Mennonites

[peternap]

I had to go home because my Father was in the hospital. They sent him home today but has to have surgery next week on another mass they found.

I did have some time to visit with some old Mennonite friends though. What wonderful people.
One of them owns a shop that sells nothing but oil lamps. I was discussing off grid living with them and especially lighting. They love the barn house and surprisingly are interested and well versed on wind and solar power. They've always used windmills to pump water...anyway

I took home two Aladdin lamps. One, a near mint original and one a Chinese new one. I bought a third lamp that is also a very good condition antique. They've all been cleaned, repaired, tweeked and inspected.

I had forgotten how much light the Aladdin's generated.

They never seem hampered by not using electricity or power equipment. Those are really self sufficient folks. I've never met one who was a bad person, some are a little standoffish amd clannish, until you get to know them...but never corrupt or dishonest. On the other hand, I've never gotten the best of one in a deal either.

[glenn kangiser]

They have an entire settlement in Mexico around Cuahtemoc, Son.  They are famous for their cheese there.  Queso de Mennonita.  They were kicked out of the north - either your area or Canada, I don't remember, but the Mexican gov. made a deal with them to be tax free if they would settle there and teach the locals how to farm, if I still have all of that right.

[StinkerBell]

This last year I have been reading a great deal about Mennonites and in addition the Reformation period.

[glenn kangiser]

You are much more of a scholar than I. 

I simply accidentally landed my plane in a Mexican Military airport in Cuahtemoc, had about 200 Mexican Army soldiers come out with Machine Guns and Bayonets to see what we were up to and got sent to talk to the Colonel.  We were then allowed to go to the other airport and given a military escort to our motel complete with guards toting machine guns.

Reading the book would have been too easy.

Never did get to a Mennonite farm but did get some of the cheese.

[peternap]

They are perhaps the biggest thing I took for granted while growing up. It didn't strike me as unusual at all, to see miles of Horse and Buggies going to church on Sunday morning.

I forgot to ask if someone had an old transmission for a windmill. Sure would like to get one up and running.

[StinkerBell]

Another book I have been reading has so many twist and turns. Love, Hate, Murder, Rape, Wars, Incest, Sacrifice, Plagues, Prostitution, Slavery, Polygamy, Death and Life. It is Fascinating!

[glenn kangiser]

I give up, Stink -- Is it about California? hmm

Peter, every so often I have the thought of actually building a giant windmill like a Dutch one with a revolving turret.  One with the giant log axle.  Sounds like fun to me.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Right before DH and I got married, I took a second part time job as a cashier at a Staples store.  Every two weeks, like clockwork, a Mennonite man and his small kids would come in and buy a book of receipts and other bookkeeping supplies.  They were always the nicest folks.  The little boy would talk my ear off, but the little girl would peek out around her daddy's legs and smile up shyly at me.  They sold wood lawn furniture and storage sheds, etc., always beautifully made; I drove past their place every day en route home and always thought someday I'd like to buy one of the gazebos he had on display.

[StinkerBell]

glenn,...it's the Bible.... 

[glenn kangiser]

  Thump.... Ow....

[glenn kangiser]

Stink, everyone says the Muslims have a violent religion if you go to the radical extremes, but what about the Bible.  Seems it is just as radical if followed to the tee.  The crusades come to mind.  Been stoned to death lately? hmm...

[harry51]

Since the discussion on this thread lately includes books and religion, here's a quote from James A. Michener, author of Hawaii, etc., of a statement made in an interview that took place sometime prior to 1977: "If I were a young man with writing talent and wanted to make a major contribution, ... I would school myself to be an expert in that field. I'd study the language, the religion, the history, the geography, and the contemporary politics and literature... And when asked what region of the world he would suggest, he said, with great foresight, "Islam. It's bound to become a major world problem and will be with us for the next fifty years..." Prescient, no? Or just far more sophisticated and better informed than the rest of us were at that time........?

[StinkerBell]

Stink, everyone says the Muslims have a violent religion if you go to the radical extremes, but what about the Bible.  Seems it is just as radical if followed to the tee.  The crusades come to mind.  Been stoned to death lately? hmm...

Yes, yes, the good old days when getting "STONED" meant being badly bruised or death....

Crusades, it's that free will that gets man into trouble.

It's all about balance of the law and the spirit of the law. Something that was lost on OT society and is currently lost on this society.

[glenn kangiser]

That's deep, Stink.  Thanks for your insight.

Harry -- you think 50 years will cover it?

People, why can't we all just get along? hmm

Rodney King

[glenn kangiser]

A somewhat interesting read on getting along... http://www.mediate.com/articles/noll9.cfm

I think it explains why women rule 98% of the time.... 

[peternap]

Looks like I missed the color....but it's still home!





Here's a working windmill



The last true Farm Cooperative I know of in Virginia. They sell quality farm tools (I needed a new draw knife and got it there yesterday) feed, seed, work cloths. a large gun and hunting department, traps, farm machinery, etc.



And if your ever in Harrisonburg, the greatest hotdogs on earth. I bought 22 yesterday to take home. I have seen people buy over a hundred.

[harry51]

Harry -- you think 50 years will cover it?

People, why can't we all just get along? hmm

Rodney King

Glenn, along with probably at least 95% of the people on this planet, I echo Rodney, but the other 5% are very dedicated to their various agendas, and are very good at ascending to positions of power and/or influence that allow them to pursue those agendas at the expense of everyone else....because we let them. No, I'm afraid 50 years won't cover the current incarnation of the Islam/Christianity conflict. I see plenty of blame to go around on both sides, both among the leadership and the led.

[glenn kangiser]

I think you are right , Harry.

Peter.  That looks like a cool place. All of the co-ops out here are owned by the big farmers and the little guys are locked out.  They don't want to fool with them.