Happy Mardi Gras!

> I got me a mini moon pie. 110 calories it sez on the wrapper. 😛

For those of us who live in areas with more of a Germanic influence: Fasnacht Day

I was stationed in Gulfport, Mississippi through a Mardi Gras season many moons ago. I do miss the moonpies and beads.

"Oh I forgot..it is Tuesday March 3 for everyone else."

Well, for most of us it would be Tuesday, March 4

> > I got me a mini moon pie. 110 calories it sez on the wrapper. 😛
>
> For those of us who live in areas with more of a Germanic influence: Fasnacht Day

Guder Daag. Wie bischt du.

If I remember is good day and how are you doing. Grew up with Amish. Our farm was right next to theirs. They are a simple people, but they are like us in many ways.

Faasnacht! And tomorrow is Aschermittwoch.

> "Oh I forgot..it is Tuesday March 3 for everyone else."
>
> Well, for most of us it would be Tuesday, March 4

Right...yesterday was Monday March 3..
It was Lundi Gras here
but Monday everywhere else..:-D

Lundi Gras

SZCZ??LIWY T?USZCZ WTOREK!

For folks with a Polish slant on their heritage it is the P?czki. Prounounced Poanch-ki, mol..

And of course, Fat Tuesday is P?czki Day.

Everybody have a wonderful celebration! Laissez les bons temps rouler, you hear!B-)

I want a fried oyster po'boy from Acme Oyster House and some on the half shell.
Now, plus a drink or two.

> If I remember is good day and how are you doing. Grew up with Amish. Our farm was right next to theirs. They are a simple people, but they are like us in many ways.

I lived around the Amish as well in south-central Ill. [step] Mom had a weekly cleaning lady and her daughter help with the house. Very quiet and intensely private folks. The Amish there back then didn't associate much with us "English". Last Amish I met was a few years ago nearby at a Waffle House. He was out on his journey to "find himself". Something very much akin to Radu's countrymen going walk-about. The Amish have a word it which I don't recall. I bought us breakfast and we chatted for some time. Seemed to me at the time he had found drugs and was trying to get a ride to a nearby county. His phone batts were dieing and I didn't have mine with me that night/morning. Could have gone out of my way to help the guy/kid out but I figured I'd be inviting serious drama. I don't like drama or drugs even worse so figured best leave that "project" to someone else and let him go on about his walk-about. Wish I could remember that word. I'd recognize it to hear it again.

Rumspringa? When they are allowed to do anything outside of their community and come back to make a decision.

> Rumspringa? When they are allowed to do anything outside of their community and come back to make a decision.

That's it!!!! Thank you!
Don't they have to make the decision before returning and it's still up to the Elders to decide to welcome them back or be shunned? I don't know of any Amish back home that did rumspringa. Maybe those back home were more of the old country conservative nature than the more liberal sorts seen on TV these days. All I remember from those days was the Elders (older men) were just about down right scary. They only came into Dad's pharmacy (where I worked) once in a great while. Their simple presence just commanded respect - even from us "English" in our own store. Dad treated them as such and they had narry a word for little ole me much less the women who also worked in the store.
I always liked them none the less. Especially their carpentering skills and leather works. The kid I met that night didn't seem to much care about any of that.

> > Rumspringa? When they are allowed to do anything outside of their community and come back to make a decision.
>
> That's it!!!! Thank you!
> Don't they have to make the decision before returning and it's still up to the Elders to decide to welcome them back or be shunned? I don't know of any Amish back home that did rumspringa. Maybe those back home were more of the old country conservative nature than the more liberal sorts seen on TV these days. All I remember from those days was the Elders (older men) were just about down right scary. They only came into Dad's pharmacy (where I worked) once in a great while. Their simple presence just commanded respect - even from us "English" in our own store. Dad treated them as such and they had narry a word for little ole me much less the women who also worked in the store.
> I always liked them none the less. Especially their carpentering skills and leather works. The kid I met that night didn't seem to much care about any of that.

Respect is to return and make a decision. To leave is to be shunned but it's respect nonetheless. I have a few friends who actually left the community and are still welcome back by their families. They even come back to help with farm work when they have time.

I know around here they specialize in everything. Heck, my fiance's father went to them to get his teeth pulled that were loose. The only charge was a good faith tip. How he doesn't have infection I don't know and who knows what he used to sterilize.

I admire their skills in craftsmanship. I've had one pair of work boots since I was 18, bought from them, every winter I take the boots to them and whatever they do they are like new each time. Put a peice of wood in front of them and later you have gold. We are hiring them to build our house for us. Not only are they fair in price but the work they do is astonishing. The priciest is their custom made cabinetry but if you want professional grade, they have it. Only if they could make our survey stakes to last?

My whole life it's been Shrove Tuesday (Grew up Episcopalian)...

Pancakes and breakfast sausage for Dinner 🙂

We had a Scandinavian Rector with a PhD in French Literature, he said, "the French have a drunken party, the English have pancakes."

30yr ago, Jefferson had a townwide participation with inside and outside entertainment and open beverages limit to limit.

It brought in so many visitors and enjoyment for all that the local law enforcement found a way to increase their revenues by arresting everyone as they left downtown.

So, these days it has become known as the day that if you celebrate publicly, you go to jail.

You clearly know more about them than I. Their industriousness truly is something to be amazed at. I would guess most of today's teenagers couldn't hang a day with them on the farm. Certainly not for a Sunday afternoon barn-raising. Personally, I could hang but physically, they would probably about kill me with work. 30 years ago, maybe, Not today.

Don't forget their draft horses!!! The Belgium draft and the Clydesdales are just plain ole huge - and super friendly. I remember an Amish man who tenant farmed nearby. Being not allowed to drive the tractor to the field he hitched up a 4 horse crew of Clydesdales and trailered the tractor to the field where he was "allowed" to drive the tractor since it wasn't his land I guess.
I don't know this for a fact but heard from several folks there was an Amish farm just outside Mt. Zion [IL] who supplied most if not all the Budweiser Clydesdales. I've been by that farm a few times and they did have big horses all over. when I lived in NC there was nearby neighbor of a good friend who had some Belgium draft monsters. I never met the owners but visited the horses often. They seemed to like the company - or at least they liked me. My ex was about scared to death of them being so much bigger than us. I had no problem and walked up to them without hesitation. Maybe they just sensed her fear and sensed my brotherly love. Maybe it's just plain old love for animals. I used have a ferret I would tuck down inside my sweater and go to the biker bar for drinks. She just curled up around my belly and slept the whole time regardless of the noise.

Sorry to all for distracting from the original topic. You'all get plenty of beads and coins for me. Been through the "Big Easy" a few times but never at the right time for Mardi Gras.

Charbroiled oysters and crab cakes from Dragos 😛
and rum drinks from Johnny Whites Hole in the Wall bar.

I called the manager of Galatoire's Bistro in Baton Rouge today and tried to talk him into having the Chef cook up some Gumbo Zabvre tomorrow (Gumbo of the Seven Greens). He agreed to talk to him, so maybe that's where I'm going to lunch on Ash Wednesday.

🙂

For those not from South Louisiana, that's good stuff!

so Ji...do they costume or cross dress and go to Dunkin Donuts...with a little oom pah pah soundtrack in their heads.;-)

> Sorry to all for distracting from the original topic. You'all get plenty of beads and coins for me. Been through the "Big Easy" a few times but never at the right time for Mardi Gras.

Thanks for the info..did not know the Amish were such party animals.

There is something to be said for the costumes in the Teutonic tradition