Amish Furniture Superstore Blog

WOOLWICH MENNONITES
The Woolwich Old Order Mennonite Church of Ontario, formed in 1889, is similar in many ways to the Wenger fellowship.  Like the Wengers, Woolwich members are permitted to use electricity but often choose to do without it.  Younger families are more likely to have electricity than older ones.  Also like Wenger members, many Woolwich families do without indoor toilets, modern plumbing, and water heaters, even though each of these is permitted by the church.  The majority of Woolwich households use wood-burning cook stoves, either in addition to gas or electric ranges or exclusively.

Unlike the Wenger church, the Woolwich group forbids the use of telephones in the home, though phones are permitted in places of business.  Woolwich members who do not have businesses often cooperate in having centrally-located community phones that are used by several families.

In addition, the Woolwich group restricts the use of farm implements more than the Wengers do.  Self-propelled combines are prohibited, although tractors with pneumatic tires are allowed.  Pull-type combines have been accepted, but old-style grain binders and threshing machines continue to be used by many Woolwich farmers.  Some farmers cut the grain, then bale it with a hay baler before putting it through a threshing machine.

OLD ORDER MENNONITES IN VIRGINIA
In 1900, a group in Rockingham County, Virginia, withdrew from the Mennonite Church to form an Old Order fellowship.  There are now two Old Order groups in the area.

The larger group, the Showalter Mennonites, allows electricity, telephones, and rubber-tired tractors without cabs.  Although many electrical conveniences have been accepted, microwave ovens and air conditioner have not been approved.  Most families still use wringer washers and do not have electric clothes dryers.  Some younger families have reverted to the use of wood-burning cookstoves.

The smaller group, which divided from the Showalters in 1953, is called the Paul Wenger group (not affiliated with the Wengers in Pennsylvania).  This church allows rubber-tired tractors and telephones but does not permit electricity.  Members use propane for cooking refrigerating, and lighting.

OTHER OLD ORDER MENNONITES
The Old Order Mennonites in Elkhart County, Indiana, originated in 1872.  Since 1981 there have been two groups of Old Order Mennonites in the state.  The larger group is affiliated with the Wenger Mennonites of Pennsylvania.  The technological practices of the main Indiana group are nearly identical to those of the Wengers, except that telephones are somewhat less common among the Midwestern group.  The smaller Indiana group, known as the Weavers, differs from the Wengers and the other Indiana group in allowing pneumatic rubber tires on tractors.

In addition to these horse-and-buggy groups, there are a number of Old Order Mennonite churches which permit members to drive cars.  One such group divided from the Old Order Mennonites in Indiana in 1907 over the use of telephones which originally were prohibited by the larger group.  The more progressive group, which became known as the Wisler Mennonite Church, eventually adopted not only phones but automobiles.  Similar car-driving Old Order groups developed in Pennsylvania (The Horning Mennonites), Ontario (Markham Mennonites), and Virginia (a group affiliated with the Hornings).  In Ohio, the great majority of Old Order Mennonites accepted car ownership.

Conversely, a number of groups in addition to those listed above have withdrawn from larger Old Order bodies in order to maintain a more conservative position.  One of these is the Reidenbach Mennonite Church of Lancaster County, which withdrew from the Wenger church in 1946.

The Reidenbachs are commonly known as “Thirty-fivers,” because that is the number of people who formed the church.  The Reidenbachs do not have electricity, telephones, or tractors for field work.  Of the four Reidenbach groups that now exist, only one permits the use of propane.  “Thirty-fivers” cook with wood, coal, or kerosene.  Kerosene-operated refrigerators are permitted, as are motorized washing machines and gasoline pressure lamps  Reidenbach families seldom have indoor bathrooms.

The David Martin Mennonites of Ontario withdrew from the Woolwich church in 1917.  For many years they were similar to the Reidenbach Mennonites, but in recent years they have accepted more modern technology.  In the 1980s telephones were sanctioned, largely because many of the members had home businesses.

Members of the David Martin group may use propane for cooking and refrigeration, and many have stationary propane light systems.  Houses typically have indoor bathrooms.  Tractors are prohibited, but members may hire people outside the group to do custom work with modern machinery.

OLD ORDER BRETHREN
Two groups of German Baptist, or “Dunker,” background have retained an Old Order lifestyle.  The Old Brethren German Baptists, who live primarily in Indiana, organized in 1913.  The Old Order German Baptists, organized in 1921, are found primarily in Ohio.

Both groups divided from the Old German Baptist Church, and both prohibit cars, electricity, and telephones.  The Old Order German Baptists permit the use of tractors with pneumatic tires, while the Old Brethren German Baptists farm with horses.  The Old Brethren group does use motorized, horse-drawn machinery, such as hay balers.

Among both groups, propane is used for cooking, refrigeration, and heating water, though some families prefer to cook with older methods, such as wood-burning stoves.  A few families have centralized propane lighting systems, but most use portable pressurized lamps.

Similar in theology to German Baptist groups, but entirely different in history, are the Old Order River Brethren.  One group of Old Order River Brethren, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, maintains the use of horse-drawn vehicles.  However, this group has allowed the use of electricity, telephones, and modern farm equipment for years.

OLD COLONY MENNONITES
In several Latin American countries, there are large populations of Mennonites who restrict modern technology.  These are the Old Colony Mennonites, whose ancestors migrated from south Russia to the province of Manitoba in Canada in the 1870s.

The most conservative Old Colony Mennonites moved from Manitoba and Saskatchewan to Mexico in the 1920s.  Forty years later, the most conservative Old Colony members in Mexico moved to Bolivia.  Today there are settlements in Belize, Paraguay, and Argentina, as well.  The lifestyle of these Old Colony groups is distinct from that of other Latin American Mennonites, who accept modern methods and devices.

In Bolivia, the Old Colony Mennonites live near the city of Santa Cruz in the tropical lowlands.  Although electrical service would be available, the Old Colony church allows only individual electric generators.  These may be used for shop work, such as welding, but are not to power home lighting systems.  Kerosene lamps and mantle lamps fueled by small propane tanks are the usual light sources.  Propane also is used to run stoves and refrigerators.

Water in this community is usually pumped by windmills, which are made in local shops.  Old Colony blacksmiths have become ingenious in adapting salvaged auto parts for use in these and other mechanical devices.  It is said that differentials from certain model years of Dodge and Plymouth cars are preferred for use in windmill mechanisms.  Other auto parts find a second life in horse-drawn vehicles.

Outdoor toilets are still the norm in the Bolivian Old Order settlements.  Water is not piped into the houses, but must be carried in from the outside.  Washing machines are powered by gasoline engines.

While horses are still used for transportation, tractors with steel wheels are used for most farm work.  Nearly any kind of agricultural implement is permitted.

OLD COLONY PRACTICES IN MEXICO
The oldest and larges Old Colony settlement in the world is located in northern Mexico, near the town of Cuauhtemoc in the state of Chihuahua.  During the 1980s, many Mennonites in this area left the Old Colony church, and those who stayed modified their traditional practices.  (Several smaller Old Colony settlements in Mexico remain like those in Bolivia.)

At Cuauhtemoc, tractors with pneumatic tires are now accepted and the use of pickup trucks has increased rapidly.  Pickups are preferred to cars because they are more practical for farmers and are more easily imported from the United States.

As of 1988, members were not allowed to drive motor vehicles into the yards of Old Colony churches, but it was permissible to park at a neighboring farm and walk to church.  A few older people continued to use horse-drawn transportation during the week, but vehicles of this sort were a rare sight in town.

Many Old Colony members now receive electricity from public utilities.  Those people who do not have electricity use propane for cooking, refrigeration, and lighting.  Telephones are not readily available in this part of Mexico, but some people have two-way radios, which are used in much the same manner as phones.  Modern kitchens and bathrooms are typical in Old Colony homes in the area.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE AMISH
The Amish trace their roots to the Anabaptist movement, which began in 1525 in Switzerland and developed separately in Holland a few years later.  Most Anabaptists eventually became identified as Mennonites, after a prominent Dutch leader, Menno Simons.

Unlike the Protestant Reformers, the Anabaptists practiced adult, voluntary baptism and separation of church and state.  They refused to take a part in war or any other form of violence, and they viewed the literal teachings of the Bible as a guide for all areas of life.

In 1693, a young bishop named Jacob Amman led a group that separated from the Mennonite churches of Switzerland, the Alsace, and the German Palatinate.  Amman stressed greater simplicity of life and stricter church discipline than other Mennonites in these regions, and he wished to adopt the Dutch Mennonite practices of feet washing and shunning excommunicated members.  Amman’s followers became known as Amish.

Following an earlier migration of Mennonites, the Amish sought homes in North America early in the 1700s.  They settled in Pennsylvania and pushed on to Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa by the mid-19th century.  The westward movement was augmented by a new wave of Amish immigrants directly from Europe.

During the second half of the 19th century, the more progressive Amish in the New World parted with the conservatives.  Like those Amish who had remained in Europe, the progressives eventually merged with the Mennonites.

The conservatives, who became known as Old Order Amish, have tried to control cultural and technological influences from the larger society.  They believe that the church, guided by the Bible, is responsible to institute guidelines for how its members act in all areas of life.

The Amish believe it is very important for Christians to be separate from the world, both inwardly and outwardly.  This is reflected in their dress, their form of worship, their language, and their use of technology.

This writing was taken from the book, Living Without Electricity, by Stephen Scott and Kenneth Pellman

Laughing Horse	Working the Fields
Horses & Wagon	Small Town Jail

I have always wanted to have a series that is dedicated to the lives, culture, religion and attitudes of the Amish.  Most of my writings will be on my observations, talking with them on certain subjects and of course reading. 
If you were to look for information on any aspect of the Amish and it religious counterparts as Anabaptists, you will not find much has been written because it is within their beliefs that they are here on earth to serve God and do not require a history or have the need for genealogy of whom our parents were and where they came from.

I read and purchased the book, Living Without Electricity, by Stephen Scott and Kenneth Pellman. And he did an excellent job of defining some of the different Anabaptist groups and what each group represented.  Some groups are more liberal, in other words, more like the English (their nice name for us) and other that may be very conservative and are usually very strict and with hardly anything close to a convenience.  These conservative Amish and other sects live the “hard Life’. There is only but one sect of this religious grouping that is truly to the strictest of the founding Anabaptist.

You will notice that I use the word Anabaptist because it is a general term for all of these different sects of the main spiritual divide that caused them to leave the Catholic church many centuries ago.

It is my hopes that the Author would be sincerely happy for his research to the different Anabaptist groups so the we can all share

MENNONITE AND BRETHREN PRACTICES

In addition to the Old Order Amish, several related groups restrict technology for religious reasons.  The largest of these groups are the Old Order Mennonites.

These Mennonite fellowships began in the 19th century, when both the Amish and the Mennonite Church experienced major divisions.  The more progressive Amish eventually joined the Mennonite Church and adopted modern technology.  Several Mennonite groups, on the other hand, withdrew from the Mennonite Church and formed Old Order fellowships.

PIKE MENNONITES
The oldest and most conservative of the Old Order Mennonites are the Pike Mennonites (named for the Pike meetinghouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania).  The Pike groups began in 1845 when Jacob Stauffer withdrew from the Lancaster Conference of the Mennonite Church.

During the 20th century, the Pike group has divided several times.  The largest of the resulting fellowships is called the Stauffer Mennonite Church.  Most of the Stauffers live in Lancaster and Snyder counties in Pennsylvania, but there are churches in Maryland, Missouri, and Kentucky as well.  The Stauffers have no cars, electricity, telephones, or self-propelled farm equipment, but they do permit the use of propane gas and engine-powered machinery drawn by horses.

The Weaver Mennonites, who divided from the Stauffers in 1916, allow electricity, telephones, and farming with steel-wheeled tractors.  Most of the other groups in the Pike family are more conservative than the Stauffers.  The church with the most technological restrictions, the Noah Hoover group, prohibits all use of gasoline engines.  Members even use horse power for threshing grain.  Founded in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, the Hoover groups is now located primarily in Kentucky.  In respect to technology, the Hoovers may be more conservative than any Amish group.

A group related to the Hoovers is found in the Central American nation of Belize.  Yet another fellowship, the Elam Martin group of Ontario, associates with the Hoovers but does not take as strict a stand on gasoline engines.

WENGER MENNONITES
The Wenger, or Groffdale Conference, Mennonites are the largest group of Old Order Mennonites.  They stem from an 1893 division in Lancaster Conference.

Technological practices among the Wengers vary widely.  Although the groups does not permit ownership of automobiles, non-ordained members are allowed to have electricity and telephones in their homes.  However, ordained leaders are not permitted to have high-line power or telephones, and many other members choose to do without these conveniences.

Some traditional families have outside toilets, hand pumps in the kitchen, and kerosene refrigerators, and use cook stoves and heating stoves that burn wood or coal.  By contrast, some younger families have modern plumbing and electric ranges and refrigerators, as well as freezers, automatic washers, and dryers and oil-burning furnaces.

Practices often fall somewhere between these two extremes.  No Wenger members are permitted to use dishwashers or microwave ovens, and air conditioners are allowed only for people who need them for specific health reasons.

In the main settlement, in Lancaster County, more Wengers own telephones than have electricity.  In outlying areas, most people have both in their homes.

Some families that do not tap into electricity from public utilities use engine-powered generators.  Wenger members who do not have electricity will typically make use of stationary propane lights fueled from a central tank.  Propane is also used for cooking and refrigeration.

The Wenger church permits self-propelled farm equipment, including tractors, combines, and riding lawn mowers, provided that these have steel wheels.  Other implements may have pneumatic tires.  Cabs on tractors are discouraged, and members are urged to keep all farm equipment simple and relatively inexpensive.

Amish Wagon Team	Amish Blacksmith Shop
Amish Horse & Buggy	Amish Farm

There comes a time when a product is born in the oddest of places and in an unusual way.  Having said what I said, I must clarify my statement.  You must have a basic understanding of the Amish, their culture and their way of life.  I work with many of these Amish furniture builders who operate a small business operated in their barns or small buildings on their farms where they live.  They do not have far to travel to work.  They also employ neighbors and relatives who can commute to work either by walking or by bicycle.  They work at their craft of which many have become master craftsmen making Amish furniture for the rest of the world.  They have little education; eight grade education will do, no outside contacts, no television and no cars.  To call they have a phone shack with voice mail is the method of instant communication.

I work with these people in several ways.  I sell their Amish made furniture on my website www.AmishFrunitureSuperStore.com as an outlet for their work and I also utilize their talents in handcrafting my furniture which has won some awards.  They do now understand the competition especially from overseas who purchase one piece and cheapen it up and sell to unwary customer as made by the Amish while it was made, you know where.  I do not even want to recognize them.

Having over 125 builders I have a very good selection of products from the Amish dining room sets, Amish bedroom suites and all kinds of furniture and furnishings for the entire home and we even do log homes and home made from old timbers.  They cannot sell because of their culture and religion and some do not even deal with some of us who are just “Internet People”.  That is a dirty word sometimes, but the world changes but for them change is slow.

What does this have to do with round baby beds?  It has a lot to do with the innovation that is now taking hold in their small communities.  They are thinking of new products all of the time.  Most are just a rework of an old style or with another knob or something, but there are innovations that they have made that put true furniture designers to shame.  One of these was a Frontier Island made by a fine Amish craftsman and also a friend.  The other I ran into the other day on a blind call to his office.  We talked and he sent me his catalog and I fell out of my chair when I say the natures round or the round baby bed.  You must understand that organically speaking, no one, but no one can beat the Amish.  I have a friend that will butcher me part of a cow that was fed organic food all of its life. 

They have devised a unique thatch type mattress and all components in the bed are certified organic and they went to the trouble to get this sticker.  Probably was not hard.

I was always concerned about the corners of the bed where the infant could get trapped or even worse.  I worked with another builder for a while, but did not sell his beds because I felt the beds were unsafe and discontinued our relationship.

Natures Round Baby Bed	Organic Seal of Approval

Then I received this package and saw a picture of the bed.  This Amish baby bed is simply amazing and like the Amish, all Organic.  It is beautiful, functional, organic and fit for any nursery.  There is still a bid need for traditional baby and junior beds which this Amish bedroom builder handcrafts.  He has a full line of Amish bedroom furniture for your child from its infancy through high school and if he remains at home the furniture can also serve well.  This furniture is so well built and with timeless styling that several generations can utilize its use because it is built that well.  These Amish beds are all made from hard woods utilizing the finest of manufacturing techniques.

In my travels through the Amish community, I see that they are taking their art to new levels because, as they say, “Because we have to”.  And there are some new design innovations that of the highest caliber and this builder and his associates should well be proud of themselves, but knowing them as I do, they do not.  It is against their tenants to show for pride, so I tout their achievements.  This Amish bed builder has created one of the finest creations I have seen on over 4 years.  There are a few more Amish builders that have made some amazing creative designed furniture and I just cannot wait to see what the have to offer in the future and you will know about the Amish furniture innovations.

Some common questions and answers:
Question: What is the difference between regular lump coal and the anthracite hard nut coal?
Answer: Anthracite coal is higher in quality, harder and smaller.  The size of a walnut is normally used but it is also available down to pea size.  It is available in 50 pound bags, which makes it easier to handle and store.  You will find it cleaner, dust free and it burns hotter with less ash content.

Questions:  What are the advantages to burning anthracite coal?
Answer:  The above stated reasons apply.  In addition, it will burn hotter and also burns twice as long and is cleaner.  It actually burns without smoke which adds to efficiency and a cleaner house.  There is no creosote or build-up (a safety consideration). You get more heat value per weight, so you need to buy less tons, carry less coal, and carry out less ash.  In summary, with the hopper feed, functionally you will spend less time with firing and maintenance, and  possibly the greatest advantage, it is also economical.

Question:  Suppose I decide to burn wood?
Answer:  Easty — by simply lifting the hopper out of the top refueling door opening, you are now able to burn wood.  You can also now burn regular lump coal if you wish.

What “Coal-EZ: Users Say —
We used to burn regular lump coal in our shop.  Too much time was spent stoking the stove and carrying the ashes.  With the COAL-EZ, considerably less time is spent stoking and firing.  We also find the stove burns more efficiently than our older stove.  The COAL-EZ can really put out the heat.  With less time spent firing, etc., we gain in production, which is certainly a benefit.

New Concept: 
The specially designed internal hopper is gravity fed, requires no auger, no electricity, no fuss, and is maintenance free.  With the controlled draft and even heat, there is actually no need for a blower.  Comparison in performance and looks greatly exceeds the old concept coal stove.

Glass Insert: 
An 8” x 10” glass insert door is available for those who wish to relax and watch the fire.

Gasket Doors: 
Both the top load door (for nut coal) and the front door (for stoking or burning wood) have fiberglass gasket for an optimum airtight seal.

The Black Porcelain Cabinet:  Shipped separately and easily mounted at place of use.  If the cabinet is not needed now, it can be ordered and mounted later.

MODEL EZ-50:  Will hold up to 70 pounds of coal; heat up to 1,500 square feet (or the average American home); burns up to 48 hours on 48 pounds of coal.

MODEL EZ-100:  Will hold up to 120 pounds of coal and is designed to heat up to 2,500 square feet or larger homes, garages and shops.  This model will burn up to 72 hours on 72 pounds of anthracite coal.

Options and other features:  Standard features include large ash pan, heavy-duty latches, cold hand spring handles and high heat black coating.  There are two sized models.  (Important:  Buy the correct size needed.)  The front load door comes with or without the glass insert and with or without the high gloss cabinet.

Coal Heater Open	Coal Heater Open Fire Box	Coal Heater Hopper
Powered Coal Heater	Coal Heater Blower	Coal Heater Ducts

To avoid personal injury or property damage, the product described must be installed, operated and maintained in strict compliance with the instructions packaged with the product and all applicable building or fire codes.  Contact local building or fire officials about restrictions and installation inspection requirements.

There is a popular table that seems to be the hidden beautiful child.  Not recognized for its versatility, functionality and universal appeal.  The simple name for the table is the “Leg Table”.  But change a leg and a different look appears almost with magic and we get the wonderful Imperial, Leg, Mission, Lexington, Lincoln, Madison, Montego, Parker Mission, Queen Anne, Richland, Shaker Mission, Tuscany Farm and many more.  The basic design theory is simple, have a top that can be expanded with leaves, specially designed legs and a dedicated skirting for that design. 

The design and function does not stop here, this generic branded table offers many fit and function elements that need to be explored.  This table takes the heavy work when it comes to sizing.  Within large tolerances, the table can be almost of any width down to 32” in width.  This is great for a kitchen table or even a hall table for a large home.  However, there usually is a maximum width of 60” but all leg tables and a builder would need to be consulted for this width on a specific table.  But of course, this would be a custom built table and will require some special timing and pricing.  If you need a wide table, this is the first place to look and will be the least expensive.  There are other table with this width and are constructed with this size in mind, but the leg table has this flexibility.  Imagine on series of table to accomplish a width size range from 32” to 60”.  This would accommodate a multitude of needs.

Another functionality of the Leg dining table such as the Shaker Mission dining table or the Lexington dining table is the length.  Tables are offered up lengths starting at about 60”, but can be made shorter to 228” which will contain 13 leaves.  This is great and functional for the residence or home, but what about conference tables at the office.  The office environment is not contusive to leaves, so we can make it with solid top.  That solves the length issue.  This again will have to be verified by the builder and additional legs will be required for support.

One final point on the functionality of the leg style dining table is that you can vary the heights.  For whatever reason, this option is available and a very low cost.

Imperial Dining Table Open Position	Leg Mission Dining Table
Lexington Dining Table	Stowaway Dining Table with Leaves Down

The dining room leg tables offer a great versatility in many environments such as the home, the office and even within the hospitality arena.  There are many different leg styles and types to choose from and it is always a great idea to ask whoever you are working with to look into leg tables for your specific needs.

I must mention that long solid top tables are very difficult to make and to maintain their shape.  Because of the different moisture content of each board when the board is bonded, extra time and care is needed here to make sure that there will be no problems associated with large single tops and you can add at least 3 – 5 additional weeks to the basic lead time, because this top must sit dry and stabilize into its final large piece before anything else happens. 

I offer a footnote; large conference tables can be made in a round.  Difficult, but possible and has been done.

When looking for dining or conference tables, look at the leg tables and see their versatility, simple elegant beauty with a lot of functionality.

“If you can dream it, we can build it”
Dave N.

Upon seeing this Island for the first time, I was stunned.  It is one of those fully functional items that serves a great need, but has great design and can be made relevant to any décor.  The beauty of this item is that this concept can be made in Mission, Shaker, Caledonia, Cape Cod Mission, Curve Shaker, Regency, Richland, Royal Mission, West Village, Williamsburg, Modern or Contemporary.  This island design is applicable to any style; it is the functionality that makes it very unique.

Recently, I had a client that was looking for a large table to fold up to a small area and blend into the décor of their small home but on many occasions they served up to 12 people at a sitting because she like to cook and to entertain family and friends.  This was the perfect item for her small home because instead of a dining table with a lot of leaves, she kept her current table and could use to supplement the need of additional guests.

I will give you specifics of this island and the table slides in and out on casters and all the leaves are stored within the unit.  This is far better than the card table and chairs that I was accustomed to when growing up and I would have wished for such an item when we were doing a lot of entertaining in our younger years.

Frontier Island Front Closed	Amish Frontier Island Top Opened

The Standard Features Options:

Top part of Island, which looks like a drawer and tilts out and stores all leaves

1 adjustable shelf in base

Casters on pull out table

Panel sides and back

Table pulls out to 90” with 6 - 15” leaves.  This can seat up to 9 people

Available in any style

Hutch for top of Island can be added

Table: 41½” w x 30”h

Island: 40”h

Top w/ oval shape on backside: 36”d x 48”w x 1¼”h

In my travels to visit my Amish Furniture builders, I occasionally get invited into their homes and it is rather surreal in kind of a very nice way.  The floors are always wood garnished with just a few carpets.  There is not wall to all carpeting her.  This is the kind you take out in the spring, summer and fall, hang it on the clothes line and beat it clean.  They have all of this marvelous wood trim that is absolutely wonderful, and even in the corners.  In out homes we have a baseboard painted.  They have hardwood at the ceiling, corners and baseboard with amazing corner treatments.  Just wonderful!

When you also walk in and you see the kitchen which is huge with a table for family meals and there is nothing on the tables or counters.  Everything is clear and clean.  There is not art work hanging on the walls and maybe all I have seen is a clock that was battery driven.  There may be a door keeper, but that is the extent of the furnishings.  And contrary to some beliefs, they do have a few pieces of upholstered furniture for sitting, but this also depends on the community and how conservative the family wishes.  The more conservative the family, the less use of cushion seats is used.  Some homes do not have any cushion seating of any kind.

There is a formal dining area for family get together which is quite often and usually every other Sunday when they are not in church.

Their homes do have this wonderful warm and clean feeling.  You feel welcomed and if you do not know, I will tell you that taking off of your shoes is a major deal.  If they do not have shoes on – you must take yours off and if the go first and have their shoes on, follow their lead.  Something I learned through asking a lot of questions.  Yes, their bathrooms are quite normal and usually have a window because there is no electricity and no shades.  You will find that they have a lot of windows, but no window treatments, but maybe some blinds to keep out the sun at different times of the day.

If you ever get the chance, be sure to visit and they do use the Amish furniture that they sell, but it is usually the shaker and mission style for their bedroom set and their dining room furnishings.

One day this week I got a call from Toby telling me that he has the fireplace mantel done and if I want picture, I had better get there, because it was going to get shipped out.  Toby can make anything.  I have seen him make beautiful kitchen cabinets with the neatest lazy Susan. 

Fireplace Surround and Mantle	Fireplace plus Enteretainment Center

This lazy Susan  was designed so there is no wasted space as compared to the regular style.  Cannot tell you how, you will just have to contact me and do not give away trade secrets easily.

FirePlace on Site

But he makes a beautiful fireplace surround, mantel and even a television cabinet for above the mantel for a extreme flat panel TV.  We finished the photo shoot and then he said he would buy me lunch if I took him to town.  I had a lot to do, but there is something I needed there also, so there would be no wasted trip.

It is amazing when an Amish and “English” can spend some close time together, we learn about each other and discuss out differences and one would be surprised to find that there is a lot of commonality if you have a Christian upbringing and are of a Christian faith and if you did not have that mind set, well, you would be ocean apart.  They do not like or want government interference in their lives at all.  They are strict pacifist and do not believe in the cruelties of war.  I do not think any one does.  They also take care of their own and believe in living off the land.  Such were some of the things we discussed not only with Toby but a lot of my Amish friends.

But Toby was adamant on eating lunch and his choice was a pancake house for breakfast.  It was noon and we both loved breakfast, so off we went being that our chores were done – I had more, but after Toby left.

Toby had this skillet breakfast and it is a huge meal and me Belgian waffles with cherries.  Toby took some home with him and my plate was clean.  I have seen this before and I am a curious person.  But they basically eat with only one utensil, a spoon and occasionally a knife.  Some of you may think that this is not right and if you are one – shame on you.  It is their culture and let me give you a clue.  They waste nothing.  Again I say this, They Waste Nothing.  Every time I have eaten with the Amish, they will clean their plates absolutely clean.  And this goes back to the premise that a fork cannot pick up the juices on the place because the Amish clean that up also making no need for a garbage disposal or if there is some fat left, well, that is why the dogs are always around an Amish house.

So let me see; we can ban the fork and use the spoon, ban the garbage disposal, meat scraps to the dog and if there are vegetable shavings or whatever, it is to the garden and we are saving some electricity and putting nutrients into the ground. 

Hummm, come to think of it, they do not use electricity and they do just fine. 

What no TV? 

What No Video Games?

What No MURDER?,

What NO CRIME? 

What Children behaving?

What Church on Sunday and absolutely no Work?

They love thy neighbor and do not speak harsh words.  They are kind and giving and perhaps a bit shy.  But do not let the shy part fool you for it is not shyness that they are personifying but it is humility.  How many of you have heard the word – lots eh!  Understand the word – fewer Eh!  Practice it – Oh so very few.

So you not think that we can learn a lot for a culture that has survived wars, burnings and murder by all other religions of the world and yet they thrive and are growing.  We need not condemn, but we need to learn.

In following segments I will be talking more about them.  They are my business partners and my friends and if someone shall speak a harsh word about them – bring it here first, because I shall give you the wrath of Dave N. and I can be a very vile person.  One does not mess with my friends and this includes my “English” friends also.

 Not really in the physical sense but in a mental wonderful sense.  While I am selling Amish furniture of all kinds from; dining room. bedroom, family room and even log home and timber homes I undertook to also include some wheel rims and wood cook stoves. 

It does not stop here.  I was on a photo shoot yesterday of clean coal heating and what I learned was incredible and even more so, this is the son of the builder of the Ashland wood cook stove.

Coal heat done properly with the proper coal, proper equipment is very economical, affordable and very very green and save.  The usage rate is very low per burn hour and there is literally little to no effluents including nasty gases.

This is just a short introduction into this intriguing new product for me.  I remember my father minding the coal stove with its beastly heading arms protruding from the belly of this beast.  I remember the evening rituals of my father taking me downstairs to show me the stoking the furnace and adding the proper amount of coal.  Too much and you get these red clinkers that are impossible to remove.  They are harder than concrete.  If all is well, you get this white ash and then you fill the buckets and carry them upstairs for the trash barrel.  This we paid a man who ventured down the alley with his truck and you sold him your trash in the barrels.  But I digress.  The time comes when the filthy coal bin gets empty and then this small truck comes up the side of your house and a man takes out this chute and extends it from the rear of his truck to you basement coal bin and gently the back of the truck lifts up and empties a prescribed amount of coal in your basement.  Nothing exciting about this because the whole house is now dirty and dusty from coal dust and guess who get to help clean.  You got it – Me.

The big day comes and we have the furnace belly removed and this somewhat smaller furnace is in its place and I sit there and wonder if it will heat the house.  Amazing that is does.  Now we have gas heat.

One sad part to this living tale is that the coal bin has now outlived it purpose and the boarding must be removed and the area is cleaned and sanitized.  Now can you guess received the only honor of this rewarding chore.  Even with 2 other brothers who are a bit younger, the duty fell upon the oldest – alone.  Yes, I want tears, real tears.

But the job was completed without tears and several long baths (no showers then) later all seem forgotten until today. 

It is nice to share when! And how we did what we did when.  No that was profound.  More later on coal heating because it does have its place in our society.

And what is the name of this new product, we shall simply call it Ashland Coal Heater, because I like the name, and so be it.

By Will Higgins and Tim Evans, USA TODAY

SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. — Freeman Wingard is Amish, but he spent the last decade living quite differently than the popular characterization of the Amish as farmers, their plows hitched to enormous draft horses as they eschewed influences of the outside world.

Wingard took his family to restaurants every week, made trips to Chicago and vacationed in Florida. That was when, he says, he was earning $40 per hour working in a Northern Indiana recreational vehicle factory.

Lost jobs send some Amish back to roots, but as RV sales slowed in the economic downturn, Wingard and many of his Amish co-workers were laid off from the high-paying jobs.  Wingard, who has a wife and five daughters younger than 13, added jellies and jams to the quilts and other crafts he and his family sell from their farm. Despite the long hours — Wingard often rises at 3:30 a.m. and puts up 300 jars of jelly by noon — none of the new enterprises has come close to replacing the factory incomes.

Still, Wingard says, there is an upside. "The work is still hard, but it's flexible, and I can be with my kids." 

The economy has taken some toll on most of the USA's 400 Amish settlements, experts say, but none has seen such a widespread impact as the country's third-largest Amish settlement in Northern Indiana.

"Nowhere in U.S. Amish history has a down economy affected the Amish so much," said Steven Nolt, a professor at Goshen College who has written about the Northern Indiana Amish. "It's a pivotal time for them."

Working 'off the farm'
Northern Indiana — home to an estimated 20,000 Amish — is unusual because about half of the adult breadwinners worked "off the farm" in the RV industry, according to Nolt.

"Most Amish people who are not receiving their income from farming tend to work for Amish-owned businesses. They typically don't work in large droves for a single industry, like in Northern Indiana," said Donald Kraybill, a sociology professor at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania who has studied and written extensively about the Amish in America.

By comparison, the USA's largest Amish settlement — with an estimated 40,000 in Holmes and four surrounding counties in East Central Ohio — hasn't been hit as hard as settlements in Indiana and many other places, says Paul Miller, executive director of the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center in Berlin, Ohio.

Likewise in Pennsylvania, which has the second largest number of Amish, Kraybill says fewer than 5% work for non-Amish employers, which has provided some buffer from the outside economy.

Miller said most area Amish who don't count on farming for their main income are working in cottage industries, doing light manufacturing, making furniture and growing produce.
Return to core values

On the consumer side, the Amish — who raise much of their own food and have no need for large-screen TVs, new cars or other expensive "modern conveniences" — are weathering the downturn better than the general population, says Kraybill.

And, the financial pressure in Indiana is triggering a return to Amish core values of church and family as relatives come together in their scramble to make up for lost income.
Wingard and many other Amish in Northern Indiana say their lives are emotionally richer now and more in keeping with the self-reliance they say they relish.

"The factories can make a robot out of you," said Harvey Bontrager, who left the factory grind 20 years ago to go into business for himself. He grows flowers and vegetables and sells them at the huge flea market in Shipshewana. He also makes and sells ice cream.
"This is much different than living on a weekly paycheck," Bontrager said. "Here, you need a business plan. You have to think more."

Lonnie Yoder, who started making and selling hat racks, doll cribs and other woodcrafts after being laid off from his LaGrange County factory job in December, agrees.
"It's a better life to be home with your own business and to be around your family," he said. "The children learn from watching you work."

But the lure of the paycheck is strong. About three weeks ago, when Harlan Miller was called back to work at his Indiana RV job, he put his plan to sell butter on the back burner and returned to the factory.

Wingard wonders what he'd do if he got called back. He says he is happier now, but he has a mortgage and anticipates paying for five weddings.

"I like my life now, but I had to be pushed into it," he said. "I wouldn't have left (the factory) on my own."

Evans and Higgins report for The Indianapolis Star.

Truly amazing what the Amish create.  A large selection of mirrors of all kinds made all made of solid wood, Oak, Cherry. Walnut, Hickory and Quarter Sawn White Oak.  From mirror for you wall or the stand along of many styles: Edwardian, Queen Anne, Shaker, Mission, Antique, Antique Oval, Victorian, Bradbury, Bunker Hill, various Cheval and many others.  There are many styles and shapes with many profiles.  Rectangle, Oval, Square, Hanging Mirrors, Floor Mirrors, Floor Mirrors with bottom drawer and even a Dressing Table Mirror.  The possibilities are endless and if we do not offer the style you want, just ask; “We make your dream designs a reality”.

This area is just too small to show the extensive selection available but there is one main factor in that they are all made by Amish craftsmen.  They are now looking into the future or the past to reinvigorate their designs because of the copying of other countries of their work and the attempt at copying their quality.  The issue is that they have not been doing this for a century or more and pass down the skills from father to son.

The most wonderful thing I saw was a builder creating lamps and mirrors emulating Art Deco design and making a magnificent presentation of the products.  I shall not tell Tiffany, Niemen Marcus or other quality merchandiser of where he is located because I want to share his products with you.  If they would to get their products, the price I offer if for would triple and they could probably sell it for that.

If you would like more designs, I have catalogs of several builders of mirrors but only one Art Deco stylist.  He is also working on some new designs for next year of which I have just seen the highlights and they are very progressive for an Amish builder and designer.

M
Marlborough Legs: A heavy strait leg used by Chippendale and others.
Marshall Unit: Coil springs which are inserted in separate pockets and then joined together to form cushions.
Memory Foam Mattress: A Memory Foam Mattress is distinguished from a regular ‘inner-coil’ mattress in the way that it is made. Memory foam mattresses are made only with memory foam, which is made from polyurethane with additional chemicals that add to its viscosity level. Memory foam was initially developed by NASA to protect astronauts from G forces and impact on landing. Different types of memory foam mattresses have different thicknesses and densities of memory foam in the layers of memory foam that provide the support.
Miter Joint: A joint made by fastening two pieces cut at an angle (usually 90 degrees).
Mortise: A hole, groove or slot in wood into which a tenon or tongue fits to form a secure joint.

N
Nest-of-Tables: Small occasional tables which are graduated in size so that they slide beneath one another.
Night Stand: A small, low table or cabinet which sits by a bed.

O
Online Furniture Store: In contrast to the traditional furniture store, an online furniture store gives you the opportunity to browse a wide selection and purchase the furniture directly online and have it delivered to your home.  Some online furniture stores specialize in certain rooms or styles while others try to represent a broader selection.
Ottoman: An upholstered seat or couch usually without a back or an overstuffed footstool.
Oval Back: The shape of a chairback often associated with Hepplewhite designs.
Overstuffed Furniture: Upholstered pieces in which the wood frame is completely and deeply covered by the upholstery with little exposed woodwork.

P
Pad Foot: A simple foot treatment at the end of a cabriole leg.
Pad Seat: Upholstered furniture built without springs. The seat usually has a solid or webbed base padded with loose stuffing and overlaid with a sofa material (felted cotton, poly-dacron).
Parquet Top: A table top made by using joinery or inlay which has geometric or other patterns usually made from different colored woods.
Parsons Leg: A relatively long fully upholstered leg.
Patio Furniture: Patio furniture is mainly used outside on the patio or around the pool.  It’s designed to withstand the elements.  Patio or pool furniture is made from teak, cedar, aluminum, or plastic compounds.
Pedestal Table: A table which has a central supporting column or pillar.
Pediment: The usually triangular or rounded structure above the cornice often seen in tall case pieces.
Pier Group: Two very tall, narrow chests (pier cabinets) which sit at the head on either side of a bed.
Piping (fluting): Used on barrel back, fan back, kidney shaped and hollow backed upholstered pieces. Individual upholstered pockets (pipes) are stuffed separately to give a comfortable soft curve in the back.
Platform Bed: Platform beds are beds whose bases consists of a raised, flat, hard, horizontal surface meant to support a mattress. Usually, they have a ‘low-profile’ footboard.  You can use them with or without a boxspring, depending on your preference.
Plinth Base: A squared base (sometimes other shapes) which sits on the floor and usually recessed from the outermost outlines of the case piece.
Poly Dacron Wrap: A cushion construction method in which a soft resilient polyester material is wrapped around a polyurethane core.
Pressboard: A strong, highly glazed board sometimes used for case backs, dust proofing or as the underlying structural base for veneers, engraving or vinyl wrap. Also known as composition board or particle board.
Punch-out Back: Entertainment centers are designed to hold many pieces of audio/video equipment each with separate power plugs, input/output cables, and antennas. To allow these unit's wires to connect with each other, entertainment centers either have fully or partially open backs or backs with removable panels that can be "punched out."

R
Rail Joints: The places where the horizontal members of an upholstered frame meet. These joints are often screwed, glued and doubled doweled for extra strength.
Recliner Sofa: Just like a reclining chair, a recliner sofa's back can be lowered and its front can be raised so that you can sit comfortably in a reclined position and you can adjust the sofa accordingly to fit your own preferred setting.  Reclining loveseats are also available.
Refectory Table: A long narrow table with heavy stretchers positioned close to the floor which was originally used by religious orders in the middle ages. Modern adaptations are shorter and have underleaves.
Rolled Arms: Arms which flare out, then down and return to meet the sides of a chair or sofa - appearing to have been rolled.
Ruffled Pleat (Sheer Pleat): A skirt treatment in which unlined fabric is gathered to achieve a ruffled effect.
Rule Joint: A knuckle joint as between a table top and drop leaf that leaves no open space when the leaf is down.

S
Saddle: A chair seat which has been hollowed to the sides and back to resemble the pommel of a saddle. Often used in American colonial styled seats.
Scoop Seat: A chair with a seat that has been hollowed out to fit the body.
Scrolls: Scrolls (curls) are the supportive and decorative members shaped like a scroll or curl which are connected to posts, rails, and each other on many brass (especially traditional) headboards and footboards. Scrolls can either be solid or made from hollow tubing.
Sectional: Furniture made up of modular units capable of use separately or in various combinations.
Self Storing Leaves: Leaves that store within an extension table.
Serving Table: A long narrow side table with drawers used in dining rooms for silver storage.
Shield Back: A chair back used by Hepplewhite and Sheraton that resembles a shield, the outlines of which are formed by a double curved top rail with a half ellipse below.
Side Glide: A drawer located on the vertical side faces on the drawer.
Slat Back: Often used in American colonial styled chairs. This treatment uses horizontal rails across the back and looks similar to a ladder back.
Sleigh Bed: The sleigh bed has a high, scrolled headboard and footboard resembling the front of a sleigh.
Slip Seat: An upholstered "loose seat" insert that is dropped into the frame of a dining chair and can be removed for reupholstery.
Sofa Table: A long, thin, tall, occasional table placed against the back of a sofa or against a wall. Original 18th century versions had small, rounded drop leaf ends and drawers.
Soft Woods: Wood from a conifer (cone bearing tree). Pine, cedar and redwood are common examples.
Spiral Leg: A leg having the shape of a spiral or twisted rope.
Spooning: A curved chair back designed to fit the sitter's form. Common in Queen Anne styled chairs.
Spoon Back: To hollow out chair seats as in Windsor chairs. See also Saddle.
Springs: The most commonly used springs for upholstery are coil springs and sinuous springs.
Spring Edge: An upholstered seat front edge that is supported by springs rather than the hardwood frame giving added comfort.
Steam Bend: A method of bending a single piece of wood (bowback chair, bowed splat, etc.) into a furniture part. Since the wood grain is bent instead of cut, this method yields exceptional strength.
Storage Bed: Storage beds are beds that usually come with additional drawers underneath the bed to save space in the bedroom.  Some storage beds have hydraulic lifts instead of drawers.
Swing Leg: A hinged table leg lacking a lower stretcher (as in a gate leg) which swings out to support a drop leaf.

T
Table pad: Dining table pads are pads or covers that are used for protection of a dining table.  On one side they are covered in felt so they don’t scratch the table.  On the other side they’re covered in a heat resistant vinyl.  Table pads are made with seams to allow folding for easy storage when you don’t have it on your table. They can be ordered custom made to fit any style or shape of table and with a selection of colors.
Tapered Leg: A chair leg whose thickness is reduced as it approaches the bottom.
Tee Seat Cushions: A loose seat cushion whose outside front edges laterally in the front of the arm of an upholstered piece.
Television Cavity: Most audio components have standard physical dimensions, but televisions vary widely in height, width and depth. If a customer's television is too deep for the entertainment center, its back will protrude beyond the back of the case and force replacement of the case away from the wall. If a TV's width and height exceeds the physical dimensions of the case, the television will not fit at all. Television tube size is measured diagonally across the front of the tube. Today's sets generally have similar dimensions, but older sets vary widely in height width and depth. Larger tubes are becoming more popular.
Tester Bed: A four poster bed that has a canopy supported by a frame.
Tight Seat Bed: Fully upholstered back designed not to have a cushion.
Trestle Table: A table top supported by a braced frame (divided foot, horse), often consisting of two posts with feet, joined by a connecting member.
Trifold Mirror: A tri-fold or tri-view mirror sits on or hangs above a dresser. It has a central mirror panel and two mirrored side panels that produce three images of a person looking in the mirror.
Trundle Bed: A low or collapsible bed which is stored under another bed.
Turning: The shaping of chair or table legs on a lathe.
Tuxedo Arms: Slightly flared arms that are the same height as the back.
Twist: A chair or table turning resembling a screw or spiral.

U
Urethane Foam (Polyurethane): Flexible polyurethane foam is used as a cushioning material in upholstered furniture seats, backs and arms. It is an extremely versatile product that can be produced to have practically any "feel" - from very firm to very plush. For seat cushioning, foams that have a density of 1.8 pounds per cubic foot or higher offer the best support and durability characteristics. Several types of polyurethane foam are used in upholstered furniture. Conventional polyurethane is the most widely used. High resilience (HR foam) is used at higher price points because it offers superior support and surface softness. High comfort (HC foam) normally falls between conventional foams or foams containing a variety of materials used to increase density are also used.

V
Veneer: A thin decorative layer of wood which is applied to underlying wood solids or particleboard. Veneers are used to match and balance grain, create inlay and banding effects.
Vinyl Wrap: Flexible vinyl wrapping applied to underlying wood solids or particleboard to produce a surface that most often resembles wood. It is often used in less expensive furniture applications.

W
Wall Units: Large free-standing or wall hung units which can have drawers, shelves, cabinets, desks, ban units, entertainment centers or a variety of other features.
Webbing: Interwoven 3.5 inch wide jute (or synthetic) strips that provide a foundations for many upholstered arms, backs, seats and wings.
Welting: Cord wrapped in fabric which is used to trim upholstery seams and places where the fabric meets exposed wood.
Windsor Chair: A wooden chair with a bentwood, fan, hoops or bow back and legs which are pegged into a thick saddle seat. The back is often formed of plain or turned spindles with or without splats.
Wing Back Chair: A comfortable large chair with side pieces (ears, wings) attached to the sides of the back, usually overstuffed.
Wrap Group: Bedroom furniture designed to sit against a wall that can be juxtaposed to "wrap" around a room. Wrap groups often include small scale chests, hutches, student desks and corner desks.

A
Armoire: Another name for a tall, wide wardrobe usually having two large doors behind which clothes can be hung or stored. Armoires originated in France where they were used for the storage of armor.
Arrow Foot: A cylindrical foot which is tapered and separated from the leg by a turned ring.
Attached Back Pillow: A pillow treatment which cannot be removed from the upholstered piece.

B
Bachelors Chest: A low chest of drawers, traditionally with a slide that pulls out for writing.
Ball Foot: The rounded end of a turned leg which has a hooded effect.
Barrel Back: A chair or sofa with the arms and back forming a continuous curve.
Bedroom Furniture: Furniture sets that are placed in your bedroom such as bed, dresser, chest of drawers, and nightstand.  Some bedroom collections even come with an armoire, chiffonier, or storage chest.  Depending on your preference, you may choose contemporary, traditional or transitional styled bedrooms.
Blanket Chest: A low box-like check designed for storing blankets often having a hinged top and a drawer near the base.
Bow Back: A chair back formed by a bent piece of wood fitted with vertical spindles (as in a Windsor chair). The bow or hoop is continuous down to the arms or the seat.
Brass: An alloy of copper composed of copper and zinc. Brass is stronger than copper and has a more yellow color. It is often made into headboards, footboards, frames, lamps, table top accessories and occasional tables. Brass will tarnish when exposed to the air if not coated with a clear protective coating.
Brass Plate: Brass plated furniture usually has steel frames electroplated with a thin layer of brass or nickel and brass. The plated surfaces should be smooth, free from water marks and covered by a protective coating.
Brewster Chair: An American colonial wooden chair with heavy turned posts, many turned spindles and a wood seat. Provincial Jackobean style influences.
Broken Pediment: The space or structure above the cornice in which the side lines or scrolls do not meet in the center or come to a point. Often used on secretaries, clocks or chinas.
Buffet: A small cupboard or sideboard used to store dining implements.
Bun Foot: A flattened ball foot.
Bunk Bed: Two beds that are joined together so that one is placed above the other. Bunk beds are often used in kids rooms and dormitories. Federal safety standards exist for bunk bed ladders and rails which protect children from falling injuries.
Bureau: A chest of drawers used in the bedroom. See dresser.
Butler's Table: An oval wooden tray on legs whose four sides are hinged to fold out flat when set down.
Butterfly Table: A small drop-leaf table whose leaves are supported by a swinging support which resembles a butterfly wing on a rudder.
Button Tufted: Fabric covered buttons are sewn through the upholstery surface and tied down. The placement of buttons and the resulting folds produce geometric patterns.

C
Cabriole: A furniture leg that curves outward from the structure which it supports and then descends in a tapering reverse curve terminating in an ornamental foot. Often used in Queen Anne and Chippendale dining chairs.
Camel Back: Double curved back, shield shaped; characteristic Hepplewhite style.
Canopy Bed: Canopy beds are beds decorated with a canopy.  Sometimes they use four posts that are connected at the top with rails that fabric can be hung from.  Other times, a hoop is hung from the ceiling over the bed and the fabric drapes down from the hoop.  Originally, they were developed to provide protection from insects but now are more commonly used in a decorative fashion.
Case Piece: Furniture that provides interior space for storage.
Casting: The art of forming metal objects by pouring the molten metal into a mold and allowing in to harden. After hardening, the castings are finished by hand.
Center Glide: A center track that a drawer glides on.
Chaise Lounge: A type of sofa or daybed designed for reclining and resembling an elongated chair.
Chest On Chest: Primarily English and American 18th and 19th Century pieces composed of two stacked chests of drawers. The upper chest usually being smaller than the lower.
China Cabinet: A cabinet which is used for the display and storage of fine china. It is often massive with front and side glass panels.
Chinoiserie: Painted or lacquered Chinese designs.
Chip Core: A board made of chips of wood which are held together with resin and compressed into a strong, warp resistant panel.
Claw and Ball Foot: The terminal portion of a furniture leg (often cabriole) consisting of a carved animal or bird claw clutching a sphere.
Club Foot: A rounded foot that resembles a club resting on a flat base.
Coil Springs: Wire coils used in quality upholstery to give a desired resiliency and firmness to the seat and back. These are often "tied" or incorporated in a "marshall unit."
Comb Back: A Windsor chair having an extension of the back above the arm rail that consists of five or more spindles and a curved top rail that resembles a comb.
Commode: A low chest of drawers and/or doors or a cabinet on legs which usually stands against a wall.
Component: An electrical device such as a cassette deck, compact disk player, graphic equalizer or amplifier. Each is purchased separately and then connected together to make a complete system.
Console: A table that is fixed to a wall and supported by one or more carved legs. Also any table meant to be placed against a wall.
Corner Blocks: Blocks of wood that are placed at major joints in a furniture frame. Usually glued and screwed into place. Triangular blocks which strengthen important frame joints.
Corner Cupboard: A triangular shaped dining room china cabinet made to fit into a corner.
Couch (Lounge): A sofa that has a half-back and only a head end.
Credenza: A sideboard of buffet.
Cupboard: A cabinet, box or closet with shelves designed to hold cups, dishes or food.
Curio: A case piece which has glass doors, panels and shelves, which is used to display collectibles. Derived from "curiosity" cabinet.

D
Daybed: A sofa with head and foot and/or back pieces, having a twin sized mattress which doubles as a sitting and sleeping surface. Daybeds often have decorative removable covers and matching pillows or bolsters which act as back rests.
Dentil Molding: Ornamental cornice molding consisting of rectangular blocks spaced at regular intervals resembling teeth.
Diamond Tufting: An arrangement of tufting buttons to yield a diamond shaped pattern on the back of an upholstered piece.
Dining Table: A dining table is a table at which meals are served. Dining tables have evolved into many different styles and shapes.  The most common shapes are square or rectangular and round or oval.  Some dining tables have the versatility of additional leaves that can be added or removed from the table to provide for extra space when needed.  Dining tables are often accompanied by matching chairs, buffets, hutches, china cabinets, or a sideboard server.

E
Easy Chair: Any large chair which is suitable for lounging.
Entertainment Center: An entertainment center is a shelving unit to place a TV and stereo equipment on.  The larger TV’s have become, the larger entertainment units have grown.

F
Fiddleback: Chair back whose splat looks like a violin.
Finger Joint: A joint made with interlocking finger-like projections in two boards.
Finials: The curved cast, turned or stamped decorative piece that adorns the top of bed posts.
Four Poster: Any bed with four high posts positioned at each corner. Originally, the posts were designed to support elaborate fabric curtains and upholstered treatments which totally enclosed the bed.
Frame: The bed frame supports the mattress and attaches to the headboard and footboard. They often have self locking devices at each corner and are connected to threaded reinforcements inside the bedposts. The wooden skeleton of an upholstered piece.
Futon: A futon is a type of sofa that folds down into a bed. They often have a ‘futon mat’ as a mattress that doubles as a seat cushion when it’s folded up into the sofa position.

G
Gallery: A small ornamental barrier or railing around the top of a table, cabinet or buffet, etc.
Gateleg Table: A table which has drop leaves supported by a leg which swings out like a gate.

H
Hand Tied: Single coil springs that are attached to the webbing with links and then "hand tied" to each other and the frame with twine to achieve differing amounts of elasticity in the seat. Two, four, and eight way hand ties are commonly used. The more ways the spring is tied, the harder the seat.
Hardwood: Wood derived from angiosperms (broad leafed trees such as oak, beech, maple, mahogany, and walnut). The category consists of some woods that are actually much softer than "softwoods."
Hardwood Frames: Frames which are made from hardwoods such as ash, oak, or birch. These woods are usually kiln dried and resist splitting.
Headboard: An upright structure rising above the mattress at the head of the bed. Common types include the chairback headboard, panel headboard, and bookcase headboard.
High Body: A tall chest of drawers that is often made in two sections - the upper chest is sitting on a table with long legs called a lowboy.
High Pressure Laminates: Synthetic sheet surfacings that are bonded to a core material. Laminates offer heat, soil, and stain resistance. They can be grain and color matched to surrounding woods for use in dresser or bureau tops, or produces in decorative colors used to surface entire contemporary bedroom suites.
Hitchcock Chair: Named for American furniture manufacturer Lambert Hitchcock, the chair has a rush or caned seat, slightly bent back, and an oval turned top rail. These chairs are often painted or stenciled with fruit and flower patterns.
Hock Leg: A cabriole leg having a broken curve on the inner side of the knee.
Hogarth Chair: A 18th Century Queen Anne styled side chair with a hooped back, pierced splat and cabriole legs.
Home Office Furniture: Home office furniture consists of office chairs, computer desks and bookcases that can be used to turn your room into an office at home.
Hoop Back: A chair back formed by a bent piece of wood fitted with vertical spindles. In Windsor chairs a bow back.
Horseshoe Back: The outward sweep at the base of the bow in the back of a Windsor chair.
Hutch: A low cupboard with doors usually surrounded by open shelves.
Hutch Mirror: A mirror incorporated into an open shelved cabinet designed to sit on a dresser.

I
Inlay: Wood or other materials which are set into corresponding carved out recesses often producing a pattern.
Iron Beds: Term often used to describe beds made of steel that are coated with white or colored protective coatings.

J
Japanese Platform Bed: Japanese platform beds are known for gently swooping lines, reminiscent of the architectural phenomena of pagodas.
 
K
Kids Furniture: Kids furniture is specially designed for kids. It is usually designed with eye-catching colors and styles that are suitable for children.  Some kids furniture is designed with space saving functions like storage drawers and desks built into the beds.
Kiln Dried: Kiln drying reduces the moisture content of the lumber, a process which inhibits checking, splitting and strengthens the finished product.

L
Ladder Back: A chair back which has horizontal cross rails or slats that resemble a ladder.
Lawson: An overstuffed furniture design that has square seat cushion, short squarish back rests and high square or rolled arms. Variations of the Lawson sofa are often called transitional.
Leather Recliner: A leather recliner is a chair that reclines when the person lowers the chair's back and raises the front. Leather is the material it’s upholstered in and can be found in different leather grades.  Some recliners come with complimentary ottomans while others may have drink holders or adjustable headrests, back rests, arm rests, and foot rests.  Some swivel while others are stationary.
Library Storage: Drawers, trays, cabinets or racks designed to store cassettes, compact discs or VHS tapes. They often roll or slide out for easy accessibility.
Lingerie Chest: A tall, narrow chest or drawers originally designed to hold women's undergarments.
Living Room Furniture: Living room furniture usually includes couches, sofas, coffee tables, end tables, love seats, and chairs  that are placed in your living room.  Styles range from traditional to contemporary and transitional, which is a combination of styles.
Loft Bed: Loft beds are similar to bunk beds except there is sometimes only one bed and the lower space is used for storage or a desk.  Often the beds are placed perpendicular to each other and the supports for the top bed also container drawers, shelving, or cabinets for storage.
Loop Back: An oval chair back or a Windsor bow back without arms.
Loose Pillow Back: A pillow treatment which can be removed from an upholstered piece.
Loveseat: Double chair or small sofa.
Lyre Motif: Representations of a harp-like instrument are used in many French and English designs. The lyre is used extensively in the chair backs and table supports of Duncan Phyfe.

I have found that the Amish are not only hardworking, solemn and humble people, close to their God, but also very creative.  They have to be creative because they must to survive.

There are very few methods of getting top one place to another within the Amish community is by walking, horse & buggy and by bicycle.  They have their “English” taxis, but they do get expensive. 

From the smallest child to senior citizens and even those well into their 90’s travel and they all travel by bicycle.  And you should see come of the creative designs that they utilize.  One style bike, you are peddling above your waist while in a sitting prone position.  I have seen them almost lying down while they propel their unusual vehicle down the busy lane. 

Here are other Amish innovations and these are unique.  We have the Pedal Cart with the Black Horse.  This is for those who want something very unusual.  And for those who are adventuresome and purchase this item, we will do something we do not ever do is to ship it at no additional charge.  Or another way to say this is: the shipping charge is in the price.  All of our products have shipping charges except this item and we have a very limited number.  If we run out, we can make more, just a bit of a wait.  We can let you know.

Now the BOMB!  We have three sizes available; Children’s, Youth and for Adults.  We have family discounts

The Man Trike is for those who lost their childhood or want to repeat it and want to throw some money around.  This is made for men up to 185 pounds.  If you weigh a bit more, do not fear!  Let us know and we will add a bit more steel and change to different tires and axles.  Is this just for the men, Nope we have them in the other models also Adult, Junior and Kid sizes.   Dad and son or daughters are out on their trikes!  Where is Mom, well she can have one also.  We have family discounts.  And on this product only we will include the shipping.

I just had too much fun with this article.  I need to take a nap. 

Oh!  Interested?  And contact us.  Be a kid again, at least for a while.

That statement seems to be a bit out of context; well what may seem so has now been changed.  Amish are known for their fine quality and when I get done, you will appreciate the first line even more.
Amish for years have been making chairs and their characteristic swivel chairs that work like a lazy boy.  They have always known how to sew.  They have always known how to work metal and aluminum into anything that they want.  They have always worked with fabric and leathers.  So what is this is all about is that they went a leap forward.  They still do no use modern conveniences like we enjoy.  They do use voice mail and the telephone for business and family business and a fax strictly for business, but no computers and very little influence by the outside world.  They do attend trade shows that deal with their trade and do travel by car or bus to Las Vegas and High Pointe. North Carolina for “Market” and even to the Merchandize Mart in Chicago and this is where he must have picked this up because he has the finest cloth and leathers in the world.

When I first approached him after I felt the leather I asked him about it and he stated it was micro leather and was new.  So new that I did not even know about it.  Was I surprised, so after a period of time we he decided that I could carry his line and that I was glad to have, I needed a great leather sofa line for my site.

I know I am teasing a bit, but you must realize that I am writing the article having fun like the old Alfred Hitchcock movies where there was always a surprise ending.  Some of you will have to as your grandparents about Alfred Hitchcock of television.  He was known as the master of suspense.

The fabrics come for a very up- scale house of fabrics and you can have your choice on any fabric and this is what really excited me.  Well documented quality workmanship with superior fabrics.  Let me not keep you in suspense much loner and go look for your self.  For the website:  Click Here   Go and visit, but remember to come back and visit with me to purchase your Elegant Amish Made Leather Upholstered Leather Chairs only at the Super Store.

For centuries wood wheel rims were used on all types of vehicles to be pulled by horses or man.  Our ancestors depended on these wheels to last because the terrain was no where near as smooth as we experience today.  These roads contained ruts, stones and other objects and the baggage or passengers had a very bumpy ride.  Also springs were not use and they used a series of ropes on the carriage to act as shock absorbers for the passengers who sometimes would get “sea sick” from the uncontrolled and erratic motion.

The Romans made roads using stone that lasted for a very long period of time and some are in existence.  The first real roads of a permanent nature were comprised of bricks and if the foundation or bed was not perfect, the road had many dips and sways.  If you needed to get under the road to fix something, the repair was never good.  Nothing new her!

These wheels were made of steam bent hickory.  Hickory is one of the hardest woods and is plentiful supply in this country.  To protect the outside rim from wear a steel band or rim was placed around the circumference.  This wheel would last for a very long time and take a lot of abuse and it usually did.  Rubber was also used as a rim agent and this was meant for the comfort of the passenger, but not much.  It did make less noise on the roads.

The invention of the car changed the wheel mechanism and literally put the wood wheels out of business.  The Amish even are now changing from the hickory rims for their buggies they are now using Fiberglas buggy wheels.  They just last longer and do not swell and shrink making them to come out of alignment and become wobbly and potentially unsafe.  So now goes one’s mans craft of another, but the wagon the wagon wheel still has life in home and restaurant décor.  These ad a special touch and flavor to a home that was maybe built years ago or a new home to emulate older style homes and do not forget to get your wheel rim to make the wheel rim chandelier.  This we leave to you but we can supply the rim made as it was for many centuries.

The ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), Illinois Chapter, held their annual Design Awards presentation in September 2009.  There were awards presented in a multitude of categories from residential design, hospitality, medical, fixtures and furniture. 
This year’s competition of the stiffest in its 7 year history with 4 times the entries as that of previous years.  Awards were given for first place and in many of the categories, honorable mentions were presented.

David Nowak of Amish Furniture Super Store and a special designer client, Pat McFarland received an honorable mention for his entry of a Mission style mail box.  The design is totally Amish with a unusual “kangaroo pouch” to hold outgoing mail visible to the mail carrier and also containing a secret drawer to hold keys or a transfer box for the family. 
The wood of choice was Brazilian Cherry which is a very hard and dense wood that will survive the elements for years.  This highly dense wood is very difficult to work with because of its tight cell structure, but longevity is necessary in this environment.
This is the first year for Mr. Nowak has submitted any designs to this contest and he noted that there was an unusually large amount of entries this year as reflected by the contest officials

Mail Box	Secret Compartment	Kangaroo Pouch

David Nowak spent 44 years in executive management within several industries mostly in production management, IT, finance, and new product development.  The last 7 years he served as a consultant to industry as a turnaround specialist by turning profitability to languished companies with a high success ratio.  He has since started BluSteel Inc which has the websites; www.AmishFurnitureSuperStore and www.LetUsRejoice.com and www.GrouchCandle.com

I just received notification from one of my many Amish builders of a new product that has not been announced as of this writing.  This is Amish Furniture that is truly Green and very eco friendly and creates jobs.

You have advanced notice.  This is brand new.  This Furniture is made out of reclaimed parts of old barns.  The Amish reclaim old barns of its woods that are falling down or are fire hazard and or unsafe for inhabitation.

The Amish find these barns and get permission to remove them for little or no cost.  They take great care to remove all of the wood, pegs, nails and timbers.  Everything is removed from the barn except maybe the dirt or concrete floor. 

The old barn wood is used for this new furniture and the beam timber is used with another associated company I work with that creates home and barns with these reclaimed beams.  We have several homes or barns under construction using these old beams for homes and new barns.  These sometimes century old beams get a second life as not only as structural piece for a dwelling, but one of a specialty décor.

 The old barn wood is then steamed to kill any bugs, nests and other infestations.  Then the wood is inspected and sorted for use in making furniture.  They do not do anything else to the wood and maybe place a clear top coat on the wood, but they keep the barn woods natural patina or luster.

This is green furniture, eco furniture or eco friendly furniture in the truest sense.  It has this natural aura and for those a natural order of using reclamation to make some unique and beautiful furniture for your home and at the same time know that this wood may have been cut from virgin wood of that area getting a second life. 

Furniture made with old barn wood is: End Table’s, Sidebars, 3 Door Hutches, Side Dining Chairs, Arm Dining Chairs, Tables - 6 Panel Slate, Coffee Tables, Sofa Tables, TV Consoles, Beds, Chest of Drawers, Dressers - 8 Drawers/Mirror, Night Stands and Book Shelves.  You can furnish your entire home with earth friendly décor.  And with the greatest factor of all, because it is made by Amish master craftsmen with their quality and craftsmanship, you have the envy of your peers and friends.

This was a very interesting proposal made to me over 10 months ago and I thought it would be a great item for my website since I sell Amish furniture and would love to have an Amish Cook Stove for my clients.  I had no premonitions or biases on which wood cook stoves to sell or even promote on my site.  I just wanted only the best.  The best I do have.

I spent over 45 years in manufacturing including the making of steel which requires a deep understanding of refractory’s, steel grades and types.  What does this all mean for cooking?  Everything!  

I also have a lot of experience in steel fabrication and what does this have with cooking on a wood cook stove?  Everything! 

I have also a lot of experience in fit form and function of products and what does that have to do with wood cook stove?  Everything!

Well, the fundamentals are there, but one more very important issue is customer service.  I must understand how these wood cook stove manufacturers will not only treat me, but more importantly, how will they treat you?

So it is off for due diligence and we end up with three cook stove manufacturers who I feel have survived the test of materials, fabrication, honesty, integrity and a concern for their customers.

I have contacted almost all of the cook stove manufacturers in the United States and Canada.  But there are two manufacturers in the western part of Canada whom I am unable to contact by any means.  I have gone out of my way to find them because it fits in with the theme of Amish manufactured products, so I have that desire to find them.  And spending a lot of time in finding them, I cannot find them and you will have a very difficult time finding them for parts and repairs.  They are not Amish but Mennonite, there is a difference, but the work ethic and quality is generally the same.  It is for the reason of remoteness and accessibility that they were not chosen, no other reason.

Ashland Wood Cook Stoves and more:
The Ashland wood cook stove comes in several models with the New Decade and Deluxe models.  The Deluxe is new and a bit roomier with some other minor improvements.  The Ashland is well known in the Amish communities as the premium wood cook stove and for many years have been sold exclusively to the Amish families and the only way you could get an Ashland stove was through an Amish dealer.  Now, I am the first and only “English” dealer for the Ashland products.  “English” is the word they use for speaking about those who exist outside of their community, I imagine there are others, but to me “English” is very satisfactory.

The Ashland Wood Cook Stove is the epitome of the quality that the Amish are know for and they are people of their word.  These are the people I want and only do business with.

MealMaster Wood Cook Stoves and More
MealMaster has enjoyed a long and successful history and is made today as it was since 1944 in the United States.  The Torridaire line of heaters was purchase in 1967 from a company in Tennessee which first produced the product in the early 1930’s.  This company has earned it reputation by being forthright with its dealers and their final customers, the consumer.

The Mealmaster is Porcelainzed 14 gauge to 18 gauge plate steel and with Aluminized 14-18ga plate steel with cold-rolled 18 gauge steel.  The Torridaire is made of 20 gauge cold-rolled steel. And the #8 Potbelly Stove is made cast iron with a high temperature coating as it was made many a year ago.  We are may remember this stove from all of the old western movies that was a gathering place for all within the general store. 

I wish I had a barn.  I would buy a pot belly stove and set up a corner in the format of an old general store, have an old cooler there, old coffee pot on the stove and pass out corn cob pipes without the tobacco.  No smoking, but the ambiance would be there.

I asked a close Amish friend of mine what his thoughts were on wood cook stoves and his recommendations and he recommended the Ashland and the MealMaster.  He did not know of the third stove that I sell and the reasons will soon be obvious.  I keep asking my Amish builders and friends which is the best and I keep getting the same answers, so this is why I carry these product wood cook stove brand names. 

Enterprise Fawcett Line:
The present day Enterprise foundry is the product of a small beginning that started back in 1852 by R.M. Dixon and a number of Sackville’s leading farmers under the name of Dominion Foundry Company. It is believed that some of the early work produced by the foundry was made to supply the sailing ships of the era. However, the main products have always been cast iron cook stoves and furnaces. 

The foundry was built near the Sackville wharves as the heavy, brittle castings required special consideration for transporting.  Later, the railroad established a station nearby which enabled the plant to continue to transport its products. 

Enterprise, at one time, was the only company in the world manufacturing a complete line of cooking products using wood, coal, oil, gas, electric and microwave energy all in one factory. 

The Enterprise Fawcett company has a remarkable line of cook stoves that are high class and also to the very functional and very customer oriented company.  The product is made in Canada and is the only product I have that is made outside of the USA, but proud to have them.

It is very difficult to explain their line.  They have the very classical Victorian decor cook stoves that fit into a modern home today.  The use of nickel and brass and shaping is just a designer’s delight.  I would imagine that some people would put one of these into their spacious home and have it fully functional, but never or very seldom use it.  It just adds a certain old elegance to a home but has the functionality of a superior wood cook stove.

They also have the Queen Cook and the Woodsman.  Perfect for the campers home or home out in the woods where little resources exists of modern society.  Imagine no electricity, no running water, no cell phone, no traffic noise, just nature sounds. And here are the perfect items for that environment, the Queen Cook and the Woodsman for cooking and heating.  An oil lamp or two, a warm bed and a library of books and life can be a lot easier.  You get your exercise chopping your own wood.  I had better stop.  This last paragraph is making me want to go and live like I just described.

This was a very nice project to find the best wood cook stoves and I am happy about the results and wanted to share my journey with you.  It may save you some time and effort and give you insight as to the gathering process and the analysis from someone who wants to sell only the wood cook stoves of the highest standards.

Only the best wood cook stoves are available on www.AmishFurnitureSuperStore.com

Copyright 2009 BluSteel Inc. South Bend IN

At the end of March each year is the annual Amish Furniture Expo and this year in a new location.  It was held in a old RV plant that was more spacious that previous events where in previous years, space was very restricted and crowded.  This year with space plentiful, more products were shown and builders who in the past that did not have some generational placement were not allowed or allowed only to a very small confined area. 
The larger builders had more space and more open space and some newcomers had a small area, but they at least had a placement which is only fair for all to show their talents.
This is my third show that I have attended and this was by far the best show.  A lot of new products and I must give a lot to some of the Amish builders for brining forth some very innovative designs and looking forward into design.

There were a lot of new things at the Indiana show, very impressive and I also attended the Ohio show in February and was unable to write about that event.  I shall combine the events to show the new and exciting new innovations and also the new products to existing lines that show a lot of promise to be very suitable furniture for anyone’s home, office, condo, apartment or cabin.
To be fair, I do not announce a winner or any particular item that was the show stoppers because there were many that I fell in love with.
I want to share a very unusual product that has not been seen except for a very few and I have the only images of this new Amish product currently and want to share some of the images with you. 
This talented Amish group has taken a beefed up steel frame and placed the first true Amish Log Park Model Travel Trailer.  This Park Model comes with a full kitchen, appliances, bedroom, dining area and generous toilet, shower area and a wonderful front porch.  Go up the stairs is a small loft, just right for the grand children to play and to sleep.  Everything is here and I just love the front porch. 
I share some pictures and you can get a catalog of the Nowak Showcase Park Model Log Home by emailing me at:  DaveN@AmishFurnitureSuperStore.com and I will send you the catalogs via You Send it for you to down load and to share with your family, friends, relatives, co-workers and neighbors.  This Log Cabin was designed to get to a final destination and be moved under the requirements of a park model and enjoy nature and your surroundings.  This is living at its best.

It really is not fun, but a lot of hard work and it smells bad most of the time and is our new area of design that is being explored.

As some information about stains and clear coats, there are two basic types.  One is the solvent base which can be rather nasty to apply, and special masks and booths are required.  These are not considered eco-friendly.  There is the alternative, water base stains and final coatings.  Both have advantages and disadvantages and we let our customer decide as to which method they want on their furniture.

The solvent base stains and coatings are less expensive, can be hazardous to apply, safe when cured and lustrous with minimal care required.  The water base stains and coatings are a lot more expensive, very difficult to apply and lack the vibrancy of the solvent stains.  They require quarterly maintenance with special polishes and will lose more of its luster over time.  Some time in the future, they will have to be re-stained to get back some of the luster.

I have no real opinion either way, because I am here to service the client and they should get what they desire, but they also should know of the pitfalls.

I am showing a special piece that my finisher John has created.  It is an antique look and it is distressed.  He is so great, that one corner is almost not a corner.  This piece is not even up for sale yet, but we are showing technique.  We can apply this technique to any item we sell on this site and only here because this is a proprietary and exclusive technique.  So you can order this finish, but it will cost a bit more and that we would have to discuss.

The other piece is our rendition of the Shesham method that can be applied to any of the Oak Amish furniture. showing the white graining affect to the wood.  This is available on all of the furniture we sell, but again it costs more.  Is this a proprietary and exclusive finish?  But of course it is!   This finish is available only in Oak.

But it is for your décor and clients are always looking for something new and exciting.  This is what makes us strive to create new avenues for design and environment.  We are always looking for something new to present to our clients.

Now who has ever heard of such a thing, drying clothes outside in the middle of winter when the temperature is below zero?  Well it has been done for hundreds of years and if you ask your grandparents, they probably did so.  We did it and the sheets were so soft.
Drying the clothes in winter is done by the Amish in their communities today.  They make this wonderful Amish furniture and farm that land and work hard and lead the simple live to serve their God.
One day, I was out talking to one of my favorite Amish furniture builders who makes all of this wonderful Oak and Cherry furniture and I asked him.  Well his answer was not what I expected, but it gave me the answer.
He stated that they make sure that there is a breeze and that it takes longer and the sheets and clothes are actually softer.  He prefers the winter dried clothes.
I am old enough to know that we also dried our clothes outside, but I was very young then.  We eventually succumbed to a regular washer and dryer when they came on the market.  I remember my mother with her old wringer washer and her mangle iron for the sheets.  Tuesday was the day, and back them clothing was not necessarily changed every day and baths was twice or thrice a week.  So the Amish have kept to their tenant to avoid change and they do.
Okay, here is how it works drying clothes outside in the winter when the temperature is below zero.  Remember I stated that there must be a breeze.  Well, the temperature turns the water to ice and the wind knocks off the ice on the fabric as it sways in the wind.  First, larger ice particles, then smaller and smaller till no more ice and therefore no more water – dry.  They do not dry the clothes in the rain.  You may see the clothes hanging out on the line, but they are not in a hurry.  They will dry eventually and that is good enough for them.  Time is not a great issue for them

I posted some pictures for your enjoyment.  Notice you will see some snowflakes and the temperature on the days I took the pictures was around 9 degrees.  Way below zero.

This is a very simple device that probably was invented in the stone ages.  The hall tree is basically a pole with a base with some type of hook at the top.  Quite simple and yet it is a very unyielding piece of furniture.  
Years back when I started in this business, I told myself that this would be a very popular item and was excited of the many styles for many different tastes. 
Then I swallowed the poison pill.  For me to sell it, I had to ship it.  I had customers who thought the price was appropriate from anywhere of $125.00 to $300.00 depending on a lot of things.  But then the shipping costs were and are at least $250.00.  We did sell a few and tried to package them with other items or try to sell 2 at one time to make it palatable and these became a non salable item. 
Until one day, I was visiting with one of my Amish furniture builders and we talked about making it in parts.  Other items have been tried with no success.  The time and effort with phone calls was very high and the Amish love their privacy.  But we did discuss a way and I decided to take the chance, but this person was busy.

Visiting with another builder who was not so busy, I approached him with the idea and he went for concept and idea.  Now we have a way to ship the hall trees in a form that is broken down and simple to put together.  This is not only great for us because our shipping costs are about $30.00 from here to Vegas or better than half way across the country.
The instructions are so simple even a “cave man” can put them together.  Oopss!  I, wonder if I should have said that about the “cave man” or not?   But the instructions are very simple and with pictures.
The other advantage is that the if the owner is moving they do not have this big obtrusive object to deal with and can easily make it into a half or quarter and we threw something in for free that no other hall tree has.  The top of the hall tree where the hook are, well it spins.
When I talked with the Amish builders, I tell them, that we do not copy.  We look and study and think and then innovate.  This Hall Tree is the result of this creative process.
The hall tree is a very old product with a new innovative twist.  It took an Amish furniture builder to make it even better.  Yes, he is Amish.  His home has no electricity, his family vehicle is the horse and buggy and in the summer, no shoes are worn by the children because that is just one part of their fascinating culture.

Plant Stand by Pat McFarland

We have a wonderful ongoing client of ours by name of Pat McFarland and his wife. Trish, have ordered several things from us and we do appreciate that. 
In the course of events he is always looking for new products to purchase and we collaborate on where he can find them.  We both do a lot of research in the internet and it is fun to do.  But there are the times when nothing comes close to his vision.
So he decides to have them built.  I have many Amish furniture builders who are very creative.  Also, they are looking for additions to their product line.  So we try to assist our new designers and Pat is one of these very unique individuals.  I must admit we are into the second project for him. 

The first project was a plant stand that I am showing you.  It is a terrible picture and we are making another.  But we needed a drawing of his vision.  I receive in the mail a full size cutout of the finished product in two dimensions made with paper grocery sacks all taped together.  This was amazing.  An actual template.  The Amish furniture builders loved it.  But to his specification utilizing Quarter Sawn White Oak on all sides was a big problem.  But, it was solved and the completed products are finally on their way to him.
This was a lovely journey.  And now Pat is into his second piece.  There are not many small desks for apartments.  So Pat has designed this desk on several pieces of paper, no actual size and the drawing was like that of a professional. Not quite, but for a design to build a desk, this was a builders dream.  Now the builder making this desk for him can quote him and they can communicate to the final version.
One of our niches is the special build, from a plant stand to a desk, to a kitchen, large conference table, cabin or home, the old type flooring or planking and now we are even designing our own furniture.  When you have this amount of talent behind you and the willingness of the Amish Furniture builders to try something new, this becomes a designers dream.
My past life of 44 years in corporate manufacturing, one had an R & D facility, proto shop or new products department.  But you were focused in a certain area to perform.  I was able to do some of these things in my past and now with the builders, anything out of wood, metal and fabric is fair game.
Pat has shown that this great county has the ability to do anything that a person wants and its costs are not always out of line, you just have to look and you can find someone somewhere.  I found the Amish recently after living next to them for 33 years.  I found them late, but I found them and now, life is truly good, at least for me, and Pat.

No Cashiers! 

Observing has been one of my hobbies and a past business related function.  What does this mean?  I watch people and what they do.  I observe everything especially the small things.  It is the collection of small things that make the big things to happen.  Over the course of many years of doing this – it becomes quite natural for me to see things that others maybe would not.  I do not mean to sound that I am better than others, it is because I trained myself to observe and I am self taught.  It takes a lot of practice and discipline, and can be quite fun.
Anyway the point is that after almost 3 years of traveling in and out of Amish furniture land, one would expect it to be come routine or mundane.  I was going to use the word boring, but I thought that it was too strong of a word.  Yes, parts of the trip are boring, mundane and potential for falling asleep and that is the initial trip into “Amish land”.  The four lane highways turns into a high speed two lanes into finally; into the two lane narrow farm roads that the Amish community lives, works and prays.  You need to be very careful when driving on these roads and observe at the same time or perhaps it best for one not to drive – have someone else do the driving – while you observe or gawk.
I share with you some of the things I observed on this latest trip.
There was a horse alone in a corner of a fences pasture, standing there with an erection. 
A Boy was going out from his house with a can under his arm late afternoon.  I know that he was going to the berry patch for berries for supper.  The grocery was out in the field – no cashier.
Amish father with his son with a 2 horse team cutting the field for feed for the horses.  They are making their gas for their mode of transportation.  No pump and no cashier. I wonder if this is GreeN???  You know what I mean.
Boys and girls are running barefoot on gravel and dirt roads.  Yes, no shoes, we need to do something about this.  How about everyone taking off their shoes and socks.  No shoe stores and no cashiers.
Small miniature pony pulling a small surrey type cart with two very young pretty Amish girls, just having fun? What, no TV?, no Radio?  Pure scandal!  Need to do something about this.   Everyone, for the next week turn off your radios and televisions.  What?  No advertising to buy something and therefore, no cashiers.
Saw several very large draft horses standing in the pasture.  I think they look better than a car and a lot cheaper and less to fill up and therefore, no cashiers.
I bet, on my next trip, I will look for more ways to see more “no cahiers”. 
What is “no cashiers”?  It is living off of the land and living with the land and living with your neighbors and sharing, but always, living with your God and making no excuses for what you are and what you do.  It also means that sometimes money is not necessary to live, exist, love and pray.  

What do I see?    My personal adventure in Amish land

This is a journey that I have taken for many a reason.  I am not a writer, but at this stage in life I find great joy, satisfaction, accomplishment, just love what I now do.
For 43 years I worked in the corporate world in many areas; production management, national sales, product innovations and in my last area, changing companies from bankruptcy to viable entities.  The last is very difficult, time consuming, pressure ridden and at times involves a very hostile environment.  But the vision is to save the company, for it is a giver of jobs, community responsibility and other factors.  Unfortunately, some drastic measures had to be taken and difficult decisions made and implemented for the visionary salvation of the “company”.
 Now the pace is different and I had to make some adjustments from this world.  So, I read, I ask my Amish furniture builders and distributors questions and I try to be respectful.  Well, you can imagine that at times, my prior life will creep out.  It is not intentional, but with 43 years of hard corporate life, the change is very dramatic and one I want to change towards.  I can never be as the Amish, for I am not good enough.  But my plan is to try at least to just try to be a third as good as them.
I want to share with you my experiences.  If I disrespect anyone or anyone’s feelings, culture, or community, it is not out of spite, but ignorance, and I apologize beforehand, because, I truly believe I have a great, wonderful and powerful story to tell; being from that of an “Outsider”
These will be written in segments with different topics and I truly hope you will join me in my travels to Amish land and observe this marvelous microcosm.

CBS The Outsiders

There are some things that I really do not understand!  Why is it, for the sake of television, does a huge company such as CBS persecute the quiet and reclusive Amish people?  It is because they can and want to?  Or, are they jealous?  Or, do they hate their religion?  Or, is it for the ratings?  Or, is it part of a larger agenda?  I question why?  Do they do this?
I happen to work with them and visit with them.  They are a very warm, kind and generous people who work and live for their God, family and community.  I happened to come upon this segment of “The Outsides” and as I started to watch, and had to quit watching their evilmentary. 
What is an evilmentary?  It is somebody that takes a perfectly good person, organization, nation, country or religion and turns it into something that it is not! 
Unlike many of our religions, baptism is practiced at a very early age.  The Amish or Anabaptist, believe that baptism is the commitment and the beginning of their life to the service of God.  It is not an organized or formal religion as many of us practice or know.  It hierarchy is very small consisting of the communities member with a deacon, preacher and a bishop.  Each is elected by its community upon the death of one.  There is also no prerequisite for any title.  There is no formal training nor do you have to be a deacon before you are a bishop.  What ever you are elect to by lots, you remain until death and they take these positions with a great deal of seriousness.  In other words, it is not a position that anyone aspires to, but is commended to by the rules of lots as written in the bible.
The children coming of age are asked to leave the household to find what the outside word is like and to live in for a period of time and that time is determined by that child.  They are welcomed back at anytime.  If they choose to become baptized, it is a life commitment.  It is a vow they make with themselves and God.  And if after ones baptism, they reject their ways, they are shunned by their family and community.  If they choose to remain on the outside, it is accepted, but the parents may not enjoy it because, it brings upon them a cloud of “failure”.  Failure is not the right word, but it is the closed I can come for a word of explanation.  They are not ridiculed for it by the community, but it is self imposed.
The child that has chosen the life of the outside is not shunned, but welcomed back with family and friends of the community and do at times visit in family functions.  Why do I know this?  Because I have a neighbor, whose father did not join his parent’s church through baptism.  He is still welcomed at family events.
It was rather disturbing to me the way they take one or two individuals and characterize the many.  This is our “investigative reporters?” who would destroy people because they capitalize on a dissenter. 
Shame be it on CBS and other media like them.  Shame be it on CBS for them for hurting those that wish to be left alone to live for their God.  Shame be it on CBS for taking a poor unknowing person and turning them from their faith and family for advertising money.  I just wonder if this is not a small part of a much larger conspiracy or not?
These are my personal feelings that I would not have commented on if I did not have a special relationship.  They would prefer to take it on the other cheek.  I prefer not to, at times.  They need to be left alone and be sheltered from us.  Leave them be to do what they do best: Love their God, Love their families, Love their community and friends and create wonderful master crafted objects for us to enjoy.
As another note:  The current buzz word is “Green”.  The Amish builders are the masters of “Green”.  We can learn from them!

Question I received from Dan on June 16th 2008-06-22
Received magazine stand.  Looks good, solid, with great craftsmanship!
The Amish do this without the use of power tools (?!).

Answer:

No, they do not.  They use what you might call small hand tools.  They do not have line electricity, but they use large diesel generators to run their equipment in their workshop only.  They use tools that you can purchase at Sears or any Big Box stores and some have some larger cutoff saws to cut 4 x 8 sheets of wood.  They do use some air tools, but there is still a great deal of hand sanding. 
They are very fussy about the ending finish work and when the small air powered hand sanders stop - the hand sanding starts and a lot of hand sanding is required in the finishing.  They have special shops that finish the product and there they use some air powered sanding, but when a coat of stain is added and dried - hand sanding in the only way possible.  A lot of the women do the sanding!
Staining is almost an art.  One does not just go and start staining.  They use apprentices, but they are not called that and have no formal certification.  Certification is by the Amish Furniture Master Builder and if you are not good enough, you will never progress.
Sometimes there are two stains applied with hand sanding between coats and then sanding before the final clear coat.  These finishing shops are dust controlled and they have big fans and air handlers to remove this dust - all the power coming from the diesel generator.  When work for the day is finished, the generator is turned off and the quiet comes again. 
 I visit somebody at least every week and see their shops and them working.  I wish that I could take pictures, but that is forbidden by their rules.  I am talking with them to see if they will allow some pictures in the future. This is a very long process and will take a long time to develop. 

If you have other questions, Please send me your question.  I am currently studying the Amish Culture and Way of Life, because I work with them and do not want to disrespect them and find them just marvelous people.  Their life is having a very positive affect my my personal life and I am enjoying the journey immensely.

Ferman is my special Amish friend

For years I have worked within the RV industry and at one plant, I had the pleasure of making a special friend, Ferman.  I will not give neither his last name, nor the company or plant for his privacy.  Over the years, I got to know Ferman, and spoke with him often at his station of final finish of this plant.  We discussed everything and he shared with me the culture, religion and way of life of the Amish people. 
One story I wish to share.  My wife loves horses and Ferman came with his family to a company picnic in his horse and buggy.  We shared great times at the picnic and at the end; my wife wanted a ride in the buggy.  I ask her, why she wanted to ride in a buggy, when we drove up in a 1976 Corvette. There is no way of pacifying this situation except to ask Ferman to take her for a ride.  Ferman being the gentleman he is, took my wife on a nice long horse and buggy ride.  In return, I took Ferman for a ride in the Corvette.
I told Ferman to strap himself in and when I knew he was secure we coasted to the main highway and I turned the car on the main road and stopped.  My foot on the brake and I was revving the engine to high rpm’s, and then I let loose of the brake. The car’s tires were smoking and Ferman was pushed back into the seat with one hand holding his straw hat and the other the seat.  We accelerated to a high speed and then I brake suddenly and then back to high speed.  We turned around and repeated the drive.  As were approaching the picnic site, Ferman ask me how fast we were going and I told him we were into three figures.  His eyes just lit up. 
I think Ferman was glad to get out of the car. He then went to my wife and said that he would take her for a ride anytime, because he thought that he got the best end of this deal.  And to be sure, both of us did and was a great time.
For weeks, the story went around the plant of Ferman telling of his ride and experience in the Corvette.  But as always, Ferman was set with his lifestyle.  He enjoyed the experience but preferred his life style and his way of life. This is something that we shared and I feel today that both of us and including my wife are better for it. 
I do feel bad, that I am no longer involved with that company and I no longer see Ferman, but he still is a very special and always to be a close friend and when I see him again, it will be just like we saw each other yesterday. 

Forever friends we shall be

Welcome to the Amish Blog

This are has been constructed for tidbits and other cultural items of the Amish Community.

You will get to know and understand more about the Amish builders on how they design and how they construct their fine quality furniture.

Stories to tell of my experiences and that of others with an insite as to how the Amish live.