B o o k R e v i e w

Matchmaking Can Be Murder

By AMAND A FLO WER

You will like Amish matchmaker (quilter and amateur sleuth) Millie Fisher, her zany Englisch sidekick with spikey red hair, Lois, and sweet Edith Hochstetler, niece to Millie. But you’ll love Phillip and Peter. The two Boer goats do their part in Matchmaking Can Be Murder by Amanda Flower (Kensington Books) to catch the killer of unsavory Zeke Miller, found dead in Emily’s nursery greenhouse. Reviewed by JILL SELL Amish Heartland Contributing Writer

There is more than one person in the fictitious community of Harvest, located in Ohio’s Holmes County, who has a motive for smashing Zeke on the head with a murder weapon. But when Edith and Lois’s granddaughter, Darcy, (both of whom were involved with Zeke) rise to the top of the list of suspects, their fiercely protective older women relatives don’t wait for the police to solve this case.

To complicate matters, Millie is adjusting to her new life back in Ohio after living in Michigan for a number of years caring for her sister. She is also grappling with a guilt issue that stems from a decision she made years ago which tore family members apart. But despite the heavy topics, Matchmaking Can Be Murder has its humorous moments. The first book in a new series is off to a good start.

But back to the goats. For the book’s cover illustration, one is wearing a prayer kapp, a head covering used only by Amish women. But the goats are male, if you consider their names. We’ll forgive the artist. A little poetic license, perhaps?

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–AMISH COUN TrY RIDIN STABLES –A Scenic Gallop In Millersburg

ABOVE: At the Guggisberg Swiss Inn, Amish Country Riding Stables horses roam free for both visitors to the stables and guests of the Inn to enjoy.

Story by JILL SELL Amish Heartland Contributing Writer

OF C OU R SE riders are allowed to talk to one another while out on the horseback trails used by Amish Country Riding Stables in Millersburg. But often riders fall into a contented silence as they pass through hardwood forests, meander through meadows with wildflowers or look down at the beautiful Doughty Valley in Holmes County. The peace and beauty are just too awe inspiring to spoil with words. Photos courtsey: Amish Country Riding Stables

6 April “The trail takes you along a ridge, which can be scary for some people at first. But it is not dangerous in any way, form or fashion,” says Eric Guggisberg, co-owner of the riding stables with his wife, Julia. “The trail also goes around a very, very old cemetery with gravestones that go back to the 1700s.”

Riders enjoy the pastoral scenes of the Guggisberg property, but also travel with permission through Amish-owned farmland.

“Some of those views are so beautiful they take your breath away,” says the stable owner, adding trail rides include only two to five people at a time in order to create the most enjoyable experience.

RIGHT: Julia and Eric Guggisberg,Owners of the Amish Country Riding Stables

Guggisberg was born and raised in Amish country, but his parents emigrated from Switzerland and became cheesemakers here. (Yes, his ancestors created the “original baby Swiss cheese.”) But the family wasn’t wealthy when Guggisberg was a child, and although he owned several horses in his youth, he didn’t have the luxury of formal riding lessons.

“I’d get on a horse and it would throw me off, and then I’d get back on and it would do it again. That’s how I learned to ride,” says Guggisberg. “We were pretty poor. I didn’t have a saddle and I made a halter out of twine.” Guggisberg’s first horse was a large pony named Nancy, who liked to jump the fence and visit the neighbor’s property. When he finally caught her, it was usually too late to do any riding. Fast forward to 2020 and Guggisberg owns 20 purebred foundation quarter horses with extended pedigrees.

“Most of our horses are born here. We don’t go out and buy new horses every year and sell them in fall. That’s one of the keys to our good record. We know our horses very well. Our oldest horse, that we retired many, many years ago, was 45 years old,” says Guggisberg. “Those

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Don’t Miss Our 5th Annual Amish Craft Show June 20th Featuring Live Demos Chainsaw Carving, Basket Weaving, Broom Making Save the Date! 100% Amish Made Items

Amish Heartland OPEN YEAR ROUND • Closed Sundays 4914 West Main St. • Berlin, OH 44610 June-Aug. 9am-7pm • Sept. & Oct. 9am- 6pm • Nov.-May 9am-5pm 330.893.3134 www.solsinberlin.com

Riders enjoy the pastoral scenes of the Guggisberg property, but also travel with permission through Amish-owned farmland.

ABOVE: Specializing in small tours, the stable staff take two to five riders out at a time for an enjoyable experience not to be missed.

who know horses have often said that when they see a herd, usually one or two will be scraggly or bad looking. But they say that ours are all beautiful.”

The Guggisbergs are also owners of the Guggisberg Swiss Inn on their property that they opened in 1993. A few years after that, the couple vacationed in Hilton Head, S.C., where they went horseback riding. On their return, Julia looked at their herd and said, “We have enough horses to open our own stable.” Today the horses free range on the property when not on the trails or in the stables. Sometimes they come down to the pasture near the inn for a pat or a carrot from Guggisberg if it’s not rainy or muddy.

Occasionally people look at the horses grazing behind fences and choose their favorite to ride. If possible, the stable will accommodate that wish. But horses and riders are carefully matched for safety and compatibility. Several horses are reserved for children, chosen for their gentle characteristics.

“The most memorable moments here involve someone who has never ridden before and for whom horseback riding was always a dream. People end up crying they are so happy about it all,” says Guggisberg.

Guggisberg has owned many well-loved horses in his lifetime, but he admits a horse named Sizzle holds a special place in his heart.

8 April up to the barn. He’s been with me for a long time,” says Guggisberg.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Amish Country Riding Stables is located at 5025 S. R. 557, Millersburg 44654. Trail rides are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Saturday reservations are required; reservations are requested all other days. All trail rides are guided and available May through mid-November.

Trail rides are available for both experienced and inexperienced riders. Rider instruction and saddle fitting take about one hour. Trail time is about 45 minutes. The cost is $50 or $60 per person. Cash only.

Riders must be at least 8 years old. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Those under 16 must wear a helmet provided by the stable at no extra cost.

For more information: 330-893-3600; www.amishcountryridingstables.com or www.guggisbergswissinn.com.

–FACTS ABOU T HONEY –Nature's Sweet & Healthy Foodsource

HONEY IS perhaps best known for its sweet taste. But beneath that sweetness is a complex, healthy food. Bees produce honey from the pollen of plants through a complex enzymatic process, turning it into the beloved golden nectar.

Many properties make honey a unique food that is not just tasty, but also quite healthy. Here are some facts about honey that might get you buzzing.

• When stored in an airtight container, honey can last indefinitely. The substance is naturally acidic and low in moisture, which means it is an inhospitable environment for bacteria. There are small amounts of hydrogen peroxide in honey as well, inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. (Source: Tin Roof Teas)

• Honey has antibacterial properties, so it has been relied on as a health food and topical treatment. Burns, cuts, infections, stomach ailments, and more have been treated with honey. (Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information)

• Honey is the only food source produced by an insect that humans eat. (Source: Peace Bee Farmer)

• Mead is a fermented beverage that is made from

honey. It has a storied history as a beverage of choice in many different cultures. (Source: Hidden Legend Winery)

• Honey is the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life. This includes enzymes, vitamins and minerals. It also contains pinocembrin, a unique antioxidant associated with improved brain function. (Source: Sirhowy Valley Honey)

• A honey bee produces roughly 1⁄12 of a teaspoon of honey over the course of its life. Bees are not the only insect to make honey, however. The honey wasp, native to Mexico, also can produce honey. (Sources: Golden Blossom Honey and Inverse)

• Honey will take on the flavor of the nectar from which it was made. This nectar also will affect the color and the consistency of the honey. (Source: National Honey Board)

Honey has a sweet and rich history. At times honey has been referred to as “the nectar of the gods,” and it is still enjoyed for pleasure and medicinal reasons today. TF199245