Summer commences with sewing and cleaning projects

June is here, and we are almost halfway through 2018 already! It’s unbelievable how time just seems to go faster each year.

Speaking of time: we have more sewing that needs to be done. Congratulations are in order for nephew Levi Jr. and Arlene. They chose July 4 to unite in holy matrimony. Levi will be 24 years old on June 30. He was born two weeks after we had our firstborn Elizabeth. Elizabeth will be 24 on June 14. Daughters Elizabeth and Susan and I are all asked to be cooks at Levi’s wedding. We need to wear the color “iris”—and none of us have a dress in that color. Daughter Verena needs to wear a light gray dress and son Benjamin a light gray shirt. They were both asked to be table waiters at the wedding.

So yesterday, while Elizabeth and Susan were here, we drove over to our local community store and bought our material for the dresses for the wedding in four weeks. Now we need to get them cut out and sewn. The week of July 4 is shut-down week for most factories in our area, so everyone in our family will be off work for the wedding.

My husband, Joe, and son-in-law Mose are off work from the factory right now for around a week. Makes it a little rough when bills need to be paid. But God is above, and we have much to be thankful for. It was just a little unexpected.

Some of Lovina’s family had extra time to fish this week—here’s a 21½ inch whopper husband Joe landed. They froze some of the fish.

Joe and Mose have spent a lot of time fishing, so it is good to see the freezer filling up with fish. The boys also go fishing every chance they get.

Congratulations also go to niece Lisa and Marcus from Tennessee! They chose June 15 for their wedding date. It doesn’t look like we will be able to attend. It’s about a nine-hour drive from here, if I’m not mistaken. With gas prices going up, traveling that far becomes more difficult.

Yesterday Elizabeth and her daughter Abigail, plus Susan and her daughter Jennifer spent the day here. Susan brought them in her horse and buggy. It’s always such a day brightener when I walk out to their buggy to help bring in the little girls and they both smile for me! Abigail now calls out “Grandma!” when she sees me coming.

Daughter Lovina went to her friend Mary’s house on Monday evening for Mary’s birthday supper. Mary is a girl from our church. Several other girls were also there in honor of her birthday.

I have been trying to get some cleaning done, as we will host church services in August, Lord willing. Joseph and Kevin’s bedroom should be painted, but we will see how far we get. It seems like the boys’ bedroom has more nicks and dents in the walls than anywhere in the house! I wasn’t too happy when I found a dartboard hanging on their wall a few years ago. Of course their darts missed the board sometimes and made holes in the wall. I am hoping the boys have grown up enough now that we would be safe to patch up the holes and repaint. They could help now, so that would be a great help to me.

I was hoping we could get our basement and the upstairs bedrooms all cleaned before the July 4 week. Time will go fast after that. Cleaning now would give us less to do on those hot summer days when canning will be in full swing.

We are still enjoying the early garden goodies. Several recent rains have given the gardens a boost. Plants are looking nice. Weeds are also taking over, so we need to get those out of there.

Here is a zucchini cupcake recipe to save to use when your zucchini are ready.

God’s blessings to all!

Zucchini Cupcakes

3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
1 can crushed pineapple, 15 oz.,  drained
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup coconut

Beat eggs and add oil, sugar, zucchini and pineapple and set aside.

Stir together flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Blend dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Add vanilla, coconut and nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes large batch of 30 or so cupcakes.

Lovina’s Amish Kitchen is written by Lovina Eicher, Old Order Amish writer, cook, wife and mother of eight. She is the co-author of three cookbooks; her newest cookbook, The Essential Amish Cookbook, is available from 800-245-7894. Readers can write to Eicher at PO Box 1689, South Holland, IL 60473 (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply) or at LovinasAmishKitchen@MennoMedia.org.

12 thoughts on “Summer commences with sewing and cleaning projects”

  1. Just ANOTHER very enjoyable read! Thank you!
    The family is SO busy, kind’a makes me tired, just reading about all that they do. Of course, being 75, the family would probably have me sitting in a rocking chair, snapping beans or something! Gardens must grow early there, as here in the NW, we are late, but the ground finally dried enough that we could till and plant just recently! Corn will NOT be “knee high by the fourth of July,” as my Dad used to say! Wish Lovina & family lived next door, I would LOVE to visit with her and her family!

    1. Thanks, C.J., for your comment! We will make sure Lovina sees it. As we respond for her here on the blog, I’ll say my dad used to use the “knee high” marker for his corn, also! My mother always says Lovina’s columns make her tired too, but loves them. Thank you so much for sharing here and being in touch!

  2. Goodness! You are busy! But grandchildren always lighten the day with their smiles and innocence. I have NINE grandchildren and each is unique! That is a beautiful fish! I love fishing! You never know what you’ll catch! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

    1. We feel that everyone is enjoying all of Lovina’s comments and stories about her grandchildren. Such fun. Thanks for your comment–we’re noticing that someone with the name Fisher surely would love fishing. Blessings to you.

  3. I am new to this site, but a long time reader of Lovina’s. I have all of her older cookbooks, as well as her new one! I was so happy to find her again! I truly missed the regular stories about the family. I figured some of the girls were now married…and babies!! Now Lovina can share in our special grandma tales. She will love it, I know I do! It’s so great to catch up…thanks so much. I’ve truly missed you!

    1. Yes, Lovina is enjoying her granddaughters, so fortunate to have them close by! Blessings to you and welcome back!

  4. I also just found this site and have read this column and her mother’s column for years…such a joy to read all about there way of life. I also have Lovina’s cookbooks and met her this year at a book signing. I remember years ago she wrote on which days she does her cleaning and wash. Monday is wash day but what are the other days of the week that she usually has schedule? I’m trying to get myself on a routine. Thank you!

    1. That sounds like a good topic for a column again. We’ll see that she sees that. Thanks for your comments, Laura.

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