The Blog

All Things Amish–Blue Gate Restaurant in Shipshewana Blue Gate Restaurant is a special place in Shipshewana, and it’s special for several reasons. It’s a memorable place to stop and eat–and yes, I’m talking Amish food. It also is home to a remarkable theater which this year is hosting talent ranging from Amy Grant to plays such as Beverly Lewis’ The... read more

All Things Amish–Menno-Hof in Shipshewana When you visit Shipshewana, one of the first things you notice is the big red barn on South Van Buren as you’re driving through town. The Menno-Hof was actually built in a traditional barn-raising with the help of local the local Amish and Mennonite communities. I was in Shipshe the last 2 summers to research my books, Falling... read more

All Things Amish–Shipshewana On Saturdays, I’m sharing some of my favorite spots in Shipshewana, Indiana … the setting for Falling to Pieces and my upcoming release, A Perfect Square. We don’t think of an Amish community as being the home of Native American Indians, but Shipshewana was the name of the Chief of the Potawatami Indians who had settled in the... read more

All Things Amish–Lolly’s Fabrics and Quilts For the next few Saturdays, I want to share with you some of my favorite spots in Shipshewana, Indiana … the setting for Falling to Pieces and my upcoming release, A Perfect Square. When I decided to use a real town for my fictional series, I kept some things the same, and I changed... read more

Wednesday’s Special:  Usually I post a fiction spotlight on Wednesdays. SINCE it’s the day before Thanksgiving, I thought I’d share a German table grace (translated).   The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord. And Thou givest them their meal in due season. Thou openest Thy hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. O Lord, we thank Thee for Your... read more

Wednesday’s Spotlight: Amish Country Holiday Book Tour This week, I’m writing my blog from the road. Okay,  not exactly. Unfortunately I’m not that adept on an iPad yet. : ) So I wrote early and had this waiting behind the curtain for you. I’m travelling with my good friends  and co-authors, Amy Clipston and Shelley Shephard Gray. If things have... read more

Wednesday’s Spotlight: Falling to Pieces The suitcase is out and clothes are EVERY WHERE. I’m a Texas girl. I don’t really know how to pack for up north. Which is crazy. I lived for 3 years in Connecticut–but I was shorter then, and MUCH younger (think 3rd grade). My fiction spotlight this week is my own book, because the first stop... read more

Myth Busters Today marks the conclusion to our Amish Myth Busters series. In 10 weeks we’ve covered — Myth Buster 10-What is with every Amish area having a different style and color buggy. (10-22-11) Myth Buster 9- Why garden quilting and where did it come from (10-15-11) Myth Buster 8-Weddings (10-08-11) Myth Buster 7–Bikes and scooters. (10-01-11) Myth Buster 6–Boy’s... read more

Myth Buster #10: Amish Buggies What is with every Amish area having a different style and color buggy? This first picture of a buggy is one I took in Shipshewana, the setting of Falling to Pieces. Note the white outline around the back and the placement of the triangle. Note that the back is solid construction though there is a... read more

Myth Buster #9: Quilt Gardens Why garden quilting and where did it come from? If you’ve been to Shipshewana or through the Northern Indiana communities of Bristol, Elkhart, Goshen or Middlebury … you might have spied the lovely quilt gardens. They are a sight to behold. Designs are chosen from Amish quilting patterns, and then the bulbs are planted. Here’s... read more