Drive about an hour from the historic city of Philadelphia, and you will find yourself in Lancaster County – home of the Pennsylvania Dutch (Mennonites) and the Amish.  In this county you will find little towns with the quaint names of Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse, Ephrata, Strasburg, and more. While seeing the Amish riding in their horse and buggies or pushing a scooter, we realized that we had entered another world.

The Village Inn (the bed and breakfast where we stayed) offered a “free” tour of the Amish country, and we jumped at the chance to view the Amish countryside, and to visit the stores along the way.

Be still my heart.  Honestly, we drove about a quarter of a mile from the main road, and this was the view – lush green farmland.

These farms provide the crops for many farm to table establishments in the area including restaurants in Philadelphia.

It was like stepping back in time.  Since it was Monday, laundry was hanging on clotheslines.

This was such a pretty view.

 

The tour stopped at three shops along the way.  I did not take many pictures, because I did not know if it was polite.

The home made root-beer was fantastic.  This is when you hate that you can not bring something this good home.  The same was true of the canned goods.  Oh, they did look delicious.  One shop had the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen.  Another shop sold craft items.  I did bring Pretty Baby home a bonnet.

The views were worthy of being on picture postcard.  (My photography – not so picture perfect.)

More than once we saw farmers plowing their fields.

Plastic is spread over the rows of seeds to help them sprout.

This wagon carries the pews and tables for Sunday worship.  The Amish take turns having the meeting in their homes.  A lunch is included the the day’s activities which last practically all day.

This is a school house.  As a teacher, I was somewhat bothered by their schools.  If I understood it correctly, they just get someone/anyone to teach in the one room schools.  The pay for the teachers is about $40.00 a day.  The children only go to school through the eighth grade.  I guess this method “keeps them down on the farms.”

The tour guide explained why this tractor was permissible – I think it was because it was being pulled.

The Amish/Mennonite countryside is breathtakingly beautiful.  Seeing the quaint simple life that these people live was inspiring.  They do well with so little.

Blessings to you and yours,