Amish Country

Some of our good friends had told us about a trip that they took to "Amish Country" in a nearby town of Pontotoc. We had been talking about it for a little while and decided to make the journey today. There were not clear information on the internet about it, and we really didn't get clear information from our friends except to "go down this road and then stop at a gas station to ask for directions." So, that is what we did, and somehow we made it there. We knew we were getting close when we started to see horse droppings on the road and almost ran into a horse drawn buggy.It was like a step back in time or to another culture to see everyone in homemade clothes and many without shoes. They talked to their families in Dutch and were very quiet. Both N and I were very surprised to see children so quiet -we are used to kids talking and chattering almost nonstop!

Most of the Amish homes in the area were very simple - wooden, with porches, red barns nearby, fields of corn, plots of veggies and more. The homes would have white signs by the road telling what they were selling: fresh vegetables, jellies, scented candles, saddles, handmade soaps, mud rugs and more. They sold from their porches, barns, or sheds. At each house we stopped at, it would only take a moment for a parent or an older sister to come and assist us and then all of the younger children would come and watch and look at us.

Just about every home had animals of some sort in their yard: chickens, ducks, bunnies, dogs, sheep, goats, horses, cows, etc. and H loved it! He was so excited to see all of the different animals. After the first home with chicks, ducks and bunnies, H screamed when we put him back in the car. At the next house I told H to look at some sheep, and instead of just running, he took off running towards them! (At the last home we stopped at, I had just nursed C a little while before and picked him up to go to the porch to see some soaps, and he threw up all over me and the porch... but the man who greeted us said not to worry, he had eight children so they were accustomed to things like that - he was very nice, but I still hated for that to happen. With one child screaming and chasing animals and the other throwing up, we felt very aware of the fact that we have little ones!)

We all had a great time and would love to go again!
Maybe after we rest up a little first...

Some of our bounty that we came home with: A handmade basket, molasses, pear jam, pickled okra, a candle, raspberry soap, okra (there is only about 1/4 of it in the picture), peaches (there are only about 1/6 of them in the picture), cucumbers, and eggplant (H called it a big olive), and we also got a lot of corn... I am thinking up some good meals....