Hello readers! This is Lovina’s daughter Verena writing. It is currently 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1.

I am two months in on living by myself. So far, everything is going pretty good for me, and I do not mind being on my own. I go home a lot, and I also visit my sisters a lot. I always have something to do because I do a lot of babysitting. I sure enjoy doing that!

One day last month, my sister Elizabeth and my mom came to help me get my house set up. It is a lot emptier than how Susan had it when she lived here. I like it a little roomier so I have more space for my mobility scooter. I did not realize how much stuff I had until I started going through everything. I still have a few totes full of stuff that I have to go through.

Last Wednesday, my brother Kevin cane to stay overnight. I sure enjoyed his company! We are both a little scared of stink bugs, so we sure had an adventure trying to kill one. I have two little balls in my house that the children always play with when they come over—Kevin had one and I had the other, and we were throwing them at the stink bug until I finally hit it. Our second mission was to find them, because they had a way of disappearing after they dropped. Kevin ended up staying overnight again on Thursday night.

On Friday morning, sister Susan dropped off Jennifer and Isaiah with me. She and Ervin, along with their two boys Ryan and Curtis, went to Ervin’s dad and mom overnight, and they only had room for two children to go with them. Kaitlyn came to may place after school.

Kevin left on Friday night, so it was just me and the three kids. I made a little tea party for them—I had done this one night for Abigail and Jennifer when they had been overnight. It seems like they always have a lot of fun with it. They seem to eat a lot more that way, as well.

I always find their conversation so funny! One night when I had a few of the children, they were all sitting on top of the vent with water. I told them not to dump any of their water down there because it could start a fire. It couldn’t have, but I just wanted to prevent them from dumping water down there. T.J. accidentally dumped a little bit of his down there and it made a sizzling noise because it hit the stove. Jennifer jumped up so fast and ran away from it as fast as she could and was saying, “I can hear the smoke!” Then Abigail told her, “Jenny, you can’t actually hear the smoke but you can smell it.” Ha, it was cute!

Kaitlyn and Jennifer were telling Abigail that tea is the same thing as coffee, and Abigail said no, tea and coffee are different. So Abigail wanted to find out who was right, so she came to ask me, and I told her that they are two different things. Abigail was very glad to let them know that she was right. Haha!

Last night, Tim and Elizabeth brought supper into my place. Ervin and Susan ended up coming, as well. Elizabeth made chili soup and garlic cheese bread. Susan made a dessert. I had not made anything other than set out a few chips. Then I had ice cream afterwards. It was enjoyable!

The children all picked up my toys before they left last night. As soon as Allison saw they were picking up the toys, she told me that she didn’t feel good. I kind of knew that trick, because I remember playing that a few times when I was younger. Haha!

You all take care, and God bless!

Old-Time Popcorn Balls
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 quarts popped corn

Butter sides of saucepan. In it, combine sugar, water, salt, syrup, and vinegar. Cook to hard ball stage (250 degrees). Stir in vanilla. Slowly pour over popped corn in a large bowl, stirring just to mix well. Butter hands lightly; shape balls. Lay on a flat surface to cool. Makes 15 to 20 balls.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife, and mother of eight. Her newest cookbook, Amish Family Recipes, is available wherever books are sold.  Because Lovina is Old Order Amish, she does not have email or a telephone in her home. Lovina does not respond to comments on this website, if you would like to contact her directly, click here.