Last Minute Road Trip with Hannah!

I was asked to do a photo shoot last minute for work! It was so fun to have Hannah along and share in the fun! We traveled east to Ashland, Montana then on to Miles City. Along the way we stopped at Little Bighorn Battlefield. Besides the photo shoot with two elderly men on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, the highlight of our trip was our time spent with an Amish family outside of Ashland. We were traveling down a back country road and came across these girls riding bare back in their long dresses and bonnets. It was so amazing!! We spent about an hour and a half visiting with the 4 girls ranging in age from 5-12 Mary, Lydia Ann, Rebecca and Emma and their mother Anna. The girls played bloody knuckles, made babies out of snow, road their pony backwards, did twirls and dangled from a metal pole, spoke German and English. The littlest girl would speak German to us and then realize we couldn't understand. We also saw their father Lester's wood shop - we didn't meet him as he was at a barn raising. I have always been fascinated with Amish culture and it was a truly a treat to meet them and learn more about their way of life. It made me realize I need to re-read my favorite book Plain and Simple by Sue Bender about her time living with an Amish family. I asked Anna if I could take a photo of her family and she politely declined. The pictures that are etched in my mind are more beautiful than any picture I could have captured. Hannah and I had such a great weekend!! and I also thank Tony for his support with my passion for photography and him staying home to work on the house. He rocks!