AMISH COOK
BY LOVINA EICHER
This is Friday, July 8 and we have started our long journey home to Michigan after spending almost a week in Florida. Here is a recap of our trip:
We left home June 30th around 3:30 p.m. with my editor, Kevin Williams, driving a 15 passenger van.
On the way south, we stopped in Berne, Indiana to attend the viewing of Joe’s cousin Susan, age 41. How heart-breaking to see her husband and 12 children grieving the loss of a dear mother and wife. Our heart aches for the grief they must be experiencing. May God be their comfort through this sorrowful time and always. We saw a lot of relatives at the viewing.
We then headed for Middletown, Ohio where we spent the night at Kevin’s parents, Jim and Rita’s house. They were so kind to open their home to us and give us a place to spend the night. The next morning we headed out, bound for Florida. Kevin again drove the van and his wife Rachel joined us all as well. We drove all day and finally settled down to spend the night in Macon, Georgia. The next day we reached our destination at Siesta Key in Florida. Lots of driving!
Our highlight of the trip was seeing the Gulf of Mexico. One can only imagine how the ocean looks but seeing is believing. What a scenic creation God has made. We enjoyed a lot of time at the beach. The children spent as much time as they could in the water. It was the first time any of us had seen or been to the ocean. We were going to Florida to do several book-signings in celebration of the column’s 20th anniversary this year. My husband Joe and I were happy to meet so many of our wonderful readers in Florida!
Kevin also took us to Myakka River State Park where we walked the “canopy walk” a swinging walkway that goes through the tree-tops and climbed the 76 foot tower which overlooked the surrounding swamps. We also took an airboat ride and got to see the alligators. Joe ordered the “gator stew” for lunch which he said was good but I passed on that.
Another highlight was taking a boat tour out on the ocean and getting to see dolphins. We even got to see one jump up all the way out of the water.
On July 4 we saw a fireworks display from the beach.
Loretta had her 11th birthday on July 1 while we were traveling. Kevin and Rachel presented her with a hamburger-shaped cake which said “Happy Birthday Loretta” one evening while we were in Florida.
We also got to tour the Pinecraft Amish church house in Sarasota. A few of the children asked where they put all their horses and buggies in town. (Editor’s Note: Pinecraft can’t be found on most maps, it is actually a subdivision of Sarasota, Florida. The small enclave is a winter haven for “Amish snowbirds” escaping the cold, but Pinecraft has a year-round plain presence. Visitamishcookonline.com this week for photos and information about Pinecraft)
While we were gone Jacob, Emma and family took over doing our chores around the house. We sure do appreciate that they are taking the time to do that for us. Daughter Susan drove our miniature pony, Tiger, over to their place the day before we left home. She is eager to get back home and continue her training with him.
Soon after we entered Florida, son Kevin, 5, saw a small pond. He yelled out “I see the ocean!” It gave us all a laugh. Reading, writing, playing games, singing all took place on this long journey. We also kept track of how many license plates we saw from different states. Our total count of different license plates was 40. On Friday evening we started back and got as far as Chattanooga, Tennessee. Saturday morning we started for home and had the bad luck of getting delayed by an overturned semi-trailer on I-75. There was a detour route which also had an accident so we took a scenic mountain road detouring all around this, which added another 4 hours onto our travels.
It is now 8:35 p.m. and we hope to be home in Michigan by 11 or 11:30 p.m. This has been a long journey from Michigan to Florida and back but we had an enjoyable trip. Kevin did a great job of doing all the tiresome driving.
Citrus trees grow in an abundance in the yards of Pinecraft: grapefruits,limes and oranges. Try this recipe that many enjoy for “grapefruit pie”
GRAPEFRUIT PIE
3//4 cup sugar, adjust to you r taste
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 3 /4 cup water
Pinch of salt
1 3-ounce box strawberry gelatin
3 or 4 medium sized grapefruits
In a medium saucepan, cook sugars, cornstarch, water, and salt over medium heat until clear.
Add gelatin and stir until the mixture slightly thickens.
Peel and cut away all tissue from the grapefruits and then drain in a strainer and cut into small pieces.
Do not use the juice in this recipe.
Add grapefruit into the gelatin mixture.
Stir well and then pour into a baked 9 -inch pie shell and place until refrigerator until set.
Top with whipped cream. Published with permission from Oasis Newsfeatures. Richard from Amish Stories.
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Dont miss Martha’s post on Friday folks! |
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If anyone every gets down to Sarasota Florida you should pay a visit to Pinecraft. Its not very big but they do have a few really good Amish Style restaurants there, with Yoders being the favorite for most people. I did a post on Yoders at one time, and like the town the restaurant is also on the small side.Richard
Hi, Richard! I found your blog a few weeks ago and I'm enjoying it very much. I live near a very small Amish community in Virginia. We visited there (Pearisburg, VA) over the weekend and went to an Amish run store where they sell basic grocery staples and homemade ice cream. They also had a small lunch selection. There were several Amish roadside vegetable and baked good stands along the way. It was a very nice day.I have always been fascinated by the Amish lifestyle. I don't know that I could give up electricity, but I could definitely give up the stresses of modern day. I could also give up things like cell phones, radios, and tv! Sometimes these things are just a pain and give me a headache! Haha!
Good morning Trish and welcome to the site. Im aware of some Amish being in your state of Virginia, and maybe if you wish you could send some pictures my way and ill post them along with some information on Amish Stories. I would really love to see some of the readers images of their own Amish community's, if they are lucky enough to live near one. And I'm glad your enjoying yourself on here. Richard
Good morning everyone!!Interesting blog as always and I loved the pictures too!!Sorry, have to keep this short today as I am loaded with appointments all day and on the fly. Have an awesome day!!Love, Alice
Good morning all!Another great post! God has truly blessed us with all he has created. Hi Richard,hope all is well and Trish I do agree with you. Just giving up tv has taken alot of stress away. Lissa
I would love to go to Florida (0: I will have to put that on my wish list……. hehe. Lissa
Hey Alice, and it sounds like you will be pretty busy the next week or so. Try not to stress out too much, and do what you can do. I hate packing to move, and ive dont that more times than id like to remember. Richard
Looks like we either have 2 Lissa's or its the same Lissa, im not sure. And welcome again Lissa.I know if i were visiting Florida id put Sarasota on my short list, and the beaches are very clean. A very pretty area of Florida, and i hear they are building a motel in Pinecraft thats connected to troyers restaurant of Ohio. Richard
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Lovina, it is good to hear that you made it home, safe and sound, to our fair state of Michigan. Sometimes it feels like we live on the far end of the world compared to the states of Ohio and Indiana – but it's just a mental thing for me. Having been raised in Ohio, I often feel like Michigan is "way up north"!! 🙂 Have you heard that the Horse Progress Days will be on the Yoder farm over in Clare next year? We are so excited that it's close to home next year! Take care and keep those great stories and recipes coming! Thanks for all that you do. Regards, Michigan Mary
Greetings Mary, and its nice to have you on Amish Stories. Richard
Richard, thanks – I am kind of new to the whole blogging experience, so I have been reading your blog for awhile but am just now figuring out how to post/respond. I hope you have a wonderful and blessed weekend. Let's hope we can all beat the heat that is coming! Michigan Mary.
Im glad you have posting comments all worked out Mary because i enjoy hearing from folks who read this blog. And sadly the heat is on the way as ive just said in Martha's new post. Enjoy your weekend too Mary and ill see you on Amish Stories. Richard