Pages and posts regarding the summer road trip that’s about simplicity and tradition, with a focus on “plain people” and the traditional skill of driving oxen.
Driving oxen is not easy! Our days are long and my nights are too! I’m sleeping like a log!
So there hasn’t been time or energy to provide updates, but they are coming.
We actually did some “chores” yesterday (using the oxen). Hauled some hay, moved some implements so mowing can be done…
A dear old friend of mine used to describe himself as “happy tired.”
I am happy tired!
Well, not exactly. But working through Lehman’s Hardware Store in Kidron, Ohio, is not for the faint of heart. It’s huge! And it’s much more than a hardware store.
Since Road Trip 2024 is about simplicity and tradition, image my surprise when, upon entering, I found myself standing in front of a wall display explaining “For a Simpler Life.” In a sense, that’s what Lehman’s is all about. They could also have displayed “We’re more than a hardware store,” but I do like that their welcome ties to the Road Trip 2024 theme.
You can easily get a stiff neck. In every department, there are antique representations of the products carried displayed above the items. The lamp department not only sells non-electric lamps, there are examples of different types used throughout the years. I’m not sure how they did it in the stove department.
Customer service is more than available. We asked one bright and cheery cashier if she knew where everything was, and she was quick to admit she did not and had no expectation she ever would. We weren’t looking for something specific, but I’ll bet if we were, she’d have enlisted others to help with the search. One thing that makes shopping here interesting is that you’ll find things you didn’t know you needed but now have to have.
The store, started in 1955, exists “to create a Simpler Life for you and your loved ones.” It doesn’t get much simpler than that. We’ve long ordered through their catalog and online, but it was great to experience the store in person. It may be a good thing we don’t live closer.
In an effort to keep things simple, we had dinner at the Downtown Diner in Berlin. We had to walk through the ice cream parlor to get to the dining area. When I noted that it could be tempting to have ice cream for supper, the hostess replied. “People do!”
We didn’t yield to temptation, but we also didn’t have room for ice cream after eating more sensibly. (That might be a misnomer, now that I think about it.)
Let’s start a movement and call it “Simply Sunday.” The idea behind it would be how simple can we make life on Sundays.
So the short update for yesterday is simply short. We didn’t do much. Just to give you an idea of what that means, one significant event was munching on maple-frosted cinnamon buns purchased on Saturday.
We did reinstitute the decades-old tradition of “going for a Sunday Drive” to nowhere in particular. That included some picture-taking.
Monday (today) is not proving quite as simple. For some reason, downloading yesterday’s photos from the camera is challenging. I think I’ve narrowed the problem down to a faulty adapter.
So here I am in a place where I can readily find maple-frosted cinnamon buns, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole milk. However, I’m not so sure the cable I need will be easily located, which might not be a bad thing.
A return visit to Behalt is coming up and takes priority, either today or tomorrow morning. Tomorrow night, we have dinner prepared by an Amish couple in their home. I can still take photos (no face shots of the Amish*). Posting them may be delayed.
The technology issue is truly a gelassenheit moment.**
We are moving slower and sleeping better. Is that a sufficient update for today?
*The subject of photographing the Amish is not as simple as many people believe. While at Behalt, the two volunteers (Mennonites) assured me I could photograph anything but them–it was obviously a camera shyness and somewhat humorous request. I teased, “Oh, I understand. You think that taking your picture with a camera will steal your soul.” We had a good laugh, but there are Englisch who believe the Amish think that.
**Gelassenheit is a German word often used to describe the Amish mindset. It does not translate easily, but the Cambridge Dictionary explains it “means calmness, composure, poise or serenity in English.” It’s a sort of “so be it” way of thinking that I have written about elsewhere. Check out Cows, Corn, and Calm.
The name comes from the German word behalten: to hold onto or to remember. Located in Berlin, Ohio, it’s a 10 ft tall x 265 ft long cyclorama, or mural-in-the-round. Photos and words do not do it justice. It was painted by one man, Heinz Gaugel. The story of this self-taught artist and how Behalt developed is fascinating. Not only did he learn to paint, he clearly learned a great deal of history and possessed an uncanny ability to identify the threads and relationships.
Elaine gave us a guided tour, and as luck would have it, we were the only two on the tour. Behalt illustrates the heritage of the Amish and Mennonite people from their Anabaptist beginnings in Zürich, Switzerland in 1525 to the present day. Everything about our experience was impressive–including her knowledge and ability to take us through those years without notes.
If memory serves, over 1,200 individuals are represented. In the area describing the early 1900s, I saw a familiar ship! The S.S. Volendam brought my paternal grandmother and my two oldest uncles to this country in October 1923. Behalten!
We spent some time wandering through some of the historical displays, including Bibles and books that are hundreds of years old. Did I mention the gift shop? My summer reading list has grown. I even found a student workbook and teacher’s guide for a course, “Learning to Drive a Buggy Safely.” I devoured that last night and will donate both to Tillers International.
We wrapped up our visit visiting with Ray, another volunteer who is also an Amish Deacon and writer/publisher. We shared some thoughts about writing–and reading! Ray publishes a bi-weekly 50+ page newsletter: The Vendor–stories of family, life, and hope. You won’t find it on the Internet. I left with a sample copy and desire to subscribe when I get home and can write a check. Credit cards are not accepted.
Given the theme of Road Trip 2024 includes simplicity, it is interesting to note that their logo includes the tag line, “Simplicity with a rich history.” This is a place where you can learn a lot of history and discover the richness of simplicity.
Whenever I get a chance, I announce that “We’re not tourists!” Sometimes I’ll add “But we’re trying to look and act like them.” I have long said that when I’m among the Amish, I consider myself a guest, not a tourist.
One stop today was a “real” Amish store (owned, operated by, and containing Amish-related merchandise). I had a good time with the Amish girls waiting on me, trying to be at least mildly entertaining. I’m not sure I convinced them I wasn’t a tourist but we enjoyed some laughs together.
Needless to say I left with some books. I was a bit tempted by a black vest, but it required sewing on your own hooks and eyes. I’m not ready for that level of simplicity and tradition.
While we’re self-declared non-tourists, we do occasionally do touristy things. Today we opted to visit The Farm at Walnut Creek.
A highlight of the trip is an open wagon trip through a portion of the grounds where the animals have trained people to feed them. In addition to the “flat hand” suggestion, our Amish wagon driver explains that many of the four legged type prefer to have you drop the pellets on their tongues.
The assortment of furried and feathered friends is amazing. It’s quite an experience. Half the fun for me was watching the kids on our wagon.
As is often the case, there’s a back story. This could be about simplicity but it may also be a bit political. You have been warned. The farm has existed for over fifteen years and maintains more than 500 unique animals. (Not all are available for feeding by visitors.) Due to the nature of their operation, they are licensed by the U.S.D.A. Historically, that’s been a positive relationship.
Their license was due for renewal in May of this year and that meant reinspection by the U.S.D.A. The short version of the story at least has a fundamentally happy ending, but the inspection was conducted by inspectors who were less than qualified and obviously involved “government overreach.” The Farm did an excellent job of documenting the process and an even better job of organizing a campaign to support reasonableness. Even so, it cost the farm $50,000 to meet the requirements, some of which were “necessary” due to rule changes made after the inspection visit.
As I anticipate my ox-driving workshop I find myself wondering and worrying how many experiences (particularly traditional and historical ones) are becoming extinct.
At the grocery store next to the Amish store, we were able to buy some whole milk. It’s actually not about the milk, really. It’s about having the choices and options. I may not want hooks and eyes but I do like whole milk.