ELMER ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE NEW BUGGY

Anna still doesn't trust me talking about buggies.  She still remembers that courting buggy I spoke about that doesn't exist.  Last week she was nervous with me telling about the buggy and for some reason she is double nervous this week.

Someone asked how many buggy makers in our area.  There are two professional makers in our area.  Both are a bit of a way from where we live.  The reason I say professional is that others make buggies for themselves sometimes - like Michael and Kevin made that one for Michael.  But that is not Michael and Kevin's jobs full time.  They do repair buggies, if it is not a major problem.  Now that I  have you confused, we bought our buggy in Penn Yan, New York.

I don't know if all professional buggy makers make both Amish and Old Order Mennonite, but the dealer that built ours does.  Of course, he has a great many Old Order Mennonite and some Amish in his area.

Someone asked if the interior of our buggy was black?  Yes, most of it is.  The dashboard is made of wood.  We had a few choices of the seats, but we chose black because we didn't think it would be as hard to keep clean as the brown or the gray.

On this buggy, we have more reflectors that we did on the old one.  It was something that our Amish group had discussed.  On the back there is one orange reflector at the center of the top.  Also an orange reflector on both sides of the middle of the back edge.  In the center bottom is the triangle reflector with red reflectors on either side of that.  In the front are two reflectors on both sides of the top.  There also are two orange reflectors one on each side below the windshield.  We feel that it is necessary to have more reflectors on our buggies.  Not all groups feel this way, but we do.  Our group voted on them after discussion and Bishop Eli approved them.

Trying to think of what else is different on this buggy.  The back seat can be declined so you can put groceries, tools, etc. back there.  I guess those tools are a question.  It is more comfortable than the old one was.

Well the count down has started as to when John and Sarah's baby is coming.  Anna said it will be after October 15th, but this month some time.

John and Sarah went to the doctor for checking up to see how Sarah was doing.  The doctor believes that Anna is wrong.  John explained that Anna has never been wrong.  She has been right with her children and grandchildren.

What concerns us is John and Sarah haven't decided if they are going to the hospital or having the midwife at home.  They have to make a decision, soon.

Anna has a bag ready to go when the baby time comes.  She has baby blankets, baby quilts and I don't know what all in there.  Anna said if they go to the hospital, she doesn't want her grandchild wrapped in hospital sheets and blankets.  Really don't know if they will allow them as it is a hospital.  Anna said if they don't, the child will be wrapped in them when it comes home.  If the child is born at home, Anna will see the baby is wrapped and warm.

Sarah also has more baby items at home. I know they purchased some new items plus Sarah's Mother gave them some items.  Some of our grown children have given them items they had for their babies - so I don't think they are wanting for baby clothes and other items right now.

Thank you folks for the questions.  Keep them coming in.  Sometimes I don't know what to post about.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer

OUR FIRST FALL SNOW FOR 2015

Saw our first snow for the fall so had to go out and take pictures.  Snow is on the roof of our bird feeder.  The roof of the building in picture two is black - not white.  Showed snow on my car, but thought you could see it better on a red car. The snow on the ground is where a vegetable garden use to be.  Snow on the roof of another bird feeder.  Our picnic table is blue - not white and blue.  The last one a chair with snow.  Hope you enjoy the snow.

MY AFRICAN VIOLETS, AGAIN

My red african violets finally came to life with flowers.  I worried they wouldn't bloom, but they did.  I also put more pictures of the blue and white africian violet.  I am so thrilled they are still alive.  Only water them  on Saturdays, if they need it.  All the rest of africian violets, died.  These are the first I could get to live and I am thrilled.

MENNONITE FARM

What I couldn't get a picture of was the swimming pool in front of the barn in picture 3.  Yes, there was a swimming pool.  When I first drove by, I saw people swimming in it.  Also, because they have a garage doesn't mean they drive cars.  Many farms purchased by the Amish and Old Order Mennonites, in our area, were owned by Englishers.  They use the garages to park their  buggies.
Jean has a two car garage attached to her house.  They purchased their farm from Weaverland Mennonites who drove cars.  Jean and David but their buggies in the garage.

FALL FOLIAGE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK

Color is coming to the threes later this year than last year.  We still aren't in full color yet, but I thought I would share some of the pictures with you.  Fall is here !!!!

JEAN'S CARAMEL APPLE FRUIT SALAD

JEAN'S CARAMEL APPLE FRUIT SALAD

1 stick margarine
1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz crushed pineapple (fresh or canned)
8 oz Cool Whip
1 egg
4 -5 apples (don't peel apples)
3/4 cup dry toasted peanuts (if desired)

Beat together margarine, powdered sugar and egg.  Add 1 small drained crushed pineapple and Cool Whip.  Add 4-5 chopped chunked apples.  Add peanuts.  Mix together and refrigerate.

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