Visit with Laura in Wooster, OHIO: 9/30-10/1

Laura in the Pumpkins (yay for fall!)

This past weekend I made an eight-hour road trip to visit one of my best friends, Laura Gibson, in her home town of Wooster, Ohio. (It's pronounced "Wuh-ster," not "Woo-ster.") It's about 1.5 hours from Cleveland and an hour from Columbus, smack-dab in the middle of Amish-Country and dozens of cornfields. It's a beautiful and quaint town, and I really enjoyed my visit with her and her parents!

Here's Laura in front of her family's home. It's about 80-100 years old, and she's lived there since she was born. I can't even imagine what it's like to grow up in the same place and in the same house...how cool!

On Saturday we ventured into downtown Wooster to participate in the town's annual fall event: WOOSTERFEST. There was music (lots of country, of course), food (kettle corn!), and several shopping tents/booths. We had so much fun walking around, checking out the handmade jewelry, pottery, candles, etc.

We did see a couple odd sights. Take a look at this photo, for example.
This woman makes these "plant holders" using children's clothing and shoes. I don't know about you, but I find this somewhat disturbing. Laura and I felt like we were looking at kids cut in half, and it just weirded us out. Would you buy one of these? Feel free to post a comment and let me know what you think.

I also saw the longest mullet I've ever seen. Laura had warned me about the mullets and rat-tails that abound in Wooster, but I wasn't really prepared for something like this.
This guy has a serious party in the back...Looks like he's been partying for about ten years. Even though I tried to be sneaky, I think his son knew I was taking a picture of him. Whoops.

Laura and I asked to get our photo taken with a pony.
I'm trying to lift the pony's head out of her feedbag, but she wouldn't budge.

Laura, Rebecca, and Amy the pony.

Wooster is surrounded by cornfields, so we had to get some shots with the stalks.


Here I am "eating" the corn (I'm so weird).

We were feeling inspired by Daniel's beach photo (see 9-19 post), so Laura and I tried to duplicate the "shameless model pose." You might find us on the 2007 Wooster calendar. :) (Dan, what do you think?)



I don't think I'm meant to model. :)

What a great trip! (Thanks again, Laura!)

By the way, on my drive out of Wooster, I passed six Amish "buggies," two Mennonites on bicycles, and an Amish family walking with their kids holding onto a rope. Yay for the rural Midwest! :)

View more photos from the trip in the "fall 06" album here.