New Web Site!

I've opened up a web site at http://www.amish-art.com to sell amish themed art, photography and gourds.

On Amish Time

One of the things I enjoy most about living in an Amish community is the slower pace.  My Amish neighbor often stops by to use my phone.  He always is very chatty.  The last time he was by I was just going out the door so I had to wait for him before I could leave.  Not sure that I would ahve time for our usual long chat after his phone call I told him I had a busy day and needed to get going.  We walked outside.  He said he also had a busy day just as our dog interrupted him by dropping a tennis ball at his feet.  We both laughed and he picked up the ball to play fetch with Toby for several minutes.  We still ended up chatting... just this time about 'our busy day' as he played fetch with the dog! 

Our conversations often are about horses since I am a horse owner too.  He talked about a trip into town he was making that day and in my head I tried to estimate how long it would take by horse and buggy vs car.  My crude estimations put it at an hour and a half vs my 8 minutes by car.  So I thought about 'time', English time vs Amish time.  The 8 minutes we spent in my drive chatting and playing fetch with the dog equalled to me the time I might of needed to arrive at my destination.  The 8 minutes to him was the time it would take him to walk back to his house, down the lane. 

I have some new Amish themed art in the works that I will be posting soon.  I also have invited another artist who has Amish Art to join me here on this blog.  She will be writing soon and sharing with you her beautiful art.

Sue Steiner
artist

Springtime ~

We have had some glorious weather for early April!  The grass is greening up and the trees are starting to give the horizon a green haze.  The daffodils are in bloom.  I saw a Magnolia tree in bloom this morning.  We got to open all the windows in the house and enjoy a beautiful, refreshing breeze. 

I've been spending as much time as possible outsideand in my barn .  I was riding my horse the other day and could feel he was a little distracted.  As it turned out he had his attention on my neighbor's field.  I look over in that direction and could see a small herd of goats and sheep running along the ridge of an open field!  My amish neighbor has sheep and goats that get out of the fence (surprise, surprise).  They will graze and roam a bit and then head back home.  Its was funny to see this flock loose and wandering. Even my horse was surprised at this sight!   

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

artist

HIt and Skip

My neighbor stopped by the other day to use the phone.  He was arranging the delivery of queen bees for this spring.  He is known as the honey bee person in this area.  He has quite a following with people coming from quite a distance to get bee supplies in the spring.

As we were talking he mentioned his daughter had a buggy/car accident the other day.  As our area gets more populated and built up the traffic on the roads increase which makes it difficult to share the roads with the buggies.  At least for some people.  I always give a wide berth to the buggies.  This day though a car bumped my neighbor's buggy.   The horse became starled and began to run off... still attached of course to the buggy.  My neighbor's daughter is a young woman in her early twenties alone in the buggy on her way from her job as a school teacher.  The horse bolted across a ditch and then began galloping across some farm fields heading in the direction of a major highway.  Before they got to that point fortunately Mary was able to pull the horse up and get it to stopped.  Once stopped they both stood in the field.  The horses sides heaving as the driver tried to get both of their nerves calmed down.  After they caught their breathe the young woman turned her horse back to the scene of the accident.  In her absense a near by farmer saw the accident and had come to help.  The the farmer and car owner were discussing whether or not the Amish woman was a 'hit or skip'.  The driver of the car apparently thought the Amish woman took off to get away from the accident.  The farmer didn't think that was the case.   Once Mary arrived back at the accident site the police were called so a report could be filed.  As I understand they were both sited.

I have horses so I have an understanding of what a horse will do under stress.  I am always so impressed that for the most part Amish buggy horses are very tolerant.   It had never dawned on me that someone would think a run away horse and buggy would be a 'hit and skip' on an accident scene! 

I have seen drivers wanting to react to a horse and buggy like you would a car.  For instance I saw an Amish man struggling with a horse not wanting to stop at an  intersection.   The horse was prancing in place but you could tell by its expression that it was anxious.  A truck drove by and blasted his horn at the horse.  Fortunately day the horse didn't bolt. 

As I write this I think of the conflict that sometimes happens as our fast paced cultured flies by the Amish way of life. 


I am an artist living in Ohio Amish Country.  I occassionally have oil paintings for sale depicting Amish life.  To see mroe of my work go to http://www.suesteiner.com/

Snow Day!

We got a heavy snow a couple days ago.  The sun is out bright and crisp and it is truly beautiful!  Just when I was thinking Ohio winters were not for me any longer!  :)

My Amish neighbor got out his team and plowed our shared lane.  He used what he called a 'boat' which is just a wooden frame pulled by the horses.  it actually did quite a good job but from what he said there's not much 'control'.  Especially when the horses were feelin' their oats and wanted to pick up a gallop!  I saw the 'boat' and it only had a seat .. or more like a step but no sides or anything to brace against.  My neighbor first stood but then did the other swipes down the lane sitting down.  I discreetly took these photos, taking care not to photograph his face so you can see the snow flying! 

To see equine art I welcome you to visit my new blog at http://www.suesteinerpetportraits.com/ 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/suesteiner/sets/72157623242674677/

Farm Animal Murals- twin lambs

I was at Lehamn's this past week adding to the farm animal murals I've been doing there the last few years. Above you can see the beginning of a couple young lambs with the ewe and a friendly rooster.

Please visit the store or my web site to see more finished murals that I have done.  I can be commissioned to paint life sized horse or farm animal murals either an existing wall, canvas or on a specially treated board that is suitable to he installed outside. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Sue Steiner

equine and animal artist