Last week, when we went to the auction, Tim said in a shocked voice, "He has a cell phone!" An Amish man paced back and forth at the entrance of the auction house talking on a cell phone.
Now admittedly, there is a great deal that I don't quite understand about the Amish. I know the bishop in our area seems to be very conservative and strict. Houses are white clap board. No hanging plants on the porch. No bicycles.
However, in other areas, the Amish have tin sided houses and they use different colors. Some of them can be quite modern looking, actually.
Up near the building supply store we use, you see that a lot. We always wondered whether it was because so many of their men work at the store. They use phones and computers in the business, electric lights too. They zip around on fork lifts. They have an easy relationship with technology. I guess it makes sense that they use the products they sell to build their homes.
Just down the road from the massive building supply store, another business has gone in, a huge hunting and fishing store. Tim wanted to have a look.
It has a huge selection of permanent hunting blinds out front. An indoor archery range. A huge display of the most amazing taxidermy work I have ever seen. I asked about that right away. We want to have Bob the buffalo freshened up, but we want it done by a professional. Turns out the fellow who does the work lives in our corner of the world.
While I was getting that information from the young Amish man, Tim walked up with a trail camera, one of the ones that sends pictures to your cell phone. Without missing a beat, the fellow said enthusiastically 'That is the one I use. I am happy with it."
Honestly, I do not ask questions about matters that are not my business, but I found that amazing that they would use a trail cam at all, let alone have a cell phone to view the pictures on.
There were several barefoot and happy children playimg quietly inside the store while their fathers worked. It explained the long row of kick scooters in front of the store. Two of them were hot pink.
But as usual, they had an outhouse...a portapotty stood outside.
This is what you call a kitten caboodle. Well...3/5s of one, any way.
Anyone looking for a kitten?
Maybe they're Mennonites. They do use tech where necessary.
ReplyDeleteMennonite can own cars. These folk use buggies.
DeleteWe don't have Amish here, but we do have Hutterites. Hutterites live in large colonies and there is no private ownership. The first time I saw a Hutterite with a cell phone it was quite shocking but they don't have any problems with technology and use it on their large farms. I guess some Amish use technology too. Who knew?
ReplyDeleteAnd kittens? You seem to be a cat whisperer, or at least a cat magnet:)
Some Amish groups are much more modern than others. I don't quite understand it. I suppose our ways are just as incomprehensible.
DeleteVery confusing. All those different rules. I wonder why some of them were imposed in one area and not in another?
ReplyDeleteDifferent bishops is all I know.
DeleteA species that cannot adapt generally cannot survive. Maybe religions are like that too.
ReplyDeletePerhaps that is all there is too it.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have strong Plymouth Brethren sect near us - they all lived in church owned houses, kids ate separately at school and would not use mobile phones - then they started using specific phones that only they could use to contact each other. They used to share all their money and then buy groceries with vouchers that were given out. There were official concerns raised about that particular church and they lost their charitable status I think ( or they nearly did save for strict conditions). All very odd, but then... life's funny like that!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if your Amish friends would come over to/come in to your new house?
ReplyDeleteBonnie in Minneapolis
We have invited them. They need to get haying done.
DeleteI wish I could take one of those kittens, but even if Pat (the inside dog) would allow it, I'd feel obligated to "shop" the local caboodles. There's always a need when it comes to puppies and kittens. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteOh. I know. This is mostly tongue in cheek.
DeleteWhere my sister lives in Indiana there's a group of Old World Brethren. They dress much like Amish and use buggies, but also use tech for work. One family owns a drive up coffeeand sandwich shop, it is fully modern. Always seems so odd to see cars pulling through, with their horse and buggy beside the shop. Those kittens are adorable, as all are. Can't take any tho, my old lady cat would object.
ReplyDelete