“What do you want to do for our anniversary this year?” my husband asked me over dinner. In the past, instead of exchanging gifts, we’ve gone shopping together and purchased a household item both of us could enjoy. One year a brass lamp, another a refrigerator … not romantic, but practical.
“How about another trip to Lancaster County?” I said, and shrugged. Travelling to Pennsylvania four years in a row on our anniversary was a bit much to ask of a man who is short on time; he owns a small business, thus works long days and many weekends. We live on the West coast and he travels often, making him an unlikely candidate to drop everything and head for Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
But without waiting for my sales pitch, he said, “Okay.”
“Are you sure you’re free?” I envisioned his hectic calendar and treasured clients.
He smiled back, the sweetheart that he is. “Give me the dates and I’ll make the reservations.” He had nothing planned for the weekend of our anniversary (clever man) and could shuffle his client calls. He told me he finds Lancaster County relaxing. Phew!
Reservations made, the timer clicked down until three days prior to departure, when my newly edited Amish manuscript arrived to be “rewritten.” The editor had made suggestions, the first go-round, and there was work-work-work ahead! That would just have to wait, I decided. I was not going to fly all the way to Lancaster County to sit in front of my computer!
My husband and I just got home last night. We had a fabulous time and perfect weather, unlike last year when we barely missed Hurricane Sandy’s wrath—literally by a few hours. And the year before: a slip-and-slide snowstorm that closed the Philly Airport right after our departure.
Did I make the best choice? If you were offered a trip to anywhere would you opt to visit Amish country, where life moves at a slower pace, instead of a hustling bustling, glitzy metropolis? If you went to an Amish community, what would you do first? Where would you head? Out for a scrumptious snack or off on a shopping spree? To Zook’s Fabrics in Intercourse, PA, as we did our first day to pay a call on the owner? While there, I scanned the aisles hoping to run into Karla H, who’s been known to hang out there. In fact, I hear tell she was spotted in Zook’s in my novel Pennsylvania Patchwork. Did you recognize her?
If you have any thoughts, please leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you.
Should you wish to enter to win a free copy of either Pennsylvania Patchwork or Leaving Lancaster, please leave an email address or contact info.
USA and Canada. The winner has one week to respond.
Congratulations to Karen, last week’s winner of a copy of Leaving Lancaster or Pennsylvania Patchwork! I have her email address and will contact her.
Please enter me in the giveaway. angelachesnut246@gmail.com
Thanks for entering the giveaway. Good luck!
I like Lititz and Intercourse and a quaint 50s diner!! Lancaster is one of my favorite places to visit!!!!
jamochajavajo@hotmail.com
Enter me in the contest, please! 🙂
Thank you for visiting my blog and entering the contest, Jolene!
What a sweet husband you have! I can tell from your post that you two just enjoy being together. My husband and I made many trips to Amish country both in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Good memories. It’s peaceful just riding the country roads and stopping here and there to buy Amish goods.
I would love to win one of your books. Thanks for the opportunity.
may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks so much, Kay! Yes, we both love touring those country roads keeping our eyes open for horses and buggies and places to buy Amish goodies. Good luck in the contest.
I hope you had a wonderful anniversary in Lancaster County. Your husband reminds me of mine. He says, he would do anything for me and give me anything I wanted if it was within his reach. I hope to some day visit the Lancaster County area! After all a lot of my Amish fiction friends are from there!
Winning one of your books would be a delight!
Blessings!
Judy B
judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com
Judy, you’re going to make a lot of women jealous! Your husband sounds like a prince. I hope you get a chance to visit Lancaster County! Thanks for leaving a comment and entering the contest!
I wish my husband would agree to that! I think you have a great husband, Kate. We have been to one Amish area together, but now I take the grandkids! They want to go back every chance. Sonja.nishimoto (at) gmail (dot) com
What a delight, Sonja, to take your grandchildren to an Amish area! Thanks for your sweet compliment about my husband; I’ll tell him what you wrote. Good luck in the contest!
Happy Anniversary!!
You and your husband made a great choice as to where to spend your anniversary.
I am hoping that some day you’ll come to Lancaster County and I will be able to meet you!!
Have a wonderful day!!
I hope that I will be in the rinning for one of your autographed books.
Elaine Shorb
tinkerbell2by2@gmail.com
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such an uplifting comment! We couldn’t have had a better time. Good luck in the book giveaway!
I think I would want to visit the quilt shops first. I would like to think that I would be able to act casual, but as tickled pink as I would be if I actually was able to go to Lancaster, I don’t know if I could keep my happiness tamped down lol.
Debbie Rhoades
ReadingMama922@gmail.com
You’d be in good company, Debbie! Many quilt shops and glorious quilts to admire! Thanks for leaving a comment and entering the contest!
The quilt shops in Lancaster county for sure and for certain!
Blessings,
Betsy
queenbetsy2@gmail.com
A good choice, Betsy! Oh, I love those quilts! Thanks for entering the contest!
Happy Anniversary! I would love to win one of your books about the Amish in Lancaster,Pa!! Donna
d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com
Thank you very much, Donna! You are entered in the contest!
You are blessed to have a great husband be able to travel. I can relate to anniversary presents that are household items. I don’t really mind because I would rather fix up my home rather than make a trip. I would love to win your book. fishingjan{at}aol{dot com}
Thanks for leaving a comment, Jan! Sometimes the hot water tank breaks and the roof leaks … but I really wanted to do more research on the Amish and take as many pictures of the area as I could.
I wish I COULD have met you in Zooks!! Would love to shop there in the near future, although , do I need fabric??? Well…. that is a matter of opinion! My hubby would say NO! He keeps threatening to put an addition on the house for my stash!! I was honored to be in your book!! Thank you for thinking of me! I have reviewed your book, so will not enter the contest, will let someone else have that pleasure. By the way, we are going back to Lancaster in late May! Any chance that you will visit again???
Karla, your husband has an excellent idea! My quilting aunt took over their third floor when their kids moved out. I wish I’d taken pictures; a feast for the eyes! I’d love to meet up with you but at this moment no trip planned. I must work around my hubby’s schedule and my writing. (plus our budget) All my best to you!
Hi Kate. Your idea was a good one. I would love to be able to make a trip to Amish country. If I had the money I would visit several I have read about. I am from a slower generation and miss it. I would love to win this book and introduce another person to your books. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Thanks for writing, Maxie, and for entering the book giveaway! Always a pleasure hearing from you.