By LOVINA EICHER

Sons Benjamin, 9, and Joseph, 6, are home from school today. I debated on whether or not I should send them this morning. They had only a slight temperature. But I was afraid the school would send them home even if I sent them with a little fever. So I kept them home, but they sure aren't acting sick now and are as lively as ever. They keep asking if they can go outside and make snowmen.

Before the snow struck, we finally got most of our leaves raked up Saturday afternoon. It was a nice day and the temperatures reached the 40s. The children laid a canvas onto the ground and we raked the leaves on top of it. They pulled it to the garden and emptied it there. The children made quite a few trips back and forth and had fun while doing the work. I enjoyed spending the time outside raking leaves. It is refreshing to get outside away from the cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry.

Sunday morning when we awoke we were glad we had raked the leaves. It was snowing and the ground is now covered with several inches. We had a little sleet so it was icy, making the children's sleds pull real easy. The children spent a lot of the day outside making snowmen and pulling each other around on the sleds. It wasn't our Sunday to go to church, and with Joe still battling a bad cough we decided to stay home instead of visiting another church district. After everyone was done outside, Joe and I helped the oldest girls practice their German, helping them read out of a German Bible. It is always such a blessing to be able to read God's own words.

(Editor's Note: The Amish speak a dialect of German at home as their first language. Also, the Old Order Amish hold church services every other Sunday. On the Sunday they don't have church, they are encouraged, but not required, to attend services in neighboring communities).

A few cars lost control and ended up in the ditch by our house yesterday. Roads were very icy in some places. We were thankful to hear that nobody was hurt from those incidents. Daughter Verena, 10, thinks she should warn the school bus driver about the slippery spots on the roads. I told her I'm sure he knows to be careful. Verena went outside before the bus was due to arrive and came back in to tell us she thinks there are deer tracks on the porch steps. Joe and I went out to investigate and discovered it was only our dog Rover's tracks. Joe didn't get too much deer-hunting done this past week since he is still not feeling well.

A reader in Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania asked me for my meatloaf recipe. This is one I use frequently with good results.

HOMEMADE MEATLOAF

1 1 /2 pounds of ground beef

1 /2 pound of bulk sausage

2 eggs

1 cup of quick oats

1 medium onion, chopped

1 /4 cup milk

1 /2 teaspoon pepper

1 1 /4 teaspoon salt

1 /3 teaspoon celery salt

1 /2 tablespoon chili powder

1 /2 cup catsup

Preheat oven to 325. In a large mixing bowl mix all ingredients together except for the catsup. Shape into a round loaf and place in a 8 X 8 inch square pan. Brush a good coat of catsup on loaf. Bake covered at 325 for 45 minutes and then uncover and bake 15 to 20 minutes longer.

Lovina Eicher, 37, is an Old Order Amish homemaker who lives with her husband and eight children in rural Michigan. For more information about Amish cooking and culture, visit amishcookonline.com. Readers with culinary or cultural questions can write Lovina at: Lovina Eicher, Oasis Newsfeatures, PO BOX 2144, Middletown, Ohio.

 

More Stories from Lovina Eicher:     · Eicher household has family visit and celebration - 06/19/09     · Ascension Day in an Amish community - 05/29/09     · Lovina's family is growing up and growing larger - 05/22/09     · Unplanned surgery puts a kink in Lovina's plans - 05/15/09     · Rhubarb in full swing this spring - 05/08/09

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