Side Dishes

Cold Settles in at the Eicher Homestead

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It is Saturday evening here at the Eicher homestead. It is 7 p.m. and the mercury on the thermometer is down to 33 degrees. We are having snow flurries all day, with no accumulation though. I think our warm weather is history for 2022. Last Saturday I was out without a coat raking leaves, and … Continue Reading ››
Breakfast

Daughter Lovina Welcomes the New Babies

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Dear Readers, I’m daughter Lovina (18) and I will be writing the column for this week. Congratulations to my cousin Emma and her husband Menno, who had a baby girl on November 2. Her name is Jazlyn Grace, and I am going to go see her tonight—can’t wait! Dustin and Loretta’s little boy Denzel is doing great, … Continue Reading ››
Noodles, Salads

Susan and Ervin Set a Wedding Date

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November is here. Today, November 1, would have been my brother-in-law Jacob’s 50th birthday. He is greatly missed by his family and friends. We have many precious memories of the years we spent together. Jacob’s wife Emma is my sister, and he was a first cousin to my husband Joe. Rest in peace, Jacob. You … Continue Reading ››
Casseroles

Cherishing Time and Memories of Loved Ones

It’s 5 a.m., and the temperature is 39 degrees. Yesterday we had a cold, rainy autumn day. We also had a few snow flurries and a little ice this week. Old Man Winter is just around the corner, it seems. Our tomato and pepper plants still didn’t get a killing frost, so we are still … Continue Reading ››
Soups, Vegetables

Lovina Answers Readers’ Questions

It’s hard to believe that it’s Wednesday already. This week is going much faster than I would like. I could hear the rain during the night, as it was warm enough in our house to have a window open in our bedroom. We have had absolutely gorgeous weather lately, and then last night, it started … Continue Reading ››
Potatoes, Side Dishes

Lovina’s Community Pulls Together for Benefit Dinner

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Our house feels nice and cozy since Joe started our coal stove in the basement. With the temperature outside at 61 degrees, it’s almost too warm, so I have some windows open. It’s too cold in here without heat and too warm with heat. I imagine it won’t be long before we will be needing … Continue Reading ››
Canning and Freezing, Vegetables

Lovina and Family Take a Trip to the Orchard

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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 ››
Desserts

Lovina Visits Family as Nights Turn Cold

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It’s 5 a.m. and the thermometer shows that the mercury dipped down to 46 degrees. Brrr! The gas lights feel good this morning since we don’t have any heat yet. I only light the gas lights when extra heat is needed—otherwise we use the cordless battery lights. It’s surprising how much heat the propane lights … Continue Reading ››
Cookies and Bars, Desserts

Lovina Marks 20 Years of Column Writing

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This week brings us into autumn already. This week always takes me back to twenty years ago when my dear mother so suddenly passed away. She died September 17 but was in Blue Springs, Missouri, at the time of her death. The funeral wasn’t until September 23. My mother penned this column for eleven years, … Continue Reading ››
Canning and Freezing, Vegetables

Lovina Remembers Baby Marilyn

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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 ››