Friday, December 4, 2015

Winter Open Houses...

What do eastern Lancaster County farmers do in December when the field work is finished?

For two weeks each December, several local farm stores hold an "Open House", where almost everything in the store is 10% discounted.  One of them also offers a free lunch each day to their customers...provided by one of the many vendors that they sell products for.

Today, Jim and I went to stock up on supplies, like paper towels, milk filters, inflations, calf buckets, etc.

Lots of other people did the same thing.  The buggy shed was full, and the grass was full of parked cars...


Oops...there's a smudge on my camera lens!

I really, really wanted to take a picture of the basement, where tables were set up for about 60 people. Most of the seats were full, but most of the customers were either plain Mennonite or Amish, and I just couldn't bring myself to be seen with my camera...they wouldn't have appreciated it at all. Instead, I took a picture of the delicious lunch we had.  Amazing pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, pickles, macaroni and potato salad, chocolate milk, ice cream, cookies and coffee.  As we were heading upstairs to make our purchases, the lunch line was still long, and the seats were filling back up again.


Next week we'll head to what we call "the Amish Walmart" for another open house.  They don't provide lunch, but coffee and homemade Amish donuts are worth it!

I guess it's a good way for these businesses to make you feel better about spending your money!  

6 comments:

  1. Sounds like fun.
    I'm going to Lancaster next week with a group of women from my church for a couple of days. : )

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  2. What a nice way to acknowledge that they appreciate people's business. The lunch is pretty special.

    Hugs,
    JB

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  3. I had to laugh about your spare time on the farm.
    Thanks for the kind words about my big brother, whom I lost Wednesday night.

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  4. Alicia,
    The Winter Open Houses sound fun. Wow, what an appreciation lunch. I'm a beef girl, but good pulled pork has a place in my heart.

    The small town we do business in has Christmas Coffees. They start on Monday (December 7th) and 2-3 businesses have an open house "coffee" each week up to Christmas to celebrate the Holiday season. People really enjoy having an excuse to meet and visit.

    Have a great weekend!

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  5. Sounds like fun . Yes we have very large Mennonite and Amish communities here to . It is the Amish here that do not like their photos taken as to them it is a vein thing as are mirrors they do not have in their houses nor photos of them selves . Most of the Mennonites here are ok with it all ! Here they have Christmas craft shows with all their wonderful hand made things and food galore YUMMY ! Thanks for sharing , have a good week !

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  6. Oh does that lunch look great! I love shopping in Amish Country!

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