Posts by Saloma Furlong
An Amish Homespun Art
I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. My prayers are with those holiday travelers who may be experiencing inclement weather. David and I had a quiet and reflective Thanksgiving between the two of us. We look forward to Christmas when our sons will both be joining us for the holiday, along with Tim’s girlfriend,…
Read MoreAmish Views of Nature and the Environment
The pastoral image of Amish communities living simply and in touch with the land strikes a deep chord with many Americans. Environmentalists have lauded the Amish as iconic models for a way of life that is local, self-sufficient, and in harmony with nature. But the Amish themselves do not always embrace their ecological reputation,…
Read MoreWriting About Amish
In order to be truly free, I eventually discovered, I needed to belong once again — but this time to a way of life I had chosen for myself, one that enabled me to find meaning and joy, in the here and now. ~ Galen Guengerich, Author of God Revised: How Religion Must Evolve in…
Read MoreA Soul-Restoring Trip to the Smoky Mountains
I have always wanted to visit The Smokies, ever since I was an Amish teenager. For some reason or another, it never quite worked out for me to visit these ancient mountains until this past weekend. David and I headed off to Asheville, North Carolina without planning what we were going to do during our…
Read MoreWhen Creativity Takes a Sharp Turn
Today it is two months (even though it feels longer) since we had our furniture moved from the condo. David finished putting up the wallhangings today. He is almost done organizing his shop and putting up shelves. He’s done a lot of gardening, which is something he loves to do. He’s also been applying for…
Read MoreCountry Living
David and I are enjoying living in the country. Our son, Paul, traveled from Vermont to celebrate our new home and our birthdays with us. It was the first time he came to see us in Virginia. We so enjoyed his visit. He was a tremendous help with the preparations and cleanup for the housewarming…
Read MoreA Beautiful Day in our New Home
Our windows are open, allowing the early summer breezes to flow through our new home. The birds are singing sweetly. The sun is shining. We are settling in. Life is good. We have had so much rain. Today is the first sunny day since our closing on May 22. People here in the Shenandoah Valley…
Read MoreHappy Spring Day to Mothers Everywhere!
I hope all you mothers out there have enjoyed this beautiful spring day. Here in the Shenandoah Valley it has been so awesome. David and I have so enjoyed our day. We first attended a church service at our beloved community at Park View Mennonite Church. David then offered to take me to Lexington, Virginia,…
Read MoreA Day Among Old Order Mennonites in the Shenandoah Valley
Spring has arrived in all her glory and what a splendid day it was here in the Shenandoah Valley! David and I are both taking a class called Mennonites in the Valley through the Lifelong Learning Institute of James Madison University, and taught by the pastor of our church, Phil Kniss. Today we took a…
Read MoreOur Search for a New Home
Our long search for a home has finally come to an end. It led us to a modest ranch home in a little town called Broadway, just fifteen minutes north of Harrisonburg. We had hoped to find something in closer to town, but when we looked at this house, we realized that it met so…
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