FROM THE BICYCLE...A BUGGY



Amish buggy

 There is something really different about riding a bicycle behind an Amish buggy.  I lead my Arts, Amish and Adventure tour in SW Michigan where we are invited into Amish home-based businesses.  The motor coach  picked me up in Colon and the tour wound throughout Michigan's Old Wild West and ended in Three Rivers. 

Since my car was parked in Colon, I changed clothes and rode 23 miles from the Meijers store in Three Rivers to Colon.  No real big deal for me -- my gigantic calves and glutes to match do the work for me.

So there I was, behind an Amish buggy.

The driver didn't seem to mind me -- dressed in spandex, a cycling Jersey that says "Hell of a Ride" from a fundraiser that I rode 10 years ago in Ann Arbor, and my bike. Helmut, of course, on head.

The clopping of the horses hooves on the pavement was so soothing and really stopped time for me. I just didn't seem to mind the horse droppings, nor the smell of the very fresh manure. It's total country all the way. 

 I took an unusual route that I never explored before.  A packed dirt road that was okay for my skinny tires but not the kind of road for my vehicle.

As frequently as I am in the area, I saw things I never saw before.  This was the major thoroughfare of the Amish, where they socialized. So many stopped and chatted. Lots of Amish bikes --  heavy and sturdy like their Belgium horses. Some of the ladies were walking arm in arm.  Children driving a buggy led by their pygmy pony. Across the way, I saw an father with his son, both had their guns slung over their shoulders for the hunting they were doing.  No one was in a hurry. People were happy.  Except for me, no "English".

They waved to me. Here, I must have been a site for sore eyes with my weird-to-them outfit and so out of place next to women with bonnets and their dresses. No one cared.

A horse and buggy, a 25 mile ride where another dimension existed, and a lot of peace. Hardly any cars.  I followed that buggy all the way to Colon ... where it finally turned into the drive-thru at the bank.    

AMISH BUGGIES & IMPATIENT DRIVERS

In Amish country, I have the opportunity to see a lot of horse drawn  buggies on the road. Each is different. I never recognize one from the other even though there are telling signs because I am so intent on arriving at my destination. 

The buggy here is parked at a convenience store.  I snapped this picture because of the signage near the carriage and wondered, gee, is he stopping for a six pack? No, Amish don't drink alcohol. A soda pop every now and then, but usually their own garden tea or lemonade is more common among these folks. Like us, they may run out of something and have to make a pit-stop.  I cannot even fathom to guess why an Amish person stopped here as they are usually stocked for months on everything you can imagine.  

Sometimes I pass a Plain Person's carriage and admire the horse -- handsome trotters some times Indian ponies.  Drivers can be men, women and teens who are adept at handling their horses in some very fast and very reckless traffic. Usually they are off on the shoulder and never fully in the lane so the impatient drivers can pass. Those who live in the area are quite used to buggies.  

Still, there are accidents. Unfortunately I saw the aftermath of an accident and it still stays with me.  The horse was on the pavement, the fright in the eyes made me want to try to help but I knew better,  the driver didn't care about himself but tended to the horse. 

The automobile driver was in tears and kept repeating that she "just didn't see him," which tells me that she was on the cell phone.  Cars everywhere stopped. It was just terrifying -- so unnecessary.

When on a cell phone, I've heard that people are "cell phone blind"  -- see the link here.

http://neuronarrative.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/just-how-blind-are-you-when-talking-on-a-cell-phone/  

And the lady must have had cell phone blindness, which surprises me because sometimes getting a signal is difficult.

After many months, the Amish man and his horse recuperated from the buggy rollover.  This time I recognized the vehicle.  He got special permission from his Bishop to put about 20 reflectives on the back of his buggy. 

I don't know what the state of the Amish lifestyle will be in 30 years as changes are invading the communities. We need to see the horse drawn carriages and need to slow down if only for a moment to reflect on their lifestyle, which seems so simple compared to our constant rushing around and tending to urgent text messages.

Every time I am in the heartland of this 150 year old community in SW Michigan, I treasure the "other" drivers. 

FIGHT BANK FEES & WIN

Yikes. This afternoon I had an overdraft on my personal checking account. All weekend long, I checked the account and even deposited money in the account.  This morning, the account still showed that I had plenty of funds to cover both the debit/credit card and checks. 

Lo and behold, this afternoon, I had $5.72 left in my account.  I just could not tell where the overdraft occurred after searching everywhere on my online account. 

So, I marched over to the bank, where they know me. The manager went through the account.  It took him a while to find the culprit, which was a gas station and the way they debited the account.  He also credited back the debited fee to my account, which he didn't have to do.  He explained how I can avoid this in the future. 

I was very grateful. The point is, you can get reimbursed for fees.  Be polite. Make it clear you do not understand just how the fee occurred.  Be sure to go to the same bank and preferably the same teller all the time.

Let me know about your experience.

DETROIT FREEP DEAL OF THE WEEK

We were blessed to have been included in the Freep's Travel Section "Deal of the Week" by Ellen Creager in October.  Because of the "news" we have a total of 3 Christmas With The Amish trips scheduled.  Though she wrote about our Dec. 4th trip, we added a December 11 tour to handle the overflow. 

Here is what the article says ((((though I added the new date)))): 

"A motor coach day trip to Middlebury, IN, on Dec. 11 ($86) gives a rare glimpse into how the Amish people celebrate Christmas.  Visit homes of Amish people, have lunch, see cheese-making, candle-making and more.  This  is a trip that must be experienced in person, because no photographs are allowed in Amish homes.

"The trip is 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and leaves from  the Northwood Shopping Plaza at 13 Mile and Woodward in Royal Oak and from 7:00 a.m. from the Big Kmart, 12 Mile & John R., Madison Heights. Book the Step On Bus Tour at 222.steponbustours.com or call 248-619-6692." 

The power of publicity.

AMISH PIE RECIPE: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATURAL & STORE BOUGHT

Have an Amish pie and chances are you'll want them again and again. 

Did you know that Amish pies are prayers? The life of an Amish person is about praising God in everything they do, speak and think.  Can you say that the pie you make is the result of a prayer? I sure can't, and, I buy them ready to serve.

Rebecca Bontrager has been preparing her pies for our three visits on Dec. 4,6 & 11. I call her the Ravishing Rebecca because she is sooo funny.  Apparently humor runs deep and long in the Bontrager family. Her work ethic is exemplary.

In only concentrating on pies, she repeatedly sifts flour until is is like an ultra soft pillow. Sure, European flours are available for a very high price. Real cream and butter are used throughout each recipe. She would never think of using a substitute such a margarine or a pre-whipped topping. Mock cream simply will not do. 

I did ask her for a recipe and here is what she gave me:

Amish Raisin Pie

1 3/4 cup of milk (we get it from our cow)

3 eggs separated (our hens lay big brown eggs)

1 package of vanilla pudding & pie filling mix

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon of ground Allspice

11/2 cups of Golden Raisins

1 - Nine inch pastry shell (we make our own pastry shells)

6 tbsp sugar

In a small saucepan combine milk and egg yolks Blend well and stir in pudding mix very very slowly.  She recommends sifting the mix. Stir until mixture comes to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and allspice  Blend well.

Fold in raisins -- carefully. Then, pour mixture into pastry shell that has been pre-made and probably flouted.  Chill thoroughly. Don't skip this step because the mixture has to gel.

In the meantime, beat egg whites until peaks form. Gradually add sugar. Spoon the meringue over the pie making sure that it touches the crust. Bake for 5-8 minutes until the meringue is lightly browned. Remove and let cool.

Serve with coffee.

THE REAL HORSE POWER

Real "horsepower" is the only mode of travel and working the fields for Amish. If you've ever been in Amish country, you will see horse-drawn buggies or teams plowing the fields. 

Horses are generally housed in barns along with buggy storage, tie-stalls and room for hay.  Generally the Plain People have two types of horses. The work horse, Belgium's, or draft horses pull heavy loads and always stand ready for the job.  Sorrels, Pintos, Morgans, Trotters, the so-called "skinny-legged" horses are used for pulling buggies. 

The work horses usually aren't shod, while the buggy ponies wear shoes which are changed regularly.  Work horses have thick legs and are very muscular. They are bred to work and thoroughly enjoy "field" work.



Fall Harvest in Centreville, MI    



As you can see in the photo, anywhere from two to six horses will march in unison while plowing the fields. An Amish farmer told me that nothing gives him more pleasure than to be in the field and behind the horses, "it is my way of praising God." Horses are trained to march in unison. They "drive" machinery or plows. There is no exhaust or belching engines, just the sound of hooves in the dirt. Sounds from a bygone era.

Amish shun modern conveniences and prefer to work the earth and live off the land. They farm the very old-fashioned way. When in Amish country, you will see horse and buggies, teams of horses during spring planting or fall harvesting. Truly, it's a marvelous experience and one that brings calm.  It's the back roads in Middlebury, IN where you will see the horses and be transported to a different time and place -- it's well worth the drive to see the real power of the horses.  

See how Amish horses can inspire you. As Winston Churchhill once said: There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. Find out.

A LOCAL WOMAN OFFERS A LOOK AT HISTORY IN MICHIGAN AND BEYOND WITH ...

STEP ON BUS TOURS

By Amanda Braniecki

Grand Blanc View

December 15, 2011

As an avid history buff, Rose Szwed is setting her sights on increasing people's knowledge of Michigan from the roads they travel to the unseens regions of the state through her very own tourism company.

Szwed, of Goodrich, has been leading tours for the last 30 years whith her first taking place at the former Dearborn Inn.

"I was a director of public relations and the Dearborn Inn was my account," Szwed recalled. "I learned everything I could about it and I started leading the media around and then interestedpeople started following me. That really started it all."

As word of her services spread and picked up momentum with even major bus companies calling upon her tours, Szwed said she had a client living in Three Rivers, MI, that really pushed her to branch out on her own and take up guiding tours full time.

"At that time I was leading tours on my own through Szwed Communications Public Relations and my client in Three Rivers told me to just name a tour company so I did," she said.

By 2000, Szwed had started her own tourism company known as Step On Bus Tours traveling all around Michigan and beyond specializing in historical, Amish and Catholic tours.

"I don't lead casino tours and I don't go to Shipshewana because anyone can go there," Szwed said. "My tourists are people who just want to do something different and I like to deliver mystery, intrigue and entertainment."

"Typically hosting day trips or overnight tours a month, Szwed said she is often sought out by senior centers, homeschooled children, study groups, clubs and organizations to either step on a bus and lead a tour or if her clients prefer she can make the arrangements to secure a bus.

With each tour, she is focussed on making the trips both fun and educational for her clients by providing DVDs, pictures, guest speakers, games and hands on experiences to keep the excitement going all day.

Szwed said her favorite tours to lead are those that really grasp the historical significance of a spot.

She offers tours such as the Farmers, Fugitives and Felons and Quilts, Quakers and Questors that are both seped with history of the Underground Railroad. In addition, Szwed showcases tours that highight Detroit's role durig prohibition the Eastern Market, historical cemeteries and religious and cultural groups. Szwed said she is also able to gain access to buildings tht are closed to the public.

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