This is a picture of a dog sleeping at one of my Amish friend's back door. My friend's name is Christy Otto.
When I pulled down the long driveway two dogs were running around the truck. I couldn't see them all the time and I was worried I'd run over one of them.
Christy Otto was waving like "don't mind those dogs". It's weird how you can communicate with a wave.
So I didn't park in a good spot because of my fear of hurting a dog.
As I climbed out of the big diesel truck Christy Otto said, "Don't worry about those dogs. They always seem to find a way to avoid tires."
I said, "I would hate to come visit you and run over one of your dogs."
"These aren't my dogs, he said, "They don't belong here, but they are here most of the time." He waved gus arm toward the nearby house of his grown kids and grandkids, so I figured that is where they really belonged.
If you look at the picture it looks like they have a water bowl. So that is a good invitation to stay.
Christy Otto is sorta famous. I think maybe he is more well know in Ohio that where he lives here in Indiana. He is an illustrator, and he does a lot of work for "The Truck Patch News" which is published in Ohio.
He has a bunch of books and they are a treasure. I know there are three and maybe there is a fourth one now. These books are very funny. If you want an insight into Amish life and thinking you need these books.
I asked him how the book sales were going and he said that they were good. He said they really picked up around October all the way to just before Christmas.
Then he said, as seriously as can be said, "I don't know where they all go. I would think that everyone has one by now." To which I started to laugh and he explained that he meant the Amish community in the area here.
Christy Otto is also a painter. When he moved from his place to the "daughty house" (the house built very near some grown up children for the older adult parents) there was a sale. It was a big sale. I was only interested in the paintings. But there was also a hand made canoe that was a work of art that Christy had made and I was interested in it. I had no place to put it because we were (and are) downsizing also.
I thought maybe I'd buy an orginal painting. And perhaps help bid up the prices a little.
When the finally got around to the paintings they sold off some reproductions first. The prices were good... if you are the seller. I hoped the people heard that these were the reproductions. They must have because the prices went up when they got to the originals.
One very young person obviously had his eye on one particular painting. It was obvious that he was going to get it. He had a determined look on his face and his bids were quick and emphatic. I thought that he must be a grandchild. He was. He was determined to get a painting of granddad's.
I once asked Christy if I could help him sell his books on line. He looked puzzled and said he didn't know. They had to have a family meeting to decide that "no" they didn't want anything to do with the internet. Not even to sell books.
If you don't have a Christy Otto book. They are at the Blue Gate (in the Craft Barn) and the General Store of Middlebury. Or if you have an Amish store near you they might have one for you.
You can contact me and we will figure out how to get one to you if you are interested.
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