On Living a Mennonite Girls Can Cook Dream

We got home Friday about midnight

 and Saturday four grandkids moved in, 

making for a quick switch in gears and reality check. 

Could this maybe be the most interesting season of life?

An entrance piled with kids shoes, boots and school backpacks . . .

a guitar, bags of clothes, a diaper bag . . .

quickly replaced the travel suitcase I unpacked

and I had no time to wonder what to do next.

Yesterday their parents were happy to pick them up again

and I'm checking in on the photos from last week.

I don't think I've ever really said how this whole thing came about,

but to make a long story short, when we signed the contract for the first cookbook,

we gave our publisher the right to negotiate any future drama or movie.

Well, that was easy. As if . . .

Then, last year sometime, we were given a heads up that something was in the works with 

a company called Blue Gate Theater. 

We laughed . . . and the contract was signed between our publisher and the theater.

A scriptwriter was sent out to meet with us and the rest is history.

We were invited to participate in numerous ways for what they called their opening week

(even though the play had already opened the week before.)

In Shipshewana we were hosted at the Bluegate Theater Inn . . .

a beautiful place with a back yard as you see on these photos.

It was Sunday, our first day together as 10 'girls' and 8 of our husbands.

In this Mennonite community most businesses and restaurants  are closed on Sundays

(just how it used to be for most of us) 

so we rounded up some food to serve us as Faspa.

It was great!

The following day we checked out the theater, to meet with the marketing director and kitchen coordinator who set us up for a cooking class in the theater.

We were kind of blown away when we got there!

Even though it had taken a lot of thought and organizing before we left . . .

and we were nervous . . . it ended up being a lot of fun.

It felt so surreal to have other people set everything up for us and have all the ingredients on hand.

About 75 people bought tickets for this event and all the proceeds went to our charity.

(photo from Lovella)

This photo of the screen . . . I stole it from Ellen's stash.

After the show, guests were invited to sample the food

which the kitchen had prepared on our behalf.

Of course we could not get over this huge poster and had to take a photo.

Dinner before the show was also one that guests bought tickets for and

it was a delicious home style dinner served at long tables

where we had the chance to sit, interspersed with our guests.

Finally we got to the show!

Of course, we could not take photos, so we got this one after the show.

The drama is a comedy in which three actors play the part of 11 or 12  people.

It was inspired by our name and our brand of Mennonite,

depicting two Mennonite girls, hosting a small town cable TV show

who have the opportunity to make it big in a strange way.

 However, they make the wise choice to forgo the Hollywood invitation

in order to keep their friendships.

The actors did such a great job of switching characters,

that you could almost forget there were only three.

Oh . . . and how could I forget . . .

after the show there was an ice cream party with the actors!

It was a full and memorable day.

On Tuesday we had our first of six or seven book signings

and we drove on to Sugarcreek, Ohio . . .

arriving when it was dark.

The welcome at each of the places was warm and wonderful!

 D

This is the brochure I happened to see in the front entrance of the B&B we stayed for one night.

So surreal! (did I already say that?)

Our evening was all planned for us once again,

with a dinner, theater and  . . . book signing, I think  . . . I'm losing track.

At the dinner, Lovella was given about half hour to tell "our story"

to a friendly and receptive audience.
The next two nights they put us up at the Sugarcreek Inn -
one of the nicest places we've stayed at.

These are the actors at this venue, right in the hotel.

One of the most rewarding things is when we meet a 'stranger' who is not a stranger at all.

This friend, Marilyn, came to see us because she 'knew' us from blogging.

I wish I'd taken her contact information to make the connection not so one sided.
On our last full day, we had a few book signings at local bookstores.
Browsing through grocery stores or bakeries
with beautiful cheeses, fresh farm produce and baking
 made me wish I could always shop in such places.

And that is about all for now. 

Our hearts are full! Who has an opportunity like this?

The bags were gifted to us by Herald Press,

to whom we owe the beginnings of this adventure,

made real by Blue Gate Theater.

Good Bye Shipshewana and Sugarcreek

These past five days in the heart of Mennonite and Amish country have been wonderful beyond what I can describe here late at night as we are packed to go home first thing in the morning.

I do plan to post all about coming here to see the drama Mennonite Girls Can Cook, about cooking class and book signings and all that but for now I just want to let you in on what a beautiful place this is!

 

How many times we commented on the well kept yards 

colorful fall displays

hard work ethic

and simple way of life!

It was inspiring!

All ten of us together is something we never take for granted and will continue to cherish as we head in different directions once more.

The Book Launch

As it's been a week since our book launch . . . and life has not stopped . . . I want to quickly highlight the wonderfull evening the Lord gave us on a Wednesday night on a summer day!

The Mennonite Heritage Museum has recently relocated into their own beautiful building. It is a nice place to visit and check out our history in a modern day exhibit hall with large maps, pictures and video clips that tell the Menonite story. You can also check out the seasonal exhibits, trace your family genealogy on computer, read inspiring biographies or check out the library and archive that is always being added to. There is also a small bookstore, which is one of the reasons we were invited to launch our Bread for the Journey. The large entrance hall and adjacent kitchen make for a perfect setting.

None of us really knew what to expect nor had we anticipated the warm greetings, including flower bouquets sent by friends, and guests who kept arriving -  keeping our husbands busy with setting up more chairs and directing traffic in the overflowing parking lot.

We began with a simple Zwieback demonstration. These tiny double decker buns have been a staple celebrative "bread" in Mennonite history and, toasted up, signify the bread of comfort and the travel bread of refugees,

After the demonstration Lovella shared an intro to the book and where the royalties are going.

We also shared some short readings from the book.
To end this little service, Father's Daughter blessed us with their beautiful sister voices, singing a fitting song called "Little is Much when God is in it," and Lovella's brother Gerry Peters prayed a dedication, focusing on the verse from Ephesians 3:20,21

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Short and sweet it was . . . (missing, were Kathy, Betty and Charlotte)
The cashier was busy as was the kitchen with the line up for Zwieback and coffee. We are blessed beyond what we had imagined already.

Thanks to Bev and Ellen for sharing their photos. None of these are my own. 

One of my Favorite Christmas Parties

It was a while back when Ellen started asking us all for a date 

that would work for us to come for dinner in her neck of the woods ...

and after the date was set, there was nothing that could keep us away,

as we all looked forward to this day.

A happy reunion at Ellen's front door on a balmy "almost winter" day!
We missed Betty and Charlotte in Manitoba.

It's always funny how we all want our hubbies to grab the camera

 for that one photo of all of us . . .

and then we do not know which one to look at 

because taking turns just does not seem to happen.

I thought I'd add this photo of our men, who behind the scenes, 

can laugh with us at our blunders and celebrate with us in our joys.

Greg and Ellen's home was decked out to celebrate the season
and the faith and friendship we share! 

It looked amazing!

Cozy . . .

joyful . . .

beautiful!

We gathered in the kitchen for appetizers 

and lots of chatter.

Then sat down to a delicious roast beef dinner.
Each place setting included a little question about a
special childhood tradition or something like that
to share around the table  . . .
and a party favor.

Thank you, Ellen and Greg!

Your hospitality and friendship are wonderful gifts to us all.

MCC Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On Saturday our community was invited to the the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new MCC Center with services that include a Thrift Shop, a Material Resource Center, a Ten Thousand Villages store and a Cafe.

The December rain did not seem to dampen the spirit of this long anticipated ceremony too much
 . . . as musicians tuned their instruments, dignitaries gave speeches

and guests huddled under tents.

After the dedication prayer and doxology, many people dispersed throughout the building 

to eat and to check out the new space.

As cookbooks authors, of which all royalties go to MCC projects, 

we were invited to sign books at the new Ten Thousand Villages.

TTV stores works as a non-profit arm of MCC in developing countries  

by promoting self reliance and dignity to workers in bringing their products to our markets. 

TTV is the oldest Fair Trade organization in North America. 

At this time of year it is beautifully set up for Christmas. 

Nativity scenes from around the world speak a beautiful global language.

as do artisan crafted accessories, jewelry, home decor and many other gift items.

It's always an honor to be part of something bigger than us 

and to realize that every person can give in some way.

Since its beginning in 1920, when the Mennonites needed help in the Ukraine,

MCC has sought to follow Christ's call to reach out to those 

who are hungry, ill, in prison or needing a country to call home.

Today MCC works in over 60 countries

providing basic human needs through the profits of thrift stores, free will donations

and the work of many volunteers.