Absolutely nothing...
My mom and I went to the photobooth for a snapshot together (not Photobooth Friday, but Photobooth Sunday for us.)
We went to Lancaster yesterday to finish off a homeschool project we had done on the Amish and cultural diversity.
While we love to take pictures, be in pictures, scrapbook and in general love photography, the Amish believe it is an abomination to be in a photograph. They often have only calenders or cloth hangings on their walls. They believe having the likeness of a person is morally wrong and so they'll have animals or landscapes, but not men or women.
at the Amish Village Museum. They had a tour of an old Amish homestead, a small farm and a couple carriages that the Amish would use today.
the roosters and chickens
We took the tour of an Amish house 200 years ago, and how it's not much different now. The Amish are beautiful in their simplicity. Simplicity in that they don't get caught up in today's media or trends. Simple that they work hard, but are simply content in getting done what just must be done, not soccer games, fast dinners thrown in the oven, endless emails and cell phone convos. I think the average day must be pretty labor-intensive for the regular Amish person in their everyday chores. They don't use electricity, no tv's, computers, radios, etc. They farm most of their food and sell a lot to the community and companies, while keeping a distance personally. They have old customs they still practice, like the men must shave every day until they are married, then they let their beards grow, the longer the bread, the longer they've been married. The woman must always cover their hair with a bonnet and there are different outfits they must wear at different stages. It was really interesting and I hold the highest respect while taking a glimpse into these private, devout peoples' lives.
here's a baker's cabinet, hand quilted potholders, flour sifter, baking tools
the sewing machine even now a days
what would be a child's bedroom. They use pegs on the walls as they don't want to waste any space on doors or closets.
a quilting frame
peacocks are the "sirens"or alarms on Amish farms. When a stranger approaches, they let out a loud scream, alerting the household.
getting ready to go on a horse and buggy ride through the farm-side and to an Amish farm with a store open to the public. The family sold quilts, potholders, children's clothes, jams and jellies in every flavor, vinegared cauliflower and peppers, handmade wooden toys, etc. I put my camera away when we approached the farm, as like I mentioned, the Amish don't care for photography and find it offensive when "the English" attempt to take their picture.
another buggy comes our way, these were some "English."
the Amish Farmstead we visited. We toured their barn where they house their carriages and animals, and then the barn where they painstakingly harvest the tobacco they grow. It's amazing the amount of work needed by all family members to get the crops harvested correctly.
on the way back. The girls were so thankful for their experience. I was too. What a beautiful farmland, what a beautiful way of life.
