Sunday, June 22, 2008

Out for a Sunday Drive


This afternoon, I saw an Amish buggy coming up our street. I've only seen that one other time in the 8 years we have lived here. Some usually come into town on Saturdays for the farmer's market...but on a Sunday? And on our street? There was a man and a woman. Two little Amish girls in the cart and two boys about 10 or 11 years of age on bicycles. They went slowly by and waved and smiled at us. I waved and smiled back. During the entire thing, my camera was just an arm's length away. I could have gotten a nice shot of all of their smiling faces...but I just couldn't do it. I can't treat them like they are part of an odd exhibit. Allen was sitting next to me. We finally felt comfortable with Allen taking this shot of them from the back after they had passed.

12 comments:

Gudl said...

That is a great shot!
I wonder where they live...

Rachel said...

Now that's a sight we don't ever see here where we are. Great shot, Allen!

judi/Gmj said...

Thanks for being you,I think respect is your middle name. YOu are a good example for others to follow. Isn't it nice they felt comfortable enough to leave the beaten path and venture your way? God works in mysterious ways indeed.

joeks said...

Respect is the word I was going to use too. I'm sure they appreciated that you didn't immediately haul out the camera.
I worry for our Amish neighbors here, as we live on a highway with no shoulders.

I'll be thinking of you this week as you finish up your summer session of classes.

Martha said...

Nice photo, Allen.

I love to meet up with the Amish and buy one of their breads or pies. Yum.

Wanda said...

Actually, I think the back shot is a wonderful composition.

It was thoughtful to respect them this way...but then I knew you were a nice lady.

Joe Fool said...

way2go Al. Good shot.

Dunja said...

I never knew there were Amish in your area.

Anonymous said...

I wonder where they live, too! Our barn was built by an Amish family, and we felt the same way--though we visited them and they came to our house to deliver the barn, we didn't take pictures with them looking...although we did get a few where they just happened to be in the picture! ;-)

Priscilla said...

I am assuming that they live out towards Rushville or Middlesex. I have seen some Amish settlements out that way. They rarely come into town. I have seen an Amish cart and horse tied to a post at Aldi's and once at Wal-mart.

Mostly I see the Mennonites.

Katya said...

What a fabulous capture...and how amazing!!!

In expanding the photo to have a good look, it seems the hat the youngster on the bike is wearing might indicate he is actually Mennonite? As I recall, Amish generally wear a black hat? Not sure about that though. I do know that there are Conservative Mennonites that adhere to some of the Amish ways, such as using horses and buggies.

What a treat this must have been!

I sell supplies for people that make handmade soap. Imagine MY surprise when four lovely Amish women "suddenly" showed up at my door one day! They had a driver with them with Michigan plates! And yes, the driver had driven two or three of them from Michigan to visit their relatives in Prattsburg!

Priscilla said...

Here it is 5 years later. I have since then learned more about Amish and Mennonites. This picture is of old order Mennonites, NOT Amish. Katya was right!

Love the photo and the memory. I haven't seen any more on my street since. Indeed a rare sight.