I just spent a week in Lancaster County, and enjoyed some wonderful spring weather. It’s been a little while since I visited at this time of year. With the flowering trees at peak-level, or near it, it’s truly beautiful right now. I wanted to share a grab bag of photos from my visit with you today. First off, mamma and foal. I came a little…
I don’t believe we’ve yet seen inside a Mississippi Amish home, so I couldn’t pass this one up. That’s in part because Mississippi has such a small Amish population – just one community of around 160-some people. For an Amish community in the Deep South, you wouldn’t expect to see a lot of icy precipitation. But when these photos were taken, the area (Pontotoc in…
When I do posts and videos showing the insides of Amish homes, often enough you’ll be able to see fuel sources such as propane tanks and kerosene, used for lighting, cooking and other purposes. People frequently wonder whether these sources of heat and light are safe. I asked Ben about this and he gives his answer in the video below. The types of fuel (and…
An Ohio Amish teenager was robbed at gunpoint yesterday evening, and deputies are now seeking the suspect. This happened in Jackson County in the area of Beaver. From the Scioto Post: Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies are actively investigating an armed robbery incident that occurred on Thursday evening, involving an Amish teenager traveling on Cove Road. Dispatchers received a report just after 5:30 p.m. indicating that…
This is one of the smallest Amish homes we’ve looked at (but not the smallest). The floor space is actually just a hair above 1K, at 1,028 square feet. What we most likely have here is a classic case: growing Amish family needs more room. This home is in Hancock, Wisconsin (Waushara County), home to an Amish community which has been around since the early…
Mike Kinsey’s garage was moved to its new location on Saturday – thanks to a volunteer team of Amish and non-Amish people. Nelson Troyer, the Amishman in charge of the move, gathered 70 Amish people, and put out the call for 70 more to join from the non-Amish community. And enough responded to get the job done. They ended up with “more than 100” people….
Another feel-good story for your Friday – at least “part one” of the story. An Amish man named Nelson Troyer is spearheading an effort to move the garage of a non-Amish neighbor. Mike Kinsey lost his home in flooding on the Yellowstone River in 2022. The move is happening tomorrow and Troyer is looking to have 150+ people to get the job done. Amish moving…
Back in December, while on the way up to Goot Essa cheese, Ben and I stopped in at an Amish farm food business we happened upon along the way. Spring Bank Acres is located in Penns Valley and is run by Raymond Fisher and his wife Mary. I realized I hadn’t shared this yet, so here are some photos from that day and our travel…
A viewer writes/asks: “My understanding is that the church bishop makes decisions on what is and isn’t allowed for their community.” I’ve found this is a common belief: the bishops are “in charge”, and in some cases wield heavy hands on their flocks. It fits with certain perceptions of the Amish as an insular, conservative religious community to have a dominant figure at the center,…
In the past week, court documents were unsealed that revealed new details in the Rebekah Byler murder case. Much of it concerns the behavior of the man charged with the crimes, Shawn C. Cranston, as well as relevant evidence (and what he may have done with it). There are also new details on Cranston’s prior contact with the Amish – both with other members of…