Are we allowed to use electric for lighting, refrigeration, etc. ? No. We have gas for our refrigerator. Most of our food items that have to be frozen go over to David and Jean's as they have electric and a freezer business in one of their barns.
In our refrigerator freezer, we keep what foods we need for a week or so. The rest is over at David and Jean's. When we need our food from David and Jean's, we can go over and get it out of our freezer drawers over there. Most of the time, we call them first to make sure it is convenient for them. We don't go on the Lord's Day unless it is an emergency.
Our hot water heater is also run on gas. The stove in our kitchen is a wood burning stove. We also have a wood burning furnace or heater. Also, we have a gas furnance to heat the house. We don't use the gas furnance unless it gets real cold. Anna and I usually use the wood burning furnace or heater when it gets cooler. But sometimes, I don't care what they say, the wood furnace or heater doesn't heat the place enough. So we use the gas.
Sometimes if Anna is using the wood burning stove and we have the wood furnace on it heats the house. But in the deep winter, in the evening, Anna is done with stove, that heater won't heat enough, so we turn the gas furnace on.
As far as lighting the house. Some of our lamps are battery operated, some are on propane and we have some on gas. The standing lamps in our house are propane. We had a few gas lights put in when we had the house built, Most of the lamps we carry room to room are battery operated.
Again, as I have said before, this is our Old Order Amish group. Some Old Order Amish do not allow gas.
Someone asked how do young folks obtain drivers license without parents knowing it? Or do they just buy a car and drive it without a license?
New York State has become stricter on getting license plates for a car. So the young folks usually buy a car from someone that has plates on it. Of course they don't think about if they are stopped or in an accident.
In this state your parents have to sign for your license until you are 18. Yes, many young folks drive cars without a license.
Now you have to have proof of insurance when you go to get the license plates. Some young folks get insurance, which is against our beliefs, get the plates and take the insurance off the car. You also have to show your drivers license when you go to get plates so whoever gets the plates must have a drivers license. It is getting harder to do now days because if you don't have insurance on the car, New York State can revoke your plates and drivers license. Still some people get away with it. Of course, if you don't have a license, they can't revoke something you don't have.
There are still young folks that figure out how to do it. They don't realize how dangerous it is or think it won't happen to them.
Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer
25 comments:
If there's a will, then there's a way! Tom The Backroads Traveller
Good Morning Tom,
That's true.
Marilyn
Good morning, Marilyn. Yep, kids are the same all over. They never think they'll get caught! LOL
I have a question about relationships with the world. I know that Porter and his wife traveled with several people from here. Are relationships with outside the order looked down upon, or must they be approved by the Bishop? I understand in this case, it was due to the age of the travelers. You must be careful who you travel with. If you have an Englisher neighbor, are you allowed to have them visit for meals? Can they help with a barn raising or house building?
Have a great day!
Thanks for answering our questions, Elmer and to Marilyn for posting. Much appreciated. Here's a question for Jean and Anna. A nice Old Order Mennonite lady who has a wonderful produce/baked goods stand saved and gave me some flower seeds I had admired. I would like to give her something in return and was going to give her some special morning glory seeds in exchange, but she said she has no place for growing vines. Any ideas for a little gift? I had thought of a little sachet with a nice card. Would that be okay? Also thought about a baked good, but she sells them herself and might be tired of them - ha,ha.
Thanks! I'll see her soon, so if possible, could you give me some ideas this week?
Mary
Good Morning Angela,
Yup,kids are all the same and think nothing will happen to them.
I have your question and will get it to Elmer and Jean. Sure they will answer your questions.
Hope you have a great day, too,
Marilyn
Hi Mary,
Sure Elmer is happy you enjoyed his post. As yet, I don't have a post so I will contact Anna and Jean and have them answer your question. That is a good question, as others may want to know that, too. What gift to you give someone who is Old Order Mennonite or Amish as a gift. Hope to have your answer tomorrow.
Marilyn
Thanks so much, Marilyn!
Mary
You are welcome, Mary.
Marilyn
Oh - forgot to mention, this is for a lady in Lancaster county, PA - and the store where I was looking at gifts is Good's Store, East Earl township - a wonderful store owned, I think, by a Mennonite family and staffed by the same. A wonderful place where you can find anything!
It's located next to the well known Shady Maple Buffet and Shady Maple grocery store. Perhaps you've heard of it?
Mary
Hi Mary,
Thank you for the information. It sounds like a great place to go to. If I get down that way, I would like to go there and I am sure others visiting that area would like to go, too. You just gave them free advertising on New York State of Mind. LOL
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn,
I have a question - I was wondering whether or not any Amish or Old Order Mennonites do any needlework besides knitting or crocheting, such as counted cross stitching or needlepoint and if so, do they make their own hoops and frames that hold the work while stitching or do they purchase ones from stores and rummages/yard sales?
Thank you!
Laura
Hi Marilyn,
Sorry, forgot another question and not sure if this has been asked before, but do any of the Amish or Old Order Mennonite do beekeeping and if so, do they have any tips or suggestions/stories about it? Oh and please do thank everyone for all their wonderful stories and adventures - love reading about everything!!!
Laura
Hi Laura,
I will see that everyone gets your message and have written down all your questions. The folks really need questions as sometimes they don't know what to write about.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn,
I don't have questions but glad others do, so it helps the writers have subjects to talk about. I always enjoy what Elmer and everyone else has to say. I really appreciate them giving of their time to your blog. Blessings on you all.
Thank you, Marilyn. Question for Elmer: I understand battery operated and propane gas tanks, but the other "gas" part stumps me. Is it the type like I have that's piped in from the city/county through gas lines? Sorry I'm ignorant on the subject.
And yes, teens will be teens no matter what.
Again-Thanks, Carol In SC.
Hi Dynnamae n,
Thank you for the compliments and I will see that everyone gets them. I am glad others have questions, too, because it keeps the posts going.
Blessings to you and yours,
Marilyn
Hi Carol,
I will see that Elmer gets your question. As Elmer says no question is ignorant unless it is unasked.
You are welcome,
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn,
A few more questions come to mind :)
Do either the Amish or Old Order Mennonites ever use either the Farmer's Almanac or Old Farmer's Almanac, why/why not, what do they think of it?
I've been watching a series by BBC on WWII farming efforts on how British farmers had to increase production due to supplies from USA and Canada possibly being cut off and I was wondering if Elmer or anyone knows if any of the Amish or Old Order Mennonite had to or voluntarily increased production during WWII as well and the impact it had on everyone?
And for the ladies, do they use beeswax on their thread when they sew to help keep the thread smoother?
Also, what is their favorite model of sewing machine to use?
Do any of them spin and or dye their own wool for yarn? If so any tips or suggestions?
Do any of them make goat cheese? Any recipes?
And last but not least, for any of them, with Thanksgiving coming up, do any of them have a favorite prayer or hymn they would like to share? I know it is a bit early but I thought it might be nice to hear :) Thank you :)
Laura
Good Morning Laura,
Thank you for those questions. Keep them coming in as you think of them. Sometimes Elmer, Anna, Jean or Grandmother Olive know what there post will be, but sometimes they have to think hard to come up with something. Your and everyone elses questions are a big help. So everyone keep them coming in.
Marilyn
Marilyn: Thank you. In Agatha Christie's mysteries she refers to "gas lights" in England and I never figured out what they were.
Carol in SC
I have what I call a boonies cabin in MI.Upper Peninsula. It has gas lights, gas refrigerator, gas cooking and heating. Oh yes, it has a lovely out house too. It is a great way to get off the grid!
Hi Carol in SC,
This one Elmer will have to answer because I have the foggiest idea. I did have a travel trailer once that had gas lights in it. Not all the lights, just a couple in case you couldn't pull in a place that had electric. The gas for the lights came from the gas in the two gas tanks on the front of the trailer. I don't know how that works at Elmers.
Marilyn
Hi dynnamae n,
Oh, your place sounds wonderful. I don't know if I would get along with the out house, though. LOL
Marilyn
Marilyn, it is a very nice outhouse with a full size door and walkway to it from a covered porch. (; It is a 1 room cabin and sits in the woods. A great place to visit but I couldn't live there with the winters they get up there. Some time I'll share a photo of it with you. Hugs to you and Pierre.
Hi dynnamae n,
Oh, that sounds like a get away place in the spring, summer and fall. Still don't know about that outhouse.
Hugs to you and your kitties,
Marilyn and Pierre
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