Visiting Friends of the Old Order Amish

I told the girls that I would take a picture of the very first Old Order Amish that I saw while we drove to Marlene Raber's, . . . so here they are! (And the first buggy sighting, which is next.) It doesn't take long driving in Holmes County, Ohio to see Amish people. They are everywhere. Long story short, I have been fascinated by the Amish since visiting Pennsylvania Dutch Country when I was six-years-old, and as a result of a high school teacher and a journal article in a magazine, I made it a goal to become pen pals with one, . . . and I did. Marlene and I have been friends since we were seventeen. (Well, I was 17, and Marlene was 12.) Every few years we visit them, and every visit turns out to be the BEST farm vacation and the BIGGEST educational experience that both myself or my children could ever have. This time was no exception. A few quick answers. Our most common question when we first met Marlene usually started with, "Why do you _______." Fill in the blank. The answer is ALWAYS one of two things. 1. To keep the focus of the Amish on the community and the family. or 2. To keep from vanity and convenience. Keep that in mind when questions arise.

Here we are arriving at Marlene's and Robert's house. Paul Mark, of course, waisted no time in bringing out their pony to show Leia.

Here is Julie Ann holding Marlene's youngest, Layla. (And I noticed right away that Julie Ann was wearing crocs. So was I.) ; )

Here is Malinda, Leia, and her Amish doll (also named Julie Ann) walking to the neighborhood get-together. Leia got her special doll last time we visited. She has been VERY loved. : )

The sunsets in Holmes County, Ohio are amazing! Ironically, last time we visited, we had a similar experience coming home from a family gathering. I did not take pictures of the gathering this evening because I didn't want to offend anyone there, . . . and although I have asked Marlene and Robert (and got the "okay"), I am still quite cautious. Amish who have joined the church are not allowed to pose for a picture. People younger than 20 (those who haven't joined yet), can pose away. Malinda especially was fond of posing.

Here is the Raber's beautiful barn, designed by Robert to allow air flow.

The first time tasting some real hay!

Ah, and Marlene says, "For every Amish woman, Monday is laundry day. She has a 1920's style washer that she hooks up to a generator. She then runs the clothes through a ringer into the rinse water, then through the ringer again into the "spinner" (which was a new item that she was excited about), and then hangs them on the line.

Paul Mark, as the best example of a ten-year-old Amish boy EVER, has his own pony and pony cart. We took LOTS of rides!!!

Here is the straw in the hay loft above the barn (and, yes, there literally is a trap door to throw it down)! : )

And here are the Amish using four draft horses to bail hay. Marlene said this was the "second cutting," where the first cutting is always the most nutritious for animals. Hay can be cut as much as five times in a year. Marlene laughed when she found out I thought that straw and hay were the same. They're not. Hay is its own plant that serves as animal food. Straw is the bottom of the wheat after it has been harvested and is used only for bedding.

Okay, so here is the newest addition to the Raber household: a SOLAR PANEL. I couldn't believe this! Now she has electric lights, . . . but only in the basement. ; ) The rest of the house is powered by propane, . . . each light must be lit by a lighter, much like a camping lantern.

Leia got to pick onions and potatoes!

Julie Ann found the smallest onion.

Malinda found the smallest potato.

Julie Ann and a one-week-old puppy!

Here's one of the rare pictures of Robert, . . . who was always willing to give us a buggy ride.

Here's some straw being bailed.

And the biggest surprise of the visit, . . . at breakfast one morning there were four newborn puppies, . . . and after breakfast there were NINE!!!

Each puppy is a pure bred golden retriever, . . . and worth almost $500!!! I told Marlene that we were in the wrong business! Ha!

Annie's usual puppy mantra, "I'm-done-I'm-done-I'm-done." Especially after one pooped on her. Ha!

Some newborn baby barn swallows.

Pony rides as well, . . . and Paul Mark laughed SO hard when I told him that, at the state fair, we pay $5 for a few paces around in a circle.

And Marlene was growing, guess what, stargazer lillies that she was very proud of! A connection between friends? I think so!

And Paul Mark was just starting to learn how to jump his pony. I took some video of him and he started telling everyone, "I'm a movie star!" Ha! Each night, all the kids wanted to do was check out the pictures and video of the day. : )

And Leia was a really big fan both of pony cart rides, . . . and fresh parsley!

One day Marlene made some REALLY awesome fresh pickles! I LOVED her slicer!

And car rides were a favorite for everyone. Ha! Can you believe that "English" drivers (English are anyone who aren't Amish) charge $40 for 20 minutes!?!

We gave them the thrill of their life one night when we drove them to Wal-Mart at night! Ha! They had NEVER been! : )

I took this one for all the "English" mammas out there who are so anal about safety. Here I am holding Layla less than TWO feet from a wooden wheel spinning at 35 mph. No car seat.

Going out to dinner one night: best apple butter, amish peanut butter, dressing, and "wedding" chicken EVER.

And, just like last time we visited, . . . our final evening hosts a beautiful rainbow as a testament to our friendship blessed by God!

And Annie's present this time was her OWN little Amish doll, . . . that she named, guess what, . . . Malinda! : )

Marlene's canning closet.

And Marlene lighting one of her lamps on our last evening. And that night I brought out my portable DVD player and tried to show them the best movie of all time: The Sound of Music. You know what?!? They fell asleep! But get them talking and they can talk all night, . . . and we did! : ) So in case you are wondering what Amish people DO without TV, computers, phones, or cars, . . . the answer is, . . . they TALK and TALK and TALK and TALK. : )