Author Haley Straw returns today with part 5 of a new winter-themed series, drawing on one of her more challenging experiences as an Amish taxi driver. Part 1 is here, part 2 here, part 3 here and part 4 here if you missed them. My body knew it before my mind caught up. Face pale. Hands fidgeting. Legs bouncing uncontrollably. I shot nervous glances at Allen,…

How about a look-in at another off-the-beaten-path Amish settlement? This one is at Kahoka, Missouri, in the northeastern corner of the state. The photos here are all by Don Burke. The Kahoka community (Clark County) today is two church districts in size, with a little over 200 Amish residents. It’s just one of over 60 Amish settlements in Missouri. These photos were taken back in…

~ February 2026 Update on Bakery’s Closure & Miriam at Bottom ~ “I did not tell them I was leaving…I left them a note, and left.” Miriam Lambright says that “looking outside, I was like – there’s more there.” Leaving her community meant “freedom.” Miriam left the Amish seven years ago, at age 22. Her story is briefly told in a new video from Milwaukee…

The Ultimate Mud Sale Guide | Jump to full 2026 Mud Sale Schedule OR scroll down 2026 Mud Sale Guide (22 Sales) When are the mud sales in Lancaster County? The Lancaster County mud sale schedule for 2026 is now available, with the traditional first event happening soon (February 27 & 28 at Strasburg Fire Company). What is a “Mud Sale”? How did it get…

This new short from Ben & Rose is another old one – a hymn written in 1906 by James D. Vaughan called “Hold Fast To The Right”. One commenter on YouTube writes “I have not hear this song in 70+ years—what a joy to now hear it again!” This 25-second clip is just a snippet of the chorus and some nice guitar playing, but it…

Details are scarce but the Daily Voice is reporting on an Amish school being broken into last month in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: The burglary happened at a schoolhouse on Dry Wells Road in Bart Township on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 8:13 a.m., according to the release. Troopers from the Lancaster Patrol Unit responded to the scene for a report of criminal mischief, police said. Through…

That little beige building in the photo below is West View Acres. It’s a charming Amish-run farm stand located in Springs, Pennsylvania. This is in the venerable Somerset County Amish community. It’s the country’s second-oldest, where the Amish have lived for over 250 years. And on my recent visit here, I was reminded how the Amish retail experience can be a throwback to another time….

Ben and Rose return with their first full video in a little while. This one is called “If I Needed You”. In contrast to some of their latest, this is a more contemporary song, written by Townes Van Zandt in 1972. I would call this an “upbeat ballad”. Nice guitar playing and wonderful singing together as usual. Interestingly they are in a different setting here…

Many factors can come in to play when cars hit Amish buggies. In a wreck this morning in Schuyler County, Missouri, it appears that the sun was to blame. More details from KTVO: QUEEN CITY, Mo. — A two-vehicle crash in Schuyler County Friday morning injured the driver of a horse-drawn buggy. The Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper who worked the wreck told KTVO it…

This week’s Amish home, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is a family home sitting on a 10-acre lot. And true to Amish form, the family is a big one – the house has a whopping eight bedrooms –  but just one bathroom. More on that below. Here’s the full description: Discover the perfect blend of craftsmanship, privacy, and land stewardship with this new custom Amish-built home, thoughtfully…

Author Haley Straw returns today with part 4 of a new winter-themed series, drawing on one of her more challenging experiences as an Amish taxi driver. Part 1 is here, part 2 here, and part 3 here if you missed them. I was exhausted to the point of feeling loopy. The world felt distant – sounds dulled, everything slightly off. That’s when the talking started behind us….

Amish schools in one Ohio community are all full – so the community is planning a new one. This brief report by Shawn Digity in the Zanesville Times Recorder reveals some details about what goes into building an Amish school – in this case in an Amish community in Muskingum County, OH. For one, the cost of building a new Amish school? In this case,…