The Painted Canyon

A forty-five minute drive from where we are staying took us out of the city, into a rural area,

past citrus groves, vineyards and date farms.

Never having taken note of date farming procedures,

we were intrigued with these palms loaded with muslin covered bunches of dates . . .

obviously covered for protection, but also a neat way to catch them.

Once we got past the beautifully irrigated farms and orchards,

we met up with the reality of the Mecca Hills wilderness,

driving along a sandy road for several kilometers

until we came upon these amazing sights of colored hills!

We drove as far as we could and began our walk into these huge rock outcroppings.
It is interesting to find out that these were formed by the convergence of the
North American and Pacific Plates, along the San Andreas Fault Line.

The sandy path kept getting narrower

. . .  climbing ladders

led us to yet more narrow paths.

This is one of the holes we climbed out of to explore 

the next layer up. It was fascinating!

Sometimes we  could barely see the sky.

After a half hour or so we came to a plateau of sorts



with pretty colored plant growth along the path,

 interesting rock layers

and natural fort like views!

We were not sure if there was much ahead yet so we

 headed back . . . reluctantly . . . this time climbing into the holes we had come out of.

I loved the playground feel of this place

which  reminded me of mazes that Disneyland might try to copy.

When we stopped for lunch at the bottom we met up with other hikers, just coming down, and
found out about the view we missed going to the very top plateau.

 I guess we'll just have to come back again sometime!

The Miles We've Walked

This time of year, whether walking the path strewn with colorful leaves at home 

or enjoying a bit of time in the desert

is always a reminder of where we've come from

and where we are going.

It's a vivid reminder of how young we once were

and how we never would have imagined us at this stage

where we actually almost fit in with the old retired people 

we've observed here for 40 years.

This morning as we walked, I wondered how many miles we have actually logged together.

He has always been a runner, from before we got married.

I tried to join him at first, 

but the pain in my lungs and side ... ugh!!!

And then I discovered walking!

So, now he runs . . . 

and then he still walks with me.

I love this guy!

Thanksgiving

 I'll begin this Thanksgiving post with this framed art, new in my kitchen
and a sweet memory of our recent trip to Ohio.
I love the the apron, the pie and the verse
inviting us to taste the goodness of God.
Isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?

As I tried to figure out why getting my table set up seemed like a big deal this year
I realized that it was more than just family growth.
Last year we were all together in Hawaii
and the year before that only one family (out of three) was living in town.
So, with the big deal, came a new revelation -
that we could push over the family room furniture, put two tables end to end
and spread our tables right into the family room.
This made for a large and roomy feel,
and I was a happy table setter!

I pulled out decorations I had on hand from previous years

and added these fun name tag wrappers to the napkins.

(Judy shared this idea from this link - and I know it

quickly became every one's go to in our group)

I used grocery bag paper for printing them off.

And here we are with our Abbotsford clans.

Mom and Abe also joined us on this day.

And one more from the kitchen counter view!

Turkey

stuffing and jellied cranberries

mashed potatoes

yams with toasted marshmallows

roasted green beans

Greek salad

French bread

apple and rhubarb pies

We tasted and we enjoyed,

 blessed beyond measure!

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.