Pace of preparation picks up for Sunday church at the Eichers
Church services will be held here on Sunday, Lord willing. The extra project of getting wainscoting and trim on has felt a bit overwhelming.
We are also putting a new ceiling up since the drywall still looks different from being patched in when we had the house fire several years ago. They ran into some problems putting it up so it delayed us from some of the cleaning.
It has just been one late night after another and I will be so glad once we have it completed. We regretted that we even started with a deadline so close but we will be glad its another check off our “to do list” or as my husband Joe would call it, “honey do list.” It does look very nice to see the windows with trim and the doorways. The curtain rods have been hung with the curtains. Every day we get closer to being done and every day brings us closer to Sunday. It is nice to have a big house but it takes a lot longer to clean it as well.
Last night Timothy, Elizabeth, Abigail, Mose, Susan, and Jennifer came to help some more. We had an easy supper of a lot of garden vegetables. On the menu were potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumber salad, breaded zucchini—all vegetables from our garden. We also had some barbecued chicken that was leftover from the day before.
On Sunday August 5 was Mose and Susan’s second anniversary. Next week on August 14 will be Timothy and Elizabeth’s third anniversary. I wish both couples a happy anniversary and God’s richest blessings. May they enjoy many more happy and healthy years together. We have been blessed with two great sons-in-law that are willing to help us when we need help with our work. We like to return the favor. It helps parents to know their daughters are happy in marriage. May God always be their guide as we travel into the unknown future.
The ceiling we are putting up is wood and needs staining. We are staining it a natural oak. All the work of the staining is being done by sons Joseph, 16, Kevin, 12, and daughters Verena, 20, Loretta, 18, and Lovina, 14. They have put in many hours of staining the 4×8 sheets by hand. We wanted it to have two applications but ran out of stain. Tomorrow morning we will get more so it can all be dry by evening.
We have more help coming tomorrow. Sister Emma and sons, daughters Elizabeth and Susan and their little girls will come in the morning. Their husbands will come after work to help finish hanging the ceiling and help with whatever else Joe needs done. Niece Emma’s special friend Menno will also come help. Also daughter Loretta’s special friend Dustin. We are sure appreciative of all their help. It seems with mowing, gardening, etc., its just a busy time of the year.
Last Saturday those assisting us with our work were Jacob, Emma, and sons Jacob Jr, 18, Benjamin, 16, and Steven, 11; Timothy, Elizabeth, and Abigail; Mose, Susan, and Jennifer; sisters Verena and Susan; and Dustin.
Joe has some work that he needs done in the barn. He wants to make room for a few new horse stalls so the chicken coop area is all being torn out. We butchered our old chickens and will wait until spring when we can start new ones in hopefully a new chicken coop separate from the barn. The young boys got the job of cleaning up the barn.
Jacob Jr. and Loretta were in charge of grilling 30 pounds of chicken for our lunch. They also made potatoes on the grill cooked in olive oil. With desserts being brought in and adding cucumber salad and tomatoes to the menu we had a delicious meal for all the hard workers.
Now I need to go to bed. Writing about all this work is even exhausting! Everyone else has gone to bed.
Good night and God bless!
Best-ever Blueberry Muffins
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs lightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup butter or margarine melted
1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Combine eggs, buttermilk, and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in blueberries. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-24 minutes or until muffins test done. Yield: about 1 dozen.
Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight. She is the co-author of three cookbooks; her newest cookbook, The Essential Amish Cookbook, is available from 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 at [email protected].
What color are dresses of a bride? Do they make their own dresses or have someone make them. Thank you and have a blessed day!
Vickie, I can answer your question of you want. In my experience, with the wedding is have been to —all of 3—the wedding dresses have been blue. It is just a brand new dress in same style as their everyday dress.
You could read back through Lovina’s columns where she mentions the weddings of Elizabeth and Susan for details. I don’t remember if she mentions the colors or whether she or daughter sewed.
How many grandchildren do you have? I have 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Thank you and have a Blessed Day!
As my grandma always said, “many hands make light work!” ,. It sure sounds like the Eicher’s take this to heart! How wonderful to finish tasks and fellowship at the same time…wish everyone could work together like that.
OH Dear ones like bees on the hive you all work together for the GOOD…I hope you might take a few photos but I think that is not allowed..so I am picturing it all in its glory. All those loving hands ..helping. Why if I had grown up like that .. someone could be helping me now.. alone I am …after working 55 years with my parents at our resort. WE three did it all .. twelve cabins, all cleaned up each Saturday for new guests…a fish fry for all fifty or sixty too each week..so three of us.. it was a little crazy for us..just think if we had had a family like yours. You are such wonderful examples for the whole world to witness…young folks so willing to stain and clean barns… and those who cooked..and dishes I am sure…God bless your Sunday Service..and so much thanks for sharing your glorious life in Christ. I follow it and it gives me strength each time I read your column..rest well.. and blessings to you all. Much love Merri in MInnesota
What a beautiful note, Merri! Thanks for taking the time and God bless you too!
It is so nice to get all those projects finished around the house, yes? It does help sometimes to have that large goal to work towards, like a wedding or in this case, church. My husband is a carpenter by trade and you would think we would have a teeny list of household things that need finishing, but no. As my mother says, the shoemaker’s child goes barefoot. But when a project does get finished it is done to perfection by him 🙂
Love this post, Athanasia! I’m sure you enjoy finished products done to perfection!
Any chance Lovina could share her breaded zucchini recipe? I have tried several and no one has been liking them to any degree. We all do like zucchini, so I know that is not the problem. I have trouble adhering the coating, for one.
I did make the blueberry muffin recipe in case any one is interested. I had buttermilk to use, though when I don’t I often just use “soured” milk to substitute.
Athanasia, we can ask about the breaded zucchini.Have you tried rolling zucchini in something like honey mustard dressing before dredging them in crumbs?
I have not heard of using dressing. The recipes all seems to call for egg. I get nice crispy baked coatings that flake right off the zucchini. Do not have honey mustard. Will try ranch dressing.