After we got all the leaks stopped...that is another story I don't want to go into...anyway, this past week we finally got to head to Shipshewana. Every evening we went to the Ontario Dam and fished a while. Both above the dam and down below. Roger was below the dam fishing in the creek and catching one fish one after another, and I was fishing up above and not getting a single hit. Till I put on a top water lure. The second throw caught this Smallmouth! We were catching and releasing...I caught one more small one, and had another hit, but I missed it. Lost my lure, and that was the end of me catching any that night....
But isn't this a beautiful place to spend time?
NOW FOR PART OF A STORY
We always go to this little restaurant in Howe, Indiana which is about 10 minutes from Shipshewana. (I just had to go on google earth and look up the name....The Gathering Place Restaurant is its name.) I there, there is the 'round table' that I assume is for the regulars that gather there for coffee and to visit. I was half listening to some of them and talking to Roger. I heard this one guy mention someone coming to stay with them. I did not catch the details of why...but part of what I had heard made me think they had people stay with first one family and then another. I wondered was the person staying a itinerant preacher? I couldn't think what else.
So, I really started listening when I heard him telling that it was Christmas and his grandma had knitted him a hat and mittens. I took it as that was her standard gift to him. So he went on to tell that it was Christmas morn and they were opening their gifts, and the gentleman staying with them was sitting off to the side just watching everyone.
He opened his mittens and looked over at the gentleman just sitting there. He picked the other gift up from his grandma and knew that it was a hat. So he took it to his grandmother and asked her if she minded him giving it to the gentleman staying with them. Of course she told him to go ahead.
So he took it over to him, and gave it to him and wished him Merry Christmas. He said the tears just started streaming down the man's face....who said it was the first Christmas present he had had in 7 years!
Great catch Rose! and I love the story. It's been a few years since I've been to Shipshewana.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I don't want to scare folks so don't be waiting to see a picture of me! Do you visit the Amish in Shipshewana? Nice fish and great story.
ReplyDeleteIf I had caught even a small fish, I would be so excited and happy because I do not have chance to go fishing. That is a very beautiful place to spend time fishing or just to enjoy the serene scenery. And the story about the Christmas gift is so touching.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you shared that story. Great sentiment to start my day. Even gladder that you shared such a nice photo of yourself!
ReplyDeletelove the overheard story. and that is one fine fish. i am so glad you posted your photo. i have never seen one of you before and now i know with whom i am 'talking'... we once sat for over an hour while eating breakfast ina tiny rural Georgia town listening to the 6 men at the round table. they were tellng whopper fish stories. but it was not the story but the sound of their voices that kept us sitting there. think old southern sheriff accent.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the fishing. Love the waterfall!
ReplyDeleteHey nice fish. I haven't been fishing in a while---I mean river fishing. I did go out in the ocean two summers ago---that's when I broke the vertebrae in my back. Not because of the fish though. Nice to see you though. A proper howdy.
ReplyDeleteWonderful story.
MB
I forgot to mention that I do or did belong to the Cloud Society. I should check up on them and see if I am still on their rolls. Probably don't remember my password.
ReplyDeleteMB
LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing your picture... It makes me feel as if I know you better. Sometimes when blogging, if I don't know anything about a person (photo, where they live, etc.)---I will gradually quit going to their blogs. One of the joys of blogging is getting to know one another on a personal level.... SO--keep those pictures coming. By the way, you and Neal DO favor each other!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love listening to a group of me sitting together at a restaurant tell their stories... SO much fun --and so many great stories. I love the one you shared... NEAT.
Hugs,
Betsy
had to come over to say hi to you!!!!! hi, rose!!!!!!! :)
ReplyDeletesweet christmas story. :)
Hey Rose, so glad you included the photo of you and your fish. It is so nice to see you sweet lady :) Great story too, that's the kind that really melts your heart. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeletei must admit i was so curious as to what you looked like ... & i feel happy to finding know my bloggy friend, for real. what a cool catch. the fish, i mean. ha. ha!! just picking with ya. i hope you get that??! what a gorgeous area to fish in, i would love to have my kayak. ( :
ReplyDeleteI think you're cute, Rose! And congrats on catching such a nice fish too. That Christmas story brought tears to my eyes. WOW!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to see your photo, Rose! I was thinking the other day that I did not know what you looked like. When I worked as a secretary, I would often wonder what the folks I was talking to looked like! This is a great photo of you and your catch. What a gorgeous place to fish and the restaurant sounds like one we would like. That is a touching story. A LONG time ago, I dated a guy whose great Aunt had been a Sunday School teacher all her life. Each Christmas, a hundred or more former students would visit with her at her big, old home. She had two big boxes in the hallway - one with male gifts and one with female gifts and everyone got to choose a gift as they left. (all the gifts were different so it was really fun to choose!)
ReplyDelete