SNOW - NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Took these pictures of snow we had November 23, 2015.  The top picture was taken on Main Street.  The second thru sixth pictures were taken in our downtown park.  The rest were taken in my back yard.  Wanted to put some snow pictures on.

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

ELMER ANSWERS SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS

As I give this to Marilyn, there is a big wind outside.  So, if you only get part of a post you know why.

Do Amish or Old Order Mennonite ride bicycles?  The Old Order Mennonites in our area are allowed to ride bicycles. Young folks and older folks are allowed to ride.  Some Amish groups are allowed to ride bicycles, but not all.  In our area, the Amish are allowed to ride bicycles.  Mostly the young folks ride them, but some adults do.

Is it customary in most Amish communities for son or daughter to turn their earrings over to their parents until they are 21 or married?  Yes.  When one of our children started working, Anna and I allowed them to keep part of their pay for their own use.  We took the rest of the money and opened a savings account for them.  Each child as they worked got their own savings account opened.  Of course they didn't know that.  They thought we were using the money.  Our son, Elmer was the first to marry.  The day after he married, Anna and I gave him the book to the savings account.  That's when all the other children found out what we were doing with the money they earned.

Not all Amish do this, as I understand.  Some parents use the money to pay bills, buy groceries, etc. to support their families.  Thanks to the Lord, we were in a position where that was not necessary and we were allowed to put money away for our children.

Of course, once the younger children found out we were doing this, they came up with all sorts of excuses to try to get us to give it to them before they married or were 21. We didn't do it.  They all are glad we didn't and are now doing the same thing for their working children.  I know that David, Jean's husband is doing the same for their children.

What is the average age that Amish get married?  Most get married between 18 and their early 20's.  Our son John did not get married until he was almost 25.  But, not all people get married at that age, some don't marry until they are older.  A very few never marry.

Do Amish accept health insurance if a company they work for offers it?   If we have the choice, no we do not accept it.  We believe insurance is a way of the world and we do not accept it.  Even though we may be paying Social Security at the place we work, we do not accept that either.

Does "frolic" mean a house raising instead of a barn raising?  No.  Frolic could be a house raising, barn raising, plowing someone's field, etc., etc.  Anything where a group of us is together helping someone is a frolic.

We are suppose to have snow tomorrow.  Us farmers hope so.  We believe the snow helps the soil which gives us better crops.  I know some people do not like snow and we don't sometimes, but we sure could use some now.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE

Someone asked if donations could be made to the organization that Thomas and Ruth went on. The organization is Mennonite Disaster Service.  Even though Thomas and Ruth left from New York State and they do have an office in Seneca Falls, New York - donations go to the main office.

If you live in the U.S. you can send to:

Mennonite Disaster Service
583 Airport Road
Lititz, PA 17543

If you live in Canada you can send to:

Mennonite Disaster Service
6A - 1325 Markham Road
Winnipeg, MB  R3T  4J6

KALONA, IA - AMISH

These are pictures Dynna took while in Kalona, IA.  The top picture is of the Centerville  School.  The next four pictures are of an Amish farm and fruit stand.  The last picture is of Amish women in a buggy.  I thank Dynna for sharing these pictures with us.

If anyone else has pictures they would like to send us, let me know at lincolnlady1121@yahoo.com.  I would be glad to put them on here.

THERE WILL BE ANOTHER POST TOMORROW.

AMISH HOUSE WORKED ON AFTER FIRE - TOM THE BACKROADS TRAVELLER

 Last Saturday, Tom said he went to see Amish friends in Clyde and then up to Kelsey Road where the fire was.  The larger red building in the picture is the organic egg barn.  Thirty some odd men and boys were gutting the house so the repairs can be made.

I thank Tom The Backroads Traveller for these pictures and for all the trouble we had to go through to get them on here.

JEAN'S SPLIT PEA SOUP

JEAN'S SPLIT PEA SOUP

2 quarts cold water
2 cups green split peas
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
Dash of cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients.  Thyme and marjoram should be powdered.  Cover and cook slowly for 1 hour or more.  It should cook until the peas are very soft.  Put through a coarse sieve.  Reheat to boiling.  Serve in piping hot bowls.  I also serve with dark eye bread and butter.  Serves 6-8 people.

I want to apologize for not having the Christmas recipes on this year.  With the wedding, I just got behind   Jean