This is Monday morning and we have entered the month of May. I need to wash laundry today and so far it doesn’t look too nice outside weather-wise. I am hoping the rain holds off until I get the clothes all dried. Yesterday was a rainy day.

Verena left Tuesday evening and came home last night (Sunday). She traveled with Daniel Ray’s family to Iowa, an 8-hour drive, for his cousin’s wedding. She was glad to be able to meet a lot of his relatives such as his grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. I am glad she was able to go, but I really missed her here at home.

Friday morning, my friend Ruth came to pick up my husband Joe and me. Then we stopped to pick up son Joseph and Grace. We traveled to Ruth’s house, around 2 hours, and she made a delicious lunch for us.

We then headed for the public library in Kankakee, Illinois. I signed books from three to five pm. Thanks to all the readers who came to meet me and support me. I hope you enjoy your cookbooks. Sometimes I feel like giving up writing this column each week. Then I talk to you wonderful readers and all the encouragement you give me.

It makes it all worth my time and effort to write each week. I must also thank Ruth for making this all possible. She was a great hostess and we really did enjoy our stay at her house. I could never repay her for all she has done for us.

Saturday we all went to Crown Point, Indiana, to sign cookbooks from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with Shipshewana on the Road. There were over 200 vendors and it was an interesting day. This was located at the fairground.

I was happy Joseph and Grace were along to help out. We met many wonderful readers and also some we had met already. A reader even traveled five hours from Ohio. Bless her heart!

Yesterday was the funeral of Joe’s 89-year-old Aunt Christine from Salem, Indiana.

We were unable to go to the viewing / visitation or funeral. Now, this morning we received news of Joe’s uncle Joe’s death. Uncle Joe is 90 and married to Joe’s mother’s oldest sister Maryann. She isn’t in the best of health either, as she is also 90. Joe and Maryann lived beside Joe’s family when he was growing up. They have many memories of living there.

Plans were to attend the wedding of Devon, son-in-law Ervin’s brother and Karen in Nappanee on Thursday. If the funeral ends up being Thursday we will probably go there instead.

Joe and Maryann live in the Berne, Indiana community, 2 hours from here. They have eleven children and spouses and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Tomorrow morning daughter Susan will leave her three youngest boys Ryan, Curtis and Ervin Jr. here while she goes to help prepare food for the wedding in Nappanee.

Friday daughter Elizabeth will leave her two youngest daughters Allison and Andrea here while she goes with Abigail and Timothy (TJ) on a field trip. Daughter Susan is also planning to go along on this field trip with Kaitlyn, Jennifer and Isaiah but her husband Ervin will be home to watch the boys.

On Mother’s Day, we lift up everyone who loves with a mother’s heart – those who are mothers, those who long to be, those who have lost, and those who nurture others with compassion and grace. We honor and celebrate all of you!

God’s blessings!

Zucchini Bars

Ingredients

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

¾ cup butter

½ cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups shredded zucchini

¾ chopped walnuts, optional

Directions

Grease a jelly roll pan. Set aside.

In a small mixing bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl mix butter and sugars, beat until fluffy, add eggs and vanilla and beat well.

Stir in flour mixture, then stir in zucchini and nuts.

Spread evenly in the prepared pan. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cool completely in a pan on a wire rack.

Drizzle cinnamon frosting. Cut into bars..

Cinnamon Frosting

Ingredients

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

2 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Combine in a large bowl and beat until smooth.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight who lives in southeastern Michigan.