These pictures were taken last year in Somerset County PA by my husbands sister and brother-in-law. The
circumstances surrounding the reason we were all back there weren't the sweetest but we have enjoyed the pictures.
Cousin Wilmer is hitching up his horse after most of the people have left after church.
Two youth boys walking home after services. The Amish youth in Somerset County are noted to walk for miles to attend church rather than having to use their horse and buggy or ride with their parents.
Several men catching up on the latest news while hitching up a horse.
Notice the big bonnets these poor women are wearing. I always hated wearing them! It always felt as if you were caged and you had to turn your head to see anything other than what was directly in front of you. The rule was to have them big enough so that a butcher knife could be slid down the front without touching your nose.
After services everyone is leaving to go to a friends house for a lunch that a dozen or so women have prepared. Sharing the road is not nearly as fun when you are driving a car. It is amazing to me that there aren't lots of accidents. Notice the unsafe spot chosen to pass these slow moving buggies.
Cousin Wilmer is hitching up his horse after most of the people have left after church.
Two youth boys walking home after services. The Amish youth in Somerset County are noted to walk for miles to attend church rather than having to use their horse and buggy or ride with their parents.
Several men catching up on the latest news while hitching up a horse.
Notice the big bonnets these poor women are wearing. I always hated wearing them! It always felt as if you were caged and you had to turn your head to see anything other than what was directly in front of you. The rule was to have them big enough so that a butcher knife could be slid down the front without touching your nose. 
After services everyone is leaving to go to a friends house for a lunch that a dozen or so women have prepared. Sharing the road is not nearly as fun when you are driving a car. It is amazing to me that there aren't lots of accidents. Notice the unsafe spot chosen to pass these slow moving buggies.
You have a lovely blog. I have enjoyed reading your posts, especially the ones about growing up Amish :)
ReplyDeleteI have read a lot of Beverly Lewis books about her Mom I think it was ,growing up Amish. I have felt like the women are in a type of bondage but enjoy the fiction writers stories.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a very hard life to me .We have some Amish here ,They seem more like the Mennonites to me as the women drive cars and such.
I enjoy your blog .
Blessing
Elsie <><
I absolutely LOVE reading your blog! I also read all the Beverly Lewis books. We live in NW. Ohio. We are actually going on Monday on our annual outing to Amish Country in Sugarcreek. Can you tell me some on the differences in clothing from the Pa. Amish you grew up in and the Amish of Ohio church districts? And, I'm curious, are you Mennonite now? Thanks, Amanda
ReplyDeleteI have thoroughly enjoyed reading many of your posts. Whether you are writing of your childhood memories or of your day to day living, you have a way with words. I so enjoyed it and will be back for more. Are you willing to share the names of your works that have been published?
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. That last photo of a car passing the buggies looks like an accident waiting to happen!
ReplyDeleteThe simple life has a lot of appeal to me, but I don't think I'd enjoy wearing one of those bonnets all the time.
I love the photo's but I do have to admit that those clothes look very hot and uncomfortable, especially those big, black bonnets.
ReplyDeleteI do admire the Amish for living their laws and staying true to their way of life.
I love the buggies. I am sure they are not much fun to ride in but they sure look neat on the road!
What beautiful pictures!!! I absolutely love them! Thank you so much for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave me a note! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a lovely rest of the week! :)
So very beautiful, I loved these photos! Such a wonderful sense of community. I can see why you didn't like the hats so much and I can't believe how unsafe some people in cars are. I don't know why people are always in such a rush and take such risks.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is always such a joy.
XXXXX
Your sister in law takes good pictures!!! I love seeing the buggies. I was wondering if the women have to wear the bonnets indoors at their own homes or just when they are out in public? I would think that the bonnets would be hot in the Summer especially since they are black.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Angela
I love seeing your pictures. I live in Somerset County. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos! Love finding your blog. Thanks so much for stopping and commenting on mine so that I could find you!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Rebecca
What a wonderful glimpse into Amish life! Wonderful Photos! Is Abby a Great Pyrennees??
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog. I have thouroghly enjoyed reading about your Amish life.I certainly will be returning to read more.
ReplyDeleteI loved looking at your pictures and getting a glimpse at the Amish life. I agree with a prior comment - the simple life does seem appealing in ways.
ReplyDeleteI love your photos, I've always been very intrigued by Amish and the simple life, so this is wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a blessed day.
Sandra
Thank you for sharing the pictures. I visit the Amish every chance I get. I have never taken any pictures. Does your family approve of the pictures?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog today!
Blessings~
Carrie
OK, a teen is a teen is a teen - they'd rather walk several miles than ride with their parents! That cracks me up! At least they can't say things like, "Will you not wear that today, you're embarrassing me?".
ReplyDeleteAnd the butcher knife with the bonnet-fitting issue...which book of the Bible is that from?? ha ha Please don't tell me they ever tested it out. The pictures are just great ~ and that car passing the buggy...can they not see the car coming the other way on that road?? Yikes! Very neat post ~
thank you for visiting my blog and leaving wwrmful comment. And very glad nice meeting you.
ReplyDeletei am reading your blog with fun. especially i like your blog title.
thnak you for sharing beautiful photos.
I really enjoyed the photos and today and am really enjoying your blog. The Amish way of life has always interested me, so I am looking forward to all that you have to share!
ReplyDeleteHave a great evening!
Tammy
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on our blog!
We love learning about the Amish,So I am sure we will enjoy your blog! Great post!
Come back by soon,
Holly&Katie
Those black bonnets, wondering what is the Reason Given, for women having to wear them?
ReplyDeleteOh I get the usual thing about women not 'tempting' men. But, still, is that the only reason? Men aren't even supposed to be able to see a woman's face, without difficulty? Needless to say, _her_ difficulty is not taken into consideration.
It brings to mind the horrid {IMHO} Radical Islamic Rules For Women.
Aunt Amelia
The reasons I can think of is protection from the weather. Possibly separation from the world. Are these wrong? I can see a negative and this is driving, whether car or buggy. You cannot see peripherally. We belong to a church that wears bonnets, but usually in the winter months, but I will not wear mine when I drive because of the hindrance to seeing.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I will cause a little stink, but I do not find these bonnets or any of the prescribed uniform "bondage". I find it freeing. I am free from the world's standards, free to follow the Lord. Now I am not Amish, but Brethren, one of the more conservative. Our church has no Ordnung, as the Amish does, but we strive to be unified in our lifestyle. My husband and I are converts to this faith and we see the many blessings of it.
Re @ Mrs Kiddey:
ReplyDeleteNo, we are not Mennonite now.
Re @ Grammy Linda:
I used a pen name for all my work that was published by Pathway Publishing.
Re @ Angela:
Amish women wear a covering indoors. To appear in public they wear a bonnet over it yet. They are really hot during the summer, but helped keep you warm in the winter months.
Re @ Sharons Cottage:
Yes, Abby is a Great Pyrenees.
Re @ Aunt Amelia:
There were several reasons for wearing a bonnet. One of them was that since the covering was made out of organdy and starched stiffly you did not want any rain to ever touch and turn it into a limp rag. A bonnet gave the needed protection.
The second and more "important" one was that they thought it gives them extra power and protection from the evil of this world. Who am I to argue that point..........
Re @ Coveredwithjoy:
I am glad you found a freedom and blessing in your lifestyle.
Thank you for visiting. I am so glad our blogs crossed paths. I have always loved the Amish and wanted to learn more about them. So I am thrilled about your blog.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Mrs. M
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you do so again. I have only read a little of your blog and it's wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing such a big part of your life. I will be back for more visits. And now after I post this comment, I am off to read some more of your wonderful blog.
ReplyDeleteOh, I so enjoy your take and insights on Amish life from an insider's point of view. There is so much to know and you share it so beautifully and eloquently. Thank you for your blog!
ReplyDeleteWas this called the Hershberger (or something like that?) Amish???? I had read something about their particular group one time...the bonnet looks like the one that they wore...
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy your blog! :) Oh, and I LOVE your Amish Cheese bars and so does my hubby! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Re @ they call me mommy:
ReplyDeleteThis community is known as the Somerset County Amish or "Somersetters"
Glad you enjoy the Cheese Bars. They are one of my favorite desserts.
Do you know of a sect in somerset called the rubber tires they are amish but drive cars THanks
ReplyDeleteHey there. I'm new to your blog and I'm so intrigued. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Not a very smart move on that cars part. Thank goodness nothing was coming around the bend.
Thanks for sharing.
Hadn't read - or completely missed - the bit about the butcher knife. Some orders of nuns have "veils" that cover the face the same way, and also use the butcher knife rule. Of course, both the Amish life-style and the older orders of nuns spring from the same time period.
ReplyDelete