Ohio Amish Country Experiences Volume #2 Issue #7 - Summer - time sure flies when you're having fun!

Can't believe it's already the first of August! Driving around Geauga County there's lots of evidence that summer is in full swing and the harvest has already begun.

Seems like everywhere you turn you see shocks of ripened grain waiting in the fields. Corn that was "knee high by the fourth of July" is tasseled out with ears ripening - some ready to pick.

Where is summer going? Not sure, but wherever it's going, it's going fast - so don't miss out on the many things to see and do in Ohio Amish Country this summer.

Catch a parade or join a car cruise. Ride a steam train or just get away from it all and relax for a few days.

There's anything from Amish benefit auctions to antique steam engine shows and festivals to fresh produce or buggy rides available in Amish Country this summer.

The Historical Engine Society had there 40th annual Antique Power Exhibition at the Century Village in Burton, Ohio over this past weekend.

Holmes County is hosting an Antique Steam & Engine Show next weekend, August 5-7.

The Conneaut area Amish are having their Benefit for Hospital Aid auction on Saturday, August 7th on the Shetler farm in Monroe Township.

Best of all, it's still before the peak of the tourism season so you're not fighting the big crowds in order to enjoy these special events.

Oh, and by the way, when driving around Geauga and Ashtabula Counties - don't forget that we now have a great new map showing you where to go and how to get there in Northeast Ohio Amish Country!

Experience Northeast Ohio Amish Country Road Map - absolutely the best map of Northeast Ohio Amish Country you can get to help guide you around Northeast Ohio Amish Country.

Only $3.95

(You can still use your credit card even if you don't have a PayPal account when you proceed to checkout.)

If you like reading books from the Amish genre, then we have some good news for you. There's a new book, just out - from a fresh new face in the publishing world.

Serena B. Miller, an Ohio native, has undertaken a wonderful new book (and hopefully new series) based on life in an Amish community.

Her book, titled Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio, is part of the Love Finds You series of books.

Serena decided to get serious about writing fiction while she was working as a court reporter in Detroit and found herself developing an overwhelming desire to compose a happy ending for every transcript she typed.

She and her minister/carpenter husband now live in a southern Ohio farming community in an 1830's log cabin that has been in her family for five generations.

She was delighted when an Amish community formed not far from her home, and has enjoyed getting to know these hard-working people. She also falls in love with all her characters and writes as many happy endings for them as she can.

"I thought I knew a lot about the Amish, but as I read and researched, I found out how very complex the culture is. Every church is autonomous, meaning it is not governed by any religious hierarchy except from within the congregation. That means there can be quite a lot of differences between one Amish church and another. For instance, there are differing rules about things like the width of the ribbon on a man's straw hat, or the colors the women can wear, or whether or not a buggy can have battery-operated lights. For a tourist enjoying the Sugarcreek area, the differences are rarely noticeable, but these differences are a big deal to the Amish--and sometimes have an affect on whether or not they will fellowship with one another."

"As I became more accepted in various Amish homes, I was most surprised by their sense of humor. I guess because they tend to dress so somberly, I had expected them to be serious all the time. One of the most wonderful evenings of my life was spent last fall, sitting around a kitchen table in an Amish home while I tried to ask questions from a list I had prepared, and the family began to tease and play with me. These people were funny! I finally put away my list, and simply relaxed and enjoyed myself. I laughed so hard that night, the next morning my stomach was sore. Even though the story is a suspense, I tried very hard to work a lot of that humor into my book."

(1)All novels inspire questions. You will definitely ask yourself this one: Could this really be Serena B. Miller's first published novel? The characters in this novel are so vividly drawn, the plot so engaging, the inspirational message so well integrated into the story, that even readers who don't usually pick up a novel described that way will find this one engaging and thought provoking. I look forward to more books by this author. This is a gem of a debut.

(2)This book was very well written. It had me from the first page all the way through to the end. The storyline was great and I kept turning the pages to see what else would be going on. It's a great book that I have no trouble telling friends about. I would love to read more of her books when they come out.

(3)When I first got the book, I did not have time to read it. I did take a moment to glance at the opening page and three hours later I was still reading. The story line was great and I fell in love with the characters, especially the three Amish aunts. I have read hundreds of books and this novel ranks with the best. I can't believe this is a first time novel.

So, we suggest that you head over to your local bookstore or even jump on Amazon and get your copy today.

Be sure to check out Serena's site at: SerenaBMiller.com _________________________________________________________________

Find great deals on and a big selection of fresh summer produce in Ohio Amish Country.

Got a hankering for some really fresh sweet corn? Gotcha covered. Looking for fresh blueberries? Check. Want to get some nice tart early apples - yep again. Tomatoes? Uh huh. Cucumbers? Sure thing! Anything else? No problem.

If it's fresh local produce - even organic - that you're looking for, then Ohio Amish Country is a must visit for you. There are dozens of farm markets and scores of roadside farm stands waiting for you.

Bring your cooler, bring lots of room and bring a friend. You'll be glad you did - and so will they. _________________________________________________________________

Calendar of Events

Holmes County Antique Steam & Engine Show
18th Annual Holmes County Antique Steam & Engine Show at Mt. Hope Auction Grounds 8076 SR 241, Mt. Hope. Admission is $4 per adult, and children 12 and under are free. For more information call 740-502-5454.

Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale
Central Christian School, 3970 Kidron Road, Kidron, Ohio 44636. Call 330-815-5700 for more information.

Conneaut Area Amish Benefit for Hospital Aid
Held on Dan & Anna Shetler's farm at 6742 Hildom Road, Conneaut, Ohio. Starting at 9 a.m. Features Amish baked goods & restaurant with BBQ chicken and ice cream. Sale conducted by Bob Fink Auction Service, 440-858-2260.

Zoar Harvest Festival
Zoar, Ohio 44697. Hours: Saturday 10 am.-6 pm., Sunday 10 am-5 pm. Admission: $6.00, Children 12 and Under Free Call 330-874-2646 for more information.

31st Annual Tri-Township School Auction
Breakfast at 7 am, auction at 9 am, furniture starts at 9:30, quilts at 1 pm. Lunch begins serving at 10:30 am. Auction includes furniture, quilts, wall hangers, new & used items, shrubs & trees and a bake sale, sale is at Farmerstown School 2769 SR 557, Baltic, Ohio 43804. For more information contact: Ivan Burkholder - 330-897-9361 ext. 2, Wayne Yoder - 330-897-1424, or Allen Miller - 330-897-0349.

125th Anniversary Celebration
Raby Hardware General Store, 223 West Main Street, Loudonville, Ohio 44842. Call 419-994-3751 for more information.

Sugarcreek Business Association Annual Auction
Fire Station Pavilion, Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681.

American Soldiers' Homecoming Festival
Dennison Depot, Dennison, Ohio 44621. Call 740-922-6776 for more information.

3rd Annual Winesburg Classic Art Show
Downtown Winesburg, Winesburg, Ohio 44690. Call 330-359-5482 for more information.

Well, guess that's all for now - hope you find this news helpful and as exciting as we do.

Ohio Amish Country Experiences

August 2010

Calendar of Events