To Barnett and Versailles Missouri and back today

BT and I left the house before 9:00. It would be an early start to a long day.

Our first stop was to pick up his mother, at his sister's house.

The next two stops were in town for some banking for Mom.

We then headed about 20 miles west of Jefferson City to Zimmerman's harness and shoe shop.

Mom and I stayed in the car, while BT went in and purchase a piece of leather.

Just a mile further we stopped at Top Stitch to pick up my sewing machine. My how I would have loved to take you all inside for a view. They sell Berninas embroidery machines there. As we opened the door there were at least 3 young Mennonite girls sitting at the machines embroidering away. They were all wearing white caps, calico dresses and tennis shoes with colored anklets. A CD of religious music was playing away on a laptop computer near the door.

Oh how I would have loved to have played with one of those machines, but I knew the hubby would hog tie me and drag me out immediately.

I picked up my machine, a new see through sewing foot, and a package of #90 ball point needles and headed out.

Back on the road, we traveled only about a mile or two before turning onto a gravel road. We were looking for Pleasant Valley Quilt shop. It had moved from the last time my MIL was there.

We found it behind a big farm house, marked with small signs at the entrance.

As I opened the door, I saw bolt after bolt after bolt of fabric. A Mennonite mother and her two little ones were sitting behind the counter. It was almost over whelming all the fabric. Most of it was about $4.00 a yard. Over in the corner we spied quilts for sale. They were hung from the ceiling, folded to about 18 inches wide. Quilt after quilt, after quilt lined the wall. As we turned around there was a bed, stacked full of more quilts. These were all queen bed size.

We then walked into another room. There the MIL found king sizes quilts. She loved a green one in this first picture. I felt sure she was going to take it back to Texas with her. In the end she left it. The queens were priced about $495, king size ones were $595.00.

In this room I did take two pictures.

I found some Watkins products for my friend Diane and these two handkerchiefs for my someday handkerchief quilt.

Back into the car, we proceeded on down the gravel road only to find the next shop had also moved. It was then that we came upon these buggies. They were parked in front of County Road surplus. We stopped in there and looked at their bargains. BT found some work gloves.

Back in the car and up the muddy road where I met a road grader. It was then necessary to shift to 4 wheel drive. Now the car really gets muddy.

We stopped at Weaver's Market. MIL bought some sorghum and spices. We found smoked cheddar cheese and a big package of salted sun flower seeds. The Mennonite girl checking us out told me where the other fabric store had moved to. I say oh shoot, I'll have to go past that road grader again. She told me I could go the opposite way and go around the block to get there.

Around the block . . . in their terms, it was a 1 mile square block. 1 mile for every right hand turn. On a road the road grader had just completed.

This is Excelsior Fabric shop we had been looking for. Now I thought the last store had lots of fabric. I was wrong. Did I tell you I was wrong?!! Oh My Gosh, her fabric was cheaper and there were many more varieties. She had the old fashioned double knits, bolt after bolt of gingham checks in any size, calico, flannels, cheater quilts fabric, Mennonite clothing, including baby bonnets, straw hats, felt hats, suspenders, buttons, books, patterns, thread. And so much more. If only I could have taken a picture for you.

And what did I leave with? Quilt batting. (Picture at the end of this post) The price is unbelievable!!!! It is enough to make 9 full size queen quilts. The price? $45.20 tax included.

Do you know what a bargain that is? I mean, I pay $14 to $18 for one bed size at Hobby Lobby.

As the Mennonite lady goes to get the batting out of a trailer outside the shop, MIL and I find a new thimble for me. When she came back in, I paid for the thimble and asked if she got it in the car. She said he's working on it.

When I got to the car, I had to laugh. This huge pink bag took up the entire cargo space of my Jeep Cherokee. It blocked my rear view mirror. All I could see was the blacksmith's face outlined in pink plastic.

By this time it was 1:00 and we were famished. We headed into Versailles where we found Lehman's Mennonite Restaurant.

As we walked to our table, we had to pass a counter of baked goods for sale. There were pies; apple, peach, pumpkin, shoofly, coconut cream, and chocolate. Then I saw cinnamon bread, angel food cakes, and cookies. BT and his mother had tenderloin sandwiches with onion rings, I had open faced roast beef on homemade bread with real mashed potatoes.

When we finished our meal, MIL asked if we wanted dessert. BT said he'd pass. She asked me. I told her if she would, then I would too. Okay she said, but I want one of those donuts I have been looking at the entire time I've been eating. So she ordered us each a donut and another cup of coffee. If only I could have taken a picture. It was the biggest and the best donut I have ever eaten. 65 cents of heaven! If they would have been calorie free I would have bought the entire case out. Thanks for buying our lunch Mom, it was so good!

We then headed back towards Jefferson City to the bank. MIL had to pick up some completed papers.

MIL leaving the bank.

Here is my bag of batting. Now you get the picture of just how big this bag is. That's a yard stick stick next to it!

Now I have to find a closet to stuff it in!

Just another fun day in Mennonite country.