We had another good day exploring Amish country in the morning and headed back to Upstate NY around noon. The rain started exactly at 1pm just as Dick had predicted. As we were driving around Bird-In-Hand, Paradise, and Intercourse, we saw clothes hanging outside on the clotheslines all around...almost in every yard. Reminded me of growing up and my sister, Linda and I, had to do the family wash on Saturdays or Sundays since we were in school during the week. Washing clothes was one of our jobs. We had an old wringer washing machine out in the old barn on a 4' x 8' concrete slab. We would go out there together since neither of us liked the old barn. It only had 3 walls and a partial wall in front made out of old tin and posts. There was a wide open space for the tractor to pull in to keep out of the weather. I remember at one time we parked an old red and white Ford Fairlane in there and when I was learning how to drive, I backed out and almost pulled the whole barn down. Funny now, but not then! Anyway, back to washing clothes. We would turn on the hose and fill the tub up with water and get it to swishing with soap, put our clothes in there for awhile to swish clean. Then we would have to go back out and drain the tub and refill it with clean water. Let it swish around and rinse the soap out. Drain the water. Then we would both help each other putting the clothes through the wringer and into the basket to go hand them on the clothesline out by the garden. One time, one of us got our hair caught in the wringer and another time one of us got our arm caught in there. Both times, it scared us to death and the hair pulling was awful! I seem to remember that was me, but I'm really not sure anymore. I know it was traumatic for both of us! So as we passed the following pictures of clothes hanging on the line, I was thinking of my sister, Linda. Not many people left that remember washing clothes that way! (ps....Linda said it was my hair and her arm. She screamed scared to death and I came to help. Thanks for the update, Linda.)
Not only were the women working early in the morning at home, but we saw many driving their buggies to various locations to work in the shops. The men were hard at work, too and I was able to catch a picture of one young man working. Most of the people don't like to be photographed and will turn their head, but he was willing to look at us.
We stopped at this fabulous quilt store that had lots and lots of handmade quilts as well as fabric. There was a sign out front $3.75 yard sale so we went in to see what they had. I thought maybe I'd find something different for my flannel quilts I am working on. The young lady in there was Amish and was very friendly and nice. Her name was Ruth! So we had something in common. I bought a few yards of flannel and some other little things I saw, but I could have hung out in that store for awhile. I love the feel of fabric and the many beautiful designs was overwhelming. There was a colorful quilt hanging out front that I liked that when inspected up close was actually 1" squares laid out and sewn to make the pattern. Another one was on a bed inside the store. Striking in black and white with bits of color here and there. Very well made and must have taken quite awhile to create.
We also saw a building in another area of town with 2 quilts painted on the outside walls of the building. You could even see the stitches in the painting. I'm not sure if my pictures below will do them justice but they were an interesting display of the culture.
We left Amish country and headed toward Upstate after having a buffet lunch of fresh vegetables and various meats, mashed potatoes, thick noodles, and shoofly pie. We didn't stop in Hershey, but we drove through it and I was able to capture a few pictures. The street lights look like Hershey kisses...some chocolate and some silver wrapped. The tourist attraction was closed but Dick pointed out a double roller coaster that looked wooden and it would appear that the two tracks were racing. I bet that was fun! I remember that Gina and Jonah had gone this past summer and posted some pics on Facebook.
As we left Hershey, we discovered this road that had a covered bridge you passed through as you went up the hill. The road was quiet so we stopped and took pictures. Lulu and I always knew one day we would end up on or under the bridge. LOLOLOL Dick took our picture and then I took theirs. We decided this may be the bridge we want if we have to end up under one for a long time.
There was more color in the trees as we drove home through the Pocono's and Catskill Mountains. I got a few red trees this time. It started raining pretty hard. It is suppose to rain in the afternoon tomorrow and all day Wednesday so we may postpone our trip to Niagra Falls until the weekend. More pics to come!
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