JEAN ANSWERS MORE QUESTIONS

I remember a while back, I said I was taking off for a while and had Elmer come to take my place.  Guess I didn't hold to that very well.  Elmer is here and I thank him very much.  But I am still putting on posts, too.  Guess my temporary retirement didn't work.  I really enjoy being here and have been glad to do it for three years.  Look forward to ;year four as God will have it.

Someone asked if I still sell baked goods.  Not as much as I use.  Now, I have a roadside stand that I sell flowers, herb plants, vegetables (fresh and canned), baked goods and some glass items.  As Marilyn likes to get hankies and aprons to sell on the computer, I get antique glass items and like to sell them at the roadside stand.

Our stand is set up between the house and our fields.  It is easy to see from the house.  We have a jar on the counter to put the money in.  David has made the rule that we ladies can only go out to wait on people at the stand, if he or one of the young folks is here.  He does not want Susan, Katie or myself out there alone.

I no longer sell at the Farmer's Market.  Another Old Order Mennonite lady does.  With all the children, we have time now, I think it is better if my time is spent closer to home.

What is the difference between Amish and Old Order Mennonite clothing?  My answer is between our Old Order Mennonite Group and Anna's Amish Group.  Then, I don't know if we got all the differences.

Anna's Amish group wears sold color dresses: black, brown, deep blue, and deep blue.  We Old Order Mennonite are allowed to wear lighter colors with designs in them - mostly flowers.  Now, some Old Order Mennonite ladies like Grandmother Olive still wear black.  It is rare that she will wear a dress with a print on it.  If it is, it is a home and not if going off our property.  Grandmother Olive doesn't feel right wearing prints outside the home.  Of course when she was raised, all the Old Order Mennonite wore solid colors like the Amish.  Today, Old Order Mennonite has changed, some. Anna's dresses are just a couple of inches longer than ours are - we measured them.

Anna and I both wear black stockings.  We both laughed remembering the days when we had to wear an under garment to holding our stockings up.  Anna's stocking must he heavier than ours.  They are allowed to wear pantyhose as long as they meet the the thickness and material.  I am allowed to wear knee highs or pantyhose, but they don't have to be as heavy a material as Anna's.

Our shoe are also different.  Anna wears tie shoes and in the winter a boot type. They are allowed to wear sneakers on their farms. We are allowed to wear loafers or tie shoes.  Also, we are allowed to wear sneakers on our farms.  Both Anna and my shoes must be black.  

As far as the white caps - Anna's are bit bigger than ours are.  With the covering caps she must wear hers anytime she leaves her property.  We are allowed to leave with just our white caps unless we are going to a service, funeral, etc.

Also Anna wears an apron down the front of her dress.  It usually matches the same color of the dress.  We don't.  I put on aprons at home, but they are not a must and don't wear an apron outside of the our home.

There are probably other differences, but we are just don't notice them.  Those are the major differences.

As for the men.  Elmer wears suspenders.  Our men don't.  Elmer wears a beard, but David doesn't.  Elmer usually wears white shirts all the time while our men can wear white, blue or flannel.  Elmer wears black slacks all the time.  Our men are allowed to wear jeans when working on our property.  When going into town, they must wear black slacks.  Elmer wears high boots where David is allowed tie shoes or loafers.  Elmer's pants hook in the front where David is allowed snaps, buttons or zippers.  Elmer's slacks are bit longer than David's.

What do we make and what are bought?  The men's hats are usually purchased.  Both their felt and straw hats.  Anna and I make our dresses, men slacks, shirts and coats.  We our shoes at the shoe store.  Our men's jeans are mostly purchased at the store.  Thomas has a hard time finding him do to his height, so I have made a couple of pairs for him, but store bought fit him better.  Slacks I make well for him, but jeans are better store bought.  Of course us ladies by our pantyhose at the store.  I know some people make their own, but Anna and I don't.

Here, too, I am sure there are things we forgot to mention.

Be With God,
Jean