JEAN ANSWERS QUESTIONS

Found out that there a lot of questions that I haven't answered.  So, when I found out Elmer answered questions, thought I better, too.

Do ladies use beewax on their thread when they sew to help keep the thread smoother?  I don't use it, but I know Grandmother Olive uses it sometimes.  She said with arthritis, the beewax makes it smoother and easier for her to work with.

What makes the best pastry, butter or oil or lard.  I believe the lard.  That is what I use the most, so does Grandmother Olive, and so does Anna.  But, if I didn't have used butter and I have used oil - both came out well.  It's just I think lard is the best and gives a special taste.

After the eighth grade, so the children continue education somewhere else or do they begin apprenticeship in a trade?  Our children do not continue education after the 8th grade.  Young men learn farming in addition to another trade.  Young ladies learn cooking, baking, sewing, cleaning, etc. Some young ladies also learn a trade.

Do Old Order Mennonite and Amish speak a form of German?  Yes, we call it Deitsch.  

Are school textbooks in both English and Deitsch?  I don't know about all schools, but our area school books are in English.  Children know the Deitsch language when they go to school and English is the new language to them.  Katie is an exception because she was born an Englisher and had to learn Deitsch.  Now she can speak both languages.

In our Old Order Mennonite Church meetings on Sunday, is mostly in English.

Does everyone not in the wedding wear black?  Men wear the same.  Amish ladies and older ladies like Grandmother Olive wear black.  The rest of us Old Order Mennonite wore dress with small flowers on the front of them.  But, we do not wear anything that would take attention from the Bride and Groom.

Now the questions you asked Thomas and Ruth, I will see if they will answer them on here, when they get back.

Also, I will see if I can get Grandmother Olive to tell about her and Grandfather in Pinecraft.  They are trying to talk us into all coming down.  David and I are trying to figure out where they would put us all, but Grandmother said they have it all figured out.  Amish Bishop Eli's Mother, Fanny said they would take the over flow of people Grandmother Olive couldn't fit in their cottage, which is very kind of her.  We are also considering the cost of all seven of us going.  Thomas and Ruth got theirs as a wedding gift.  Well, we will see.

Be With God,
Jean