Supper is over and everyone is retiring for the night. I fried chicken and made mac and cheese to go with it. Now it’s time to call it a day.

I washed laundry this morning, and it’s all folded and put away. Daughters Verena, Loretta and Lovina came this afternoon for a while. We had snacks, visited and, of course, enjoyed the sweet little ones. Brooklyn fell asleep on me while we were talking and had a short nap. Denzel, 3, and Byron, 2, were everywhere and always so full of energy. Kylie, 1, is the little tag along and tries to keep up with her older brothers.

Tomorrow morning daughter Susan will bring her seven children here around 7:30 a.m. She is going to Topeka, Indiana, to help with wedding prep for Glen and Amanda. We are invited but so far it doesn’t look like we will go. Then soon after that daughter Elizabeth will drop her four children off here while she goes to help with wedding prep for their niece Lucinda and David’s wedding. We plan to go to theirs for the 5:30 evening meal, since it’s just a few miles from here. Lucinda is a daughter to Tim’s sister Dena. I will make breakfast for them so they don’t have to eat before they come.

On Friday I will go with son Kevin to his appointment in Ann Arbor, so that will take most of the day, being on the road for over four hours. Then on Sunday son Joseph and Grace will host church services in their church district, Lord willing. I will bake five loaves of bread for their church and also five loaves for our church. I’ll probably bake those Saturday since I’m leaving Friday.

This past Saturday Joe and I and Daniel Ray and Verena assisted daughter Elizabeth and Tim with their work. They will host church services for their church district on June 14, Lord willing. It will be on Elizabeth’s 32nd birthday. How is it possible that our first born is already turning 32? We will have two children in their thirties.

I was showered with plants that Abigail, 9, TJ, 7, Allison, 6, and Andrea, 4, planted for me. They were sunflower and zinnia plants they started. They also made me birthday cards. How precious it is when they take time to do that for me.

I was washing the walls in TJ’s bedroom and I asked him where his dolls were and he said, “I don’t play with dolls.” So I went into the girl’s bedroom and took one of their dolls and hid it under his pillow. I guess when he found it, he knew right away grandma put it there. When I asked him about it Sunday he had a big grin on his face.

I saw Betsy, the chick they hatched. She hadn’t been doing well so Abigail doctored her; she’s running around now quite actively. When Tim wanted to sell the chicks at the small animal auction the children wouldn’t let him take Betsy (or as Andrea would say, Betsy boy if she happens to be a rooster).

Abigail and TJ planted a lot of sunflowers and had a stand set up beside the road trying to sell them. After a few days of no sales they decided to give up. They are full of imagination.

Last Sunday we attended church services at niece Emma and Menno’s house. This was their second time hosting it in May. We were invited to stay for a delicious haystack supper along with all kinds of desserts. Also iced tea, coffee and water. The tea was made by sister Emma. She’s a pro at making fresh tea from her tea plants. We were happy to see sister Liz and Levi come along with their daughter Rosa, Menno and four sons. They brought sister Verena back to Michigan after spending three weeks with Liz and Levi. Verena went home with sister Emma on Sunday evening after supper.

It is getting late and my eyelids are feeling pretty heavy. I think I’m ready to call it a day. Good night and wishing you God’s blessings to all!

Old fashioned cream custard pie

Ingredients:

1 unbaked pie crust (9 inch)

4 large eggs

2 cups heavy cream

¾ cup sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoon butter, melted

¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:

Mix all ingredients and pour into an unbaked pie crust. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes or until set.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight. Her three cookbooks, “The Cherished Table,” “The Essential Amish Cookbook” and “Amish Family Recipes,” are available wherever books are sold. Readers can write to Eicher at Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, PO Box 234, Sturgis, MI 49091 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply); or email questionsforlovina@gmail.com and your message will be passed on to her to read. She does not personally respond to emails.