Last Saturday, a friend and I drove over to Pinecraft, near Sarasota, Florida, for a book signing at Yoder's Gift Shop.

We had such a fun day, trying Amish fried chicken at Yoder's Amish Restaurant next door and then we spent a few hours on the front porch of the gift shop. It was a relaxing time talking to people as I sat at the table signing books for them and my friend sat in a rocking chair nearby and we watched people coming and going. There was a real holiday spirit in the air. I treated myself to an early Christmas present for myself: the little Amish doll with a wool cape I'd been thinking about since I shopped last time at the gift shop ...

My favorite memory is of the people who said they were buying one of the books for a Christmas gift for a family member or friend. It doesn't get any better than that for me as a writer.

Pinecraft is a small community of winter homes where the Amish and Mennonite from the cold Northern climates come to enjoy some sunshine. Even though I'd heard about it for years, the first time I went there to do research for a new Amish series, I was taken aback to turn and suddenly see an Amish person in Florida -- wearing traditional Amish dress and sometimes, on women and teens, flip flops on the feet! And there are no horses and buggies. Instead, everyone gets around on two or three wheeled bikes. It's nice to think that everyone's getting to escape the cold and snow. As much as I occasionally miss the snow of my birth state (Ohio), I know it can be too much at times.

I got to do my first Christmas shopping for others on Wednesday night and came away with lots of books for my youngest grandson who loves them. I have more shopping planned for the next couple of days and want to try to do it in a calm, sane way. I hope that you're not feeling overwhelmed by all you have to do and can enjoy some quiet time focusing on the "reason for the season." I know times are tough for many people but we've all gotten through them by helping each other and by focusing on that reason. 

I enjoyed meeting Jan Minnerly and her husband Rog at the signing.  Thanks to my friend Sandy Jones for taking the photo.

Blessings and love to all of you now and throughout the year!

Barbara