>>>>

Friday, February 13, 2009

An Unlikely Combination!

I always look forward to going North East and seeing the traditional Amish way of life. My heart pounds at sightings of Amish Wash hanging on the line, buggies pulled by horses clopping down the street, kids on push bikes, girls plowing fields in the fall....these are things I think of when I think of the Amish. Big white barns, cattle waiting to be milked or brought in, manicured flower gardens. Fruit and Veggie stands. Shops with Amish made souvenirs...jams, jellies, baked goods, and of course, Quilts!

But as most North-Easterners know...winters can be cold and harsh, and while the farm lays still for the winter,and carpentry comes to a close...what is to stop an Amish family from coming SOUTH to soak up the beauty and the warmth, perhaps finding some carpentry work to do around Florida? Visiting distant relatives who have relocated? Staying with Mennonite families who open up the extra rooms in their homes for room and board?

Shouldn't all children (both young AND old?)experience the pleasure of sand squishing through toes?

Shouldn't everyone who works so hard through life experience the sun on their face,their legs, their arms before the next season of hard work comes with the spring?

Believe me, after a long hard winter, a bit of sun can do WONDERS as Tonya and I found out...look at us dipping our toes in! The water was cold, the sun was warm, the sand felt wonderful, and we let our inner children come out and play too!

14 comments:

  1. were you in Sarasota ? There are several plain churches in that area.

    ReplyDelete
  2. silly me, if I had read the post before this, I would have seen where you were : )

    ReplyDelete
  3. I lived in Indiana Amish country for many years (lots of cold, snow, etc.)... this post made me smile (A LOT).

    LOVE the pic of the two of you standing in the water...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Bonnie:

    It's wonderful that there are "good" Amish.

    Unfortunately, there are many that are puppy millers with their animals "living" (if you can call it that) in horrible, deplorable conditions without proper food, medical care, kindness, etc.

    And there is no way to know which are "good" and which are "bad".

    I used to be in awe of the Amish lifestyle. . . but since my work with animal rescue groups I've chagned my mind.

    ReplyDelete
  5. you guys look like you had a blast!
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great picture of you and Tonya!

    ReplyDelete
  7. We have some of the families in communities in Delaware and so enjoy seeing them at the beaches in the summer. Thanks for sharing your photos....especially the water ones! I saw a robin here today...YAY!!! Spring IS on the way!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What fun you had, I also love that last picture, you both look soooo happy!
    *hugs*
    Tazzie
    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a fun time you two had! I am soooo jealous that you got to put your put your tootsies in that warm water! It's too cold here!

    Heeeey- How DID those Amish get there? I thought they were not to use modern technology? Did you see their horse & buggy? ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  10. How fun! I live just south of Sarasota..and forget how fun it is to go to the beach just to enjoy life!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So wonderful to see you laughing in the sunshine with a friend. This is truly one of life's special moments.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  12. A strange sight indeed, to see the Amish amongst palm trees and white sand beaches. I am only familiar with them from Maryland and Pennsylvania.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Bonnie,

    Looks like you had a great time. My Amish grandmother winters in Sarasota every year. Two of my aunts live there with her and they are Amish as well.

    Which Amish restaurant did you and Tonya eat at? One of my aunts works in an Amish restaurant in Sarasota. I wonder if it's the same one. She usually makes the pies for the restaurant.

    Looing forward to seeing you in June at the Quilters Ulimited Show.

    Deb in Falls Church, VA
    (icountxxs @ yahoo.com)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I go to a Amish Bakery not far from where I live. They are closed the month of January to go on vacation.... to Florida! LOL

    They aren't horse and buggy Amish. They drive tractors with truck beds hooked to the back for the family.

    Tricia

    ReplyDelete

If you are commenting as "anonymous" please leave your name at the end of your comment.

Did you know that ad space on this blog provides for all of the free patterns and free mysteries and challenges at no cost to you? Without ads, this blog would not be possible.

Thank you for understanding the many hours that go into this blog 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year. :)