Simple moments make Lovina thankful
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Autumn is in its magnificent splendor that only our Master Artist could create. Such beautiful, breathtaking scenes. With our many trees, we are having a hard time keeping up with all the leaves. Daniel Ray and Verena, Benjamin and Joanna have spent a few nights out there with rakes and leaf blowers and are cleaning them up. They get done, then look up and low and behold they see the many leaves still up on the trees. Daniel Ray attaches the leaf blower to Verena’s mobility scooter, and then she can drive around blowing leaves. Trees are nice to have providing lots of shade in the hot summer months, but they do shed leaves that need to be raked. It’s worth it, in my opinion. The weather has been exceptionally great for raking and burning the leaves. They are nice and dry and burn fast without smothering and making an awful smell. With no rain lately, they rake easier, too. Autumn is such a pretty season, and seeing the sights when you drive through the countryside makes me think of just how God created the seasons so perfectly. Do we thank him enough for our many blessings?
Yesterday was a beautiful morning, but the air was chilly for the walk to church services that were held at neighbors Joas and Susan. Joe used one of our son Kevin’s mobility scooters, and I walked. He couldn’t walk that far due to three herniated discs in his back and his arthritis. He is still under doctor’s care for this but hasn’t had much relief yet. I’m guessing it is probably a mile long walk with the long driveway they have. It’s nice if he can use the scooter instead of having to hitch up a horse to take the buggy. The temperature was in the low forties but reached a high of 70 degrees by afternoon. We had a delicious lunch of ham, cheese, peanut butter spread, homemade wheat and white bread, pickles, red beets, hot peppers, strawberry jam, butter, cookies, coffee and tea. Six tables were set, and everyone fit in the first setting, which was nice for a change to not have a second setting. Dishes were washed, and popcorn passed out for a snack. Popcorn baggies, along with the cookies and bread, are all brought in by the church women. Everyone then left for home. I caught a ride home with sister Verena. She had a friend Sue bring her to church. It was much faster than walking and nice to be home sooner.
Our family gathered here at Daniel Ray and Verena’s for the afternoon eating snacks and visiting. We especially enjoyed the three different kinds of deer jerky that Daniel Ray made. Verena didn’t attend church services. She has been through a lot of physical and emotional pain recently with her recent struggles. When I came home, I took 20 pounds of chicken out of our freezer. Joe grilled it after it was thawed. I made a kettle full of mac and cheese and told everyone to come over to our house for supper before leaving for home. Along with ice cream and cake, we had a simple, easy meal. The grandchildren had fun playing kickball, and some were swinging. They all grow up so fast. As I made the mac and cheese, I could see them playing. It was just short years ago when our children ran in the same yard out there. How did time go so quickly? We can’t go back to that time, but sometimes my mother's heart wants my children all back in our care. We thought we had so much work and little did I realize that one day I would wish to be back doing all that and having my children still all home. I’m glad they all have found happiness, and most of all, my prayer is that they will always follow God and never forget the sacrifice Jesus did on the cross so we can be saved from our sins.
I tried a new cookie recipe. I had to take cookies to church yesterday, so I took those. I’ll share the recipe with you this week. God's blessings!
Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix together butter, peanut butter, sugars, pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla. Add salt soda and spice, then gradually add flour. Grease cookie sheet and roll into balls using a fork to criss cross cookies to flatten. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes. Makes 24 to 30 cookies depending on the size balls you make. Optional: I dipped the balls in sprinkles before flattening. I had leaf sprinkles, so they had the autumn look.
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.