Return to Shipshewana after a quarter of a century: Amish hospitality, buggy rides and tea.

 Shishewana, 2002. (1) Rob & Rachel & buggy. (2) Flea Mkt with my Mom & Rachel

This month, the "Sistahs", aka your humble blogger and my cousins, Dianne and Kathy, planned a trip to Shipshewana for our "Spring Adventure". Although it's never a challenge to have a grand time with these ladies, we once again raised the bar on our quarterly excursion. We traveled to Amish country in Indiana and filled our days with a buggy ride, delicious dinners, in-town shopping and a walk through the famous flea market that just opened for the season in May.

Sistahs:  Shipshewana Bound, May 2026

Returning to Shipshewana after two decades:

Although neither of my Sistahs had been to Shipshewana before, I had visited almost a quarter of a century ago. In 2002, my son, Rob, just shy of 18 years old, went on a camping trip with some friends in Indiana. On their return home, Rob was pulled over for speeding (and, for the record, it wasn't just five miles over) and given a ticket. Although I don't remember all the details, I know the "punishment" required my son to come back to an Indiana small court to pay restitution with family representation.

In the lemons-into-lemonade  category, I told Rob if I was to take a day off work to bring him to Indiana, he was going to have to endure a Shipshewana side-trip, complete with a buggy ride and quilt shopping. I don't know what Rob feared most, but he agreed to the terms and we headed to Indiana with my Mom and daughter, Rachel for the post-court fun.

Honestly, the courtroom was more Mayberry than big city intimidating. The judge was friendly and understanding, offering a fair compensation with some sage advice.  Rob understood.

After that, it was a buggy ride, fresh dairy ice cream and the flea market. We shopped for quilts, baskets and dolls. You know, the things that an almost 18-year old boy dreams of.  :)   To this day, Rob is not a speeder. 

(Top picture, from 2002:  time of my first digital camera and scrapbook software - spent more time on

 those albums that I care to admit. However, good for a few fun memories.)

Buggy ride with Thunder in the background.

Sistahs Shipshewana

I was excited to return to Amish country with my Sistahs, take in the region's cooking, crafting and, yes, the buggy ride!

 Shipshewana Flea Market, more "traditional" flea market than I remembered.

A few things have changed in over two decades:  more hotels, more restaurants, more stores, but the flea market was different, too. Much of the handcrafted items have moved to retail stores in town and the flea market is more of a traditional flea market:  thrift stores, novelty items, T-shirt vendors and assorted odds and ends (emphasis on "odds"). But we did find an amazing tea vendor, Indian Jo's, and we all purchased a bag of their loose tea blends.

The highlights:

Horse drawn buggy ride:  Our guide, Emmet, graciously allowed photographs and welcomed questions. He held the reigns of Thunder - our literal horsepower - and guided us through town and country. 

Blue Gate Garden Inn, front lobby. 

Blue Gate Garden Inn:  Although the weather did not allow us to take advantage of our patio room, everything else had much to recommend. There's a pool, a breakfast room, and a bustling campus of activities, including a theater for the performing arts. 

Blue Gate Restaurant:  Just down the road from the Inn, is this welcoming restaurant with what I'd term Amish comfort food:   noodles, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and, my favorite, absolutely delicious fried chicken. (For those who have visited Frankenmuth, a Bavarian-inspired town, in Michigan, this venue has much of the same vibe - large portions, great service and homey decor.)

Indiana Jo's tea: One of the great finds at the flea market. See more in our blog earlier this month: Indian Jo's Tea.

 
There's more to discover in Shipshewana and the playhouse has a variety of programs throughout the year. I'll be back - but, won't wait another two decades. :) 

Indiana Jo's Tea: A Shipshewana Flea Market Find!

 

Indian Jo's Coffee and Tea at the Shipshewana Flea Market

Shipshewana Flea Market opened for the season this month, and The Sistahs (aka, my two awesome cousins, Dianne, and Kathy and your humble blogger), headed south from our western Michigan meet-up point and drove south to Indiana. As always, we were ready for adventure and treasures, and it didn't take long before we found fortune in Booth 401, home to Indiana Jo's Tea.

Their space is a coffee/tea bar-meets-archeological-finds. Bright red tea packages share space with skulls and skeletons, a place where Indiana Jones - presumed inspiration for this Indiana tea and coffee shop - would feel right at home. And, after taking in the aroma of some of Indiana Joe's tea, we did, too.

All tea blends had small glass jars for viewing and sniffing. Although all were enticing, we each picked one that called to us. I chose Raven-wood Peach with my son, Rob, in mind. He's a tea enthusiast and enjoys a fruity blend.

Brewing up Raven-wood Peach, taste to match its aroma.

Once back to our home in Michigan, Rob, joined us for tea. Opening the package, he took in a whiff and declared, "if this tastes as good as it smells, it's going to be amazing". 

And, it was. 

The blend is made up of black tea with peach, apricot, papaya, blackberry and lime leaves and calendula and sunflower pedals. 

Raven-wood Peach strikes a nice balance with black tea, florals, and fruit, but, as the name implies, peach is definitely the star. 

Packaging is convenient, attractive and practical with easy zip closure.

Another great feature of the tea is its packaging. The zip lock seal is on the front and it's convenient, attractive and practical. 

We're looking forward to trying more of Indiana Jo's teas. Though Shipshewana is a fun excursion, it's not short trip for some of us. Fortunately, they have a website for future purchases. I believe our next try will be Temple of Bloom, most fitting for Indiana Jo's. 

Don't sweat the retirement wardrobe: The MET validates the comfy.

Part of The Met's Costume Art Exhibit, the aging body, sophisticated, not declining

When there's more casual than business casual in your closet, you may be retired. Sweat pants and hoodies are not only comfy, but fashion to be acknowledged. Just this month, The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art put the spotlight on senior leisure ware, and we applaud the acknowledgement as we slip into our velcro-strapped sneakers and adjust our elastic waistband pants.

Earlier this month, the much-hyped Met Gala, where fashionistas and celebrities dress to an annual theme and climb the stairs of the grand Manhattan museum in red-carpet style, kicked off the "Costume Art" Exhibit. Unlike many of the elegant or elegantly outlandish attire of the Gala attendees,  "Costume Art" takes a step away from the "classic beauty" standards and looks at high fashion's often-ignored population including the "corpulent" and "the aging".  As reported in the Chicago Tribune/May 3, this is the most "consciously body-positive show the museum has attempted . . .[featuring] a group of new mannequins, based on real people with a wide variety of body types."

They point to the mannequin, in the aging body section, wearing an oversized gray hoodie with large lettering boasting, "I'm Retired. (This is as dressed up as I get)."

Pair your fashion sense with a cup of tea from Harney's The Met collection. 

My daughter-in-law, and lifelong New Yorker, Jenna, attended the current "Costume Art" exhibit and sent the proud hoodie-wearing retiree image to my husband, Chris, and me. After just blogging about another portrait embracing non-classic beauty standards at The Met, Too Real to be Liked? Mary Cassatt's Lady at the Tea Table without Filters, this comfortable and content retiree not only made me smile, but cheer the solidarity in the unconventional.

The aging body display shows "commonality - those things that unite us all. . . [it] seeks to reframe as a mode of sophistication rather than biological decline".

I'm rather fond of that outlook. And, though, I, too, enjoy sporting shapeless sweats whenever I can, I do try to rise to the occasion that requires heels, fascinators and - the biggie - a belt. 

While we're contemplating all this fashion, we recommend a cup of tea from one of Harney's The Met Collection.  One of our favorites is "Taste of British History", it's a take on classic Earl Grey, with black and green teas and bergamot oil. (You can purchase at The Met or Harney and Son's website.)  

The Costume Art Exhibit started May 10 and runs through January 10, 2027. Our next trip to NYC, I plan to visit The Met - what I wear there is TBD.  😉

Guild Chocolates Afternoon Tea: A real treasure in Petrolia, Ontario

Guild Chocolates Afternoon Tea, Chef Jacyln (center) created this delicious and beautiful event.

Last weekend, we once again traveled over the Blue Water Bridge into Canada for some gourmet treats, but this time it was for a full afternoon tea. We were joined by good friends and fellow podcasters, Rik and Carol D., who also share our foodie and tea passions. (Dare we say, "tea nerds"?) 

In April, we visited Guild Chocolates and it was love at first bite ('Guilded Age' of Gourmet Confections, April 22, 2026). We met owner, chocolatier and master chef, Jaclyn Sanders who told us about events she hosts throughout the year, including this month's afternoon tea. We signed up immediately and we are so glad we did. 

Because Jaclyn's shop is small, she hosts the events in a hall just a short drive from downtown. And although it’s a multi‑purpose space, Jaclyn transforms it with thoughtful, charming touches that elevate the entire experience.

Sweets and savories scrumptious works of art.

There are white tablecloths and napkins on every table which are set with an assortment of fine china teacups. A particularly delightful detail: every guest receives their own two‑tiered tray, beautifully arranged with scones, tea sandwiches, and desserts.

Add to this, a harpist who plays during the entire event. Incredible!

Of course, the main feature is the tea and tea fare and everything was as delicious as it was beautiful in presentation. Desserts and savories were miniature works of art, befitting of Chef Jaclyn's degree in Art History. 

With fellow foodies and tea nerds. Harp player behind us.

Included in the savories were a smoked salmon tartlet and a generously portioned coronation chicken sandwich. Among goodies on the top tier, were a tartlet, lemon goat cheese mousse and a mango brownie.

The grand finale on wheels:  assorted chocolate creations on a trolly cart. All of this was accompanied by tea of choice (six in total) in individual teapots. 

We also met other guests and shared tea tales and love of Guild Chocolates (Hello, Tracy!)

No surprise - we can't wait to go back!

For our "live reel" at the tea, check out our video on our YouTube channel! Thanks to Rik D., for bringing his recording equipment.

"Live" at Guild Chocolates Afternoon Tea

Duck Sh*t Tea: We tasted the chocolate, time to taste the tea with the odd (duck) name from Cultivate Taste!

Cultivate Taste's Duck Sh*t Oolong

Last month, we sampled chocolate made from Duck Sh*t tea (Duck Sh*t Tea and Chocolate). Tasting the tea was next and, after a bit of a search, we found some - and not so far from home. Our Duck Sh*t tea comes from Cultivate Taste, located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

This is an oolong tea, and per Cultivate Taste's website, the tea comes from tea bushes which are over 80 years old. It is lightly oxidized and the leaves are long and mostly green in color.

In our April blog, we talked about the unusual tea name and its origin stories, one of which focused on the farmer who cultivated this tea. It was so good, he wanted to detract competitors, so he gave it an unpleasant moniker to deter unwelcomed visitors. 

An oolong tea, leaves are partially oxidized.

After brewing up Cultivate Taste's Duck Sh*t tea, we now understand why the farmer was concerned about potential theft. It is delicious!

We found it flowery and pleasantly grassy with hints of fruit - smooth and well-balanced. We brought out the glass teapot and cups as the tea's pretty amber color adds to the whole tea experience.

Excited to find such a great tea in a neighboring mid-west state, we learned not only about the teas offered from the company's website, but some of their backstory as well.

 A little about Cultivate Taste

Cultivate Taste Tea prides itself as a luxury, single-origin loose-leaf tea company dedicated to showcasing tea as an agricultural product of place, much like fine wine or specialty coffee.

Every tea they offer is sourced directly from small, quality-focused producers across Asia. In addition, they do not create blends, add flavorings or sell novelty teas.

Founder Jennifer Nowicki is a Certified Tea Specialist (Specialty Tea Institute, NYC) with over three decades of experience in the gourmet and natural foods industry and nearly thirty years dedicated specifically to tea.

A quick check on their on-line store, Duck Sh*t tea is currently out of stock. We purchased the one ounce pack for $13.50 plus shipping. 

We're looking forward to trying more of Cultivate Taste's teas!

For more information, check out their website at cultivatetaste.com.

Color and taste add to a lovely tea time.

Too real to be liked? Mary Cassatt's Lady at the Tea Table without filters

Lady at the Tea Table, photo taken at my first visit to The Met

 

Today, selfies and group photos can quickly make their subjects prettier, thinner and younger with easy editing. Strategic crops can eliminate pounds and filters can erase wrinkles. But, for those whose portraits have been painted by famous artists who will not adjust the lens, what happens to the "rejects"? In the case of Mary Casssatt's Lady at the Tea Table, the painting was stashed away in the Impressionist's attic for years. 

Fortunately, Cassatt's longtime friend, Louisine Havemeyer, convinced her to eventually to take it out of hiding and donate it to the Met in 1923. It still resides in my favorite New York museum, and I first saw it up close and personal in 2019, the year my son, Matt, moved to Manhattan.

The Met's teapots crafted in Paul Revere's shop. Subject in photo may benefit from strategic editing. 

Cassatt (1844 - 1926), came from an affluent family in Pennsylvania, but spent much of her adult life in France. She became part of the changing art scene in Paris, and although not an over-night-success, she was invited by Edgar Degas to show her work with the Impressionists. In the Impressionist Exhibit of 1877, she displayed eleven works, some of which were criticized for colors that were too bright and portraits that were too accurate to be flattering to the subjects.

Those opinions were shared by the family of the subject in Lady at the Tea Table (1883-1885).  The "lady" was Mary Dickinson Riddle, first cousin of Cassatt's mother. Riddle's daughter had given Cassatt the blue, white and gold-trimmed tea set in the picture, and the artist painted the portrait in appreciation of the gift.

Riddle's daughter did not like the portrait, thinking Cassatt made her mother's nose too large. So, Cassatt stashed it in her attic for years.

There's a story that Riddle's family came forward to claim the portrait once it was out of hiding and on display at The Met. Cassatt's response - and I paraphrase here - "not a chance".

I'm glad I got the chance to view this lovely portrait and every time I return to The Met, I visit it again, along with the collection of teapots, Gilded Age furniture and silver tea accoutrements (including those from Paul Revere's shop). 

While we may not always like how the camera - or the artist - shows our authentic selves, maybe there's a lesson here to embrace "non-traditional beauty".  The Met website has a short video, "The Nose" produced in 2011 by Masha Turchinsky, then their Creative Producer, now CEO of Hudson River Museum. She takes pride in her prominent facial feature. Spoiler alert:  Lady at the Tea Table gets a mention.

Looking back at some of my photos taken at The Met, circa 2019, looks like I forgot to crop or apply filters, though the only editing I regularly apply is erasing the noise (people I don't know, Exit signs, etc).  Maybe Lady Visiting the Met can stay "as is".   😉

The Met's teapot collection

Another visit , NY couple at FLW home

                           

Sources:  The Met, Wikipedia and Everything Explained Today. Thanks to Pam & Quint for sharing their notes on a recent lecture from The Met on Cassatt and Morisot which included Lady at the Tea Table.

Eight Etiquette Rules for Trash Treasure Hunting: Though free and kicked to the curb, there's still proper protocol

Even trash treasure hunting requires good manners:  BTS provides the top eight!

 

Sorting through curbside trash can bring treasures, but don't forget your manners!

We've been recent recipients of gifts found on the curb:  earlier this year Royal Tara fine china and just this month an Emily Post's Etiquette book, 16th edition. While we weren't the shoppers, we were thrilled with the items as well as their price - or more accurately the lack of. Everything was free.

As we noted in this month's post , Where do you find your treasures. . .?, bargains can be found at the end of driveways after a non-depleting garage sale. That's not uncommon in suburban neighborhoods, but what about big cities? 

Turns out, the same principle applies, though the geography shifts. In New York City, boxes of “take me” items appear not only on curbs but on stoops as well. A familiar sight on many brownstone steps, these boxes offer an assortment of merchandise for the taking. During their daily walks, our favorite NYC couple, Matt and Jenna, often browse their neighborhood’s porch and curbside offerings. On one such jaunt, they found my etiquette tome.

While enjoying these freebies, we wondered: is there a proper protocol for curb shopping? It turns out there is — though Emily Post hasn’t covered it… yet.

Most of the etiquette for trash-treasure hunting — also known as “scrounging,” “curb-alerting,” or “freecycling” — comes from online community forums. The basic rules boil down to respect for property and safety. We sifted through comments like a seasoned scrounger digging through a freshly released stoop box and distilled the best good-manners guidance.

Top eight guidelines for the well-mannered scrounger.

1. Only take items on curb or stoop. Don't walk up to the house. Merch inside is off-limits, so no chance on getting the dining room chandelier.

2. Clean up rule. If you sort through a pile, restack items when you're done rooting. Keep the display as enticing as you found it.

3. Go one better! Be a good citizen and enhance #2., leaving the "store" neater than you found it. If the box has broken apart, even if you didn't break it, try to restore order as much as possible. 

4. Don't return items. This is "take -and keep - as is".  If you later decide you don't want what you "bought", keep in mind, curbside retail has no return policy. Consider setting up your own stoop box shop.

5. Signage. If there's a sign that says "FREE",  you're good to go. If there is no sign, but item or box is on the curb, that's a pretty safe bet it's okay to take. 

6. Don't confuse actual garbage with freescycling. If there are garbage bags wrapped up and, on the curb, assume it's true trash. Don't open the bags and dig through - it's unsanitary and dangerous. (But, really, does one need formal instructions to avoid such behavior?) 

7. Be fast, be quiet. Loitering and shouting are frowned upon unless you just found some fine china or an Emily Post Etiquette book. A modest "yahoo!" is acceptable.

8. Don't add items. Someone's curbside box is not a consignment shop. If you want to donate some of your things, get your own stoop container or give to Goodwill. They'd appreciate the drop off. 

For those who wish to partake in a trash treasure hunting, we wish you luck. No need for to bring a wallet, only your impeccable curbside manners are required.  😀💰