In her guest post last Friday, Kate Hastings pointed out how common calendars are in Amish homes. Kate noted that while visiting an Amish friend, “I realized that I could see six picture calendars from where I was sitting in the kitchen.” The calendars “featured horses, barns, lighthouses, bluebirds, and wildflowers.” While you won’t find family portraits on Amish walls, you will find a range…
Today is the first day of spring (also known as the furthest day possible from next winter). Depending on your latitude, you may need the calendar to tell you that. But even if your weather this morning doesn’t seem so springy, it will be here soon enough. With spring, plants know the wait is over. They may now officially begin to sprout and grow. Of…
I think you’ll enjoy this guest post today from Kate Hastings, about a special publication with a long and interesting history: I was excited when Erik asked me to be a guest blogger, although I feel unworthy of the honor. I teach journalism, film, and writing at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, and I am not a scholar of Amish history and culture. I simply have…
Following up 10 views of Lancaster County, here are 10 photos from another Pennsylvania Amish settlement. Big Valley, officially known as Kishacoquillas Valley, is home to the second-largest Amish community in Pennsylvania. Big Valley is located in Mifflin County in central PA. Here you’ll find three distinct Amish groups–Nebraska Amish (white-top buggies), Renno Amish (black top) and Byler Amish (yellow). The valley is truly a…
You may remember the “Trouble in Amish Paradise” documentary film of a few years ago, which examined two Amish couples’ decisions to leave the Lancaster Amish. The maker of that film, Andrew Tait, has released a follow-up film called “Leaving Amish Paradise”. This is one of a number of recent films and books on the experiences of former Amish (see also the National Geographic ex-Amish…
There’s been a change in Illinois: Amish gun owners will now have to “say cheese” for their gun IDs. According to this news story, if things stand Amish will apparently now need to have pictures on their Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) cards. This story might shed some light on a couple of lesser-known topics: photo IDs for Amish and other religious minorities, and the Amish approach…
A few items of interest for your Friday: Amish winter headwear Reader Slightly-handled-Order-man recently asked: Could you write an article on Amish winter clothing? Well, I don’t know about a whole article, but why don’t we start with the head? The Amish straw hat is an icon, and comes in a wide range of styles. But did you know that when it gets chilly many…
How active are Amish in mission work? As touched on in “So you want to join the Amish“, Amish have traditionally looked more inward than outward, focusing spiritual energies on their own rather than seeking converts. But that doesn’t mean they shun all mission-minded outreach. There has been historical interest in mission work within the Amish. The New Order Amish movement grew, in part, out of an…
Halifax County on the NC/VA border in southern Virginia is home to a tiny Amish community. On my recent Amish trip I paid a brief visit. Halifax County is one of just 4 Amish communities in Virginia. If you missed it I shared some photos of one of the others here: Charlotte County, Virginia Amish. The Halifax County community was founded in 2005, and is…
Pennsylvania Dutch markets thrive throughout the greater Philadelphia region If you live anywhere in the Philadelphia-Baltimore-Washington DC corridor, you might have Amish nearer than you think–at least for a few days each week. Amish market stands are found scattered across the Eastern corridor, bringing Plain life into the cities and suburbs of America’s largest metropolitan areas. Market stands provide a pretty decent living for Amish….