Five years ago we moved from the large metropolitan area of Dallas to a small town in central Texas. My husband was ready to retire, I had many years of teaching left, and we decided a small town would suit us fine. We knew things would be different and there would be some adjustments to be made, but I don’t think we envisioned just how much our lives would change.

Most of that has been for the better! You don’t have to live in a small town to slow down, but it certainly helps. There’s not that much to do. You find yourself hopping in the car to go shopping less often—there aren’t that many shops. You can eat out, but there’s basically four or five restaurants. Eating in becomes something you do out of habit, and eating out becomes a treat!

The people in small towns are just like the people in big towns—in my opinion. But in small towns, you’re more likely to get to know one another. That might just be because you keep bumping into each other—on the neighborhood walk, at the grocery store, at church, and at school!

I loved teaching in a small town, but after three years I had so many book contracts I had to make a decision—so I turned in my resignation and began writing full time. Another change! I had no idea God had that in store for me when we moved.

Sometimes my husband reminds me basically we live in a little house in the woods. That’s a good description. There are deer on our patio, wildflowers in our yard, and even a scorpion or two in the house. (Yes, I was stung by one last week and it hurt, but now I have something new to put in my next book.)

It occurs to me we could have made these same changes while still living in Dallas. After all, not everyone can up and move when they want to. Learning to take things slower, greet your neighbors, invite a friend over for a burger—those are things we can do no matter what the size of town we live in.

Here’s to a summer that is slowed way down.

Blessings,
V

Knitters have to plan ahead. When you are expecting a baby, knitters are expecting a few months to whip up a blanket, booties, and a cardigan. When they want to create unique Christmas gifts, knitters have to start by Halloween. Knitters are the ones working on sweaters in the July heat or socks on an August afternoon. The nip of fall will be here soon enough, and they want to be ready.

The school year may be just ending, but I am planning ahead for back-to-school wear. My son, Zach, goes to school in Boston so I like to send him off with new woolies each year. My collegiate neuroscientist likes his knits with a technology twist. Last year I send him off with a Fibonacci scarf. A what? The Fibonacci sequence of numbers makes a pleasing series to use for strips. (The link will give explain the sequence and give you the numbers.) You can repeat a section of the series for a nice stripe pattern. I knit Zach’s scarf without repeats using the sequence in two alternating colors till the scarf was long enough: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144. Yes, it was a very long scarf. And it was a challenge to stay focused for 144 rows of red!

This year I put on my thinking cap to create another new scarf for cold winter mornings. I came up with a technology twist Zach will enjoy. I knit a QR code into his scarf. A what? QR code stands for Quick Response code. It was first designed for the automotive industry in Japan. The codes embedded information about each vehicle in a factory. Its use has spread. You’ve probably seen these codes used for all kinds of things from product identification to directions to website. And now a scarf from Mom. I found a place online to generate the code I wanted to use: Zach’s Scarf for one side and Love Mom for the other. Here’s the link if you want to play around making up codes of your own.

It may seem strange for me to share such a techie design here on a site where we are always thinking of the simple approach to life. After all the Amish do not have smart phones in their hands all day. And none of them will probably care what a QR code is—much less need to create one. But I know every member of the Amish community will understand caring for family and wrapping loved ones in warmth. We arrive at the same end by very different means. But keeping loved ones in our hearts is a trait we can all share.

My QR-key scarf pattern is featured on knitty.com starting this month. I am sharing this pattern with the hope lots of loved ones will get wrapped in something special. I also am running a giveaway on my website so you can win the black and white yarn you’ll need to start your own QR-key scarf. Add some stash yarn, and you are well on your way to wrapping someone you love with warmth.

What is The Promise Box about?

The Promise Box is a story about a young woman who was adopted into an Amish family. Conceived by rape, she always feels as if her life was a mistake. It’s a story of finding love and finding freedom when she realizes God had a plan for her life and His promises are always true.

What key takeaway or message do you expect the reader to understand when they have finished your book?

God’s promises are always true.

Motive or purpose in writing your book:

I love everything Amish, and I try to deal with “messier” and deeper issues within the Amish culture . . . but in a gentle a lovely way through heartwarming characters.

Describe how your personal background was involved in the writing of this book, if applicable.

Related to the theme, my life was unexpected, and my mom got pregnant at a Halloween party. For years I felt like “a mistake,” yet God showed me he had a plan for me. We also adopted a baby girl two years ago, and I know the joy of that experience! Yet I also know she’ll have many questions as she grows. (We are currently in the process of adopting two more kids, too!) Also, for fifteen years I lived in Northwestern Montana—about one hour from where this book took place. Even though I grew up in the mountains of California, there was something wondrous about the Rockies. Not a day passed when I didn’t appreciate the scenic mountains and the beauty of the place. Also, three years ago I met Amish families from the community and they allowed me to interview them and experience their lives. Many moved from typical Amish communities to rural Montana. I hope this book will open a new world to Amish readers.

Seven years ago my husband and I took a dreamy trip to Kona, Hawaii, to celebrate our fifteenth wedding anniversary. I had almost no summer clothing, so I saved and made what seemed like an extravagant trip to Old Navy for some light cotton skirts to wear on the Big Island.

Last night I was getting ready for church, and I opened up the closet to see all of those skirts hanging there. Seven years after the Hawaii trip, these skirts are still my summer wardrobe.

This is hard for me because I love new clothes.

My husband and I just had a romantic breakfast in a little resort town this weekend to celebrate our twenty-second anniversary, and while we waited for a table we had time to meander through some of the elite shops. We walked through one clothing store that had trendy, appealing clothing, and it made me hungry for something new to hang in my closet.

I thought to myself, I could dress like this. I want to wear these kinds of clothes—the expensive, new, latest fashions. But our budget doesn’t leave room for me to outfit myself according to my really great taste in expensive clothing.

More than that, Christ has mandated that I not fill my closet with treasures in the form of rich fabrics and Patagonia labels. (Oh, how I love Patagonia . . . sigh.)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy . . . ” (Matthew 6:19 NIV)

I’m pretty sure clothing comes under the “where moth destroys” category.

I used to devour books by an author named Grace Livingston Hill. In her personal life she frequently knew what it was to be lacking in funds, and this theme is in all of her books. I was fascinated by her heroines who were usually destitute for reasons outside of their control, but they always creatively used whatever old materials they had on hand to fashion something beautiful to wear.

Now I am that woman who has no money to stock a dream wardrobe but who still longs to be beautiful.

So I pulled out my Hawaii skirt and ironed it smooth. I put on a simple, black, hand-me-down top and added a striking necklace. When I got to church a friend said, “You look really pretty.”

Well, that’s all I ever wanted in the first place.

These Hawaii skirts have lasted me seven years and are still in great shape. I imagine they might make it eight or nine or even ten years.

Is there something you’re longing to replace, but maybe you could make it last one more year?

There are so many things about the Amish culture I adore and appreciate. I love their devotion to family and community. I love their big families, their unwavering faith in God, and their simplistic living. How wonderful to eat fresh vegetables or home-canned fruits. Fresh meats and breads. Homemade cheese and butter.

But then there’s glitter powder. Oh, yes. I love glitter powder and lotions. I love to sparkle and stand out a little in a crowd. The whole idea is as far removed from the Amish as possible. They do not believe in standing out or drawing undue attention to oneself. They do not believe in glitter powder.

I do my best to set aside time for God, though it’s never enough. I strive to spend as much time as possible with my family, and I always wish it was more. I eat fresh whenever possible and try to slow down and smell the roses figuratively and literally.

I’m not going to even pretend that my love of all things sparkle is the only thing standing between me and my inner-Amish. Oh, there’s so much more than that. But how wonderful to have the best of the Amish life and the things we love from the English world. Things like family values and, oh, I don’t know . . . glitter powder?

While relaxing on a friend’s back porch over a spicy vegetarian stew and homemade bread, the conversation turned, naturally, to food. Everyone around the table expressed concern over how much junk food kids eat and how little time children spend outdoors. Our host said she watches every afternoon as a group of elementary schoolchildren heads to the corner market to purchase their after-school snack. Each child comes out with a supersized soda and a bag of potato chips. Not a small bag—the family size, for each child, every day.

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine tracking more than 120,000 people for a period of up to two decades identified potato-chip consumption as the number one culprit in weight gain. Two-thirds of American adults are now obese or overweight. Childhood obesity has tripled in the last three decades. If these children were harvesting potatoes after school instead of potato chips, their risk factors for diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease would decrease significantly.

I doubt many of these schoolchildren connect the puffy fried wafers that come out of a cellophane bag with the spuds we buy from the produce section. Even fewer know potatoes grow underground. With no backyard garden, would they recognize potato “eyes”? Have they seen white potato flowers swaying in a summer breeze? Do they know that the visible part needs to die before full maturation takes place—just as parts of us need to die before we can grow in Christ?

These latchkey kids—as well as the average urban or suburban child—have never experienced the miracle of watching one seed potato produce a handful of Yukon Gold. They do not know the joy of unearthing a dozen small “new” potatoes for dinner. They have never experienced the springtime joy of stumbling upon stray potatoes that escaped last fall’s harvest.

Oh, if every church and school had a garden, how different this world might be! Caring for a garden provides something that cannot be purchased at the grocery store: the satisfaction of eating food planted, tended, and harvested with our own hands. A garden cultivates gratitude, reminding us that every ounce of food that passes our lips ultimately comes from God. And as any experienced gardener will attest, a garden keeps us humble—constantly aware that the enemy, entropy, is very much alive.

If you don’t already have a garden, plant a few vegetables this year. It’s easier than you think. By using compost to enrich your soil, watering your plants early in the morning, weeding regularly, and rotating your crops, you can have a healthy organic garden that supplies your family with fresh-from-the-vine vegetables all summer long.

Some first steps: If you have never had a vegetable garden before, start small. Even a ten-by-ten space can grow a lot of produce, especially if you train your vines to grow vertically. Begin with vegetables you know your family likes—if they don’t like beets or radishes, don’t bother, even though they are easy to grow. When you get more experienced, you can try introducing some fun varieties, such as blue potatoes or sun-loving tomatillos, which mature in a paper-like husk. And don’t forget the herbs: They are simple to grow, don’t take up much space, and add color and flavor to almost every meal.

If your family likes fruit as much as mine does, talk to your local nursery or extension service to find out which trees grow well in your area. Fruit trees are a long-term investment, with money-saving productivity for years to come. Add a few blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry bushes if they flourish in your climate. For detailed guides on horticulture, check out the master publication list at ATTRA.

If you do not have access to a yard, start with patio planters or investigate community gardens. Join a CSA (community-supported agriculture) and barter labor for part of your “share.” If gardening is not an option, you can still support local vegetable stands, farmers’ markets, and co-ops. The United States has more than 4,500 farmers’ markets, about eighty per state. Buying local food cuts down on the fuel used to transport your fruits and veggies from other parts of the world.

Finally, you can educate yourself about the benefits of gardening, both physical and spiritual. Watch a documentary like Food, Inc. or Forks Over Knives to learn about the food industry your garden will help you avoid. To learn about the connections between gardening and God, try reading books like Year of Plenty by Craig L. Goodwin or To Garden With God by Christine Sine. Go deeper by attending helpful conferences, like Summoned Toward Wholeness, a conference on food, farming, and the life of faith. Most importantly, be sure to take the time to enjoy the fruits (or vegetables!) of your labor with family and friends. Remember, community started in a garden—as so many good things do.

There are many Amish fiction books on bookshelves, but what about Amish fiction for kids? Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher noticed this need in the publishing industry and wrote the Adventures of Lily Lapp series, loosely based on Mary Ann’s own childhood.

If you’re near Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, today, be sure to stop by the Meyersdale Public Library at 7 EDT, meet Mary Ann, and have her sign copies of the Lily books!

Also, check out this article about Mary Ann in the Daily American!

By SANDRA LEPLEY

MEYERSDALE -— Mary Ann Kinsinger, 32, an author who lives in Greenville Township, will speak and also sign her newly-released children’s book series “Life With Lily” at 7 p.m. Friday at Meyersdale Public Library.

Kinsinger’s children’s books, co-authored with acclaimed Amish author Suzanne Woods Fisher, retell the story of her childhood — growing up as an Amish girl in New York State and then moving to Pocahontas in Somerset County.

According to Amy Hanley, librarian, the library looks forward to hosting this new author whose books are already on the shelves at Walmart and who just happens to live in the Meyersdale area.

Read the rest of the article HERE!

Old things fascinate me. So when my husband and I spent last weekend in Amish country we took some time walking around, perusing antiques and other old things that were for sale. I could spend hours in antique shops—not buying, just looking. Looking, and wondering. Who hand-stitched that lace doily with such skill? Did they wear that necklace at their wedding? Why is that old bottle of Pepsi still full—never opened? All kinds of questions about the stories behind each item. While I don’t usually buy at antiques stores, I do have a few items in my home that are old and full of stories.

One of my favorites is a stuffed bear of my grandma’s. This is an old bear, and there’s none like it in the world. My grandmother’s fur coat that became too worn to wear, so she had it made into stuffed toys. After she passed away, I received one of them—the bear. It’s a plain, brown bear. Nothing extraordinary about it. It’s old, and the head falls forward a little. There are a couple holes in the legs. But I know its story. I can press my face into it and still smell my grandma’s basement. It’s a musty smell, but it brings with it memories of summer vacation at my grandma’s house. Sleeping in the basement. Fascinated by the stand alone wardrobe and the old console radio. Finding crickets in the bed sheets—we always checked for crickets at grandmas. Memories of games, laughter, and family.

In the kitchen I have my mom’s potato masher. It’s a simple, hand held masher, still in perfect condition. They really don’t make things like they used to. I can see my mom working hard, using it to mash potatoes for holiday dinners, or lunch for all the neighboring farmers who helped at harvest time. If anything needed to be mashed, it was there. It may not get the food completely smooth, like a blender, but that’s OK. I always liked my mom’s slightly lumpy, but tasty, mashed potatoes. With bananas it may leave a couple little chunks—chunks that end up in banana bread and say this is homemade with real bananas. Yes, it’s old. But it works and has fond stories and memories attached to it.

When I use it for banana bread, I let the bananas get nice and brown so I can mash them almost completely smooth. And I think of my mom and family as I make it. My kids and husband call this recipe the Best Banana Bread. I’ve changed it up a bit and made it a little healthier. The banana flavor is best when the bread is lukewarm and fresh. This recipe makes one tall loaf so it takes awhile to bake. But it is wonderful for breakfast, snacks, lunch, or dinner. True yumminess. Enjoy! And while you’re baking, take a look at the old things you have in your home and think of the stories and memories they bring to mind. What are your favorites?

Best Banana Bread
Ingredients:
¾ c. granulated sugar
3 Tbsp. canola oil
1 egg
2 Tbsp. honey
¾ c. skim milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 ½ c. mashed banana (about 3 medium bananas)
2 c. all purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat, or white whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ c. walnuts, finely chopped
½ c. chocolate chips (if desired)

Method:
In a bowl stir together sugar, oil, egg, and honey. Add milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas and blend well.

In a separate large bowl, combine all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Chop walnuts till they are fine – unless you like bigger chunks in your bread. I don’t so I chop the walnuts as small as I can get them. They add a nice flavor to the bread. Add walnuts to the dry mix and mix well.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour liquid mixture in the well. Stir gently till moistened, leaving only small lumps in the batter. Fold in chocolate chips.

Prepare bread pan by greasing and flouring bottom and sides. Pour batter into pan and let sit while oven heats up. Preheat oven to 350° F. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean and not sticky. Cool for 5 minutes, and then remove from pan. Enjoy!

One “promising” winner will receive:

• Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
  
• Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc…)
• Sherry Gore’s Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the “The Promise Box” Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun – book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

I am excited to be joining Not Quite Amish as a regular contributor writing about DIY projects, repurposing, and frugal ways to add beauty and meaning to your home. My husband and I have been collaborating on DIY projects for our home over the last couple of years. It all began when my oldest son left for college and I turned his room into my scrapbook getaway. After that I discovered Pinterest and have been a woman obsessed since then! I know for some women Pinterest can leave them feeling “less than good enough,” but for me, it has allowed my creativity and joy in adding my own personality to our home to flourish. (Now my husband may not be as thrilled with the emails I send him of the projects I love, but he’s a loving husband and a great DIYer!)

Today’s tip for getting a trendy look without much money features pallets. If you’ve ever been on any home decor site online, you’ve probably seen projects galore using recycled, found pallets. Some people take the pallets apart and use the good wood to build other things such as shelves, compost bins, planters, desks, chairs, and mailboxes. The ideas are abundant, only limited by your imagination and skill level.

Where can you find these pallets? Once you decide you want to plunge in, you’ll see they are everywhere! On the side of the road. Beside store dumpsters. On Craigslist and Freecyle. If you see some at a big-box home improvement store, always ask before you take in case the store is recycling them. Often, depending on the age of the pallets, they may be partially disintegrated or unusable. Use good judgment in hauling them home but know you can always put them out for the trash if they don’t work out.

My friend Donna at Funky Junk Interiors has the most amazing projects using all types of recycled wood, as well as great advice regarding the safety of the pallet itself. Things to think about when deciding on use in your home include: what the pallet has carried; handling the boards and nails safely; how the wood was treated; and where you will be using it in your home. Even though this is a fun decorating option, you want to make sure, especially with young children in the home, that the wood is safe to use for your project.

In the project I’ve pictured here, I gathered knick knacks and special memorabilia from around my home to personalize the shelves. Among the items I pulled together there are original pictures of my great grandparents, vintage lipstick holders from both my grandmother and mother, the wedding topper from my parents’ cake, and a small scrapbook created for my parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary. This collection is special to me, and I love that my shabby chic style of home decor is thrifty and meaningful!

I even have a clipboard on Hometalk featuring 20 Amazing Uses for old Pallets. When you start thinking about recycling wood the ideas are endless! What DIY project are YOU working on?