Canning and Freezing

Lovina shares gratitude for words of encouragement from readers

8 Comments
A good morning to all you wonderful readers across the miles. I am still tired at 4:45 a.m. but I need to have this column done before I leave today. I don’t often enough thank all you readers for your kind words of encouragement. It makes writing this column so much easier. I also appreciate the … Continue Reading ››
Candy, Desserts, Pies

Family reunion fun with water balloons and abundant summer produce

Happy Birthday number 53 to sister Verena on August 22nd! On Saturday, sisters Verena and Susan hosted the annual family reunion on my side of the family. It was greatly attended, with only seven of my parents’ grandchildren not attending. All of us siblings were present. Brother Amos was greatly missed. Nancy came with some of … Continue Reading ››
Candy, Desserts

Wedding anniversaries, funeral gatherings, and a birthday surprise

1 Comment
We are having rain this evening. I hear thunder in the distance. Daughter Loretta, 19, has two whole chickens on the gas grill on the porch. Red potatoes fresh from the garden are being steamed as well. Daughters Verena, 21, and Lovina, 15, should be coming home soon. They left this morning to go wash laundry … Continue Reading ››
Canning and Freezing, Vegetables

A grandmother’s wonderful news

1 Comment
We have entered the month of August and the sun is shining this morning as I sit writing at the desk. I am by the east window, but the wraparound porch keeps the sun from shining in the windows. It makes nice sleeping with the cool evenings. First of all I want to share our wonderful … Continue Reading ››
Cookies, Desserts, Vegetables

The garden’s bounty begins

6 Comments
We are having great weather this week. It cools down at night for making sleeping comfortable. Very pleasant days so far. Mornings are actually chilly, with temperatures in the upper 50s. It sure beats the heat from last week. Yesterday we canned pickles. Cucumbers and dill from … Continue Reading ››
Desserts, Jams and Jellies, Pies

Putting up freezer jam, Virginia visitors, and a young overnight guest

6 Comments
Another hot week in July! Last week we had over an inch of rain but it didn’t cool off much. Today son Kevin had a therapy appointment so I took him to town. With the heat I didn’t want to take the horse and buggy. Our friend Beth took us. Continue Reading ››
Breakfast, Casseroles

Who wants to cook when the temperature is nearing 100 degrees?

2 Comments
It is a hot, humid July evening. I am sitting outside on our porch but can hardly feel any breeze. The mercury on the thermometer still shows 95 degrees at 8 p.m. Hopefully it will cool off soon! My husband Joe is doing much better, and the doctor had good news for him. All the tests came … Continue Reading ››
Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetables

Grandchildren add fun and happiness

2 Comments
We have entered the month of July. The year 2019 is halfway in the past. July 1 was daughter Loretta’s birthday. She turned 19 years old. Son Benjamin is also 19, until his birthday on July 14. It always brings back memories from that year they were born. My dad passed away at age 69 six weeks before … Continue Reading ››
Jams and Jellies

Apple-butter-sweet memories in times of loss

1 Comment
It’s a beautiful Tuesday morning with a lot of sunshine. How we treasure mornings and days like this. We didn’t wash laundry yesterday due to the dreary, rainy weather. Now today we were blessed with a nice day to dry the laundry. This afternoon I will take son Kevin for his therapy appointment and get … Continue Reading ››