When was the last time your jaw dropped? I mean a serious mouth open, glued to the spot, brain paralyzing jaw drop. Mine was today, mid afternoon. We zoomed through Ohio so we could enjoy some different roads in Indiana, one that eventually brought us to Shipshewana. To Yoder's Hardware Store. Where I was a normal browsing shopper one moment and then BAM! the next minute I became a stunned human being staring like a simpleton at a special display of something called the Nut Wizard. It picks up walnuts with a simple roll of a long handled, wire, sphere shaped basket.

A shallow box on the floor had enough loose golf balls to let customers try it to see how easy it is to use. I did and it was. I have spent 18 Octobers in my driveway and front yard raking, shoveling and hand gathering walnuts. Lots and lots and lots of walnuts. Ask any of our kids, and if you don't believe them ask Mason. I have been on the verge of ordering a slightly different pecan version of the above that son-in-law Lance uses in Alabama. And then exactly one week after our walnut tree fell I see these in a store. Close mouth, take pictures, regain composure, continue browsing.

Earlier in the day we were in Milan. Don't you agree that this was fitting after hearing a letter from the pastor of the URC in Milan? That Milan was the "real" one in Italy. We were in Milan, Ohio, the birthplace of Thomas Edison. If you can read, thank a teacher. If you can read after dark, thank Thomas Edison. I saw that slogan in an antique store that we stepped into as we were walking off some travel stiffness. It was a true "stumble upon" store full of intriguing surprises. There were dozens of working phonographs and all types of other Edison related items. We heard and saw one being played for a customer finalizing his purchase. This was quite a treat, and yes we took pictures (which, you may have noticed, I now know how to post on here!). This trip back in time seemed a fitting follow up to yesterday's high tech ipad, face time, lap top, digital camera mixture.

It was almost  more museum than store, which was nice because in true Wetselaar fashion we were in town the only day the actual Edison museum was closed. (Ask the kids.) In fact the only place open to get food was a coffee shop with a very limited menu for someone who still needed breakfast. But now I feel like such a world traveler to be able to close this blog by saying, "This morning I had quiche in Milan...."