We went back to Lancaster July 1-3, but this time it was three generations of women heading to Kitchen Kettle Village. I do love it there, although after our second stay in the Inn at Kitchen Kettle Village I’m a little grossed out by the infrequently-washed carpets. It was much worse this time, I may have to rethink things for our next visit.

This is what we got ourselves up to.

First we stopped at The Crayola Experience on the way down to Lancaster. My friend Lin told me to go early because of the crowds, and she was not wrong. We got there just after the 10am opening, and it was perfect. By the time we were leaving at noon, it was total chaos.

Drawing.

Drawing with Nana.

The amazing make-your-own-crayon-set wall. I went nuts in the gift shop, believe it or not it had really excellent prices. H is very into art supplies lately, so it was a no-brainer souvenir.

H loved this dog mascot outside the entrance.

We hit up a Cracker Barrel for lunch, because we have to on any road trip that involves my mom.

How adorable are these two?

I especially loved that the Cracker Barrel high chairs are mini versions of the regular chairs. It’s the details that matter.

We arrived at Kitchen Kettle on Tuesday night and only really had time to grab dinner (at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord!). Wednesday morning we started out shopping at The Old Country Store, which was closed down when H and I were there in April. It’s reopened under new management, and we were there on opening day for the fabric room. I bought some really cute prints from the Handmade collection by Macrina Busato for Windham.

H had a pony ride at the Kitchen Kettle petting zoo. We also fed the animals and said “hi” to many of them. Then we went back to the room so she and my mom could have naps, as you do. And, okay fine, I fell asleep as well.

It was insanely stormy that afternoon, but we trekked out to Burkholder’s for more fabric. I got some great Lotta Jansdotter prints and a super cheap holiday fat quarter bundle.

It absolutely poured, like really torrentially poured, as we were leaving Burkholder’s. So obviously I took everyone on a pilgrimage to the Good’s Store in Ephrata because I’d read that they have great prices on canning supplies. And they did. And I loaded up on enough cases of Ball jars to last me several seasons!

Wednesday night we had dinner at Olde Mill Restaurant, where I’d been on the last trip with H, and then we called it a night. But bright and early on Thursday I took everyone to Kauffman’s Fruit Farm and Market just down the road in search of cheap local fruit. I had everyone’s cooperation after I suggested that we could just go pick raspberries instead. The farm store worked out much better. I got some great looking black raspberries that I made into jam (more on that later), and they had amazingly cheap spices, flour, and baking chocolate. Like, 1/5 lb. tubs of organic cinnamon for a little over a dollar. I loaded up on those, too. Success!

The last thing we did, after loading the handy cooler I’d brought for all the food stuffs, was take H to Dutch Wonderland. Highly, highly recommend it for baby humans. She could ride a couple dozen of the rides, and most of them without an adult. Which she loved, independent little creature that she is.

So many rides.

So many smiles. She loved it here, and passed out in the car almost the whole drive back to Jersey. What a great trip with my favorite ladies.