Saturday, March 6, 2010

A banner day for buggies

We were out the door by 6:45 this morning, headed for Amish country and a grocery run. I brought the camera just in case I saw something interesting and as soon as we got on the outskirts of Lancaster County it was quite obvious that it was a banner day for buggies.

DSC_0603 copy 2

Horses and buggies are a common sight in these parts and this morning they were all we saw on the roads. It’s always best to get out early in the morning before the English (as we are called) hit the roads in full force.

DSC_0589 copy 2

The morning was cold but the sun promises warmth later this day. You can still see some of the snow that remains from the storms that hit this area about a month ago.

DSC_0636 copy 2

Roller skates are a popular mode of transportation for young people in Amish country. Scooters and bicycles are widely used as well.

DSC_0641 copy 2

It’s beginning to be a beautiful morning and the sun feels so warm and good through the windows of our car.

DSC_0646 copy 2

All of these shots were taken through the car windows with the exception of the first one.

DSC_0666 copy 2

And on our way home, we noticed that every single farm that we passed had their laundry hanging out. It wasn’t quite 9 when I shot the photo above.

All of these pictures were processed in Photoshop using free actions from Pioneer Woman. I used the same for each, vintage at 50-60% opacity, then flatten, followed by fresh & colorful at 80-100% opacity. Photos taken with my Nikon D80 and either this lens or the Quantaray 70-300mm.

Have a beautiful weekend, all. I’m headed outside.

37 comments:

A New England Life said...

Good afternoon Kate!

Look at all your snow! So weird that you would have such big snow banks still and we have nothing.

Can I just say that I'm so glad I don't have to hang my laundry out. Or roller-skate to the store. Or even hitch the horse up! But of course I'm also the one polluting the air : /

Julie Harward said...

I love it there, we have been there and I love all the Amish buggies! Such an interesting life they live isn't it?! Have a good weekend...come say hi :D

Randy said...

I love to go to Amish country & see how they live. It's so interesting. I have never gotten up the nerve to photgraph the Amish people, though, because I read they don't like to be photographed! And I especially love the Charlotte Hall farmer's market!

Deb said...

oh those are fun photos....love the laundry hanging out..

My name is Riet said...

What a lovely sight those buggies all around. And there are still lots of people hanging their laundry out in this country mostly on Monday, that is oldfashioned laundry day. :)) Great pictures again.

Cloudia said...

Skates and scooters during Rumshpringer only - or are they kosher for all?

Thanks for this remembrance of country drives past (was born in Penn)


Aloha from Hawaii my Friend!


Comfort Spiral

Anonymous said...

Everyone does laundry on the same day? WOW. I remember the smell of fresh air dried sheets from the clothesline when I was growing up. They were nice to snuggle into at night.

DI
The Blue Ridge Gal

Deb said...

So what do you pick up in Amish country? I am intrigued!

Daryl said...

I am chomping at the bit to get down there and go buggy shooting with you ...

Michelle said...

Oh, thank you for sharing! I was just thinking to myself last night that I would love to take a vacation to Amish Country some day! I live in Oregon and have been wanting to hang my laundry out too..but thought it too cold at 45-50 degrees! Guess I could give it a try! hee hee

Treasia Stepp said...

I would love to be able to see buggies like this when I went out on the weekends. I envy you this sight. I always hang my clothes out on the line during the spring and summer months, but from the looks of that line you would need a ladder to step ladder to reach them! Is it just me or does it look awfully high?

Linda said...

Beautiful!

Annie said...

You have lovely clean car windows! And a steady hand.

;-)

And great shots, Kate. Thanks for showing us!

JC said...

My Dad grew up in Kansas. We went to see my Grandmother for my sixteen birthday. Ate at an Amish restaurant in the town of Yoder. When they brought the cupcake out, everyone turned and looked. Everyone in grey and brown ... still remember that to this day.

Oh, and lots of horses with buggies out that way ...

Kay on south coast of oregon said...

i guess i don't think of you being in amish country..I always think of that as being in Pa.....oops, maybe you do live in Pa now..I've forgotten.... I was thinking Maryland. WEll, any Kate, it's been close to 80 in my yard here in Coos Bay, Oregon today....fabulous weather.. (that was in the sun of course)... just love your pictures.

Ellen said...

Shady Maple rocks. Love the bulk foods aisle and the apple bread. What did you buy?

I think we need to take Ann and Lauren there.

Pam I Am said...

:'( that horse in the top photo is so skinny i can see s/hes ribs, poor thing.
despite that these photos are very nice, excellent composition, and i think you captured the vintage feel very well.
~cheers

Cheryl said...

Visited the Amish country many years ago. It was the best relaxing vacation.

Thanks for bring back memories and great shots!

Country Girl said...

Kay, I do live in Maryland. Delaware is right next door, and PA is to the north so it's not too far of a drive.

Treasia, the laundry hangs high up there. Clever of you to catch that. It operates on a pulley system.

Welcome to Pam I Am. Yeah, I can see the ribs too. And Sharon, we've only got snow where it's in the shade.

~ C.G.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

The first photo is really loaded with words. The elegance and grace of his turned head and neck are just beautiful. He's skinny, that's for sure, and I also noticed his ribs.

The harsh winter months don't provide much/any pasture for grazing, but independent of that these horses probably get way more exercise than most, since they're considered a mode of transportation vital to the needs of every day life.

It's all fascinating. Love these pictures and always enjoy the privilege of coming along on one of your field trips.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Sorry, one more thing. My parents are anything but Amish and they hang their laundry out on the line 13 months out of the year. And yes, they own a dryer. I learned a long time ago to stop asking why.

BB said...

This seems soooooo exotic to me ... like ANOTHER world. I love horse-drawn buggies - wild that rollerblades skim side by side with them on these roads.

Love the work and thanks for sharing the tech info too!!
:-)
BB

Gail said...

I always love seeing the Amish, it is like a step back in time.

I would love to have buggy and harness for my Haflinger but, it is not to be for now.

Sounds like a wonderful outing.

Ronald Rabenold said...

Love the shots. Good opportunity for Buggy Shots exists next weekend at the Gordonville Mud Sale next saturday, Lancaster County.
Enjoy. Thanks for sharing.

GailO said...

I love laundry shots!..Looks like a wonderful road trip Kate...love the photo actions you used...

bv said...

i am glad others noticed the shockingly thin horse in the first photo...don't know what any of us can do but this is abusive treatment. as a 'mom' of many horses i can see that no one cares or feeds this horse but makes it work....so not cool. kinda makes me wonder about all that 'peacefulness'...
bv

Pony Girl said...

In regards to BV's comment- I noticed the horse was a bit ribby, too (but I like my horses a little more on the plump side, LOL!) It could have been an older horse. On the site "Saddlebred Rescue" they often have ex-Amish buggy horses that they rescue from the slaughter house, rehab, and adopt out. It is actually quite sad. These buggy horses are mostly well-cared for by their Amish families, but "driven" into the ground with many, many road miles on them. When they need a younger, fresh horse, the used up horse most often ends up at the auction house. One such rescue horse on the site even had a note attached to from the child in the family hoping the horse didn't end up as meat. It made me so sad. (I just started riding Saddlebreds and found the rescue site while surfing.)

Jayne said...

I can't imagine hanging the laundry out to freeze on the line! Whoo... that'd be a rude awakening, putting on those panties...lol!

Have a great Sunday!

Dagmar said...

Hi Kate it's funny reading all the comments. We here in Holland still hang our laundry out as soon as the weather alows us.

Yet I'm glad I don't have to live the life of the amish (sorry everybody needs there own free spirit to grow, no affence at all here). It's just so hard for me to understand why they won't have it when there children make different choises and they will be banned out of there lifes....??? I can't get that part. Otherwise it's there way of living and one should as one fits the best as long as there is love involved.

Thanks for the pictures they are nicely taking through the window.
See you around. Dagmar

Mary said...

Wonderful images, Kate! I'm so glad you got to enjoy the beautiful weather yesterday -- wasn't it gorgeous?

Country Girl said...

Actually, the more I look at the first photo, the more upset I get. The ill treatment of their buggy horses and the puppy mills are a fact of life in the Amish and Mennonite communities. Thank God there are organizations like the aspca the one Pony Girl pointed out, Saddlebred Rescue. This was a young horse. I almost want to pull the photo down.

~ C.G.

Jill of All Trades said...

Great pictures. When I saw the laundry line though I kind of cocked my head and went, "Hmmmm". Curious why it is so high.

We finally have spring here I think. The crocus are up and the jonquils are blooming!

Unknown said...

Hi Kate - Loved these shots.. Only watched the "Witness" movie again on TV last weekend - so these made me smile.. only slightly thinking of Harrison Ford at the time.

Genny said...

Gorgeous photos of Amish country. I hate to chime in, but the horse in the first photo is severely underweight, protruding ribs and hipbones. The rest of the pictures though are full of the stuff of poems. I didn't realize that there were Amish in Maryland or VA.

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a fun trip! I love taking photos from the car on our adventures! (wow, that's early and cold for hanging laundry...)

Minda said...

Hi Kate!!! Love your post! I live in the Finger Lakes in New York State and we have a huge Mennonite population which is somewhat different than Amish. They are a huge part of our community and our economy aswell. They produce and manufacture some of the best products out there. I work in a flower shop and many people come in and comment on the buggies and think it is so "cool" that we have people dressed up and re-eneact the "old times." Which we explain to them that they are mennonites and thats how they live! They are wonderfuly kind and gentle people who have saved many old farm houses from demise and made farming huge!! Love your blog and keep up the good work!!

The JR said...

Great pictures.