If you hve missed your county you still have time to attend the Indiana State Fair! But this is the Noble County Fair.

These 2 showman are first year 4-Her's they're 10 showing sheep that weigh around 125lbs. These young showman walk, hold, and brace lambs for the judge to feel so he can place them by quality.

Showman start out young, but soon they are become 18 and they have turned out to be pretty darn good showman. Those two GOOD looking young men are both my nephews Cody and Nick. Today it was Cody's day he is holding the Grand Champion Ewe and was named the Grand Champion Sr. Showman. Nick was named the Grand Premier Showman over all and will show in the Round Robin tonight. But at State Fair it could all be different.

Alpaca's are becoming more popular every year, this is Z and he is 2 years old. He and Cameron won the Jr. Costume class.

Oh yes, there is more to the fair then animals this is Josh's craft project. He not only did all the wood burning designs he also stained and varnished too. By the way this is a State Fair entry!!

Cake decorating is a tough competition this is the beginners division. This is my niece's cake and it was alternate for State Fair. I love cake decorating But I can't do it. My hat goes off to Makayla!! PLEASE remember there is a lot more to 4-H then animals so ANYONE come join they're are projects for EVERYONE!!

If you are feeling trapped in the 4 walls around you take a step outside to your county fairs. See what young people all around us are doing with some of their time. There are animals that some of us have never seen or know anything about. Indianapolis is where the State Fair is hold it starts Aug. 8 and goes on till Aug. 22. Take a step out of the 4 walls you live in and attend your local county fair or take a short trip to the Indiana State Fair!!

LaGrange County Fair started Saturday July 11

Are You looking at me, what- haven't you ever seen a goat before?

Katie and her horse Ruffus are getting ready to run the 3 legged race. Run down on the horse someone holds the horse and her and Drost run home in a sack. They got 3rd, but what fun!!!

Have you ever saw a sheep wearing a blanket? Why do they do that??

She sits on her calf all the time is what she told me, he's my friend. She said she will cry when it comes time to sell him on Saturday.

This pig is pretty comfortable the 2nd day of the fair, the temperatures are only been in the low 80's so far!!

Flowers all in bloom!

The Shasty Daisys and Bee Balm are in full bloom now. Summer is well on its way now and the flowers are really starting to grow and fill in their beds.

A Sunday night on my front porch.

--PLAY ME-- HIT THE ARROW BUTTON AND HEAR-On a Spring Sunday night there is a small Amish party down the road. A few young Amish boys and girls playing Volleyball and hanging out. But around 9:00pm things wrap up and the kids get around to go home. One by one the buggies go by with their flashers on and their bass music playing, yes the bass you hear is coming from one or more of these Amish buggies!! All darkness, flashers, a little bit of bass and a whole lot of CLIP-CLOP!!

Jordan was "ALL" hands on when he came to Mirror Lake and Hogback Hill.

Jordan tried everything when he came to Hogback Hill. He helped feed the baby calves and helped make bottles for feeding. Kent shows Jordan a few things about milking a cow, Jordan holds the Tet and pulls trying to get milk. After Jed showed Jordan how to make the bottles and put the nipples on the assembly line started. Soon they were off feeding the babies.

Jordan was very comfortable and confident when it came to riding Bailey. So after he proved his riding ability I let go of the extra lead rope and let him "do it all". *Helmets are offered and available but not required.

Jordan takes time to play with the farm kittens.

The Greenhouses and Produce Market start gearing up for Spring.

Clearspring Produce Auction
Potted plants and flats of vegtables and flowers can be bought here in all quanities. Amish produce farmers bring in ALL kinds of produce and flowers that they grow in their greenhouses of course everything comes in by seasons.

Everyone is getting ready for spring to arrive and we can't hardly wait!

We start making our spring plans, of what flowers we want to plant and where we want to plant them. Then we think of where we want to go and what greenhouses we want to visit.

Here is a list of 10 Greenhouses that are less than 10 minutes away from Mirror Lake B&B.

Rolling Acres, Bontrager Garden Center, Stoney Produce, Nature's Unlimited, Country Garden Center, Farm View Landscaping, Bell's Garden's, Bontrager's in Emma, Clear Spring Greenhouse,

The Produce Auction is most Tuesdays and Thursday's just outside of Emma & Otto's produce.

Peranials, annuals, trees and bushes can be bought at all of these centers. What a GREAT selection!! Come stay & come see for yourself!!!

Living around Amish communities.

These are some sites around town here in Topeka. This is a Amish school and while the kids are on their lunch hour they enjoy playing outside.

This is Tuesday and hay is for sale at the Topeka sale barn. The hitching racks are full as Amish come to buy hay for their horses. As you can see their hay bin is empty and they look like they're ready to eat, and by looking at their size I bet they can eat a lot of hay.

This is the way the Amish pick their corn a little slower then the way we do it, but it is sure faster then picking by hand!! This corn will be taken to the mill for feed for their horses and cattle.

We are only 5 minutes from Topeka and soon the auctions will be starting!!

TOPEKA'S AUCTIONS are starting March 17-21 is the Spring Draft Horse sale. Anyone looking for a parade or pulling team, looking for horses to work the fields or a good stallion for breeding this is the place for you!! The CARRIAGE AUCTION is April 16-17 here in Topeka. You just never know what type of antiques you may find here. They range from Sleighs and Carriages, wagon wheels, fur traps, anvils, house hold antiques, horse tack, small farm equipment, lawn ornaments and much more!!!!!
Remember "One man's JUNK is another man's TREASURE"!!

Thursday there are normally 3 ring running, 1. inside ring where you sit in bleachers and they bring the items in on wagons. 2. outside (misc.)ring (where almost anything could be found) and a 3rd ring selling small farm equipment, lawn ornaments, wagon wheels, push plows and MORE! Friday they sell the Sleighs, carriages, horse tack and a whole lot more. I can never go on Friday, but one of these days I am going to take off work and buy a sleigh. Fix it all up, use it for Christmas and who know I might even put a horse on it and use it.

Come a day early and visit Shipshewana's auction on Wednesday then come to the Carriage auction Thursday and Friday. Make a small vacation out of it MIRROR LAKE B&B would make a GREAT place to come back to after the auctions relax and watch a beautiful sunset, eat good food uptown and get some good buys too!!

Other sales of all types that take place at Topeka through out the year also. Checkwww.auctions-usa.com

Shipshewana, a short drive from Mirror Lake B&B

Spring and summer will soon be here and we will all be making vacation plans. Shipshewana is a small town a short drive from Mirror lake B&B. It was built up around an Amish community, their lifestyle and their trades.
This tree is on the main level of the recently rebuilt Davis Mercantile, it has a basement and 3 floors with about 25 stores. Jo-Jo pretzel's, candles, Vera Bradley, Antiques, quality Quilting supplies, a Scrap booking store, Bakery and Candy and much much more!!!

This is just one of many places to get Quilt material and supplies. If you can't find it here I'm sure there's another store just around the corner.

This Merry-Go-Round is built on the top floor and really works. Many of the horses are hand carved. After your ride you can go to a Puppet show just down the hall.

This is just one of the many ice sculptures that were placed around Shipshewana. This one is in front of the very popular Yoder's department store. It also has a material and variety store, across the way is the Yoder's Hardware and Yoder's grocery store all in one stop.

A STAY AT MIRROR LAKE IS MORE THEN A DESTINATION

IT IS AN AWAKING

A LIFESTYLE ALMOST FORGOTTEN!!

Valentine's Dance

Last night we attended a fund raiser for LEAP of Noble County, it was a Valentine's dinner and dancing. Many people took part in the silent auction and yes a one night stay at Mirror Lake B&B auctioned for $125.00. The rooms were filled with people that were also wine and beer tasting, and last but not least we were entertained by a dance performed by Matt and Jackie Bell. It was a great fund raiser for LEAP I'm sure they did very well. We are blessed to have this organization in our county, they are here to help anyone. Congratulations for a job well done!!!

DINNER and DANCING for the LOVE OF LITERACY Feburary 14.

I am donating a one night stay at the Mirror Lake Bed & Breakfast to:
LEAP of Noble County, Inc

to support their literacy programs. You can place you bid on line at
http://www.leapofnoblecounty.org/.
or in person at their annual fund raising event on

VALENTINE’S DAY
FOR THE LOVE OF LITERACY

Saturday, February 14th at the
Kendallville Event Center
6:00 Reception
Wine & Craft Beer Tasting
Silent Auction continues from web prices
Dinner 6:30 – 7:30
Beef Brisket in BBQ sauce and Rosemary Chicken Breast
Marinated Vegetables (salad)
Baked Potato Green Beans Baby CarrotFrench Bread
Italian Crème Cake and Texas Sheet Cake
Coffee Bar and Fruit Punch
8:00 – 10:00 Dance to the Dan Heath with the Paradise Band

Mirror lake B&B is surrounded by lakes, lakes and more lakes.

It's January and winter is upon Northern Indiana with cold temperatures, wind, snow and ice. Sometimes we almost forget why we love it here, then we remember lakes, lakes and more lakes. Although the B&B is located on it's own private Mirror Lake within only 5 minutes you can be at the largest man made lake in Noble county called Sylvan lake. This lake in known for all lake fun, skiing, jet skiing, fishing, tournaments, swimming and boating. Granny's restaurant (18 & over only) is open May - September right here on Sylvan lake. This picture was taken on a week night, weekends the view is much different!!!


2 miles down the road from Mirror Lake you will pass Jones lake (no public access) and just a few more miles is Waldron, Tammorack and Steinburger lakes. A lot of these lakes are connected by small rivers and channels, once you put your canoe or Kayak in you can go for hours (may not have all clear travel)!! A few miles further away in Noble county is Bixler lake and campgrounds in Kendallville and Skinner lake in Albion.

This is a view across Witmer lake

5 minutes from Mirror Lake B&B into LaGrange county you will find many lakes, parks and campgrounds.

Messick, Dallas, Hackenburg, Wesler and Witmer all connect, some of these lakes are only fishing, some have 1-4 skiing only and some are all day water fun. Coody Brown's is a restaurant and bar located across the road from the public boat access at Wesler lake.

Public access at Wesler lake

I took this picture sitting on the bridge at Loggin's Landing the bottom picture is Messick lake and has access to Indian Lakes Campgrounds, the top picture is the channel going into Dallas lake once you get into this lake it's a big nice skiing lake.

Atwood lake (not

pictured) has a public beach area and has a large campground too, but does not connect to the other 5 lakes.

5 more miles away are Emma, Oliver, Martin, Olen lakes and many more. Within minutes we have Delt Church Park and Rogers Park they have small rivers that run through them and connects to many of these lakes. While still in Lagrange county although 20 minutes away we also have a small town called Mongo with many acres of conservation land. Caneoing, fishing, hunting and camping can be enjoyed by many.

Come enjoy the things Northern Indiana has to offer lakes of all kinds, campgrounds and parks. Although we are blessed to have all this around us we are MORE then happy to come back to a quiet and peaceful place to relax and watch a beautiful sunset here at the private MIRROR LAKE B&B. Summer will be here before we know it!!

Santa comes to Mirror Lake on Christmas Eve.

Santa had just a few minutes to stop in here at Mirror Lake and visit the kids. Of course he had a bag full of toys too. Santa talked to each one of the kids encouraging them to be good and reminded them that there are a lot of children that have very little. But how nice of Santa took a minute and get his picture taken with a lot of the kids.

The ground was covered with frozen snow and the roads covered with ice this did make travel more dangerous, but everyone made it okay. Jed and I were again please to host my family for Christmas. Our tree somehow turned out smaller than normal this year, but when you add 70 people, lots of Christmas packages and all the Christmas decorations the house gets small pretty fast. We all enjoyed a great holiday.

The kids stay with Uncle Jed & Aunt Kathy at Mirror Lake and visit the Dairy farm.

After chores we took the kids to the Wind Mill Museum to see Santa and the beautiful display of Christmas lights and warm hot chocolate too. We then headed off to see George's working elves, some are painting, sweeping, blowing bubbles, wrapping gifts, sanding, you name it they are working to get things ready for CHRISTMAS.

After watching the cows getting milked in the milking parlor Uncle Jed tell Mitchell and Adar all about feeding the baby calves. The calves are little but sure looked big to the kids when they were feeding them.

After ALL that hard work in the barn the kids make angels in the snow. The cows in the background are thinking "What are they doing"?

As Jed colors with the kids he starts to tell a story, I don't know what he's telling them but they sure are listening.

Thanksgiving - A Day To Give THANKS!!

What a day to be grateful for, Jed and I again this year hosted my family for Thanksgiving. A few family members were out of town so we celebrated with about 66 people. Garrett our miracle baby and mom Angie were so excited to be here because last year they spent 4 months at St. Vincent's hospital. Mom (Kate) and Aunt Phyllis share the joy as well.

This is the main food and dessert tables. Tyler, Chris, Chelsea, Ashley, Cody and Joel enjoy visit in the kitchen while they wait for dinner to start.

Other family members visit in the gathering room, everyone brings food to eat and we all eat to much. After dinner there's lots of conversation and many of us play games. The ages range from 1 year to 84. I love my family and we're glad to share our home on all the holidays!!!!!