Hello readers! This is Lovina’s daughter Verena. Daniel Ray is outside weed whacking and I have all my work caught up so I decided to write Mom’s column.

I have not had time to be “bored” yet since my wedding which I’m okay with. Daniel Ray and I live in part of my parent’s pole barn. We like our little part, and it is nice to be so close to Mom. There’s been a few times I have needed ingredients for something I was baking or cooking, so I go ask the neighbor. If Mom doesn’t have something, most likely Loretta or Lovina will.

Loretta, Lovina and I have had our share of fun already living this close by each other. We like to go on our walks or, maybe, I should say our strolls. Loretta and I on our mobility scooters and Lovina on her powered wheelchair. Loretta hooks the wagon behind her scooter with her three children sitting inside the wagon. We like when the irrigation system has water going across the road, and we act like young children again going back and forth underneath it. This always excites Loretta’s children. They love it!

Married life has been treating me very well so far. I’m a happy married woman and I have a cheerful, ornery man as my husband. There’s never a dull moment with him. He can be such a character. At night, once everything is settled down and there is no more work to be done, Daniel Ray and I love to play Phase 10. We have played many, many rounds of that and have not found it boring yet. I guess we will see if it stays that way.

Daniel Ray loves to help me in the kitchen and I’m very okay with that. Cooking and baking doesn’t always come easily from a mobility scooter but it doesn’t stop me from trying. I have always enjoyed working in the kitchen and trying new recipes.

Daniel Ray and I get up at 3:30 a.m. and I pack his lunch for work. He doesn’t want much for lunch so it is really easy to pack. He leaves around 4 a.m. and most times I go back to bed. It depends if I go over to stay with my sister Loretta or not. Sometimes I don’t have to go to Loretta’s until 5 a.m. or after.

All of us sisters are planning on spending the day at Mom’s tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it. We haven’t done that in a while due to it being so busy for everyone. I’m sure the house will be full of chattering while everyone wants to tell their newest news. A lot of times, we end up goofing off together and create so many funny memories. Mom always makes us such a big tasty breakfast and then she does the same again for lunch. I’m excited to get more cuddles from my sister Susan’s newborn Sharlene.

I always enjoy seeing all my nieces and nephews. They know how to brighten my day. I bought toys for whenever they come over to visit me. I don’t want them to be bored at Aunt Verena’s house. Every time I babysit, the new toys entertain them and it makes my babysitting job so much easier. The older ones love to paint when they come here and they always paint me pictures and ask me to hang them on the fridge and of course, I do just that.

Well, you all take care and God bless!

Peach bread

Ingredients:

3 cups fresh peaches, peeled and chopped

6 tablespoons sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup coarsely chopped nuts

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the peaches and 6 tablespoons of sugar and set aside. In another small bowl, combine the dry ingredients, mix well and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until well blended. Alternately, add the peach and flour mixtures to the egg mixture and beat until smooth. Fold in the nuts and pour the batter into a greased and floured loaf pan. Bake until golden brown, about 55 minutes. Turn out on a rack to cool. This makes 1 medium loaf.