Oh those Amish....

The Amish keep coming up in different ways around here....

First I read "The Heritage of Lancaster County" by Beverley Lewis and loved it.

Then I read "Plain Truth" by Jodie Picoult (very different! but also good.)

My husband and I found ourselves watching old Weird Al videos on Youtube and my Kev particularly loves "Amish Paradise"

Then I had a conversation with my grandmother about how I love hand sewing and how the Amish women can sew everything that way, well then there's hope for me.

Now my friend Susan  has given me some Amish Friendship Bread Starter,and I"m stoked to make it!

I think I will periodically update how the mix is doing as I follow this 10 day process towards lovely crispy, sweet spicy bread that I haven't had since childhood. 

Now, I would just like to say that though some of you may have been noticing I keep drifting farther to homespun ways these days, I am NOT about to become Amish.

But there is alot there to admire, you have to admit.

If anyone knows anything about simple sustainable  "green" living, it's these humble folks.
Theology aside, they've mastered the art of "community living"( and barn raising) and their work ethic and creativity inspire me to get my duff off the couch.

I have family roots that go back to the Holdeman Mennonites which on a spectrum of conservative living probably rank somewhere closer to Amish than Modern any day of the week.
Many of my great Aunts, Uncles and distant cousins, still go without a lot of modern conveniences and make their living simply right off the land.

I've mentioned in this space before the inspiration I receive from my ancestor's traditional way of life, particularly in the kitchen, and once again I've got some inspiration sitting on my counter top waiting to be stirred once a day for the next 10 days so I can add some very humble ingredients to it, bake it and share the bounty with others.

That's a pretty neat thing.

Now, I'm not about to trade in my van for a buggy or my jeans for a long apron and cap, but a little elbow grease, ingenuity and generosity in a  more simple, homemade life?

Ya, I could go for that.