Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Amish land, through the car window

My husband and I took a drive to nearby Quarryville, PA this past Saturday to stock up on some supplies. We needed bird seed, flannel-lined jeans, and a change of scenery. I had wanted to stay home and get the house cleaned in order to begin decorating for the holidays, but I’d just gotten a new camera and lens and I wanted to try them out. And my husband was planning on driving for the first time since his surgery in early October, so this was a win-win.

All of the photos in this post were taken through the car window. It’s not easy getting a good shot from a moving vehicle, and I’m warning you that these aren’t the best . . . but it’s not going to stop me from sharing them.

 

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Eden is that old-fashioned house we dwell in every day
Without suspecting our abode until we drive away.
~Emily Dickinson

 

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No man is born into the world whose work
Is not born with him; there is always work
And tools to work withal, for those who will....
~James Russell Lowell

 

 

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For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

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For me the diamond dawns are set
In rings of beauty,
And all my ways are dewy wet
With pleasant duty.
~John Townsend Trowbridge

 

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God give me work, till my life shall end
And life, till my work is done.
~Epitaph of Winifred Holtby

 

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An Amish Rug

As if a one-room schoolhouse were all we knew
And our clothes were black, our underclothes black,
Marriage a horse and buggy going to church
And the children silhouettes in a snowy field,

I bring you this patchwork like a smallholding
Where I served as the hired boy behind the harrow,
Its threads the colour of cantaloupe and cherry
Securing bay hales, corn cobs, tobacco leaves.

You may hang it on the wall, a cathedral window,
Or lay it out on the floor beside our bed
So that whenever we undress for sleep or love
We shall step over it as over a flowerbed.

Michael Longley

 

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All in all, it was a good Saturday. Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

123 Signature[5]

45 comments:

tina said...

These pictures were taken in my front yard. Literally from my front yard you can almost see the Robert Fulton Birthplace :)

Hilary said...

Love all the pictures, through the window, or not.

Country Girl said...

We drove right by it, Tina. Went to Good's Store in Quarryville rather than driving all the way up to East Earl.

~ C.G.

Denise at Autumn Sky said...

I visited Lancaster about 10 years ago. It was pretty interesting. I remember thinking we were going to have a terrific meal and then found their food to be so bland. Very disappointing, but the rest of the day was lovely.

JaneK said...

love the shots.... a step back in time; and love the quotes. thanks, Kate

Annette W. said...

Like Tina, you were in my backyard...or close! Good's is one of our favorite stops for practical things...and toys!

I actually really liked the shots (and no faces shown), despite the window view!

If you guys like meat/potato type of meals, you should try Lapp's Restaurant.

Deb said...

I like those photos...looks like a nice day...

Kerri Farley said...

Kate these are fabulous! Love love love the vintage look!

Hilary said...

They're fine shots.. particularly for through-the-moving-car-window images. And I love the treatment you've given them. Lovely.

Christie - Fine Lines said...

Thank you, Kate. I feel like I've just been on vacation!!

Reena said...

Lovin' that camera! great shots even through the car window!

Caroline said...

OMG...these are stunning photos...and the processing is perfect! Wow.

RURAL said...

Through the window, or outside, they all have this wonderful realistic vintage feel to them. Kind of like we were sitting in the vehicle next to you.

Totally mesmerizing.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Unknown said...

I love the head shot of the horse! The local Amish community is touchy about being photographed so I've not tried but now that THE BOSS is driving Godzilla and she loves going to the Amish stores and I have that long image stabilized lens.......

Anonymous said...

Dee from Tennessee

LOVE them all - in fact, you've made my day/night! And...oh , the head shot of the horse --YES!..thankful it was a win/win for both.

how to edit flv said...

Awesome dear. Such beautiful scenes of nature we can see here. Wonderful work, continues....

Anonymous said...

Your photos are wonderful thanks for taking us along for the ride!

Jeckab said...

There many Hid Lights for Sale in the market. If you purchase the lights online then there is facility to deliver it free.

Deborah said...

Oh you had me at "Amish"! I love the Amish people and their gentle ways.
We drive into Amish Country in the summer time every year and its my favourite. I too, shoot photos when I can, and caught a few this summer, all while driving too.
Yours are beautiful..love the black & whites!
So glad to hear your hubby is doing well!

Deborah xoxo

Mary said...

These are wonderful, Kate! I love the vintage feel on that last one, and the shot of the road just speaks to me... What a lovely image! xoxo

Nurse Nancy said...

Wonderful shots. Very peaceful and relaxing. Thanks for sharing.

tj said...

...Wow. *goosebumps* :o)

...The photo of the horse and buggy coming toward you, the little boy looks as if he is looking right at you, doesn't he?

...I couldn't pick a fav' photo out of this line-up Kate if you placed my life on it. Every one of 'em is simply spectacular and then the quotes and poem that you pared with them...*speechless*

...So are you seeing or feeling any differences between the ol' camera and the new one? I don't know if I see any changes in your photos. It seems as if I do but I don't know if that's just because I know you got a new camera or what. Anyway, it's all awesome. :o)

...Enjoy your day and thanks for sharing your lil' road trip you two.

...Blessings

tj said...

...Seriously, I have GOT to stop leaving such long comments. Look at all the other comments and then mine are like a small book! Sheesh. *sigh*eye roll*shaking head*

Daryl said...

remember its not the camera or the lens .. its that great eye you have

Linda said...

Agreeing with Daryl here. And I'm glad you share all your photos with us, not just the "good" ones:)

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Are you kidding? These are wonderful!!! especially love the horse head.... wow, the power in that.

beth said...

i love anything amish....mostly the people of course...and these photos are great. shut up !
xoxoo

Jeannelle said...

Excellent photo work! I love the downhill highway shot and those green pastures are amazing for this time of year.

sharon said...

good pictures Kate! You can't even tell you took them from a moving car. Love em!

Mom on a mission said...

I love the pictures:) I actually have Amish friends in Indiana and visit with them quite frequently:-) I actually love it when we get to take a buggy ride...either in a open buggy or closed!! :)

grammyscraps said...

Beautiful, beautiful. Can't tell you how many photos I've taken from our moving truck. We spend the summers in Montana and travel many narrow, two-lane roads. No place to pull over so I just shoot like crazy. Love, love my Nikon and the 70x300 lens. Some amazing shots even on the move.
So happy your hubby is driving again. You both remain in my thoughts and prayers.

mrs mediocrity said...

oh, i think you did a great job with them... the black and white/sepia was the perfect way to process them.
and you are so good at picking out fabulous quotes!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

I love Quarryville but I have not had the chance to visit in quite some time. Brings back lovely memories. :)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post. Thank you.

Bridgemor

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Gorgeous!

Nellie said...

What lovely pictures, Kate! I also enjoyed reading the very appropriate quotes you chose to accompany the photographs. It sounds as though you had a beautiful day.

Cloudia said...

what a lovely post!



Aloha from Waikiki

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Bluebird49 said...

How lovely this whole post was! Thanks for taking the time to look up poetry and put your lovely pictures up for us. You're a sweetie.

But you knew that.

Right?

The JR said...

I'm gonna have to find some of those flannel lined jeans for the hubby.

Beautiful pictures.

Lili said...

Wow what a change of scenery. This is a beautiful collection and I adore how you shared the prose in between the images. You are so creative. xo ~Lili

Lisa said...

Wow. Just wow. You blow me away.
Love these . All of them , not just some and the words.
Nice Kate

Carolynn Anctil said...

Beautiful! I love the step back in time. So lovely.

Jen at Cabin Fever said...

Looks like a beautiful drive! I could spend forever in Amish country with my camera...

Cabin Fever in Vermont

[I am] The One With the Camera said...

The vintage edited ones are amazing! Love them. I hope you can recover your photos by the way!!!

Sara
http://iamtheonewiththecamera.blogspot.com/

bateaux rc said...

Wow! Such a beautiful pictures here you have been shared. Its a great photography.