Called Home - A slower paced life

Apr. 6, 2008 - A slower paced life

Our latest excursion was three hours and two states away up to Amish country in Lancaster County Pennsylvania.
There life moves at a much slower pace. It was nice. Maybe I'll turn Amish.

We went on a buggy ride.

Our driver was a 78 year old Amish gentleman who still lived in the house he was born in. His family has farmed that land since 1860.

A Mennonite farmer owner the buggy business (that's why he drove a truck and talked on his cell phone).
Amish buggies are gray and Mennonite buggies are black. (bet you didn't know that!) When I asked why....he said tradition.

We discovered Saturday is wash day up in Amish country. Want to know how we knew that?
Every yard or porch had this hanging out to dry.

It was so cute to see all the black pants, colored dresses and black aprons lined up side by side.

Some farms had laundry hanging over 15 feet high! They had a pulley system they went up and up.
Everything was flapping in the breeze!

We went shopping in several of the small towns.

Saw lots of these for sale (oh, if I only didn't have to buy curriculum!!!!)

And saw lots of these. Most Amish up there are Dairy farmers. They raise feed for their livestock on their farms. Each farm is between 50-70 acres. There are a few who raise a cash crop of tobacco. (I learned alot from our driver!!)

All farming is done by horse. No machinery. They don't milk by hand though. They use milking machines for that. How do they power the milking machines, you ask. (I asked too) Diesel powered generators!
They use diesel and propane to operate their stoves/ovens and lights in the house too. (the gas lights give off a real nice glow - quote from 78 year old Amish man!)

It was real nice to walk around the towns, shop, see buggies coming into town to shop (although you wouldn't catch me driving one of those in town. Those "englishers" cars go much to fast and close for my comfort! ) , enjoy hand twisted, just baked soft pretzels and enjoy a slower pace of life.

But then, if I turned Amish, I couldn't blog about it!
Maybe if I turned Mennonite........

Apr. 6, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by 4sweetums

I love amish country. It is a wonderful place to spend some time. I am glad you had fun.
Blessings,
Dawn

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Apr. 8, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Hi my name is rose and i am a homeschooling mom. I visit the Gordonville bookshop with my husband and children and that is where we buy our curriculum. We visited a few one room school houses years ago and loved the school books the children were using. So we go back every year and visit with our Mennonite friends and get more books. I love your photo's~i am glad you enjoyed your trip. Blessings, Rose

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