(1) Sponge and Soap or copy of The Lady of Tarpon Springs –  Kathy Newcomer

(2) Copy of The Lady of Tarpon Springs — Rebekah Miller

(3) Copy of The Lady of Tarpon Springs — Julie B

Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! If you’re just joining us, the hunt begins with Lisa Bergren, at Stop #1. If you complete the loop of 26 stops, writing down the clue on each author’s site, you can enter to win all 25 books as well as Amazon gift cards, an iPad and more!

Without further ado, it’s my pleasure to introduce Sandra Byrd. Just in case you haven’t read any of Sandra’s more than fifty books, you should treat yourself. Sandra will soon become one of your favorite authors–she’s one of mine!

Here’s Sandra’s Professional Bio: Award-winning and bestselling author Sandra Byrd has published fifty books in the fiction and nonfiction markets, including the historical novels To Die For, Mist of Midnight, and her most recent, Lady of a Thousand Treasures. For nearly two decades, Sandra has shared her secrets with the many writers she edits, mentors, and coaches. She lives in Seattle.

Here’s a short summary of Sandra’s latest book, Lady of a Thousand Treasures: Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart, but whom she still loves, and who claims to still love her.

And here is her EXCLUSIVE content that you’ll only find in this hunt!

As the author of contemporary foody books, The French Twist Series, I am accustomed to including tasty food and recipes in my novels. It was, therefore, a delight to include Cornish pasties in a historical, my new book, Lady of a Thousand Treasures. Proper Cornish pasties are particular to Cornwall, England’s far west county, though meat and potato hand pies are eaten in many different countries around the world. The word pasty sounds very much like the word pastry, though we tend to think of pastries as sweet and not savory. Both derive their names from Latinate words for paste—a mix of flour and water—and they can include other delectable combinations such as pasta. No wonder hungry schoolkids have been known to eat paste!

Cornish pasties were thought to be a perfect lunch for blue-collar workers, especially the coal miners of Cornwall, who descended into the coal pits and often could not come back up for lunch. They took their comestibles with them. I love the Agatha Christie television series starring her famous detective, Hercules Poirot, and Cornish pasties have a cameo toward the end of The Cornish Mystery episode when one of my favorite people, Chief Inspector Japp, has a nibble. A friend pointed out that Cornish pasties even appeared in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show, “The Return of Malcolm Merriweather.”

I thought you might enjoy munching on one of these lovelies while reading my book or someone else’s, or watching Poirot or old returns, so I thought I’d include a recipe. The traditional pasties include uncooked meat and potatoes as well as turnips (they all bake together in the oven), but I adapted this for our family’s taste. If you like turnip, or carrots, or anything else, feel free to adapt this to your family’s tastes! With no further ado, here is my tweaked recipe. “Enjoy your meal” (British for Bon Appetit)!

Cornish Pasties, Quick and Easy, American Style

One pound skirt steak, cubed

One pound Yukon Gold potatoes, cooked and cubed

One large leek, finely chopped, up to and including one inch of the green

Four tablespoons butter, divided

Two extra-large beef bouillon cubes, crumbled

Four large piecrusts (homemade or store bought)

 Stir chopped leek and 2 Tbs butter in a frying pan until the leek is soft and just browning. Add the skirt steak and cook till the outsides are brown, but the insides are still pink. Add potatoes and bouillon crumbles, then stir to combine. Remove from heat.

Using a biscuit cutter or a glass approximately four to six inches across, cut out circles from the piecrust. Reroll scraps and keep making circles until the crust is all used up. Fold meat and potato filling into the crusts, either by folding the crust over the top of the filling or by placing one circle upon the other. Crimp or roll edges to seal. Bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden brown; then remove from oven and brush with remaining butter. Serve!

 Download recipe card: Recipe Card

Thanks for stopping by on the hunt! before you go, make sure you WRITE DOWN THIS CLUE:

Secret Words:  a tale

Got ‘em down? Great! Your next stop is #11, Sandra Byrd’s site. If you happen to get lost, a complete list of the loop with links can be found on Lisa Bergren’s website.

BONUS GIVEAWAY:

You’ve already read about the sponges of Tarpon Springs, so for my bonus gift, I’m giving a Tarpon Springs sponge and soap to the first prize winner and a copy of The Lady of Tarpon Springs to two other winners. To be eligible, sign up for my newsletter (if you’re not already signed up), like me on Facebook or follow me on Bookbub. Just leave a message on this page telling me what you did. I’ll be drawing names and announce the winners at the same time the winners are announced for the Scavenger Hunt. Happy Hunting!

Yayá’s Ekmek Kataifi

(Pastry topped with custard and whipped cream)

When Zanna arrives home for supper, she decides she must tell her father something that has happened and she’s sure the news will displease him. After finally gathering her courage to speak,  Yayá pushes from the table and holds a finger to her lips. “No talk until later. All day I worked to make ekmek kataifi for dessert. I will not have it ruined with unhappy news.”

Perhaps you’d enjoy trying Yayá’s recipe for ekmek kataifi. Although a bit labor intensive, the results are worth the effort.

Crust:

1 lb frozen kataifi (this is a shredded wheat pastry and should be in better grocery stores near the phyllo dough—if you can’t find it, you can use phyllo, but you’ll need to shred before using.)

6 oz melted butter

Syrup:

1 ½ cups water

2 cups sugar

1 cinnamon stick

Custard

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

¹⁄₂ cup sugar

4 cups milk (3 hot and 1 cold)

4 egg yolks

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Topping:

12 oz. whipped cream

Slivered almonds and pistachios

To Prepare:

Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees; pull apart the ‘threads’ of the kadaifi into a 13×9-inch glass baking dish, packing down lightly with fingertips; drizzle with butter and bake 40 minutes or until golden brown; remove from oven and cool.

Syrup: In small pot, combine syrup ingredients; bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes; remove cinnamon stick and remove; spoon syrup over kadaifi and cool.

Custard: Combine flour, cornstarch, and sugar in small bowl; add cold milk and whisk to remove any lumps; whisk in egg yolks; strain mixture through sieve into hot milk.

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until it thickens; add vanilla and place plastic wrap directly on surface to prevent skin from forming; cool for 1 1/2 hours.

Spread custard evenly over kadaifi crust; refrigerate 1 1/2 to 2 hours minimum.

Whipped Topping:

Beat whipping cream until stiff and spread over custard layer. Sprinkle with slivered almonds and pistachios.

Chill well before serving.

Yayá’s Moussaka

As you’ll see in the passage below, Zanna’s lack of appetite doesn’t sit well with Yayá and she doesn’t hesitate to let it be known since she takes great pride in her cooking skills.

Zanna forked a bite of the eggplant and lamb mixture and swallowed. “The moussaka is delicious, Yayá, but I’m not very hungry. I’ve had an exciting day. My stomach feels like it’s tied in knots. If I eat too much, I don’t think it will settle well.”

“What are you saying? You think Yayá is a bad cook?”

“No, of course not. You’re a wonderful cook.” Zanna touched her hand to her stomach. “I have butterflies. Understand?”

“Instead of my moussaka, you want butterflies?” Her grandmother tapped a finger to her temple. “You are going mad?”

Ingredients:

2 large eggplants sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, end slices discarded

Salt

Olive oil

1 lb ground lamb (or beef)

1 large yellow onion finely chopped

1 tbsp dried oregano

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp hot paprika

1/2 cup red wine

1 14 oz can diced tomatoes

1 tsp sugar

1/2 cup hot beef broth

2 large russet potatoes, peeled, very thinly sliced lengthwise

5 tbsp dried bread crumbs

Cheese Topping

3 large eggs, at room temperature, beaten

3/4 cup fat free Greek yogurt

1 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 cup ricotta cheese

3 oz crumbled feta

To Prepare:

Spread the eggplant slices in single layer and sprinkle with salt. Let set for 30 minutes. (Don’t skip this step).

Pat the eggplant slices dry and assemble in one layer on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Place the baking sheet on the top oven rack and broil, turning over so that both sides of the eggplant are softened and golden brown. Be careful they don’t burn. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet. Cook onions on medium heat until slightly golden, stirring regularly (about 5 minutes). Now add the ground lamb. Cook the lamb until fully browned, tossing regularly. Drain the lamb and return to the skillet. Add the dried oregano, ground cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, and hot paprika. Stir to coat the meat with the spices. Add the wine and boil for 1 minute to reduce. Stir in the canned tomatoes, sugar and broth. Simmer on medium-low heat for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Meanwhile, boil the sliced potatoes in plenty of water until they are completely soft and easily breakable (about 5-7 minutes). Drain water and set the potatoes aside.

To prepare the cheese topping, whisk the Greek yogurt with the eggs and flour. Add the ricotta and feta cheese and whisk again to combine.

Lightly oil a 9 1/2″ x 13″ baking dish. Layer the eggplant slices on the bottom. Add the meat sauce and spread to cover the eggplant. Layer the potato slices to cover the meat sauce and sprinkle with the bread crumbs. Lastly, spread the cheese topping to thinly cover the potatoes.

Bake in the 350 F degree-heated oven for 45 minutes. If needed, you can broil until the cheese topping turns golden brown. Watch carefully. Remove from the heat and let sit 5-7 minutes before cutting through into squares to serve.

Tropical Grilled Salmon

Nico’s attempts to pledge his love to Zanna had been interrupted, but her feelings for him had already begun to deepen. She hoped their dinner at the Tropical Hotel would provide time for more intimate conversation after they enjoyed their dinner of tropical grilled salmon.

“With her hand nestled in the crook of Nico’s arm, Zanna’s heart warmed. Their dinner at The Tropical Hotel’s restaurant had been filled with an exchange of information and pleasant conversation, but now, as Nico walked her home in the late evening, she felt an even deeper intimacy arise between them.” (Photo pcmarkets.com)

Ingredients:

6 six oz salmon filets

1/2 cup canned Pineapple Juice

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup honey

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

In small saucepan combine pineapple juice, soy sauce, vinegar, oil, honey, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and reserve 1/3 cup glaze to serve as a sauce with the grilled fish.

Heat grill to medium heat and oil it with cooking spray. Place salmon on the grill and brush with glaze. Grill salmon until opaque and flaky, about 4 minutes on each side. Serve reserved glaze with salmon.

Fish Stew

When the divers arrive in Tarpon Springs, they’re eager for a place to lay their heads and some hearty food, but first Zanna and Nico must purchase cookware and basic provisions. When Nico insists upon purchasing a huge pot to make fish stew, Zanna tells him it’s much to large. His response continued to ring in her ears as she hurried home:

“A Greek woman who cannot cook should not give me instructions about what size cooking vessel I will need.”

Instead of halibut and mussels, Nico and his men would have used whatever fish they could easily catch in the waters of the Anclote River that flows westward towards the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo credit dieticians-online.blogspot.com)

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 onion, thinly sliced

1 medium leek, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise

2 large garlic cloves, minced

5 large celery ribs, thinly sliced, plus 1/4 cup leaves

2 parsley sprigs

2 thyme sprigs

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 small lemon, scrubbed and quartered

½ pound Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and sliced thin

2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth

3 cups dry white wine (or use all chicken stock/broth if you don’t use wine)

One 1 1/2-pound halibut steak on the bone (or your fish of choice)

2 pounds mussels, scrubbed

To Prepare:

In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 1/4 cup of the oil. Add the onion, leek, garlic, celery ribs and leaves, parsley and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the vegetables are softened, 8 minutes. Add the lemon and wine and simmer over moderately high heat until the wine is reduced by half, 4 minutes. Add the stock and potatoes; simmer over moderate heat until reduced by one-third and potatoes are tender.

Season the halibut with salt and pepper and add it to the casserole. Cover and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Turn the halibut and add the mussels. Cover and cook over moderate heat until the mussels open, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Transfer the stew to a deep dish and serve.

Enjoy!!

Judy

Like other similar locations, many of the wealthy Victorian residents considered the town a winter retreat for the wealthy. The area that circles Spring Bayou is known as the “Golden Crescent” and there are some gorgeous Victorian homes. Governor Safford Built a house there for his family in 1883. His sister, Dr. Mary Jane Safford, was the first woman to practice medicine in Florida.

After both Governor Anson Safford and Mary Jane died in 1891, Anson’s widow sold the valuable waterfront property, but The Safford House was moved to its present location at 23 Parkin Court. Governor Safford’s widow rented out rooms to boarders and added the wrap-around porch on the top floor after the house was moved. The City has now acquired and restored the house and opened it as a museum. I had the opportunity to visit the Safford House while I was in Tarpon Springs. If you’re in the area and enjoy history, you should be sure to take time for a visit. This is their home at the left.

If you visit the historic downtown area, you’ll soon discover street names such as: Lime, Orange, Pineapple, Banana and Lemon. Those street names led to the area being nicknamed the “Fruit Salad District” of Tarpon Springs.

In The Lady of Tarpon Springs, Lucy Penrose is the doctor in Tarpon Springs and the best friend of my female protagonist, Zanna Krykos who is a lawyer. They are both independent young ladies who were somewhat ahead of their time insofar as their professions. However, the fact that there was a female doctor in Tarpon Springs in the late 1890s validated my idea and made it even more fun to include Lucy in my cast of characters.

So what historic towns have you visited an enjoyed? I’m always on the lookout for new ideas and places and visit and summer is the perfect time.

Judy

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I wanted to give you a heads-up that Bethany House Publishers is hosting a Facebook Party on November 4th (5pm PST/6pm MST/7pm CST/8pm EST) to celebrate the release of The Brickmaker’s Bride. Just click on this link and you’ll be directed to my Facebook page where you can register to win a Kindle HDX and lots of other prizes throughout the evening.

Library Journal has given The Brickmaker’s Bride a starred review and said: “A well-constructed plot and believable characters demonstrate why Miller (A Simple Change) is popular with fans of historical fiction and romance. The characters’ faith is woven seamlessly into their actions and is organically integrated into the plot, making this title a must-read.”

This series is near and dear to my heart and during our time together at the Facebook Party, I’ll be telling you a little about my research and some of the fun “family ties” that I was able to weave into this story. I’m also going to give you a little peek into the second book in the series, The Potter’s Lady.

I hope you’ll register for the Facebook Party and join me on November 4th (5pm PST/6pm MST/7pm CST/8pm EST.)

Stock up on your favorite coffee, tea, and chocolate and let’s have some fun exploring the world of books!

Blessings,

Judy

KINDLE FIRE HDX

 Erin Connor

 33 BOOKS BY THE AUTHORS

 Heather Hart and Lynne Tidel

WINNERS IN MY PERSONAL DRAWING:

Megan Williamson, Laura Hix and Marianne Barkman

Welcome to the Autumn 2014 Scavenger Hunt. You have arrived at Stop #12.

Follow the clues for a Chance to win a Kindle Fire HDX or 30+ novels!

The hunt begins at noon (Mountain Time Zone) on October 17, 2014. You may have arrived here before the start which could mean all of the sites aren’t ready quite yet. Once the official start has begun, you should go to Stop #1  and then work your way through the sites, gathering clues and entering bonus giveaways, until you reach the final stop which will also be on the site of Robin Lee Hatcher.

The hunt ends on Sunday, October 19, 2014 at one minute before midnight (Mountain Time). That means you have all of the weekend to finish it, so take your time. Enjoy reading the exclusive content the authors have prepared for you. You will collect a CLUE IN RED at each stop. Write them down as you go. At the end of the hunt, you will enter the clues into a Rafflecopter form. (The answer will make sense, even if you aren’t familiar with the quote.)

The hunt is open to international entries.

The grand prize is a Kindle Fire HDX.

Two runners-up will receive a new release from each of the participating authors.

IN CASE YOU FIND A BROKEN LINK…

Robin Lee Hatcher has prepared a “cheat sheet” with direct links to each author’s post in case a site goes down or a link gets broken. We hope there will be no such issues, but just in case, please make a note of the URL for the Participating Authors & Stops page so you can check back and be able to complete the hunt.

Meet Vickie McDonough, one of the sweetest gals I know. If you love history, you’ll love Vickie. We share a love of history and her books reflect her passion for the Old West!

 Bestselling author Vickie McDonough grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams in her fictional stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West during the 1800s. Vickie is the award-winning author of thirty-four published books and novellas. Her books include the fun and feisty Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, and End of the Trail, which was the OWFI 2013 Best Fiction Novel winner. Whispers on the Prairie was a Romantic Times Recommended Inspirational Book for July 2013.

 A little about Song of the Prairie:

Janie Dunn’s dream of being an opera singer suddenly fades when, at her dying cousin’s request, she flees Boston with her cousin’s newborn son to protect him from his abusive father. She moves to Kansas to live with her brother, but life takes another dire change when he is suddenly killed. Is a marriage of convenience the answer to her problems? Is Kansas far enough away from Boston that they are safe from the baby’s vengeful father?

The following are links where you can purchase Song of the Prairie: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, or your local bookstore!

HERE’S SOME FUN INFO FROM VICKIE THAT I’M SURE YOU’RE GOING TO ENJOY:

I have always had a love of the bygone days of the 1800s, probably because as a kid growing up in the 1960s, I watched cowboy show after cowboy show with my dad:  The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Rawhide, Maverick, Bonanza, and my favorite, The Big Valley. It was during those day that I fell in love with cowboys and the Old West. I guess it stands to reason that when I started writing, that the majority of my books would be westerns. But even though I like writing about those days, I’m not so sure I’d like living back then. Life was very hard for most people.

It took over 250 years from the first settlement at Jamestown until 1870 to turn 400 million acres of forests and prairies into flourishing farms. The Homestead Act opened up the lands of the western frontier to white settlers, and the second 400 million acres took only 30 years to settle, from 1870 to 1900. When a family arrived at their new homestead on the prairie, the first thing they often did was to build a sod house, so today I thought I’d give you the steps involved in that.

At first settlers used a spade to cut sod, but in the 1880s, a tool called a cutting plow was invented. It had a set of adjustable rods to cut the sod into rows about three to six inches thick and at least a foot wide. The rows were then cut into long bricks.

The sod was laid with the grass side down, in side-by-side rows, like bricks.

Three rows would make a thick wall that could support the weight of the house. Seams between the sod bricks were staggered to keep the walls as tight as possible.

Door and window frames made of wood were put in position as the walls went up.

Last came the roof. In early sod homes, tree branches would support more sod bricks. Later, cut wood was available and a proper roof was often installed.

A sod house may not sound very glamorous, but they were provided shelter and safety and were a home to many of the pioneers.

The Scavenger Hunt Skinny:

Thanks so much for stopping by my site and participating in the new Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt. Before you move on to Stop #13, which is Vickie McDonough’s site, to pick up your next clue, be sure to write down this Stop #12 clue: IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT,

Also, please note: Many of the authors use Rafflecopter for their giveaways. Rafflecopter requires JavaScript to work. If you can’t see the form, please turn JavaScript on in your browser in order to enter. Rafflecopter sometimes doesn’t work on mobile devices. If you are on a mobile device and can’t see the entry form, then you’ll need to find a computer.

BONUS GIFTS…

Before you go–I’m giving away bonus gifts to three people and I’m giving you three choices of how you can be registered to win. You can upload the cover of The Brickmaker’s Bride to your Facebook page with a few words about the beautiful cover.  You can use the link provided for the cover (just scroll down a bit to see the cover) or any other picture of the cover that you find on the web. OR you can sign-up for my newsletter if you’ve not signed up previously. OR ‘like’  me on Facebook if you’ve not ‘liked’ me before. Leave a comment telling me which option you chose. First prize is this cute replica of an ink pot, quill and vintage notes. Second and third prize winners receive a copy of The Brickmaker’s Bride. Due to mailing costs, this portion of the contest is open only to those living in the United States.

First I want to thank all of you who participated in and signed up for my blog during the Spring Scavenger Hunt. I generally only blog one time a week—sometimes less. My blog is a little nondescript, although I tend to blog mostly about history and the places where I set my books.

I like to give readers insight into why I choose my settings, and why I find them unique.

 For those of you who are already familiar with my books, you know that A Shining Light is my sixth and final (at least for the time being) book set in the Amana Colonies in Iowa. For those of you unfamiliar with these books, there are two series, Daughters of Amana and Home to Amana. Both series are considered independent series because the books are not tied by characters or time period. The connection is that each book is set in one of the villages that comprise the Amana Colonies. The books may be read in any order.

 And since some of you may not be familiar with the Amana Colonies, I thought I’d share a little about the villages which remain one of the best places in the Midwest to experience a combination of history and fun. I’ll be there the first weekend in May to attend the Maifest Celebration, complete with parade, Maypole dancing, and lots of other fun activities. And a visit to the Colonies isn’t complete without enjoying a good German meal and a visit to the bakery and candy shop!

In my books, my characters have worked at many trades that were common in the Colonies. You can still visit many of these places today. The woolen mill, a kitchen house, livery, and the museum are not to be missed.

Although I didn’t have a main character in any of my books who worked as a cobbler, leather shoes were made and repaired by village cobblers in early Amana. (125) As it became easier to purchase ready-made shoes from outside suppliers, the cobblers spent most of their time repairing shoes. The last cobbler shop closed in Amana in 1950.

Carl Hegert, the Middle Amana Cobbler was known for his sense of humor. In the 1930’s, he used the following poem to advertise his services in the Amana Society Bulletin, and I couldn’t resist sharing it with you.

“It’s the soles of the people I keep in view,

For I am the doctor of boot and shoe;

And I serve the living, and not the dead,

With the best of leather, wax, nails, and thread.

I can sew on a sole or nail it fast,

And do a good job and make it last.

There is nothing snide about what I can do,

Doubt not my statement, for work proves true.

I can give you a lift, too, in this life,

Not only you, but your family and wife.

A great many patients come to my door,

Worn out and run down, besides feeling sore;

Though I don’t use poultice, plaster or pill,

I cure all sick shoes, no matter how ill.”

Please take a minute and let me know if there are particular things you’d enjoy reading in the blog and I’ll try to accommodate.

“A seed is Hope, the flower is Joy.”  ~Judy

I can tell you that Bill’s love of the Amana Colonies shines every bit as bright as the metal in his tinsmith shop. I was thrilled by his willingness to share both the history of his home and the art of tinsmithing with me. Bill grew up in Middle Amana and still lives in the house that once was a kitchen house where his grandmother was a küche baas.

Much of the old tinsmithing equipment has been moved into Bill’s basement where he creates items that are sold by the Amana Arts Guild using some of the equipment brought to Amana from Ebenezer (the settlement in New York)  or even Germany.

Bill showed me how to use a bar folder, grooving machine, beading machine, circle cutter, gutter beader and, of course, there was every size and shape of shear as well as patterns that have been used throughout the years as the tinsmiths created kettles, colanders, pail ladles, food baskets, pans and cookie cutters for the kitchens. (Above and below are just a few of the tools and machines in Bill’s basement workshop.)

The tinsmiths were a fixture in several Amana villages and played a vital role in the Colonies. The tinsmithing shops created the kettles, colanders, pails, ladles, food baskets, pans, and many other items used in the kitchen houses.

They also fabricated gutters and downspouts for the Amana houses, created items for industries, the meat markets, the washhouses and personal items such as bathtubs. Of course, tinware in need of repair also lined the workbenches of the village tinsmith.

In addition, twice a year people from surrounding villages would bring kitchen utensils by the wagonful to be repaired by the Amana tinsmiths. Changing from craftsman to artisan, the tinsmith also created delightful cookie cutters, cupcake molds and fashioned large cake pans in a special shape and used only for weddings.

Although the tinsmith shops in the Amana Colonies closed after the society voted to cease their communal lifestyle back in 1932, I’m thankful Bill has chosen to continue the craft. Next week I’ll take you through the portion of Bill’s home where his grandparents lived and much of the Amana furniture still sits where it has for many years.

For those of  you who plan to read A Shining Light, I hope this blog and the pictures will help enhance the hero, Dirk Knefler, and his position as an Amana  tinsmith!

May you find joy as you explore history. ~Judy

Who doesn’t like free stuff! I know I do, but since I’m participating in this contest and can’t enter, I want all of you to have a chance. I wanted to give you a heads-up so you can mark your calendars for the big weekend–noon April 4^th (Mountain Time) and ending April 6^th at midnight (Mountain Time) when 31 authors will be hosting the Christian Fiction Spring Scavenger Hunt.  

For those who haven’t participated before, this isn’t your usual sign-up and get your name in the drawing. This is a fun way of going from website to website, collecting clues, and finally entering to win a Grand Prize of a Kindle Fire HDX plus $100 gift certificate. The second and third prize winners each will receive 31 books. Take a peek at all those book in the picture below. They could all be yours!

In addition, as you go from site to site, you’ll discover many of the authors (like me) are offering special individual prizes, so when you begin your “hunt,” don’t rush through or you may miss out on some fun gifts.

Pass the word along to all your friends so they can enjoy the hunt, as well. Now, get out that calendar or open the calendar on your smart phone and put in the dates: The hunt begins at noon April 4^th (Mountain Time) and ends April 6 at midnight (Mountain Time).

Hope you’ll join the fun!

~Judy