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Special Post — Introducing Vintage Village Designs by David
Hello All, I know I said I would only post once a week, but I wanted to let you know that you are in the right place… I gave my blog a bit of a facelift. I also wanted to introduce you to David’s new blog about his miniature building designs in wood. I had…
Read MoreBantum Roosters, Part II
One day I had gone out to get a pail of water from the pump by the barn, when a sound made me look up. One of the roosters was chasing a hen. When he caught up to the hen, she crouched down, and the rooster got on top of her back. I didn’t know…
Read MoreBantum Roosters, Part I
The other day, Shirley Showalter had a guest writer on her blog, 100 Memoirs. Britt Kaufmann wrote a mini-memoir on raising chickens that triggered some memories of my own. I thought I would share my own rooster story with you. On a Sunday afternoon we were eating popcorn and drinking grape juice, when we heard…
Read MorePutting Food By – Amish and English Style
Several times during my book talks, I’ve had someone ask what a typical day was like when I was growing up. I can never give a straightforward answer because there isn’t one. It depended upon what season of the year it was, what day of the week, and what needed to be done. I remember…
Read MoreGeneralizing about the Amish
Erik Wesner posted something on Amish America this week that I couldn’t help but respond to. To understand my comments, one really needs to read his post, which you can do by clicking here.I responded in the comments section, and I am posting these comments here: In reading through the original post and then the…
Read MoreRemembering a Sister, Revisited
I’ve had an off week, no doubt partly because two days ago was the second anniversary of my sister Elizabeth’s death. I wrote about her last June 24th, a year after she died. You can read that here.I find this year what I remember the most is the gratitude I had for my Aunt Martha,…
Read MoreInterview on Freakonomics Radio
A little while ago, I had a really fun interview with Stephen Dubner, host of Freakonomics Radio for a segment named “The Upside of Quitting” that will be airing on WNYC in New York City on July 1 and at least sixty-five other stations in different parts of the country (at different times). Another former…
Read MoreFootprints in the Sand
I had so much fun yesterday! David and I went to Cape Cod to celebrate our birthdays (his was on Saturday, mine yesterday). I cannot believe it took me fifty-four years to make it to Cape Cod, especially since we have lived within three hours of it for the last three years. I am fairly…
Read MoreAmish Diversity
Michelle wrote: I’m a fairly new reader, I found your blog after a google search on celery. I’ve always been fascinated by the way the Amish live so lately I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on. Since I haven’t been able to find an answer, my big question is about celery. Why does…
Read MoreFreedom and Responsibility
Erik Wesner, of Amish America, brought up an interesting issue about Amish in Kentucky who are refusing to use the orange triangle on the backs of their buggies. Here is my opinion added to the mix:With every freedom comes a responsibility. No car drivers have use of the roads, paid for by all, without obeying…
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