It is Monday evening, around 9:45 p.m. Everyone has settled down for the night.

It would be so good to go to bed as well, but I need to write this column. Tomorrow will be a full day and I do not see how time will allow me to get this in the schedule.

Tomorrow, daughter Verena is hosting a Tupperware bridal shower here for daughter Lovina at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served afterward.

Verena and I made two casseroles for tomorrow. We also made one to send to our neighbors. She had a baby and had a hospital stay. We thought sending a casserole might help.

I washed laundry this morning while Verena was helping daughter Loretta. It looked like it could rain earlier, but then it cleared up and the sun came out. By tonight, the clothes were all dry.

Friday night we had supper at son Joseph and Grace’s house. It was a change to see Joseph’s belongings in a new house.

They are still getting settled but have a nice home. They grilled chicken and wings, had mac and cheese and more. They were great hosts and we had a very nice evening.

On Sunday we attended church services. We came home after church and rested, then left again to go to daughter Elizabeth and Tim’s house. They had invited our family over and all were there except Joseph and Grace, and Daniel Ray and Verena.

Sunday in church, I still need to get used to the fact that I only have two grandchildren and not 12 with us. I am thankful I was able to see them all at Tim and Elizabeth’s then for supper.

Friday, Oct. 18, was son-in-law Tim’s birthday.

It is now 5:45 a.m. I didn’t fair so well with my writing.

It was so hard to stay awake and I feel sorry for my editors when they need to read my writing when I’m tired. I would probably do them a favor if I got better at typing. I haven’t used my typewriter for so long that the ink is probably dried up in it.

It is cold this morning and I wouldn’t be surprised if we have a frost this week. Maybe tonight we can pick the rest of the peppers and tomatoes; then our garden is history for 2024.

Daughter Lovina will probably come with daughter Susan. I haven’t talked to her since Sunday night. She has been staying with Susan while Daniel goes to work. Susan still hasn’t passed her kidney stone, so she’s still miserable.

Pumpkin Chocolate

Chip Bars

Ingredients

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.

LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org