Christmas Vacation Has Come

 Waiting for the Pioneer bus to come in.

 The bus was loaded like 45 passengers. Only nine passengers were Ohioans. 

 Indiana passengers always out number all other people groups. They are factory workers and have a two week vacation. 

 And so this is my favorite time of the year with all the families with children coming down. 

 This is an Ohio passenger.

 Loaded down with luggage. Probably not all her's as she was with family. 

 One of the bus drivers, Donny Wagler. 

Dawn Szantyr, Local Massage Therapist

About a month ago, more or less I did a bit of sewing for Dawn Szantyr. When it came time to settle up, I asked for a massage rather than cash. Beings we both live in Pinecraft we planned to do the massage at 8 PM one evening rather than during the daytime. Doing it in the evening I could go to bed and sleep the night in bliss. Dawn has a firm, yet gentle touch.

Education:

1985 Graduate St Mary's School of Nursing, Waterbury, CT

1994 Graduate USF Tampa Florida, B.A. Environmental Studies

1999 Sarasota School of Massage Therapy

Dawn goal is to give affordable service to the local residents. If you want a good reasonable massage contact Dawn at 828-553-0123.   

Loading the Pioneer Trails Bus

 This afternoon the Pioneer bus loaded passengers and headed up north. 

 Lovina, Ada and Edith

 Schrock from West Union, I can't think of his first name is visiting with Sprayer Reuben from Fountain Nook Ohio.

 John Miller and his wife and Henry Detweiler

I don't think the bus was loaded to capacity, although they had a lot of luggage. After all it is Christmas.  Also a few of the couples had taken the train out west to get on a Cruise Ship and sailed through the Panama Canal and landed in Ft Lauderdale. Today some boarded the bus to go home to Ohio. I have no clue how many miles they traveled in this huge circle by train, by water and by bus.    

Shuffling with Beginners' Luck

 By the time I got to the park this afternoon most had already left to get a bite to eat  and return for the Wednesday evening tournament. Mel Schlabach and Mr Troyer were the only two men so they played both ends of the shuffleboard. 

 Mel's wife Esther is shooting...

And Mr Troyer's wife shoots. (I can't think of her name.)

On the opposite end is Leanna Miller and Mary Hershberger. Yesterday was Leanna's first time at the shuffleboard and she had lots of beginner's luck. Today it was a different story. She did win a game or two, but not like yesterday. 

The Pinecraft Pickers

 During the winter months The Pinecraft Pickers play Blue Grass almost every Saturday evening at Ed Detweiler's place on Gardenia St. This songfest has been going for many years, long before I arrived in Florida. Ed's mother Ada Detweiler had offered her garage to the Pickers. After she passed away Ed decided to continue with that offer. 

 Ed visiting

 Indiana Ladies 

 David Swartzentruber

His brother Lee who also sings isn't here yet. A bit of genealogy, Nix, Freckles and Grandpa were uncles to Lee & Dave. Nix, Freckles and Grandpa were old men when I was young in my teens.

 John Miller

 John's father had his roots in Holmes County Ohio. He was Bill Joe's William from the Mt Hope area. Three of William's brothers were Bill Joe's Sollie, Josie & Monroe. 

 Gary Miller

 I think his father's roots were from Charm Ohio.

  John Henry

 Tonight was the first time I remember seeing him.

 Darrell

David Weaver

Yoder's Pie Day

 One of the Pilgrims that helped make the day a success.

 Workers

 The man on the right is from Tampa. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas he buys 150 pies for people in his area. 

  Forty years ago Yoder's pie order for Thanksgiving totaled fifty. Today 40 years later it is at 7000.  

Repairing the Bridge

 The Bridge needed repairs.

 These three men took the lead.

 And soon more men dug in and the work continued.

 You would think Larry had the easiest job but he had to watch for sign language that was used throughout the day.

Larry had to watch for every man's finger. I am not sure what finger up meant the men did. 

 Most of the working men were from Arthur Illinois except Mel Schlabach is from Kokomo Indiana.

Women watched the process and visited.

We were served a Pizza lunch at Chet and Anna Mary's place. 

 This morning the bridge was opened again and I had the privilege to be the first person to ride over the bridge. 

 Larry Yoder follows. 

Watching and following every movement of repairing the bridge with my camera made me realize how much I appreciate my heritage, my culture. Every culture has its strength and its weakness. We have no say-so of which culture we will be born in. I am speaking for myself, as a child the Amish culture was just a part of my life. Later I felt trapped in it but thankfully I could leave and I did without being cut off from my people. Then this past Saturday while watching the activities of repairing the bridge I realized what a rich heritage I have. I treasure it, for it will always be a part of me. Just a thought, maybe more bridges should be repaired.    

New Wheels

Last winter this bike or whatever it is called made its appearance in Pinecraft. The inventor is a Schlabach from Arthur Illinois. (I don't know which version of Schlabach he uses but this is the Holmes County version.) Anyway this bike from last winter...

gave birth to this mode of transportation for Ivan Miller. It still needs a canopy.  

I love how Pinecraft is the melting pot for The Plain People both Amish and Mennonite. Not only do people freely mingle, it is also the place where thoughts, ideas and inventions are shared. And the end result is this mode of transportation for Ivan during their stay in Pinecraft.  

2016 Calendar Pinecraft Florida

The theme for this coming year's calendar is activities and things we do during the winter months. This is the most frequent question asked at Yoder's Gift Shop and so I decided to use this theme. 

The cover is the Scat bus loading from the Amish church and going straight to Siesta Beach. It runs on the hour, starting at 9 am. At least I think it starts at 9.

January is the annual Pie Contest at the Everence Open House.

February is loading buses to go head up north. Vacation is over and time to get back to work.

March is a Benefit Supper at the Park

April, the Shuffleboard

May, playing basketball

 June, Ice cream at Big Olaf. 

July is volleyball

August, four women enjoying a marble game

September is fishing with a net and taking a long look into the bucket.

October is Bocce Ball .

November is a hymn singing on a Sunday afternoon.

December is watching the Christmas Parade.

These calendars are available at Der Dutchman's and Yoder's Gift Shop in Pinecraft. Yoder's sells them for $15.98 and I am not sure what Der Dutchman's have per calendar. 

I also have them on the back of my bike for $15.00 each. 

I also mail calendars for $17.75 each 

or 2 calendars for $33.00. This price includes postage.

If you can't pick them up in Pinecraft, then send payment by check or mail order to:

Katie Troyer

3422 Schrock St

Sarasota FL 34239.  

Two-By-Two

Looking from the outside into the bus through a dark glass. They came and went two by two, not into the Ark. But some went into the Pioneer bus to go north.

 Two-by-two,

Anne Erb and  German Baptist woman.

 Two-by-two,

Les Detweiler and Menno Bontrager

 Two-by-two,

John Miller and Eugene Miller

 Two-by-two,

Wife and husband

 Two-by-two,

 Two-by-two,

 Two-by-two

Two-by-two,

Husband and wife,

John & Amanda.

The Sugarcreek Budget in Pinecraft

 Starting in November through April the Pioneer Trails Bus brings down The Budget for the people who keep up with the weekly news in the Plain Communities. The Budget has been in circulation well over a hundred years. 

Sam Troyer from Dover Delaware is in charge of The Budget upon arrival. He sets up a table and sets down a plastic gallon jug. Before the bus arrives most of the people come and drop in their $1.00 bill and then once The Budgets hit the table, the people who had dropped in their dollar pick up their paper and move on, making room other people to get their Budget. 

 Sam with the amount of Budgets he ordered. 

Paul Wagler picks up a bundle of Budgets for Yoder's Amish Village. If you miss picking up The Budget here, Sam has the rest at is home on a table in the front porch. And they are available at Yoder's and I think at Der Dutchman's too.