Twenty years ago, on September 2nd our youngest child was born. To celebrate, our whole family came for an outdoor supper. We are a total of 31 now. Son-in-law Dustin broasted chicken and made french fries in his double-basket deep fryer. We set up tables in the yard by our walk out basement and ate out there. We had a campfire going which felt really good when the sun went down. The children enjoyed gathering sticks and anything they could so they could throw them in the fire.
Category Archives: Canning and Freezing
Lovina’s Family Grills 1,000 Pounds of Chicken
It is almost 8:30 on this cool Monday evening. The temperature is already down to 60°. Our house actually feels chilly. A sign that autumn is just around the corner.
Today sister Verena helped me can 22 quarts of vegetable juice (V8). We cooked a variety of peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, onions and garlic together until soft enough to put through my Victoria strainer. Usually I put in celery but I didn’t have any on hand.
Trying to Stay Cool on Hot Humid Days
I should be starting supper but it is so hot and humid again today. I don’t even want to think of cooking. Maybe it’ll cool off when the sun goes down and then I’ll probably make something easy. Today I washed our laundry then also washed Ervin and Susan’s laundry. It is almost dry. I still have a few pieces hanging on the porch. It looked like rain so I didn’t want to take any chances of getting the clothes wet again.
Enjoying Moments with the Grandchildren
It is 5:15 a.m. and the house is very quiet because my husband Joe and sons Benjamin and Joseph have already left for their daily jobs.
Daughter Verena left at around 4 a.m. to go across the road to help daughter Loretta while Dustin is at work. Those two little … Continue Reading ››
Lovina and Family Continue Canning as Autumn Approaches
Canning season is still in full swing around here. Yesterday after doing laundry, I helped daughter Loretta make Thick and Chunky Salsa (recipe below). We canned twenty pints for them. On Saturday I also helped her and Dustin can thirty quarts of V-8. She still wants to make pizza sauce. I came back home around … Continue Reading ››
August is time for cultivating cucumbers, time with family
August 15th—we are already halfway though August. Today is my oldest sibling’s birthday, sister Leah is 64. Happy birthday, dear sister, if you happen to read this. Although we are over a 100 miles apart my thoughts were with you this morning as you turn another year older. Leah was the oldest of eight children, … Continue Reading ››
Meals from Thoughtful Church Families Help the Eichers in a Busy Time
We have entered the month of August. We are having cool mornings after having hot and humid weather last week. We also had a few storms that took down trees and branches in the area. Son Benjamin mowed the grass last night and also cleared up a lot of branches from our yard. We have … Continue Reading ››
Lovina and Family Take a Trip to the Orchard
Last week we went to the orchard to pick grapes. All the households in our family went along, and our driver pulled an enclosed trailer so we could all get our grapes home. We take along 5-gallon buckets, and that is counted as a half-bushel. Some picked Niagara grapes, which make a light-colored juice. I … Continue Reading ››
Lovina Remembers Baby Marilyn
Thirteen years ago today—September 14—sister Emma and Jacob were blessed with a daughter Marilyn. She died eight and a half months later, leaving heartbroken parents and siblings. We were so close to her—how hard it was to go tell Jacob and Emma’s children and my own in school that day that their little sister/cousin had … Continue Reading ››
Lovina Helps Clean to Prepare for Church Services
Today is the last day of August. This summer is flying by so fast, it seems. I have tomatoes, pickles, and red beets to be put in jars. I will probably make salsa with the tomatoes that I have picked. The plants are loaded with more. How thankful we can be for this bountiful harvest. … Continue Reading ››