Review of Cooking & Such

I did a review of this brand new magazine:

Cooking & Such

adventures in Plain Living.

In my opinion this magazine is a collector's item. It has 52 pages and is loaded with beautiful pictures of food and recipes to go with the pictures. Or maybe the recipes came first and the pictures followed. But the magazine is more than just recipes and food, for the subtitle says "adventures in Plain Living". So there are other stories and articles scattered within it's covers. This is a coffee table magazine, one where you read bits and pieces and lay the magazine down and come back later for more browsing and reading. But if you are a cook you will also take this magazine with you into the kitchen and try out the recipes and enjoy the food. This is a magazine for everyone in the family.

Sunday Afternoon in Pinecraft

Wayne and Fran Miller from Miller's Trailer Park are out on a Sunday afternoon ride in their 1902 Oldsmobile. It took Wayne two years to make this car. It runs on a lawn mower motor.

I stepped outside of my house with the intentions of going on a bike ride just as they turned onto Schrock Street and so we visited for a while.

They Kylie decided she wants to try on my hat.

Next Kylie decided Leila should wear the hat. I am not the grandma of these two girls, but a great-aunt. They are going to be posted on my blog every now and then, especially now that they live neighbors to me.

Later I biked down to the park and like usual on a Sunday afternoon there were people down by the creek fishing. One fisherman got tired and so he came up to the car and all I see is his feet. One foot is sticking out of the window, propped on a pillow and the other foot is resting on his shoe. I am assuming this man is very comfortable.

People Boarding or Hanging Around the Bus

Waiting for the bus to arrive back behind the Tourist Church to load up and head back north. The couple here is Wally Coblentz, or Byler or Wally something...

Ervin Raber is helping Donny Wagler load the luggage compartment.  

This is real double vision, two blues and two reds. About the only thing different about the two in red is their names. They can't both have the same name.

I think I can name all of these people: Levi, Crist, Anna Short has her back turned, Esta &Wayne Mast, David & Betty Schlabach. In the golf cart are Earl Sommers and Nelson Hostetler.

Today was a cold day and so I only made one trip outside.  

Actions According to the Phase of the Moon

I don't know if it is the phase of the moon or what, but it seems everybody was a bit tipsy today. Here is the evidence. Anna Yoder is having a laughing fit, while Bill sticks out his tongue and rolls his eyes. I greatly appreciate what all Bill does for Anna. Every morning he sees if Anna is okay and whenever she needs help carrying her laundry to the washroom he is right there. Then he gives her rides just so she can get out and be with the people. Junior Miller gives her rides too. I guess this is Pinecraft, we do look out for each other. 

Joe Fisher formerly from Geauga and Al Miller from Geauga share their own jokes.

The Pioneer Trails bus came loaded to the brim. And everybody was glad to see everybody else. Bet they were a bit tipsy from riding the bus at least 21 hours. 

Reuben Fisher, who crawls under loaded fruit trees. 

And last but not least is Atlee& Viola Miller. I think Atlee told Viola to behave herself because the first picture I took of them she was acting up. Tipsy.

SOS - Save Our Seabirds

Every Tuesday morning from 10AM-12 noon Carl and Gertie Mc Clure volunteer at the local bird sanctuary. Their job is to greet the people at the entrance and tell them a bit about the place. This is Carl talking and welcoming them in.

In the meantime since they were not having a busy day Gertie not only gave me a tour, she also walked with me all through the huge public park near-by.

This is the backside of the building where the bird hospital is and the  injured birds are brought in. They operate on the birds and keep them until they are ready to be released into the wilds again. If they never are able to be on their own again, they keep and protect them indefinitely.  

This is a plaque to the founder of this bird hospital. click on photo to read the inscription.

Most of these birds got caught in fishing hooks and lines, or even by throwing them fish to eat.

Male and female Muted Swans

A view of the bay from the park.

And almost tame wildlife at the park

Boardwalks and wild flowers

I shot this picture through the wire link fence. This is the first time I went with Carl and Gertie, but I don't think it will be the last time. I got around on my battery scooter while Gertie did a brisk walk. Their website is: www.saveourseabirds.org

A Baby's Bike Cart

This afternoon after making my run to the bank and Yoder's Fresh Produce, I met up with Treva Hershberger and son. I immediately noticed the bike cart for it had a different look. Junior, Treva's husband came up with this covering to protect their son from the heat, the cold and the rain.  

The covering is not finished as he still wants to put netting in the front and back and cut little windows in the sides. I'd say he is a blessed baby.

Amish in the City, Ten Years Later

Ten years ago this Mother with twin boys, age 2 years old lives in Sarasota Florida. Tonight she was at the Pinecraft Park to let her boys run off their extra energy. Under the pavilion she was met by this group of women, Ada Petersheim, Leanna Miller, Katie Beiler, Esther Burkholder and myself. Ada asked her if her Mother is so and so? And yes, Ada was right. So I had the next question, I asked her if she was in the group of Amish that did "Amish in the City"? She said,  "Yes, ten years ago." That was the end of that conversation.

But then when I said, "I have another question" these women snickered a bit behind my back but I didn't care. I asked her, "How does Bishop Raymond Hershberger look after his beard got cut off?" I asked because she was born and raised in that neighborhood and was up there with her Mother the night the beard cutting happened in Holmes County. She causally said, "He looks like a Mennonite man" and gave a look that only I knew what it mend. He was always so strict about every man having his hair on their head just the right length and never have their beards trimmed.

Miriam's twin sons examining the slide.

Misc Pictures from a Rainy Day

It rained a slow drizzle almost all day. But tonight soon after 5 PM it more or less quit except for a drop from the sky now and then. I had to get out of the house for exercise and so I did.

There is some sort of a vine growing under my steps. I let it in peace because I think it looks fine.

Water drops on these berries. I don't know what they are called but years ago my Brother Eli took some of these berries and smeared them all over his face and arms. He claimed to his little sisters that he is a Red Boar and he looked like one too.

This plant ought to know that it gets it's nourishment from the roots and not from the head.

I have often admired this Orange tree that looks more like a bush than a tree, and tonight I saw the reason - the main tree had been cut down and there are about six-seven shoots growing out of the stump and producing oranges.

Wilma Whetstone

Whenever Wilma Whetstone comes around things start to happen. I am sure she has her down days although I have never seen any of them. In the recent years they have lost a son in an accident and a granddaughter in a drowning and yet both John Henry and Wilma rise above their sorrows. Here she is having a good laugh with Esther Burkholder. 

And her she is wanting to see something in Leanna Miller's bag. I don't thinks she is snooping, Leanna obviously wants to show her something. John Henry is sitting on the right.

Body Language

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago when the Pioneer Trails was returning north. I don't know what the connection is between the girl getting on the bus and this little guy but his way of dealing with whatever, was to put his pant leg up and hold it there. It is just body language.

The Bus Left

The Pioneer Trails bus left today with maybe half a load or less. Yesterday it came in with almost a full load.

Donny Wagler and Laverne Slaubagh are the drivers.

The two ladies on the left came down two weeks ago. Edna Mast for her nephew's wedding and the Helmuth woman just came along down with Edna. The two on the right are locals; Katie Weirich and Marie Beachy. The time comes when most old people need support of a cane to walk.

Bill Detweiler is local, Al Miller is from Geauga, and Perry from Indiana.