Alli mariye wann ich wacker wa, guck ich aus de Bettschtub Fenschdere fer sehne was datt iss. Vielleicht kann ich Veggel sehne odder unser Katz beim Holtzhaufe am Sitze fer Fensemeis am Suche. Awwer menschtdeel binnich wunnerfitsich as fer was es Wedder gebt un dann guck mol nuff am Himmel.
(Every morning when I wake up, I look out the bedroom windows to see what’s there. Perhaps I can see birds or our cat sitting next to the woodpile looking for chipmunks. But mostly I am curious what the weather will be and then look up at the sky.)
Mer wuhne im Busch hoch an em Hiwwel so kenne mer alliwwerrum gucke. Unser Haus hot viel Fenschdere weil es en Contemporary Design iss. Deel Fenschdere sin zimmlich gross un mer gleiche sie weil mir kenne en lot sehne fer Meile un Meile. Awwer was ich net so viel gleich iss wann ich es Glaas in de Fenschdere butze muss!
(We live in the woods high on a hill so we can look all over. Our house has many windows because it is a contemporary design. Some windows are fairly large and we like them because we can see for miles and miles. But what I do not like very much is when I must clean the glass in the windows!)
Nau es wunnert mich — wie alt iss es Glaas fer Fenschedere? Zerick in Ancient Egipde Zeide waar Glaas fer Heffnerei un Vessels wie Schissele un Kruck geyusst. Yaahrhunnerde schpaeder darich die Roman Empire waar Glaas fer Fenschdere geyuust awwer es guckt nix wie Glaas Heitesdaag. Es Glaas waar vun gleeni, scheiniche Pebbles gemacht un in de holziche Fenchderschtelle geduh. Awwer glee wennich Helling iss darich sie kumme.
Now I wonder — how old is glass for windows? Back in Ancient Egypt times glass was used for pottery and vessels like bowls and jugs. Centuries later during the Roman Empire glass was used for windows but it looked nothing like glass today. The glass was made from small shiny pebbles and placed in wooden window frames. But just a little light came through them.
Im Blatz vun Glaas, viel frieher Fenschdere waare vun Babier, Duch, un Gediere Haut gemacht! Sell hot net gut gschafft wann es gereggert hot un du hoscht Babierfenschedere ghat!
(Instead of glass, many early windows were made from paper, cloth and animal skins! That did not work well when it rained and you had paper windows!)
Es Glaas iss vun Sand odder Quartz Schtee gemacht. Sie sin ghitzt bis sie molten sin. Wie Glaas gemacht waar iss iwwer de Yaahre ganz viel gewexelt. Arrig alt Glaas guckt geweddelt un net flach. Du kannscht sie in alde Gebeier sehne.
(Glass is made out of sand or quartz stone. They are heated until they are molten. How glass was made has changed very much over the years. Very old glass looks wavy and not flat. You can see them in old buildings.)
Die Fenschdere as vun Gfleckdeglaas gemacht waare as du in viele Kariche un annere Bletz sehnscht sin wunderbaar schee! Die sin mit farewiche Glaas as in Schticker gschnidde sin un dann mit Blei fescht gemacht. Die Pikders odder Designs nemme en lot Arewet fer mache. Des iss fer was sie so deier sin!
(Windows made from stained glass that you see in many churches and other places are very beautiful! They are made from colored glass that is cut into pieces and then fastened together with lead. The pictures or designs take a lot of work to make. That is why they are so expensive!)
As ich aus meine Fenschdere guck, gucke sie dreckich. Wann ich sie wesch, vielleicht geb’s Regge un mer brauche Regge weil alles doh iss so drucke gewest. So duhn ich des iwwerdem!
(As I look out my windows, they look dirty. If I wash them, perhaps it will rain and we need rain because everything here has been so dry. So I’ll do that soon!
Bis schpeeder… (Until later)
Yuscht es Bauereimaedel aus Kutzeschteddel, die Mary Laub (Just the farm girl from Kutztown, Mary Laub)
Sources: www.paarhammer.com and www.clerawindows.com
Mary Laub, of Maxatawny, is the author of the “On the Farm” series written in Pa Dutch with phonetic spelling and English translation.
Source: Berkshire mont
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