This is the diary for Monday, February 26, 2024.
At 3:50 a.m., my alarm went off. I get up, unlock the door, and wait for Dustin, his daughter Loretta, and their two sons to arrive. After settling them into a nap, Dustin leaves for work at his RV factory. His son Joseph is also up today as he is leaving early to do some concrete work.
Joseph and I will make his lunch. I make him a breakfast sandwich. It's grilled cheese sandwiched between egg and sausage patty.
At 4:30 a.m., Joseph leaves and her husband Joe wakes up. He refuels the coal stove in the basement while I make breakfast and pack lunch. Denzel, 19 months old, has trouble falling asleep and hears that Grandpa Joe is awake. He stood at the crib and begged Joe to come get him. Of course, grandpa can't say no to a cute kid. So Denzel sat next to Joe and helped him eat breakfast.
At 5:15 a.m., Joe leaves for work, and Denzel isn't too happy. He cried and wanted to come home with me, but after I held him for a while and put him back in his crib, he fell asleep again. While everything is quiet, I take a nap in the recliner.
At 7:45 a.m., Denzel wakes up and so do I. His extra 2 hours of sleep is nice to me. I make breakfast because Denzel doesn't like waiting until other people are ready.
Son Benjamin's work is canceled today, so he does his morning chores and goes outside to refuel Paulville's coal stove. But first, he teases Denzel and holds his 6-month-old Byron for a while. Byron is always full of smiles.
8:30am Everyone is preparing breakfast. This morning it's simple: grilled cheese, eggs, and cereal.
It's a very pleasant February day, with temperatures higher than usual. I want to dry all the laundry outside, so everyone will help me collect it. There is a vent in the basement that brings cold air back and we use it as a laundry chute. Denzel loves helping people dump clothes there. You need to make sure the vents are back on. Otherwise, toys and anything else that fits will be thrown in there. Ahaha! He's such an active kid!
At 1 p.m., laundry is being hung on the line to dry.
My daughter Susan comes home with her daughter Verena. Verena will stay with Irvin and Susan's five older children while they go to the hospital to visit Irvin's father, Perry. Perry, 55, had a seizure on Sunday morning (he had never had one before) and hasn't heard back since. He was in the ICU and transferred to a larger hospital. Doctors are doing all kinds of tests to see what's going on. Please keep Perry, his wife Esther, and family in your prayers.
There's a lot going on right now as Irvin and Susan prepare to host a church service in two and a half weeks. I want to help out this week too.
At 2pm, Dustin, Loretta, and the boys leave. Son Benjamin goes to get gas and a prescription for his son Joseph, who has poison ivy and needs a stronger cream. Benjamin then leaves to help his friend with his job.
At 3:15 p.m., Joe got home from work. His laundry is dry so he is folding it. Verena will stay overnight at Irvin's house and from there she will go to her daughters Elizabeth and Tim's house to babysit their children on Tuesday night. I don't know if she will stay until Wednesday.
At 4 p.m., Joseph comes home from work. He is working on building a new pole barn. I stayed with you a few nights last week, and I stayed with you again on Saturday. It has a roof and metal sides. Windows have been installed, overhead door frames, etc. Thank you for your cooperation.
Our whole family came here Thursday evening to help. Sisters Emma and Verena. nephew Benjamin, wife Crystal, and son Isaiah; My nephews Jacob and Stephen also came. They were all here for dinner. I made cheesy ranch potatoes and meatballs. The menu also included lettuce salad, cheese, chips, chocolate chip bars, and ice cream. Sister Verena stayed here overnight.
18:30 Housework is finished and dinner is ready. I have creamed potatoes, fried chicken, and meatballs left.
At 8pm, everyone finishes work for the day. Once again, we thank God for this day. We have much to be thankful for. May God bless each and every one of you! good night!
butter tart
Pastry dough:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup lard (or 1 1/4 cups butter)
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
filling:
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 cups dark corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 10 tablespoons softened butter
- 2 cups raisins, walnuts, or coconut (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a standard muffin tin.
To make the dough: Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Stir to blend. Add the lard and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add eggs, water, and vinegar and stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened.form the dough
Form into a ball and divide it into 3 balls. Shape each ball into a disc and roll out on a floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Cut out circles using a glass or 4-inch cookie cutter and place in muffin tins. Cut off the excess protruding part.
To make the filling: In a large bowl, combine eggs, brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, vinegar, and butter until creamy and thoroughly combined.
Spoon the optional ingredients into the bottom of the dough. Pour the filling mixture three-quarters of the way into the pie crust. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is firm. Makes 20 tarts.
Lovina's Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish author, cook, wife, and mother of eight children. Email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org.
Lovina's Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, an Old Order Amish author, cook, wife, and mother of eight children. Her latest cookbook, Amish Family Recipes, is available wherever books are sold. Readers may write to Eicher at Lovina's Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for return). Or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org.
