The White Picket Fence Experience. Labor Day weekend 2016. Friday September 2.
Who would believe that the best part of a weekend road trip would not be the destinations,
or the events, but rather the lodgings? That's what happens, I
believe, when anyone stays at Lou Ann's White Picket Fence Garden Home.
This weekend was to be my annual trek to the Auburn auction field for
the big extravaganza of classic automobiles. And also for another visit
to LouAnn's Picket Fence House, the most delightful place on earth.
In an unusual twist, I am not driving any of my trusted rides this
weekend. But I am driving in familiarity just the same. My old truck,
Dolly Dinosaur, whom I sold to my neighbor last year, is up for sale
again. So I offered to take Dolly to the big auto event and see if I
could get her sold. I even made up a sandwich sign to wear at the
auction event.
On the way there, I stopped in Shipshewana for
lunch. That's the big Amish town in northern Indiana. They have a
restaurant there called the Blue Gate, which is superb. I ordered just a
bowl of chicken soup, and the waitress arrived with a heaping plate of
pulled chicken, homemade noodles, and broth. I ordered some coffee to
go.
When I arrived in Angola, I was pretty tired. There was no
one here so I let myself in and went upstairs to take a nap. I was
eventually awakened by something happening outside. A noise I couldn't
quite identify. I looked out the window and it was LouAnn cutting the
grass with a push mower. No wonder I couldn't recognize the sound.
I walked downstairs to give LouAnn a good excuse to park the lawn
mower. We talked for awhile and then I headed into town for some
dinner. I promised I'd bring her back a burger, ... "Drag it through
the garden!".
Being Friday, tonight was campfire night at the
White Picket Fence Garden. When I got back from the restaurant in town,
the fire was already getting started and one of LouAnn's friends was
there. I'm embarrassed to admit I am so bad at remembering names.
Later on, another friend arrived and I had the pleasure of being the
only guy at the campfire in the company of three fine ladies. The gift
of gab descended upon us as the embers glowed, and yes, I quite enjoyed
myself.
One of the ladies was having a potluck on Sunday and
needed chairs and tables. And lo and behold, I'm driving a pickup truck
this weekend. So the magic has already started. After campfire was
over, I loaded up Dolly with tables and chairs from various locations
and carted them all over to Kathy's house. How's that for being "part
of the family"? Life is good.