Spring begins—or that is what the calendar says. Rhubarbs are starting to peep through. Robins are flying around with the smell of skunk nearby, so I think we are very close to a warmer world.

It gives one more hope when the sun shines! Last Wednesday the RV factory where my husband Joe worked, and dedicated over 14 years of hard labor, had a huge layoff. Joe was among the ones laid off with not much promise of being hired back.

Quite a few men that were there longer than Joe were also laid off. Son-in-law Mose was also laid off so he is also disappointed to be without work. They were not given a notice earlier about who was being laid off, so it makes it hard to plan ahead.

It is hard on these men that have families and need to provide for them. Joe has been looking around for work but so far nothing has come up. Our world seems dark but we must keep going. God will provide a way if we trust in him. I am glad it isn’t my job to make decisions on who to lay off. To these men who put so many years in, getting up early to make it to work by 5:00 a.m., this all makes it very hard to accept. All we can do is pray for a brighter future.

Son Kevin, age 13, had surgery on his right foot this week. It is the same surgery he had on his left foot in January. Dr. Caird once again did a great job with the surgery in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I really do hope these eight weeks will go faster for Kevin than the last surgery. With the snow gone and warmer temperatures he can maybe go outside more with his wheelchair. He needs to be in a wheelchair due to his muscular dystrophy. We are hoping once he’s out of the cast and both feet in shoes, his balance will be much better.

Yesterday daughter Loretta, 18, and I washed laundry. For the first time this year I hung it all outside to dry. Most of it was dry to fold and put away. That’s always a good feeling especially after a winter of clothes drying on the lines in the basement. This was also the first time I helped with laundry since my surgery six weeks ago. I’m feeling I need to get my strength back. I am still sore and want to try and slowly get back into my work. I must say I was tired after the laundry was all put away. Daughter Verena fried chicken and made vegetable soup for our supper while Loretta, Lovina, and I put away the clothes.

Sunday evening, daughter Elizabeth, Tim and their children; daughter Susan, Mose and Jennifer; and Loretta’s boyfriend Dustin were our supper guests. We had baked chicken, scalloped potatoes and baked beans—a nice oven meal. Saturday evening our supper was brought in by sister Emma, Jacob and sons, Manuel and Elizabeth; plus Menno, Emma and baby Jessica. Tim’s, Mose’s and Dustin were also here and brought dessert along. Supper was mashed potatoes, beef and noodles, corn, peas, barbequed chicken, dinner rolls, dirt pudding, jello cake and chocolate cake. Everything was delicious and much appreciated.

We played games and enjoyed entertaining the little ones. This was Jessica’s first time being here. She is a sweetie! Abigail adored her. Jennifer has been walking for a while now and likes to try to climb the open stairs, so we need to keep the gate on. Baby Timothy is the only boy with all the little girls. He is so active already!

We heard the news that Joe’s Aunt Mary Jane, 83, died in Berne, Indiana. This would be sister-in-law Nancy’s mother. The funeral is Saturday. Our sympathy goes to the family. This will be hard on Nancy after losing her husband (my brother Amos) last year.

I was grateful daughter Lovina wrote the column for me last week. She’s the comedian in our family! God bless you and please pray for us! You readers are greatly appreciated.

Taco Ring

4 cups ground beef, browned and drained
1 package taco seasoning
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons water
2 (8-ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1 medium green bell pepper
1 cup salsa
3 cups lettuce, shredded
1 medium tomato
1/4 cup onion
1/2 cup pitted olives
sour cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl combine ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese and water. Unroll crescent rolls and separate into triangles laying them in a circle on a large round pan with wide ends overlapping in center and points toward the outside. There should be a 5-inch diameter opening in the center.

Scoop meat mixture onto widest end of each triangle. Bring points of triangles up and tuck under wide ends of dough at center of ring. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cut off top of bell pepper; discard top membranes and seeds and fill pepper with salsa. Garnish dough with sour cream and then decorate with lettuce, tomato, onions and olives. Place pepper in the middle of the ring. Slice and serve.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight. Her newest cookbook, The Essential Amish Cookbook, is available from the publisher, Herald Press, 800-245-7894. Readers can write to Eicher at PO Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply); or email LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.