First in a series...

My niece, Megan Westbrook, and her roommate, Karen Pendleton, just spent a week plus with me.  I was able to finally see all those places I kept saying I would see before we move.  Case in point...I took them to see Intercourse, PA and the Amish stuff on day one.  (Been there, done that, many times.)  We drove to Lancaster and passed  THE DOLL MUSEUM.  Always meant to stop.  We did!!!  Note to self.  Take Zoe there and let her build her own doll. (Better than build a bear.)  Once in Lancaster we drove to the Amish Village.  Always meant to stop there.  We toured a working Amish farm, a schoolhouse, and an Amish home set up for tourists.I have lived here 4 years and still learned so much!  Did you know that the Amish speak Dutch in their homes.  They learn English and German at school.  By the 8th grade they are fluent in 3 languages and know the ins and outs of farming, carpentry, quilting, etc.  Then they go to work.  They only attend church every other Sunday.  The other Sunday they visit family.   I kinda like this idea.                                      

They have indoor plumbing and hot and cold running water.  They power everything with a gasoline powered  air compressor that is kept in the barn.  They keep telephones in the barn for business use only.  They don't use electricity because that would connect them with the outside world.

Check out the teacher over my right shoulder.   They don't pose for pictures because that is a graven image

The men are allowed to wear black buttons on their coats.  The women are not allowed buttons, hooks, or anything.  They straight pin their clothing on.  Ouch!