Yesterday David and I rented Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. What a laugh, and just what I needed with my stress levels running so high!

It's been raining constantly, the air is cool, and it's beginning to feel like autumn. I took a long, nice luxurious bath full of my favorite fragrances, bubbles, candles, followed up with cucumber eyes and a clay mask. Mmmmm. I almost fell asleep in the tub to the sound of rain pattering on the ceiling window.

I also cleaned my room and did my first watercolor painting in a long time. I got so good at watercolors for a while, but I'd been out of practice and they'd been starting to frustrate me. So I've made a deal to do as many watercolor paintings possible, as the only reason why I got good in the first place was because I had no other medium to experiment with.

What always interests me at Union Station in Chicago is the Amish people I run into on the way home. At least, I think they are Amish. They are always waiting for the Amtrak train. I stood in line behind an Amish woman in the washroom and she was talking to her child in a seemingly different language. Anyway, the point is, I have wondered; if they resist the modern life, why are they taking trains? Not that I mind or anything. The kids are so adorable. The little boys have fake beards and the girls have teensy white caps!

Okay, enough rambling.

Because they will belong to such a restrictive religion, in order to make sure that they're not completely sheltered from the real world, I will also encourage them to form rival gangs within our household.  My husband and I will, of course, be in the same gang.  We will have our own gang signs and initiations.  We'll divide the household into territories and there will be consequences for trespassing.  Nothing violent...just a grounding or an extra cow to milk or something.  They need to learn the truth.  East LA won't be as kind, should they decide to move there for their rumspringa, at which point I fully expect them to leave the Amish church.  Whether or not they join a gang on the outside is their decision.  I certainly wouldn't encourage that behavior, trusting they will have learned that lesson already.  On top of that, should they decide to be baptized into the Amish church, it would forbid them from using automatic weapons, so that pretty much kills their chances of getting into a gang anyway.  It's so hard to raise kids these days.  You gotta be creative.

Peace out.

In a jovial, faux-exasperated tone of voice, our director asked me where the two of them were. In a jovial, faux-exasperated tone of voice, I answered.

Hell if I know.

Half of the band gasped. Our director sent me an amused but officially disapproving glare. The community-made half of our band laughed upon recognizing either reaction.

I was as shocked at that shock as half of the band was with my language. I come from bands where instructors will cuss out a band if they feel the band would be better motivated by doing so, and that's the least of my stories.

One director, upon hearing cacophony where there should be ordered dissonance in stacked seconds, said what he heard sounded like an abortion looks.

Saying "hell" is nothing.

More ironically, I consciously don't cuss --- a habit I most definitely did not pick up from my family, and at the same time one I most definitely picked up because of them. My words don't get saltier than the silly-sounding "douchenozzle," and that's just about the only word I take pains not to say around schoolkids.

Yet I made some college freshman blush because I used language I've heard on the playground --- the elementary school playground --- and I don't think it's because she's a flute player. Either way, I don't think I'll ever be in her good graces.

Something tells me I would have spared some nerves if only I had remembered that our sponsoring university was founded in 1944. By Mennonites. Freakin' Mennonites.

I can say freakin', right?

Dog Days of Summer are Over

It’s hard to believe we are looking back on another Summer.  I’ve taken the summer off with my blog but promise to be more attentive now that fall is approaching.

Looking back over the summer it was a good season.  The weather was rather unpredictable but all-in-all it wouldn’t be New England if the weather didn’t change. 

I think my back yard produced more mushrooms than grass.  Some varieties I’ve never seen before.  There were many different shapes and colors.  Regretfully I didn’t photograph them.

I made a trip to Pennsylvania in July visiting Hershey, Gettysburg and Lancaster County.  Hershey I could leave – just another tourist trap, but so much history in Gettysburg.  If you haven’t visited I highly recommend it.  From the pictures in the museum, the fall would be a great time to visit with the foliage and cooler days (it was hazy, hot and humid in July).  I was pleasantly surprised as subtle difference between the Amish Lancaster County and the Amish of Northern Indiana.  I learned the Amish first settled in Pennsylvania then over time moved onto Ohio, Indiana, Canada and other areas.  They are a thriving community and one has to admit appear to live a very good life,

A very relaxing BBQ at Uncles on Labor Day – it was a nice way to close the season.  My dog was “dog” tired as you can see from the picture.  But he will survive.

But they are.

One of those somewheres is in the countryside just outside of Arthur, Illinois,  where I spent the better part of an afternoon. Arthur is a village of about 2000 people, "the heart of Illinois Amish Country" whose slogan is, "Arthur, Illinois: Where You're Only a Stranger Once!" And their tourist department is spot-on: along with being the most Amishly-concentrated place I've ever been, Arthur also, hands-down, has taken first place on my running list of Most Friendly American Places.

I made myself at home on a bench outside of the Ace Hardware store near Progress Street and watched a wizened white-bearded old man steer his horse and carriage out of a parking lot after he waved hello to me. A guy about my age in a homespun work shirt and pants pedalled past on an incumbent bike down the street after saying hello. A woman dressed in modern clothes slammed the door of her SUV and shouted "hi!" before rushing into the hardware store.

At the gas station in the village, there was no machine outside to take my credit card. I walked inside and said "Fifteen on number three, please." Everyone in the station stopped and stared. After a moment, the cashier said, "Aw, hon, you pump the gas first - then you pay!"

Compared to the never-make-eye-contact-and-never-trust-anyone-because-they'll-fuck-you-over Seattle mentality I was brought up in, the attitude in Arthur made me feel like I was in the presence of some divine entity, some trusting, super-human being.

I am not sure exactly where the friendliness of Arthur hails from: the Amish who farm nearby, the "English" who live in town, or the fact that it is simply a country town. I guess it doesn't matter much, even though it is quite easy for me to attribute it to the Amish farmers, since in Seattle we didn't have bragging rights to either Amish farmers or friendliness, so in a quick glance it is easy to believe that one influences the other.

At any rate, what I can say with absolute certainty is that I personally felt friendlier after visiting Arthur. The feeling was something akin to going back to the hubbub of ordinary life after meditation. And I have no doubts that the Illinois countryside, the "English", and the Amish all played equal parts in that equation.

Purple and yellow wildflowers dotted the sides of the highway like forgotten confetti all the way to the village, and healthy grasses and corn stalks ushered me out of the world of industry. I have heard a lot of negativity about the Midwest from coastal folks, but I can't relate to their complaints of the "boring landscape": every time I drive out on a back country road, I find myself taken aback by the surprising beauty of it all.

The "English" (or Non-Amish) folks of the area were probably the most influential on me overall, although I am reluctant to admit it. It is so much easier to romanticize the Amish because their appearances are so different from my own. But the truth is that while I will never, ever be Amish, I am, and will continue to be somebody with at least one foot in the modern world.  And for all the bitching I do about the snottiness of Seattlelites and the bad moods that cities seem to spawn, I realized in Arthur that the traffic, overcrowding, and rapid pace of urban life would serve as easy scapegoats for my bad moods and occasional asshole behavior. If I lived in a rural area where everyone knew who I was, though, and I was surrounded by beauty all the time, then the blame for my attitude would rest squarely on my own shoulders. And that's a lot of responsibility. To choose to live in a village like Arthur, and to shoulder the burden of personal accountability to such a degree that you contribute to the saying "where you're only a stranger once" is actually quite an amazing feat, in my opinion.

The Amish, on the other hand, aren't allowed such a choice, unless they are willing to surrender their families and homes. So with the Amish philosophy, it isn't the choice, but rather the simple logic behind their visible actions that I admire. Farmhouses are built sturdy and strong, obvious from the road. Their clothing is plain, but made to last. Cows graze out in the pastures behind the barns because the Amish eat beef and drink milk. It all makes sense. And what a relief logic was that afternoon against the backdrop of my world: a world where we buy breakable things for decorative value, and work for dollar bills that we can't physically eat.

I have my share of problems with Amish philosophy, as well as with the stereotypical narrow world view of rural folks in middle America. But both of these groups do make me wonder if we've thrown the baby out with the bath water in our quest for human evolution: why is it that, at present, open-mindedness and more liberal lines of thinking apper to lend themselves to a lowered level of personal accountability? In other words, why is it that the nation's most liberal centers are also the places where eye contact with strangers is most avoided? 

I can visit a religious, conservative town and feel very much at home, despite the fact that I disagree with almost everything the town's residents have to say. But in a liberal outcropping where my politics align with the folks around me, I find that more often than not, there remains a strong sense of untrust between us. So what gives? Out of all the groups I've mentioned, the Amish have the most to lose, as the smallest among them and as a culture in danger of dying out under the encroachment of modernity - and yet they are the first to raise their hands to wave hello to a stranger. Maybe I'm a "traitor" to even suggest it, but it strikes me that some of the evolution lessons out there aren't earmarked for conservatives.

Photo By Bruce Johnson Ohio Bluebird Society

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I have to tell ya tho....I've figured out her formula, and her writing really isn't THAT good. But she's got the market on the Amish books I think. Plus I'm still mopey that I've finished all the Outlander books!!!

****

Mormons and teh gays, strange bedfellows indeed.

****

In all of our modern techno-convenience, we're still what failing at banking, paying more for less, and driving our way to hell because the handbasket isn't fast convenient big sexy enough. However, there's one group of Americans that are recession-proof, decently fed, driving up land prices, and contribute nothing to the global warming crisis. Who are they? Fancy, schmancy hollywood types? No, they're the Amish.

If you don't know much about them, quick read this as they may be appearing in a neighbourhood near you. One of the modern world's mysteries like Bigfoot or why the dryer only eats one sock and not both, are the Amish, a group of (primarily) American Christians who eschew the modern conveniences of life and eek out a wholesome and humble living on farms throughout Minnepennsylhiosconsintuckyssourinois. Hint: the s in ois is silent. Recent studies, however, indicate that this elusive and mysterious group of sustainable, eco-friendly Christians are multiplying and, like student activists to a swing state, may be moving to a township near you. If you happen to live in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Washington or West Virginia that is.

Is this bad news? Residents are split.

For some the rise in property values, because the Amish are self-reliant and don't greedily use public services like the rest of us along with their generally respectful demeanour are a positive thing.

"Dennis Hubbard, a government official in Sheldon Township, Wis., said the newcomers seldom appear in the court system, require long-term care or attend public schools."

Some business are even catering to this rising demographic,thus legitimizing the veracity of the study's findings. Because when the market reacts, it's for real.

"hardware store owner Dan Falder said his business is one of several to install hitching posts where the Amish can tie up their horses,"

However, all is not peachy.

"In communities where local officials aren't acquainted with them...[this] creates some misunderstanding on zoning issues or other unique factors in Amish practice." for example, "seven men are fighting charges they operated horse-drawn buggies without the flashing lights and orange safety triangles that state law requires."

Well, it appears that even these peace-loving peoples have their foibles. Which one could interpret as a sign of doom that here, in America, the Land o'Lohan, if you can't trust even the Amish to be good citizens, what hope is there for the rest of us?

The Amish have nearly doubled in the last 16 years as reported by USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-08-20-amish-population_N.htm).

I find it amazing...who said Christians aren't good for the environment? These have got to be the most eco-friendly folks in the world.

STAYCATION RATING (1-10):  5

PRICE FOR OUTING (w/out factoring in gas mileage):  approx. $60

RECOMMENDED?  Yes (all ages)

Our family's staycation adventure officially begins today and will last... well... hopefully forever for all intents and purposes. 

As an inaugural trip, my five-year-old son and I ventured to the Strasburg Railroad just outside of Lancaster, PA.  It was a journey I'd promised him for months now, and a weekday seemed the best opportunity to escape to the Amish countryside for some steam engine fun.

I must preface this staycation review by saying that my little guy loves trains and doesn't hate the annoying shriek of steam whistles (too much).  There were other children visiting the railroad in Strasburg who obviously wished their parents had brought along ear plugs.

But I digress...

The trip from Harrisburg to Lancaster was about an hour and relatively uneventful.  We passed several touristy "hot spots" -- Dutch Wonderland (I promised my son I'd take him there... but I didn't say when... heh, heh, heh), the Tanger Outlets, the Sight and Sound Theatre.  Really, there's a ton of potential for staycation destinations along and off Route 30 East. 

Parking was a breeze -- lots of spots available (did I mention this was a weekday?  Come on the weekend and it probably is packed) and free for the taking.  However, I was surprised by how little ground seemed to encompass the Strasburg Railroad train station area.  There were a few buildings -- stores, a cafe, ticket windows -- but not what I envisioned.  I pictured some kind of grand central station in the middle of rural PA.  Um.  Nope.

Still, we were there for trains, and quickly purchased day passes for us both.  For our needs, they seemed the most economical and allowed us to ride the train (coach seats only -- dining car and open air seats were extra) as many times as we liked.  My ticket was $20, my son's $15.  Not bad considering nearby HersheyPark (which I admit isn't the best comparison action-wise, but I'm just looking at the price tag) would charge me $49.95 for my ticket and $30.95 for my son's.

Our first order of business was to take a ride on the train; it's very authentic and wildly interesting.  It's also kind of romantic, I suppose, or would be if you were there with a date.  (Hey -- that's a thought!  It would be kind of a cool place to visit with your sweetie!)

My son adored the train, and I did, too.  When we got off, we made a beeline for the souvenirs so he could purchase his own engineer's cap.  (He didn't have any interest in becoming a conductor, by the way.  Not sure what that means; perhaps a psychologist out there could throw me a clue?)

Eventually (after sniffing around and riding the Cagney and Cranky cars -- both overrated, I'm afraid), I thought it was time to leave.  But no.  My companion wanted another 45-minute train ride.  So, being the loving (and tired) mommy I am, I obliged. 

All-in-all, I must say that Strasburg Railroad is very clean, very neat, very organized and relatively economical... IF you bring food with you.  Our mistake; we won't shell out $2.50 for a bottle of water again if we can help it! 

We'll probably go back to the area again in the fall to visit the corn maze at the Cherry Crest Adventure Farm.  (You can actually get there by one of Strasburg's steam locomotives; if you do, though, you'll want to upgrade your tickets to include Cherry Crest Adventure Farm admission.)  But when we do, we'll pack a lunch and plenty of snacks.

Spying the local attire, it would appear the restaurant is a "Period" restaurant set in the early 1900's. Could be wrong, just might be the Amish or Mennenites.

Perhaps we may have to stop there the next time around.

Back To Postcards Edge Archives

LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

Amish-folket er fordoblet på 16 år
Det kristne amish-folk lever uden moderne bekvemmeligheder, og det tiltaler flere og flere nye tilhængere.
...
En familie har i gennemsnit fem eller seks børn, samtidig med at amish-folket har egne skoler til børnene.
Donald Kraybill fortæller til Reuters, at amish-folk lever længere og føder færre dødfødte børn end gennemsnittet. Det skyldes en bedre sundhedspleje. Skriver politiken.dk.

Det bliver ikke helt klart, om det er nye tilhængere eller de fem-seks børn pr. familie der er humlen i væksten.

Men det med nul strøm og tv kunne sikkert også rette op på fx. Danmarks betalingsbalance over for føde-, døde- og himmerriget.

Bloggen kommenterer mere eller mindre satirisk aktuelle nyheder fra Politiken, Berlingske Tidende etc.
-> kig og klik på menuen under "nye indlæg", "nye kommentarer", "editor's picks" m.v.
-> eller se kronologisk liste (sammen med andre blogs) på da.wordpress.com/tag/danmark/.
-> Tilbage til nyeste indlæg

Websitet (klik på de øverste menupunkter -- under sider) handler især om Danmarks Radio & Co.

Og om hvordan statsradiofoniens arvtagere specielt ved deres valg og vinkling af nyheder
(Børn&Bananas, Danske Danskere, JanteFjante, Myter&Traditioner, TumpeTV, Varmvind&Lunluft)
er med til at gøde jorden for Fogh, Pia den fromme K. og andre mere eller mindre fordækte nationalister
samt Sand&Salighedsmonopolister med en mission om at Danmark skal frelse verden
-- og så også lige (med den anden hånd) knække The Axis of Evil.

DR&Co.s udanske dansktone sigter efter at producere konsensus om Danmarks og danske danskeres overlegenhed.
Sammen med det der trives i et sådant klima kan den meget vel være en medårsag til den senere tids voldsomme sammenstød (ReligionsRabalder, KulturKamp). Ikke kun på religiøse og etniske fronter, men også mellem kreative unge og etablerede magtstrukturer samt magthavere, som tror, de kan gå på vandet.

English abstract
This blog/site is about the connection between Danish media and nationalism, xenophobia and especially islamophobia in Denmark. As the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) said in its Third Report on Denmark:
...
Climate of opinion
...
104. ECRI notes with deep concern that, as indicated above, the climate in Denmark has worsened since its second report and that there is a pervasive atmosphere of intolerance and xenophobia against refugees, asylum seekers, as well as minority groups in general and Muslims in particular. The media, together with politicians play a major role in creating this atmosphere.

We are all Africans -- thanks to Mama Africa!

Blåtand, ej blåøjet

The room where you retire at the end of a hectic day must be such as would resonate all the positive vibes that can immediately relieve you of any lingering stress. Yes, your bedroom is the place where you can forget about every tension of your life. And the furniture plays a vital role in furnishing that calming feel to your bedroom.

The bedroom furniture requires special appeal that is lent by classy Amish furniture. Amish oak furniture is ideally suited for your bedroom requirements. The Amish made furniture is the result of careful craftsmanship of skillful Amish artisans who work tirelessly to produce every remarkable piece. Royal yet elegant and simple – this is Amish furniture for you! Amish furniture should be purchased only from wholesale Amish furniture dealers for two reasons – first, since they deal in wholesale furniture, you can expect handsome discounts and second, genuineness and quality of Amish furniture is normally ensured while dealing with wholesale dealers.

The bedroom furniture, usually, consists of a double or single bed (with or without drawers and boxes, based on individual requirements), headboards with mirror and shelves, a chest, a footboard and other requisite accessories. Solid oak furniture ensures that the bedroom furniture remains durable even during frequent moving and relocations.

Market research would help you in acquainting with the latest trends in style and quality of bedroom furniture. These days you can have ‘n’ number of furniture combinations in your bedroom. Where space is at a premium, a spindle bedroom set may be just right for your needs with more than adequate storage areas. A sleigh bed may be just right if you prefer a sleek and stylish bed. Similarly, the finishing of oak furniture can be varied according to your personal tastes and preferences. According to your moods, you can have darker finished tones or lighter finished tones or may be mixed finished tones. The choice of finish also depends a great deal on the color of the walls and type of flooring in the bedroom.

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The high prices of most good quality furniture pieces can be a deterrent for most. If you have been dreaming of getting fine furniture items like some classic Amish made furniture pieces, you can do that without worrying about the cost. It may cost you a little extra time but will, in turn save you tons of money. One way is to check out all the available furniture shops in the locality, or get their catalogs to compare prices. While this might work well if there is heavy competition in the area, if you live in a more remote area, you may have to use a different approach. This approach involves the use of the web for shopping of furniture and the article will tell you why this is the best option for people with a budget.

Furniture bargains on the web are increasing rapidly. The huge advantage of buying something online is that you get to compare the prices with just a few clicks. Unlike the real world, where you may have to go to various stores, ask for prices of the required furniture items and only then start comparison, on the Internet, you can just visit the different furniture websites within a few minutes and check out the prices. What is better is to just search for the shops that feature the lowest prices and you have your task getting easier.

If you are finding it tough to navigate through the collection of websites on furniture or cannot seek the best offers on a website, you also have the option of getting a personal web shopper. So, if the traditional dinning room chairs you are looking for do not appear in the style you want, you may write an e-mail to get the help of a personal shopper. He will provide the necessary guidance and get you the best deals. Besides, you can also choose the required furniture under numerous categories. These categories can be specified by you and the website will show all items under them immediately.

So, if you want, say, particularly specially made Amish handcrafted furniture under $200 and mid sized, you get a list of the available furniture adhering to these constraints. This allows you to skim over the options faster and also gives you the best choices possible. Another great point is that you get many discounted items on the website. Many are wholesale furniture providers and so regularly dip the prices to attract customers.

An important thing to remember while shopping on the web is that you will have to pay the shipping charges of most items you buy. For furniture, especially the heavy ones like dining furniture, the cost of shipping may become high. So, look for those special seasonal sales when shipping may be free or very low. In fact, most sellers will waive the shipping costs for those customers who buy many things from them, or are otherwise regular shoppers. So check all these policies while on the website.

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The weekly La Jara Market and Family Fun Fair just keeps growing. This week we had a larger market than ever and a new space to accomodate it. We moved from the Knights of Columbus to be in front of the Catholic Church to allow more space for vendors and attendees to move around.

Patsy Gomez entertained all in attendance with her powerful music with a message.

Daniel Garcia picked his guitar with great skill. Thanks to all who came out to support local performers who have generously donated their time and talents to their community.

The market continued to draw in regular vendors but also featured some new sellers. We reached a high of 22 vendors this week. Surely there is something at the market for everyone. An Amish family came loaded down with baked goods such as homemade cinnamon rolls, bread, and pies. Melissa Emminger of the Alamosa Community Gardens provided fun activities for children that taught about gardening and eating healthy. Produce available included Rocky Ford Melons, Palisades Peaches, and green chilis along with lots of locally ground items.

Don Weed Mountain Valley Meat Works was there selling a variety of sausages including some Gosar sausage. One produce vendor arrived loaded down with green chilis, watermelon and other delicious options.

Today we are visiting the Amish people. When we think about Amish, we really imagine them as a complete separate and isolate community. This is completely not the case. The Amish live in today's world, right in between the English. Sometimes the English live among the Amish. (English people are all but Amish, so even Chinese tourists are English people).
The only difference between the two is the way of living. The Amish live without some modern comfort: they are not using the electricity net, gasoline (everything works on propane), they work to provide everything they need (no help from the outside community is accepted, however they pay the same taxes like everybody else).

It's amazing to see they are actually integrated in life. And the best is every single person really chooses to follow the Amish church or not. When they are young adolescents they are having a taste of the outside communities and do the same thing as English youngsters, up to the point where they choose to follow their church or to leave it.

Leaving the Amish behind we are going to drive a small bit through the countryside to head to the highway for the big city. Washington DC, here we come!