Well, here we are in the new year!!  Not sure where the last went and we are afraid this one will go by too fast as well.  We have had several tours at the John Johnson Home but a lot of down time as well.  Things are traditionally slow at this time of year so we had better take advantage of it now because full times are coming.  We took advantage of  good weather on our P-Day and drove 1 1/2 hours to Dover, Oh.  We headed for Warthers.  All of the missionaries talk about it so we went to see what it was all about.  Well, 2 1/2 hours later we still wanted to look more.  What an amazing story, he was certainly a master carver.  He could make a working pair of pliers from a stick about the size of your pointer finger with just ten cuts with his knife, no shavings or loose pieces, in 10 seconds.  Said he probably gave away over 70,000 of them in his life.  I have included a photo of one of their pamphlets to sort of give you an idea.  While he was carving, she was collecting buttons and what a display that was.  They make knives and wood products.  Truly a fascinating place.  (I'm having trouble with including photos tonight so will try to add them tomorrow.)  Sorry!!!

Button  Collections

Trains carved out of ebony and ivory. Scaled 1/4 inch to a foot.  Each depicting an event in History involving trains.  He only went to 2nd grade but what a mind he had.

After leaving Warthers we drove through Amish country and ate lunch at Der Dutchmans. YUMMY!
We then went on over to Berlin and visiter August Wendells.  He does work in metals and again a truly fascinating place to visit.  By then it was getting late so we headed for home but definitely plan on making a return visit, perhaps more than one.  Was a great day!!!
We keep finding projects to do so really don't feel like we have any down time, just are enjoying being a bit on the lazy side. 
Just a note of interest.... we were visiting last night with our friends the Holtrys that we serve with here in Hiram at the Johnson home and he mentioned that his grandma Jensen from Bear River City married a Hall.  I immediately came up for air.  Turned out his grandma Pearl Jensen married our Grandpa Hall and my dad performed the ceremony.  We are all still shaking our heads, can't believe it.  What a fun connection!!
I will also include a picture of one of the old homes here in Garrettsville that I love.  Notice the fancy work around the eves and the coloring.  Beautiful and there are lots of them.  People have done a lot to preserve some of these old homes.