Juxtapositions in separate worlds were the order of the day. We visited the town with the most stolen signs, Intercourse, Pennsylvania. Later on, after another meander, we another quirky and weirdly specific personal museum.
Rodney rambling rant:
We arrived in Amish country and spent the night in Ronks, PA. After a long drive, we decided to take a walk down a back farm road. Our discussion was focused on what the life of such devotees must be like in this age of technology and computers. Susan had the hopeful and perhaps naive view that these people lived much as they have for hundreds of years. I on the other hand am more skeptical and perhaps cynical (Who me? Surely you jest). I stated that I believed only a few farms and families remain untouched by the over-achieving consumerism ways of America. I even made a silly statement as to the first one to see a buggy with a texting driver gets extra points. Well about a half a mile later, there we saw a young teenaged Amish lass crawling out of her window in full long dress and cap to the roof as she was chatting on her cell phone... S-C-O-R-E!!!
Then our visit the next day to Intercourse to the People's Place Quilt museum was severely tainted by the ridiculous commercialization of the once quaint little Amish village. It has become a sort of Amish in Wonderland or Dollywood for quilts and pie. Good grief, aside from the occasional authentic horse drawn buggies (and non-IPad carrying driver) there may as well have been an Amish mini-golf (picture putting through milk cans, cows, facial beards and ladies in austere clothing). Or how about an Amish massage parlor above the skating rink next to "Amish Gap" and "Starbuggies Coffee"..... oh brother..... (insert eye roll here).
The quilts in the museum were beautiful and having Susan to guide me through the history and techniques made for a very fascinating visit. Between "The People's Place" and the "Lancaster Quilt & Textile" museum, I learned enough to be disproportionately opinionated (What? Me have an opinion? Imagine).
Susan's rational and well versed opinion:
Hmmm...not really a well-versed opinion. I've been quilting about 25 years and fascinated by the subdued yet glowing Amish quilts almost as long. I did think the Amish, based on previous reading and Discovery Channel programs, had remained mostly unchanged. I was disabused of that notion! As with much of the world, even the Amish are a "dynamic" culture -- taking from the "outside" what works for the group (telephones in the barn, well except for the sweet girl crawling out her window to talk on the cell phone) and rejecting that which might cause an increase in individuality (the teenage boys can drive cars until they join the church but then must sell them). I like the Lancaster County Amish quilts for their unusual color combination, interior glow, and fine hand-quilting. In the downtown Lancaster museum, the display contained friendship quilts given to those leaving the community for distant lands or marriage and each friend or family member signed the center of the block they had worked, including the one signed my "Grandfather" in the photo. Again, I like the antique quilts for the story of the lives of those who made/received it. Hopefully, we'll find some "art" quilts in a museum on our trip and you can see what is happening in that world. I wonder what I'll be quilting next year after all this visionary and outsider exposure? I'm looking forward to that!!
After that rather subdued and aesthetic beginning, we were off to drive some very narrow back roads in a quest to see the origins of the quilts and expected aesthetic. We did see some gorgeous farms. Many actually had few vestiges of contemporary technology. There were people working fields with a horse drawn plow. Some of these farms are huge with an inexplicable array of enormous barns, silos and out buildings. Again we were reminded of how fortunate we are for getting to see these people and places not yet swallowed by time.
"Now for something completely different" (with a nod to Monty Python), we were off to find Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum. Yep theere is some guy that has accumulated a massive herd of pachyderm tchotkes, curios and sculpture. Like that earlier dog collection of a similar ilk. This man's amassment includes over 10,000 elephantine objects d'art. It really is a very funny thing to behold. The Dumbos range in size from the size of a thimble (ooh nice quilt-based segue) up to life-size garden embellishments. Mr. Ed was not available but in every room there was eternally looping television presentation of his interview in regard to his appearance in the indy feature film "Route 30" where he played himself. He looks to be quite the character and we rued not being able to meet him..he was off acting in a local theatre production. In addition to the elephants, there is an impressive gift shop that is absolute homage to all things tacky, silly and plastic with a few treasures thrown in to keep you looking. Then there's the crazy big candy room..... the sugar explosion includes candy not seen in your local 7-11 for decades.... yippee! Oink!
So, after yet another day of exploration and ponderings we aimed our not so buggy-like Toyota truck and rode off into the sunset looking for a place to lay our somewhat weary heads.
With love, apple tarts, horse carts and candy hearts,
Jacob (aka: Rodney) and Sarah (aka: Susan)
Ps. I know these messages are lengthy but trust me, you are getting a very abridged version. Take today, there is no mention of the History of the Christmas Tree exhibit we saw at the quilt and textile museum nor is there the tale of our encounter with Philly Frankie and his Corvette; all for another time.
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