Well I am back from my very first visit with the Amish……wow! Not only am I exhausted, and excited by all I learned, I met so many different people. From all aspects of the workers to the elders, from the introverts all the back to the extroverts of which there are not too many. I have learned so much from this trip about the Amish and one of the best is the FOOD OF COURSE!
I have never eaten so good, we ate only two big meals a day and some fruit and yogurt for lunch in between stops. But Let me tell you the Amish know to eat and cook the best country meals I have ever had. I will have to share some with you in the future some of their wonderful recipes from beet and mustard eggs to SLUSH my new found love and favorite desert … like a chunky Italian ice…..HEAVEN!
All the tours the craftsmen working and all the factories, from the raw lumber to the wood working and staining (which is done by a good deal of ladies whom are good at detail work) to finishing was unbelievable. And if you read my last BLOG entry on one of the young ladies who helped me out and showed me how to carry bookcases with glass doors….very humbling.
I came into a break at one of the oldest vendors and the girls were all on one side of the factory floor and all the guys were on the other side. Learning their practices and their beliefs was so interesting. Things like who’s having their first baby to who’s having their seventh, to how some have chosen to go to college and how some have chosen the life of a craftsman and a farmer and going to work right after they finish the eighth grade.
Very fascinating to me and very lucky for me to have met these wonderful people and to have Henry show me the ropes and his philosophies from how to act and respectfully handle their customs. All in all they were all very nice, pleasant and professional. AND DO THE ALL KNOW HENRY, he has been doing this for thirty five years every month. Especially because Henry has always brought them chocolate since they were just babies, very smart man that Henry.
This is going to be a very good year……by the way did anyone ask Henry the question from the last BLOG????