The Mennobrarian

Thoughts on our time away

11:02, Wednesday, August 27, 2008 .. Posted in Travel .. 3 comments .. Link

It's strange how when it's time to go on vacation, you have to practically force me from the house, and all of the fears that things will go undone are foremost in my mind as I pack my bags. Then, when it's time to come home, you practically have to drag me kicking and screaming to return home to a thirsty, weedy garden and the mountain of laundry that we have created while away. The first evening back I feel like a stranger in my own home, someone returning to a forgotten life. My husband sorts through a week's worth of mail, while I struggle to find room in our already cramped quarters for the newfound treasures we brought home with us. But yes, we had a wonderful time, and enjoyed both visiting places we've never gone before and returning to one or two favorites.

I love the background beyond the buggy parking in this picture, because it more closely resembles what this part of PA looked like thirty years ago.

These cute little Wenger boys look like miniature old men as they contemplate this antique engine. (Wenger = horse and buggy Mennonite)

In the Kitchen: We had a wonderful time walking through many antique/flea markets, and on our first day I managed to find several good deals on things I need for the kitchen, including a double boiler and some cooking utensils. My favorite was a melon baller- it was labeled "thing. nice shape. $3" I guess the man selling it didn't know what it was. He gave it to me for free. It's amazing what passes for an "antique" nowadays. Attention fellow children of the seventies: Anything you ever saw, touched, or ate off of at Grandma's house as a child is now a valuable heirloom!

On the Table: We enjoyed some nice meals out, including ones at a Mexican and a Japanese restaurant. My favorites were the old stand-by Dutch buffets with endless helpings of fried chicken, buttered noodles, chow chow, and dozens of other choices. We brought home a few staples from the farmer's markets, too, especially spices that you can buy wholesale there. And cheese and meat, too.

Around the Home: Yes, we toured a few homes, including a Moravian one, President Buchanan's estate, and this one:

You would have worshiped in this house if you were a Mennonite about three hundred years ago. It is the oldest Mennonite meeting house that is still in existence, and it was also a house. It smells as old as it looks, and the inside is somewhat crude, but it sure is sturdy. The tour guide is a direct descendant who remembers playing in the building as a little girl, before it was a historical landmark.

For our home, I found a nice bundle of antique linens for just a few dollars. They were in excellent condition, and I can't wait to wash them and put them to use. At the farmer's market, I noticed just a couple of the young girls standing on market were using old doilies as head coverings. Well, why not? It used to be that in the County you could tell exactly what church someone belonged to by their headcovering, but it's getting harder to do that as the churches split and multiply.

In the Garden: Well, the tomatoes were waiting for us when we returned home (was there ever any doubt?) but while we were away I optimistically planned for next year by picking up some heirloom seeds. The Landis Valley Museum has a nice heirloom seed project where they grow some specific PA Dutch varieties of vegetables and sell the seeds. Interestingly enough, they also have some cows that are heirloom too...

This black cow with a white stripe down the back (like a skunk) fell out of favor to the more milkable varieties.

On the Nightstand: Baer's Agricultural Almanac & Gardening Guide for 2009, which made this declaration back in 1859:

"None of our excellent girls are fit to be married until they are thoroughly educated in the deep and profound mysteries of the kitchen."

Profound, indeed.

Just for Laughs: About halfway home in the car a sweet smell seemed to come out of nowhere. We looked around for a bakery and didn't see one. The car swelled with an odor a lot like vanilla, but I hadn't bought any vanilla and couldn't think what it might be. Then, my mind wandered back to that afternoon at the market...a tempting gallon jug of homemade root beer caught my eye. After paying for it, the Amish vendor told me that the cap wasn't real tight on bottle. Noting that all of the jugs were reused and that probably none of them had a true cap, it wasn't a big deal. Until ...the jug had tipped over and leaked half of the root beer all over the car floor! My husband claims the car "wreaks" of root beer, but I can't smell it and don't regret buying it!

And now, I'm going to spend the rest of my birthday trying to get things back in order around here...
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01:07, Sunday, August 31, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427
Happy late birthday!!! I can't believe I missed this and forgot!!! SO SORRY HUN!!!

Sounds like your vacation was wonderful. Oh I would love to see pics of the linens and othe things you bought while gone!!!! Glad you are back!

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

welcome back!

10:56, Monday, September 1, 2008 .. Posted by missourimom
I'm so glad you had a lovely trip...it's great to get away!

Leslie

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12:23, Wednesday, September 3, 2008 .. Posted by haflinger
What a nice trip you had... I wish I was there..lol We would love to plan anothr trip this fall but I don't see how..
Thanks for sharing..
Brenda