Chuck Full Of News & Pictures

Let me first of all say “Thank You” to all that wished Shawn and I a Happy Anniversary.  We had a great day yesterday just spending it together with our son.  My sweet hubby asked me what I wanted to do and I told him that my Mom had bought me this old, very old cupboard in Amish country and I wanted to go pick it up.  Well, I also mentioned how I use to go with my grandparents to a restaurant called Watts in Utica, Ohio.  I remember going and getting the best homemade noodles, coleslaw and coconut pie.  Oh, it was so good and I wanted to remember those memories that I shared with them, but I also wanted my husband and son to experience it as well.  So, we headed towards Amish Country and cut through Utica on the way.  It was a wonderful day!!  We were there when they opened at 11:00 and we sat down and had a great meal.  I had everything that I had when I was younger and I remember just like it was back then.  The restaurant was still the same with the awful looking wallpaper, but the meal was chuck full of great memories that I was able to share.  Here are some pictures of our day.  I thought I would let you all experience the goodness as well.  Great memories were made here with my grandparents and it was wonderful to share that with “my” family.

Trust me ~ I didn’t eat all of that food.  I was full after eating part of my mashed potatoes, all of my coleslaw and part of my noodles, but I had to try the pie again so we got some of their famous coconut meringue pie.  Yep, it was just like I remembered everything!  We sat in the area that I took a picture of, but they have a couple other dining areas as well.  It is a great little place for homemade cooking.  You just gotta remember to get there when they open if you want some of their coconut pie.

Once we left there, I told my husband that I wanted to see if we could go find my great grandparents house.  They have been gone for many years, but I wanted to see where my Mom spent alot of her time and where they lived.  It wasn’t too far from the restaurant and I am pretty sure that we found it per Mom’s directions.  It was so run down, but I had to take a picture for my Mom.  It definitely needs work and my great grandfather would probably roll over in his grave if he saw it today.  He always took such pride in his home and it was always manicured some beautifully and full of beautiful flowers.  Sounds like it was just a showplace back in the day (lol).

Hope these pictures brought back some great memories for you Mom!

I also told my husband that my great grandparents were laid to rest not too far from their home.  Well, we came upon the road that the cemetery was located by chance and we I stumbled across where they were laid.  It overlooks some beautiful hills and scenery there in Utica.   I even thought the little church was so cute and in a beautiful setting out in the middle of nowhere.  Gotta love Amish Country.

Here is where my great grandparents were laid to rest many many years ago and this tree is one of the many trees that my great grandfather had planted in the cemetery and took care of.  This is one that was planted very close to where they are laid.

I can see why my great grandparents wanted to be laid here.  Look at that view!!  I am not too fond of cemeteries, but this had a beautiful view.  I was also wondering if some headstones that were just beside theirs belonged to my great grandmothers family.  I am trying to do some research, but it is like heck trying to find anything on ancestry (lol).  I thought that since they were the same type of headstone that maybe they were my great grandmothers brother and parents.

What do you think?  I think there is a possibility.  I just need to do some more research.  Hopefully I can find something.  I will keep you all posted.  Ok, so enough of headstones (lol). 

Let’s move on down the road…..I saw this covered bridge on our way to get my cupboard and thought it was so pretty!

It was so pretty compared to the gas station that I had to stop by on the way there to use the restroom.  Oh geesh, talk about out in the middle of nowhere!!  My husband told me to go out into the corn field, but then I saw a  NO TRESPASSING sign and thought I would get shot in the middle of using the restroom (lol).  So, we went to the gas station that was many more miles down the road.  Oh ~ I am so glad that I didn’t have an accident.  Anyway, this restroom was absolutely disgusting!!  I mean the cornfield had to have been cleaner.  It was disgusting….just nasty!!  I am surprised I didn’t get some kind of bugs or something just by walking into the restroom.  It needs to be burnt down (lol).

So, shall we look at this cupboard?  My Mom and my husband think I am totally crazy for wanting this cupboard, but I see GREAT potential in it.  I scrubbed it down today with a brush and some soap, but it still needs lots of work.  I am pretty sure that it was used in an old barn.  It has a bad and peculiar odor to it, but I am hoping that with scrubbing it, sanding it, primming it and painting it then it will lose that odor, but we will see.  If it doesn’t then I will have the best looking cupboard in my garage when I am done (lol).  Let me just tell you a bit about this scrubbing process that I did today.  Oh, I put on my gloves and scrubbed this piece down like a crazy lady!  It had dead bugs upon dead bugs and well then there were more dead bugs and then there were bees and mud and dirt and leaves and well anything else that could do with farmland…..well, it just needs some work, but I am up for the challenge.  If the weather stays nice then I will finish it soon, but if not then I will have to wait til spring time.  Heck it might take that long to refinish it, but it will be well worth it when I am done with it.  It needs new hinges, new knobs, primmer, paint and stain and it should be good to go.  Ok, enough is enough…..let’s look at this cupboard.  I would like to use it for our TV stand, but we will see.  It is rather a large piece.

Gotta love the mix match of hinges and knobs (lol).  Talk about a challenge!!  You ladies just wait……you will be absolutely impressed and surprised when I am done with it.  Let’s take a look at the inside.  Don’t be grossed out – ok?

Very prim with great potential – don’t you think?  I love the top of it.  I love the little holes that are everywhere.

So, what do you all think?  Does it have great prim potential or what?  It is funny because I think there are even a few areas where maybe a horse gnawed on it, but I guess that is what you call prim and no one will ever see it once I am done with it.  Stay Tuned for pictures on the re-finished cupboard.  It will be well worth the wait.  Well, I better run for now.  I have a little boy that needs a bath and I wanna relax after tackling that cupboard. 

Until Next Time….Blessings, Lisa