The five scholars just left for school. Hard to believe we are getting closer and closer to the end of another school year. Next week the children will be home for spring break. I am looking forward to it almost as much as they are. I hope to get some spring cleaning done while they are home, especially their bedrooms.
It seems the younger children let things accumulate fast.
The three boys all share a bedroom and 9-year-old Benjamin gets very upset when Lovina and Kevin bring dolls in.
He said he doesn't like any dolls in his bedroom because he is a boy. Horses and tractors are allowed, but no dolls.
One day, Benjamin and Joseph, 6, told me to come see how clean their bedroom is.
Walking into their room I was amazed at how quickly they had cleaned up all the clutter.
But that was until I looked under the beds -- where they had swept everything.
They were disappointed that I had caught on and had to start over again and do it right. It seems it is a bit harder for the boys to keep things in order than for the girls, which, I guess, is natural.
Last night my brother-in-law Jacob and sister Emma and my husband Joe and I and a few of the children went to the hospital to visit with my husband's dad.
He has pneumonia again and doctors want to take more tests today. He looked very weak and was in a lot of pain.
We didn't stay too long as he was drowsy, which might have been coming from the medicine, but I am not sure. He is 70 years old and has many lonely days since Joe's mother passed away almost 14 years ago.
It sounds like Emma and Jacob's youngest, 20-month-old Steven, kept the girls entertained with his chatter while we were at the hospital.
He is walking now, which always excites everyone. It has been a year now since his heart surgery and he seems a healthy little boy.
Joe has one of our gardens tilled and ready for planting. We would like to plant a few early things and some potatoes.
However, when I look at the thermometer reading 30 degrees I am wondering if we should hold off a little longer.
Yesterday we had snow flurries and rain but now the sun is shining brightly, and maybe it will warm up again.
Joe didn't have any work today so I was hoping it would warm up enough to do some yard chores. We got up this morning at 6 a.m. and Joe said it was like sleeping in after all the days he has to get up at 3 a.m. for work.
For you readers who like grapefruit, try this recipe that a reader shared with me. The pie requires no baking.
Grapefruit Pie
3/4 c. sugar, adjusted to taste
3 T. cornstarch
1&3/4 c. water
Pinch salt
1 3-oz. box strawberry gelatin
3 or 4 medium grapefruit
In a medium saucepan, cook sugar, cornstarch, water and salt over medium heat until clear. Add gelatin and stir until the mixture slightly thickens. Peel and cut away all tissue from the grapefruits and then drain in a strainer and cut into small pieces. Do not use the juice in this recipe. Add grapefruit into the gelatin mixture. Stir well and then pour into a baked 9-inch pie shell and place until refrigerator until set. Top with whipped cream.
Lovina Eicher is Old Order Amish. She hand-writes this column from her home in southern Michigan. Anyone with cultural or cooking questions can send them to: Lovina Eicher, The Amish Cook, P.O. Box 2144, Middletown, OH 45042. Read all of her columns online at www.record-eagle.com/amishcook.
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