Do you have a sweet tooth?

In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania the Amish farming communities feed hungry tourists at several sit down family style restaurants. Also, many local markets such as this one in the township named Bird-in-Hand, offer baked specialties such as Shoofly Pie.

I've never tasted this Pennsylvania Dutch pie but do know you have to enjoy extremely sweet desserts to handle this molasses and sugar concoction. The 'wet bottom' version has a gooey molasses base and the entire pie is somewhat like a coffee cake. Anyone out there actually tried a slice? Would love to know what you thought of it.

The Amish farms dot the lush countryside of Lancaster County. We were a tad early in the season to see much growing. Fields had been plowed, and we did see pairs of horses or mules pulling plows, no mechanical tractors used here.

The farms are certainly beautiful. People were few, perhaps as it was a damp, drizzly day.
I was able to get dh to stop at one sprawling antiques mall as we left Lancaster County. I could have spent hours there as it was crammed ~ in a very neat and tidy way ~ with fabulous stuff. I had to be quick, sweeter things were calling both dh and granddaughter!

Passed up the gorgeous Mason's pink transferware above ~ being sold as a large set.
These Spode reproduction plates were lovely but too expensive.

More Mason's below ~ would have loved these pieces, especially that gorgeous teapot, sugar and creamer.

Below are the few items I did bring home ~ just $9.00 for a dozen vintage VICTORIA magazines, none of which I already had. Two old yard sticks at $1.00 each ~ have you seen how they are using them to trim edges of furniture? A beautiful 1923 sepia graduation portrait of a young woman, Hattie Chalford Mason. A German postcard mailed in 1905 to an address on famous St. Charles Street, New Orleans ~ covered with signatures of many people for some reason. A small illustrated card of a sweet child and roses.

Below is what was calling those with a sweet tooth ~ Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, PA. The theme park had not yet opened for the season (thank goodness!) and the roller coasters were silent, however in Chocolate World we rode in a 'cocoa bean' through a simulated chocolate factory which was interesting and fun.

Hershey is a true 'company town' and has quite a history. Changes seem imminent however in the chocolate world, hundreds of employees recently laid off and much of the production going south of the border and maybe even to Switzerland. Changes so drastic that our hotel concierge told us "Mr. Milton Hershey must be turning in his grave".

Jasmin is smiling knowing she has a stash of Reese's Peanut Butter cups ready to enjoy as we took to the road again! Can you believe I managed to exit the huge candy shop in Chocolate World without anything. I admit I hesitated at the Cadbury bars, but as they're nowhere near as good as the real English made Cadbury bars ~ those of you who've visited the UK know what I mean ~ I was not tempted!