…continued from Part 1.

This was the woman who won the Shoofly Pie contest.

Notice the bald spot in her part?

Erica tells me it’s because amish women pull their hair down so tightly every day.

Kinda sad…let’s move on…

The 2009 Volleyball Tournament included over 40 teams.

How do you know when things are getting serious?

1. When shirts start getting untucked.

& 2. When amish kids are wearing wristbands.

This dude remembers when his body was young enough to play volleyball.

But years of working the land and avoiding technology takes quite a toll on a man.

(and for those of you who wonder why the amish wear suspenders instead of belts…

…it’s so you can stick your hands in your pants whenever you like.)

Am I contractually obligated to go with “pretty maids all in a row” for this photo?

Yes, I think I am.

This is my neice, Avery, enjoying some homemade Lapp Valley ice cream.

0% Amish.

100% cute.

Dish soap, bucket, water, hay, and gravity.

This is probably stretching the definition of “station” a bit too far, no?

Here’s a couple pushing around a tiny dog in a pink stroller.

I will now kill myself.

She knew there would be consequences for her actions.

Kissing that non-Amish boy last month was a mistake.

But being forced to wear the Scarlet Dress of Shame during Heritage Days weekend?

Let them judge her…his kiss was electric and totally worth it.

Finally, I asked someone to snap this photo of me before I said goodbye to the 2009 edition of  Intercourse Heritage Days.

Santa Claus in the middle of June?

Yup.

Welcome to Intercouse.

Last weekend was the annual Intercourse Heritage Days Festival held conveniently at Intercourse Park, which is a 5-minute walk from our house. I picture-blogged about the event last year, so I thought I’d do it again this year. Here we go…

For the second year in a row Anne Beiler was a judge of the shoofly pie contest. Anne is the founder of Auntie Anne’s pretzels, and a bit of a local celebrity. Despite the fact that she’s been on Oprah, spoke at the RNC last year, and is a published author, she’s very down to earth and super sweet. My wife Erica actually works at the Family Center that Anne and her husband opened last year, so after I took this picture we were talking about how amazing my wife is.

“She just lights up the room when she’s there. She’s a joy to have at the Family Center,” Anne said.

“I know,” I replied, “I get to live with her!”

The brand new Erica Fan Club: 2 members and growing!

This 5-piece band rocked the house park with their unique brand of Screamo-Bluegrass.

The highlight of their set was definitely their cover of “November Rain” by Guns-n-Roses.

When yellow-shirt hit that Slash solo, I cried like a toddler at the dentist.

If only I had a picture of the crowd, because they were out of control.

Oh wait, I do…

Like I said: Out of control.

His is amish cigarettes.

Mine is electricity.

Hey, we all have our vices.

Does this picture of Parker look familiar to you?

If so, it’s because it is almost identical to last year’s picture:

Side Note: Looks like the Tractor Man discovered Just For Men.

Good for him!

I went over to find the clown and I found this sign.

a few thoughts…

1. why is Strolling capitalized? Is that his name?

2. Why is “The Clown” in quotations and in such a small font? Does his clowndom qualify as fine print? Is he not really a clown?

3. The bad news: this sign is kinda creepy. The good news:  if he ever switches occupations from clown to stalker, he can keep using the same sign.

Ah, there’s Sneakers our “clown” providing his own interpretation of an Amish Hat.

The little boy next in line doesn’t seem so sure.

I’ve got to say, I don’t think this will catch on with the amish adults AT ALL.

Okay, I stand corrected. He’s already got his first 21+ customer.

Finally, here’s a who’s who in this picture:

1. In the stripes on the left it’s State Representative Bryan Cutler, looking like he’s 17.

2. In the green sweater it’s a woman with a notebook. She’s reporting on the event. I’m reporting on her.

3. In the gold and blue high tops, it’s the next point guard for UCLA basketball.

4. In the amish dress, it’s a woman about to pick her nose.

5. Carrying the Vitamin Water, it’s Neo from the Matrix. He’s about to break out of his goo pod.

—

Well, that’s all for today.

But come back tomorrow for part 2 of the 2009 Intercourse Heritage Days PictureBlog.

As most of you know, I live in Intercourse, PA. (insert witty joke here)

One of the most exciting weekends of the year is about to be upon us. It’s the annual Intercourse Heritage Days Festival!

Heritage Days is 3 days of really great food, watching the Amish crush people in volleyball tournaments, and more really great food. There’s tractor pull races for kids, shoofly pie contests, fireworks, a skydiver who lands in the park, a petting zoo, and have I mentioned the food yet? The best part is, it all happens at Intercourse Park, which is a 5-minute walk from our house.

Last year I wrote up a photo journals of the two day event, and people seemed to enjoy them. (you can read them here: Day 1 and Day 2). This year, because I’ll be speaking out of town on Saturday night, I won’t be around for the entire festival. But that won’t stop me from taking photos and journaling about the event next week. This is a can’t miss blogging experience and I don’t want to let you all down.

So be on the lookout for the Heritage Days post next week, and if you ever want to come visit us in Intercourse, your best bet is to come during Heritage Days. Where else are you going to see scenes like this one from last year (for the full story, go read the journal entry):

Intercourse Heritage Days 2008 – Day 1

Intercourse Heritage Days 2008 – Day 2

PS…Check out that sidebar headline in the Penny Saver, “Leola Church to offer Strawberries and Music”. I’ll just go ahead and say it: Worst. Outreach. Ever.