will be pursuing physical therapy soon, even though she has tried it before. It's time to revisit that again. Sparky is also finishing up subbing at school...She really loves that job. This past week, her class of little first graders couldn't manage to remember Mrs. Sparks, so it was "Mrs. Sparkles" and "Mrs. Sprinkles" all day long. Why they couldn't say "Sparks" we have no idea! 

Sorry for the repeat from FB but just had to share for the memory books: Sparky got to help a second grade class release butterflies this week after they nurtured them in the classroom. One little girl decided she would pick a dandelion in case the butterfly was hungry once we made our way outside. Lo and behold, the butterfly liked that idea. The little girl exclaimed loudly, "LOOK! The proboscis is coming out. He's going to take a drink!!!" And it did. Second grade. Proboscis. I'm impressed.

Two more weeks of school to go, then summer break. A family reunion on the Sparky side is in August in Charlevoix. That will be fun! Until later....

                                Sparky and Eldo