Amish County & New Jersey

We had a couple days off, so took advantage of the time to explore some of the Amish countryside near Lancaster, Pennsylvania one day, then on to Brick, New Jersey the next day.  The drives through the rolling hills and farmlands are so much fun, with Fall decorations and pumpkins everywhere.

We had just finished reading a novel by Jodi Picoult that involved an Amish family, so we were hoping we could get into Amish territory again.  We are both quite fascinated with their ability to live a simple, plain life.  We visited a re-created Amish farm (for tourists), and learned more about the Amish from the tour guide who was Amish until she was 25 years old, then left to become a conservative Mennonite.   Things are changing for the community, but not much since the 1800s when they settled in Pennsylvania.  Some of the businessmen now have access to telephones/computers, but mostly none of the families have that kind of connection with the outside world.  But it was interesting to learn that some school children now wear Nike shoes with the rest of their traditional dress, and there are other little changes creeping into their lives.  But none of the children seem to badger their parents for a car -- although a good horse might be on their wish list.

We had to eat a Pennsylvania Dutch meal while there.  The Good 'n Plenty restaurant more than filled the bill -- and our bulging waistlines!  We were seated at a table with other guests, and the food was brought out family style.  Several small dishes at first -- chow-chow (pickled vegetables), a chicken spread, coleslaw, bread with apple butter, and something else.  Then the main food -- and it kept coming:  fried chicken, sliced turkey, stuffing, homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, sauerkraut, corn, brown-butter noodles, peas.  Not full yet?  How about 5 desserts, including shoo-fly pie, berry pie, cheesecake, soda cracker pudding, homemade ice cream.

I think John was saying, "Enough already!" by the time the desserts came.  It was fun to talk with a couple from Indiana (about our age) and a young couple from South Carolina -- she was an MD intern in infectious diseases and has been to various places around the world, including Zambia.  We thought of Rachel Peletz.

That night at our hotel,... cheese, crackers and an apple was dinner!

The next day was a beautiful, sunny Fall day.  We drove to Brick, New Jersey to visit Nora Howes, a former Christ Church member.  She is 96 years old, and doesn't look or act like it!  She still drives her bright red car around town, she played golf regularly until just recently, her memory is sharp as a tack, she is active in a small United Methodist Church that she loves and reads biblical study books for their Bible study....  She's what I want to be if I live to be 96!  We had a terrific visit.  Her niece joined us for lunch (wonderful seafood restaurant right on the water) and drove us around the area to see the damage that the Hurricane Sandy caused, about a year ago.  There are so many beautiful homes that are either still being repaired, or have been torn down.  Brick is on the Atlantic Ocean, and is surrounded by rivers.  Beautiful area....until a storm like that hits.

We had a long drive to get back to New Windsor, Maryland, but the weather was beautiful, and a gorgeous sunset welcomed us back to our home-away-from-home.