The Amish in Tennessee

they hang their clothes on the front porch to dry.

two teenage girls were in the buggy

they stack their corn stalks

notice the little girl on the porch...all the kids we saw were barefooted.

they had " visitors"....from the outside world....( the car)

little boys must have had on " hand me down" hats...they were full of holes and too big.

Friends of ours told us about the Amish community in Ethridge Tn. and told Chuck how to get there. So, we set out this morning to see what kind of fun day we would have. Of course we had to have some " fresh flowers" for the bud vase in the explorer so we stopped and picked some yellow daisies that are growing along the sides of the road, every where up here. After stopping to buy my fantastic pumpkin, it was lunch time and we had packed our lunch so all we had to do was to find a neat place to eat it. Well, we found one! Down town Lawrenceburg, which had a square and in the middle of the square was a big gazebo. Next to the gazebo was a memorial to Davy Crockett...along with a Davy Crockett Museum in the square. ( it used to be First National Bank). After lunch, we drove on to Ethridge, until we came to several stores that sold " Amish items", they said but we were doubtful. There we picked up a "free map" to where all the Amish people lived, down several country roads. We did run into several " buggies and wagons", driving in traffic in town and down the country roads. It wasn't at all how I expected, even though I have read several books about the Amish. The houses and farms were like I pictured but the yards and the areas were kinda " dirty". If they had goods to sell, there were signs at their drive ways, saying what was for sale. We stopped at one that said they sold, baskets, hats and canned goods. The lady came from the house next door and told us about the " men's straw hats" that she made. They grew the straw, she braided it and them sewed it on the machine. It was amazing. Chuck ended up buying one, just because of the story behind it. He says he will wear it this winter when he grows his beard again...lol. I guess I need to make me a " black bonnet" to wear when he has his " Amish look". ha! I asked if there were some place where I could buy one of their bonnets but she said.." no, they just made the ones they wear". We also bought some candy, some pickled beets and a jar of cherry preserves. After driving past several other farms, we stopped at one that sold baskets and baked goods. We ended up buying a " friendship cake". We asked about apples but the lady said that only one man had apples and he had already sold out of them. ...and they sure were good! It was a fun way to spend the afternoon and it made me want to read my " Amish books " all over again. ...or read some new ones. On the way home, we stopped in Florence to go to "JoAnn's" and Sam's. I didn't find any fabric for the cushions for the sun room but we sure did find things at Sam's! ....as always.

Here's a little information that was on the map that we picked up at the store:

Ethride TN, is the home of the South's largest" Old Order" which means that they have no modern conveniences: no cars, no tractors, no electricity and no running water. The Amish came here in 1944. They arrived in a railroad car loaded with their horses, farm equipment and household goods. There are approximately 250 families in Lawrence County today. They make wonderful neighbors; however, they prefer to associate within their own community. The Amish make their livings by working the land. They also sell fresh vegetables, milk, molasses, quilts, rugs, hats furniture and other hand made goods from their homes. There are no Amish stores; they sell everything from their homes. Watch for signs at each house that tell what the family has to offer. There are several Amish schools. The children start to school at age seven and go from first grade through eighth. The school houses are small one room buildings with all eight grades learning in one room. Amish children study reading, writing, arithmetic, English and German. Religion and family are very important to the Amish. Their three main values are religion, family and the love for the land. All of the Amish wear dark colored clothing. They feel that not wearing bright colors keeps them from standing out in the world.