RAINBOW AND SUNSET - NEW YORK STATE SUMMER 2016

These are pictures from after sprinkle we had last Friday.  All taken from my yard.

JEAN ANSWERS SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS

Thought that I would answer some of the questions, you asked.  The first is: In making quilts, do the colors have any special significance?  Yes and no.  We try to use colors that we feel will honor God. In other words, we don't use colors like orange, fire engine red, yellow and alike, when we are making our own.

If we are making a custom order for someone and they want the colors, we don't use on our personal quilts, we sometimes ask our Bishop Joseph or the Amish ask, Bishop Eli.  They want to know why they want those colors.  So if someone asks me for a quilt with colors, we don't approve of, I don't even ask Bishop Joseph, I just refuse to make it.  I have only refused to make one, because of colors.  Most people when they understand our reasoning, change their colors.

Grandmother Olive and my Mother, both tell of, since they were young, on colors have changed.  Most of the colors they used, how to put it, duller tones than we use today - if that makes sense.  They weren't as bright as the colors, we use today.

Certain colors do make a symbol or thought of the Lord.  Like white, we use for wedding quilts, we think of the Lord's purity.  If we use a red, no matter what tone, we think of the blood the Lord shed for us.  Black is symbol of the Lord dying for us. Green means a new life or rebirth.  So colors do mean things to us.

Do we have any quilting hoops and stands?  Are they ever for sale to Englishers?  David and Thomas both make quilting hoops and stands.  Mostly, they do it when one of us women needs one.  If they are busy, like this time of year, more than once I have had to go to Walmart to buy one.

I think if the men thought there was a market for them, one of them would consider making some during the winter to sell this time of year.   For wood items, there seems to be a better market for other items.

Another person asked if I had any good recommendation for getting stains out of white linens?  I use bleach.  Don't use too much as you can over do it.  I want to say a cap full, but I know some bottles have big caps and some have small caps.  I would say 1/4 to 1/2 Tablespoon.  Of course, it all depends on how bad the stain is and how long it has been in.

Keep those questions coming in.

Be With God,
Jean

AMISH FARM - FINALLY SOLD

This Amish house has been on before when it was previously owned.  Also, I was given permission by the realtor to put some pictures on here of the interior of the house when he had it up for sale, which was a while back.  Well, I went by it and several Amish people were standing in front of it, but I didn't take pictures.  On my way back by, I took these pictures.  People are living in it.  Horses are there.  There are even flowers and a garden in front of it.  It is kind of nice seeing people living in it after all this time.  

ELMER TELLS WHAT AGE CHILDREN DRIVE A BUGGY

Thought I would answer the question at what age do children learn to drive a buggy?  The children start with a small pony buggy.  Children usually learn to drive those about six or seven years old.  Now, when we taught our children, they were to only drive it on our property.  They were not to go out on the road or to a neighbor or friend's home.  The pony buggy is a small two seat buggy with one horse drawing it.

Usually a parent teaches the children to drive it.  I know I taught our sons how to drive.  When it came to the girls, I started to teach them, but Anna took over.  I remember her saying, I was teaching the girls like they were on a race track.  Fast and furious.

The boys are usually able to handle the plow and four horses on the field by the age of about ten or eleven.  Which means, at times, they have to take the team with plow on the road.  If they can handle a plow and team, they can handle a horse drawn buggy.

Children are taught how to handle horses before they learn to drive them. They must know how to feed them, take care of them, attach the horse to the carriage, unattach the horse and carriage, brush them and more - before they learn how to drive.

Do the girls learn any different than the boys?  That depends on who you ask.  I say no.  Anna says yes.  Anna says that girls do not do things as roughly or as fast as men do.  They are also not as in a hurry to get some place and back as men are.

Now as far as on the road.  As I said, men can handle a team on the road at about ten or eleven.  Not all parents allow them to drive the buggy on the road at that age - but they know how to.

In the papers over the years, I have seen car or truck and buggy accidents involving young buggy drivers.  If I remember right, I think one was with a boy about eleven years old.  The young boy pulled out in front of a car.  My opinion is that it depends on each child, if they should drive a buggy on the road or not.  I have know adults that shouldn't be driving on the road.  They don't use proper care and handling.  Yet, I know some young folks who are more mature and safe drivers.

We can't blame every car, buggy accident on the cars, because not all buggy drivers are using common sense.  Now that's not saying all car drivers are either.  I guess I got a little off subject. Anna says, way off subject.

Getting back on the subject.  Jean and David's daughter Susan, knows how to drive the buggy.  Jean and David taught her.  She is only allowed to drive when  a parent is with her and only on the back roads.  Like all young ladies, she feels she should be able to drive by herself.  Jean says maybe they are over protective, but feel better to have a parent with her.  On the other hand, if an emergency came up, they know she can drive one by herself.

I hope that answered your questions.  Keep them coming in.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY !!!!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY FROM EVERYONE WITH NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

OSPREY - HAS THREE BABIES

Osprey has THREE babies.  You have to look real close on the right to see the little ones.  I went out to take pictures of a ladies' residece that will be on here.  She looks out a window in her house and sees the osprey.  She said there are three babies there and are almost old enough to begin flying training.

HAPPY FOURTH  OF JULY !!!

GOD'S CREATURES - MOM AND BABY SQUIRREL PLAYING

Saw Mom and baby squirrel playing in my backyard.  Mom does not have much fear of people.  She has been in my yard for a long time.  Baby does have a fear of people, so seeing the two of them playing together in my yard, was a treat.