Lizziefaye's Comfy Corner discussion
Amish in April 2020
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My first experience seeing any Amish people was growing up in Oklahoma. There is/was a small community near Wapanucka, Ok. We used to travel through there on our way to and from Stillwater, the home of Oklahoma State University. My entire family (my parents, siblings, myself and all of my brother's children) have attended and graduated from there. So we have made lots of trips. Anyway occasionally we would meet a horse and buggy on the road. Of course there were signs with the horse and buggy picture to warn drivers to go through the area with caution. I remember asking my mother about them as we drove through. She didn't know much, but told me what she knew. The summer when I was 16 I went on a 4-H trip to Washington D.C. The Oklahoma delegation made a side trip through Pennsylvania and spent several hours in Lancaster. Our coach drove through the Amish Countryside with a Mennonite guide who gave us lots of information. Then we ended our day at the Bird-in-Hand Market. I remember it being very touristy, but of course I had to buy some souvenirs like everyone else.
About 20 plus years ago, we visited my husband's aunt and uncle in Ohio and they took us to an Amish Farmers market where I bought a water bath canner that I still use whenever I want to can some tomatoes or pears or whatever someone sees fit to bless us with. We didn't really meet any Amish people that trip, but they were running the stalls and made up the majority of people selling stuff.
Randy and I also went to Lancaster one year for a Model Convention (He has one that needs restoring), but as I recall we didn't take time to do any sightseeing and didn't interact with any Amish people. Of course there were signs all around with warnings to drivers.
Then just last year around Christmas time there was an Amish man at our church for a few Sundays. (We attend a Southern Baptist Church). I had a couple of opportunities to chat with him and when I told him that I read a lot of Amish Fiction he warned me that a lot of it is probably not true. The reason he was there was that he was staying in Pinecraft for the winter, but had been hired to drive a horse and buggy for some local holiday events. I'm still not sure what brought him to our church since we are a couple of hours from Pinecraft. Maybe he knows someone in our congregation. Anyway, he was a very nice man and I was privileged to meet him.
That pretty much sums up all of my brushes with Amish communities and Amish people. I've read quite a bit of fiction about Amish people and books set in Amish country. I've no doubt that what the gentleman told me is true about Amish fiction. Each book is fiction and told from the perception of each author and may or may not be an accurate portrayal. I still enjoy it for what it is and plan to continue reading it.
Oddly enough, as Rv’ers, my husband and I have been in two areas that have Amish communities, one in Sarasota and one in Shipshewana, Indiana. We were at an RV rally in Sarasota, Florida and ate at the Der Dutchman restaurant, which has Amish food and baked products/preserves. Some Amish served as salespeople. The Sarasota area apparently has a community and one Amish cable series showed pictures of housing there. Also attended an RV rally near Elkhart, Indiana and saw the many horse and carriages on the road; one night returning from Shipshewana, we saw Amish children bouncing on a trampoline at twilight! In that town there is a famous Yoder’s market that sells meats, Amish cheeses, spices and preserves, as well as a flea market with Amish stalls manned by Amish in traditional dress.
Nancy wrote: "Oddly enough, as Rv’ers, my husband and I have been in two areas that have Amish communities, one in Sarasota and one in Shipshewana, Indiana. We were at an RV rally in Sarasota, Florida and ate at..."That sounds like so much fun Nancy. We have an RV, but don't get to use it much due to working and kids being in school.
I live in Florida but have not been to the Amish community in Sarasota yet. I would like to go sometime though. One of the book series that I'm reading right now for this readathon is set there.
Since we will be reading some Amish themed books this next week, I thought that some of you might have some Amish related experiences to share with the group. Have you ever been to Amish Country? Do you have any Amish Communities near your home? Is there anything about the Amish that you would like to chat about.