By Kevin Williams
Time for our weekly whirl through the blogosphere in search of everything and anything Amish. It’s fun to dig back far to see what we can find, in addition to newer posts. When you find something from 2008 that’s really something, even Amish365 only goes back online as far as 2012. Anyway, we have a good mix of old and new today, let’s get to it!
SNOWBIRDS ARRIVE: The Amish enclave in Sarasota, Florida essentially shuts down for the summer. Bungalows and rental cottages largely sit empty and as most Amish spend the summer and fall in more northern climes. But come October, some Amish begin to trickle into Pinecraft to begin to get their properties aired out and ready for their winter stays. It’s a fun custom. It gives the Amish an excuse to come down for some warmth and sun on the first cool days of October and doing so allows them to get their properties into “move-in” shape so when they return after Christmas they don’t have to waste a bunch of time getting the place ready, they can just enjoy it. Click here to see Katie Troyer capturing photos of some of the first Amish October arrivals!
FIRST SNOW AT DAWN: This is the latest finished painting by Rhode-Island artist Cheryl McNulty. It depicts an Amish winter scene of a girl, boy, and a horse….and you can really “feel” the winter chill in the photo. I really like it. I’ve been to Amish farms on frigid, snowy winter mornings and it’s very….rustic…the cold can bowl you over….and I just think this portrait captures this. Click here to see the finished painting.
AMISH COUNTRY NEWS: While we are on the subject of Cheryl, congratulations to her for having one of her paintings selected for the cover the latest Amish Country News which is the premiere monthly tourism guide to Lancaster County. Click here to see this month’s guide!
Amish Cinnamon Bread….
AMISH CINNAMON BREAD: Wow, doesn’t this cinnamon bread look amazing? Click here for the recipe!
CROCK-POT AMISH APPLE BUTTER: Nothing better than slathering thick, delicious Amish apple butter on bread. Now you can have your own recipe for a crock-pot version. Click here for the recipe.
AMISH OATMEAL COOKIES: Truly good oatmeal cookies are tough to find. They are either too chewy/flavorless or too thick and flavorless…you want a good “oat-y” taste in them. Commercially, SIGH, I think the best ones are Sobey’s store brand oatmeal cookies in Canada. Wow, those are good. They are a harder cookie, but the oatmeal taste is just incredible. This recipe looks like a really good one says it has a hint of butterscotch flavor, which is good. Click here for the recipe.
