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.

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.

Where we Live

We live in an area of town where stepping into the nearest grocery store envelops one with the ambiance of an Asian market in a far off place.  On our way, we pass bearded men in turbans visiting on park benches or women walking in bright saris. At the playground swings, children come to stroke our grand baby's white arm or ask if they can hold our baby.

One day this summer there was a knock at our door at dinner time with an offering of a bag of blueberries, picked that day.  She stood there quietly and my H recognized her as the grandmother living with our new neighbors next door. We thanked her and asked her for her name. She just smiled and showed that she'd be on her way. We could tell she did not understand.

Now there was something about her gift that touched me to the core. This "stranger to this country" so brave and kind to head over to her neighbors. Of all the excuses she could have had, not knowing the language surely could have stopped her. But it didn't. In a new way it made me see how practical caring acts need no translation. Kindness can override culture and language.

It was not long after this encounter that we had a message at church on John 4, the story of Jesus making conversation with the a woman of a shunned culture. The pastor challenged us, in like manner, to start conversations with those around us, many of which are of foreign ethnicity. So often, we focus on our differences and fail to see the things we have in common or how we can help each other. He reminded us that the message of God's love is for everyone and that it only takes a few words to be friendly or to begin a conversation.

And should they not understand, the language of kindness is never lost.

Home Tour

Hello . . . come on in! So glad you came!

I don't mind if you want to look around while I make coffee.

 

We built our house almost 30 years ago

and, for sure,  it has seen some changes in these years . . .

the most recent one being the living room

(yes, back then houses were built with living rooms)

which is right off the entrance on the left through a set of French doors.

the dining room flows from it to make one long room.

Following the entrance to the back of the house

you come to the kitchen eating area

with a family room to the right

and a kitchen to the left.

(The original birch cupboards were shop painted nine and a half years ago.

We decided to keep the u shape, but widened the counter

to make bar stool sitting space)

Back to the entance . . .

the stairs lead up to the bedrooms.

The boys room . . . showing its age, 

and the girls room . . . which used to be two rooms and turned into

one at some point with another set of double French doors.

 It's quite large, with a window on either side of the bed

looking out over the back yard.

The master bedroom was repainted a few years ago. It used to

be floor to ceiling floral wallpaper.

Come to think of it - most walls in this house used to be wallpapered,
from country themed to a softer romantic.

Some we stripped, some we painted over top of and some was covered with

paintable wallpaper or beadboard.

And that's the story of a house this age.

It's home.

Were you looking for the bathroom?

Here's one.

Okay . . . coffee's ready!