By Kevin Williams
FROM AMISH TO NURSE: This is a story about an Amish girl who left her community and church and is now on the verge of become a registered nurse. Wonderful story, my only gripe - and maybe I'm just hyper-defensive of the Amish - is that there's nothing wrong with being Amish.  Yes, one can argue convincingly that it is wrong to make people stay in the church, people should have options, but choosing to stay Amish is, in my view, a perfectly noble choice. This story just seems to quote some people who give the narrative an undercurrent of "gee, this woman was rescued from a life of misery." I don't view it that way, but kudos to the young woman on achieving her goals! Click here to read more.
"HOSPITAL-TALITY": Speaking of nurses, a Pennsylvania hospital chain is adding Pennsylvania Dutch (the language Amish speak) interpreters to their staff to help Amish clients better navigate the sometimes intimidating health care system. I love this idea! (yes, I'm cynical, the hospital isn't doing it out of the kindness of their heart...it's good for business...that's why, but sometimes capitalism and altruism collide and this is one such case). Click here to read more.
MANITOBA MENNONITES:Â Seems Mennonites in Manitoba have a colorful side to them. I love this piece about a local restoration specialist documenting colorful, cheery floor patterns in old Mennonite homes. Click here to read more.
Pennsylvania Dutch Cake & Custard
PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH CAKE AND CUSTARD PIE: Why this website decided to post today a recipe that one a Pillsbury prize back in 1992 has me scratching my head, but I am glad The Daily Meal did. This is a shoofly pie knock-off and really looks good! It's like a pie/cake combination. Click here for the recipe.
AMISH IN BIKINIS:  The Tampa Bay Times reposted a story this morning that first ran in 2013, during the height of the Amish-themed reality TV wave. Pinecraft, however, actually is real....And, yes, those are Amish girls sunning themselves wearing bikinis. I've seen this first-hand on visits to Pinecraft, it really is jarring to think of the conservative, modest Amish sect in the Midwest coming down to Pinecraft and partying and sunning. But it happens. One Amish woman told me that Pinecraft is for the "half-dead and the newleywed", her way of saying it tends to attract young Amish people and the elderly, most in between are too busy with families, etc, so anyway, click here to read the story and see the photos. So if bikini photo offends, don't click (sorry, just try to be considerate to the wide range of readers we have). I think this story, while maybe lacking in some depth, does give a good view into Pinecraft's reality.
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