Pinecraft Days

These were beautiful Christmas decorations all handmade.

Amish woven rugs from Indiana.

A sample of more items.

Here are a few pictures of "Pinecraft Days" at the Troyer Market Place. Already yesterday they had a good turnout and this morning when I was there, the day had only begun. The next Pinecraft Days is scheduled for March 9-10, 2012. The person to contact if you want a table for the March event is Susan Yoder or Sarah Miller. Susan can be reached at sarasotastitchers@hotmail.

The bottom picture is a young mother with their two children taking a stroll around the displays and purchasing a few items.

Park Pictures #2

I hope I am alive and well after Wilma sees these pictures of herself. I honestly love shooting pictures of her as she is just Wilma, without any pretense.

The game had to stop while she received a phone call and the game resumed again after they finished talking.

I think this is a Holmes County and I sort of used to know his name but not today.

Visiting admist the Shuffleboard games. It is a part opf Pinecraft life.

Orie Yoder and Sam Hostetler meet again. Sam is a year round residence whereas Orie is a Snow Bird. And he and his wife Edith and their daughter Beth flew down on Friday. Beth stayed for a week to get her parents setled in and plans to fly home again tomorrow.

This is the opposite end of the shuffleboard. This side doesn't take the best pictures in the late afternoon because of the sun's position.

Two brothers sitting on the frog.

Various Shots of Today

This morning the Crossroad bus headed back north with six passengers. More came down yesterday morning, but I don't know how many as the bus comes in too early in the day for me to be there unless I set my alarm.

A load of firewood coming out of the park. This is a good way to clean up and also get some benefit from their work, have a hot dog roast.

Daddy and is girls.

People In Pinecraft

Bob Bender is talking, licking an ice cream cone and going home to Indiana on the the bus to celebrate his 70th birthday. Happy Birthday, Bob.

Mary Ellen Mullet facing the sun...

I don't know who this couple is but they were mostly visiting with Ohio people.

Neal Johnny's Atlee. He is my second cousin. Our grandmothers were sisters and they looked so much alike that my brother Jonas went for Atlee's grandma instead of our grandmother. Then Jonas asked her, "Are you grandma or are you not?"

This season Atlee, his wife  Arie and daughter decided to see how Pinecraft is in November instead of March.

Leanna and Atlee

Leanna more or less plays shuffleboard just as careful or careless as the people around her. Here she takes the most careful aim...

because Atlee Miller on her left shoots carefully. And I think she and her partner won this game.

Pinecraft Street Shots

Ervin Helmuth visiting with Milt Yoder. If my understanding is correct Ervin got Milt on a healthy diet of sorts. I am impressed for Milt has lost a lot of pounds a few years ago and has kept it off. And Ervin looks like a very healthy man. Something must be working right.

This is a shot at the park. I love the unassuming ways of each person.

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