Soon after I started this blog I had written a post and shared some pictures from when we had been back in Somerset County with the rest of LV's family.
Lately I have been hearing from several different sources that my writings are nothing but a bunch of lies and when I asked them what I wrote that wasn't true they all refer back to that post where I had mentioned that the bonnets had to be big enough so that even your nose didn't stick out of the front.
Rules in different Amish communities are different and as far as I know only the Somerset County Amish have such huge bonnets. Sizes vary a lot in other communities.
I grew up in Somerset County and so naturally I write about my experiences of growing up there.Yes, a bishop actually said bonnets should be big enough that a butcher knife could be slid along the front without touching your nose but no, there were never any knife wielding bishops actually testing to see that each bonnet was big enough.
I wanted to get this cleared up before another myth gets started that bishops are armed with knives and go around sliding them along the front of women's bonnets to check that they're big enough. Because that is absolutely not true.
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Ah, people jumping to conclusions again, and forgetting that different communities - regardless of the type of community - have different rules. Good plan clearing it up, but it is unfortunate that you were made to feel it was necesssary to do so!
ReplyDeleteTsk tsk, there will always be naysayers, but know this, Mary Ann: Your blog is "wildly popular" and with popularity comes the inevitable green-eyed, envy monster. Please don't pay them any mind. The rest of us appreciate your insight immensely. Have a wonderful evening!
ReplyDeleteWith all that's wrong in the world, you would think that people could find something more beneficial to criticize. Ah well, I'm glad you cleared it up - hopefully those who took umbrage will see your answer.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed immensely the descriptions of YOUR Amish experiences.
Some people have nothing better to do! I think your blog in lovely:)
ReplyDeleteI agree, I love you sharing your experiences with us! I have Mennonite neighbors and have loved learning about their culture, though much different than the Amish.
ReplyDeleteIn my language we say 'High trees catch a lot of wind', meaning what Magnolia Tea already said.
ReplyDeleteGoedele
Oh well some folks have nothing beter to do I feel very sad for them , as for me I love your writtings so give no thought to them and just be yourself saying what we know and trust to be true. lots of hugs
ReplyDeleteThis is the funniest post I have read from your blog. I can almost imagine those long bearded bishops wielding their butcher knives. Well, actually this is so far fetched that nobody would believe it.
ReplyDeleteSome just have nothing better to do than fuss over someone else.....I love your posts!
ReplyDeleteMe Too! Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteThere's some sort of saying that you know you've made it big when people start disliking you. I don't remember the exact words but it's true. People love an underdog and when they see someone gaining success that's when people start nit-picking and finding fault with even the most minor things. Like the comments above, it goes with the territory and if that's so, then just turn the other cheek and think of all of US who love and support you. Period.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention, like you said, all Amish communities are different. So unless the nay-sayers have been to all of them and have studied their ways, they can zip it. Keep up the great writing and sharing your current stories with us. ♥
Funny, that reminded me of the bonnets my grandmother wore -- not Amish, of course, just turn-of-last-century farm. She sure didn't want her nose sticking out and getting tanned! I wish I could find a pattern for that - the brim was stiffened with strips of cardboard. As Bob Hope said, 'Thanks for the memory!'
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting to read about where you come from. My own life was somewhat the same!
ReplyDeleteI just read a novel lately about the Amish and reference was made to the fact that the Amish ladies don't wear bras. Hmmmmm. By what I see on the clotheslines of my Amish friends they do. But then in some communities they probably do not and that is why the book said they don't. The Amish get painted with quite a broad brush.
ReplyDeleteCount me in with all your friends. We are the ones who appreciate you. You paint pictures with your words and we believe your perspective of growing up Amish is just that. Yours! My other former Amish friends have their perspectives and they are correct as well! Such narrow minded people...probably think the world is right handed, too. By the way, some of the bonnets here in my part of NY are pretty big, too.
ReplyDelete