We drove to Pennsylvania to meet an Amish family. My parents met them a couple months ago when my dad sold them a tractor. Yes, a tractor. They can only use it for their wood business. They were a lovely family. The picture above is El riding one of their ponies. It was a bit difficult as the saddle was only tied on with a leather strap, no girth and no saddle blanket.
This picture is of their home. We were given a tour and it was the cleanest home I have ever been in. No dust, all surfaces shined, not an item out of place. It has most modern conveniences. The baths looked no different than ours. They have running hot water, it is powered by a wood fire. There was no electric. The home was so well insulated that air conditioning was not missed. I came away realizing that we have so much more in common than we have differences.
Eva and their daughter Clara were the same age. Clara does not speak very much English yet. However, those two got along extremely well. They were so cute as they walked off holding hands looking like two little girls from a century apart.
El hung out with the older girls. They loved her iTouch! We discovered that they vacation each year in Wyoming so their dad can hunt big game. While at the hotel they swim, watch TV, use electricity, etc...
After the visit we went to Ohio Amish country to eat at Mary Yoder's Amish Restaurant. This is one of El's favorite places to eat.
One rainy Friday, we went to the mall. Gramma Pat and Eva stayed behind by the mall entrance while El and I shopped. When we came back Eva showed us what she made a Gymboree. A class was starting so Gramma Pat asked Eva if she would like to join in. She did.
We drove to Pennsylvania to meet an Amish family. My parents met them a couple months ago when my dad sold them a tractor. Yes, a tractor. They can only use it for their wood business. They were a lovely family. The picture above is El riding one of their ponies. It was a bit difficult as the saddle was only tied on with a leather strap, no girth and no saddle blanket.
This picture is of their home. We were given a tour and it was the cleanest home I have ever been in. No dust, all surfaces shined, not an item out of place. It has most modern conveniences. The baths looked no different than ours. They have running hot water, it is powered by a wood fire. There was no electric. The home was so well insulated that air conditioning was not missed. I came away realizing that we have so much more in common than we have differences. 
One rainy Friday, we went to the mall. Gramma Pat and Eva stayed behind by the mall entrance while El and I shopped. When we came back Eva showed us what she made a Gymboree. A class was starting so Gramma Pat asked Eva if she would like to join in. She did.
We went to visit Gramma Brown. The girls were told to go pick out whatever they liked. They started with teddy bears and then Eva picked a porcelain doll and El picked a decorative owl. I hope I have Gramma's genes... 96 and still going strong!
El has always loved going to Gramma Pat and Pa's log cabin. She loved going to the woods and looking for unicorns. The woods behind the log cabin are enchanted, of course. She doesn't look for unicorns anymore... but she still loves the log cabin.
Eva is a fan now as well. She also liked to make the bear a bit prettier. She named her "Black Scratchy". This flower stayed on the entire visit although it was often relocated by passersby.
OK... truth be told Graham was truly after El, or "The Big One" as he called her! He tried to get beside her whenever possible.
We all got a bit hot after our outside play so we moved it into the air conditioning. El, Lilly, and Graham mad some masterpieces.
