recipes

I am Lovina’s “English” friend Ruth, and since Lovina is busy with wedding preparations this week and recovering next week, I am filling in for her for the next two columns. This past Saturday the tables and benches were set up in the shed for next Friday’s wedding meals. Then the tablecloths, plates, silverware, cups, etc. were placed and are ready for the first meal serving after the morning wedding. The couple chose an ocean theme so the tablecloths are multicolors of blue which look like beautiful ocean water. Daniel’s family, Verena’s family, sisters Emma and Verena and all the children pitched and made quick work of getting the tables ready. I have known Lovina over 20 years and have attended weddings, funerals and church with her over the years and I am still impressed with how everyone pitches in and works together. If there is complaining I have not heard it. I hear laughter, teasing and even a bit of shenanigans.

We have entered the month of June. Oh goodness I am actually getting nervous with the wedding of daughter Verena and Daniel Ray being in eighteen days. I have not done much grocery shopping yet. I am still working on my list. It takes a lot of brain work to figure out all the ingredients you need for making over one thousand meals for the wedding day. And of course it does not help being another year older. Haha

It’s a cool April evening with a temperature of 53 degrees. The wind makes it feel colder than that though. I washed clothes and they dried on the lines. It was a challenge trying to keep the clothes on the lines with the wind. Daughter Verena had a doctor appointment this afternoon. She needed someone to go with her to load and unload her mobility scooter so I went with her. 

First of all, a thank you to all of you readers that attended my book signing at the Plain and Simple Craft in Shipshewana, IN. It was a pleasure meeting all of you! Even a reader from California attended. She was out visiting her sister. It’s always an encouragement to meet and talk to readers and hear all the kind words. Sometimes I feel like time is so limited with being a mother and also grandmother to thirteen precious grandchildren. It makes my time worth it all when I hear the encouragement. To me this is the only life I have known. It saddens me to hear of others that have never experienced the family life I do. It does make me appreciate it much more. I was very surprised to have Uncle Melvin (my dad’s brother) and Aunt Kathryn come to visit awhile at the signing. It is always a good feeling to visit with your deceased parent’s siblings. So many fond memories, and once they are gone the memories are all you have and you treasure them even more.

We have entered the fourth month of 2025. It is 26 degrees at 5:30 a.m. My husband Joe and son Benjamin have both left for work. I have lots and lots of laundry to wash today so I thought I had better get this column done first thing this morning.

November 1991- As we went to church this morning, is it just a habit of going? Most people go to church on Sunday and some have the habit of going to church at other times. If anyone tells you religion is just a habit, we’d answer them that’s better to have that habit then not have it at all. 

We are having beautiful spring weather lately. It sure gives a person spring fever, although it’s really not too long before the calendar says “spring begins”. Yesterday I took advantage of the lovely weather and washed a lot of the bedding along with the usual laundry. It dried so nice and the wind made the bath towels so fluffy for being line-dried. The temperature reached sixty-five degrees and the sun was out all day. The time change made all the clocks jump an hour ahead on Sunday so the nice weather at least helped make the change a little easier. 

We are having real winter weather lately. Snow and ice have accumulated which made road conditions not good. This morning the mercury on our thermometer has dipped down to 2 degrees. Brrr!!