Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Got Lye?

Why yes I do, thanks for asking. Today I was going to drive over to the twin cities to pick up all my oils for making soap. When I called on Monday to confirm. I found out that the palm oil was not in yet. I then made other plans and went to Wausau to pick up the 200lbs of lye.

From my house to Wausau was a little bit over 300 miles round trip. I just love a road trip.
About 70 of that was going to Wal Mart in Wausau as I needed to do a little shopping and also on the way back I swung into a town called Athens. I was told that there was a Amish store there. There is, but it's not in Athens, it was on the far side of the town. I asked for directions and I realized that maybe I should not have asked the sweet little old lady on how to find the place. She had it all wrong! But I did see alot of Amish homes and people working the fields while I was lost. I stopped and asked a Amish girl that was working her garden and she was very very nice and gave me some better directions. It was odd, she spoke English with a sort of German accent.
She was also barefoot in her garden. I also saw a Amish woman pushing a hand push lawn mower while holding a baby. I think I would run away from the Amish if I had to wear a long, dark, full length skirt, a long sleeved shirt that was buttoned at the wrist and all the way up to her neck. Oh, also a bonnet on. It was 90 in Wausau while I was there. I would have rebelled big time!

I also saw a young man (16 ish looking? ) riding some kind of farm equipment that was hooked up to 6 mules. That was cool looking. He was also barefoot. ( Do they not believe in shoes?) I would have liked to have taken that picture but it's not polite to do that.

I found the store and it was not really Amish. It was a whole grain, health food store that had some Mennonite's working in it. I bought some Bulgar wheat and some fudge to balance it out.

On the way back home I rolled up the windows and turned on the A/C. It was so windy going to and from that on the way back I just couldn't deal with all the dirt coming in from the fields.
I think I might love my A/C. Also it was really hard to blow my nose with the windows rolled down. I had T.P flapping everywhere but near my nose when I would sneeze. Yes, I did have a mess or 2 to clean up. ( TMI I know, sorry but I like to share! )

Update. Chicken lady called me back last night and left a mesg. I will call her tonight. I hope it all works out.

8 comments:

  1. I am glad you had a nice trip, I thought of you this morning and said a little prayer for your journey.

    I could never understand all the rules of the Amish life. I wouldn't mind a simpler life but not one piled with do's and don'ts.

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  2. Sounds like a nice road trip. I love those trips too. Someday, you and I, another trip, eh? Maybe UP to AlCan? I could fly down and drive back with you or soemthing.

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  3. I'm glad you had a good road trip. Wish I could have gone with you since my twin sister lives in Wausau.

    So you don't want to wear the long dress with no buttons? How come???

    Are you going to take a picture of the lye?

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  4. Oh gosh I could share the stories of the Amish....

    I'm originally from the Bonduel area, which is laden with Amish. Very interesting group of people that command my respect.

    Now that we're up by the Oconto's, we're blessed with many Mennonite neighbors. Much more laid back than their Amish predecessors.

    We shop at a Mennonite store regularily. Strange thing is, the only difference from the Amish store we used to shop at in Bonduel is the Mennonite store is fully equipped with electricity. The till, the coolers and freezers, the lights. The Amish store had all gas lamps. Yet they had electricity, but they coudn't use it for things that could be done without.

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  5. I just realized that I have that wrong....the Amish is a sect that broke from the Mennonite faith, thereby making the Mennonite the predecessor to the Amish. The Amish felt the Menonnite faith was becoming too relaxed and liberal, among other things.

    It's been awhile that I've read up on my theology. My apologies.

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  6. CVPH. So the Mennonites were 1st and then some of the Mennonites broke aways and became the Amish as they didn't like how things were going? I learned something new today. I thought it was the other way around.

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  7. I do believe that's how it is.

    What's strange is how the Mennonite accent is sooooo heavy here as opposed to the Amish of only 40 miles away.

    Is anyone sick of this wind? It woke me up.

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  8. I think they save their shoes for special occasions , they don't want to wear them out with everyday wear. They live frugally I think with just the basics, not the 100's of pairs of shoes some have.

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