“…..And a time to every purpose under Heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Most of you will recognize this quote, if not from scripture, then from the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” By the Byrds. Some of you who have visited with us at the Osceola Mill House may also recognize it as the text of our wedding invitation which hangs framed in the living room of the Mill House. Seasons herald the appropriate time of year for a specific task. As the verse goes “…a time to plant and a time to harvest….a time to build up and a time to break down….” . It echoes the natural, close to the earth rhythm of a year or of a life.
That natural rhythm is never more evident anywhere else I’ve ever lived than out here in Lancaster County among my Amish friends and neighbors. These past weeks have been so busy in the neighborhood. The tobacco crop is down and hanging up in the barn to dry. If you’ve spent any time here in the County you’ve noticed the tobacco barns with open planks on all sides to allow air curing of the crop. It is picturesque to be sure. The corn crop is almost all harvested as well. One of my favorite things to do in the Autumn is to watch my neighbor drive his team of horses through the fields pulling the corn cutter as a helper pulls the bundles of stalks onto the wagon. Sometimes the entire plant will be ground into silage which is then shot up into the silo for storage – all to feed the cows all winter long. Last past week I was drawn out to our back yard after dinner by a loud sound coming from the fields behind the house. It was beginning to get dark, but there was a full moon this week, so there was plenty of light to see as I crossed the yard. As I got to the fence, sure enough, there was my neighbor, Steve, cutting his corn out back – by the light of the Harvest Moon.
Soon enough the harvest will all be in and things will slow down out here in the country. From October we slide into Amish Wedding season. Most of the young betrothed are married on Tuesdays and Thursdays in November each year. If you visit out here during that month, you may just encounter a hand-written sign at your favorite Amish store or restaurant saying “Closed for Wedding”. Everyone stops what they are doing to celebrate and pray for the young marrieds of the Church. It is just that time of year – and you really do get used to it and plan your outings on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
This same rhythm is evident even right here at the Mill House. It seems like I have been canning for months. We’ve put up quarts of pears and peaches for breakfasts, pie fillings for dessert, and jams and preserves to top hot baked scones. This past week I finally put away my canner as I finished storing the last pint of apple butter for the year. We’ll again have plenty of Lancaster County’s bounty to share with our visitors for the next year.
So, now that the temperatures are cooler and time is slowing down, consider a trip out here to the Country to relax. Let us share with you the fruits of our beautiful home. It is our joy to welcome you back again.
“I experienced that there is nothing better for them than to be glad and do good in their life. And also that everyone should eat and drink and experience good in all their labor. This is a gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 1:12