On spring break we tried the smoked fish dip at every restaurant. I thought it was a southern thing. However, The Shoreline Brewery in Michigan City has an excellent version.

I had the Stellar Blue beer 🍺 which is a light German 🇩🇪 brewed beer with a hint of blueberry 🫐 . Then, Heidi and I shared the grilled walleye with wild rice and Brussels sprouts.

Sophie had the margarita pizza.🍕

Royale With Cheese in Michigan City is a cool spot with a great 🍔 burger and tasty sides. You know it is worthy when you see several construction workers and guys in neon green traffic vests lining up to dine there.

I had the bacon 🥓 cheeseburger 🍔 🧀 with grilled 🧅 onion. Sweet potato 🍠 fries on the side. The burger was excellent! Also, that is a Jones Soda 🥤 Root Beer in the background. (I also tried the orange cream and ginger ale, all good.)

Sophie had fried green beans with Thousand Island for dipping. Top of the line. (Not pictured)

The ultimate Mom and Pop shop. Actually, two old guys are running this tiny little business in a gravel parking lot in Michigan City.

Referring to the signs, they are also not Amish.

My blueberry 🫐 pie a la mode was spot on. Heidi had pumpkin 🎃 with salted caramel and it was also on point. (They were out of apple 🍎 pie 🥧)

The good news is that Heidi and I hiked the Three Dunes Challenge at Indiana Dunes State Park. So we at least had burned 🔥 some calories before hand.

We hiked Mount Jackson, Mount Holden, and Mount Jackson, down along the beach of Lake Michigan and back. Note*** Hiking 🥾 sand dunes is tough work!

Wowzer! This place was incredible. The girls (Heidi, Sophie and Andi 😊) chose this one.

After a day of driving and a hike at 🥔 Potato Creek State Park we were ready for dinner.

But wait! We ordered dessert.

So creamy ☕️ with a coffee taste. Even the strawberry and cookie were da💣bomb.

Heidi says those were the sweetest blueberries 🫐 she has ever had. Another homerun.

We are in Michigan City for two more days and going to Indiana Dunes State and National parks.🏞️ Tavern On Twelve will be tough to beat or not go back to.

Ooh Baby!!! This is some home cookin’ right here! It has a Sellersburg address on Highway 60 but is also very close to New Albany.

We met my cousin Vivian Whitehead and he husband Kevin to deliver some smoked 💨 pork 🐽 for an upcoming baby shower for their son Michael and his wife Lydia. It was an excellent place to meet and have dinner.🥘

I had the country fried steak that was breaded in their kitchen, mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots 🥕 and chicken and dumplings. 🥟 But wait, let’s not forget the wonderful yeast roll.

How about Heidi’s fried chicken!?! She added the fried apples 🍎 that she said were very good!😊

Kevin mentioned that the waitress was “very proud” of the menu and we concur that a return trip is necessary to experience it further.

Highly recommended!!!

We don’t have a name yet, but Heidi’s friend Lindsey from her work gave her a serving the other day and Heidi made it for s tonight. It was outstanding!!!

Blackened chick seasoning on 🐓 chicken tenderloins in the air fryer, pasta, black 🫘 beans, spring mix 🥬 greens and sweet 🌽 corn.

Pile that up in a bowl, then it gets interesting. Mix some sour cream with 🌮 Taco 🔔 Bell sauce and put a dollop on top. After that, drizzle with Mike’s 🥵 Hot 🍯 Honey.

It is a fresh and light dish with great flavor. Next time I will cook the chicken on the grill to trump it up a bit more.

As we strive for better health, tonight we are walking at Starve Hollow for my third day in a row of exercise. Just trying to eat better and exercise more.

We don’t have a name yet, but Heidi’s friend Lindsay from her work gave her a serving the other day and Heidi made it for s tonight. It was outstanding!!!

Blackened chick seasoning on 🐓 chicken tenderloins in the air fryer, pasta, black 🫘 beans, spring mix 🥬 greens and sweet 🌽 corn.

Pile that up in a bowl, then it gets interesting. Mix some sour cream with 🌮 Taco 🔔 Bell sauce and put a dollop on top. After that, drizzle with Mike’s 🥵 Hot 🍯 Honey.

It is a fresh and light dish with great flavor. Next time I will cook the chicken on the grill to trump it up a bit more.

As we strive for better health, tonight we are walking at Starve Hollow for my third day in a row of exercise. Just trying to eat better and exercise more.

Striving for “Husband of the Year“ honors, Andrew Scarlett came up big Friday night for his wife, Sophie’s birthday 🎂. He ordered snow crab legs for his Cajun boil. Along with the andouille sausage, corn on the cob, potatoes and shrimp, he followed the directions to a T just to make her happy. 😊

Tumbleweed in Salem is located just off of Highway 56. Heidi and I like the Wal-Mart there and decided to try Tumbleweed. It was a success!

Heidi had the White chicken Chili in a tortilla bowl with jalapeño cornbread.

Good service and good atmosphere. The short answer is that we will be back!

Forget the ribs that were smoked for 5 hours. This meal highlight is all about the blackberries.

The girls both had blackberries from Mike and Ronnie Jo Scarlett’s blackberry bushes. Heidi made her usual delicious cobbler while Sophie, still in her rookie season was coached up by Ronnie Jo and made her crust from scratch. Whoa!!! 💥

Both were still warm and became soupy after adding the ice cream. (Just the way I like it. Outstanding!!!)

We also had potatoes 🥔 gifted to us from Heidi’s uncle Barry Melloncamp. Today for lunch I also had 🍑 peaches and 🍐 pears from Barry and Linda’s orchard. As well, we harvested several green peppers 🫑 from our garden that I can only hope become “Stuffed” this week.

The fresh factor of this wonderful local fair is just crazy. As a city boy growing up, I never experienced the incredible garden raised food like this. And to think it all started on August 4, 2007 when I hit the lottery. That would be the “I get to be married to Heidi lottery.”