While I eagerly await the release of my next novel, Starting from Scratch, I’ve pondered the title. As several of you mentioned on my last blog post, many things start from scratch other than cooking. Although a good home-made meal is hard to beat.
Homemade pie crusts taste the best! Our son made this from scratch.
Last year, Harvest House Publishers asked me to write an Amish book, but not a sequel to A Letter from Lancaster County. The story could take place in the same general location and perhaps my new characters could cross paths with my old ones. Bottom line is I had to start from scratch.
Every new house needs a strong foundation. What an undertaking.
Fortunately, ideas are always buzzing through my head and the story line seemed to sprout like an unexpected flower in my yard. Know what I mean? A bird or the wind drops a seed and a new flower appears in the spring. The plant takes root but where will the branches grow? When writing a novel, I usually envision the beginning and the ending, but sometimes the characters and their circumstances seem to take on a life of their own. That journey is what is fun for this author.
Checking out the Amish section at Zook’s Fabrics in Intercourse, PA. Love that store!
Can you think of a project or change in your life that started from scratch? Sometimes, a person such as my new character, Eva Lapp, has too many options that come with serious consequences. Other adventurous people might decide to change the trajectory of their lives on a whim, such as finding a new job, taking a class, learning a new skill, moving, or even getting married.
I love this Amish-made table runner or wall hanging made in Lancaster County, PA!
Leave a comment and enter to win this exquisite Amish-made 39” table-runner/wall hanging (has loops on back) plus a signed copy of A Letter from Lancaster County, or one signed copy of a book from The Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy, either CBA bestseller Leaving Lancaster, CBA bestseller Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish. Winner has three days to respond. USA and Canada only.
Have you pre-ordered your copy of Starting from Scratch, to be released April 3rd? Please save the receipt! A fabulous Giveaway waits around the corner to celebrate Starting from Scratch’s birthday you won’t want to miss.
Something I remember making from scratch was done while in school in a special art class. We had raw wool which we washed, carded, dyed the wool in dyes that we made naturally, dried the wool, and then used drop spindles to spin it into yarn. Then we took the wool yarn and wove it on a loom. I have done lots of arts and crafts from scratch including making candles and jewelry, and so forth. Also love to cook from scratch. The table runner is very beautiful!
What a wonderful experience, Dee. It reminds me of my grandmother who did a lot of weaving on her huge loom, but I don’t remember her actually spinning the yarn. it sounds as though you have interests in many areas. Wonderful! Thanks for your lovely comment and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I have quite a few pots on my deck that I plant from scratch every spring. Must admit I am getting very excited planning as soon as frost danger is past!
I love planting my pots too, Martha. I’ve made the mistake of planting too early, so will restrain myself. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Please enter me in your giveaway. Love your books!
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Kathy!
I do many things from SCRATCH because I am a penny pincher! Potting plants, gardening, pruning roses, making pie, ice tea. You name it, I can start from SCRATCH and at least try to do it. And in the end I may just SCRATCH my head and know maybe this project is better if someone else can SCRATCH out more talent than me!
I am a bit of a penny pincher too, Nancy. I pruned our roses the other day and hope I wasn’t too early or late. I’m even willing to mow our yard with a push mower, once the earth dries out. However I do love it when our pruner comes a couple times a year. No more high ladders for me. Thanks for your fun comment and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
My husband and I built the back porch last year! I do some knitting but it has been a while! Most everything is done from scratch at our house! Lol we raise a garden and can, my husband hunts we freeze and can that also! If people would do more things from scratch they would appreciate and enjoy life more! Oh forgot to wish you a Blessed Day!
You sound like an industrious and talented pair. You would not find my husband nor I building a back porch. How terrific that you could accomplish such a wonderful project. And you two have many interests. I agree that making things from scratch brings enjoyment and gratitude. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
Right now my brain is in a fog, the only thing I can think of is for years I wanted a front porch. So with finding a great deal on lumber we started from scratch, we built a front porch. We made mistakes as we went that we learned from… but I now have a front porch. I love all your posts Kate.The table runner is beautiful and I am looking forward to reading your new book.
Thanks so much, Jackie. I would adore a front porch, but alas we don’t have enough property between us and the sidewalk … My dream house has one, plus a lovely view. I’m impressed that you were able to make your porch. You or your husband must be a carpenter. No handyman in this house, other than bulb changing and unclogging sink drains and the such. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
Sewing/quilting projects are always started from scratch, as are most of our meals, whether I make them or my hubby does.
I didn’t realize you were a seamstress or quilter, Nancee. Over the years my husband has also decided he enjoys cooking from scratch. Yay! Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
I am always starting, and sometimes I have to restart if I’m am not pleased with my beginning. This is mostly when I begin a crochet project. Love all things Amish—love the creations.
How lovely that you crochet, Judy. Having to restart a project is always such a pest. Thanks for writing and injuring the giveaway!
Kate
This runner is gorgeous
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Cheryl!
Kate
So many things as far as crafts, I start from scratch. I’ve never had to start my life over like Eva.
That’s good news, Cecilia. I prefer to stick to crafts, gardening, cooking, and writing. Although I’m up for learning new skills. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
This is a beautiful table runner !! I love all things made from scratch. Thank you for the chance to win.
Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway, Carol!
Kate
I love creating things from scratch, whether doing crafts or cooking. There’s something very satisfying seeing something made from start to finish. I also love giving homemade things to my family and friends. They seem to like it quite a bit too.
mrsloisannjones@aol.com
I’m sure your family and friends appreciate your made from scratch crafts and cooking, Lois. Nothing beats homemade. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
I love making cookies from scratch in particular sugar cookies.
I imagine your made from scratch sugar cookies are divine, Sheila. They wouldn’t last long around here. Thanks for leaving your comment in entering the giveaway!
Kate
I enjoy reading all your books and would also love to win this beautiful table runner/wall hanging!
Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway, Joy!
Kate
I babysit my grandsons once a week. Last time we spent the morning cutting up vegetables to put in soup. It turned out so good and their parents were so proud.
Sounds like a great idea and lots of fun, Nancy. Also, a great motivation for them to eat vegetables. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Every time I start making a new quilt I start with scratch on the design and placement of fabric. What a exciting giveaway!
I love hearing about your creative process, Dawn. Thanks for your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
I make all my pies from scratch. One craft I do from scratch is making greeting cards, this week I made St. Patrick’s Day cards as I am Irish. Love the table runner and thank you for the chance to win.
What fun that you make greeting cards, Debbie. I’d better get out my green sweater so I don’t get pinched on St. Patrick’s Day. Thanks for your comment and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I crochet – have done bedspreads, blankets for a NICU, gifts …. I also cross stitch things
Wonderful, Kathleen! Cross stitching is something I’ve rarely attempted. I had a wonderful aunt who kindly shared her skills with me when I was young. A friend gave me a crocheted blanket about 30 years ago that I still covet. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
We have started tomato plants from seed and I knit afghans to give away.
Those who receive your Afghans are fortunate, Candy. Homegrown tomatoes don’t even taste like the ones bought in stores. Yum. Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Kate
A garden.
A garden can be like a painter’s canvas, Katherine.I’m glad you find so much enjoyment in yours. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
From scratch? I love to knit and have always wished I could spin my own yarn. Sewing is also a passion, and I can hardly wait for it to be warm enough to garden.
I wonder how many people do spin their own yarn, Evy. There’s an alpaca farm on the way to our beach place and I have to assume someone takes advantage of their beautiful coats. How great that you knit and are passionate about your sewing. I can’t wait for warm weather to get me out in the garden. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I made a HOME sign for my front porch. I have knitted a few scarves and used to cross-stitch in my younger days.
I’d like to have a look at that HOME signed, Debbie. Does it stay up all the time? Knitting is one craft I have never attempted, but I might be able to make a scarf. I so admire people who can knit sweaters. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
The table runner is lovely. I make cookies from scratch
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Kelly! Those cookies sound good!
Kate
I knit and crochet.It’s fun to look at yarn and imagine it as a final product,whether an Afghan, sweater,or baby blanket.
You sound very creative, Kathleen. I wish I could see your many works of art. Thanks for leaving a comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
The one thing that i really remember starting from scratch was a wedding dress for a close friend. We every step we added to the dress the mire we would talk about things we did together by the time the dress was finished we were at our point in life in the present.I enjoyed the sewing, the laughter (we use to do some goofy things growing up)and the love of a great friend. Lets just say that was the only wedding dress I ever made. To worried i would ruin it somehow.
That sounds like a lovely plot for a book, Pamela. Not many women sew a close friend’s wedding dress. Thanks for sending your wonderful comment and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I believe our move back to PA when we retired would be a good example to starting from scratch. We left most of our furniture behind because it was in dire need of replacement, and we did not have a home to come to. We just sold our house in VA, packed up and left. Our home here was a motel room for the first six weeks. During that time, we finally found a house, ordered furniture, found a church and made new friends. It was literally a move “from scratch.”
Amazing, Pat. I’m trying to imagine you staying in a motel room for six weeks while looking for a house and furniture, not to mention a new church and making friends. Thanks for sharing your wonderful from scratch story. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
Loved your book A Letter From Lancaster County. This is a great giveaway.
I am delighted to hear you enjoyed my book, Vivian. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I make a chocolate cake from scratch it got miracle whip in it,love to win your book,thank
Your chocolate cake sounds delicious, Ruth. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
Yeps my first crochet project was from scratch. I didn’t have a pattern and just did a single crochet stitch. And later this month I am going to try knitting a pair of socks on DPN’s and i am not a great knitter. That will be from scratch for me as i’ve never used DPN’s
You are way ahead of me, Sabrina. I don’t knit at all, but I certainly admire those who do. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I make switchplate covers, purchase the “blanks” and then I use sculpy type of modeling clay, run it many times through a noodle machine (like an old fashioned clothes wringer, but in much smaller size-6″). I cut the clay to they right size, then use rubber stamps to impress images onto each cover. Then apply sticking agent and bake in the oven.
They are very nice, much more pleasing to the eye than the store bought ones. I have covers with animal footprints on them among others.
Your switch-plate covers sound marvelous, Tina. Inventive and each one unique. Thanks for telling me about them and for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I started my craft room with a table, a chair, and a bag of fat quarters.
If you have a craft room with a table, I imagine you create all sorts of fantastic items, June. Terrific! Thanks for leaving a comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
I make quilts from scratch and other craft projects. I remade my life after my 17 year marriage ended in divorce from scratch. There are many thing I do from scratch including baking. The table runner is lovely!
You sound creative and courageous, Jeanine. Just the sort of woman I enjoy writing about. Thanks for leaving your comment and ending the giveaway!
Kate
❤️ this quilted runner, will go perfectly in my living room!
I make all pies from scratch and some cakes, also.
A favorite in our family is carrot cake, with homemade cream cheese icing! yummm……
You sound talented in the kitchen areas, C.J. Yummy, that carrot cake sounds good. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
i love to thrift shop and look for unique pieces that i can put together to make something new and different and all my own.
Your comment sounds intriguing, Amy. I wish I could see one of your unique, finished creations. I’ve always enjoy thrift shops. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
My husband definitely likes it when I make pie from scratch. He can always tell the difference in the crusts! I knit, quilt and usually bake from scratch. The older I’ve gotten the shortcuts from the store are more appealing than spending all day in the kitchen! Would love to win the lovely table runner. Thanks for the opportunity.
You are a woman of many talents, Anne. several friends and family members have started to use those shortcuts too. It helps me avoid dessert, because there is a difference … Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
I sew and crochet. I guess that’s from scratch. Lol. I don’t make the material or yarn though. The giveaway is beautiful! Thanks for a chance to win.
Even the Amish, who sew most of their own clothes, don’t weave it themselves, nor do they spin their own yarn, Brenda. I say for the most part, because no doubt some do spin their own yarn … Most of their fabric is made in China. I hope those companies will reopen in this country someday. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
I am making new friends “from scratch” at a new church. We are going from a small congregation to a rather large one. I also make homemade creole pralines from time to time.
Making new friends at a new church is difficult, Perrianne. I’m going through that right now after attending a church for many years where I felt among family. Those creole pralines sound good! Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate
Hi Kate, Right now I’m working on Quilt squares. I would love to win your book and table runner!
What fun, Melissa. Thanks for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
Kate
I would love to win your giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity.
Thanks for visiting my blog and the entering, Melody!
Kate
That’s so pretty! I can’t sew worth a hoot!
I’m glad you like it, Darlene. I wish my books came in audio form. A man asked me about that last week for his wife. Maybe someday. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
What a beautiful table runner/wall hanging in your give away
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Pam!
Kate
The best things come from scratch but I have never mastered the pie crust
My piecrust’s are not perfection either, Kathy. Thanks for leaving a comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
There is something fulfilling and satisfying about watching your work progress from start to the finish product. I get most trilled when I watch the eyes of others in that process.
I make Soy candles with essential oils and from the raw soy to the finished candle it’s a wonderful feeling. The scents, colors, even the fact that you can use it as a moisturizer is so interesting to me and I love to share that with others.
I know you are in industrious woman, Cherese, but didn’t know you make candles with essential oils. The whole process sounds fascinating. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
Making from scratch…hummmm, I love baking from scratch. I remember when I would can fruits from our trees and veggies from the garden. How wonderful meals or pastry tasted. I love creating things such as dresses, crafts, knitting or crocheting things. I don’t do as much as I use too as my hands are getting older. I have never learned to quilt! One of my most regrets in life. I never thought I could make a beautiful creation such as this item you are giving away.
Used to do all my baking and making soups from scratch when my children were young. So much better & healthier than eating the canned soups and ready made breads in the store.
I agree, it is more healthy, Juanita. I doubt I’ll go back to canned soup again, maybe. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway. Good luck!
Kate
I cook & bake from scratch. Its healthier. I make my own greeting cards too. Thanks for a chance to win this pretty tablerunner.
A woman of many talents, Linda. I would love to see one of your greeting cards. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
Kate
Oh, I can’t wait to visit quilt shops in Sugarcreek Ohio area in June. I love the table runner. I am not very talented when it comes to quilting, but I love seeing what other people make. And I love fabric!!!!
In order for those quilters to keep in business, someone needs to by them, Glinda. You are helping the economy. I love fabric too. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
This may be a bit different but I am starting from scratch careerwise. I have to leave my job of 13 years and relocate 150 miles away because of my parents needing me. I am not happy about starting over but family is everything.
You’e made a brave and righteous choice, Christine. Jobs may come and go, but you only have two parents. Good for you! Thanks for your comment and for entering the giveaway!
KateHello
Beautiful runner. I have just recently started to learn to quilt. Teaching myself with lots of help from my sister over the telephone! Thanks for the chance to win a great book!
How wonderful, Mary! And in the end, a finished and useful quilt to enjoy. Good luck in the giveaway!
Kate
I always cook from scratch. My Mama taught me how when I was about 12 years old. I get asked sometimes for a receipe and I just have to say that I don’t have one. I cook just like my Mama did and that’s from scratch.❤
Your Mama must have been delighted to have her daughter emulating her, Molly. I have my mother’s old cookbooks and a spiral notebook with recipes both of my parents wrote down, but admit to just cooking without looking at them first most of the time. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
Kate